What is new Snap-On GF80 Industrial Finish?

[MaverickDMD]

The newer industrial finish on the GF80 is quite different than on the previous ratchets (pre "split-O" logo) like the 830 and 936. It seems like a version of black chrome similar to that found on Stanley ratchets, albeit slightly less black in shade. It chips off and can be marred much as if it were some type of coating rather than an acid treatment to the metal. I much prefer the older style finish. Any thoughts as to why the change?

 

[MaverickDMD]

Anyone? Anyone?

 

[mikey03]

8 years later it’s not new anymore

 

[BrandonV]

Can't believe it would flake off. Pretty important for FOD/FME applications NOT to flake.

 

[AEAdam]

I have some tools with this finish. Someone here told me there was no such thing as black chrome Snap On, but that’s not true as we know.

The black oxide that preceded the black chrome, rusted. It really needs a top coat of oil or wax to stay rust free. The black chrome was attractive, but my GF80 handle rusted.

So super genius chemist here, stuck it in evaporust to remove the rust. Evaporust removed the black chrome, so really not sure what it was. The underlying metal looked just like bare steel, not the smooth black chrome process. Because the head wasn’t rusty, I didn’t dip that. So the resulting tool is a hot mess. Looks like the dogs dinner. I tried to restore it with cold blue.I also thought about painting it or Cera coating it.

 

[CoThG]

Can't believe it would flake off. Pretty important for FOD/FME applications NOT to flake.

The OP was in error. The Snap-On industrial finish is not a coating and will not flake off.

 

[AEAdam]

The OP was in error. The Snap-On industrial finish is not a coating and will not flake off.

Black oxide is a coating. But I’ve never seen black oxide flake off.

Black chrome is also a coating. It’s an electroplating and it can flake off.

I have many black oxide Snap on tools. I also have a few black chrome Snap on ratchets.

 

[CoThG]

Black oxide is a coating. But I’ve never seen black oxide flake off.

Black chrome is also a coating. It’s an electroplating and it can flake off.

I have many black oxide Snap on tools. I also have a few black chrome Snap on ratchets.

Snap-On industrial uses black oxide, while commonly referred to as coating, it is actually a chemical conversion of the top layer of the steel. There is no coating, like you are thinking of, to flake off. It's basically the same process as hot bluing, commonly used on firearms.

 

[Wamsutta]

It seems like a version of black chrome similar to that found on Stanley ratchets,

I certainly hope not.

 

[AEAdam]

Snap-On industrial uses black oxide, while commonly referred to as coating, it is actually a chemical conversion of the top layer of the steel. There is no coating, like you are thinking of, to flake off. It's basically the same process as hot bluing, commonly used on firearms.

I do a lot of cold bluing and it's not technically the same as black oxide. Black Oxide is Fe3O4. Cold Blue is SeO2 (selenium dioxide). Cold blue is inferior to hot bluing in almost every way except convenience.


For anyone else even remotely interested, I've done quite a lot of cold bluing and it doesn't turn steel blue. But I have tricks to getting it this black. You can see I'm using Brownell's Oxpho blue, but there are others. If you want tips, just PM me.


(Not mine) This is Snap on's black chrome. These aren't the only things they make using black chrome. Its a plating.

This might be black chrome or maybe I'm wrong. It's not like any other black oxide tool I own. I suspect this is what the OP was talking about.

These were black oxide, and I touched them up with cold blue, just as one would a firearm. Keeping them looking like this isn't super easy. They need regular oiling.

In my machine shop, that's not a problem.
I have several drawers of black oxide Snap on tools.

I've posted this pic before and gotten comments about how rough these wrenches look. I oiled them then took the picture and I feel as tho 11/16", 13/16" look WAY worse in this pic than they do in real life. These have been re-blued and I always leave whatever finish exists. I can, and for some stuff do, strip and polish then blue. And that does produce a nicer looking finish. But it's not as durable as black oxide.

Summary:
Snap on absolutely does offer black chrome finished tools, which is distinct from black oxide.

 

[Chipm]

I have some tools with this finish. Someone here told me there was no such thing as black chrome Snap On, but that’s not true as we know.

The black oxide that preceded the black chrome, rusted. It really needs a top coat of oil or wax to stay rust free. The black chrome was attractive, but my GF80 handle rusted.

So super genius chemist here, stuck it in evaporust to remove the rust. Evaporust removed the black chrome, so really not sure what it was. The underlying metal looked just like bare steel, not the smooth black chrome process. Because the head wasn’t rusty, I didn’t dip that. So the resulting tool is a hot mess. Looks like the dogs dinner. I tried to restore it with cold blue.I also thought about painting it or Cera coating it.

I did a rust-blue process on some tools recently that turned out great. It uses stuff that is already in your kitchen - google for recipes, but as I recall it was vinegar, salt, and a little soda.

 

[Dave455]

In my machine shop, that's not a problem.
I have several drawers of black oxide Snap on tools.

I've posted this pic before and gotten comments about how rough these wrenches look. I oiled them then took the picture and I feel as tho 11/16", 13/16" look WAY worse in this pic than they do in real life. These have been re-blued and I always leave whatever finish exists. I can, and for some stuff do, strip and polish then blue. And that does produce a nicer looking finish. But it's not as durable as black oxide.

Summary:
Snap on absolutely does offer black chrome finished tools, which is distinct from black oxide.

Very nice!

Those don’t look rough to me. In fact I quite covet that setup.

Yes, there are some very valid reasons for wanting black oxide, or at least unchromed, tools.

Most of us are familiar with the use of black oxide for impact tools, or the preference in certain industries, such as oil, gas or chemical, but there are others.

I have a fair number of older wrenches, and in some cases (for example adjustable wrenches) the black oxide / polished tools wear notably better long term, than the chrome.

In the example below, the jaws of the chromed wrench have picked up a lot of “bruising”, which can’t easily be dressed out. Ditto the missing chrome at the jaw tips. Unless I’m working in a wet environment, I definitely prefer the blacked / polished.


In a more common example, I sometimes find myself working in rough conditions - dust, concrete floors etc. I have a selection of older / well used tools that I’m not too precious about and tend to use for such jobs, but unplated wrenches are definitely preferable.

And of course you mentioned machine shop use. Any environment where tools get used inside, wiped down, and returned to drawers are the perfect environment for black oxide. I’m loving your cork drawer liners.

My only reservation is regarding Snap On’s black chrome. For me this is neither “fish or fowl” and I think is more of a styling choice, for someone who would otherwise opt for regular chrome, rather than an alternative to black oxide.

I do vaguely recall, about the time that the O.P. posted, seeing a ratchet on the truck that had a then “new” black finish. It wasn’t an oxide, looked like a sort of paint. I recall thinking that Snap On had somewhat missed the point with that finish, but sometimes companies do strange things.

I can remember Knipex discontinuing some of their pliers without grips. Their argument was that the coated handles were only a little more expensive, but it was never about cost, but rather durability!

 

[AEAdam]

If I were a toolmaker, and couldn't compete with mass market dealers like Harbor Freight, couldn't compete for top quality like Snap On or Koken, I'd focus on selling really attractive functional kits, more like Sonic or Tekton, and I'd explore more finishes and COLORS.

Taking a page from the gun makers, I'd try Cerakote for tool finishes, at least ratchets and extensions, maybe wrenches. Is it possible I could do everything but the working faces? Would it be possible to color code sockets, at least mm and inches or by drives?

I think Mark Martinez designed the first Titanium hammers, IIRC. Today, Mark's hammers are fully customizable. See https://martineztools.com/

I would do this for automotive tools. I love tools like many of you. And I find different tools' finishes feel different. And I also think guns and tools are alike in many ways. Some buy guns just to admire the mechanism. There aren't many things we handle that are like that. I think there is a "next level" in tool design that adds style. I was hoping SK would go there and they just didn't. They tried to compete where they couldn't possibly compete.

 

[CoThG]

I do a lot of cold bluing and it's not technically the same as black oxide. Black Oxide is Fe3O4. Cold Blue is SeO2 (selenium dioxide). Cold blue is inferior to hot bluing in almost every way except convenience.


For anyone else even remotely interested, I've done quite a lot of cold bluing and it doesn't turn steel blue. But I have tricks to getting it this black. You can see I'm using Brownell's Oxpho blue, but there are others. If you want tips, just PM me.


(Not mine) This is Snap on's black chrome. These aren't the only things they make using black chrome. Its a plating.

This might be black chrome or maybe I'm wrong. It's not like any other black oxide tool I own. I suspect this is what the OP was talking about.

These were black oxide, and I touched them up with cold blue, just as one would a firearm. Keeping them looking like this isn't super easy. They need regular oiling.

In my machine shop, that's not a problem.
I have several drawers of black oxide Snap on tools.

I've posted this pic before and gotten comments about how rough these wrenches look. I oiled them then took the picture and I feel as tho 11/16", 13/16" look WAY worse in this pic than they do in real life. These have been re-blued and I always leave whatever finish exists. I can, and for some stuff do, strip and polish then blue. And that does produce a nicer looking finish. But it's not as durable as black oxide.

Summary:
Snap on absolutely does offer black chrome finished tools, which is distinct from black oxide.

Snap-On torque wrenches use PVD and not black chrome.

 

[AEAdam]

Snap-On torque wrenches use PVD and not black chrome.

STOP BEING WRONG!

sorry, couldn’t resist. I could be totally wrong. Snap-On.com is no help.

 

[CoThG]

STOP BEING WRONG!

sorry, couldn’t resist. I could be totally wrong. Snap-On.com is no help.

I'm not wrong. Snap-On uses PVD on their torque wrenches. Says so right on Snap-On website...

 

[CoThG]