Thread: Spanner sizes

Originally Posted by mike48

While we are talking about WW spanners, and, just slightly off topic, I have always wondered about the coating used on my dad's WW spanners, bought probably about 1950 or so.

Attachment 333852

The photo shows the colour fairly well; it is a dull grey.
For the photo, I haven't cleaned them, other than a wipe with metho.

The spanners really don't rust, and geez, they are very durable.

So please, just what is this Sidchrome coating?

mike

I haven't ever seen Sidchrome spanners with other than Chrome plating that I can recall except for impact sockets, but your spanners appear to be plated underneath the grey coating, so I am wondering if they have been given a light coating of etch primer, perhaps to help identify them as being the property of your father.
Rob.

Originally Posted by Ropetangler

I haven't ever seen Sidchrome spanners with other than Chrome plating that I can recall except for impact sockets, but your spanners appear to be plated underneath the grey coating, so I am wondering if they have been given a light coating of etch primer, perhaps to help identify them as being the property of your father.
Rob.

My Sidchome A/F and WW spanners that I bought in the 60s are matt finished, not bright chromed. I agree with Rob though, I suspect your have been "branded" in an attempt to stop them "walking".

Hmmm!

I had another very close look at my Sidchrome WW spanners with a 10X loupe.

They are in fact coated with what may be paint, but gee, it's good.
You can see it in one of the photos with slightly raised edges.
The coating is just so even, and has stood a helluva lot of work.
The coating will scrape off with a knife.
And, there doesn't seem to be chrome underneath, or if there is, it is matte finish.

Considering that it is a greyish finish, I wonder if it could be ex RAAF?
Or could it be a "War Finish" to save chrome.
Jury out?

Site admin, please move me if you think I am hijacking.

P1150685lo.jpgP1150687lo.jpgP1150691lo.jpgP1150693lo.jpg

Originally Posted by chambezio

Just to keep us on our toes, have you noticed that when selecting cup/hex bolts from Bunnies you need to have 2 spanners on hand? They are selling galvanised bolts that are metric and shiny nickel bolt that are AF. The gal bolts are 10mm while the nickel bolts are 3/8". The nut sizes look the same but you will notice how different they are when you put a spanner on them.
I got caught only the other day with a couple of nuts. I was using 3?8" threaded rod from the hardware and had some nuts from another job. All but one nut required a 15mm spanner but one needed 14mm??? I recken it was a "ringer"
Around 1977 I bought a Landcruiser Truck and thought I should get a descent socket set. I ended up buying a Sidchrome set with metric and AF all ½" drive. The cost was around $230. I wondered if I had done the right thing because $230 in those days was a lot of money. Well all these years later I can answer myself saying Yes it was a good move. I am no mechanic but over the years this set came in handy for a mate (who is a mechanic) to use when we have been doing work on vehicles and he didn't have a particular sized socket.

In 1978 I bought a socket set including metric, AF and WW from the Shell at Holden Hill, Adelaide, for $50. I replaced the wrench with a Sidchrome and one socket that wore out. All the rest are still in use. I don't use them on a daily basis, but they have fixed a lot of cars etc over the years.

That was a good move.

Dean