SK finish slipping?

[kartracer55]

I got two seperate Sk ratchets for christmas, Of course I tried them out a bit, perform flawlessly, BUT I noticed the handles look a bit primitived... the knurling seems to be boogered up in a bunch of places... looking 3 feet away its no big deal, but Its not like some of the stuff from, say 5 years ago, and I know the facom era stuff hasnt been fazed out yet, the box had a sticker that said SK facom on the part number... dissapointed in a way... the Handle is smoother in your hand than the Facom Era and unquestionably the SK wayne era, but even so... not quite nice. Ther knurling isnt as sharp as before though. Maybe im just too nitpicky

Jim

 

[eschoendorff]

Maybe im just too nitpicky

Jim

Yeah, I think so. It's a tool, not a centerpiece. Just for comparison, my wife got me a new Snap On 3/8 ratchet for Christmas... got it right off the truck (always wanted to do that). The finish is not quite perfect, but the ratchet is spectacular.

 

[kartracer55]

Ya went with a standard length 3/8 then i guess? Youll be very happy with it... I betcha cant wait to use it... Ive already used my Long SK today lol

Jim

 

[eschoendorff]

Ya went with a standard length 3/8 then i guess? Youll be very happy with it... I betcha cant wait to use it... Ive already used my Long SK today lol

Jim

Yup. Very nice piece. Just the standard 936. The Snap On guy steered me toward it... didn't try to sell me anything other than what I would need. Our rep seems to be pretty cool... straight forward, no BS, and a nice guy to boot.

Yeah, I've been using it to change drum heads on some snare drums already. A little overkill, but fun anyway

 

[kartracer55]

Funny, as I recall, they have a little pocket size tool for that job...

 

[eschoendorff]

Funny, as I recall, they have a little pocket size tool for that job...

Oh, they do. Ludwig makes a ratcheting drum key that retails for about $17. It's a chicom piece of s***. Use it three times, and it locks up on ya.

After spending $$$ on that, I took one of the drum lugs to the snap on guy and we matched up a snap on square socket (6mm I think) that I can use with any damn ratchet I want. AND - the snap on socket was cheaper than the stupid chinese drum key. Go figure?!

 

[Fast Orange]

I had a chance to look over some new SK ratchets and extensions today,and I've got to agree with Jim-the knurling on the new stuff looks like ****! The older stuff had real nice knurling,well detailed,sharp and straight.The knurling on the new stuff looks like it belongs on something out of the 99 cent store.I've seen better grips on Harbor Freight junk.
I didn't check,but is SK still being made in USA? Looks like cheap chinese stuff with this knurling.

George

 

[kartracer55]

yeah, its still made here... the knurling looks kinda crappy, but I was quite impressed with the guts of the ratchet, still right on par. I plan on emailing SK and letting them know about this.

Jim

 

[slowride66]

I'll have to go "re look @ mine most are old except for the 1/2 drive there only about 5 years old I dont throw then around
then my specialty ratchets
from left to right
junker
my favorite S-K pivot I waited for 20 years before i got it
3/8 snap on stubby
kolbalt indexing 3/8
popular mechanics {weird comes in handy sometimes}
3/8 in 1/4 body snap on
craftsman pivot head 3/8
blackhawk 3/8 the handle twists & also ratchets i couldn't pass on that one

SR66

 

[Uncle Buck]

Is the PM ratchet the one that breaks in the middle of the handle? How old is that, is it still available out there somewhere? It looks like it could be handy as hell in the right circumstance! What did it cost?

 

[slowride66]

I don't know if its still available believe it or not I found it at wall mart for less than $20.

It has come in completely handy a few times it was just so weird I had to get it if for nothing else a joke
Ha jokes on me check out the different positions think I got them all Ive been trying ti inventory my stuff its gonna take years ..oh Ive had it about 8 years now

SR66

 

[kartracer55]

Hey SR66... nice collection ya got there. at 5 years old, it wont have it. Looks like ya got a bunch of SK wayne stuff there too, so those should have a rather sharp knurling on them... Up until 2 or 3 years ago the finish was pretty nice. I actually sent SK an email about it, Ill post thier response when I get it. About 2 years ago I got a 24inch 1/2 breaker bar, and it was unbelievably nice.

Jim

 

[eschoendorff]

Is the PM ratchet the one that breaks in the middle of the handle? How old is that, is it still available out there somewhere? It looks like it could be handy as hell in the right circumstance! What did it cost?

Those (or something very similar) are available as Husky ratchets right now at Home Depot. I thought they were unique, but I passed on them. Maybe I should take another look...

http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDU...earchResults.jsp&MID=9876&N=2984+3865&pos=n22

edit: wel, my link leaves a lot to be desired. Anyway, here is the make and model right off the HD site: "HUSKYPRO Pro 3/8 In. Drive Infiniflex Ratchet Model 65506."

 

[kartracer55]

Ive got a $ that says made in taiwan....

 

[eschoendorff]

Ive got a $ that says made in taiwan....

You would be right. But it's *okay* for $20. That is, until an American version can be found. Maybe a Proto version?

 

[slowride66]

cool the "rotator " is identical cept mine is black hawk

and the inflex looks identical too I had to go out and look and YES my inflexis a Twain but now i need to look at the "extend able 5 position one!!

eschoendorff !! good eye {just keep em off mine } just kidding

kartracer 55 yea all the 3/8 one are old S-K W ayneI trade all my snap on's 20 years ago for ols sk's I HATE snap on's 3/8 ratchets and the 1/2 one were just shot out and I finally got all 3 replaced at the same time so I only use them when nessisarry seeing i hated trading them in because they were pop's stuff and i took the old broken stuff and gave him my good stuff sad: pop's dead now ) So they havent been ABUSED alot
yea I been working on my tools for 28 years? too F 'In bad I dont have a shop
lemme see if i got a pic of the 3/8 draw

thank you for the comliments its my lifes work the only real thing to show for all my labor some day ill get a shop (click my heels togther and say THERS NO PLACE LIKE WINNING THE LOTTO!!!

SR66

 

[kartracer55]

Haha nice 3/8 drawer dude... Looks like mostly snap on in there... Got a few sets of Snap on sockets but the majority of my stuff is SK and Craftsman (im 16 if ya didnt know)

I know whatcha mean with inherited tools... Ive got this old snap on ratchet (date code says 64, you can look up the thread) And I managed to break a tooth in it. S-O wouldnt waranty it, so I paid 20$ for the gut kit... probably wasnt worht it but its a damn comfortable ratchet and its got the sentimental value. I like SK because they have minimal drawback, but I just got amy dad a proto torque wrench and the pawl spring is practically non existent, its amazing. How do you like that Proto twist handle ratchet? They go for like 30 in www.thetoolwarehouse.net, worth it?

Jim

 

[Uncle Buck]

kartracer: I know without seeing the Husky ratchet that it will be chi-com, I used to work at Home Despot, however, I consider it a luxury item, IE I will take a chance on it because 1) it only costs $20.00 bucks, and 2) There is no way I could afford the Proto or like quality brand counterpart to this ratchet now ( married w/4 kids, wifes home) In my single days nothin but the very best would do, and fortunately I amassed a heafty quality tool pile I just cannot do that anymore, some concessions have to be made and I have no problem with this one. It will still be head and shoulders above the **** sold at Horrible Freight though, I just cannot bring myself to stoop that low for actual wrenches, pliers, sockets and the like.

 

[slowride66]

K R 55 well unfortunately there are not too many that were inherited all were purchased by me to one day have a garage to tinker on and do a few ground up resto's & hot rods

time is slipping into the future and I'm not getting any younger
1st chance I get to get undercover I'm gone

yea that was my most used stuff and tired of driving from the Bone yard to sears 5 times a week eating up my lunch hour Ive had to replace 1(lost it) and have NEVER broken any of those !!

very rare for me to break something I just keep going up a drive last drive ...smoke wrench!!

ALL BOW TO THE MIGHT OF THE SMOKE WRENCH!!

SR66

 

[chevy302dz]

It dosen't matter how it looks as long as it works and SK stuff works, that said any machining should be completed correctly.

 

[Roadster]

I don't know if its still available believe it or not I found it at wall mart for less than $20.

It has come in completely handy a few times it was just so weird I had to get it if for nothing else a joke
Ha jokes on me check out the different positions think I got them all Ive been trying ti inventory my stuff its gonna take years ..oh Ive had it about 8 years now

SR66

slowride, that's a nice stool ya got there. Wanna sell it?

 

[slowride66]

oh hell no I jst got my **** print worked into it!!

I have a Lazy Boy In there too!
Is it the "tool stool?" :supergay: Im not going there my **** is a one way street!

um ...ok...gotta go now.....

SR66