New SK Screwdrivers in Development - SureGrip

[Flash21]

I got this from my SK tool man:

"Some products, such as screwdrivers, wirestrippers and pliers, that were previously outsourced overseas will now be internally manufactured to higher standards by SK in the U.S.A. The extrusion tooling for the industry leading SureGrip screwdriver handle is nearly complete and a new dual durometer, ergonomic grip screwdriver line is being developed to replace the Tri-mold line. These will both be assembled with industry leading, SK produced screwdriver shafts"

Sorry, I don't have a scanner but the new drivers look SWEET. I would say SK is definitely headed in the right direction and I look forward to their new offering. If it is what I think/hope it will be I'll be standing in line to buy some things.


KLars1

 

[toolnut]

Can't wait to see them!!

 

[cf2004]

Thats a big tease. lol I was hopping to see pics.

 

[Bull]

Hey, you have pics and can't share them? Party foul!!

 

[oak_park]

Sorry, I don't have a scanner but the new drivers look SWEET.

KLars1

Can you take a picture of it and then post it as a photo? No scanner needed that way.

 

[reptilezs]

these are probably being made by western forge. ideal owns western forge. whether the shafts will be completely new is still up in the air. the pliers in the other thread look like WF/craftsman

 

[Skin]

i suspect we'll see a lot of western forge products rebadged and with a new paint scheme for SK. I just dont see them running two production facilities for the same tools. Especially when WF has a longer track record of making things like punches, drivers, and pliers.

 

[Flash21]

Can you take a picture of it and then post it as a photo? No scanner needed that way.

Good Idea, I'll do that. There is also talk of new CNC machines that were purchased to replace older and slower equipment that will be used for ratchet production.

 

[Flash21]

i suspect we'll see a lot of western forge products rebadged...

Agreed, the soft grip (dual durometer) looks similiar to the Cman pro drivers. The hard handles look like the french made handles with a little different shape.

 

[mikevango]

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=85721

 

[Flash21]

 

[Flash21]

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=85721

Yeah - same flyer style. This one I'm posting is last month's.

KLars1

 

[mikevango]

awesome news. i will definitely support them.

 

[mikevango]

i wonder if the pliers will be rebadged channellocks?

 

[cambyz28]

Hell with the similar that one looks like an exact copy of a craftsman pro scewdriver dont it ???

 

[zer0cell]

Interesting... I'm starting to get excited about the upcoming products. Hopefully the quality will be there... if it is, I'll most likely be buying a number of their products. The comfort grip driver looks like its a copy of the craftsman pro driver...? Although just because the handle looks very similar that does not mean the blades will be the same.

 

[mikevango]

they put a photo of the ratchets and mold with the dudes foot in it?!? classy

 

[jsonic6]

They look just like the Craftsman Pros...

 

[mikevango]

"if you have any question regarding who you rep is..." who you? sheesh

 

[Flash21]

...looks like an exact copy of a craftsman pro scewdriver...

? They do explicitly mention new development on a dual-durometer compound so they won't be identical.

Doesn't western forge supply Sears with the Cman Pro drivers? And western forge, I think, is part of Ideal who owns SK. Therefore, if they are very close or identical with a new dual durometer compound I think that will be great.

Most are unhappy with the Cman professional line moving overseas. I hope all the former customers for USA manufactured Cman Pro line switches to SK.

Plus, they have the coveted hard handles !

 

[mrholeshot]

Yep thats a Craftsman pro . Little disapointed in that.

 

[toolnut]

I guess I would have to see what they put out before I get all excited.....seems to look like ones already made. But I will at give them a chance and assume nothing.

 

[pipsters]

The one on top is the regular WF Craftsman and the one on bottom is the CM Pro (as stated before) aka Husky Pro.

In the last two days I've been doing a lot of back and forth on the Craftsman regular, Pro, and Husky Pro screwdrivers. What I've found is it seemed all are made with the same metal. The difference is the coating, tips, and handles. The regular Craftsman (and regular Husky) made by WF have some sort of nickel plated coating on the entire shaft including the tip. When putting any sort of twisting motion on them and letting the screwdriver come out of the screw the coating flakes off - the tip is fine but the coating does come off. In addition, it's hard to apply any sort of pressure on the screwdriver with the hard plastic handles.

The Husky Pro and CM Pro (and now SK) have chrome on the shaft and either no coating on the tip or a heat treated tip of some sort. When letting it come out of the screw under pressure I noticed no flaking of the tip. In addition, I could apply a LOT more pressure with the nicer handles.

So I guess what I'm getting at is I'm now again in the market for screwdrivers, not sure if I'm going to keep the hard handle CM's I got for Xmas ($20 for 18 piece set, or about 14 real screwdrivers) and get another set of the Pro's either Husky or CM or I guess I could wait for these SK ones to come out, wondering about price though. If they are more than the CM than I might as well buy those since they appear to be the same thing.

 

[superautobacs]

they put a photo of the ratchets and mold with the dudes foot in it?!? classy

Typical American style.


Dissapointing, indeed.....looks like another rebadged WF product.

 

[philw]

They look just like the Craftsman Pros...

I agree. I had guessed that they would be similar in another thread but I am slightly surprised at how similar.

If they are the same as the Cman pros then they will be fine. May not be the best but if they sell them for the same price as Sears then they will do OK. If they get to be in the ballpark of tool truck prices then they will have a problem moving them.

I don't think you will see any new ratchets. My prediction is that it will be the pro style and that one only.

 

[zer0cell]

I would have liked to have seen at least a different style of handle aside from the color change... as I am not a huge fan of how that handle feels in my hand. Also, I second that the pricing should be somewhat in line with the craftsman sets, else what is the advantage of buying the SK sets assuming they are virtually the same as craftsman pro.

I also don't particularly like the feel of the craftsman pro plier handles. I'm not saying they **** or anything I just prefer the dipped plastic or the comfort grip of klein or knipex better. Hopefully they will have some new stuff coming out aside from just the standard WF stuff we've been seeing at sears for a while now. Also, since they bought PR as well, we might seen an alternate line of drivers from that company as well right?

 

[littlekillertoad]

that's a nice looking shoe.

 

[zer0cell]

that's a nice looking shoe.

I was thinking the same thing...

 

[SMKS]

I'm glad to see they'll still be making the classic SK ratchets.

 

[Fedwrench]

Ok, so now you can have the same "pro" screwdriver in your choice of three colors Red from Craftsman, Blue from Armstrong, and now Green from SK. I wish the green rectangular handled screwdriver didn't have what appears to be the marshmallow tough Western Forge blade. Whet they should have done was bring back the first generation Craftsman Pro type screwdrivers but, with SK green handles. Western Forge pliers are ok but, they're nothing to get real excited over, walk through sears and you'll see what I mean.
It's time to bring on the chrome. Lets see if the new line of superchrome will be more exciting and make up for the pliers and screwdrivers. Lets see knurled extensions, well finished sockets, and maybe a new ratchet design. Will the wrenches still be wide in the hips around the boxed end or will they lose weight to save money. What about impact sockets?

 

[dkroth]

that's a nice looking shoe.

Tassel loafer.

 

[mrchuck]

The shoe is DEFINITELY NOT a "steel-toed" hourly paid workman, but an "executive" from the air-conditioned office, classified salary, taking the photos.
He should be stopped, made to put on steel-toed shoes to conform to the safety regulations.
But that won't happen. He's a boss.

 

[mrholeshot]

You know they won't sell SK at the same price point as Craftsman Pro on the screwdrivers and pliers. They could have at least restyled the screwdriver handles. It's short cuts like this that will hurt them.

 

[Kirbot]

I wish the green rectangular handled screwdriver didn't have what appears to be the marshmallow tough Western Forge blade.

If that really is the standard Craftsman steel blades in them (as it appears to be), my excitement about SK just took a big dump.

I'll lose a lot of respect for any company that sells that garbage.

 

[zer0cell]

I'm not sure I'd consider craftsman pro drivers garbage but they are certainly not the top brand out there... I'm more interested in their socket wrenches personally... besides, I feel it is entirely possible they will have an additional screwdriver line or will make new models in a year or two once the company is a bit better established... guess we'll have to see...

 

[Kirbot]

I'm not sure I'd consider craftsman pro drivers garbage but they are certainly not the top brand out there... I'm more interested in their socket wrenches personally... besides, I feel it is entirely possible they will have an additional screwdriver line or will make new models in a year or two once the company is a bit better established... guess we'll have to see...

I'm talking about the screwdriver on top having the same blade as the standard Craftsman.
I don't know anything about the Pro drivers, I've never used them.

 

[mrholeshot]

I'm not sure I'd consider craftsman pro drivers garbage but they are certainly not the top brand out there... I'm more interested in their socket wrenches personally... besides, I feel it is entirely possible they will have an additional screwdriver line or will make new models in a year or two once the company is a bit better established... guess we'll have to see...

I consider C-Man Pro good screwdrivers but don't try to sell them to me at an inflated price just because they have S-K on them and I'm sure that will be the case. For a company rebilding and trying to re-establish a solid reputation you don't want to be selling the other screwdriver with regular craftsman (WF) blades because they are garbage. It's obvious the pliers are Craftsman style as well and in my opinion arn't all that. They don't need to start off on a bad note and improve. They need to come out of the gate doing their very best to kick Snap-On's *** at a price point at about 1/2 the price of Snap-On which is still expensive. They won't make it selling craftsman at 2X what everyone is selling craftsman for.

 

[Davefr]

Anyone have any insight as to where SK will be sold? (particularly in B&M)

 

[Wes28376]

Hell with the similar that one looks like an exact copy of a craftsman pro scewdriver dont it ???

Yes they do.

 

[Theloniousmonk]

yea, too bad if teh suregrip shafts are the same as the cmans... the old french shafts were vapor blasted on the tips and seem to be pretty damned strong from my experience.