S-K tools closing doors?

[bimmer630]

Yeah the big stuff from 21 mm and up I have SK. they dont have the spreading issues up in those sizes. my 32mm wrench for bmw fan clutches is an SK and its been fine for years even after smacking it with a hammer to break the fan nut loose. i couldnt see paying 70 bucks for the mac or snapon equivalent.

I did notice the new snapon dual-80 ratchets dont say USA on them anymore. kinda sucks.. I didnt mind paying the extra bucks for their stuff when it was super nice and made by americans... Its funny though I will fork over money for foreign tools if they are made in France or Germany no problem. I have alot of stahlwille and HAZET stuff as well as french made FACOM. its all very nice stuff, although the german stuff has no warranty from what im told

[der affe]

i have yet to break a Hazet or Stahlwille too though. most of that stuff sees limited use though. i am pretty sure you can still warrenty it through SIR tools or Baum tools though.

[PxTx]

I've taken advantage of Home Depot's Husky tool program. The have a policy thet they will replace ANYONE's liftime tool if it breaks with theirs. So if a craftsman wrench breaks, you can bring it to them and get a lifetime warranty replacemnt with ther Husty equivalent.

So it may be a while, or they may never figure out the SK is no more. I've been happy with the Husky tools I have, and it beats having a broken SK tool I bet. YMMV

[Mossman]

Yeah I have a set of 6 point SK wrenches and the tips spread like crazy and I've even rounded off bolts using the 6 point end which is pretty ridiculous cuz they aren't that long, not the same leverage as a socket and a 2 foot breaker bar or anything.

Facom ratchets which I think are distributed by SK (at least I got mine from SK when I was in school) are the absolute shizzle.

[mrsleeve]

Yeah I have a set of 6 point SK wrenches and the tips spread like crazy and I've even rounded off bolts using the 6 point end which is pretty ridiculous cuz they aren't that long, not the same leverage as a socket and a 2 foot breaker bar or anything.

Facom ratchets which I think are distributed by SK (at least I got mine from SK when I was in school) are the absolute shizzle.

S&K USED to be the US distributor of FACOM in the US, but that relationship ended in 05 when Stanley Bought Facom. All though SK screwdrivers and a couple other minor things are still produced by Facom.

on the subject of ratchets I really want to get a snap F80 dual.

[der affe]

i wonder if FACOM is who makes/made the fine toothed ratchets for MAC. IIRC, they came out around 05

[mrsleeve]

i wonder if FACOM is who makes/made the fine toothed ratchets for MAC. IIRC, they came out around 05

yup almost 100% sure of that.


there is a little story/rumor that was flying around after Stanley bought facom, that they were going to change Facom production to China and Taiwan. SO the Facom engineers said make us some samples and we will see if they meet our reputation. Well the Asian made wrenches came in and looked ok, but failed miserably in testing so the in a uncharacteristic move by some Frenchmen they took a stand ( I know eeegadds) and told Stanley they had a lot to learn about tool making and to take the asian made tools and SHOVE THEM

[bimmer630]

yeah the new mac ratchets have the same head in them as my 1/2" facom ratchet. thats cool cause my mac guy can now warranty it if it breaks.
same deal with my old proto ratchets. they are mac heads on them, but they dont say mac.
I bought the proto spinflex ratchet on closeout through grainger for 20 bucks, and the mac one that is the same thing is over 100.00 on the truck.

for a while SK ratchets were available with the palm control head which was the facom head

[M-technik-3]

Stanley got into some hot water when they were touting made in USA but exporting most of their manufacturing off shore. Connecticut took a big brunt in loss of jobs in that deal.

[txtorquemade]

Ok.. so whos tools ARE made in the USA anymore?

[der affe]

100% made in the USA, i am pretty sure noone.
finish machined and or chromes here, it all depends on the tool.

[BillBrasky]

https://www.wrighttool.com

Undoubtedly, their quality is equal to or better than every brand mentioned in this thread so far. They're made right here in Ohio. Here is a quote directly from their website.


Made Entirely in the U.S.A.
From the design and engineering to the forging and finishing, all work on Wright tools is performed in the United States by skilled American workers. We do not use foreign blanks or forgings. Even the steel we use is American-made.

[bimmer630]

I wonder why wright tools arent as widespread in the auto world. i guess they supply to industrial customers.
Also the old matco ratchets were made by wright, so im sure they still build tools for some big name tool companies

[b*saint]

www.wrighttool.com

Undoubtedly, their quality is equal to or better than every brand mentioned in this thread so far. They're made right here in Ohio. Here is a quote directly from their website.


Made Entirely in the U.S.A.
From the design and engineering to the forging and finishing, all work on Wright tools is performed in the United States by skilled American workers. We do not use foreign blanks or forgings. Even the steel we use is American-made.

I highly doubt that. Or even if its american made its coiled from recycled foreign steel.

Anywho some cool facts about steel:

http://www.steel.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Fact_Sheets4&CONTENTID=22071&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm

[browntown]

I wonder why wright tools arent as widespread in the auto world. i guess they supply to industrial customers.
Also the old matco ratchets were made by wright, so im sure they still build tools for some big name tool companies

Lots of following for wright tools on garagejournal forums. I think traditionally they were after the industrial market. Dunno.