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How Do SK Screwdrivers Rate ?

J

Joe Piro

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Feb 26, 2021
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164
Location
South Carolina
Do any of you have experience with the SK "Sure Grip" hard green handled screwdrivers?
There's a GJ thread that is active about "your favorite screwdriver" but it refers to types of fasteners, not brands. So I have this question, based on the fact that my favorite screwdrivers were Snap-on black handles that I had in the late seventies. However whenever I had a warranty issue, my SO dealer replaced the handles with bi-color soft grips and now all the black handles are gone. All my black handles eventually developed a smelly sticky white secretion and were replaced. I think this was unusual. I see plenty of old black Snap-on handles, but the crud sure infected mine.
Instead of those Snap-on drivers, the green handled "Sure Grip" SK might work for me. I prefer a hard grip to a cushion grip every time... just a personal choice. I like the way the Sure Grips look, but I have no experience with them. ( I usually wear leather gloves when doing automotive work so "slippery" is not a problem.)
Zoro has a special now and it turns out they stock a lot of SK screwdrivers, but even with the discount they're not inexpensive.
Are they fairly priced.... A good value.... Based on the expected SK quality? (Yeah... I had some chrome plating defects recently on their sockets, but I hope this is different.)
How do they hold up and function based on your actual experience with them?
Zoro lists all theirs as "Made in the USA" but GJ member "Diffident" has a set for sale right now that were made in France. I also see some on eBay from France. That really surprised me.
So I would really appreciate it if ya'll would please "pile on" with opinions and actual experience.
Thanks in advance. I'll probably miss this Zoro discount cycle but there's always another one soon.
 
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2

2ndGearRubber

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Pittsburgh
The French stuff is older stock, when they were affiliated with Facom I believe in the 90s. Current product is usa made.

I have a set of the plastic green hard handles, which i like the feel of. The drivers themselves aren't really that special, my William's USA and Vessel have better Phillip's tips.

FWIW the usa made black hard handle William's are basically the same as the snap on hard handle. They're available and easy to find, black is the only handle color I believe in the classic hard handle shape.

My sk drivers as well as my coworkers smelled terrible and needed aired out when we bought them. They came in a plastic sack, which may have held in some gases from the initial curing process. It cleared in 48 hours or so.
 
2

2ndGearRubber

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The current hard handle is a little bit different find the classic style, it seems to have a little more depth in the area of your thumb rests, and a little more bolstering where your palm is. Nice drivers though, the Phillip's tip is superior to the SK in my opinion. Has the anti cam-out ribs on the edges. I will agree the plastic green SK handles are a nice shape and function better than their simple design and shape would indicate.

For the price, I would not buy SK screwdrivers again. They aren't really anything special and other drivers which are cheaper and still USA or first world made outperform them.
 
F

Fedwrench

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Valley of the sun
I don't care for the current SK green hard handle screwdrivers. The old French made SK green handled screwdrivers had tapered handles that were size appropriate for the screwdriver blade size and much more comfortable to use. On the current SK hard handles, it's as if SK took pry bar handles and slapped them on screwdriver blades. They're too large for the given blade size, bulky and don't rotate well in my hands at least. I can't recommend them to anyone in good faith.
 
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bubinga

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Bridgeport Ohio. (Across River From Wheeling WV)
Bubba Fett said:
If you like the old hard handle Snap-on drivers, I would highly recommend the Williams hard handle drivers. They are exactly the same as the current hard handle Snap-ons, and made in the same factory, but at a fraction of the price. You can get them in any color you want as long as it's black.

Click to expand...
I'd like to get a set of them not that I really need them but just because, before Amazon Jacks the price up like they do.
I got to watch my money a little bit this month maybe the first of the month.
 
B

Bubba Fett

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Eastern NC
Some of the reviews indicate that Snap-On/Williams doesn't warranty tools sold on Amazon, but I'm curious as to how Amazon is getting these to sell in the first place. I have seen 3rd party sellers offer these at much much higher prices.
 
2

2ndGearRubber

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Bubba Fett said:
Some of the reviews indicate that Snap-On/Williams doesn't warranty tools sold on Amazon, but I'm curious as to how Amazon is getting these to sell in the first place. I have seen 3rd party sellers offer these at much much higher prices.
Click to expand...
Most brands dont consider wear a warranty condition. So other than breaking mini pry bars, err, flat heads what does the warranty matter? Most wont cover broken mini prybar tips either.
 
T

tool_scrounge

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Jul 20, 2010
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Southern California
I have some of the older SK green handle screwdrivers and really like them. I also bought a set of US made Blackhawk screwdrivers off of the Garage journal and really like them too. I just bought a set of Williams black handle screwdrivers for work. While they are quite functional, I found the fit and finish to only be OK.
 
D

Draftpick1

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Mar 22, 2018
Messages
326
The Sk professional green and black are the same as the craftsman professional just a different color believe Western forge made them, the Williams hard handle are better blades IMO vs Sk and cheaper if you can find them. Do feel Sk gives the quality for the price on screwdrivers, old craftsman prices yes.
 
B

bonneyman

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Desert SW
Bubba Fett said:
If you like the old hard handle Snap-on drivers, I would highly recommend the Williams hard handle drivers. They are exactly the same as the current hard handle Snap-ons, and made in the same factory, but at a fraction of the price. You can get them in any color you want as long as it's black.

Click to expand...
I did like the old Snappy handles, so will keep the Williams in mind. Thanks for the link!
 
T

thr3squared

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Oct 4, 2018
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391
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CA
I have the green hard-handled stubby drivers (4-piece set) and no complaints. Also have the cushion grip (6-piece set) and like them a lot. Only downfall of the cushion grips in that they are harder to clean. On both sets I haven't had any of the tips wear-out/bend
 
M

M6erfan

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Dec 6, 2014
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'Merica!
Not a fan of SK's current handles, but I agree that their older Facom style handles are great.

Handle shape/style is a subjective personal choice. No one else can tell you what you'll like. Order one to try out.
 
B

bubinga

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Bridgeport Ohio. (Across River From Wheeling WV)
Bubba Fett said:
Some of the reviews indicate that Snap-On/Williams doesn't warranty tools sold on Amazon, but I'm curious as to how Amazon is getting these to sell in the first place. I have seen 3rd party sellers offer these at much much higher prices.
Click to expand...
I don't know I heard the same thing about grey pneumatic, that they ( Amazon) were not an authorized seller and grey pneumatic would not warranty GP sockets purchased from Amazon.
I'll have to check the price over at JB tools I am pretty sure they are an authorized Williams seller.
Of course the warranty is nice to have but I am pretty careful with my tools, I may not need to warranty them.
I very seldom use a good screwdriver for "picking and prying".
 
B

bubinga

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tool_scrounge said:
I have some of the older SK green handle screwdrivers and really like them. I also bought a set of US made Blackhawk screwdrivers off of the Garage journal and really like them too. I just bought a set of Williams black handle screwdrivers for work. While they are quite functional, I found the fit and finish to only be OK.
Click to expand...
Are you talking about the older greed handled sk from circa 1981?
I had a set of those they were nice, but as sometimes happens one by one they disappeared.
 
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D

dnschmidt

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Oct 3, 2014
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Phoenix, AZ
What do I think of SK screwdrivers: Not much. Not when you've got Wera, Wiha, P B Swiss, Felo, TOPTUL, & Vessel in the world. Will they turn a screw - yea. Anything special no. Would I trust them with JIS screws HELL NO.
 
V

VolvoRyan

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Dec 29, 2019
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Kentuckiana, USA
I have a number of the current "comfort" grip SK screwdrivers in flat, phillips, and torx. I really like them. They would have been bought in 2020. I've found them to be really "grabby" and good. Definite feel a bit more positive than my old Western Forge Craftsman torx drivers.

Of course, this is all moot right now, as SK's future is a huge question mark.

-Ryan
 
S

sk farmer

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nd
i will vote with the majority. the old french made hard handles are top notch. a nice smooth tapered handle with many different sizes to fit the size of the driver.

the current hard handle?????? well, if you like pry bar handles on a screwdriver i guess they are ok.
 
G

gmt

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Oct 14, 2012
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SoCal
I have a set of the SK USA made hard handles. I like the size of the handles (which tend to be bigger than average), but the phillips tips are not very good IMHO. I ended up modifying the phillips tips to reduce the cam out problems I had with them. I would not buy them again especially for the amount they want for them. In my opinion they are better screwdrivers out there for a better price.
 
B

Bockscar

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Nov 28, 2017
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The Great State of Ohio
Bubba Fett said:
If you like the old hard handle Snap-on drivers, I would highly recommend the Williams hard handle drivers. They are exactly the same as the current hard handle Snap-ons, and made in the same factory, but at a fraction of the price. You can get them in any color you want as long as it's black.

Click to expand...
I think he was talking about the old old snap on drivers made in the 60's and 70's...the williams are a lot newer style
 
S

sparky 1971

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Oct 9, 2018
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Central Iowa
I don't have the hard handles. I do have the cushion grip or comfort grip or whatever they are called. The blades are probably the same between the two lines though. I've been using Klein screwdrivers on the job for 27 years and have to say that I think the SK's are superior. With that being said, I will admit that Klein quality has gone downhill, the old Klein was probably better than the new SK.
 
M

m6z

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Missouri
I've got a few of the soft grip drivers and they're nice, but I do prefer the Vessel drivers. The tips on the Vessel's are holding up better.
 
X

Xcursion88

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Apr 18, 2013
Messages
785
I'm the biggest SK fan around but the very best screwdriver there is would be the one you can insert into an electric driver. 😎🚬
 
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BlakeTheCarGuy

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Roanoke Virginia
I personally like the SK hard handles. Snap-on hard handles too. And I like the color choices available on those too. Still my overall all time favorite screwdrivers and probably always will be is the Craftsman acetate handles. They feel good, smell good and the tips seem good. I haven’t used any of the old SK drivers so can’t speak on those but have used old Snap-on you are referring too and like those as well.
 
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Al Borland

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Jan 20, 2016
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I have a bunch of the older translucent green and white handled ones. Tips are better than the Craftsman screwdrivers and they don't stink. Turn screws nicely and they have lasted for years. Not a bad screwdriver.
 
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