Is anybody still buying modern SK Tools?

[Lassen Forge]

My former employer still buys SK because, even though tiawanic, it still is held to a certain standard of usability.

 

[Steve_P]

I bought a lot of USA made SK 20 years ago- sockets, impact sockets, round head ratchets, extensions, some long pliers.... it is all excellent quality at what was a fair price for USA made; at the time it was cheaper than Proto with much greater availability, and 35-40% the cost of the equivalent Snap On product. I still like their round head ratchets, but as said they don't always fit in modern cramped engine compartments.

I don't have anything SK since the Great Star acquisition as they don't seem to offer anything that ten other companies also have. I guess the one product that kinda stands out are the x-frame wrenches, but I already have multiple sets of ratcheting wrenches and don't need another set of combination wrenches.

As said, SK was sold in a lot of auto parts stores in the 20th century- they were marketed towards mechanics that didn't want to spend Snap On $. I worked at a tool rental and OPE shop in the late 1980s that also sold Makita and Milwaukee power tools; we were an SK dealer and could order anything in the catalog but didn't stock anything, or nearly anything, because the auto parts stores stocked all of the common tools. I could've gotten anything SK at cost, but was a poor college student and Harbor Freight worked just fine for me.

 

[CGarage]

I never liked the SK ratchets and I am not sure why all of the hype here for them.

I suspect it is because many users are not exposed to newer offerings in the market.

I have said this many times, I really like the Gearwrench 90T ratchets and they are nicely made in Taiwan.

I believe they cost less than the SK- US or Chinese made.

Time to try new things and expand your criteria for what is acceptable to buy.

 

[Zewnten]

You can buy the same tools under the dura tech brand for a third of the sk brand.

 

[CGarage]

You can buy the same tools under the dura tech brand for a third of the sk brand.

What do you mean?

 

[Schurkey]

When I heard that SK was conglomerated by the Communists, I sent 'em an e-mail telling them I was done buying SK.

They offered to send me a $25 "gift certificate".

I told them to keep it. I don't own any "Milwaukee", either.

 

[Zewnten]

What do you mean?

Not sure how to explain it more clearly

 

[finn]

I don't believe that is the case. I think there maybe some bias in that based on technology improvements.

Milwaukee always was the commercial mechanical construction trades standard with the magnum hole shooters and band saws as well as the sawzall.

In the cordless nicad market their drills were the as good as anyone's. They also had 24v tools way back and had the first cordless band saw I remember in the 90s.

The market and technology has improved so have cordless tools. They have expanded their product line substantially, it being better is up for debate.

I always liked SK. They were the first tools I bought that were better than craftsman. I think the last tool I bought from them was the x frame wrenches but that was when they first came out. They aren't that impressive to me for the marketing they had. The first tools I bought from SK was in the early 90s and came from an industrial products door to door salesman. I bought the long fine tooth ratchets, wobble extensions and a 1/4" finger ratchet. Still have all of them.

I haven't bought any SK since the new ownership and probably never will. If you're going to buy a foreign made tool there are more cost effect options that are more readily available.

Milwaukee went broke and sold out to Hong Kong with Chinese production years before Sears Craftsman and SK went bust.

 

[CGarage]

Not sure how to explain it more clearly

You are going to need to do better than that.

Your post stated:

You can buy the same tools under the dura tech brand for a third of the sk brand.


Please post SK tools with their DuraTech equivalents / analogues so we can see that they are the “same tool”, for 1/3rd the price, as you stated.

 

[Hakeem]

I never liked the SK ratchets and I am not sure why all of the hype here for them.

I suspect it is because many users are not exposed to newer offerings in the market.

I have said this many times, I really like the Gearwrench 90T ratchets and they are nicely made in Taiwan.

I believe they cost less than the SK- US or Chinese made.

Time to try new things and expand your criteria for what is acceptable to buy.

Sometimes it’s enjoyable to use a certain ratchet for reasons that have nothing to do with performance. The classic Craftsman ratchets aren’t great by any metric but I still get a kick out of using them in non-critical applications.

The Gearwrench ratchets are great, I agree with you there.

 

[rust in the eye]

When I heard that SK was conglomerated by the Communists, I sent 'em an e-mail telling them I was done buying SK.

They offered to send me a $25 "gift certificate".

I told them to keep it. I don't own any "Milwaukee", either.

I'll take it.

 

[driftpin]

I recall the auto parts stores often had S-K tool boards, w/the S-K products hung on their respective spaces, in-front of the outline of that specific tool. The welding supply house I use in Miami has one stretching for many feet across the wall behind the counter.

Here's an S-K metric set (not the first picture, it's the green blow-molded case) I bought years ago, all U.S.A. branded. 1/4" & 3/8" sockets, ratchets and accessories like extensions and U-joints. I bought the set because I had been using a Wright/Montgomery Wards Powr-Kraft 3/8" ratchet set (yes, it's the first picture) I was given as a teenager, I asked for it for Christmas, so I could work on the string of VW Beetles that came-through the family, beginning w/a used 1959 Bug, and then a new '62 VW Cabriolet (body by Karmann) my parents bought in WNY State for $2225 when the sedan was selling for ~$1700.



My mother was an executive secretary for a drug manufacturer, and she bought the Cabriolet to commute. About 5-6 months after she proudly took possession of the Cabriolet, she came home incensed at what had happened in the drug company parking lot. A salesman from some domestic automobile manufacturer/dealer had come-through the employee parking lot, tucking a business card underneath the windshield wiper blade of the employee cars. It said, "I will give you $____ trade-in for this automobile on a brand-new Belchfire Country Club Coupe, today!" Then he would write-in the 'allowance.' That dollar amount for the not-yet a year-old 1962 VW Cabriolet was $600. My mother was not happy! I think she brought home the scrip just to inform us about the nerve of a used-car salesman to offer such a low amount for a trade-in on her beautiful new black/black VW Cabriolet.

Forward a few years, and I was getting my driver's license through a high school class. I asked the parents for a set of metric tools, specifically, DOE wrenches and a 3/8" drive set of 6-point sockets, a ratchet, extensions, and a u-joint. I suspect it was my father who stopped at the Montgomery Wards on his way home from work who purchased the Powr-Kraft socket set and the DOE wrenches. He bought the set, which included a Wright Tootsie-Roll 3/8" ratchet. I'm now in my mid-70's and I suspect that every car, motorcycle and vessel I've owned has been touched by that Tootsie-Roll 3/8" ratchet, w/the SAE sockets for the domestic rolling/floating stock coming from Craftsman. I am proud to say that one of the GJ members sold me, at a great price, a 1/2" drive SAE 6-point Montgomery Wards/Wright socket set including another Wright Tootsie-Roll 1/2" ratchet.

I bought the S-K 1/4" & 3/8" drive socket set to allow the Montgomery Wards Powr-Kraft 3/8" metric sockets and Tootsie-Roll ratchet to be retired, to 'as-needed' status. However, except for a few instances, I continue to use the 3/8" Montgomery Wards metric socket set. Old habits die-hard, I suppose.

The S-K 1/4" & 3/8" socket set is still in the green blow-molded box, maybe when I croak, someone at the 'garage clean-out' sale will score a great bargain.

The other set is a 3/4" drive which I acquired probably near 40 years ago, also S-K and in a green hammer-tone metal box. You can zoom-in on the words/numbers to see the 'made in U.S.A.' details.

S-K, Still Killin' it.

 

[Kaervak]

I'm a big SK guy, their round head ratchets are my favorite and I have dozens of them in all different drive sizes as well as their old green/white screwdrivers, impact and chrome sockets, extensions and probably other things I'm forgetting.

I haven't bought any of the foreign made SK and I won't. SK, like Craftsman, being foreign produced isn't the problem. I have quite a few foreign produced tools, Astro Pneumatic, Icon, Gearwrench, GripEdge, and they're all fantastic tools. My problem with SK being foreign made is this....SK (and Craftsman) built their reputation on being a USA made tool and now they're not. Right now on SK's website they clearly state "iconic brand, legendary performance" which was earned by them being a decades old USA made brand, not foreign produced. The foreign produced tools I'm sure are just fine, but they're not what I want from SK. If I'm paying SK money I'm getting USA made SK that has earned the reputation. Buying foreign SK is no different to me than buying advertised concert tickets to see your favorite band and instead a cover band shows up. "Well, the songs are the same what's the problem?" The SK of today is a cover band I'm not interested in seeing.

 

[CGarage]

You all are impossible to please and living 50 years in the past.

 

[AEAdam]

I didn't care for SK when they were US made. Only thing I ever liked of theirs was their long pattern superkrome wrenches with the flared ends. I'm not sure they were good wrenches, but they sure were pretty. I bought a set for my brother when they were making Craftsman wrenches. They were a step up from Craftsman raised panel wrenches which I still have and use occasionally (but ****).

As for the whole made in China thing, not pointing fingers and not chastising, but PLEASE don't mansplain us about Chinese goods. Every American knows far more than we care to about Chinese manufacturing advancements. They "advanced" all our major appliances into consumables with 5yr lifespans. They are doing it to our HVAC systems. We all know what China's end goal is etc etc. Please don't insult our intelligence with stories about robots in their cities. We get it. We all get it and we are living with it. Like our kids, these are choices many or most of us didn't get to make and we're living with the consequences.

Sorry to be crass, but I call it the "shitification" of all things. Everything we touch is life limited and disposable. This is China's chief business model. Put US companies out of business then sell us the same ****** product over and over again. I'm afraid this is working so well, the car companies are catching on. Unbelievable that you can buy a $50k car that has transmission problems in its first year. That's not China's fault, but it's the same "advanced" manufacturing. I'm fairly certain greedy Americans invented it and China ran with it. Not their fault.

Back to tools, I thought when you look at non-truck, US made tools, I'd pick Williams all day every day over SK. I probably would have picked Proto and half a dozen other brands before SK (Wright, Bonney....). I really like @driftpin 's post above tho. I always thought the green color was attractive. That's an attractive set until you get to the 1930's Model A ford ratchets. Seriously, WTH?

 

[sparky 1971]

I bought some extensions that I like not long after the Great Star purchase but it's more than likely that they were leftovers from Ideal; I don't know for sure, nor do I care. Sometime around 2024 I bought the 10" slip joint pliers, but those may not count because, even though they say SK on them and have pretty green handles, they are rebranded Wilde. I like those too but they really aren't all that useful, they're too big. I liked the round head ratchets enough that I have one of each with the exception of the 1/4" drive flex head and the 15" 1/2" drive. Then, just because I could and it was really cheap during a Steals and Deals, I bought a LP90 11" flex in 3/8 drive. I liked it enough that I bought more of the LP 90's in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 for a total of five and decided I was done buying the round heads. Those probably don't really count as SK either since they are made by someone else (AJ?) that also makes them for Olsa and Vim with SK having the wider selection but they were purchased from Great Star SK. I also have quite a few of the cushion grip screwdrivers that aren't very cushioned and a few flare nut wrenches. I honestly don't remember if any of those were before or after Great Star came into the picture. The screwdrivers are good enough that I hide them from my wife and son in the tool box; they can get a hard handled Tekton off the wall or a worn out Klein that's laying around. The flare nuts fit as well as my Snap On's but, like the rest of the standard SK wrenches, they are too short.

 

[neophyte]

Milwaukee went broke and sold out to Hong Kong with Chinese production years before Sears Craftsman and SK went bust.

Milwaukee Tools got purchased by Atlas Copco, (a Swedish Conglomerate that manufactures heavy duty pneumatic tools for manufacturing and mining), back in 1995.
Atlas Copco had already purchased AEG’s Electric Tool division back in 1992.
Atlas Copco also bought Kango Ltd. a British manufacturer of hammer drills snd similar tools back in 1993.
Sioux tools got purchased by Snap-On in 1994.
At the time, Sioux was still making some electrical tools for Milwaukee, (or maybe Milwaukee was making those tools for Sioux).
Atlas Copco combined the various tool manufacturers as an electric tool producer, while still using the different brand names, and used the production for tools sold under the Atlas Copco, Kango, AEG, and Milwaukee brand names, although the tool models sold in different territories varied.
The more compact cordless tools were usually made in Germany by AEG, and production on those tools was later switched to the Czech Republic.
These tools also included some wired tools, such as hammer drills, and regular drills, although Milwaukee's US production facilities continued in many cases to make competing models that were also part of the lineup.
The “heavier duty” Milwaukee cordless tools were still made in the USA, and usually based on regular Milwaukee corded tools, just usually with different motors for 12-18v usually made and wound in the USA, and the plastic handles specialized for cordless battery attachment.
At this time, the German/Czech made Milwaukee cordless tools, were likely using Chinese made motors produced by a manufacturer called Acme, although judging by a cordless drill teardown test done by one of the woodworking magazines, 90+% of the various tool manufacturers were also using various Acme made motors for their cordless drill's.
(I believe the teardown article said that Dewalt and Makita were the exceptions).
Atlas Copco later decided to exit the handheld electrical power tool market in 2004, when that division got sold to TTI, likely loosing some of the money spent on all the tool manufacturers that had been purchased and combined.
Amazon decided to get into selling tools in 1999, and purchased Tool Crib of the North, and later an industrial supplier called “Small Parts Inc.” in 2005, which incidentally is the period, (1999-2005), when SK Tools purchased its way out from French ownership, (it had belonged to Facom Tools up until 2005, with Stanley purchasing Facom in 2006, which was likely the reason the US managers at SK bought the company out from Facom), and Atlas Copco was sold to TTI, and Porter Cable was sold to Black & Decker, etc.
Basically, Amazon and their price competition created a huge change in the tool industry which caused some manufacturers yo switch to Chinese manufacture, and others to go bankrupt. (SK went bankrupt due to losing their distribution network, because large bulk purchases by Amazon allowed Amazon to sell tools at less than the price individual smaller SK dealers were able to purchase tools at resulting in those tool dealers dropping SK, which led to SK going under).
TTI continued US production on a number of items after the purchase, but continued switching more and more products to Chinese production, including most or all of the cordless tool production.
Even after the TTI purchase, my understanding was that the US snd German design divisions may have continued to operate, although I am uncertain whether that is still the case.

 

[Rusted Nut]

I’m not buying SK tools now, because the ones I bought in the mid ‘70’s are still working just fine. Seriously!

 

[AEAdam]

Milwaukee Tools got purchased by Atlas Copco, (a Swedish Conglomerate that manufactures heavy duty pneumatic tools for manufacturing and mining), back in 1995.
Atlas Copco had already purchased AEG’s Electric Tool division back in 1992.
Atlas Copco also bought Kango Ltd. a British manufacturer of hammer drills snd similar tools back in 1993.
Sioux tools got purchased by Snap-On in 1994.
At the time, Sioux was still making some electrical tools for Milwaukee, (or maybe Milwaukee was making those tools for Sioux).
Atlas Copco combined the various tool manufacturers as an electric tool producer, while still using the different brand names, and used the production for tools sold under the Atlas Copco, Kango, AEG, and Milwaukee brand names, although the tool models sold in different territories varied.
The more compact cordless tools were usually made in Germany by AEG, and production on those tools was later switched to the Czech Republic.
These tools also included some wired tools, such as hammer drills, and regular drills, although Milwaukee's US production facilities continued in many cases to make competing models that were also part of the lineup.
The “heavier duty” Milwaukee cordless tools were still made in the USA, and usually based on regular Milwaukee corded tools, just usually with different motors for 12-18v usually made and wound in the USA, and the plastic handles specialized for cordless battery attachment.
At this time, the German/Czech made Milwaukee cordless tools, were likely using Chinese made motors produced by a manufacturer called Acme, although judging by a cordless drill teardown test done by one of the woodworking magazines, 90+% of the various tool manufacturers were also using various Acme made motors for their cordless drill's.
(I believe the teardown article said that Dewalt and Makita were the exceptions).
Atlas Copco later decided to exit the handheld electrical power tool market in 2004, when that division got sold to TTI, likely loosing some of the money spent on all the tool manufacturers that had been purchased and combined.
Amazon decided to get into selling tools in 1999, and purchased Tool Crib of the North, and later an industrial supplier called “Small Parts Inc.” in 2005, which incidentally is the period, (1999-2005), when SK Tools purchased its way out from French ownership, (it had belonged to Facom Tools up until 2005, with Stanley purchasing Facom in 2006, which was likely the reason the US managers at SK bought the company out from Facom), and Atlas Copco was sold to TTI, and Porter Cable was sold to Black & Decker, etc.
Basically, Amazon and their price competition created a huge change in the tool industry which caused some manufacturers yo switch to Chinese manufacture, and others to go bankrupt. (SK went bankrupt due to losing their distribution network, because large bulk purchases by Amazon allowed Amazon to sell tools at less than the price individual smaller SK dealers were able to purchase tools at resulting in those tool dealers dropping SK, which led to SK going under).
TTI continued US production on a number of items after the purchase, but continued switching more and more products to Chinese production, including most or all of the cordless tool production.
Even after the TTI purchase, my understanding was that the US snd German design divisions may have continued to operate, although I am uncertain whether that is still the case.

Having read this, it’s 100% clear to me why some tools and tool companies ****. They are run by business majors, hedge fund managers etc. I want to buy tools from a company that loves tools and respects people who use tools.

When Ideal bought SK, I got the overwhelming sense they knew nothing about tools and arrogantly thought they could get over. Their tools weren’t cheap and weren’t great. Together, that made me feel disrespected.

For our newer members, they had a company rep here making claims they were going to set up a line of tool trucks and sponson race car teams.

They also had the overwhelming hubris to think they could structurally optimize the combination wrench. For over a century combination wrenches have looked roughly as they do, yet SK Ideal, having made electrical switch plate covers, thought they could show everyone.

I like my Snap on tools. I think they care about us and about the tools they make. But I wish there were more makers like Koken, just crazy about tools and producing real innovation. I have no attraction to some of these tool conglomerates’ products. It’s like you don’t even need to tell us who owns them. You can see it in the tools they offer.

 

[dnschmidt]

All of these comments when the simple answer is NO. Why can't anybody simply answer the question asked?

 

[neophyte]

All of these comments when the simple answer is NO. Why can't anybody simply answer the question asked?

It’s no fun.

 

[neophyte]

Having read this, it’s 100% clear to me why some tools and tool companies ****. They are run by business majors, hedge fund managers etc. I want to buy tools from a company that loves tools and respects people who use tools.

When Ideal bought SK, I got the overwhelming sense they knew nothing about tools and arrogantly thought they could get over. Their tools weren’t cheap and weren’t great. Together, that made me feel disrespected.

For our newer members, they had a company rep here making claims they were going to set up a line of tool trucks and sponson race car teams.

They also had the overwhelming hubris to think they could structurally optimize the combination wrench. For over a century combination wrenches have looked roughly as they do, yet SK Ideal, having made electrical switch plate covers, thought they could show everyone.

I like my Snap on tools. I think they care about us and about the tools they make. But I wish there were more makers like Koken, just crazy about tools and producing real innovation. I have no attraction to some of these tool conglomerates’ products. It’s like you don’t even need to tell us who owns them. You can see it in the tools they offer.

I think Atlas Copco wanted to make decent tools, that’s actually their business model.
Amazon however caused downward price pressure that caused a number of manufacturers and retailers to remove themselves from the market, at least somewhat.
Bosch was heavily available in the US market as an actual Professional/Industrial brand and they also became much less visible around the 2005 time period, for a decade or so.
The tools could still be ordered, but many newer tool models weren’t released in the USA.
I forget when Bosch showed back up in a major Hardware store chain like Lowes.

 

[dr_clyde]

All of these comments when the simple answer is NO. Why can't anybody simply answer the question asked?

Seems to kinda miss the point of a discussion forum, don’t you think?

 

[LXCam]

Seems to kinda miss the point of a discussion forum, don’t you think?

Maybe

 

[dnschmidt]

Maybe

The question asked was not asking for a discussion. If it were it would be asked: "Does anybody like S-K's new tools." It was, as I read it, asking for an answer. These are not the same thing.

 

[Steve_P]

When I heard that SK was conglomerated by the Communists, I sent 'em an e-mail telling them I was done buying SK.

They offered to send me a $25 "gift certificate".

I told them to keep it. I don't own any "Milwaukee", either.

China isn't communist; read the definition. OTOH, North Korea is.

 

[Steve_P]

I never liked the SK ratchets and I am not sure why all of the hype here for them.

I suspect it is because many users are not exposed to newer offerings in the market.

I have said this many times, I really like the Gearwrench 90T ratchets and they are nicely made in Taiwan.

I believe they cost less than the SK- US or Chinese made.

Time to try new things and expand your criteria for what is acceptable to buy.

The round heads were nice ratchets for the time, they certainly sold tens of thousands of them, and I didn't recommend that anyone purchase them today and don't think anyone did; just like I wouldn't recommend buying an old 30 tooth Snap On ratchet or the current Williams model.

I'm a huge fan of the GW 90T but they weren't available 20+ years ago.

 

[CGarage]

The round heads were nice ratchets for the time, they certainly sold tens of thousands of them, and I didn't recommend that anyone purchase them today and don't think anyone did; just like I wouldn't recommend buying an old 30 tooth Snap On ratchet or the current Williams model.

I'm a huge fan of the GW 90T but they weren't available 20+ years ago.

I agree.

I still have my old 70s to 80s era Snap-On 30t ratchets and I still use them. I have breaker bars, too. But if a fastener is higher torque, I will reach for a lower tooth count ratchet.

I have never broken one.

 

[Etchase]

I bought an SK branded Western Forge adjustable wrench on closeout and it was standard WF quality. Nothing special. The China made SK sockets were identical to Duratech but 25% more expensive. They did have a green band. I bought a new China made SK water pump-ish plier that I really like. I had an older unbranded French made pair and thought the latest Bahco version are overpriced and not made in Spain anymore. The one I bought several years ago was nice. The SK have the size adjust mechanism I prefer and I am happy with them.

 

[neophyte]

I bought an SK branded Western Forge adjustable wrench on closeout and it was standard WF quality. Nothing special. The China made SK sockets were identical to Duratech but 25% more expensive. They did have a green band. I bought a new China made SK water pump-ish plier that I really like. I had an older unbranded French made pair and thought the latest Bahco version are overpriced and not made in Spain anymore. The one I bought several years ago was nice. The SK have the size adjust mechanism I prefer and I am happy with them.

The french pliers should be Bahco, or equivalent to Bahco, since the Bahco pliers of this tupe were originally made in France, by a manufacturer that made tools for Bahco, and Facom, and whose tool division is now wholey owned by Snap-On, who owns Bahco as part of Snap-On Europe.
That same manufacturer produced tools for Bahco, Facom, Peugeot, and probably other brands.

 

[CGarage]

My Chinese SK long reach pliers are very nice and cost less than $50 US for the pair.

I am pleased with them.

I bought the ratcheting wrenches in Fractional and Metric from a Lowe’s close out at $49 US / per set and I think they are great (X-Frame).

The SK X-Frame ratcheting wrenches are highly rated by Project Farm.

 

[Etchase]

The french pliers should be Bahco, or equivalent to Bahco, since the Bahco pliers of this tupe were originally made in France, by a manufacturer that made tools for Bahco, and Facom, and whose tool division is now wholey owned by Snap-On, who owns Bahco as part of Snap-On Europe.
That same manufacturer produced tools for Bahco, Facom, Peugeot, and probably other brands.

The French manufacturer, who I can’t remember the name of for the life of me was shut down several years ago by Snap-on. They were making them in Spain until just a few years ago, maybe 5. There are still some Spain made ones in retailers stock i believe.

 

[finn]

The most recent SK buy that I made was the X Frame ratcheting wrenches Lowe’s had during the Christmas season two or three years ago. The price was good, and the quality was satisfactory.

It was a one time seasonal deal, though.

I don’t recall COO. That’s not important to me.

I’d buy more, but I’m not going out of my way to seek any brand out. Hand tools are commodities now.

 

[esben57]

Bought a spare wheel kit for my Mazda, wheel jack sockets and extending 1/2" drive bar. Tried it out for the first time ,at home, the square twisted straight off the bar.
Utter junk, replaced by an ancient Britool made in England square and bar T handle. Will outlast me and I won't be left stuck with a flat tyre.
You pay domestic prices although a bit cheaper, not the Chinese price.
How about we replace everybody's job with a cheap import. And I mean everybody's job.

 

[CGarage]

Bought a spare wheel kit for my Mazda, wheel jack sockets and extending 1/2" drive bar. Tried it out for the first time ,at home, the square twisted straight off the bar.
Utter junk, replaced by an ancient Britool made in England square and bar T handle. Will outlast me and I won't be left stuck with a flat tyre.
You pay domestic prices although a bit cheaper, not the Chinese price.
How about we replace everybody's job with a cheap import. And I mean everybody's job.

I am puzzled— What does this have to do with SK???

 

[Rinspeed]

The Americans refusing to buy from the Chi-coms really makes me laugh.

Paying made in USA prices for marginal, made in China tools is what makes me laugh.

 

[Rinspeed]

All of these comments when the simple answer is NO. Why can't anybody simply answer the question asked?

 

[CGarage]

Paying made in USA prices for marginal, made in China tools is what makes me laugh.

I think I am a good judge of quality and price.

I don’t think you will find quality USA made tools at SK prices.

I also think the recently produced SK tools I bought represented a good quality to value ratio at the prices I paid.

I think it took Americans 30 years to get over the stigma of “Made in Japan” during the last century. I suspect it will take another 30 years to get past the “Made in China” stigma that we see now.

 

[esben57]

I am puzzled— What does this have to do with SK???

SK now Chinese, off shoring, quality concerns. Pisses people off.
Brit industry went the same way, nothing much to celebrate because tools are a bit cheaper.

 

[rust in the eye]

You all are impossible to please and living 50 years in the past.

Yeah, so...