chrome

[electrathon]

Why should one remove the chrome plate.

china

The quality of the Crafttools is very low. Few of them are shaped properly to do the job they were origionally designed to do. The unfortionate part is that they have gotten bigger over the years, making it impossible to do fine or intricate tooling. The chrome also smooths out the impressions that the tool is making.

Many people resort to regrinding the tools to be the proper size, this is where the chrome really is a problem. Chrome plating is very hard. the metal the Crafttools are made from is very soft. So, they are easy to reshape, once the chrome is gone. The trouble is that it is tough to remove a hard coating that is stuck to a soft underlayer (think of it like trying to peal a hard boiled egg that has stuck to the white.

[BearMan]

Hi,

Yes, it's pretty easy to remove the chrome. All you need is a torch, & a wire brush. Just heat the tool enough to make the metal expand a little, NOT red hot, & then wire brush while hot. Be sure to wear eye protection, & not near anything flamable!! By heating the tool, it cracks the chrome, making it easy to remove. Chrome, by it's nature, kinda fills in the recesses, & grooves of the tool, making it less crisp. Once removed, & polished, you will see the way the tool should be. One thing to concider though. Steel by itself, will blacken damp leather. Thats the reason they need to be polished well. Even after polishing, it still happens a little. Not a big problem. If it still happens, just wipe the affected area with Lemon juice, & the stain will disappear! I hope this help,,, Ed

The quality of the Crafttools is very low. Few of them are shaped properly to do the job they were origionally designed to do. The unfortionate part is that they have gotten bigger over the years, making it impossible to do fine or intricate tooling. The chrome also smooths out the impressions that the tool is making.

Many people resort to regrinding the tools to be the proper size, this is where the chrome really is a problem. Chrome plating is very hard. the metal the Crafttools are made from is very soft. So, they are easy to reshape, once the chrome is gone. The trouble is that it is tough to remove a hard coating that is stuck to a soft underlayer (think of it like trying to peal a hard boiled egg that has stuck to the white.

[cybertracy]

Also consider the weld on some of the craftools may come apart if too much pressure is applied to the tip while wire brushing. I was warned to keep the tool as cool as possible when using a fine wire wheel to buff off the chrome. I had some luck using a stainless steel wire brush with a dremel (without heating the tool), but it took a VERY long time to get it naked. I'll try the torch method, if I brake a few they are cheap to replace (hence the problem in the first place!)

Thank you Trav & all for this topic.

[china]

Thanks

china

The quality of the Crafttools is very low. Few of them are shaped properly to do the job they were origionally designed to do. The unfortionate part is that they have gotten bigger over the years, making it impossible to do fine or intricate tooling. The chrome also smooths out the impressions that the tool is making.

Many people resort to regrinding the tools to be the proper size, this is where the chrome really is a problem. Chrome plating is very hard. the metal the Crafttools are made from is very soft. So, they are easy to reshape, once the chrome is gone. The trouble is that it is tough to remove a hard coating that is stuck to a soft underlayer (think of it like trying to peal a hard boiled egg that has stuck to the white.

[Trav]

Thanks to all for your input. Trav