Snap-On Vintage Socket And Evaporust

[HankMurphy]

I acquired an old Snap-on socket as part of a small purchase at an estate sale about six months ago and just came across it again.

It looks like a cross between the two sockets in this picture:

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/Photos/tools/snapon_12dr_so_unmarked_cropped_w560.jpg

It has the knurling pattern like the left one, but has the S-O logo like the one on the right. (Actually, the O is either too faint to read, or is omitted.)

The alloy-artifacts page with the details of these two is at:

http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/so-early-sockets-p2.html

Before someone says this thread is worthless without pictures...the socket is rusty, and the 'S' only shows up in the right lighting conditions with a magnifying lens. My wife cannot see it to take a picture!

So, my question for the Snap-on cognoscenti is: Can I put this in Evaporust, or willl that ruin it? This looks to be a fairly rare combination if alloy-artifacts hasn't seen it. I'm guessing it is from 1923 or slightly before.

Thanks in advance for any advice,

 

[tortron]

electrolysis may be your best bet

 

[snapmom]

Evaporust, 24 hours. Then wash it, Then take a fine (soft foamed back) sanding block and take the black off. Coat it with Gibbs and wipe off the excess. Will look just like the AA site socket then.

 

[HankMurphy]

Great, thank you, snapmom!

Just one question...what is Gibbs?

I have this mental image of surrounding the socket with BGs records...

Best regards,

 

[Mickey O]

I've been using a brass brush to take the black film off, works real well.

 

[snapmom]

Gibbs is a mega penetrant, ultra lubricant, corrosion inhibitor, and water replellant.

 

[chad s]

Quite honestly, Id get yourself a can of Gibbs before you try the evaporust. Soak the socket with a dousing of Gibbs, and let it sit for a few minutes, and then work the gibbs with a brass bristle hand brush, and you will be surprised at how much it will do.

I use the above process all of the time on snap on tools from the same era. It removes the red and brown rust, but keeps the steel still looking old. I have never used evaporust, but I think it will leave the socket with a bright silver steel finnish, which isnt the best thing to do, IMO.

As for the socket itself, variations in this era of socket are very common. Some of the S over O markings look to be hand struck (though doubtfully), and some more uniform. Some of them have heavier lettering, where some lighter, more delicate. There were several production lines, and manufacturing was also subcontracted out to other Milwaukee tool and forge companies, such as Interstate Drop Forge, and possibly Milwaukee Tool and Forge, and others. The sockets were made manually on lathes, so the knurling was done one at a time, prior to broaching, before parting from the stock, so the depth of the knurl will vary a lot.