Made Here Made Well - SK Tools video

[thetreshon]

Cool video of SK Tools. Sorry if it's already been posted, hard to do a search on GJ for SK because only 2 letters.

90th anniversary, was posted by Made Here Made Well in Nov. 2011, so I'm assuming it was filmed close to that time (?).

 

[Fedwrench]

Thanks for sharing. There was also a Kennedy tool box video listed for that series of Made Well Made Here videos.

 

[VinDSL]

Got a buddy that buys nothing but S-K hand tools. He swears by them... obviously.

I L-O-V-E their "knurled" ratchet wrench handles! Never could stand the smooth, tapered, handles on Snap-on (and clones).

Whenever I think of S-K, I think of their 6" offset box end wrenches. Classic!

Wish I could afford a set... LoL!

 

[diesel research]

Quoted from youtube comments section:

SK turned down a warranty and my father was not too happy.It was a ratcheting wrench that was broken.Only thing I won't buy SK wise are their impact swivels.I am sold with the Matco impact swivels,pinless design which has a good track record,no broken sockets yet and out since 2004

wafrederick 2 days ago

 

[BloodySinner]

If their product line is made in the USA, why doesn't their tools carry the same premium as the popular truck brands?

 

[Davefr]

If their product line is made in the USA, why doesn't their tools carry the same premium as the popular truck brands?

Because they're no sold on the trucks. (lower overhead = lower cost)

 

[Jim85IROC]

If their product line is made in the USA, why doesn't their tools carry the same premium as the popular truck brands?

Because they aren't sold on trucks. When you eliminate the overhead and profits required for the franchisee that owns the truck, you eliminate the huge price increases required to sustain that middle man.

The SK stuff is priced similarly to the Williams and Armstrong stuff, which is the non-truck version of Snap On and Matco.

 

[thetreshon]

I live in Canada and inherited a lot of SK doubles from my dad, and bought some stuff from his buddy, but I'll have to ask him where he bought all that stuff, because I don't know of anywhere near I live that sells SK brand new.

I don't think he went to the U.S. a lot back then, so definitely have to ask him.

He has more Snap On (U.S. and Canadian made) than anything, but also has a lot of Proto (Can. and U.S. made) which I don't know where he bought, and some Herbrand (Canadian and U.S. made) and Cornwell.

 

[kippieland]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing. I do love my SK socket and 1/4 ratchet. The ratchet my not look anything special but its tough as nails and a joy to use!

 

[Solid Lifters]

I love stuff like this. Keep the SK videos coming!

 

[ImportTuner]

Very nice; thanks for sharing

 

[pipsters]

I emailed SK about 8 sockets out of my 42 that had issues. IMO the SK sockets I had, while looking excellent in terms of chroming, had some pretty big QC issues. Lightly stamped/rolled sizes, no detents, and small sections of flaking chrome.

SK did not get back to me. I emailed someone directly, after they wrote back via the contact us form.

Now, I expect those things from Craftsman stuff. SK though, not so much. That being said, their 1/4" and 3/8" chrome sets, when bought with coupon discounts, are a good deal.

 

[t100]

If their product line is made in the USA, why doesn't their tools carry the same premium as the popular truck brands?

because they are not "that good"? I personally don't understand what all the hard on's about SK tools. probably there's a reason or reasons it was in receivership.

I broke 2 1/2" driver ratchets in my life, 1st one was a Cman I was in a pinch had to use a 2 foot lead pipe. the 2nd one was an SK, which I broke it by hand laying on my driveway under my truck. that was the last time I ever used SK tool.

 

[diesel research]

If their product line is made in the USA, why doesn't their tools carry the same premium as the popular truck brands?

There is actually more than 2 categories of tools. Not just homeowner and truck-auto professional. There is also industrial. Then a few brands blurring the lines between other categories.

because they are not "that good"? I personally don't understand what all the hard on's about SK tools. probably there's a reason or reasons it was in receivership.

Isn't so simple. Kind of a "what came first, chicken or egg?" issue.

At some point due to previous budget constraints, there was a labor dispute and even a strike. I am sure that striking/disgruntled employees did not push out top notch tools.

 

[jameswrx]

Those ratchets are fugly! The direction knob and overall look reminds me of the cheapest ratchets you can buy.

I'm interested to know how strong their sockets are though. I didn't realise they were usa made tools. I was looking on ebay at facom stuff and noticed a lot of the stuff I wanted said SK by Facom, so I dismissed it as they were cheap, and assumed it was chinese or something.

I might look into the 1/2" sockets.

 

[Toolhorder]

That marketing manager was using lots of "industries best" type comments. He said at one point he didn't think there was another product line in the market place that had quality as good as SK.

Are you effing for real?

SK is a joke.

 

[wafrederick]

I made that comment and never seen a broken 10mm socket in 1/4 drive come back for a replacement yet too.It was during the before the buyout was done,dealers taking warranties before a certain date last year.

 

[Farmer Joe]

SK is fine with me, I really like their tools. I have a 1/2 ratchet, it's an older SK Wayne one that I bought off the classifieds here, that ratchet is a beast, very well built. My impact sockets 1/2" drive at work are SK. They are also about 8 years old or so, as my old man gave them to me, but they get used every day at work and have never failed me. I have to try some of their newer stuff though. I love the ratchet design though, I think they look good. Screw all that comfort grip stuff, give me a knurled handle anyway

 

[VinDSL]

I didn't realise they were usa made tools. I was looking on ebay at facom stuff and noticed a lot of the stuff I wanted said SK by Facom, so I dismissed it as they were cheap, and assumed it was chinese or something. [...]

A French company (Facom) bought S-K Tools, back in the 80's (if memory serves)... about the same time AMF bought Harley-Davidson. And, like Harley-Davidson, the management bought the company back, some time later.

I dunno...

S-K made some stinkers in the past, but their 6" offset box wrench sets are world-class.

All the rest of their tools... eh, whatever.

 

[VinDSL]

Screw all that comfort grip stuff, give me a knurled handle anyway

+1

 

[rhastings80]

Anybody else notice at 2:05 and 2:16 is looks like the 1/2 round head ratchet was forged off center?

 

[Penny88]

Had some problems with SK 1/2" sockets under heavy load. Also a while back they're was a tread on here about a guy getting crooked/defective wenches(which should be a non-issue with the measuring done in the video). But that was before the ideal buyout. I hope they got it together. I'll forgive them because they've made in the good ol USA.

Now lets see how this warranty works

 

[Toolhorder]

We have the best chrome in the business, blah blah blah.

 

[VinDSL]

We have the best chrome in the business, blah blah blah.

LoL! I'll tell ya what...

Like I said above, I've got a bud that buys nothing but S-K hand tools, and IMO their chrome looks like ***!

Truthfully, the best chrome I've seen is on Klein combo wrenches. Here's a pic (too big to post here):

http://www.planetools.com/Images/68400_Wrench_7pc_Combo.JPG

My boss bought me a (single) 15/16ths wrench, because somebody stole my Proto, and...

I've never seen chrome like these Klein wrenches! The pic above doesn't do it justice.

I'm seriously considering getting a full set... JUST for the chrome.

Anyway, it's laughable that S-K *thinks* they have the best chrome. I've seen them, and it just ain't so.

 

[thetreshon]

I've never seen chrome like these Klein wrenches! The pic above doesn't do it justice.

I'm seriously considering getting a full set... JUST for the chrome.

Don't know if I'm way out of the loop, but I had no idea Klein makes wrenches! (or at least still does). Are the rebranded? Where are they made? USA?

 

[blarf]

That marketing manager was using lots of "industries best" type comments. He said at one point he didn't think there was another product line in the market place that had quality as good as SK.

Are you effing for real?

SK is a joke.

Would you like to explain why you think SK is a joke? Or would you like someone else to point out that they gave you **** over trying to get warranty replacements for rusted out garage sale tools?

Seriously.

 

[blarf]

I'm interested to know how strong their sockets are though. I didn't realise they were usa made tools. I was looking on ebay at facom stuff and noticed a lot of the stuff I wanted said SK by Facom, so I dismissed it as they were cheap, and assumed it was chinese or something.

Facom was, at the point in time when they owned S-K, considered to be at the higher end of the European-made (French in this case) tool spectrum. Since then good ol' American Stanley bought them and shipped production overseas. During the Facom era, S-K had some very nice Facom designed fine tooth ratchets and ergo screwdrivers.

 

[zcbauer89]

I have always liked SK tools. I have SK tools from 70 yrs ago to three weeks ago, and have held up just fine. Just got done OHing a 3406B Cat, using my new 1/2 drive SK socket and ratchet set that I bought just before Christmas and they held up great! And that is on a 3406B Cat motor, not some little daily driver car either.

 

[Davefr]

S-K's chrome is as good as it gets. On par with SO and Wright.

S-K's mainstream tools like ratchets, wrenches and sockets are as good as the tool truck brands.

S-K's problem is breadth of product offering and distribution. (ex: S-K might offer a couple different 3/8" ratchets while SO could have 10-20 different choices)

 

[Mustang1167]

Ive cleaned out two sheds belonging to my grandfathers the past year and come out with a ton of used, rusted, dirty tools that i decided to salvage. Out of all the tools i found the chrome on the sk sockets after being cleaned looked brand new, while other tools stored in the same boxes were not readable. I used them this last year until this when i got a 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 set for myself now they are in my spare box. Great products

 

[lowbucktruck]

Those ratchets are fugly! The direction knob and overall look reminds me of the cheapest ratchets you can buy. QUOTE]

There is a very good reason for that... S-K designed and patented the first RHFT (round-head fine-tooth) ratchet design in 1934. And their RHFT ratchet design has been duplicated and manufactured by other tool companies ever since.

http://www.google.com/patents?vid=USPAT1981526

From Alloy Artifacts:
"As part of the development of their line of tools, S-K had their engineer Theodore Rueb work on designs for new ratchet mechanisms. The result of this work was a landmark patent for the first fine-tooth round-head ratchet, issued as patent #1,981,526 in 1934. This ratchet mechanism was a radical improvement for its time, as the fine-tooth action was simple and reliable, and easy to mass-produce as well. "
http://home.comcast.net/~alloy-artifacts/sherman-klove.html

 

[Toolhorder]

Would you like to explain why you think SK is a joke? Or would you like someone else to point out that they gave you **** over trying to get warranty replacements for rusted out garage sale tools?

Seriously.

Okay I'll bite. They are barely on the map in the industry, they claim to have the best chrome and quality in the video yet they just went under and got bought out.
If they were truly the best they would have the market but clearly they do not.

It has nothing to do with their warranty policy but since you mentioned it and my experience IMO it too is no industry "best". I have lots of SK stuff, a whole box in fact, some I got from an indy tool dealer in the 90's and it's ok stuff but it's not leading the tool industry or anything.

The fact of the matter is I'm too busy to mail tools in and deal with some return manager that's under the gun from a bean counter in accounting and he's looking for any reason to deny warranty on my tools. There are plenty of companies that will just make it right no matter the problem, where I got the tool, what I hit with it, etc..

I will say I like that they are staying in America and I'd like to support them but I'll have to wait and see what happens. They almost lost every dist. base here when they went under and hardly anyone stocks their tools here. Even Sears bailed on them. Only time will tell if Ideal can bring them back.

 

[Davefr]

I will say I like that they are staying in America and I'd like to support them but I'll have to wait and see what happens. They almost lost every dist. base here when they went under and hardly anyone stocks their tools here. Even Sears bailed on them. Only time will tell if Ideal can bring them back.

That will definitely be a challenge for them. The B&M retailers probably won't stock SK because of the consumer's love affair with cheap Chinese tools.

The industrial distributors might add them to their catalogs but there's plenty of competition. (ex: Proto, Wright, Armstrong, Williams, etc)

The automotive community probably wants on-site tool truck service. However SK isn't even in the same league as SO, Matco, MAC in depth of product offering.

It'll be interesting to see what Ideal can do in terms of a distribution strategy.

 

[VinDSL]

I've never seen chrome like these Klein wrenches! The pic above doesn't do it justice.

I'm seriously considering getting a full set... JUST for the chrome.

Don't know if I'm way out of the loop, but I had no idea Klein makes wrenches! (or at least still does). Are the rebranded? Where are they made? USA?

I don't know if Klein makes them, or they're rebranded, but... yes, they're made in the USA.

This Klein wrench is the best looking, best feeling wrench I've ever used, with the best chrome plating!

I use this 15/16ths wrench for pulling heads through. Er... basically, about as much pressure as turning over a car engine by hand, using the crank pulley. I do this for an entire shift each week, for 8 hours, and the chrome plating on this wrench hasn't cracked, flaked, scratched or anything else. Amazing!

They're a class-act, just like Klein screwdrivers - very rich looking - something anybody would be proud to own!

 

[Toolhorder]

That will definitely be a challenge for them. The B&M retailers probably won't stock SK because of the consumer's love affair with cheap Chinese tools.

The industrial distributors might add them to their catalogs but there's plenty of competition. (ex: Proto, Wright, Armstrong, Williams, etc)

The automotive community probably wants on-site tool truck service. However SK isn't even in the same league as SO, Matco, MAC in depth of product offering.

It'll be interesting to see what Ideal can do in terms of a distribution strategy.

That's true I didn't think about that (public just wants cheap chinese tools)

 

[diesel research]

They're a class-act, just like Klein screwdrivers - very rich looking - something anybody would be proud to own!

If you look around, you will find a LOT of people complaining about NEW klein screwdrivers.

 

[VinDSL]

If you look around, you will find a LOT of people complaining about NEW klein screwdrivers.

Yeah! I work with electricians every day (I got a healthy respect for 480 and don't want to mess with it). Had a discussion with one yesterday... about Klein drivers.

I noticed he was using insulated Wiha precision drivers. I told him I was thinking about buying a regular set of insulated Wihas, but didn't know if they would stand up to mechanical work. He said, no problem - the insulation is tough as nails. He said he had to trim the insulation back, on one of his Wiha precision drivers, so he could get it down a hole in a PLC, and it was hell to cut.

Anyway, he also had Kleins in his pouch...

He said, "in the old days" he could throw a Klein screwdriver on the floor and it would pop right back at you, like a ball. Matter of fact, he said you had to be careful, if you accidentally dropped one -- that it didn't bounce back up, and get you in the eyes.

He said the newer ones are dead to the world. You drop them, and they just lay there.

I asked him if it's because the tips were softer (told him what I had read in these forums).

He said he didn't know why they don't bounce any more. He commented that the tips ARE softer -- but, he said they've been getting better lately.

Anyway, in his opinion, you can't beat Wihas (and other German screwdrivers - which he couldn't remember the names of. Heh! It was late in the day...

 

[68-camaro]

I don't own any SK tools but after watching the video and seeing whats happing in the industry, I will definitely and probably be my next purchase. Thanks for the post.

 

[terry603]

If their product line is made in the USA, why doesn't their tools carry the same premium as the popular truck brands?

how do you think the truck guy gets paid?

 

[BloodySinner]

how do you think the truck guy gets paid?

There are brands that carry a premium without a truck. Did you know that?