S-K Wayne. What are your thoughts?

[thehorse13]

I was at a gas station in Maryland yesterday and began talking to an old timer who was sitting behind the counter. Whenever I find guys like him, I always ask for leads on old tools and vintage gas advertising signs.

When I asked about tools that I am always looking to buy, he made an off hand remark about having a pail of that, "S-K Wayne" junk.

For the record, I wasn't alive when the Wayne buy out took place but this guy's comments are not the first I've heard when describing the S-K Wayne stuff.

Personally, I don't wander beyond the S-K diamond logo era stuff and I avoid the Wayne stuff purely because of the negative press I've regularly come across. To that end, can anyone confirm that the Wayne stuff is inferior? What I mean is, in form, fit, function, production quality, etc.

This post is inspired by the other thread where tool truck quality stuff is being discussed. I did not want to thread jack so I started this one separately.

 

[freudianfloyd]

I was at a gas station in Maryland yesterday and began talking to an old timer who was sitting behind the counter. Whenever I find guys like him, I always ask for leads on old tools and vintage gas advertising signs.

When I asked about tools that I am always looking to buy, he made an off hand remark about having a pail of that, "S-K Wayne" junk.

For the record, I wasn't alive when the Wayne buy out took place but this guy's comments are not the first I've heard when describing the S-K Wayne stuff.

Personally, I don't wander beyond the S-K diamond logo era stuff and I avoid the Wayne stuff purely because of the negative press I've regularly come across. To that end, can anyone confirm that the Wayne stuff is inferior? What I mean is, in form, fit, function, production quality, etc.

This post is inspired by the other thread where tool truck quality stuff is being discussed. I did not want to thread jack so I started this one separately.

I have wondered about this before. This is an old thread on the subject.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=281303

 

[BarryWells]

Best made of all their years(including now). I own every ratchet of that era. The other years were the "Tough One" days.Nice fine tooth ratchets.Own all those too

 

[r_olson_06]

Here in the Midwest SK is loved by almost every farmer here. Almost every farmer auction has at least 1 1/2" drive set either from the diamond era or the Wayne era.
There built a reputation on being tough as nails and fairly priced. I think most people call it SK Wayne no matter there generation so it may not be the buyout just a name that stuck.

Personally their tappered 1/2" drive sockets were one of the best sockets of that generation.

Looking for the following Plomb Pebbles Wrench 3061

 

[Shane6377]

I have some 1/2" and 3/8" drive S-K Wayne sockets and a 1/4" drive ratchet as well as extensions of all sizes. They are great. Very tough.


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[toomanytoyzz]

I have a small SK Wayne tool box I grabbed at a fleamarket a few years ago for $15. It is a simple design. It's definitely not snap-on quality, but still a decent little flip lid toolbox. The pulls are sort of chintzy, but I snagged it because it had a few cool vintage stickers on it. I'll try and get a few pics of it this weekend to post. Here's a link to the exact style box I have minus the stickers https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=187112. It's the first one pictured.

As for tools, my dad gave me a lot of both SK and SK Wayne socket sets so I can only reply to using them. He owned a bodyshop and his buddy was an SK rep who always gave him screaming deals. I tend to use the "newer" SK stuff only because the chrome is still really good and my 45 year old eyes can read them much better than the SK Wayne ones, but I wouldn't say that the Wayne sockets are inferior. Better than most of the Craftsman **** produced today.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Maybe because after the Wayne take over, they changed the design of the sockets? I consider my late '50s S-K as one of the best socket designs in scrap iron collection. On the Canadian prairies , McLeods chain sold S-K as their premium brand.

 

[bonneyman]

As far as I can tell form the Wayne tools I've handled they're no different then other S-K tools save the logo.
They do tend to be less of them around (as Wayne only owned them for a few years), so the rarity appeals to some collectors. But quality wise they are just as good a tool as other era S-K's.
Here's my set of Wayne's and other older S-K's that I had until I sold them while thinning the heard, plus a line-up of S-K ratchets. Can't tell the difference between the Wayne's and the straight S-K's.

 

[ganymede]

Peeling chrome is more common in Wayne era stuff.
Just my observation in 20+ years of tool collecting.
I doubt theres a significant difference in metallurgical strength.

 

[bonneyman]

Peeling chrome is more common in Wayne era stuff.
Just my observation in 20+ years of tool collecting.
I doubt theres a significant difference in metallurgical strength.

Hmmm, I had some chrome peel on my Dresser era set (1981) but pretty much all of the Wayne stuff I had was decent.

Maybe the Wayne chrome doesn't like the Craftsman screwdriver stink?

 

[Rileysan]

As far as I can tell form the Wayne tools I've handled they're no different then other S-K tools save the logo.
They do tend to be less of them around (as Wayne only owned them for a few years), so the rarity appeals to some collectors. But quality wise they are just as good a tool as other era S-K's.
Here's my set of Wayne's and other older S-K's that I had until I sold them while thinning the heard, plus a line-up of S-K ratchets. Can't tell the difference between the Wayne's and the straight S-K's.

I'm of the same opinion, though Wayne era stuff is readily available here in the Pacific NW. Even though I don't see a difference in the quality of hand tools, I have come across some Wayne era tool boxes that were real stinkers.

Perhaps it was just the management and/or price structure that pissed everybody off?

Brian

 

[ganymede]

Hmmm, I had some chrome peel on my Dresser era set (1981) but pretty much all of the Wayne stuff I had was decent.

Maybe the Wayne chrome doesn't like the Craftsman screwdriver stink?

My screwdrivers aren't allowed to eat until they've showered.

 

[bmwrd0]

The only SK I have had an issue with was an Ideal, and that was chrome peeling on a 1/4 ratchet.

 

[bonneyman]

My screwdrivers aren't allowed to eat until they've showered.

 

[d42jeep]

I have a lot of S-K but never really got into the Wayne stuff. I’ve never seen any problem with it though. I tend to concentrate on the the prewar, wartime and immediate postwar tools although I have some of the post Wayne tools. I do keep certain Wayne pieces as placeholders until I find earlier tools to replace them.
-Don

 

[thehorse13]

Thanks for all the replies. Thinking back over the years of how much S-K Wayne stuff I've come across, and left behind, it looks like I may pick up a metric set the next time I stumble on one.

Some of you may relate to this, but I'm trying to put together a toolbox stack fully outfitted with high quality (not high price) tools for my son. I have all of my father's S-K and my grandfather's S-K tools that will eventually flow down stream to him.

 

[NUTTSGT]

When I helped clean out a hoarder house, I picked up some old wrenches. In the lot was atleast one SK Wayne wrench. I wouldn't be afraid to use it or any of the older wrenches I found.

I took them to a Ford swap meet and though maybe, just maybe, someone would come along and see the old stuff and grab it all. I don't think anybody picked up one wrench. I suppose I need to take pictures and list them here.


I'll agree with whoever said it above about the Farmers in the Midwest having SK stuff. I think because the smaller hardware stores were Do-it Best/HWI and this was the product line they carried.

 

[Shadow408]

Yep, Tons Of It Here In Topeka Kansas. I Always Pick It Up Cheap And Nobody Seems To Want It! Great Bargain For The Money. I Love The Old SK Stuff..

 

[Shane6377]

I have a bunch of new and old SK tools... ratchets, sockets, wrenches. All of my stuff is great. Some reports of QC issues over the years but I couldn't tell you what to look out for because all of mine has been good.


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