Another SK Quality Control Thread

[glowedroid]

Hi Everyone, this is my first post here. I've been trying to decide between a few tool brands to upgrade a little from Craftsman and read this forum until my eyes fell out. You all have been EXTREMELY helpful!

So I recently decided to get the SK 94547 3/8 6 Point set as a gift for my dad, to replace all of the craftsman sockets I lost of his growing up . I read the quality control problem they had before Ideal bought them and how their QC has apparently skyrocketed since. Well, I cannot possibly imagine this stuff is still pre-Ideal given they were bought 3-4 years ago(???) but I'm really not impressed.

The 18mm deep is stamped off center, only some sockets are painted inside (some not even all the way around), some have paint slopped around the rim and on the outside, hardened to the chrome, and some are bare chrome inside. One has rust all inside of it and the detents are 50% great and 50% almost nonexistant, to the point they can be pulled off a locking ratchet.

Is this just how SK is?

Has anyone bought really recent stuff and gotten a flawless set? I bought a set of Gearwrench for my brother this christmas too (I've got a theme going haha) and they make the SKs look embarrassing to give. I had bookmarked tons of SK stuff but I'm hitting the brakes fast and looking at other brands now. I've already written to SK, but if every set of tools I get from them have to be QC'd at my house and I get replacements until it's all ok, I'm not interested...

 

[MJB24]

Welcome. Now please post pics

 

[Hiball]

Where did you buy them? And yes there is still a lot of old stock in the system. And No everything you buy from Sk doesn't need to be QC replaced, that's silly.

 

[neophyte]

First off, when bashing a tool brands products for quality control it's usually best to include pictures of the defective quality, especially if your post count is low.

Secondly, depending on where you purchased the socket set, it would be completely possible for old stock to be out there. Did you purchase the set from a seller on a website like Ebay, or from an independent seller on Amazon? Did you purchase the set from an industrial tool store or supplier that stock an incredibly large number of items? Both may have old stock sitting on the shelves. Even major retailers may have old stock sitting around.

 

[glowedroid]

I really did not mean to bash the company, I was just curious. Not so good at communicating the tone in type I guess. Pictures are coming, taking pictures of sockets with auto focusing cameras is enraging!

I actually got two sets, one from amazon warehouse that I returned because it was opened, had grease on the sockets, and was obviously returned and put back in their inventory. Second time I purchased from National Tool Warehouse. Came wrapped in shrink wrap this time but I opened it to check it out before wrapping it for dad.

 

[CWP1616L]

You want some excellent sockets? Buy Proto.

 

[glowedroid]

Hopefully the pictures are attached properly.

 

[glowedroid]

You want some excellent sockets? Buy Proto.

Proto was my other choice.

 

[Keep]

I only see one problem there. The rest of the cosmetic stuff doesn't seem like an issue.

Is it the same socket with the off center broach and the bad detent?

 

[Hiball]

Hopefully the pictures are attached properly.

I'm fairly certain the differences in interior finishing corresponds to different manufacturers. I'm also fairly certain SK will address the off centered socket, as far as the paint.. To each there own but the first time that socket touches a fastener it will be a moot point. As always.. any and all comments are only opinions, in the end you are the one that needs to be happy with the purchase. Hopefully SK will address your issues, report back on your findings.

 

[Loscaldazar]

I've noticed that many of SK's sockets aren't cleaned off very well (new stock). They have lots of water marks and other junk still on them that is rather hard to remove, but once it is removed, it looks great! That looks like the case for most of those sockets. That white will come off with some light, but persistent, polishing.

To be fair, the Snap On Flare nut wrench set also came that way (water marks and other junk still on them-they came straight from the factory and were handpicked warranty replacements for my off centered broached set). My guess is they just don't pay someone to polish them up and remove all water marks/fingerprints, etc, as that would drive up production costs.

 

[glowedroid]

Is it the same socket with the off center broach and the bad detent?

No, and about 1/3 of the sockets have detents that are that small, letting them slip off locking extensions and ratchets. I just picked the 19mm because it was easiest to photograph.

 

[neophyte]

Thank you for the pics. I would guess Amazon would have newer stock. I'm not familiar with National Tool Warehouse.

 

[Zeke]

I can't get excited over this. Tools are to use and if they work I don't care what they look like. I have a lot worse in my box and those things have been there and been used for years on end.

 

[glowedroid]

The paint is really not a major concern to me, especially if these were going into my toolbox. I know for foreign brands they can probably pay somebody pennies to look at each and every socket with a magnifying glass.

My main issue is with the detents and off center 18.

 

[glowedroid]

I can't get excited over this. Tools are to use and if they work I don't care what they look like. I have a lot worse in my box and those things have been there and been used for years on end.

Understandable, but for me personally, I also like to be proud to use a "piece of art" to get a job done. My dad does too and since these were a gift, it wasn't really what I was expecting.

 

[Hiball]

The paint is really not a major concern to me, especially if these were going into my toolbox. I know for foreign brands they can probably pay somebody pennies to look at each and every socket with a magnifying glass.

My main issue is with the detents and off center 18.

I've never had a problem with the sockets falling off, but I'll be sure to check my sockets tomorrow. I'm not a stickler for detent uniformity or differences between brands but are you sure its just not SK's design? Maybe snap some pictures of 2 comparative sized sockets with 1 good detent and one bad?

 

[glowedroid]

Maybe snap some pictures of 2 comparative sized sockets with 1 good detent and one bad?

I did upload one that was good, it's the last one

 

[ChevyEFI]

For whatever reason, I considered the different interior treatments a function of sizes getting done differently or just normalcy.

And well, after 17 years of SK socket ownership (not including using Dads before that,) I've had great service from my sockets and could honestly give a **** about the paint vs. chrome inside.

I do have some Ko-Ken stuff on the way, which may sway my next socket purchases.

 

[Hiball]

I did upload one that was good, it's the last one

Again hard to tell.. But when looking at all the pictures it looks like that one is the one that is irregular, Again hard to tell.. I'm just judging by looking at comparison pictures of other sockets in the case.

 

[glowedroid]

For whatever reason, I considered the different interior treatments a function of sizes getting done differently or just normalcy.

I thought about that, maybe they only paint ones that aren't chromed well on the inside, because the ones with absolutely no paint have great chrome on the inside, but then again some of these look like they were quickly dabbed around the inside, with random blobs of the paint in the sockets.

 

[outdoorsman310]

if the sockets are falling off your ratchets and extensions, maybe you need batter extensions and ratchets. if it was me, I would just use them. its not like the detents were not stamped in at all but I could see where that could be a problem

 

[glowedroid]

I bet if I never read any threads about SK, I would have never noticed half these imperfections to be perfectly honest. I'll probably see what SK will do about the off center socket, wrap these up and put them under the tree. Then order some Proto sockets for myself... I do like this SK ratchet though. Feels like a tank.

 

[MackMan]

FWIW, I've had both Snap-On and USA Craftsman with off-center broaching that resulted in a crack on the socket sidewall. Even from Snap-On I guess you can't expect 100% perfection, I'd see about getting that one replaced. I've never seen a socket with paint inside so I dunno about that one.

 

[HighwayTrout]

Maybe its just me (and you apparently).
Regardless if its going to get scratched or banged up when used. You received a brand new socket set that you are not happy with. I wouldn't be happy with the finish of those sockets either. Understandable.

My tool boxes are loaded with mix match finishes and old mixed with new. However if I were to purchase a new set of sockets I would require them to all be uniform in finish and functionality. Worth the time to exchange on finish alone is up to the individual I suppose.
The off center broach and detents is an automatic warranty issue in my book.

 

[CWP1616L]

SK better get with it.

These are GearWrench sockets made in China:

 

[Avgas]

There are definitely some issues with that Sk set

 

[Stokes_]

SK has been the tool of choice in my family for 3 generations, you have just done the equivalent of smacking me in the face with a glove.

 

[John316]

SK better get with it.

These are GearWrench sockets made in China:

I really like SK although I just have some wrenches and ratchets. I can say that I have many sets of Gearwrench sockets and the quality is remarkable, especially for the low cost.

 

[glowedroid]

SK better get with it.

These are GearWrench sockets made in China:

Yeah, the worst part is this SK set is going to be a gift to my dad on christmas, and my brother, in the same room, is going to be opening a socket set by Gearwrench. I opened both and the Gearwrench blows away the SK (With concern to looks) I obviously cant test strength.

 

[SMKS]

I read the quality control problem they had before Ideal bought them and how their QC has apparently skyrocketed since. Well, I cannot possibly imagine this stuff is still pre-Ideal given they were bought 3-4 years ago(???) but I'm really not impressed.

The sale wasn't completed until August 2010.
http://toolguyd.com/its-official-ideal-industries-purchases-sk-hand-tools/

Then, Ideal had to build, equip and start up and entire new factory.

By late 2011, they were still ramping up production and starting to produce more items. I know this because I bought a wrench set in late 2011 and it had quality issues. When I called the company they said the new SK wasn't even making those wrenches yet.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=112130

So, yes, there's still lots of old SK stock out there.

The couple items I've received from the new SK have been nice. I got this ratchet directly from SK and it even has what appears to be a date stamp that I think the old tools didn't have.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=130863

 

[glowedroid]

Now that I'm remembering, referring to one of my previous posts, the first set I ordered from Amazon.com's warehouse came in no plastic wrap, has permenant marker marked on it from the Amazon warehouse employees, and the stock sticker was directly on the blow mold case. The sockets were all over the place in the case and were dirty.

I called SK about it to ask how they packaged their sockets, to see what was missing from my Amazon.com experience, as it came in a bare blowmold case without shrink wrap or anything. The SK customer service rep put me on hold and then came back and said their socket sets are currently being shipped in the green blow mold case in a cardboard sleeve with a picture of the contents on it.

When I got my second case from a different supplier, it was just in shrink wrap. It looked like the run from the SK production promo videos when Ideal acquired them and they were talking about the new manufacturing, so I assumed it was Post-Ideal stock. I think the best thing is to really get with SK and find out what is what. There has got to be some kind of way to identify when this stuff was made.

Shame you can't buy direct from SK's warehouse. You never know what you'll get off someone's shelf who wants to turnover stock.

 

[glowedroid]

I got this ratchet directly from SK and it even has what appears to be a date stamp that the old tools didn't have.

My set has a date stamp on the ratchet. :\

 

[Fedwrench]

Call or email SK and complain. They have excellent customer service and will work with you. I understand you want your superchrome goodies to be perfect out of the box. However, there's no need to throw the baby out with the bath water just yet. As for Gearwrench, yes their sockets are very nicely finished but, there was a recent thread in the hot deals section talking about messed up finishes on 120xp ratchets. Every brand has an issue occasionally, even the tool truck brands. Proto does make some excellent sockets. However, they're not immune either as I recently bought a new set from Zoro and the 14mm socket was sloped on the base and didn't have detent cut outs on the square drive end. I got a replacement socket though. Good Luck,

 

[glowedroid]

I've sent in an email to SK. I'll see what they have to say. I understand a tool slipping by quality control every once and a while. I'm confident my off center socket will be swapped. I'm just unsure if the sloppy painting (it got on the outside of some sockets too) and wide range of detent depths are representing how much they pay attention to detail, and if this will come up in other forms if I place these orders for other tools from them, like say, their long pattern wrenches I'm eyeing.

I am starting to think these are post-ideal manufactured (I still could be wrong) because the ratchet has a date stamp on it, which looks like a post-ideal characteristic.

 

[CWP1616L]

Every socket is supposed to be clean inside with no jagged edges. All the detents are supposed to be exactly the same. I think you should send the whole set into SK and ask for a replacement.

 

[glowedroid]

Every socket is supposed to be clean inside with no jagged edges. All the detents are supposed to be exactly the same. I think you should send the whole set into SK and ask for a replacement.

Not sure if the turnaround time will work out in time for Christmas. I agree I should make them make it right, but as I think about it, it may be easier to just send this back to the seller on amazon and order a different brand. After looking at my brother's Gearwrench set I bought him, I found the Gearwrench equivalent to this SK 3/8 set and its 60 dollars cheaper than the SK set. My dad doesn't work on his car much anymore so just replacing the old craftsmans with something nice like gearwrench will truly be fine. With that extra 60 dollars I could get him a nice 3/8 flex head SK ratchet to use with them. Like I said, this SK ratchet really is a damn nice ratchet. Just a shame it's surrounded by all these sockets.

 

[Tinner]

I'd send it back to the seller or SK.

I've bought an SK socket set and 2 wrench sets in the past year or so. Each and every piece has been perfect. I have seen older stock that was not. It's too bad that past issues will affect future sales. I'm 100% a fan of the new SK and will continue to support them.

 

[glowedroid]

Did you buy from a tool seller or was it a 1 time sale? I'd really like to give SK a good try and if I can find a good set, I'm all for it.

 

[Skin]

Well, I cannot possibly imagine this stuff is still pre-Ideal given they were bought 3-4 years ago(???)

While the bankruptcy was about 3 years ago Ideal didn't buy an existing company out of it, they basically just bought the name and intellectual property (designs). The actual sale was chump change (in the scheme of things) less than 4 million. Ideal assembled their own production facilities for their SK reboot and have really only been making tools for the last year and a half or there abouts. Just wanted to correct that misconception.

I wouldn't even of noticed a "small detent" because I don't look at all 4 corners of every socket. Personally im too busy using them. Does it not work?

Also that "paint" is suppose to be there. Most tool manufacturers apply it, its done because the chrome process often times is incomplete on the interior of the socket walls so that's an extra layer of protection. They don't do it to every socket/size so if you're after uniformity to quell your OCD you should seek satisfaction elsewhere. Personally I think you're being incredibly ****. Even Snap-On, with their $20 per socket pricing, wont stand up to that kind of scrutiny.

You and Merkeva should friend eachother.

SK better get with it.

These are GearWrench sockets made in China:

Two different manufacturing processes. One is sintered steel the other is forged and broached from a single piece of steel.