First SK tool purchase.

[rossomania]

The SK Father's Day sale is driving me nuts.

I recently doubled down on my existing tool brand purchases to finish out those missing tools I really needed for the garage. I'm good. Lots of quality tools but not a lot of redundancy...which is okay for my non-professional automotive and DIY needs.

I'm in better shape right now tool-wise than I've been in my life. I should be content. I should be happy. And I think I would be...

Except for that crazy 40% off SK Father's Day sale! And I've only got a few hours left if I'm gonna take advantage of it.

I know zip about SK outside of what's be said here on the forums. But I wanna buy something. I want to buy something representative of what SK does best in hand tools so I can know something about the brand.

So, for a guy who doesn't really need anything at the moment, what SK tool(s) would you recommend that really represents the SK brand at it's best?

 

[drtyler]

Round head 3/8 ratchet 45170 is pretty good, as is their new LP90 3/8 ratchet.

 

[yjWrangler]

Try their line wrenches

 

[Stooge]

im a big SK fan, but I wouldn't worry too much about their 40% off sale, as the prices on their website are pretty high when compared to other distributors for the same product. Like this 19pc metric socket set, on the Sk site for $189 regular price, $170 on special price, and $103 with the fathers day discount, or $105 regular price on Harry Epsteins and buy them at your leisure. This seems to go for most of their stuff on their website in my experience.

https://sktools.com/shop/3919-19-piece-3-8-drive-6-point-standard-metric-chrome-socket-set.html

https://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/sockets-3-8-socket-sets-28656.html

 

[victor252]

I like the 45173 ratchet. It's a 3/8 anvil in a 1/4 body. Only 4.5" long so it's good for tight spaces without having to bring a whole set of 1/4 drive sockets to go with a 1/4 ratchet.

I got the 60 tooth model before all the new 120 tooth designs came out. It's very smooth and was my first SK purchase. I then bought a second 45173 for the car.

 

[AceofSpad3s]

Agree with Stooge, I was looking at DT 80 kits and even with the discount it was more than HJE by a few dollars.

 

[AmishFury]

the 40% off sale is a better deal with free shipping

i don't know if they have a free shipping on orders over $x thing or not because i opted for the sk club which to be honest has almost paid for itself just in the earned SK bucks (hell they gave me $25 for completing a survey... took 5 minutes)

 

[AceofSpad3s]

the 40% off sale is a better deal with free shipping

i don't know if they have a free shipping on orders over $x thing or not because i opted for the sk club which to be honest has almost paid for itself just in the earned SK bucks (hell they gave me $25 for completing a survey... took 5 minutes)

I haven't put in any promo codes but it show $10 flat rate in the cart.

 

[drtyler]

Sign up for the SK Club, free version -- not the $50 one. Then you get free shipping for orders over $50, and $5 shipping for orders under $50.

 

[straightcut]

I'd be interested in one of the recent 3/8" drive #80200 tear drop ratchets. At $92.69 Father's Day special VS. HJE $57.95, lemme think about that

 

[PJNJ]

I'd be interested in one of the recent 3/8" drive #80200 tear drop ratchets. At $92.69 Father's Day special VS. HJE $57.95, lemme think about that

At the 40% discount for Fathers Day (good till tomorrow), it is $55.61 from SK.

 

[RPH]

Anybody having trouble placing orders on website. Over the last three days I have put in an order on to watch it spin. Then no order is present when checked. I did message sk and they confirmed no order present. Sent another message a few minutes ago.

 

[royesses]

Anybody having trouble placing orders on website. Over the last three days I have put in an order on to watch it spin. Then no order is present when checked. I did message sk and they confirmed no order present. Sent another message a few minutes ago.

Check your browser setting. Allow third party cookies at least until you complete the order. This worked for me on Firefox browser.

Roy

 

[rossomania]

Thanks for the suggestions, you all!

Learned a lot:

1) Didn't realize SK had an official resale channel. For some reason I though the stuff for sale outside the SK website was "gray market" goods or factory seconds.

2) I'm feeling a lot less pressure to make a snap decision on the Father's Day sale. I may go ahead and pull the trigger on a small purchase but I'll not go overboard.

3) Really happy to hear that SK tools are available at HJE! I've never purchased from Epsteins before and if they're competitive on pricing for SK tools, that's even better. Knock out two experiences in one purchase!

 

[kb1982]

To bad they didn't have the other 90 tooth ratchets in time for this promotion. They must be getting close to relase, as other vendors have listings for them now. I'm happy with my combo wrenches, xframe wrenches, and ratchets I have from them. The Dt100 kit in my 1/2" ratchet is butter smooth. Hit up some flea markets for some SK round head ratchets cheap, and slap the DT kits in them.

Sent from my Z962BL using Tapatalk

 

[jakemac]

3) Really happy to hear that SK tools are available at HJE! I've never purchased from Epsteins before and if they're competitive on pricing for SK tools, that's even better. Knock out two experiences in one purchase!

Keep an eye on the "2018 HJE Day" thread (it's a sticky at the top of the topic page). Every year on the 4th of July, GJ members swamp HJE with orders as a patriotic way of boosting a small Ma&Pa store by buying American made tools to help the local economy.

Jori at HJE often works with his suppliers (SK is one of them) to offer special deals to GJ members for the event.

Details on how to participate, and what special pricing may be available, will be posted in the thread by Jori once he gets everything nailed down.

Link :
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=391957

 

[AmishFury]

To bad they didn't have the other 90 tooth ratchets in time for this promotion. They must be getting close to relase, as other vendors have listings for them now.

according to their facebook account they are going through durability testing

 

[Tonyuk]

The only SK tool i have is their set of metric flare nut spanners. They're very good.

 

[Spacey_G]

I like the 45173 ratchet. It's a 3/8 anvil in a 1/4 body. Only 4.5" long so it's good for tight spaces without having to bring a whole set of 1/4 drive sockets to go with a 1/4 ratchet.

I got the 60 tooth model before all the new 120 tooth designs came out. It's very smooth and was my first SK purchase. I then bought a second 45173 for the car.

I made one of these by swapping the mechanism from a 45172 3/8 thumb wheel into my 40970. It makes for a very nice, compact 3/8 ratchet.

 

[Y00PER]

Anybody having trouble placing orders on website. Over the last three days I have put in an order on to watch it spin. Then no order is present when checked. I did message sk and they confirmed no order present. Sent another message a few minutes ago.

I have been trying for over 3 weeks to order from them. Called their customer service many times. Supposedly their IT is looking into it... Though they have supposedly been doing that for a couple of weeks now....

 

[AmishFury]

I made one of these by swapping the mechanism from a 45172 3/8 thumb wheel into my 40970. It makes for a very nice, compact 3/8 ratchet.

that was my path to the "slim ratchet" too

i'd love to see them make a 3/8" version of the DT120 kit though

 

[Andres26tnt]

that was my path to the "slim ratchet" too

i'd love to see them make a 3/8" version of the DT120 kit though

i think they are limited by the ratchet body tooth count, idk how they will get to 120. i read you can't upgrade all the roundheads i have the 72t 1/4 roundhead and the dt mech does not fit.

 

[AmishFury]

i think they are limited by the ratchet body tooth count, idk how they will get to 120. i read you can't upgrade all the roundheads i have the 72t 1/4 roundhead and the dt mech does not fit.

the DT mechanisms use 2 pawls that alternate... which doubles the effective tooth count... they make one for 1/4" so it wouldn't be a huge stretch for them to make the same thing but with the 3/8" drive

and yes the 72 tooth tuff-1 ratchets used a completely different mechanism from the classic round heads so no DT for those

 

[Professional Tool User]

SK's authorized dealer prices are ridiculously high. I may as well be buying Snap on if I cared about ease of warranty for marginally more money. That being said, if you don't care about ease of warranty, SK prices on Amazon and other sites are significantly lower and the 40% discount won't mean much. Buying used SK stuff may also be another option for saving money.

 

[kb1982]

i think they are limited by the ratchet body tooth count, idk how they will get to 120. i read you can't upgrade all the roundheads i have the 72t 1/4 roundhead and the dt mech does not fit.

As stated, the Tuff 1 was an entirely different design from the Facom era. With a little bit of cleaning up old grease, some new lube, and purple loctite on the screw adjusted right, they are as smooth as any ratchet out there. I have a few more that aren't in this photo. Don't know how the Proto snuck his way in.

Sent from my Z962BL using Tapatalk

 

[AmishFury]

i have the tuff-1s in the 3 sizes... but i wish i also had the flex heads and really kick myself for not getting the roto i saw pop up on ebay