Black tools - Ever have problems?

[HanShotFirst]

Hey all,

I've been assembling a very full set of the Proto black chrome reversible ratcheting combination wrenches, and these are my first tools that are black chrome. Just wonder if anyone has any negative about the black chrome. Easily lost? Chrome not as good?

Over the years I have lost more than one impact socket, so it "seems" that this is a potential problem. Just wondering what the experiences of others are?

 

[Packard V8]

Black tools covers black chrome and the more common industrial black oxide finish. Are you asking about just the chrome?

jack vines

 

[Al Borland]

All the wear points will get lighter with use.
Looks neat after a couple years. Sockets are harder to find when dropped.
(Notice I said "when" and not "if".)

 

[HanShotFirst]

(Notice I said "when" and not "if".)

RIGHT!!!

Wish someone could come up with a day-glow green industrial finish for impact sockets.

 

[HanShotFirst]

Black tools covers black chrome and the more common industrial black oxide finish. Are you asking about just the chrome?

jack vines

Really just black chrome...I've been living with impact sockets all the way back to when *** was dirty and the air was clean.

 

[American Locomotive]

My friend has a set of Stanley black-chrome sockets. They're fine, except the finish is slowly getting lighter on the frequently used sockets.

 

[HanShotFirst]

My friend has a set of Stanley black-chrome sockets. They're fine, except the finish is slowly getting lighter on the frequently used sockets.

My 17mm & 19mm are showing some wear to the black chrome. I knew black chrome wasn't nearly as tough as normal chrome, but I was wondering what other people's experiences were.

Still, as they wear the finish, it's kind of a cool patina.

 

[Codejack]

I haven't been having any issues; I am considering painting some colored enamel bands to mark them as SAE/Metric, but other than that...

 

[tdott]

Sometimes harder to find, especially in the dark or in dark places!

 

[JohnDeere1]

Harder to find but I love my black chrome Cornwell tools.

 

[T45]

black is no bueno working at dusk or at night with, say, a head lamp. at least with sockets and small hand tools. i have black oxide wrenches in SAE and I like them quite a bit. SAE stuff for me is used mostly in daylight/broadlight. Also, the tools are not so small I need to pick them up with pickup tools when dropped.

If I had to deal with black wrenches every hour of the day, I'd probably just buy a red wrench wroll. That way they have decent contrast if/when you set them down. I also might choose simple tricks like non-black drawer liners. And/or tool control foam with contrasting colours of some kind. It really depends just keep in mind you need to deal with reality of low light. Just do it in a thoughtful way, and think ahead.

There is a strong case for matte chrome being the best finish all around. But every finish has its pros and Cons. Silver chrome is easiest to clean, but not to grip. Matte is visible and has good grip, and doesnt scratch...but can be harder to wipe down. etc.

 

[Gmonkee]

When it drops into the fender the color ceases to matter. Where you left the damn magnetic pick up tool last does.

We have every color finish tool in the shop from fancy anodized to patina. It's all the same when they escape.

I like the black tools even if it doesn't last forever. Kinda classy looking when new but just another tool a few years later.

 

[Codejack]

When it drops into the fender the color ceases to matter. Where you left the damn magnetic pick up tool last does.

^

This.

 

[Thirdyfivepickup]

I have a socket/wrench set from Husky and the edges are taking on a more goldish tint to them where the finish is being worn down. X3 on the harder to see when dropped. Durability on the Husky is decent at best.

 

[HaroRider]

I dont understand why anyone doing automotive work would want black tools..

I do agree they look pretty neat, but not for me.

 

[Codejack]

I dont understand why anyone doing automotive work would want black tools..

I do agree they look pretty neat, but not for me.

Well, mine is almost coincidental; I needed cheap, strong sockets, so I bought thin-walled impact sockets, which happen to be black.

 

[HanShotFirst]

I dont understand why anyone doing automotive work would want black tools..

I do agree they look pretty neat, but not for me.

I honestly never intended to buy black tools. But I got a crazy smoking deal on half a set of the Proto reversable spline ratcheting wrenches, and I'm slowly completing the set. So it was a marriage of convenience; not intended.

 

[Packard V8]

I dont understand why anyone doing automotive work would want black tools..

I honestly never intended to buy black tools. But I got a crazy smoking deal on half a set of the Proto reversable spline ratcheting wrenches, and I'm slowly completing the set. So it was a marriage of convenience; not intended.

Same here. Back in the mists of time, I stopped by a yard sale and there was a huge layout of brand-new Snap-on black oxide; OE, DBE, combo wrench sets, 1/2"-drive and 1/4" drive sets. Seems it came home from the Alaska pipeline project and I bought about $2500 truck retail for $175. (That's $12,000 for $800 in today's inflated dollars.)

Thinking about it once the adrenaline wore off, I was pissed the seller must have kept the 3/8" set. That's now the only complete set of S-O chrome I have, but many misc pieces of S-O chrome have wandered in over the years.

I still look for and buy the black oxide if I come across it used. A black oxide metric combo set is the only new S-O I can remember buying. The finish and feel is quite different than the older stuff. The old finish is smooth/slick; the newer has a matte/tooth feel.

A bit of trivia, the DBE black oxide set supplied as part of a complete mechanic's set for the pipeline work was the older pattern with the shallow v-groove in the shank. The OE and combos were the later flat shank. The DBE set was missing one and when I ordered, the later flat shank pattern came. It took several years to find an early pattern black oxide, but the DBE set is complete again.

jack vines

 

[HanShotFirst]

Same here. Back in the mists of time, I stopped by a yard sale and there was a huge layout of brand-new Snap-on black oxide; OE, DBE, combo wrench sets, 1/2"-drive and 1/4" drive sets. Seems it came home from the Alaska pipeline project and I bought about $2500 truck retail for $175. (That's $12,000 for $800 in today's inflated dollars.)

Thinking about it once the adrenaline wore off, I was pissed the seller must have kept the 3/8" set. That's now the only complete set of S-O chrome I have, but many misc pieces of S-O chrome have wandered in over the years.

I still look for and buy the black oxide if I come across it used. A black oxide metric combo set is the only new S-O I can remember buying. The finish and feel is quite different than the older stuff. The old finish is smooth/slick; the newer has a matte/tooth feel.

A bit of trivia, the DBE black oxide set supplied as part of a complete mechanic's set for the pipeline work was the older pattern with the shallow v-groove in the shank. The OE and combos were the later flat shank. The DBE set was missing one and when I ordered, the later flat shank pattern came. It took several years to find an early pattern black oxide, but the set is complete again.

jack vines

When you find deals like that, you pounce; don't matter what finish!

I got 6 wrenches for $30.00, which is basically the price of one. Two had electric pencil initials on them, and one wrench wasn't reversible...I didn't care; I wasn't turning down that deal!

These are not the wrenches I would have bought if I was just going out and buying wrenches. But they're damn good wrenches, and I have found the faceted splines dig in and grip quite like ASD open ends (which they also have). So it turns out, these are better than what I probably would have picked anyhow...even though they're black.

 

[rsanter]

RIGHT!!!

Wish someone could come up with a day-glow green industrial finish for impact sockets.

I forget from who, but I have seen orange ones available for industrial use

Bob

 

[davethorik]

I actually experienced the opposite problem when I used to work at a machine shop. They used those super bright sodium lights, and doing setups it would reflect off of my chrome Wright ratchet and damn near blind me. I replaced the Wright with a black oxide Proto, and all was well.

 

[Codejack]

I actually experienced the opposite problem when I used to work at a machine shop. They used those super bright sodium lights, and doing setups it would reflect off of my chrome Wright ratchet and damn near blind me. I replaced the Wright with a black oxide Proto, and all was well.

That's an issue I have working outside, a lot of the time; in bright sunlight, a tray full of shiny chrome can be blinding.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

I forget from who, but I have seen orange ones available for industrial use



Bob

Williams makes them in orange and yellow IIRC.

 

[bassbone52]

Williams makes them in orange and yellow IIRC.

Yep. Supercombos.

 

[Finky198]

My buddy and I helped this old man who was stuck in a parking lot around the corner from our shop it was midnight around late fall. It wouldn't start and the battery terminals were corroded to hell. I happen to have some tools my sunex impacts and a few extras, well one of my black sockets went rolling into the abyss. We get the truck running and get the guy on his way and low and behold my buddy took a walk to take a leak or... and I hear found it.


The lot was freshly paved with no lighting. One in a million. It was 30+ feet away from where we were working.

 

[mfewtrail]

The only black tools I have are in a 235pc Bostitch black chrome set I got for $50 from Sam's Club a few years ago. Losing sockets just because they're black is a non-issue in my opinion. Any socket that drops into some hard to access or hard to see place is just as difficult to find no matter the finish. My set is laser etched which I'm not fond of. The sockets fit loosely in the case and roll around inside each specifically sized spot. That rolling while in the trunk of a car has been enough to wear some of the laser etching off. The socket trays are marked by size so it's not the biggest deal if they wear off completely, but I still might engrave sizes in them once that happens. Traditional chrome is the way to go if you're worried about looks.