I have been using a 1/4 in. drive and 3/8 in. drive set of sockets from SK at work. I don;t know much about SK other than the young techs that work on my fleet don't know anything about them, but the old times know that they'd to be thought of as a quality brand. I know that I really like what I have used so far. I am just waiting for the right time to but their Sure-grip screwdrivers. I even like the green handles.
Question about SK
- Thread starter VOMA07
- Start date
davestlouis
Well-known member
I don't see a question...
Red Green
Well-known member
Just a little new guy hazing don't take it personallySorry I guess I was to excited before. My question. What is the history of the company, and how does SK compare in the hierarchy of the tool world? I get the impression somewhere above Craftsman but below the big four truck brands. Also why is it so hard to find brick and mortar retailers here in the Chicago area when SK is a Chicago company?
Red Green
Well-known member
My local Napa store has SK. Most people do rank it as you say just above Craftsman and under the truck brands.
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
here's some reading for you
http://alloy-artifacts.com/sherman-klove.html
http://www.berlands.com/static.asp?path=80
http://www.skhandtool.com/
http://alloy-artifacts.com/sherman-klove.html
http://www.berlands.com/static.asp?path=80
http://www.skhandtool.com/
Blacknwhitepit
Well-known member
Sherman-Klove tools.
Good quality. We saw their Quality Control dip about 2 years ago.
They are good tools. They make the Craftsman Professional Flare nut wrenches.
I would venture that they may make their Professional Combination wrenches.
I would put them above Craftsman (Danaher).
Plus the Green is pretty cool.
-BWP
Good quality. We saw their Quality Control dip about 2 years ago.
They are good tools. They make the Craftsman Professional Flare nut wrenches.
I would venture that they may make their Professional Combination wrenches.
I would put them above Craftsman (Danaher).
Plus the Green is pretty cool.
-BWP
davestlouis
Well-known member
The new items I've bought have been ****, but if you can locate some older tools, say 1960s-80s, go for it.
Still the same ranking, in that pro group right under the truck tools. They had a dip in quality about the time they were bought from FACOM around 2 - 3 years ago. It appeared that a bunch of seconds showed up all over, though usually through sources you would not think of as SK dealers. Sears also appeared to have some that were on the shelf that were sold this year from that batch.
I bought multiple SK sets during that time through the normal channels and did not have any issues with anything I bought. Then I do notice chrome chips, etc, but I am not the type that puts the tools under a microscope looking for that level of flaws. We still buy a large amount of Wright Satin and Craftsman raised panels since the take the farm tool box duty better than the polished. A day in the tool box the polish is gone and they start looking like a cat scratched them all up.
To date still have not have had issues and am looking for more SK for the coming season along with some Proto, Wright, and Craftsmans. All solid without the truck support and price.
I bought multiple SK sets during that time through the normal channels and did not have any issues with anything I bought. Then I do notice chrome chips, etc, but I am not the type that puts the tools under a microscope looking for that level of flaws. We still buy a large amount of Wright Satin and Craftsman raised panels since the take the farm tool box duty better than the polished. A day in the tool box the polish is gone and they start looking like a cat scratched them all up.
To date still have not have had issues and am looking for more SK for the coming season along with some Proto, Wright, and Craftsmans. All solid without the truck support and price.
krusty the clown
Member Emeritus
it depends on how old they are.........blackhawk is a brand owned by proto/stanley but in the last few years they have become cheap imports. definately not proto's.
Blacknwhitepit
Well-known member
Once again, Krusty beats me to the punch. If it is USA made Blackhawk then more than likely it was made by Stanley/Proto. If new, it is made overseas.
-BWP
-BWP
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
No tool company is as good today as it once was. SK is a quality tool. I'm not fond of their wrenches but, everything else is pretty good. Their round head ratchets although a little fat by today's standards, have been around for over40 years. You need to shop around before buying SK though as there is a wide price spread. Plenty of techs have made lots of money over the years using SK. Many Votech students have learned and started their careers with SK.