SK tools

[BobombETA]

What's the general opinion on them? They seem to be a decent mid-range priced, American-made, tool brand. I'm just a weekend warrior, so I don't need Snap-on, Matco, MAC, etc. I always grew up around Craftsman, but I haven't bought anything from them in years and I've heard the latest isn't the greatest.

I'm looking to get a new 3/8" socket set and I'm liking their offerings, especially this:

http://www.tooltopia.com/sk-hand-tool-94549.aspx

[LateFan]

Weekend warrior here also.

I have a bunch of SK scattered in amongst Sears and Snap-on. They're good I think. Sears isn't what it used to be, but still good. Our Sears is closing, so I'm not sure what will happen with the tools. Our Ace hardware is starting to carry Craftsman, so maybe they'll take it over.

I've also bought some nice bits from Carlyle at NAPA that are good. A little 1/4" ratchet that is really nice.

[mrsleeve]

S&K up until the late 90's was among the top tier of for hand tools being a slight step down from Snap on. IIRC they were the 1st to develop and offer a reversible ratchet as well. All that said they had lots of issues financially and went through a couple of restructurings during 2002-2010. In 2010 they shut the doors for good, this is when the current owners stepped in and bought the name, Ideal Industries, whos other subsidiaries for hand tool making are not know for top quality professional hand tools. This said though they seemed committed to keeping production in the states, so they have built and opened a new warehouse and forge facility Outside of chicago, and have been using western forge to make a lot of the tools (western forge used to do a lot of mid level private brand stuff for danaher and other labels like usky and kobalt and is the one subsidiary that dose have a reputation for some kind of quality)

I love old S&K the supper chrome wrenches are awesome though a little thick to get into tight spaces. I dont have anything form the current Ideal Industries regime. The hang up right now that I know of is the Warranty, they want you send your broken shit to them in Chicago with some cash to cover the shipping and may or may not cover your old stuff. Not the take it a S&K dealer and get a new one, like most other over the counter higher quality tools makers.

S&K are still better than Craftsman (as they have been oust sourcing production to china for the last 3-4 years or so) and other home improvement emporium brands, and for weekend warrior use will likely be a great tool even with in the current ownership of the name. And that is not a bad price at all for a good quality socket set for both sae and metric in standard and deep well

[M-technik-3]

All budget tools are now made in Chenia. Yes, I misspelled that on purpose. If you can deal with that I feel that Craftsman tools for a budget and weekend wrencher are for the most part more than adequate.

[doorman]

I've got a few SK wrenches that I bought about 15yrs ago.
I use them for work everyday and have no complaints.

At the time they were a few steps up from craftsman and a step down from Snap-On

[agent]

Our Sears is closing, so I'm not sure what will happen with the tools.

Our Sears already closed, so I've been buying Kobalt stuff for the hand tools I need to add/replace. There's a Lowes 5 minutes from my house and another one 10 minutes from my office, so the convenience factor plays a big part in that decision. The fact that they offer basically the same sort of "bring it in and get a new one" replacement warranty does too.

[kts]

They seem to be a decent mid-range priced, American-made, tool brand.

^^ exactly this.

I have 3/8 and 1/2 socket sets from them and love them. The chrome is gorgeous. They have worked as advertised and I'm glad I made the investment in them.

I wanted a set for my track day portable tool box so I moved my old Craftsman to that tool box and the SK are in my garage/most frequently used tool box.

I also wanted to help support a company that has committed to being 100% made in the US and providing US jobs and I had the $ to spend on them.

[uturn]

I've turned my SK sockets into museum pieces along with my Bonney wrenches. Can't risk damaging them because it's a pain trying to find a replacement. I just use the truck brand tools now, found a few good deals on Craigslist and garage journal.

[TobyB]

I too seek out SK's older stuff at the junk places and swap meets.

The new stuff seems OK- I bought a couple of Philips screwdrivers, and
they've held up well.

Weller for wrenches, tho, for me- lighter, thinner, and as strong. And FEEL right...

t

[nando]

sears sucks. if you're paying for cheap Chinese garbage anyway, just get it from HF where at least the price makes sense. the last craftsman tool I bought broke the first time I used it.

[e30austin]

sears sucks. if you're paying for cheap Chinese garbage anyway, just get it from HF where at least the price makes sense. the last craftsman tool I bought broke the first time I used it.

This, fuck craftsman stuff anymore. Complete garbage.

I have a few older SK sockets and wrenches and do like them. I got married to snap on right out of tech school, though.

[LateFan]

This, fuck craftsman stuff anymore. Complete garbage.

Is that right….has it changed that fast? I haven't bought anything there in a while but an odd-sized socket or bent combi wrench.

[mrsleeve]

^

Yup, I am almost scared to use my pro line stuff on anything abusive for fear of breaking it and having to buy a quality replacement since even the pro line is going down hill in quality