How do you fix a socket with flaking chrome?(or do you...)

[Shelbylex]

Good evening.

I have a 1985 Snap On TS341 socket which lived a hard life. Chrome is coming off - I pealed the pieces which came off easily but small ones still keep coming off. I do not want to catch a chrome flake under the skin, How do you guys fix it? (Extension in a drill and rotate it while holding sand paper around?)
Can obviously toss in the box of extras which I sometimes put on CL for cheap, but would prefer to keep since it's my only deep 1 1/16 6-point socket (the other one is SW-341 which is 12 point...)

...Before I get an advise about Snap On warranty: It came together with the box of used tools I bought. I suspect it had some scratches and was living in wet environment as some chrome pieces came off with light pulling in big chunks. Not a Snap On fault...

 

[rsanter]

I wire wheel them which takes the loose Crome off and smoothes the edges to where the stuck on Crome is

 

[Mr_B]

think i be inclined grit blast that .
Some era snapon chrome was real bad for flaking .

 

[Jlarson]

Yeah I just cookie wheel em and keep rolling. The bolt don't care what the socket looks like.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I would scrape off what I could, and hit it with a wire wheel or roloc disc. Some clear spray paint may help prevent any remaining chrome from being pulled up at the edges from use.

 

[KomatsuTech]

Scotch Brite disc on a die grinder is what I use. You just have to be careful, that flaking chrome can be like a razor blade.

 

[RTM]

I'd use a scotchbrite before sandpaper. Crud, Komatsu beat me too it. But you can also spin the socket, vs the die grinder he mentioned.

 

[DOUGD]

I would wire wheel the loose chrome off, definitely will draw blood someday. I worked in a Rolls Royce jet engine shop and flaking chrome had the potential to cause real issues on an engine rebuild!

 

[Fedwrench]

knock the big stuff off then use ultrafine wet dry sandpaper to feather edge what's left. do you have or know someone with a sand blaster?
How often do you use a deep 1 1/16 socket? You might need to let that one go and replace it.

 

[Shelbylex]

Thank you, gentlemen!!!

Fredwrench, no luck with sand blaster at this point. I do not remember ever using 1 1/16 socket, but I know that the moment I let it go, I will need it for something random (plus I sometimes let my some of my neighbors use my tools - there was a recent request for this size in 6 point recently for water heater ?plug) Thus I will keep it till I find another one

What grid sandpaper would you use on it?

From all the options, I always have some scotchbrite in the house. I guess I will start with scotchbrite (manually) and then sandpaper.
It does not need to be a beauty queen, but I would like to have a functional socket for the day I need one.

 

[gigamel]

Remove ALL the Chrome - will pell off eventually - sandpaper/file.
No lathe? Pass through bolt plus nut and spacer is better than extension - made my self a 15 mm with smaller outer dia. for special purpose.
Do you have a deep 27 mm?
Same thing, 1 1/16" = 27 mm.

 

[Shelbylex]

Thank you, Gigamel . I have a deep 27mm from SK, but only in 12 point...

I will try to scotchbrite it and then use fine wet sandpaper if somebody points me to the appropriate grid to use.

 

[humber2]

An electroplating shop can chemically remove back to steel, might be cheaper to replate than buy a new one.

Hydrochloric acid dissolves the chrome which is only a few atoms thick atop the nickel which is flaking from the copper flash coat.

 

[lardy1]

I have an old SK 1-3/16 socket I bought at a sale that was flaking. I did the wire wheel thing (carefully). If it had been a regularly used socket I would have replaced it but how often will I use 1-3/16? The only thing I've encountered that it fits is the clutch basket retainer on my ladies 2011 Harley.

 

[seber]

An electroplating shop can chemically remove back to steel, might be cheaper to replate than buy a new one.

Hydrochloric acid dissolves the chrome which is only a few atoms thick atop the nickel which is flaking from the copper flash coat.

I don't doubt the nickel can be removed chemically, but not with hydrochloric acid. It attacks steel much faster than nickel. You would wind up with a very pitted part before the nickel was gone. If there were no scratches, it would work well, as the reaction would stop at the copper coating. This may be what you were thinking of.

 

[Sumboodie]

Nearly lost a finger to razor sharp chrome peeling off a near new Craftsman socket.

When I got grief about replacement at Sears, I told them I'd gladly let Sears pay medical Bill's instead.

 

[JimDon]

Quick dip in muriatic acid will clean off that peeling chrome. Make sure to have a clear water bath right there to stop the reaction as soon as you remove the piece from the acid. Wear your ppe and do this outside only. Any paint store, dept. at big box store stocks it. Caution when doing this process. Good luck, Jim

 

[Just_Steve]

I would just give it to my Snap On guy and he would give me a new socket. Thats what you pay the big bucks for.

 

[Htscheg]

Regardless of how you got it, call snap on they may just warranty it

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Thank you, Gigamel . I have a deep 27mm from SK, but only in 12 point...

I will try to scotchbrite it and then use fine wet sandpaper if somebody points me to the appropriate grid to use.

Anything above 200grit should be decent. IMO there is no "correct" grit defined by science to file down loose chrome. You're basically just helping loose bits fall off, and tapering the remaining interfaces between the solid chrome plating and the socket. I doubt 40grit would work well.

 

[Buckgnarly]

Peeling chrome is grounds for retiring tools for me. Got sliced once by it and that's enough, cuts you faster then you can feel it!

Try calling Snap On, they have wicked friendly CS who have helped me out quite a few times, worth a shot even with honesty.

 

[DAustin]

I have an old SK 1-3/16 socket I bought at a sale that was flaking. I did the wire wheel thing (carefully). If it had been a regularly used socket I would have replaced it but how often will I use 1-3/16? The only thing I've encountered that it fits is the clutch basket retainer on my ladies 2011 Harley.

Don't you love it when you find something like that where you have to buy a socket for just one application and don't really need it for anything other thing than that.

 

[Olafur]

I use wire wheel on an bench grinder for these. It will remove loose chrome and rust and hammer the edges smooth enough for the socket to be safe to use. If not smooth enough for your taste, turn it in a drill and use sandpaper to smooth the edges of the remaining chrome plating.

 

[finn]

Chuck it in the round file and buy a new one. You already spent too much time trying to refurbish a garbage socket.

I’ve gone down this path myself. You’re eventually going to buy a new one anyway.

 

[ecotec]

I just throw or give away tools with peeling chrome.

 

[Mr_B]

If you can't grit blast it, bolt and nut it through the drive square and put it in pillar drill or hand drill in a bench stand/vise on low speed and loop some emery cloth round it and work it till you like the finish .
Wouldn't waste time with weak sandpaper or scotch brite as socket looks to be needing a fairly aggressive effort .
Can get them looking pretty decent finish effect if spend time and use finer emery cloth for a final stage .

 

[billford]

Get it replaced under snap-on warranty or risk the chrome cutting your skin and causing a serious infection.

 

[Al Borland]

Peeling Chrome is a trip to the trash.

 

[FMB4]

Yep, I too say warranty it.

 

[65ranchero]

Yep, I too say warranty it.

Yup! What they all said!!

 

[i4ni]

If you're not a regular customer Snappy might tell you to buy something or go pound sand. Not sure if there's any upside in it for him. To de-chrome it, lathe would be better but you could chuck it up with a bolt and nut in a drill press and use a grinder with a worn out flap disk to carefully remove the chrome if you are emotionally attatched to it. Might not be the prettiest gal at the dance but would still be able to get a nutt off. Ha Ha

 

[wafrederick]

Snap On will warranty that,Chrome peeling is covered under warranty now.One reason why it is for safety reasons,cuts the user

 

[Bubba Fett]

Try to warranty it. If you can't, you can pick up a Power Torque deep well 1 1/16 for around $9 at O'Reilys. You might be able to find a Lyle socket for not much more.

 

[KnurledNut]

Thank you, gentlemen!!!

Fredwrench, no luck with sand blaster at this point. I do not remember ever using 1 1/16 socket, but I know that the moment I let it go, I will need it for something random (plus I sometimes let my some of my neighbors use my tools - there was a recent request for this size in 6 point recently for water heater ?plug) Thus I will keep it till I find another one

What grid sandpaper would you use on it?

From all the options, I always have some scotchbrite in the house. I guess I will start with scotchbrite (manually) and then sandpaper.
It does not need to be a beauty queen, but I would like to have a functional socket for the day I need one.

IIRC, the anode rod is 1-1/16. BTDT.

 

[JeepYJ]

Why not call SnapOn and ask about warranty? A premium socket shouldn’t have chrome flake off.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Why not call SnapOn and ask about warranty? A premium socket shouldn’t have chrome flake off.

Oh it will fall off eventually. Difference is a premium socket should have a premium warranty.

Socket is from 85, 36 years old. Eh, might be worth a try. I'd probably just grind the loose off and use it, or more likely just get a replacement.

Its like when I wore out my $9.99 HF multicolor sockets after 5+ years of pro use. Nah, they dont owe me anything, they're just wallowing out due to use. Like every brand does. I felt I got my 10 bucks. Counter point. Somebody paid a lot of money for the kind of warranty snap on offers, so is it unrealistic for OP to inquire as to replacment? No, probably not. All depends on ones compass in life, IMO there isnt really a right answer to that.

 

[RedneckWelder]

My snap on guy warrantied an 80 year old ratchet. A 36 year old socket no sweat.

 

[Neggy]

$35 bucks new on EBAY, how much is your time and materials worth to you?

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To fix it right? reverse the plating process, remove the chromium, nickle and copper, then hit it with some cerakote

 

[908Jim]

I would wire wheel the loose chrome off, definitely will draw blood someday. I worked in a Rolls Royce jet engine shop and flaking chrome had the potential to cause real issues on an engine rebuild!

It is not uncommon to see black oxide tools required in "mission critical" environments for this exact reason.

 

[rlitman]

It is not uncommon to see black oxide tools required in "mission critical" environments for this exact reason.

Yup: