Burt Shaver
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S K good brand?
- Thread starter Burt Shaver
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There is a tremendous price difference between the old USA made SK wrenches, which have a good reputation or maybe a lot of nostalgia, and the Chinese made SK flare nut wrenches. I don’t think they the new China made wrenches represent a good value. Proto makes very good value flare nut wrenches.
OP
Burt Shaver
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Of course they used to be good but now they are not
. They are 327.00 USD to buy today, that makes me think they are upper echelon of cheap tools then? Or do they sell made in the USA ones and made in China ones presently?
. They are 327.00 USD to buy today, that makes me think they are upper echelon of cheap tools then? Or do they sell made in the USA ones and made in China ones presently?shoggoth80
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I don't know if all current production is offshore, but I've gotten flare wrenches as warranty replacements at work that were NOT stamped USA vs our older stuff that is noticeably stamped USA. Those were also a bit thicker throughout by eye. Chrome was still nice. Worth the premium? I would say no. $70 for the set? I would consider that decent. Even pieces on industrial account house brands tend to be around $6 (give or take) a wrench from my experience.
Older SK is pretty good day in day out stuff. Most of what we have around the shop is older American SK, there may be a little older French stuff too. All the sockets I've gotten through warranty have still been American made. So time and duty cycles will tell on the non American replacement pieces. I can't actually weigh in on that besides impressions... Nobody has used the replacements long enough to make a judgement call on it. All I can say is that it doesn't strike me as the same quality level.
Older SK is pretty good day in day out stuff. Most of what we have around the shop is older American SK, there may be a little older French stuff too. All the sockets I've gotten through warranty have still been American made. So time and duty cycles will tell on the non American replacement pieces. I can't actually weigh in on that besides impressions... Nobody has used the replacements long enough to make a judgement call on it. All I can say is that it doesn't strike me as the same quality level.
Of course they used to be good but now they are not
Before you get too down on these, many of the wrenches in the photo from Facebook say USA. It's possible these are older USA wrenches for sale.
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Burt Shaver
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I didn’t even notice, maybe some have been replaced over the years
Torque&Recoil
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I have a bunch of older SK sockets, extensions, etc. Very good quality. Today? I have no idea. Prices went over the moon, then bankrupt, then buyout. You know what happened then,
cody1325
Well-known member
If it's old USA--sure. My local mine supply still has stuff made under Facom ownership--and that stuff (a few wrenches, two Tuff-1 Ratchets) are the newest SK stuff I have. Most was Granddad's from the '70s and '80s (much of it gifted to him from a buddy who was a sales rep for Fairmont Supply). I'm using a ratchet I got in an eBay lot regularly--and it's late '50s.
Most of my "good" wrenches are SK, with a little bit of Proto and Blackhawk sprinkled in.
China--no. What is still USA you can get comparable from other companies. What isn't largely appears to be cheap Workpro stuff with green paint. And I've heard warranty got worse under Great Star. The local mine supply dropping SK was 50/50--one, Chinese ownership. Secondly, it got to where SK under Great Star was refusing most warranty exchanges. As my sales guy told me "If you break it, it's just broke--SK won't replace it".
Most of my "good" wrenches are SK, with a little bit of Proto and Blackhawk sprinkled in.
China--no. What is still USA you can get comparable from other companies. What isn't largely appears to be cheap Workpro stuff with green paint. And I've heard warranty got worse under Great Star. The local mine supply dropping SK was 50/50--one, Chinese ownership. Secondly, it got to where SK under Great Star was refusing most warranty exchanges. As my sales guy told me "If you break it, it's just broke--SK won't replace it".
Ohio Andy
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If I remember correctly, The Craftsman brand rated pretty well and was very inexpensive.
So I have one set of Craftsman and then another set that is much more expensive
Here's a link to project farm
Torque test channel
I think the sk torque test channel tests are sk USA.
I don't really remember everything I have for this. I know I have some Craftsman the newer ones, I know I have the irwin adjustables, and then I have a set of proto.
Oh and I have Williams ratcheting versions of these, but if I remember correctly, most of the ratcheting ones are all made by the same company. I'd have to look it up to remind myself who it is. Imperial comes to mind but that's probably wrong
So I have one set of Craftsman and then another set that is much more expensive
Here's a link to project farm
Torque test channel
I think the sk torque test channel tests are sk USA.
I don't really remember everything I have for this. I know I have some Craftsman the newer ones, I know I have the irwin adjustables, and then I have a set of proto.
Oh and I have Williams ratcheting versions of these, but if I remember correctly, most of the ratcheting ones are all made by the same company. I'd have to look it up to remind myself who it is. Imperial comes to mind but that's probably wrong
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four.cycle
Well-known member
@Burt -
If you're looking for SAE flare nut wrenches, check prices on old Indestro stuff.
If you're looking for SAE flare nut wrenches, check prices on old Indestro stuff.
Schurkey
Well-known member
SK flare-nut wrenches used to be adequate. Too short, not enough leverage, otherwise OK.
But they're not Snap-On. You'll never get them confused with the Top Gun in that tool category.
NOW, S-K is just more Communist ****.
But they're not Snap-On. You'll never get them confused with the Top Gun in that tool category.
NOW, S-K is just more Communist ****.
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shoggoth80
Well-known member
Without side tracking too much... We still have some of those old Snap On I-beam flare wrenches at work. Personally rather fond of them. SK, Snappy, and Proto are some of the more common ones around the shop. There's some old Craftsman raised panels too. The American SK are the shorter of the bunch, if you're worried about leverage.
If I remember right, TTC's test had the Snap On on top, Milwaukee second, and Craftsman third? Mac broke
But the Milwaukee and Craftsman sets will cost you a lot less new than Snap Ons of course.
My personal set is an Astro. Flex head. They're pretty nice for what I paid, but I am sure the price has gone up since I got them years ago.
If I remember right, TTC's test had the Snap On on top, Milwaukee second, and Craftsman third? Mac broke
But the Milwaukee and Craftsman sets will cost you a lot less new than Snap Ons of course. My personal set is an Astro. Flex head. They're pretty nice for what I paid, but I am sure the price has gone up since I got them years ago.