My recent experience with S-K and there foreign made tools!!!

[Ohio Andy]

I only have the 1/4 drive one. It seems heavy for a 1/4 ratchet. High back drag, coarse ratcheting action. It may smooth out over time. It reminds me of a Gearwrench ratchet but, not as nice.

I hope they loosen up over time or my muscle memory gets it

 

[wolfinator]

I wonder how they are... I didn't like how the ones I own reverse.

SK Mechanics Tool Set, 1/4" & 3/8" & 1/2" Drive Socket with 216-P Ratchet, 149-Piece, SAE & Metric, SuperKrome Finish, with Storage Suitcase

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZKT3SXQ?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have the 3/8 ratchet. I do not like it at all. Just incredible amounts of back drag out of the box.

I opened it up to see if some lube would help - nope, it was lubed at the factory. I tried attaching it to a drill and running it back and forth for quite some time to see that might help loosen it up. Didn't seem to have an impact.

It was otherwise fine - flawless chrome, seems smooth enough to me, decent head size. I just can't love a ratchet with that much back drag, and I don't have the patience to break in a ratchet I dislike using when I have too many other ratchets I like.

 

[vssjim]

SK released a new series of 90 tooth Pear head ratchets with a tapered handle that are made in the PRC.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0D97F492R/?tag=atomicindus08-20

It will only be USA made tools until it is sold off the china based company has shown they are not interested in US production as they proved first with the Shopvac name they bought

 

[Andres26tnt]

Well 10y too late they finally releasing the X frame flex head ratchet wrenches, made In China. They look good, not sure on pricing.

 

[Fedwrench]

Well 10y too late they finally releasing the X frame flex head ratchet wrenches, made In China. They look good, not sure on pricing.

I would be impressed if SK released a standard length X Frame with a ratcheting boxed end on one side and a fixed boxed end on the opposite end. SK's anti slip open end is great but, the last thing I need is another wrench with an open end.
It's sad that it took soo long to release a flex head X Frame and it was done by the Great Star owned SK, Maybe in another several years, you'll see a long/extra long fixed/flex version.

 

[vssjim]

I would be impressed if SK released a standard length X Frame with a ratcheting boxed end on one side and a fixed boxed end on the opposite end. SK's anti slip open end is great but, the last thing I need is another wrench with an open end.
It's sad that it took soo long to release a flex head X Frame and it was done by the Great Star owned SK, Maybe in another several years, you'll see a long/extra long fixed/flex version.

Over all I just don't see the whole SK Tools deal working out at all maybe some Amazon sales for people that are not informed about the new company but those will be few. I have a lot of SK tools starting from the 70's but no interest in the china companies lack of information and direction I don't see myself buying anything new. Even when they do put out some new stuff like the boxes pricing doesn't dictate where they are made and I'll never see one in person in this area where I live I'm sure of that as they have zero presents in any place I know of period.

 

[neophyte]

Over all I just don't see the whole SK Tools deal working out at all maybe some Amazon sales for people that are not informed about the new company but those will be few. I have a lot of SK tools starting from the 70's but no interest in the china companies lack of information and direction I don't see myself buying anything new. Even when they do put out some new stuff like the boxes pricing doesn't dictate where they are made and I'll never see one in person in this area where I live I'm sure of that as they have zero presents in any place I know of period.

Great Star already owns Pony/Jorgensen (the clamp and vise manufacturer), and Arrow (the Stapler and fastener manufacturer), and Goldblatt (the masonry tool brand), and Lista (the industrial storage brand like Vidmar), and now
Prexiso and Tesa Technology both formerly part of Hexacon AB.
Prexiso is a manufacturer of laser levels and laser fistance measuring tools, and Tesa is a manufacturer of metrology tools such as digital micrometers and calipers which were/are? sold as Brown & Sharpe.
Apparently this sale happened recently.

Tesa presumably may give Great Star access to most major industrial suppliers in the USA, and Pony/Jorgensen and Arrow are routinely sold both thru industrial suppliers, and homecenters such as Home Depot and hardware stores.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Great Star already owns Pony/Jorgensen (the clamp and vise manufacturer), and Arrow (the Stapler and fastener manufacturer), and Goldblatt (the masonry tool brand), and Lista (the industrial storage brand like Vidmar), and now
Prexiso and Tesa Technology both formerly part of Hexacon AB.
Prexiso is a manufacturer of laser levels and laser fistance measuring tools, and Tesa is a manufacturer of metrology tools such as digital micrometers and calipers which were/are? sold as Brown & Sharpe.
Apparently this sale happened recently.

Tesa presumably may give Great Star access to most major industrial suppliers in the USA, and Pony/Jorgensen and Arrow are routinely sold both thru industrial suppliers, and homecenters such as Home Depot and hardware stores.

Great Star already owns Pony/Jorgensen (the clamp and vise manufacturer), and Arrow (the Stapler and fastener manufacturer), and Goldblatt (the masonry tool brand), and Lista (the industrial storage brand like Vidmar),

I believe you will find Great Star purchased the European part of Lista. The US part was purchased by Stanley Black and Decker years back.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I ordered a SK product recently. I did so because Prime returns. Turns out it was USA and no problems.

When you get into vintage, discontinued, non-current stuff, prepare to have to update to something else. SK ratchets are damn timeless compared to an 18v tool, but at some point, there are too many options to keep hoping for older stuff to be available in new condition AND for it to be painless shopping.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Like I mentioned before on another thread, blinders get put on on here. Sk under great star is actually doing good in amazon. Not going to comment about quality, just sales in general. This might be due to cutting suppliers, cutting cost, and much better margins. Just looking at great stars other very successful brand duratech, I think it's safe to say they know what they are doing. Duratec was used as the base for SK new tools, except with nicer chrome.