Chrome coming off sockets, best solution?

[Strouty]

I have some older Proto 1" drive sockets and the previous owner did not take good care of them, they have chipped chrome and it is sharp (ask me how I know). Should I just wire wheel it or is there a better way? Here are the pictures of one of the worst ones.

 

[ihatelaramie]

I've been in the same boat with some tools that sat out in the bed of a pickup. I threw them into the tumbler at work. Presto, no more sharp edges. Leaves a nice, almost silky finish too.

 

[retDAC]

I've been in the same boat with some tools that sat out in the bed of a pickup. I threw them into the tumbler at work. Presto, no more sharp edges. Leaves a nice, almost silky finish too.

What media did you use?

 

[scaron]

if you just want to clean up some chrome a little bit, i find just some polishing compound and a bit of elbow grease works nicely... with a wire wheel, i'd personally be worried about stripping the sockets completely or damaging the chrome even more... using a tumbler might also be a good suggestion as someone else posted above.

 

[ihatelaramie]

I'm not 100% on what's in there, but I believe they are a ceramic, bout .5in long, maybe .25 across, cylindrical. Feels a lot like pebbles. I wish I could remember what it was exactly..

 

[warmpancakes]

Warranty swap them its a defect if chrome is peeling

 

[Strouty]

I've been in the same boat with some tools that sat out in the bed of a pickup. I threw them into the tumbler at work. Presto, no more sharp edges. Leaves a nice, almost silky finish too.

If I only had a tumbler.

 

[Strouty]

if you just want to clean up some chrome a little bit, i find just some polishing compound and a bit of elbow grease works nicely... with a wire wheel, i'd personally be worried about stripping the sockets completely or damaging the chrome even more... using a tumbler might also be a good suggestion as someone else posted above.

I don't think polish will quite do it.

Warranty swap them its a defect if chrome is peeling

I don't think I would be able to, I couldn't even find any sockets by Proto that were 1" drive.

 

[scaron]

yeah, i posted before i saw (you added?) those pics. that's a little beyond polishing compound, LOL. and i feel for ya, one wouldn't think those little flakes are that sharp but watch out... i sliced my finger open on a University prop tag last week that was kind of flaked out like that.

 

[Strouty]

yeah, i posted before i saw (you added?) those pics. that's a little beyond polishing compound, LOL. and i feel for ya, one wouldn't think those little flakes are that sharp but watch out... i sliced my finger open on a University prop tag last week that was kind of flaked out like that.

This morning it was like 35 degrees, my hands were cold. I installed one socket on the ratchet and then removed it. I made my deal with the guy and started loading the tools in my car. I looked at my hand and there was blood everywhere. I sliced two fingers in three separate places. Still hurts now and I think I may go and get a tetanus shot just to be safe.

 

[retDAC]

I'm not 100% on what's in there, but I believe they are a ceramic, bout .5in long, maybe .25 across, cylindrical. Feels a lot like pebbles. I wish I could remember what it was exactly..

Thanks. I believe those are ceramic and made specifically for tumbler use.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I don't think I would be able to, I couldn't even find any sockets by Proto that were 1" drive.

THIS CATALOG page 434.

Glass bead blasting will peel off chrome too. Be aware it will contaminate the glass beads and they will need to be changed out after the blasting is complete.

You will need to paint them, spray them with something like Amsoil metal protectant or LPS 3, or find someone with a black oxide tank, or take them to a gunsmith and get them blued after removing the chrome, or they will rust.

Charles

 

[Toolgarage]

like said before you can warranty them

 

[genevabuck]

like said before you can warranty them

maybe

 

[ng8264723]

I would send the lot to a chrome shop. It's pretty cheap to have them dipped for chrome removal. you can then coat them with oil or phosphate

 

[comedyman809]

how much to send them to proto?

 

[comedyman809]

those are some heavy little pigs.

 

[jhelrey]

Sandblast and powder coat?

 

[Strouty]

I don't think all of them are bad, I may talk to Proto, it seems I would have to go to a distributor. I have 1 5/8" through 3 1/8" so they are heavy, but they all fit in the lower half of a milk crate. I don't know if I want the new ones, these have a really nice lock and release mechanism. They are also made to use a round bar directly through them, like a tee handle. My guess is once I "clean them, Proto will no longer warranty them.

 

[rick carpenter]

DuraCoat or DuraBake may be an option for you, or bluing. Just don't make them impact socket color!

 

[rsanter]

You can take them to a plater and have the cadmium or zink plated. It not expensive and is very durable.
That's what all those shiney bolts at the store are

Bob

 

[rick carpenter]

If I only had a tumbler.

If I had a tumbler,
I'd tumble in the morning,
I'd tumble in the evening,
All over this land,
I'd tumble out danger,
I'd tumble out a warning,
I'd tumble out love between,
My brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.

 

[kenburkholz]

Take them to a commercial plating shop. They will acid dip them and re plate them,also see if they do hard plating. This is not as shiny as automotive chrome, but will be far more durable. ken

 

[nicksnothereman]

If it's not internal work (which it won't be in this size, unless it's industrial stuff) just wire brush the inside, sand it, paint the outside with primer, and throw two coats of spray paint on the outside and call it a day.

Utility-wise this is more than enough for use without hurting your eyes. I had a (near) bare metal walden 1/2" speed handle I did this too. The finish just looks impact.

If you want it to look good powder coating would probably be the way to go on the cheap. Possible with such a small (relatively) part at home with simple equipment. Honestly, all things considered, if the finish flaking off was such an issue I would probably just slap some duct tape on the outside and go at it but I'm not everyone.

 

[Strouty]

If it's not internal work (which it won't be in this size, unless it's industrial stuff) just wire brush the inside, sand it, paint the outside with primer, and throw two coats of spray paint on the outside and call it a day.

Utility-wise this is more than enough for use without hurting your eyes. I had a (near) bare metal walden 1/2" speed handle I did this too. The finish just looks impact.

If you want it to look good powder coating would probably be the way to go on the cheap. Possible with such a small (relatively) part at home with simple equipment. Honestly, all things considered, if the finish flaking off was such an issue I would probably just slap some duct tape on the outside and go at it but I'm not everyone.

I am not concerned about looks as much as function. Right now without a thick pair of gloves, these are like holding razor blades. I am wondering if powder coating them would wipe out the engravings for the sizes? Does it flow into the groves so you can still read the sizes?

 

[ng8264723]

powder coating chips plating is the way to go