Is SK any good these days?

[spencejm]

I'm looking to replace/upgrade my sockets and wrenches. I'm sick of Craftsman and really can't justify Snap-On although I do have about 10 of their screwdrivers. I had decided a couple of years ago to go with SK but then got distracted by other things and had not been paying attention to the tool world. It seems that SK has been having some issue and I'm just wondering if it's still a good tool or should I be looking elsewhere. What other brands are fairly easy to get and fall between Craftsman and Snap-On?

Thanks for your help.

Joe

 

[Skin]

they're a touch better than craftsman in terms of small things like quality of chrome in the sockets and like their ratchets, but otherwise its not much, if any, of a step up from Craftsman pro.

Perhaps look into Wright, Armstrong, Proto, or even Gearwrench if you dont mind something without the USA stampings.

If you bargain hunted to get where you are today and waited out for the great deals on craftsman tools, one things for sure, you'll spend money much faster with other brands on replacements, even if you shop as cheap as possible. As much hate as it gets Craftsman is still very affordable comparative to other tool brands.

I think the motto, if it aint broke dont fix it, kinda applies here but thats my own opinion.

by the by SK isnt in trouble, they filed for bankruptcy and the brand was purchased, and from what i understand for all intents and purposes are quite dead. Ideal will be manufacturing tools with the SK brand from now on in their own plants. The SK HQ based in Chicago for the last century is no more.

 

[vette-kid]

I find the quality of TopTul to be much better than Craftsman at comparable prices. Many guys on hear have tried them with good reviews.

 

[Fedwrench]

SK are generally good tools. The dust hasn't settled yet from their recent troubles so, it's too soon to tell what direction the brand name will take in the future. however, there are plenty of great SK tools on ebay. Shop around though because there are wide price ranges on the same item.
I personally don't care for SK superchrome combination wrenches though. There too wide in the hips around the boxed end but, that's just me.

 

[Davefr]

SK is a tiny notch below SO quality but at much better prices since they're retail vs dealer. In fact I like some of my SK tools more then SO.

However with the bankruptcy you better assume the SK warranty has gone "****" and there are no dealers left.

Maybe Ideal will rescue SK or maybe they'll send them to China like other Ideal tools. It remains to be seen.

 

[CamarosRus]

Fedwrench, I'm looking to replace much of my CRAFTSMAN 12 pt with 6 pt.

I was planning on not using CRAFTSMAN again, as I wanted a name with more cache,
but less money then S.O.

I'm thinking that I like the feature where the inside corners are radiused out (where each flat meets)

Could you give some USA mfg names to search for on EBAY............(as I'm thinking
the eventual resale for USA brands might be more attractive)

I THINK way too much!!!!!!!! It's like an addiction or sickness

Thanks,

 

[gnx547]

SK tools are great!! I have the 1/2, 3/8 swivel impact sockets and been using them for years with no problems. I also have the 1/4 semi deep sockets.

 

[Simplespeed]

About 5 years ago i got SK 1/4 socket set and wrench, 3/8 socket and wrench, a set of combo open wrenches and a set of long combo boxed wrenches. They all are holding up great and i use the wrenches quite a bit. I think the quality is much better than craftsman.

EDIT: The sockets wrenches that came with the socket sets **** balls.

 

[mrholeshot]

I would go as far as to say that the quality of SK sockets and Ratchets made up until a few months ago rivals Snap-On. I actaully think the sockets are better. The only downfall to SK was they didn't have an aggressive sales approch as Snap-On. I like Snap On ratchets better just from a comfort standpoint but they are no stronger than SK, things like extentions and othe ratchet accessories are to me just as good as Snap-On. I don't to excited over SK's superchome wrenches for the same reason as others have mentioned and Hate their screwdrivers. When it comes to sockets they are among the finest in the world. I don't think I've ever broke one.

 

[HandyManny]

S-K are great tools. Many professional automotive and aviation techs use them. They still make a few tools for the Craftsman line, and there is also at least one third party manufacturer for both who makes a few of the exact same tools for both Cman and S-K, as well as for Wright, Ridgid, and others, so I'm not sure why people say that S-K is a notch above Craftsman. Also no sure why some claim that S-K are a notch below Snap-On, they're every bit as good, only difference is that S-K's marketing and distribution strategy isn't on par with Snap-On's. It's all a matter of user preference and I've never broken an S-K tool of the ones that I own. The company itself is a crappy company lately, but their products seem to still be pretty darn good.

 

[kythri]

S-K are great tools. Many professional automotive and aviation techs use them. They still make a few tools for the Craftsman line, and there is also at least one third party manufacturer for both who makes a few of the exact same tools for both Cman and S-K, as well as for Wright, Ridgid, and others, so I'm not sure why people say that S-K is a notch above Craftsman. Also no sure why some claim that S-K are a notch below Snap-On, they're every bit as good, only difference is that S-K's marketing and distribution strategy isn't on par with Snap-On's. It's all a matter of user preference and I've never broken an S-K tool of the ones that I own. The company itself is a crappy company lately, but their products seem to still be pretty darn good.

Been paying much attention to SK lately?

 

[Wakefield]

Maybe there will still be "old new stock" or inventory out there for a while. Better hurry?
It's a shame that one of the finest choices is gone. Probably means the competition will have more freedom to raise prices. "And then there was only one"? I hope that one continues but I sure can't afford a lot of it.

 

[shotgunfatcat]

I am pretty sure sk will still be around. It seems to me that Ideal is putting a lot of time into them, and I am sure they are going to want a competitive tool. SK is a great company, as mentioned before they had horrible marketing ploys. I hope when they get set up they don't sell the tools at walmart or Kmart. Kind of takes the quality away making it too easy to get, especially at cheap chain stores.

 

[Theloniousmonk]

Yes, SK is great stuff...I love it.

And if you search, even locally, quite a few suppliers/industrial retailers/etc... are clearancing or have been clearancing SK to make room for a new brand/line... If you do some leg work, you can pick up quite a few SK at or below CM prices w/o much hassle.

SK/Ideal have alot to overcome and make up for, but I believe (along w/ many others) that they will be around for along time to come...

 

[HandyManny]

Been paying much attention to SK lately?

Enlighten me.

 

[highland512]

I wouldn't be afraid to buy SK tools even without the warranty. I have NEVER broken any of there wrenches and even if you did break one you can always find an orphan to replace it, and the 1 socket I have broke came from the abuse I put it through. Craftsman sockets can take a hike away from my toolbox after breaking a 3/4 socket with a standard length ratchet I will never use another. Look around there are great deals to be had on some of there tools, I just picked up a brand new 8mm-32mm super krome combo wrench set for $60.

 

[GrantCee]

They still make a few tools for the Craftsman line, and there is also at least one third party manufacturer for both who makes a few of the exact same tools for both Cman and S-K, as well as for Wright

What specific tools does this manufacturer make for both S-K and Wright?

 

[HandyManny]

****! I hadn't been completely aware until just now of what had happened to S-K Tools lately. I was aware that they had a strike a year or so ago, but had no idea they were just aquired by Ideal. I bet it's just a matter of time before Ideal moves production overseas. Ideal was making a lot of their stuff domestically until the last couple years or so when they started outsourcing and importing from China. Hopefully S-K will still remain a quality professional grade tool, but I would not mind at all if they made them more readily available and easier to buy than they've been.

 

[HandyManny]

What specific tools does this manufacturer make for both S-K and Wright?

For example Western Forge makes adjustable wrenches for both Craftsman, S-K, Wright, Ridgid, and even Williams. In fact they make the exact same adjustable for Cman, S-K, and Wright, only difference is the brand name forged into the finished product. They also make jaw blanks for the Ridgid pipe wrenches, as well as many types of pliers for various brands. Ridgid has them make a slightly different pattern adjustable wrench for them and they do make exclusive tools for some that are not common to other brands. I've also seen some Lisle tools rebranded for a few others including Proto, but not sure if Lisle rebrands anything for S-K.

 

[Skin]

Fedwrench, I'm looking to replace much of my CRAFTSMAN 12 pt with 6 pt.

I was planning on not using CRAFTSMAN again, as I wanted a name with more cache,
but less money then S.O.

I'm thinking that I like the feature where the inside corners are radiused out (where each flat meets)

Could you give some USA mfg names to search for on EBAY............(as I'm thinking
the eventual resale for USA brands might be more attractive)

I THINK way too much!!!!!!!! It's like an addiction or sickness

Thanks,

if its resale value you're interested in i'd steer clear of SK. Nobody is going to want your used tools if Ideal sources SK stamped tools from China and right now that seems very likely to me. They may do a trial run of domestic tools but i really dont think it will last. My opinion? Go with Wright or purchase sets of truck brand sockets through ebay which wont lose much value.

Not sure what these people are talking about either. SK is not far superior to Craftsman, at least the SK that had been making tools in the most recent years. The chrome quality was all over the place and quite a few of their products were imported or sourced from other domestic manufacturers. They made decent tools but their list prices were a joke. The quality of the product did not reflect a cost of 2-3x as much as C-Man.

Their screwdrivers are good, sockets were okay [but not worth $8-$10 a socket], ratchets are great, and box and open end non-ratcheting wrenches are good. But again i wouldnt pay a premium for any of this over C-Man, except for the ratchets since C-Man cant source a decent round head worth a damn anymore.

 

[tcheat]

Not a pro, but I really like all my SK screwdrivers, sockets and ratchets. I have a couple that I got from my dad and I've added to the collection with the hard handled screwdrivers and quite a few sockets. I've never had a problem with my SK stuff.

 

[FastKat]

I have a big SK metric & SAE, deep & shallow 3/8" drive socket and ratchet set. It was probably the best and most useful tool purchase I ever made, aside from buying my box. It came in a handy green case and a very complete array of sizes. If you take it with you, you have a socket for pretty much any job... and it's easy to take with you because of the case.

The fact that the warranty may be gone does not impact the quality of my socket set. It's still great quality, and a great bang for the buck.

 

[crewchief888]

ive had pretty good luck with SK tools over the years,
except for newer ratchets, esp in 1/4" dr. i have several newer ratchets laying in my junk drawer with the drive ends broken off.