Satin vs Chrome Wrenches

[oldschoolcraft]

I noticed Proto doesn’t make chrome wrenches in the 1.5” to 2.5” range and only make satin. Got me thinking about the difference.

Seems like chrome is prettier, more corrosion resistant, but also more expensive and slippy. Also reflects more glare and light than satin.

Since a lot of the tool world is showing off stuff and looking cool, I wonder what percentage of the reason people get chrome is because it looks nicer. Or maybe it’s because not as many places make satin finish.

Other than looking less cool, it seems like satin should be better but I’ve never used them.

Couldnt find this discussed in old threads, only found a few thousand raised panel versus smooth threads

 

[BlackVersa2]

Both are chrome plated, the shiny ones just get extra polishing.

 

[lardy1]

I prefer satin. For both comfort and cosmetics. I like the vintage look of it.

 

[tool_scrounge]

In work’s prototype shop, I prefer SAE in chrome and Metric in satin. It improves the statistics of wrenches being put back in the correct location.

 

[Mr_B]

soft satin chrome plating is my preference for ergonomics anti-glare and long term durability, very dry satin chrome isn't very good but facom stahlwille and toptul do the soft satin chrome real nice .
greasy/oily/wet conditions and super mirror polished chrome isn't great idea

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

I love satin, especially from Gedore and Proto because it has some texture and provides awesome grip. But chrome wins for cleaning and also when I’m leaving it in the garage box. My satin stuff rusts much quicker as does the black oxide stuff hence why those tools stay at work or in the house and my chromes get to live the hard life.

 

[ecotec]

I love satin, especially from Gedore and Proto because it has some texture and provides awesome grip. But chrome wins for cleaning and also when I’m leaving it in the garage box. My satin stuff rusts much quicker as does the black oxide stuff hence why those tools stay at work or in the house and my chromes get to live the hard life.

This is so true.

I have all the brands. As a bottom feeder’s bottom feeder… I will buy any wrench, of the brands I collect, if it looks pretty and newish… so I have a huge mix of brands and finishes.

So… I’m not talking out of my ***… I have lived and worked with all of the finishes… and smooth chrome is by far the strongest and most rust resistant of the wrench finishes.

That said… I will continue to buy the lightly used wrenches, of whatever finish, and leave the ones with wear. This method works for me. If you need your tools to match… my tools would make you twitch…

Another point is that the rougher satin finishes are, obviously, more grippy (is this a word?) than smooth satin or smooth chrome.

 

[Mr_B]

Stahlwille soft satin is about one of best I had for long term wear , the very dry rough style satin chrome isn't good but don't see that much these days ,,,
soft satin seems best all rounder in terms of handling grip, easy cleaning and corrosion/wear durability

 

[Wakefield]

I like the feel and look of the Wright and Stahlwille "satin" better than the shiny style chrome but the shiny stuff is easier to clean and if more resistant to rusting and/or flaking off probably wins.

 

[tamaraw]

Both can be chrome plated, you are asking polished vs satin. You can also get polished oxide finishes (ex: Cornwell).

Satin finish provides better grip in the hand, especially when wet, and wears better over time because it hides small scratches and dings.

Polished looks flashy and is a little easier to clean.

 

[dnschmidt]

As a company whos primary business is vibratory polishers Rotar (TOPTUL) with their Satin Chrome Finish has the best finish of any tool company in the world. It's smooth enough to easily clean and dull enough not to slip out of your hands. I think they have achieved the perfect balance between the two. Many of their wrenches are available in an excellent full polished version but according to my source at TOPTUL the satin chrome out sells the full polish 20 to 1.

 

[B_Bimmer]

I like proto's satin chrome better.

 

[rust in the eye]

In work’s prototype shop, I prefer SAE in chrome and Metric in satin. It improves the statistics of wrenches being put back in the correct location.

That's brilliant!
Since I have no preference (but seem to have more polished chrome) I'm off to my tool boxes to see if I can reorganize to this effect.
All bets are off for my road box which is an amalgam of tools deliberately NOT matching so I won't be compelled to replace one that gets lost with exact same.

 

[Chrome Vanadium Cody]

I have been enjoying Blackhawk (Proto era) satin chrome combo wrenches lately. The juxtaposition of having Proto's nice anti slip open ends but bare minimum attention to finishing just makes me happy.

 

[lardy1]

The double box ends are still around if you like them. I use mine a lot. Pretty reasonable on ebay last I knew.

 

[dchawk81]

I like industrial black more than either. Otherwise don't really care.

 

[bryant 24]

Stahlwille soft satin is about one of best I had for long term wear , the very dry rough style satin chrome isn't good but don't see that much these days ,,,
soft satin seems best all rounder in terms of handling grip, easy cleaning and corrosion/wear durability

can u send a picture of soft satin？

 

[cjarvis]

I prefer the polished chrome. Back when I was wrenching, right or wrong, I associated the satin chrome (wrenches anyway) with cheaper tools such as Craftsman or Popular Mechanics. The full-polish, a la Snap-On, Mac, etc., was, in my 21 y.o. brain, a mark of higher quality tools. Of course I realize now, that satin/polish has nothing to do with tool quality, but I still prefer the full-polish.

 

[dchawk81]

I prefer the polished chrome. Back when I was wrenching, right or wrong, I associated the satin chrome (wrenches anyway) with cheaper tools such as Craftsman or Popular Mechanics. The full-polish, a la Snap-On, Mac, etc., was, in my 21 y.o. brain, a mark of higher quality tools. Of course I realize now, that satin/polish has nothing to do with tool quality, but I still prefer the full-polish.

I prefer industrial black.

 

[Mr_B]

can u send a picture of soft satin？

will do pic of stahlwille chrome later today before close up, that stuff held up amazing for me, bought them new in late 80's to very early 90's (current production might not be equal !?)

 

[DemoFly]

Chrome is too slippery and scratches with use.

 

[rockettauto]

I prefer the polished chrome. Back when I was wrenching, right or wrong, I associated the satin chrome (wrenches anyway) with cheaper tools such as Craftsman or Popular Mechanics. The full-polish, a la Snap-On, Mac, etc., was, in my 21 y.o. brain, a mark of higher quality tools. Of course I realize now, that satin/polish has nothing to do with tool quality, but I still prefer the full-polish.

Youre not the only one. The first set of SKs I saw looked like jewelry...they were incredible and of course when I was very young, non full polish meant most of the time it was run of the mill Craftsman, or in a lucky case antique wright or something else old. All the big names all I saw were full polish.

Now I really don't care.

I don't care about grip either , rarely do I wrench in a way that I'm not solidly pushing or pulling.

But I've learned to appreciate a few brands soft satin finishes especially ones that appear to be nickel maybe instead of full chrome.

 

[KnurledNut]

Cornwell still hand polishes their chrome wrenches. Only company I know that still maintains this level of craftsmanship, and the resulting jewelry-like finish is unique.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I prefer polished chrome for the easy cleanup. My wrenches get covered in hydraulic oil and I have no problems with grip.

Still have plenty of satin both rough and smooth in the box though. I buy the hell out of industrial brands anytime I see them at the flea market.

 

[bryant 24]

chrome

 

[F-22]

Cornwell still hand polishes their chrome wrenches. Only company I know that still maintains this level of craftsmanship, and the resulting jewelry-like finish is unique.

I'm sure at least Nepros can match the mirror polish too.

 

[KnurledNut]

I'm sure at least Nepros can match the mirror polish too.

Absolutely. A lot of brands can match but how many are finished by hand?

 

[F-22]

Absolutely. A lot of brands can match but how many are finished by hand?

I'd assume many of the really mirror-polished ones?

 

[vjquan]

Absolutely. A lot of brands can match but how many are finished by hand?

Who cares? These aren't jewelry unless you don't use your tools.

 

[KnurledNut]

Who cares? These aren't jewelry unless you don't use your tools.

Actually the whole reason I’ve come to appreciate high quality in tools is because I work hard to make a living with them. I couldn’t have cared less how a wrench was made before this became my lot in life.

 

[M6erfan]

Satin, by far. Polished chrome looks pretty ****** after a few of years of use.

 

[Al Borland]

Polished chrome looks pretty ****** after a few of years of use.

And THAT is easily corrected with a sandblaster.

 

[Etchase]

I don’t like the glare off of polished surfaces, usually right where I’m working, and frequently hitting with with some kind of a spot light. Not good.

 

[fishwatcher]

I guess I haven’t had my hands on really nice high end tools.. just regular old Craftsman and recently some Blackhawk by Proto with a pebble/chrome finish, and before that a basic set of Mastergrip (MIC I assume) all chrome wrenches.

I can’t say I have a preference for any of these based on grip, but the Blackhawk’s and the Craftsman both feel nice in hand.

Heck.. even the cheap chrome ones feel nice.. but there’s a pride in ownership of the USA, solid feeling wrenches that I have.

I’m missing a few between both sets so until I find them, a few chrome Mastergrip wrenches will fill those gaps in my peg board.

 

[ecotec]

I guess I haven’t had my hands on really nice high end tools.. just regular old Craftsman and recently some Blackhawk by Proto pebble/chrome finish, and before that a basic set of Mastergrip (MIC I assume) all chrome wrenches.

Hard for me to imagine preference for any of these based on grip, but the Blackhawk’s and the Craftsman both feel nice in hand.

Heck.. even the cheap chrome ones feel nice.. but there’s a pride in ownership of the USA, solid feeling wrenches.

I’ve a few out of the Blackhawk SAE set I’m missing so until I find them, a few chrome Mastergrip wrenches will fill those gaps.

Are those stamped on both sides?

 

[turnthewrench 2.0]

Satin. Make it Stahlwille or Proto.

 

[fishwatcher]

Are those stamped on both sides?

It says something else on the other side.

Size, “Alloy Steel USA”

 

[ecotec]

It says something else on the other side.

Size, “Alloy Steel USA”

Thank you. The sizes are stamped on both sides, though.

I will watch for those. They look nice.

 

[redwrench60]

I prefer full polish chrome. They clean right up, they don’t rust and the plating seems to be thicker or somehow tougher in the long run.

 

[ecotec]

It says something else on the other side.

Size, “Alloy Steel USA”

I have 3 of those in chrome. Here is a picture of two of them.

Some older Proto/Blackhawk/Challenger is only stamped on one side. I have been trying to avoid that style.