Should I buy SK?

[Gmonkee]

The sintered metal debacle. Instead of broaching a metal slug the pressed them out of basically powdered metal.

Many things can be made like that but the stresses a socket takes became too much for the process to hold up.

They were faster and cheaper to make, plus they took a nice finish.
Until a week after they hit the stores the warranty retutns began. And the sets were dumped in rummage sales everywhere with pissed off mechanics heading to Sears again. My dad was one of them.

The black years of SK saw more 'innovation' of that sort too. Nothing to do with the current boss.

 

[kythri]

I don't think it was a issue of offense as much as comments such as that can get a thread locked in pretty short order.

Bingo. Keep general political nonsense out of the forum.

 

[jrockford]

My sincerest apologies kythri.

Hard to "share" emotion over the web.

 

[Indexmill]

Gosh, all of you guys are very, very smart. You know all about what went on inside all of these companies over the decades. Being that smart, you all should be millionaires and probably not hanging around a garage board...

The OP just asked about SK tools. It was a simple question. Why can't we just answer the question that was asked based on our own experience. If we have no experience, then do not reply. Very simple.

Please keep it simple. If we want a multi-page dissertation on the history of a company or how to run a company correctly, we would be well advised to go look for that some place else.

Indexmill.

 

[tonyciambrone]

My take- no. If you want U.S.A i think wright tools makes sturdier stuff, for a comparable price. Cant beat wrightgrip wrenches. For pliers I would go Wilde or Channellock. Imported tools are imported but there are some great lines and fierce competition.

 

[tool_scrounge]

The SK stuff I have owned has been good. I have no complaints and have not had a failure. One less tangible characteristic is how it feels in your hand. Maybe less of an issue wth sockets but more so with wrenches. For ratchets I really like Wright tootsie roll grip and Cornwall soft grip. SK hard handle ratchets are also feel pretty good. Where I find SK really shines in ergonomics is their satin finish combination wrenches. They fit my hands perfectly. I suspect they are not available new, but they are plentiful in the used market.

So as you expend your tool collection, I would recommend seeing how it feels in your hand before you buy if possible.

 

[gdocktor3]

. For ratchets I really like Wright tootsie roll grip and Cornwall soft grip. SK hard handle ratchets are also feel pretty good. .

I personally think the tootsie roll grips are stupid and uncomfortable. Actually, I don't like any soft grips, period. In fact, out of all my ratchets, only two are soft grips. Now, with all that said, this is MY opinion. Here lies the problem with this forum sometimes. Too many people get upset when one's opinion does not match their own. It is evident by this thread, SK has mixed opinions. The best thing to do is pick up some tools and give them a try. You can buy a round head ratchet any day of the week on eBay, as well as a small set of sockets. This way, you can decide for yourself if you should fully invest in them.

 

[M6erfan]

The OP's questions were answered on page 1, the other 100+ comments are meaningless. As usual...

 

[dngrmse]

Meaningless, no. Entertaining, yes. See another difference of opinion. ☺

 

[Joe Mamma]

my father always bought SK sockets and ratchets back in the day (70s/80s) and he said he always had bad luck with there sockets cracking. so i never been one to buy there sockets. iv heard/read they had a issue with a batch of there sockets back then. not sure how true that is tho.

The sintered metal debacle. Instead of broaching a metal slug the pressed them out of basically powdered metal.

Many things can be made like that but the stresses a socket takes became too much for the process to hold up.

They were faster and cheaper to make, plus they took a nice finish.
Until a week after they hit the stores the warranty retutns began. And the sets were dumped in rummage sales everywhere with pissed off mechanics heading to Sears again. My dad was one of them.

The black years of SK saw more 'innovation' of that sort too. Nothing to do with the current boss.

Can someone post a picture of sintered metal sockets, preferably the inside? I would love to see what this type looks like.

I have probably come across some and didn't realize it.

Joe Mamma

 

[four.cycle]

Congratulations!! You asked a very simple, reasonable, straight forward question and you got 6 pages of mostly crazy!!!!

^ where is the link for me to nominate this for "best post of the week"??

 

[pstemari]

I wouldn't make any generalizations about sintered metal being bad or intrinsically weak. The characteristics depend entirely on the application: both oilite bushings and carbide cutting tools are sintered. It's just one of the various ways to form metal.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[RPH]

Powdered metal is used in many applications. Variable cam timing gears, transmission gears, connecting rods are a few. As with any product the process has to be managed properly all the time. The mixture of the powder is critical, dies and presses maintained. The sintering ovens at temperature through out the cycle. The heat treat after sintering and tempering after that. You guys have lots of powdered metal products in high stress applications through out your cars. Just standard forging has many of the same problems if the process is not controlled. Also, I have been using SK tools since the early seventies. I haven't broken any in all that time. Kids have lost a few but not broken. I have no reservation in the purchase of SK from early to now in the Ideal time. Great tools and a great price. Can't go wrong with them.

 

[sberry]

I had 2 ratchets remanned At the time they were really worked hard, we use different tools today and ratchets don't take the beating we gave them when we were kids. They still work well. I still grab them up with confidence.
I actually bought a new SK socket for a job a while back, probably 10 yrs or so I guess, I wanted a 6 pt or something, only used it once but the juice between it off the shelf and a cheap one wasn't much as a single at the parts store and I think they might have had only 12 pt anyway as I recall. Delivered it was about 8$ maybe. Its pretty and looks great. I have one in a 9/16 shallow 6 that has seen a lot of hard use and a 3/4 12 that is a survivor that has been put to the test. Lots of breaker bar stuff with it. I cant recall ever breaking one or having it work like it should. Never do I pick one up and think I need something "better".
I lost a quite a bit of it back in the day and don't have full sets

 

[Gmonkee]

Agreed, every process of working metal into products has its prime applications and areas best to use another.

Its ancient history now but it is what I lived through personally. Somewhere deep in the driveway of my parent's old home is several partial sets of those fine SK sockets. The boxes and ratchets moved on with one of my brothers.

SK dropped the ball somehow but went back to proven methods to recover. I had to wait 35 years to get the solution to the mystery of why but the damage was done for many.

Thanks to stories from a few surviving ex employees this info was preserved and I read it on a site dabbling in tool history.

Just a bump in the road really but one a struggling company didn't need.

 

[lightning02]

Agreed, every process of working metal into products has its prime applications and areas best to use another.

Its ancient history now but it is what I lived through personally. Somewhere deep in the driveway of my parent's old home is several partial sets of those fine SK sockets. The boxes and ratchets moved on with one of my brothers.

SK dropped the ball somehow but went back to proven methods to recover. I had to wait 35 years to get the solution to the mystery of why but the damage was done for many.

Thanks to stories from a few surviving ex employees this info was preserved and I read it on a site dabbling in tool history.

Just a bump in the road really but one a struggling company didn't need.

my farther kept a box of all the broken SK sockets for years. idk why. i just recently found them and tossed them away lol i did keep them on the bench for couple weeks wondering if SK would warranty them still lol but then just tossed them in the end.

 

[Mastercraft81]

Well I guess SK is a good upgrade. There is nothing wrong with my craftsmen. I just want a complete socket set at home and sence the future of sears and craftsmen is unknown.

 

[B_Bimmer]

I agree with you there, craftsman is currently completely up in the air, although personally I think their future is brighter than it has been in a long time. SK under Ideal is the picture of consistancy. They have a long term view and I expect them to get better all the time. If you're looking for a good solid brand you can be proud to use, SK does that.

 

[mr natural]

Facom all!!!