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Snap On socket chroming issue

m4a3master

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Nov 10, 2013
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I recently bought a new Snap on set 246AFSM, and have never had any experience with Snap on sockets. I got the set off eBay, and I just wanted to make sure if this is normal chroming?

Thanks

20150912_181058_zps9ky8bavn.jpg

20150912_181058_zps9ky8bavn.jpg

20150912_181201_zpsprfsfj7s.jpg
 
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404

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Re: Snap On socket Chroming

Are those supposed to be new? They look like hell to me.
 

Skin

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Its normal. Depending on both the size and brand the chrome often doesn't fully coat the inside so they spray a corrosion coating. That's what the dull silver is.
 

popparoach

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Those look counterfeit.the nuts and bolts are definitely not going to like that socket being used on them.you should return those and get some real ones.-s
 
OP
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m4a3master

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Once you use them and they get dirty and scratched up inside and out, it will be a moot point. :beer:

Of course I know, I'm going to post up another picture of another one I found in the bunch that really looks... well, you get the point. I just want to make sure they're not counterfeits.
 

redwrench60

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Until I joined this site I had no idea how many people stare lovingly into the inside of sockets. I couldn't tell you what the inside of the Snap On sockets I bought over twenty years ago looked like because I was too busy using them! I'd rather stare lovingly at the things I build with the sockets than at the sockets themselves.
 

trxrx7

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i got a semi deep set for free from my snap on guy on one of the deals i made with him, they look just like yours. to be honest i think snap on sockets are a waste of money the only snap on sockets i would buy again are impact swivels, because the cheap ones will explode and hit you in the head. my taiwan sockets are holding up just as good as my snap ons and i loose a socket before i break one and i can buy a whole set for the price of one snap on socket. i do love snap on tools and they are great quality (half of my tools are snap on) but i dont think their sockets are that much better for the amount of money you pay for them. i would only buy a set if they were at least half off.
 

PJNJ

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Sounds like a "major quality control problem". Where's Adam? You know - SK is "not going to survive" because of it. :lol:

Like others have already said - use them. It doesn't matter. Grease, oil and scratches will cover that right up. What matters is if they fit the fastener correctly and get the job done. Like others before me said, I never really looked inside a socket for chroming issues before I joined this forum. I just used them and if they took the fastener off, they passed.

:beer:
 
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XxToolAholicxX

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They are fine.. They don't chrome the inside.. Spray some WD40 on the inside put them to use they will clean up nice.. It takes too much money to make counterfeit so I haven't seen a fake one yet or heard of one but lots of rumors...
-------------------------------------------------------
I am a ToolAholic, Sometimes I regret it, Especially when the Toolman won't give me no credit
 
OP
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m4a3master

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They are fine.. They don't chrome the inside.. Spray some WD40 on the inside put them to use they will clean up nice.. It takes too much money to make counterfeit so I haven't seen a fake one yet or heard of one but lots of rumors...


Thanks buddy will do.

:lol: --> I am a ToolAholic, Sometimes I regret it, Especially when the Toolman won't give me no credit
 

Adam.C

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Someone a while back said a company (maybe Danaher) paints the inside of their sockets and people here have believed this nonsense ever since. Here it is repeated again. I'd be willing to bet NO company paints the insides of their sockets silver. That matte gray finish is chrome! Snap On chromes the inside of their sockets. So does SK. No paint.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4993078&postcount=139

This is chrome loss and flaking plating, not paint. The chunk of stuff is nickel and chrome on probably polishing debris.

Chrome does not cover surface imperfections. It exaggerates them. Almost all tools are first plated with some softer base metal. Some advertise their finish as "nickel chrome". But it's two seperate platings.

The base plating is highly polished prior to chroming. The insides of the sockets, can't be polished, so any little surface defects in the tool steel, will be exaggerated by the chrome on the interior. This is not necessarily cause for concern. But this is why you see shiny at the top, then the dull surface inside. And because it's not an easy surface to clean, the plating may be a bit spotchy*.

The best stuff you can use to clean and chrome is all toxic carcinogenic ****. Cut the US manufacturers a little slack. They have to comply with federal environmental regs China and Taiwan don't have. But if you buy new tools with chrome missing from the exterior, send them back. If you get the same problems back again, switch brands.
 
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m4a3master

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20150912_210040_zpsomiqnjaz.jpg
Thanks for the reply. My main concern is for the two sockets out of the set (one pictured above) that look like specs of metal on the inside. I don't want them to rust prematurely, or not have corrosion resistance on the inside.
Someone a while back said a company (maybe Danaher) paints the inside of their sockets and people here have believed this nonsense ever since. Here it is repeated again. I'd be willing to bet NO company paints the insides of their sockets silver. That matte gray finish is chrome! Snap On chromes the inside of their sockets. So does SK. No paint.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4993078&postcount=139

This is chrome loss and flaking plating, not paint. The chunk of stuff is nickel and chrome on probably polishing debris.

Chrome does not cover surface imperfections. It exaggerates them. Almost all tools are first plated with some softer base metal. Some advertise their finish as "nickel chrome". But it's two seperate platings.

The base plating is highly polished prior to chroming. The insides of the sockets, can't be polished, so any little surface defects in the tool steel, will be exaggerated by the chrome on the interior. This is not necessarily cause for concern. But this is why you see shiny at the top, then the dull surface inside. And because it's not an easy surface to clean, the plating may be a bit spotchy*.

The best stuff you can use to clean and chrome is all toxic carcinogenic ****. Cut the US manufacturers a little slack. They have to comply with federal environmental regs China and Taiwan don't have. But if you buy new tools with chrome missing from the exterior, send them back. If you get the same problems back again, switch brands.
 

popparoach

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Someone a while back said a company (maybe Danaher) paints the inside of their sockets and people here have believed this nonsense ever since. Here it is repeated again. I'd be willing to bet NO company paints the insides of their sockets silver. That matte gray finish is chrome! Snap On chromes the inside of their sockets. So does SK. No paint.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4993078&postcount=139
This.how could you only chrome the outside when its a dip process?

This is chrome loss and flaking plating, not paint. The chunk of stuff is nickel and chrome on probably polishing debris.

Chrome does not cover surface imperfections. It exaggerates them. Almost all tools are first plated with some softer base metal. Some advertise their finish as "nickel chrome". But it's two seperate platings.

The base plating is highly polished prior to chroming. The insides of the sockets, can't be polished, so any little surface defects in the tool steel, will be exaggerated by the chrome on the interior. This is not necessarily cause for concern. But this is why you see shiny at the top, then the dull surface inside. And because it's not an easy surface to clean, the plating may be a bit spotchy*.

The best stuff you can use to clean and chrome is all toxic carcinogenic ****. Cut the US manufacturers a little slack. They have to comply with federal environmental regs China and Taiwan don't have. But if you buy new tools with chrome missing from the exterior, send them back. If you get the same problems back again, switch brands.
this. How does anyone only chrome the outside of a socket when its a dip process?
 

Skin

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Someone a while back said a company (maybe Danaher) paints the inside of their sockets and people here have believed this nonsense ever since. Here it is repeated again. I'd be willing to bet NO company paints the insides of their sockets silver

That's all well and good but you're 100% wrong. Almost every socket manufacturer the world over has an anti-corrosion application for the inside of their sockets. Some do it depending on size and type. SK does it to every socket which has been reconfirmed by a rep. In short you're spouting nonsense here.

The best stuff you can use to clean and chrome is all toxic carcinogenic ****. Cut the US manufacturers a little slack. They have to comply with federal environmental regs China and Taiwan don't have. But if you buy new tools with chrome missing from the exterior, send them back. If you get the same problems back again, switch brands.

You're referring to copper nickel chrome plating and hexavalent vs trivalent processes. Taiwan hasn't used hexavalent in over a decade and most Chinese manufacturers switched roughly 5 years ago. Everyone is using essentially the same process and its been that way for quite awhile.
 
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Hiball

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20150912_210040_zpsomiqnjaz.jpg
Thanks for the reply. My main concern is for the two sockets out of the set (one pictured above) that look like specs of metal on the inside. I don't want them to rust prematurely, or not have corrosion resistance on the inside.

I believe you are severely overthinking things, if it's keeping you up at night, contact Snap on and see what they will do for you, and before all the "got to have receipts" comments roll in, know that there are plenty of good customer service stories around this joint that didn't require receipts, just don't take it personally when the ******* the other end giggles at you.

On a side Note... I would personally be embarrassed to even think about creating a thread like this.. Lol Anyone that has ever taken a picture a shiny surface knows that every little spec is amplified. I'm curious? Are you guys using your sockets as Ketchup cups to dip your fries in? I have never, ever even thought about even looking inside my sockets, one battle with a fastener will quickly erase anything that isn't supposed to be there. With that said.... That's only my opinion, I didn't pay for the set, so as the ole saying goes "Opinions are like ... " Well you get the picture.

Good luck with your dilemma OP. :eyecrazy:
 
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AmateurMechanic

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they do not chrome inside of the sockets........chrome is thick and can crack/ chip

Then post a pic of the stamping on the socket.....they look like every socket I've seen cause nobody chromes the inside.

Really? All of my Gearwrench, Kobalt, and Craftsman USA sockets are chromed on the inside.

They look like the socket on the left in this photo:
8553610610_78fd8741fe_h.jpg
 
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Adam.C

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That's all well and good but you're 100% wrong. Almost every socket manufacturer the world over has an anti-corrosion application for the inside of their sockets. Some do it depending on size and type. SK does it to every socket which has been reconfirmed by a rep. In short you're spouting nonsense here.

Sorry, gotta call your bluff here. Can anyone show me a picture of a socket with paint inside from the factory? Wipe it with mineral spirits and see paint residue on a paper towel or q-tip?

The anti-corrosion dip in the Snap On video was a mucky brown oil or wax, not silver paint people that was flaking off inside the SK sockets and coming out in metal looking chunks. That was plating.

The insides of sockets are Chrome PLATED. The only way to stop the plating would be to mask the insides. I can't imagine anyone doing that.
 

Adam.C

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20150912_210040_zpsomiqnjaz.jpg
Thanks for the reply. My main concern is for the two sockets out of the set (one pictured above) that look like specs of metal on the inside. I don't want them to rust prematurely, or not have corrosion resistance on the inside.

What size is this socket please? I think that socket was used on an impact gun. Notice how the wear pattern isn't uniform, but concentrated on the lefty loose side. We are looking at a used, possibly misused socket. Not a factory flaw.

By the way, the inside of this socket is chromed. That ain't paint and it ain't bare steel either. Its dull because they couldn't polish the nickel in there. The polisher only touched in the inner flats down so far.
 
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m4a3master

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What size is this socket please? I think that socket was used on an impact gun. Notice how the wear pattern isn't uniform, but concentrated on the lefty loose side. We are looking at a used, possibly misused socket. Not a factory flaw.

By the way, the inside of this socket is chromed. That ain't paint and it ain't bare steel either. Its dull because they couldn't polish the nickel in there. The polisher only touched in the inner flats down so far.

It's a 15mm shallow.
 

Charlief

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Hey you know what?! Return them to your EBAY dealer and have him take care if it for you.

See how that goes for ya
 

APEowner

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No help for the OP but he's going to fit in well here and I now have an almost irresistible urge to go look inside the sockets that I've been happily using for over three decades without ever examining the internal chrome.
 

Charlief

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No help for the OP but he's going to fit in well here and I now have an almost irresistible urge to go look inside the sockets that I've been happily using for over three decades without ever examining the internal chrome.

Yup. Just another super **** OCD geek.
 

Loscaldazar

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SK chromes and then applies a paint on the inside of their sockets. A company rep has confirmed this for us, as well as many of us actually using the sockets. The paint slowly wears off over the first few uses (and it only wears off where the bolt contacts the socket). It reveals a nice layer of chrome beneath. I don't know why you think SK doesn't paint the inside of their sockets. They do. That doesn't mean they don't chrome. They do both.

Also, here is a picture of some Danaher sockets (craftsman). Notice the inconsistent interior finish? They paint the inside of their sockets too (over the chrome again).

attachment.php
 
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