Using those commemorative gold plated tools as actual tools

[noahwins]

Regardless of how hard you'd get clowned on the shop floor for pulling out a blinged out commemorative Dale Earnhard 1/2" air impact wrench (Limited Edition #724) to blast lugnuts off a Corolla, could you use any of these as hand tools?

I was thinking because like all "collectors items," they're not worth much as collectors items, they're unused, they're relatively affordable for genuine Snap On/Mac/Bonney/whatever and they're gold plated so they'd never rust or tarnish. My Bondhus allen keys are all gold plated and I use those all the time.

Or would the gold plate flake off instantly under any real use?

Saturday night and I'm cruising eBay for tools.

 

[3baygarage]

I think they flake easily. I’ve not used them but I have some of the Mac wrenches that were used and flaking. Seeing some of the Bonney ratchets that were used, it looks like they did not hold up well. Sometimes you see the Mac stuff in the case and it’s been flaking or rusting, but there‘s no telling where they’ve been stored or if they were used.

 

[B_Bimmer]

I have considered this myself many times, those gold sets go cheap, IF they are the same tools underneath.

 

[4xdog]

Somehow one of the "gold" Craftsman CAB-handled Phillips screwdrivers made it into my desk drawer upstairs. From some group at an estate sale years ago IIRC.

It's as much junk as any CM Phillips. If it got used more than once or twice a year I'd pitch it.

 

[davethorik]

I used to really want one of those gold Bonney 3/8 flex head ratchets that came as the mopar service award. I finally laid my hands on one and it's a thin plastic coating like cellulose over the chrome, flakes easily.

I have one Bondhus gold guard hex key, long ball end 1/2". It's wearing like other hex keys do, although it's actual 14k plating I believe.

 

[noahwins]

Good example. Gold IR231 for $250 + shipping OBO. Looks like new.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125th-Anni...333742?hash=item48b4b3e4ee:g:k5kAAOSwiJhbx1~t

I have one Bondhus gold guard hex key, long ball end 1/2". It's wearing like other hex keys do, although it's actual 14k plating I believe.

I read on their website it's some special electrostatic gold plating process. Not like getting your car door handles chromed.

My thing is I hate it when whatever metal they use for hex keys and bits rusts. The shop I used to work at was literally right on the Bay under a marine layer and tools (and cars and hardware) rusted so quickly, even trying to treat the tools with Fluid Film.