SK socket interior finish question. (pics)

[Loscaldazar]

I bet the SK sockets don't look like this :

Have funny yellow lines in the interior chrome (far right top socket)? Nope, they don't have that.

The point of my snarky response is that if you want to get picky, you can pick on any brand with pointless stupid details and find "flaws." Koken is top quality and probably has the best and most consistent processes I've seen from any manufacturer, but they too have their own issues or non issues that this forum would complain about if they were bought in larger quantity that they currently are.

Also, in a very similar note, Koken has started painting the stamping on their impact sockets (white paint over black coating). Looks great. I recently ordered a set of the thin wall 3/8 and 1/2 drive 12 point impact sockets to use for head bolts. Some came painted, and other didn't have the painted stamping. I don't think that would fly by many in here, but it's a stupid reason to bash Koken for. I don't expect them to go back and paint all their old stock after they make a production change.

Here are some photos online showing what I am talking about. The two sets I got were mixed like this. It's not an issue, but I bet some would complain about the QC if they got a mixed set from SK!



I'm a huge fan of Koken, but they aren't perfect either.

FWIW: If half the set......or two or three....come with paint and the others do not? The question is raised as to why. IMO it is a valid point.

FWIW: That some are still using the "old stock" excuse? REALLY? REALLY?

To your first point, I've explained why this happens multiple times. Even in this thread just a few posts before yours....
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5413833&postcount=12

I also pointed out that Proto, Armstrong, Craftsman, Mac, and Matco (among others) all have a similar "issue" with some sockets being painted, and others not. As time has gone on, nearly all socket sets from ALL of those manufacturers have come painted or will be painted. My explanation linked to explains why this happens. The paint is a non issue brought up on this forum in lieu of actual problems. It's only ever brought up with SK too, despite the same thing being used by several different tool companies.

As to your second point, most of this thread is from 2011. Old stock WAS a concern back then since SK had along been producing new things for barely a year at that point. Might want to check the date stamps on the posts before you get super outraged...

 

[General Geoff]

As an owner and user of both Koken and SK sockets, my biggest disappointment with SK sockets was extremely off-center broaching and very inconsistent detents. I didn't have this problem at all with the spline drive 3/8" socket set from SK, but from what I've read, that may have been manufactured by Facom? The 1/4" drive super set I got was pretty bad (even had flaking chrome/rust on several sockets), and I sent it back for a replacement, which was slightly better but still has its share of off-center sockets and shallow/inconsistent detents. They do work just fine.

By comparison, every single Koken socket I've received has been perfectly broached, with very uniform detents and excellent chroming.

 

[M6erfan]

The point of my snarky response is that if you want to get picky, you can pick on any brand with pointless stupid details and find "flaws." Koken is top quality and probably has the best and most consistent processes I've seen from any manufacturer, but they too have their own issues or non issues that this forum would complain about if they were bought in larger quantity that they currently are.

Also, in a very similar note, Koken has started painting the stamping on their impact sockets (white paint over black coating). Looks great. I recently ordered a set of the thin wall 3/8 and 1/2 drive 12 point impact sockets to use for head bolts. Some came painted, and other didn't have the painted stamping. I don't think that would fly by many in here, but it's a stupid reason to bash Koken for. I don't expect them to go back and paint all their old stock after they make a production change.

So how is the finish, broaching and detents on those Koken's?

 

[mudflap]

Dang...SK is getting the Craftsman treatment here......and that's without anybody even mentioning their non-existant **** warranty policy....lol.. Some days your the windshield...some days your the bug...

 

[Loscaldazar]

So how is the finish, broaching and detents on those Koken's?

Finish is one of the rougher Black oxide coatings available on the market, but it's a black oxide so I don't care if it's smooth or not. Few locations that it has rubbed off/not there (probably from moving around during transit from Japan to me), but again, it's a black oxide coating so I'm not going to get too wrapped up in how it looks.

Broaching is fine

They're impact sockets, so no detents. Holes for the pin are drilled correctly. Included metal clips to attach them to an impact with no pin or ring too, which was a nice addition. '

I really like them and they are too quality, but I think people here get a little too obsessed with details (like paint on the interior of the sockets) about tools sometimes. As I pointed out in the photo, some of those sockets have odd yellow lines in the interior of the chrome. Some here might consider that a defect, and that's just as stupid as getting worked up about the paint.

Dang...SK is getting the Craftsman treatment here......and that's without anybody even mentioning their non-existant **** warranty policy....lol.. Some days your the windshield...some days your the bug...

What's wrong with their warranty? Call or email them and get a label to send it in. They're no different from Snap On in my experience, but neither are as easy as Tekton or Sunex either.

 

[Your local SK Guy]

Update from
Post, thread and thread

Looking over the posts below, I'd like to ask if the finish inside these sockets is the matte finish mentioned below, or its poor quality control.
It seems like poor quality control, but I'm wondering if these should be returned.

Here's the relevant posts:




Rust and corrosion is a concern. Ill give you two examples below in the current set

Above is, by far, the rustiest socket:

Less rusty.

Ok, here are some of my interior finish pics:

Bad interior finish? is this a problem for corrosion resistance?

Here you can see the gloss meeting the matte and the glossy spotsnear the base.

Gloss most of the way down

Here is a comparison. This interior in the lower right looks different from the glossy and the matte. Is this a problem with the finish? Is this a problem with corrosion resistance? I have a number of sockets that look like this in the interior and they look differen than the glossy and the matte finish. I need to know if this is an issue so i can just return them. if not, I'm going to sort out the rusty sockets and enjoy this set.

For some reason I can't see these pictures. I'f you'd like to DM me the pictures I can take a look and see what I can do for you.

 

[M6erfan]

For some reason I can't see these pictures. I'f you'd like to DM me the pictures I can take a look and see what I can do for you.

Because its a 5yr + old post...

 

[Your local SK Guy]

Because its a 5yr + old post...

Haha I just noticed that. The point still stands though. If anyone has issues with SK product feel free to contact me.

 

[67King]

Dang...SK is getting the Craftsman treatment here......and that's without anybody even mentioning their non-existant **** warranty policy....lol.. Some days your the windshield...some days your the bug...

That's because people who actually know what they are talking about know that their warranty policy is fine.

 

[oxycodone]

That's because people who actually know what they are talking about know that their warranty policy is fine.

Yeah, I've never had a problem with SK warranty - they've been nothing short of stellar.

A couple years ago I sent SK an email asking if I could purchase a couple ratchet rebuild kits, explaining I had just purchased some older ('60s) ratchets at auction. A week later, the kits were in my mailbox, no charge.

 

[mudflap]

That's because people who actually know what they are talking about know that their warranty policy is fine.

Somebody suggested trying to mail stuff in...that might work..never tried that.. Seems to work with SO tools, when you cant get your driver to co operate.

 

[T45]

If anyone has issues with SK product feel free to contact me.

After seeing how simple the rustproofing process is...done by snap-on ...

The process looks like: dip, drain, spin...=clear finish...no problems

 

[WittHay]

Both of these 30mm sockets were bought in the last year and used with a 36" breaker bar

One is a Napa UltraPro and the other is a 12-Point Snap-on. The Napa one has silver paint that is wearing off and the Snap-on has some sort of coating that is rusting a bit.

My advice to the 2017 SK OP is don't worry about the paint inside the sockets and just use them. Even new Snap-on's don't have the greatest finish inside of their sockets.

 

[md21722]

No. No they don't...

For all those that keep hounding the SK critics, I'm one of them (SK critic). The set I bought a year or so ago not only had the paint issue (which didnt really bother me) but off center broaching on about 10%, shallow to non existing ball detents in about 40%, and bad chrome on about 30% of the sockets.

I also got a 1/4" socket set from Wright a couple of years ago where about 70% of the sockets where missing the ball detents all together.

Hey, **** happens. But it's our hard earned $ and we can spend it (or not) however we choose.

Yeah, yeah, I know...They're tools, not jewelry.

I've decided to spend my money elsewhere on brands that I know from experience have none of the issues pointed out above.

Carry on...

Well said.

 

[md21722]

For chromies I just buy the Snappy's.

Why settle for good enough when the best will work just fine.

 

[slow_mow]

For chromies I just buy the Snappy's.

Why settle for good enough when the best will work just fine.

Easy, you want more money in your pocket. A tool truck payment is ridiculous when you can get the same job done with an SK or Taiwan equivalent without owing the Devil....

 

[67King]

Somebody suggested trying to mail stuff in...that might work..never tried that.. Seems to work with SO tools, when you cant get your driver to co operate.

Yep, I have had to do it, and am about to, again (their torx bit sockets have been disappointing, which is interesting b/c the same size hex impact bits have been bulletproof). From http://www.skhandtool.com/support.aspx:

If you are unable to have your SK tool serviced or repaired locally, please send the defective tool to:
SK Hand Tool LLC
Attn: Warranty
1600 S. Prairie Drive
Sycamore IL 60178
Be sure to include your name, shipping address (no P.O. boxes, please) and email address inside the package and please allow 2-3 weeks for processing

If people expect Snap-On level service and fit and finish, then SK will never meet their expectations. But folks need to expect to spend 3-4 times as much on the tools as they do. I don't expect a Ford Mustang to be equivalent to a Porsche 911 GT3. They are both fantastic for what they are, but the Mustang won't handle road courses as well as the GT3.

 

[67King]

After seeing how simple the rustproofing process is...done by snap-on ...

The process looks like: dip, drain, spin...=clear finish...no problems

Chrome plating requires a lot of polishing and buffing between the layers of nickel, copper, and chrome.

Which might explain why SK goes to the additional step that Snap On apparently skips of painting the inside. Given the picture WittHay posted showing a clearly inferior corrosion resistance Snap-On tool, this constance balderdash is pretty darn misguided.