New SK screwdrivers.

[ryan_289]

I got my hands on some of the new SK hard handle screwdrivers today. USA made They look similar to the old ones but it seemed like the handles were a little bigger around than the older style. I didnt buy any today but one of the guys in the shop took the set. I may pick a set up before the end of the month.

 

[4x4gearhead]

older style being the 4 sided green ones? My first set of screwdrivers were a set of those, I have like 3 of them left thanks to my father losing them on me.

 

[ryan_289]

Yep thats them. I wonder since they are all USA made now if they will stick that hard handle on some ratchets? That would be nice.

 

[kc-steve]

I have an old full set of green S-K screwdrivers and like them a lot. I was also wondering about the new ones as well. Thanks for the tip.

Steve

 

[bimmer630]

The website still shows the old style green handle and the "new" SK says ALL TOOLS MADE IN USA", and I wondered how since my green handle SK's say France on them. I guess they changed them ever so slightly and I couldnt tell from the pictures.

4x4gearhead, Its funny you said that, Because my first real "Set" of screwdrivers with a storage tray was the Green SK's and for some reason my father doesnt see the point in putting them back there when he uses them. I had to replace like half of the missing drivers last year.
Come to think of it... I caught him almost losing some of my softgrip snapon screwdrivers too.. they ended up in the kitchen drawer, the bilge of the boat, etc...
Makes me cringe

 

[kc-steve]

The website still shows the old style green handle and the "new" SK says ALL TOOLS MADE IN USA", and I wondered how since my green handle SK's say France on them. . . .

The green handle S-K screwdrivers 4x4 and I were talking about were made in the 1970s. They are made in the USA. Facom bought S-K in 1985. Those Facoms are NOT the "older green handle screwdrivers" most people are referring to.

Steve

 

[bimmer630]

So.. theyre MADE IN USA claim is wrong. actually I dont even see that claim on the website, but an ad in a magazine did say that

 

[powertrip]

I believe the new ones will be made in the usa by western forge. Read it on here somewhere.

 

[walrus]

Didn't Ideal buy Pratt and Read also? Not sure who made drivers for Pratt and Read but it seems like whoever made them would make SK??

 

[jeffmoss26]

Ideal owns Western Forge too.

 

[SMKS]

I assume the OP is talking about this kind of screwdriver? It's called the SureGrip. On the SK facebook page, they said they would continue making this style of screwdriver. I assume it will be USA made since the Facom connection is long gone.

Advance Auto Parts now lists this screwdriver set as in stock and ready to ship.

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product__22989605-P_N3407_T|GRP2057____

SK will also be making a screwdriver called the CusionGrip. It's basically the same as the Craftsman Pros made by Western Forge.

 

[ryan_289]

The new ones are definatly made in USA. Its printed right on the handle. On of the other mech. in the shop has the foreign made ones and the new ones do have a thicker handle.

 

[SMKS]

The new ones are definatly made in USA. Its printed right on the handle. On of the other mech. in the shop has the foreign made ones and the new ones do have a thicker handle.

Are these the ones you're talking about? Unless I missed it, you didn't say if they were or not.

 

[ryan_289]

Yes I am talking about those.

 

[Fedwrench]

We discussed this awhile back, and I can't find the thread now but, I remember the picture of the new SK screwdriver made by Western Forge taking those regular craftsman screwdriver blades and sticking a rectangular green SK handle on it. No thanks.
I'll also skip the SK comfort grip variant too. It's a nice shade of green just like the Armstrong version has a nice shade of blue but for the price and ease of warranty, you'd be better off getting the Craftsman Pro version in red and black but, that's just me.

 

[SMKS]

I remember the picture of the new SK screwdriver made by Western Forge taking those regular craftsman screwdriver blades and sticking a rectangular green SK handle on it. No thanks.

How do you know they were the same blades used in the Craftsman screwdrivers? They could have been the same blades as the Craftsman Pros or completely different blades.

 

[Kirbot]

How do you know they were the same blades used in the Craftsman screwdrivers? They could have been the same blades as the Craftsman Pros or completely different blades.

It was pretty easy to see in the pictures.
They had that same cheesy "rippling" or whatever you call it on the flat blade drivers.


No proof that there the same of course, but most everybody agreed they probably were.

 

[MadMark]

Can't we just invade France and give that factory to S&K?

 

[lauver]

Gang,

I've got a few of the S-K Green hard handle screwdrivers and have been impressed with how well they are made and how well they compare to similar SO, Matco, MAC hard handle screwdrivers.

In my mind, they are the smart mans SO/Matco/MAC screwdrivers. And, I'm glad to hear the new Ideal/SK company will continue to offer them. That's the best news I've heard in a long time.

As to the Ideal/Western Forge screwdrivers.... eh, not so much.

 

[ryan_289]

It was pretty easy to see in the pictures.
They had that same cheesy "rippling" or whatever you call it on the flat blade drivers.


No proof that there the same of course, but most everybody agreed they probably were.

These had the frosted tips just like the old SKs.

 

[pipsters]

I do remember that thread and the "new" SK certainly look the same as the Craftsman pros, and the Husky Pros (also US made but cheaper).

 

[Kirbot]

These had the frosted tips just like the old SKs.

Thats definitely good news then.

I was looking for the old pictures posted a while ago, but the flyer seems to have been deleted.

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

 

[John in OH]

I do remember that thread and the "new" SK certainly look the same as the Craftsman pros, and the Husky Pros (also US made but cheaper).

When you say "cheaper" do you mean cheaper in price or cheaper in quality?

 

[pipsters]

When you say "cheaper" do you mean cheaper in price or cheaper in quality?

Price they are the same screwdriver blade with different handles also stamped WF. Made by Western Forge. I of course don't see them actually manufacturing them but just looking at them up close in person they have the same chroming to the blades, same tip, etc. I wouldn't doubt that the new SK screwdrivers are the exact same thing, seeing as though Ideal owns Western Forge as well.

 

[cdncowboy]

I'm still kind of split between what I like using better... hard handled like these or the cushion grip like Wera for example. I'm torn between the two.

 

[bimmer630]

I like the textured plastic handles on the older mac stuff

 

[Hoss356]

 

[B17E1943]

... for some reason my father doesnt see the point in putting them back there when he uses them. I had to replace like half of the missing drivers last year.
Come to think of it... I caught him almost losing some of my softgrip snapon screwdrivers too.. they ended up in the kitchen drawer, the bilge of the boat, etc...
Makes me cringe

Time to lock the toolbox.

These had the frosted tips just like the old SKs.

The free HF drivers I got a while back have frosted tips - does that make them good?

 

[AZ_Catskinner]

The free HF drivers I got a while back have frosted tips - does that make them good?

They actually are half decent! I've got a set I keep in my "quick job" bag at work and they've been through all sorts of abuse and have come through with flying colors (well, actually the Pittsburgh logo came completely off with the first exposure to Citrisolve, but that's not important).

 

[kc-steve]

They actually are half decent! I've got a set I keep in my "quick job" bag at work and they've been through all sorts of abuse and have come through with flying colors (well, actually the Pittsburgh logo came completely off with the first exposure to Citrisolve, but that's not important).

Thanks for the tip AZ, but from my HF experience by the time this news is read they change the quality, or maybe it's just the batch. Consistency is a problem.

Steve

 

[slob]

I recently purchased both the Suregrip 10 piece set and the Cushiongrip 6 piece set. The shafts are identical.

 

[SMKS]

I recently purchased both the Suregrip 10 piece set and the Cushiongrip 6 piece set. The shafts are identical.

Can you post some pics?

 

[lauver]

I recently purchased both the Suregrip 10 piece set and the Cushiongrip 6 piece set. The shafts are identical.

And do the your new Suregrips have hex bolsters like the older Suregrips?

A photo or two of your new drivers would answer a lot of questions...

 

[4x4gearhead]

The green handle S-K screwdrivers 4x4 and I were talking about were made in the 1970s. They are made in the USA. Facom bought S-K in 1985. Those Facoms are NOT the "older green handle screwdrivers" most people are referring to.

Steve

I was actually talking about the modern ones, Im not a big fan of those 70's ones. They remind me of crapsmans, and I dont care what anyone says the craftsman hardline screwdrivers are not good.

 

[jsackin]

From what I've heard, Pratt and Read is making the blades for the SK screwdrivers. They actually make most of the screwdriver blades in the US, so it would only make sense that SK would use them as well since they are part of the same company.

Jori

http://store.harryepstein.com

 

[bimmer630]

My SK file set has similar green handles compared to the French Facom made SK handle, but its a bit fatter and doesnt say France on it.
Thats probably the handle they are using now

 

[slob]

And do the your new Suregrips have hex bolsters like the older Suregrips?

A photo or two of your new drivers would answer a lot of questions...

They do have the hex bolsters. I'll try to get some pics when I go to work tonight.

 

[lauver]

slob,

Thanks. Looking forward to the photos. I really hope the new production is as good as the old.

 

[american lockpicker]

I like the old Facom ones.

 

[franzdom]

These had the frosted tips just like the old SKs.