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Why are chrome plated tools more durable than wheels?

Hi I'm David Johansen.

yeah I read the page [Introduction to Chrome Plating], you never mention anything about the chrome plating that we find on our Snap On or Craftsman tools.
why is it that these tools are so difficult to damage the chrome plating and hardly EVER need polishing to remain shiny but the wheels on my bike need a really good going over with chrome polish after just a year (no longer come clean with a washing).

is this the 'hard chrome' that you refer to? yet you did not go on to a second page of data.

lover and owner of a lot of really pretty chrome

David Johansen
buyer - Wrentham, Massachusetts, USA
April 20, 2009

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Hi, David. I'm not sure what you are seeking or talking about with "second page of data", but the plating on these tools is the same kind of decorative nickel-chrome plating as on your wheels. Two possible explanations for the differences you perceive are, first, that a bike wheel suffers far more abrasion and environmental insults than a tool; second, tools are made from hardened steel, whereas wheels are made from soft steel or soft aluminum.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
April 20, 2009

In addition to what Ted said, I think that the tools get a thicker plating. The abuse that a wheel gets is probably far greater than the tool.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
April 23, 2009

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And wheels are outdoors, exposed to flying grit and rain and humidity, while tools are usually kept dry and often a bit oily. That said, there is some pretty lousy plating being done on both cheap tools (not Craftsman or Snap-On) and on some cheap bike wheels. I've seen rusty wheels on brand new Chinese made bikes at Wal*Mart.

The last I knew, a few years ago, Craftsman and Snap-On were USA made and the plating was good quality. In fact I was in the factory which made Craftsman and some other brands, and their plating processes were excellent.

Jeffrey Holmes, CEF
Spartanburg, South Carolina
April 24, 2009