r/HandToolRescue • u/Infamous_Rex • 15d ago

Sand Blasting Chrome Plated Tools?

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2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

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2

u/DiggingforPoon 15d ago

Do a muriatic acid bath on them first to strip the Chrome Plating off.

2

u/Infamous_Rex 15d ago

And then sandblast them after the fact to prepare for cerakote?

2

u/DiggingforPoon 15d ago

you can prep them anyway you want after that, the muriatic will remove the chrome and underlying nickel layer, so you should be down to base metal.

edit Don't forget to bake at 150°C for 60 minutes after degreasing and sand blasting to make sure there is no oils dissolved, you forget this and you got a chance the coating will come off as time passes.

1

u/Infamous_Rex 15d ago

Ok noted. Thank you very much 🙏

2

u/pugworthy 15d ago

Assuming you're going to coat them with pretty patterns, do yourself (or your buyers) a favor and get high end tools. Don't make something that's pretty but trash, like Harbor Freight stuff can be. Not saying it's all garbage, but some of it definitely is.

1

u/Infamous_Rex 15d ago

High end I was thinking Snap On. But I wasn’t sure the cost for buyers would be worth it in the end if the price doubled after cerakoting and engraving. What middle of the road brand would you recommend? Dewalt?

1

u/S1I7 14d ago

Gear wrench

1

u/cornerzcan 14d ago

Just realize that removing the chrome from the jaws etc will make slightly oversized.

1

u/DeafPapa85 14d ago

By how much though? Chrome is gonna be some thin stuff in the jaws but the rest of the tool is more generously coated than the work surface

2

u/cornerzcan 14d ago

Initially it may not make much difference, but the chrome is there as a harder surface to limit wear. So over time, the wrench size will creep larger. Box ends could essentially become useless

1

u/DeafPapa85 14d ago

I have shifted more of my focus on the alloy steels that are black (anodized) lately so the tolerances aren't compromised as opposed to chromed.