SK already being clearanced at Lowes?

[hasco]

It was weird seeing SK at Lowes, Even Wierder seeing China on the package !

 

[CGarage]

It was weird seeing SK at Lowes, Even Wierder seeing China on the package !

It was weird thinking that US based customers would pay $68 per wrench because it was stamped “made in USA” but it’s ratcheting box end was Asian designed and manufactured to begin with…..

 

[Retroman]

Ordered a set of Metrics for pickup today. I really like my OEM reversible offset wrenches not sure on the durability of those but so far so good but I am not a pro wrench just a homeowner keeping things running.

 

[CGarage]

Ordered a set of Metrics for pickup today. I really like my OEM reversible offset wrenches not sure on the durability of those but so far so good but I am not a pro wrench just a homeowner keeping things running.

Packages are marked: Lifetime Warranty

That said, I won’t be using the box end ratcheting mechanism to break highly torqued fasteners…..Common sense should apply with such a fine-tooth mechanism.

 

[drtyler]

It was weird thinking that US based customers would pay $68 per wrench because it was stamped “made in USA” but it’s ratcheting box end was Asian designed and manufactured to begin with…..

$68 per wrench?

 

[CGarage]

$68 per wrench?

That is what the “made in USA” version of the SK ratcheting x-frame wrenches were selling for.
$68.00 US, each. Price for one (1) wrench.

I got a *full set* for $49.00 US, on sale via Lowe’s US website, with free shipping.

 

[drtyler]

That is what the “made in USA” version of the SK ratcheting x-frame wrenches were selling for.
$68.00 US, each. Price for one (1) wrench.

I got a *full set* for $49.00 US, on sale via Lowe’s US website, with free shipping.

Wow, I did not remember that. The sets were priced better, although still not inexpensive.

At $68 per wrench, that's more expensive than the Snap-on Dual 80 reversible ratcheting wrenches, which truly are the top of the line.

I'm glad you like the ones you purchased. I bought SAE and Metric sets when they were USA, and I didn't like them. My preference is to use ratcheting wrenches that are reversible, but I tried to give the SK a fair shake.

 

[CGarage]

My mistake, they were ~ $66 per wrench

 

[89MustangGX]

Wow, I did not remember that. The sets were priced better, although still not inexpensive.

At $68 per wrench, that's more expensive than the Snap-on Dual 80 reversible ratcheting wrenches, which truly are the top of the line.

I'm glad you like the ones you purchased. I bought SAE and Metric sets when they were USA, and I didn't like them. My preference is to use ratcheting wrenches that are reversible, but I tried to give the SK a fair shake.

I recall at one point Epstein's had sets for something like $120 or so. I know I thought about getting them, but it slipped my mind and then they were gone.

I got the $50 sets of SK to try, probably to regift, as I already have a number of other ratcheting wrenches that I like. I've become a big fan of the double-box style that has a solid box-end on one side and a ratcheting box on the other. I have the Armstrong/Matco standard length variant with the 15 degree angled end and the Snap-on extra-long flat variant. I rarely use open-ends, so that allows me to break free without risking the ratcheting mechanism and then ratchet away on the other side. Only downside is no reverse, so I do have to watch where I use them sometimes. I do have Blue-Point combination reversible's, but I don't think I've actually used them.

I probably need to be thinning the herd rather than growing it. Oh well, SK here I come!

 

[CGarage]

Who makes a box end on one side and ratcheting box end on the other side wrench?

 

[89MustangGX]

Who makes a box end on one side and ratcheting box end on the other side wrench?

Armstrong used to, and they were rebranded for Matco. That was when they were made in the US.

I believe Matco still sells them, but they are made in Taiwan now, not sure who is producing them.

And Snap-on has them in extra-long.

I don't think anyone else is making them, so it's Snap-on for US made and Matco for off-shore. That's all that I know of.

EDIT: Icon of course. They are a copy of the Snap-on. And Gearwrench as well. Forgot about those.

 

[neophyte]

It was weird thinking that US based customers would pay $68 per wrench because it was stamped “made in USA” but it’s ratcheting box end was Asian designed and manufactured to begin with…..

The SK version used a new design that was different from the original Asian designed/patented mechanism.

Also, if I’m not mistaken, the Gearwrench wrenches were made in the USA at one point two or three decades ago, as were some other brands like Armstrong/Matco and other Danagher brands, and maybe Snap-On.

The original SK ratcheting wrenches, pre-Ideal were imports, but that was when SK was owned by Facom in France, and the SK tools were being made in the USA, France, Italy, Germany, and likely elsewhere, depending on the tool.

 

[Davefr]

Armstrong used to, and they were rebranded for Matco. That was when they were made in the US.

I believe Matco still sells them, but they are made in Taiwan now, not sure who is producing them.

And Snap-on has them in extra-long.

I don't think anyone else is making them, so it's Snap-on for US made and Matco for off-shore. That's all that I know of.

EDIT: Icon of course. They are a copy of the Snap-on. And Gearwrench as well. Forgot about those.

Also CM V series (Facom??)



I almost never use open end wrenches so don't waste putting one end on a ratcheting wrench. Give me a 6 pt box end for breaking fasteners loose and a ratcheting end for speed. But I'd prefer reversible and no skipped sizes.

 

[finn]

Stopped at Lowes today. The SK cardboard display is still there. Looks like they sold one ratchet (socket ) set, two SAE sets, one metric set, and two or three sets of the adjustable sets.

Prices haven’t dropped, but the patio furniture is moving in.

Didn’t ge to HD to see how their Gearwrench sets (with fewer skips) are holding up.

Did see that the Kobalt sets like the SK are priced at $80, so the SK is a bargain compared to Kobalt.

The SK sets are clearly labeled “special purchase “, which tells me it’s not going to be regular stock after the inventory is depleted.

 

[KnurledNut]

Who makes a box end on one side and ratcheting box end on the other side wrench?

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...ting-end-not-extra-long.519350/#post-10234980

 

[CGarage]

As a social experiment and lesson in brand equity, I inquired with a much younger friend of mine who owns a maker space and is a bit of a tool buff and frequents Lowe’s and Home Depot in the US several times a week, and spends a few $K US a month in each buying materials for projects he delivers to paying customers. He’s been working with tools since highschool age, is in his early 30s, does additive manufacturing and 3D printing, builds robots, watches multiple YouTube videos of handymen and makers, and generally has excellent awareness of manufacturing and production, construction, tool use, etc

I asked him the question:

“Without looking online, if I were to give you the letters, “SK”, what would you associate that with?”

His response: “Isn’t that a bearing company?”

My reply: “Close, you are thinking of SKF.
Have you ever heard of SK, the tool company?”

His reply: “Nope, but now that I google it, I feel like I have seen the logo somewhere, maybe Zoro, or Grainger, because I buy from them, too”.


So, SK will have a major task ahead of itself re-introducing the brand and re-establishing the market share they once held and foolishly yielded.

It is my opinion that few of the under 50 year old crowd have even heard of “SK Tools”.

 

[BrandonV]

The SK sets are clearly labeled “special purchase “, which tells me it’s not going to be regular stock after the inventory is depleted.

I didn't think this at once but I think SK is dead at Lowes.

The reason I was hit with a $79 delivery fee is because they don't have Ship to Home avaliable for the X-frames. So the fee is to have someone go to the store and pick them up.

Talking to a buddy who used to work at Lowes he told me that usually means the warehouse/distribution centers don't have the product.

SK is dead.

 

[bwringer]

Stopped at Lowes today. The SK cardboard display is still there. Looks like they sold one ratchet (socket ) set, two SAE sets, one metric set, and two or three sets of the adjustable sets.

Prices haven’t dropped, but the patio furniture is moving in.

Didn’t ge to HD to see how their Gearwrench sets (with fewer skips) are holding up.

Did see that the Kobalt sets like the SK are priced at $80, so the SK is a bargain compared to Kobalt.

The SK sets are clearly labeled “special purchase “, which tells me it’s not going to be regular stock after the inventory is depleted.

Does anyone remember (or have a link to) what sizes were skipped in the metric set?

I remember stumbling across these maybe a week or more ago at a particular bLowe's (they were extremely well-hidden, but bLowe's really does seem to hate money), and wasn't interested at $80.

I might be bored enough to go look again and see if they're on clearance.


Edit: Never mind... found it, and it looks like there are a few sets around town for $50.

• Metric set Includes: 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, 17mm wrenches

So it skips 9, 11, and 16, doesn't go up to 18 or 19mm. Fair enough.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/SK-Professional-Tools-7-Piece-Set-6-point-Metric-Standard-Combination-Wrench-Includes-Soft-Case/5014598871

 

[CGarage]

I think you all are foolish to pass on these, especially at the discount.

 

[Andres26tnt]

I think you all are foolish to pass on these, especially at the discount.

Not really, what's special about them? I guess just they look pretty . They are boxy and big, don't really offer any advantages over let say a good quality ratchet wrench. Not sure if they have a great mechanism like the USA version now that it's made in China.

 

[CGarage]

Not really, what's special about them? I guess just they look pretty . They are boxy and big, don't really offer any advantages over let say a good quality ratchet wrench. Not sure if they have a great mechanism like the USA version now that it's made in China.

I think your technical reading and data processing ability is seriously questionable.

 

[Andres26tnt]

I think your technical reading and data processing ability is seriously questionable.

We talking sk here. Yeah not foolish to pass on them, again what's special about these? Are they better then the USA made counter part? Do they use the same mechanism? Strength? Same size? Where to warranty? What sizes do they skip? Is SK going to be around for more years to come?

 

[CGarage]

We talking sk here. Yeah not foolish to pass on them, again what's special about these? Are they better then the USA made counter part? Do they use the same mechanism? Strength? Same size? Where to warranty? What sizes do they skip? Is SK going to be around for more years to come?

What else would we be talking about? The subject of the thread is SK and I posted about the ratcheting combination wrenches.
Again, your ability to read, process and synthesize information needs to be improved.

 

[CGarage]

Andres: Did you miss this thread, a few posts down?

SK X-Frame Wrenches - COO & Design Changes

Rustbelt Mechanic turned me on to these. I believe they were initially made in USA. Then COO changed to Taiwan and or China. Question: Has the design or quality changed at all with the change of country of origin? I like these X-Frame wrenches.

www.garagejournal.com

 

[finn]

We talking sk here. Yeah not foolish to pass on them, again what's special about these? Are they better then the USA made counter part? Do they use the same mechanism? Strength? Same size? Where to warranty? What sizes do they skip? Is SK going to be around for more years to come?

Really doesn’t matter how they compare to the previous US manufactured ratcheting wrenches, as the US made versions are gone to the history books.
The only thing that counts is how they compare to current production counterparts from competitors in price and quality.

 

[Andres26tnt]

What else would we be talking about? The subject of the thread is SK and I posted about the ratcheting combination wrenches.
Again, your ability to read, process and synthesize information needs to be improved.

My ability to read, process and synthesize info is just fine. We talking about the x wrenches. I get that You like them. You made comment on being foolish to pass up a deal on these Chinese wrenches, i said no it's not. It's up to the buyer to make that call. Also the USA made wrenches are still available, well according to Great Star. I think you have a problem.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Really doesn’t matter how they compare to the previous US manufactured ratcheting wrenches, as the US made versions are gone to the history books.
The only thing that counts is how they compare to current production counterparts from competitors in price and quality.

It does matter, that's the whole point of re using the sk design. The USA wrench are still being made, well who knows by who(according to Great Star). But I agree how do they compare to the current offering from other brands. So far well not well at all.

 

[CGarage]

My ability to read, process and synthesize info is just fine. We talking about the x wrenches. I get that You like them. You made comment on being foolish to pass up a deal on these Chinese wrenches, i said no it's not. It's up to the buyer to make that call. Also the USA made wrenches are still available, well according to Great Star. I think you have a problem.

Thank you for proving my point.

 

[bwringer]

They, uh, they... they look really cool?

Seriously, I have zero need for these. I have plenty of other ratcheting wrenches, including the old Gearwrench made in Taiwan... but I kinda also want these too.

I'll probably go fondle a set soon, anyway. If they seem too Chinese-ish, then I'll pass.

 

[KnurledNut]

Mods,
As the OP, do you mind locking this thread?
I believe it has ran its useful course.
Thanks.

@Ryan @NUTTSGT @The Cobbler