Chrome

[BirdMobile]

"Chrome won't get you home!"

However, it might make your tools last longer. Something I've noticed while combing endless bins of sockets at thrift stores, pawn shops, and yard sales. There seem to be many different types of chrome plating, some of which **** balls while others seem to be practically immortal!

This is the sort of thing I would be unable to talk about with anyone in my real-world life, but you all - being the hopelessly OCD tool geeks that you are, will probably take this thread to page 37 with your observations.

Craftsman sockets of "G", "G1", and "G2" identifier stamp have a goldish-brown tinted chrome that seems to resist wear extremely well. Kobalt tools of a later era that were made in the U.S. before the shift to Taiwan manufacturing have a grayish-purple tinted chrome that is super pleasing to look at, and seems almost impervious to chipping and wear-through.

When I go looking for spares to my spare pairs of spares to my sockets, I prize the above chromes above all others.

Any observations on Chrome you all want to share? (*Rhetorical question... of course you do! *)

 

[jim1987]

Carlyle has one of the best chrome there is in off shore tools.

 

[BirdMobile]

Carlyle has one of the best chrome there is in off shore tools.

I have noticed that. Super shiny and tough!

 

[e30bradley]

the chrome on my gear wrench 120 tooth ratchets is junk.

 

[BirdMobile]

I have a Proto double-box-end wrench that chips more chrome off every time I look at it. Yeah... an exaggeration, but not much of one!

 

[BirdMobile]

The chrome on "EE" series Craftsman sockets seems to be "ragged" around the edge details, and seems to wear/chip fast too. Worst of the Craftsman chromes from my experience.

 

[Harrison2]

ive noticed this, I have some sealey (UK brand) sockets and they were flaky from new, yet I the flex ratchet from the kobalt tune up sets seems great, my craftsman LP wrenches are great too, ive marked them from cheaters but yet to chip or break the finish.

 

[organ]

I remember hearing somewhere that it's hard to get a good chrome job nowadays... something about the chemicals being heavily regulated or something... few places deal in it anymore.

And the finish on my 1/2 120xp ratchet ***** too... my Gearwrench mid-lengths scratch easily also.

 

[belvedere]

Carlyle has one of the best chrome there is in off shore tools.

Agreed. My wrenches are over a year old and are wearing well.

 

[Zeke]

I have Chrome. Oh wait, that's my browser.

I've have some S-K combo wrenches that are my daily wrenches. They are dinged and chipped but the chrome does not flake. I doubt that I'd ever buy a new tool from this point on.

 

[Zeroek]

I always though the chrome on my Cornwell stuff was great. I have chipped a few spots off the corners of a 17mm and chipped a few tiny spots off a ratchet on the edge where I've dropped it. Dunno if it's normal for all tools with chrome on them though.

 

[BirdMobile]

Anybody know what gives some of the chrome platings the "tint" or color they have?

 

[kythri]

Well, supposedly, at least for the Craftsman stuff, it's a higher nickel content in the pre-chrome plating, or a thinner chrome plating over the nickel.

 

[Farmall450]

Carlyle has one of the best chrome there is in off shore tools.

They certainly do, also, SK's is fabulous!

 

[sonvolt]

SK has great chrome, well it is their namesake

 

[d.mcfarland]

I'm a Cornwell chrome fan myself. They all get beat up, but their job is protection, not beautification! Haha sometimes I forget that myself.

 

[Glock Ness Monster]

Don't know how well it will hold up, but the chrome on my Armstrong flex heads is buttery smooth. Looks like a mirror. You could shave in those things.

 

[BirdMobile]

I did some more research.
It looks like the Craftsman "G" series (G, G1, G2, G2D) plating is either Nickel plating, or trivalent Chromium.
Anybody know for sure which it is? Whatever it is, I like it. No rust or chipping on ANY of my G-Code craftsman sockets, and I've piled up close to 400 of them at this point with all my pairs and spares.

 

[kythri]

I can't find an earlier deal I read, but I was under the assumption that most decorative/protective chrome plating was a copper/nickel/chrome process.

 

[pipsters]

I did some more research.
It looks like the Craftsman "G" series (G, G1, G2, G2D) plating is either Nickel plating, or trivalent Chromium.
Anybody know for sure which it is? Whatever it is, I like it. No rust or chipping on ANY of my G-Code craftsman sockets, and I've piled up close to 400 of them at this point with all my pairs and spares.

Those are just nickel plated. SK has the extra chrome on top making them so purdy. You can still triple chrome in the US it's just expensive.

FWIW, those G sockets are hit and miss. A few years ago I got the 299 piece Cman socket set. A full 20% of them rusted on the outside chrome within 12 months. I swapped them and so far the rest have been fine.

 

[kythri]

Those are just nickel plated.

I'm trying to dig up the thread, but one of the Danaher reps on this board has contradicted this.

 

[BirdMobile]

I'm pretty sure they are chrome over nickel, I've seen a LOT of nickel plating, but never in such a dark coloration. Almost gunmetal gray, but more brown.