Is anybody still buying modern SK Tools?

[CGarage]

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.

A company has a major goal, and goal that is to survive and continue on.

The largest market for SK was the American consumer.

The old incarnation of SK existed as somewhat of a niche tool brand, not sold on a tool truck, not sold in big box stores, but sold in smaller ‘mom and pop’ hardware stores, and to industrial end users. Not consumers.
Many mom and pop hardware stores have since vanished. Consumers of today no longer remember SK. American members here have freely admitted they will not pay ~ $66 US for a wrench, and I agree with them.

SK’s “legacy” and name was sold. And the Chinese are modernizing it, and offering product again at reasonable prices that make it accessible.

I think that is a win.

The business model you speak of is now no longer a reality.

 

[esben57]

A company has a major goal, and goal that is to survive and continue on.

The largest market for SK was the American consumer.

The old incarnation of SK existed as somewhat of a niche tool brand, not sold on a tool truck, not sold in big box stores, but sold in smaller ‘mom and pop’ hardware stores, and to industrial end users. Not consumers.
Many mom and pop hardware stores have since vanished. Consumers of today no longer remember SK. American members here have freely admitted they will not pay ~ $66 US for a wrench, and I agree with them.

SK’s “legacy” and name was sold. And the Chinese are modernizing it, and offering product again at reasonable prices that make it accessible.

I think that is a win.

The business model you speak of is now no longer a reality.

Had SK from a local tool supplier in the 70's 80's, bit more than the British tools but very good. Still have some.

The Chinese bar let me down first attempt. That's reality

 

[rust in the eye]

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?

A lot of what you blame on China is merely them answering a demand(previously filled by Japan) for cheap goods, and US manufacturing's labor force largely pricing themselves out of the market.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

A lot of what you blame on China is merely them answering a demand(previously filled by Japan) for cheap goods, and US manufacturing's labor force largely pricing themselves out of the market.

US manufacturing has been moving from “dumb” goods and into highly specialized sectors that are much more lucrative and exclusive. Setting aside the absolutely absurd situations foisted on manufacturing over the past two years, we have been quite successful at it. I know a lot of guys here have an attachment to Mi-USA tools but the money and careers are in big industrial components, medical equipment, tech fabrication, and whatnot.

 

[CGarage]

Had SK from a local tool supplier in the 70's 80's, bit more than the British tools but very good. Still have some.

The Chinese bar let me down first attempt. That's reality

Mate, the Chinese stigma you have needs to change. They can and do make surprisingly good kit. The Taiwanese today I personally believe to be the most advanced at developing new hand tools and the product is top.

The world has changed.

 

[rust in the eye]

US manufacturing has been moving from “dumb” goods and into highly specialized sectors that are much more lucrative and exclusive. Setting aside the absolutely absurd situations foisted on manufacturing over the past two years, we have been quite successful at it. I know a lot of guys here have an attachment to Mi-USA tools but the money and careers are in big industrial components, medical equipment, tech fabrication, and whatnot.

 

[rust in the eye]

A great tool store near me has close ties to the S-K company and is worth a visit by anyone nearby or even as a destination for Chicago visitors if you appreciate a well stocked tool store that caters to professionals.
https://www.berlandstools.com/history

 

[Rinspeed]

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.

This was just a quick search from JB Tools and Palmac so maybe JB has crappy prices. The Wright wrenches are almost at the quality of Snap-On in my opinion and Wright will only use steel that is produced in the USA. You do you as they say.

 

[AEAdam]

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.

Williams? They are pretty comparable, no? Last I looked I thought so

 

[AEAdam]

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

No joke, many engineers, or at least some of the best of them are autistic. They only answer the question being asked of them. I am not, so I'm reading between the lines and this thread reads like advocacy to me, not a legit question. It reads like, "if not why not?".

As you well know, some of our biggest advocates of Chinese manufacturing are here including:

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

This is a webforum and you guys get to talk about whatever you want. But lets just be honest about it. Are we talking about SK tools, or are we advocating for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)? "But they have fast trains and robots that deliver meals!" Got it.

My sense is, if we are legimately talking about mid priced tools (and I'm not convinced we are), I think there are US and German tools in the SK price range. Maybe Koken. Not 100% sure.

If Great Star or Lucky Star or Gold Star or whatever they are called has managed to reduce prices, I'd put them into the lower cost tools bucket that may similarly have attractive competitors from Taiwan such as Icon, Williams Taiwan, Capri? etc etc and again I suspect they would come up short. I think this is the reason, and not bigotry or whatever is being fished for, why there isn't more hype about SK here.

Just my 2 cents

 

[esben57]

Mate, the Chinese stigma you have needs to change. They can and do make surprisingly good kit. The Taiwanese today I personally believe to be the most advanced at developing new hand tools and the product is top.

The world has changed.

I'll stick to being me. Mate.

 

[CGarage]

I'll stick to being me. Mate.

One good idea, and I think you’d agree with me that here is to hoping that Britool resurrects themselves. I believe there are lots of young, able bodied men who could be seeking work in U.K., new arrivals as they say, and it’d be a jolly good show to see them not on the dole from the Crown and putting their back into it and getting a proper U.K. company back on producing!

I miss ye olden Britool. I thought it had given the Brits a heart attack that it got sold and the French were making the product under the Britool name for a while!

 

[esben57]

One good idea, and I think you’d agree with me that here is to hoping that Britool resurrects themselves. I believe there are lots of young, able bodied men who could be seeking work in U.K., new arrivals as they say, and it’d be a jolly good show to see them not on the dole from the Crown and putting their back into it and getting a proper U.K. company back on producing!

I miss ye olden Britool. I thought it had given the Brits a heart attack that it got sold and the French were making the product under the Britool name for a while!

Please go away.

 

[CGarage]

Please go away.

I know, even I was shocked when Britool pulled that one with Facom!

I bought a set marked as Britool but made in France, solely to have an example of the utter irony of the situation!

 

[reader2580]

The only reason I ever bought SK is because it was made in the USA. No reason to buy SK made in China.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

Here in Europe I'm not sure if I even knew of SK before joining this forum, but many brands have had similar stories.

I don't think I like having these old native brands recycled by companies that didn't have anything to do with building them. Regardless of whether the tools are good, they're trading on unearned reputation and recognition, taking advantage of consumer ignorance. Seeing them is a constant reminder of the failure of those brands and the decimation of the tool industry in general in my country.

I don't like paying made in expensive country prices, for things made in low cost countries. Such pricing suggests excessive profit margins. The value I see in a purchase is not purely based on the tool I receive. On the other hand, I don't like paying expensive country prices for poor quality products made in those countries because the companies don't have efficient processes.

I don't like rewarding companies who rip off others' designs and innovations, whether that's by blatant disrespect of intellectual property, or circumventing it by making small changes or dubious improvements. Of course not all companies do this.

I have no doubts about the capability of China etc. to make high quality advanced products. They are highly developed themselves, and our own western companies also shared all the know-how when they exported their manufacturing.

I'm usually willing to pay a bit more for a tool to support neighbouring and aligned countries. I'm fortunate to be able to afford doing this, but I know it many others can't or don't care. I know it barely makes a difference, and ultimately there's no way we're generally going to save ourselves.

Someone mentioned Milwaukee. I have some, and also have Makita and Metabo tools made in China. The tools are generally good. They make effort to innovate, and have a serious presence in country for service. They do significant work in their home countries designing the products, listening to customers etc. The cost of manufacture is some percentage (lower than we imagine) of the selling price.

 

[CGarage]

The only reason I ever bought SK is because it was made in the USA. No reason to buy SK made in China.

Many members say this, but they are unwilling to pay $66 US for a single wrench.

The market conditions make it extremely difficult for tool manufacturers to keep production in the US and prices affordable so that the offering is competitive.

 

[AEAdam]

Williams USA combination wrench set 10-19 $194
SK Professional CHN combination wrench set 8-19 $287

close thread

 

[dr_clyde]

Many members say this, but they are unwilling to pay $66 US for a single wrench.

The market conditions make it extremely difficult for tool manufacturers to keep production in the US and prices affordable so that the offering is competitive.

I put my money where my mouth is.

I have purchased at least two USA socket sets from SK and several of their USA wrenches. And the wrenches were a hell of a lot more than $66 as they were big wrenches. When I was in charge of a maintenance department I outfitted our shop will all SK sockets and wrenches.

In general, I prefer Snap-on for my hand tools but my local industrial supply had SK on the shelf so that’s what I bought when I needed something hot.

I’m ok with paying a premium for USA manufacturing provided the quality and service are there to back it up. No one likes paying a premium for inferior products, no matter where they’re made.

I own a machine shop in the USA and I make products for USA companies. I would prefer to stay in business so when I get the chance, I buy from my fellow USA workers.

To me, the hands touching the products and the mouths it feeds matters. I buy certain furniture because it’s made in the town I live in and I know people who work there. I buy beer from the local brewery because I know the brewers and want to support them. Same with my favorite local bakery. While I don’t know the names of the people who work at Snap-on or GM or Herman Miller or any number of other USA companies that I patronize, I know they have families to feed and mortgages to pay and all the same bills we all have. This whole “economy” thing works best if we spend money on things that make jobs and lives for the people who live here.

So yeah, when a company sends products overseas it matters to those of us who work here. Once that threshold is crossed, whatever loyalty they had evaporated. Now SK is on the same tier as Tekton, Harbor Freight, and other miscellaneous brands that are made overseas. Unfortunately for SK, Tekton has better products for better pricing, and Harbor Freight has more availability. They lost the one edge they had, which was playing for the home team.

I’ve seen local shops shut down and lay off their staff and it *****. So I do my part when I can.

 

[roofdweller49]

SK is in that no man's land where their customer base/fandom that cares about the Brand's heritage won't buy a Chinese made product, but people who aren't familiar with the brand doesn't understand what makes it special.

It's like if Harley Davidson bikes shut down their US factory

 

[AEAdam]

I put my money where my mouth is.

I have purchased at least two USA socket sets from SK and several of their USA wrenches. And the wrenches were a hell of a lot more than $66 as they were big wrenches. When I was in charge of a maintenance department I outfitted our shop will all SK sockets and wrenches.

In general, I prefer Snap-on for my hand tools but my local industrial supply had SK on the shelf so that’s what I bought when I needed something hot.

I’m ok with paying a premium for USA manufacturing provided the quality and service are there to back it up. No one likes paying a premium for inferior products, no matter where they’re made.

I own a machine shop in the USA and I make products for USA companies. I would prefer to stay in business so when I get the chance, I buy from my fellow USA workers.

To me, the hands touching the products and the mouths it feeds matters. I buy certain furniture because it’s made in the town I live in and I know people who work there. I buy beer from the local brewery because I know the brewers and want to support them. Same with my favorite local bakery. While I don’t know the names of the people who work at Snap-on or GM or Herman Miller or any number of other USA companies that I patronize, I know they have families to feed and mortgages to pay and all the same bills we all have. This whole “economy” thing works best if we spend money on things that make jobs and lives for the people who live here.

So yeah, when a company sends products overseas it matters to those of us who work here. Once that threshold is crossed, whatever loyalty they had evaporated. Now SK is on the same tier as Tekton, Harbor Freight, and other miscellaneous brands that are made overseas. Unfortunately for SK, Tekton has better products for better pricing, and Harbor Freight has more availability. They lost the one edge they had, which was playing for the home team.

I’ve seen local shops shut down and lay off their staff and it *****. So I do my part when I can.

It would be nice to meet @CGarage in person and have a chat with him. I'll bet he's a really interesting person. His location is US/Switzerland. I've been to Switzerland. It's one of my favorite places on this planet. Switzerland is probably one of THE most protective countries in Europe in terms of protecting its own businesses, produce (30% import tariff on produce), interests, environment, culture, people etc etc. They 100% put Switzerland first and everyone else can take a flying leap. That's true of Europe mostly overall.

Somehow, @CGarage has put you on the defensive. He's asking you to somehow justify what all of Europe does and celebrates right now. Keep supporting the home team. That's literally what everyone else in the world does except us. We are the fools who defend and cheer for the away team (who hate us). I'm okay with it. But none of us have ANY need to apologize for supporting local.

 

[Etchase]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/SK-SK01366-Metric-Combination-Wrench-Set-8-Piece-SK01366/336572904

Great Star is a huge tool manufacturer, possibly the second and certainly in the top 5 largest in the world. I think the SK brand is doing well for them. We probably have more to learn from them than numerous failed tool makers. SK’s sales were less then $30 million their last year under Ideal. Astonishingly insignificant sales.

 

[CGarage]

It would be nice to meet @CGarage in person and have a chat with him. I'll bet he's a really interesting person. His location is US/Switzerland. I've been to Switzerland. It's one of my favorite places on this planet. Switzerland is probably one of THE most protective countries in Europe in terms of protecting its own businesses, produce (30% import tariff on produce), interests, environment, culture, people etc etc. They 100% put Switzerland first and everyone else can take a flying leap. That's true of Europe mostly overall.

Somehow, @CGarage has put you on the defensive. He's asking you to somehow justify what all of Europe does and celebrates right now. Keep supporting the home team. That's literally what everyone else in the world does except us. We are the fools who defend and cheer for the away team (who hate us). I'm okay with it. But none of us have ANY need to apologize for supporting local.

@AEAdam

No disagreement here from me.

 

[CGarage]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/SK-SK01366-Metric-Combination-Wrench-Set-8-Piece-SK01366/336572904

Great Star is a huge tool manufacture, possibly the second and certainly in the top 5 largest in the world. I think the SK brand is doing well for them. We probably have more to learn from them than numerous failed tool makers. SK’s sales were less then $30 million their last year under Ideal. Astonishingly insignificant sales.

Very well said and this is my point surrounding the Chinese “re-imagining” what SK could be.

SK needed to modernize. And the buyers understood that.

The new tool offerings they have I was willing to try out and have been pleased.
I personally will not be buying their standard wrenches, ratchets, or sockets.

 

[CGarage]

I put my money where my mouth is.

I have purchased at least two USA socket sets from SK and several of their USA wrenches. And the wrenches were a hell of a lot more than $66 as they were big wrenches. When I was in charge of a maintenance department I outfitted our shop will all SK sockets and wrenches.

In general, I prefer Snap-on for my hand tools but my local industrial supply had SK on the shelf so that’s what I bought when I needed something hot.

I’m ok with paying a premium for USA manufacturing provided the quality and service are there to back it up. No one likes paying a premium for inferior products, no matter where they’re made.

I own a machine shop in the USA and I make products for USA companies. I would prefer to stay in business so when I get the chance, I buy from my fellow USA workers.

To me, the hands touching the products and the mouths it feeds matters. I buy certain furniture because it’s made in the town I live in and I know people who work there. I buy beer from the local brewery because I know the brewers and want to support them. Same with my favorite local bakery. While I don’t know the names of the people who work at Snap-on or GM or Herman Miller or any number of other USA companies that I patronize, I know they have families to feed and mortgages to pay and all the same bills we all have. This whole “economy” thing works best if we spend money on things that make jobs and lives for the people who live here.

So yeah, when a company sends products overseas it matters to those of us who work here. Once that threshold is crossed, whatever loyalty they had evaporated. Now SK is on the same tier as Tekton, Harbor Freight, and other miscellaneous brands that are made overseas. Unfortunately for SK, Tekton has better products for better pricing, and Harbor Freight has more availability. They lost the one edge they had, which was playing for the home team.

I’ve seen local shops shut down and lay off their staff and it *****. So I do my part when I can.

Largely I agree with you and it was not my intent to make you feel the need to justify how you spend your money.

I think I practice a lot of what you do, however, with the added differentiator that I evaluate what I am buying for its intrinsic value.
I do believe in supporting local businesses, especially food producers and farmers, whom are critical contributors.

Hypothetically speaking, I won’t however spend $50 US for a Craftsman ratchet because it says “made in USA” because there are other options, from other countries, that I find to be superior at that price point. There are a lot of goods that are Made in U.S.A. that have not caught up with the times, and companies need to modernize to stay competitive.

One small note about Switzerland. There is not a Walmart on every corner like in the U.S. Also, space is at a premium, so there is a distinct shortage of landfills. Switzerland is also a very small country. Wealthy, yet thrifty. So the Swiss mindset is to buy it once and keep it, that is why the country focuses on product quality to begin with. Also, environmental stewardship and conscientiousness is part of the Swiss approach to life, so hardly anything useful is ever thrown out. It is reused, recycled, or donated.

 

[CGarage]

Williams USA combination wrench set 10-19 $194
SK Professional CHN combination wrench set 8-19 $287

close thread

I have a set of fractional Williams wrenches and they are very nice.

No, the SK wrenches are not worth 1/3rd more.

Tool prices fluctuate often, so it may be wishful thinking on SK’s part that they can get away with this.

And I think some US buyers will be foolish enough to pay it.

Still, they will be getting a nice product. And I am willing to bet that SK will end up spending more on advertising and product placement than Williams ever will.

 

[CGarage]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/SK-SK01366-Metric-Combination-Wrench-Set-8-Piece-SK01366/336572904

Great Star is a huge tool manufacture, possibly the second and certainly in the top 5 largest in the world. I think the SK brand is doing well for them. We probably have more to learn from them than numerous failed tool makers. SK’s sales were less then $30 million their last year under Ideal. Astonishingly insignificant sales.

So year 2026 and they want ~ $30 US for an 8 piece wrench set.

I have, sitting on my bookshelf, an engineering catalog from a small industrial supply company that Amazon ended up buying. This catalog was printed in year 1998. I still keep it as a reference.

A 9 piece fractional SK wrench set sold for $85.70 US.
A 14 piece fractional set sold for $171.00 US
This is circa year 1998 pricing.

I’d say tool buyers have never had it so good.

 

[dr_clyde]

I should also point out that just because something is made locally or made in USA doesn’t mean that it’s automatically good or worth owning.

I know a lot of **** stuff is made here too, and I don’t buy that if I can help it. **** is still ****.

Quality comes first for me, but all things being equal I’ll always go for the option that best suits my tastes, ethics, and morals. Cost is somewhere on the list, but it’s not the first factor for me.

 

[CGarage]

I should also point out that just because something is made locally or made in USA doesn’t mean that it’s automatically good or worth owning.

I know a lot of **** stuff is made here too, and I don’t buy that if I can help it. **** is still ****.

Quality comes first for me, but all things being equal I’ll always go for the option that best suits my tastes, ethics, and morals. Cost is somewhere on the list, but it’s not the first factor for me.

I agree with you. I am the same.

 

[KnurledNut]

I think I missed the SK craze back in the day due to my age. My Dad had very few SK tools in the late 80s/90s when I was a kid, but the things he did have were good.
Noob question for ya’ll…did SK “lean” towards a certain trade?

I know several have replied to this question, but answers will vary based on geography and personal experience.

For me, I remember them vividly in several hardware stores. I actually bought a few old stock individual peg pack sockets a couple years ago. One of these locations catered heavily to farm supplies and a clientele of farmers were very keen on the tools. They kept a huge assortment of tools including large sizes hard to find elsewhere and also provided service and warranty like repairing ratchets from a comprehensive replacement parts kit.

We also had an independent tool truck that sold several tool brands including S-K and Facom during the era they owned them.

When I was working more in the industrial field, there was an S-K rep that had a truck that was just for servicing his region of industrial customers. This was more recently during Ideal ownership.

S-K was highly regarded by several older mechanics I know because they were locally available and the tools were quality. And at the same time, the tools appealed to home-hobbyists. The Rueb ratchet design was decades ahead of its time and still holds a candle to many of todays offerings.

 

[CGarage]

I know several have replied to this question, but answers will vary based on geography and personal experience.

For me, I remember them vividly in several hardware stores. I actually bought a few old stock individual peg pack sockets a couple years ago. One of these locations catered heavily to farm supplies and a clientele of farmers were very keen on the tools. They kept a huge assortment of tools including large sizes hard to find elsewhere and also provided service and warranty like repairing ratchets from a comprehensive replacement parts kit.

We also had an independent tool truck that sold several tool brands including S-K and Facom during the era they owned them.

When I was working more in the industrial field, there was an S-K rep that had a truck that was just for servicing his region of industrial customers. This was more recently during Ideal ownership.

S-K was highly regarded by several older mechanics I know because they were locally available and the tools were quality. And at the same time, the tools appealed to home-hobbyists. The Rueb ratchet design was decades ahead of its time and still holds a candle to many of todays offerings.

An American mechanic friend of mine who just retired after working for GM some 35 years bought a lot of SK in the late 70s / early 80s and kept it in his lovely home shop. A lot of the sockets, etc were all 12 point, which surprised me. I recall a few of the sockets being beautifully made, and I wish I knew what era this was. About 15 years ago, I bought some SK deep sockets and the interior finishing wasn’t great, I saw flashing remnants, and the broaching was off-center on some in the set. I considered the quality to be Craftsman level. Acceptable and meeting international standards, but not better.

 

[wolfinator]

I received a discounted sample of one of SK's new pear-head ratchets. I really disliked it. Incredible backdrag - could not get it loosened up to where I found it usable.

Ended up giving it away.

The quality seemed fine, but I don't understand what they were thinking with that tuning. It also put me off their imported products - I don't understand the value proposition vs, say, Tekton.

 

[Ohio Andy]

I received a discounted sample of one of SK's new pear-head ratchets. I really disliked it. Incredible backdrag - could not get it loosened up to where I found it usable.

Ended up giving it away.

The quality seemed fine, but I don't understand what they were thinking with that tuning. It also put me off their imported products - I don't understand the value proposition vs, say, Tekton.

I like they're USA made pear head 90T, not their Chinese version. If I must use their Chinese ratchet I will take the 216 round head. I prefer those but don't care for how they switch direction; as with most round head ratchets (personal preference I suppose).

 

[JeepYJ]

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.

Almost every large business is ran by people who don’t give two nickels about the product being made and sold. They’re not enthusiasts, they’re business managers who run big businesses. To them it’s all the same- numbers on spreadsheets and graphs and charts.

 

[rust in the eye]

SK is in that no man's land where their customer base/fandom that cares about the Brand's heritage won't buy a Chinese made product, but people who aren't familiar with the brand doesn't understand what makes it special.

It's like if Harley Davidson bikes shut down their US factory

I don't think S-K was ever anything special. Good? Yes, special, or best.... Some are nostalgic for it, ala Craftsman but clearly not enough to sustain USA manufacturing.
H-D has brand recognition like few others, not to be compared with even Snappy. Sad for H-D that that the dinosaurs that buy their expensive dinosaurs are dying off and H-D has left themselves little alternative but to try to soldier on with same old, same old that could NEVER be built overseas. They nearly died once but rode a wave of nostalgia and invented a lifestyle that is fading. I predict they will indeed close up someday in the not too distant future because they absolutely couldn't build overseas.
I bought little S-K myself, mostly when "in need" at high prices at an auto parts store early on in my wrenching days. I don't recall them ever being regarded as a premium brand. Perhaps just my ignorance.

 

[dr_clyde]

I don't think S-K was ever anything special. Good? Yes, special, or best.... Some are nostalgic for it, ala Craftsman but clearly not enough to sustain USA manufacturing.
H-D has brand recognition like few others, not to be compared with even Snappy. Sad for H-D that that the dinosaurs that buy their expensive dinosaurs are dying off and H-D has left themselves little alternative but to try to soldier on with same old, same old that could NEVER be built overseas. They nearly died once but rode a wave of nostalgia and invented a lifestyle that is fading. I predict they will indeed close up someday in the not too distant future because they absolutely couldn't build overseas.
I bought little S-K myself, mostly when "in need" at high prices at an auto parts store early on in my wrenching days. I don't recall them ever being regarded as a premium brand. Perhaps just my ignorance.

I don’t think SK was ever a “premium” brand like Snap-on or Mac, but it was a pretty well respected industrial brand.

I always put it in the same category as Allen, Armstrong, Bonney, Proto, Plomb, Williams and those ilk.

They were above the stuff you could get at the general hardware or Sears, typically sold at either the industrial supply or the auto parts store.

SK was always dependable in terms of quality, and availability was always pretty good in a lot of places where the nearest Sears was a long ways away. My grandfather had a lot of SK because that’s what they had at the Western Auto down the street from his print shop.

I think what ***** for me personally is I see yet another company that has a long history of making good stuff here in the states get stripped and sold for parts, gutted and their name pimped out to the unsuspecting. This has happened to so many good companies that it makes me feel sick.

I understand it largely boils down to profits above all else, and the things that we as tool enthusiasts care about are not what the world at large cares about. But we can still be sad that a thing that used to be well respected and liked has changed in a way we don’t care for.

 

[lardy1]

In my case, SK hit the sweet spot between the premium brands and the budget brands. Unfortunately, they were repeatedly sold and never really updated after Facom made a feeble effort at modernizing it. Ideal rode the same tired horse until it was ready to keel over. The hype leading up to the 90 tooth ratchets kept a few of the faithful hoping that new investment and modernization may be on the horizon but it just wasn't feasible to do the massive retooling required to produce quality modern tools.

What happened was pretty much inevitable because nobody was going to expend the massive resources to keep production here. Stanley's experiment with Craftsman pretty much failed and there wasn't anyone wanting to try that under the SK name.

My core wrenches and socketry is SK and I'm very happy with them. I had reached a point in my life where I diidn't have to buy the cheapest **** on the shelf and they seemed at that time like a great option for the non-professional. I called myself an SK ***** because I really did like the brand. But with the drop in quality and availability I had to look elsewhere and moved on.

As a retired union guy, I'm all about supporting American labor. It's very important to me. But when a company can't stay reliable and then folds, not much we can do about it except cry in our milk. That has come and gone for me. I rarely even look at the modern offerings.

EDIT: to add that SK was really big into government contract and private contract manufacturing. The unreliability isn't tolerated in that arena.

 

[Zewnten]

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.

Im not getting a doctorate, I don't need to defend my position. Anyone not just trolling would easily make a quick Google search for themselves.

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.

This is completely contrary to statements you've made in other posts and at this point you are just trolling this forum or tou have a TBI and can't remember what you believe.

 

[liliysdad]

I think what ***** for me personally is I see yet another company that has a long history of making good stuff here in the states get stripped and sold for parts, gutted and their name pimped out to the unsuspecting. This has happened to so many good companies that it makes me feel sick.

This bears repeating.

 

[CGarage]

Im not getting a doctorate, I don't need to defend my position. Anyone not just trolling would easily make a quick Google search for themselves.

This is completely contrary to statements you've made in other posts and at this point you are just trolling this forum or tou have a TBI and can't remember what you believe.

You said that DuraTech offers SK’s tool line for a fraction of the price.


Show us.