Working on "decorative" fasteners without marring them?

[SZR48207]

Besides going extremely slow, is there some way to wrench on fasteners (nuts, bolt heads) that are exposed/decorative, without leaving socket impressions on them?

I've tried using tape, but the thicker tapes that protect the fastener tend to be too thick, and eventually gum up from the abrasion. I tried using a thin piece of foam, but on larger fasteners the amount of torque simply eats through it.

Example of a situation where you don't want to leave behind marks when you work on these fasteners.

 

[NYEngineer]

Use Snap On six point sockets. Expensive, yes but I do it and I get the desired result.

And make sure everything is clean.

 

[SZR48207]

Originally Posted by NYEngineer
Use Snap On six point sockets. Expensive, yes but I do it and I get the desired result.

And make sure everything is clean.


Yikes.. expensive answer for sure. Is it ANY of their six point sockets or a specific line of them?

 

[StevieC]

I've done electrical tape on wrenches in the past. Sometimes I will step up into an imperial or metric that is slightly bigger than what I need without the tape to make room for a couple windings of the tape and a snug fit. I find the high quality electrical tape the best, not the cheap stuff.

 

[Trav]

No problem, here you go.

https://store.snapon.com/Non-marring-Metric-Socket-Inserts-C754106.aspx

I use these from Kipp but I don't know if they available in the USA. The price is really right on the Snap on so go with them.

https://www.kipp.com/gb/en/Products...s/Tools/Sockets-and-plastic-inserts.html

 

[SZR48207]

Thanks Trav - Much more in my price range!