Craftsman chrome still bad ?

[OctoMan]

I've had problems with the chrome peeling off the newer C-man laser etched sockets. Anyone have problems with the full polish chrome on the box-end or open end wrenches? Do they even make the satin finished wrenches anymore?

 

[BirdMobile]

Craftsman started laser etching the size onto the socket with the "G2D" mfg. mark series. They are made in the U.S. by Danaher. All of the sockets I have from that series have excellent chrome, no chipping or flaking.
Later socket manufacture went to China, you can identify it by the lack of "made in U.S.A." stamp on the socket. It's ****, from what I've seen.

 

[motocross77]

I haven't had any problems with the wrenches, only the sockets.

 

[byoungblood]

I think the issue many have with the chrome on the last run of US made Craftsman sockets is that it wasn't as shiny as other sockets. There was an obvious change made to the plating process (some folks say it is more of a nickel plating) probably to keep the price down with the changes in environmental laws.

All that said, I've never had a problem with any Craftsman socket finish wise, except when I left a few out in the rain once.

 

[nyrapscalion]

the chinese prison labor must be slacking off.
Someone will be shot and the problem will go away.

Seriously though, never seen the chrome flake. Really old tools that haven't seen good care, yes some flake. More along the lines of worn off than flake.
the chinese stuff is complete garbage so it wouldn't surprise me if it flakes. I can imagine fasteners will e rounding off, sockets will be cracking, wrenches will stretch and distort...pretty sad it's come to this.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Never had a problem with chrome peeling on any Craftsman socket.

Of course the newest ones I own are over 15 years old. The oldest ones, almost 50 !

 

[blackwire]

Never had a problem with the chrome flaking off. I don't have any Chinese made ones though, so I can't speak for those. Why don't you just warranty them?