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I just ordered the TEKTON 3/8 Inch Drive Deep 6-Point Impact Socket Set, 37-Piece (1/4-1 in, 6-24 mm) on Amazon, it was delivered with each socket heavily lubricated (with what looks like oil). There was a cardboard piece in between both ends of the case, and it was pretty wet. You can find the data sheet for it here which shows the set is made from Chromium-Vanadium (Cr-V). Does this need to be lubricated or stored lubricated? Ths spec sheet above also says,

  • "All pieces have a corrosion-resistant manganese phosphate coating."

It sounds all the more like this shouldn't be neccessary, but I'm wondering why they did it then.

Evan Carroll
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3 Answers3

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I store all of the tools used on my car with a very thin layer of oil - usually after using them they get a bit dirty so wiping off with a clean rag leaves enough to protect them.

I do not clean them with degreaser and leave them "dry" and unprotected.

Note, many metal items that are subject to long transport or storage times are shipped with a protective coating, this includes brake discs as an example. This needs cleaning off before use.

Solar Mike
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I asked this question to Tekton myself. I was mainly interested in knowing if corrosion, and not galling, was the reason for this coating.

Q: These sockets came coated with some kind of lubrication, what is it? What's the purpose of it anti-galling or anti-corrusion? Can it be removed?

Here was their response,

A: This is Nate from Tekton. These impact sockets ship with a coat of lubricant as a corrosion prevention measure, and we recommend that you maintain the sockets with a lubricating oil. If you remove the lubricant, it will not affect the performance of the sockets, but it will make them less resistant to rust.

So I take it that galling is not a concern here.

Evan Carroll
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The manganese phosphate ( "conversion") coating gives some corrosion protection for mild service. Tools are "mild" service , normally dry and oil coated. So they should be fine unless you use them in salt water. The Cr-V is an ordinary low alloy steel, so has about the same corrosion resistance as carbon steel.

blacksmith37
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