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SK Pinless Swivel Impact Sockets

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efb16acrx

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Aug 9, 2011
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446
Well, with zero pictures, zero information, and no expected date, I give this a resounding MEH. For now at least.
 

zcbauer89

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Dec 27, 2011
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NW OH
I had also seen on their Facebook page about a new teardrop ratchet, but no pics of that either.
 

Skin

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To any SK marketing people reading, don't bother with announcements without at least some photos. For the most part its better to keep things under your hat until you have a tangible product to show off.
 

Skin

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Yeah i don't understand sk. They announced their new ratchet wrenches and you still can't get them. Very dumb.

Well at least you know its a real product. A facebook announcement using old stock photos without even so much as a cad prototype photo is just useless.
 

AA/FC

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Dec 9, 2010
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I got excited when I saw the title of this thread..... then was completely let down after reading post #1. Wasn't it SK who announced their new USA made ratchet wrenches, then took (what seemed like) forever to make them public? I think I will save myself the headache and just get a set of the USA Armstrong pinless.
 

Jarhead0408

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Who knows?
I understand everyone's frustration with how SK is handling the marketing of their new products.

I am looking forward to the new ratchets and pinless impacts though. I don't have an urgent need for them; so I don't mind waiting a bit.
 

Ruger_556

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Dec 8, 2013
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Come on, what company doesn't announce things before they are ready for market? You guys need a new hobby other than complaining about every little thing SK does...
 

Fedwrench

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Win lose or draw, you have to hand it to SK. I mean a small comment about a conversation about pinless swivel impact sockets nets them several comments on the journal. :lol;:wtf:

You want Pinless impact swivels? Avoid the wait and debate, see Armstrong, Matco , or Gearwrench now. :beer:

I still would like to see SK 's new pearhead ratchet though:bounce:
 
OP
L

Loscaldazar

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Feb 23, 2013
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They announced the ratcheting wrenches in November. Shipped at the end of May.

The pearhead ratchets were announced at the end of February.

A few months doesn't seem like a long time for me, but maybe that's because I'm used to the car industry where any new major update or design is announced a few years in advance without too many specific details about it. Hell, I waited almost 3 years for the Subaru BRZ to even appear in concept form, along with the new engine promised. Never mind another year for the finalized product to be released.

Thought people would at least appreciate knowing that another pinless impact is going to be coming to the market, but then again, I forgot how much this forum liked to complain about everything.

I also find it funny that some of those who have posted in this thread dismayed that the pinless impacts aren't available right now are the same people who criticize the current "instant gratification" generation.
 
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Skin

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Well over a year later. No ratchet. No pinless impacts.

It was said in another thread that at the AAPEX show the rep said the prototype impact failed testing so they went back to the drawing board. Shocker I know.
 

B_Bimmer

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Well, to be fair the post never said they were going to be released at a certain time, just that they were testing a pinless design. I wish they would move a little faster, a broader line would really help.
 
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ihateminimumwage

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As said in another thread, SK needs to keep new products/ideas under wraps until they're ready to launch. I still really want a SK Pearhead if they aren't over the top modern/tacky like the new MACs.
 

Fedwrench

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As said in another thread, SK needs to keep new products/ideas under wraps until they're ready to launch. I still really want a SK Pearhead if they aren't over the top modern/tacky like the new MACs.

What's wrong with the new MAC Axis ratchets?

If SK didn't tease that they were thinking of new products, all you guys would have to talk about is the finish on their sockets :lol:

Seriously though, part of being a professional tool brand is growing and introducing new product. It seems SK struggles in this area. I think they finally got the X frame out and I haven't heard of anyone breaking one yet. I know I like mine but, where's the other styles? If they can't make a reversible model work, try for a fixed boxed/ratcheting boxed end version or a flex head model. :dunno:
 

Sanny81

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Feb 26, 2015
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Still waiting patiently for the pawl update that will allow existing round head ratchets to be made into a fine tooth.
 

winlinmac

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Aug 17, 2015
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Why are they considering this pinless? Aren't pinless impact swivels already available on the market?
 

Askme42

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Dec 9, 2012
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Goreville IL
It was said in another thread that at the AAPEX show the rep said the prototype impact failed testing so they went back to the drawing board. Shocker I know.

Yeah I remember hearing that. I love SK I really do and would like them to continue to grow and succeed. Their marketing team needs some serious help though.


They come out and say something huge is coming soon. Six months later we are working on it it's coming soon. Year later. It's in the pipeline I'll
Be able to tell you soon. What is soon? 5 years? This is 2016 the time of instant gratification. It's over a month or two away it's not soon.
 

ihateminimumwage

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Jan 26, 2012
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What's wrong with the new MAC Axis ratchets?
They're fantastic ratchets, my buddy has a few and they're great to use. I'm just not a fan aesthetically compared to the classic pear heads (although I hate the mechanism of the old ratchets). My own personal preference, they just seem a little "over logo-ed" (might just be the USA on the selector). I guess saying "tacky" was a bit much, but I'd had a couple of beers last night.:lol:

I do think it would be awesome if MAC figured out a new pawl/gear kit to upgrade the old ratchets. I'd probably buy another set.

Hopefully we'll see some more new stuff from SK soon, I'm kind of out of stuff to buy for SK Day/HJE Day at this point.
 

wafrederick

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It was said in another thread that at the AAPEX show the rep said the prototype impact failed testing so they went back to the drawing board. Shocker I know.

I was told this by one of their engineers at an Auto Value Tech show in Grand Rapids,Mi this year in Febuary too.I asked about it at their booth
 

Fedwrench

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SK confuses me sometimes. I mean why try to come out with their own pinless impact swivel sockets when the best version can be found in Matco/Armstrong/Craftsman/Gearwrench trim already. Do they really think they can better it?:dunno:

Then SK comes out with those mega expensive tool carts and the brochures don't even have a close up shot of the lift up work surface so, you can see what it looks like and the storage area beneath it:wtf:

SEMA/AAPEX is in a couple of months. I wonder if SK will actually have something new this year or if they'll still be talking about the X frame wrenches, and a pear head ratchet still under development:lol:
 

Jarhead0408

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I dunno Fed. I see bad things in the future. I've tried to support the new SK as much as I can, but it's getting old.

I'll be buying more Wright tools from now on. SK has left a bad impression with me.
 

T45

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Nov 20, 2014
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SK had a nice opportunity when cman went offshore. They are a good upsell for reliable, local production without the drama of truck tool pricing/biz model.

Problem is they burned alot of local distribution channels with their shenanigans, we lost one local specialty store that had a full stock of SK and another Industrial supplier won't any longer distribute them or warranty stuff.

So now there is zero local support and they are an internet brand. No local brick/mortar makes them less of an upsell for those who wanted a step up from cman. But with local availability.

But the real kicker for me is the lazy mentality around quality. Everytime something [?] is pointed out with an SK product one never senses this feedback perceived as oppportunity-to-fiixit. Rather lots of excuses are bandied about--why x or y status quo (process/design/etc) is 'good enough'.

That really is just frustrating for 'made in usa' drives me nuts. :willy_nil Snap on isn't perfect but goddam they TRY hard to design, innovate, and service. They have the luxiry of statospheric pricing, but its not just money IMHO its more a culture of taking things seriously.

(edits for clarity.)
 
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B_Bimmer

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May 7, 2015
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Matco/armstrong/craftsman/gearwrench pinless swivels may be great now, but they still can be broken, and my opinion is that in the near future they will be made overseas, in Taiwan, if you are lucky. I believe if SK were able to make one the same or better that they will soon be the best. I trust ideal industries to be there for my lifetime, I do not think the same about Armstrong and their products.
 

BK13

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Mar 1, 2013
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Digging a thread up from the grave... has anybody heard anything lately? I'm about ready to just say 'fuggedaboutit' and get Gearwrench...


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2ndGearRubber

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Mar 24, 2014
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Pittsburgh
Digging a thread up from the grave... has anybody heard anything lately? I'm about ready to just say 'fuggedaboutit' and get Gearwrench...


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Get the GW. I've only broken 2 two in maybe 18months of use. One was likely a factory defect.


They're excellent.
 

BK13

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Mar 1, 2013
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PDX, OR
Thanks again. All my impact stuff as of now is 3/8". I'll make the jump to 1/2" soon, though.


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