SK Socket Quality

[V22mech]

I recently purchased a few new sets of SK SAE 12-point sockets in various lengths and drives for an aviation maintenance tool box. All of the sockets 5/16 and below were extremely rough on the inside, so much so that they didn't fit properly on 12-point nuts. Is this a normal thing for new Sk sockets, or did I draw the short straw and end up with four separate sets of pre-Ideal stock? I sent an e-mail to SK asking about warranty, but only received a response that they would forward it to the quality department and nothing since.

The attached pictures are of the 3/8 Drive 1/4 socket. I wiped the gray corrosion preventative coating off from this socket, so I'm assuming the bits sticking up are either metal from the manufacturing process or flaking chrome.

 

[GTO]

Yes,I would expect better quality from SK.I would send these pictures as well.
I recently received a rather large 3/8" and 1/4" Ratchet and Socket set,my smaller size sockets were not at all like yours in the picture.

Good luck

 

[CR888]

That looks pretty awful. I am not sure chrome finishing the inner side of a socket is the best idea & perhaps the reason many producers use silver paint. Once the chrome starts chipping & flaking..... I had a flake of chrome go into my finger one day, not the nicest feeling. I thought SK were USA made, I'd be expecting better quality for sure.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Call the warranty dept, that thing looks horrific. Doesn't match the quality I've gotten from SK.

Where did you buy the set from?

 

[Wamsutta]

Box them up and send them in. Make sure you get a tracking number.

 

[KoolGrandWizardLuke]

Why would chrome inside a socket be a bad idea? Why would it flake inside and not outside where it will be banged against and dropped regularly?
I guess you are the type of people that want manufacturers to leave the chrome off the inside of a wrench as well.

The only reason a manufacturer would leave chrome off the inside of a socket is because it is difficult [adds expense] to do properly.
My high quality sockets made in Japan and Taiwan have properly chromed insides.

 

[Spacey_G]

That looks like it could have been cut with a dull broaching tool.

 

[JBradley500]

Call them. I bet they send you a new one. Don’t waste your own money sending that in. They’ll hopefully tell you to keep it or throw it away.

 

[PelicanPines]

My Chinese gearwrench don't look that bad... my older sk stuff is like jewelry. Send it back

 

[mattygee]

Looks like someone in the plating department had a rough night out!

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I doubt those are the Ideal deal. Honestly, they are too disgusting to be seen in a tool box.

 

[uncwstudent]

I have the newer SK sockets and their fit and finish are nothing like that. You must have just gotten some bad sets. Mine are really really nice and smooth on the inside.

 

[steelespeed]

I have a few random pre- and post-Ideal SK sockets and have yet to be as impressed by the brand's quality as others on this board are.

 

[potato]

1/4 set and 6 point but heres a pic of the smaller ones.

 

[ptgarcia]

That looks like chatter or something from when it was broached.

 

[V22mech]

I contacted the customer service a few days ago and sent pictures, but I'm still waiting on a response. I bought these sets from HJE and Amazon over the past year or so. I just returned from overseas and finally got around to looking them over.

I took a look at the rest of my sets and can't say that I'm impressed given the price point. Every set has at least a few sockets that have off center broaching and rough or inconsistent finish. The sockets at the extreme large ends of the sets have a particularly poor finish and super wide shoulders that make them kind of useless in my application, but at least they are (mostly) functional.

Overall, I'm pretty disappointed with my experience so far. 12-point sockets are a must for aviation and they are getting difficult to find. I might take my chances with Chinese made Gear Wrench or Craftsman if I can't sort this mess out. Are there any other companies that carry a full range of 1/4 and 3/8 drive 12-point SAE sockets at a reasonable price range?

 

[drtyler]

Proto through Zoro.com (and 20% coupon that regularly appears).

I contacted the customer service a few days ago and sent pictures, but I'm still waiting on a response. I bought these sets from HJE and Amazon over the past year or so. I just returned from overseas and finally got around to looking them over.

I took a look at the rest of my sets and can't say that I'm impressed given the price point. Every set has at least a few sockets that have off center broaching and rough or inconsistent finish. The sockets at the extreme large ends of the sets have a particularly poor finish and super wide shoulders that make them kind of useless in my application, but at least they are (mostly) functional.

Overall, I'm pretty disappointed with my experience so far. 12-point sockets are a must for aviation and they are getting difficult to find. I might take my chances with Chinese made Gear Wrench or Craftsman if I can't sort this mess out. Are there any other companies that carry a full range of 1/4 and 3/8 drive 12-point SAE sockets at a reasonable price range?

 

[Yarpo]

Overall, I'm pretty disappointed with my experience so far. 12-point sockets are a must for aviation and they are getting difficult to find. I might take my chances with Chinese made Gear Wrench or Craftsman if I can't sort this mess out. Are there any other companies that carry a full range of 1/4 and 3/8 drive 12-point SAE sockets at a reasonable price range?

All my gearwrench I've bought over the last three years has still been made in Taiwan. Even sets I bought a week ago. Worth looking into but I'm sure SK will make it right with ya

 

[potato]

williams Usa made sockets are pretty nice in 12 point.

 

[sweet victory]

I recently ordered a bunch of SK wrenches. The 17mm wrench was unusually thin. I emailed their customer service photos and they immediately sent a replacement.

 

[V22mech]

I'm hoping these are just old stock from the dark days of SK and I can get replacements, everything else I have bought from SK has been flawless. I have yet to see this legendary customer service in action, I'm on day 4 of waiting for a response after sending out pictures.

 

[drtyler]

Did you call them or email? They tend to be more responsive by phone. Any emails that I have sent SK took days for responses.

I'm hoping these are just old stock from the dark days of SK and I can get replacements, everything else I have bought from SK has been flawless. I have yet to see this legendary customer service in action, I'm on day 4 of waiting for a response after sending out pictures.

 

[Tallpilot]

I have a few random pre- and post-Ideal SK sockets and have yet to be as impressed by the brand's quality as others on this board are.

I agree. I have a few and while they are serviceable I prefer Williams USA which also have the benefit of being cheaper.

 

[Wamsutta]

I'm hoping these are just old stock from the dark days of SK and I can get replacements, everything else I have bought from SK has been flawless. I have yet to see this legendary customer service in action, I'm on day 4 of waiting for a response after sending out pictures.

What you should do is email them the pictures while you're on the phone with them. Tell them you're sending the pictures right now. Otherwise, your email will get lost in the shuffle.

 

[redwrench60]

**** a bunch of email. Call and talk to a human on the phone. Hard to lose a phone conversation in the shuffle.

 

[Wamsutta]

**** a bunch of email. Call and talk to a human on the phone. Hard to lose a phone conversation in the shuffle.

That's pretty much what I said, but I didn't say it as delicately as you did.

 

[barrybeefburger]

Billy bob drunk at work again.

 

[Aerogt01]

That should be a no-questions-asked warranty replacement. Should.

 

[Blind1]

williams Usa made sockets are pretty nice in 12 point.

If I wanted USA made I’d go Williams. I don’t see the point paying the premium, so I went Tekton... it’s comparable to the few sk/Porto examples I have. It stacks up fine against some older Matco as well. Sacrilege... I know.

 

[6PTsocket]

On these threads, I have also read of problems with the new SK teardrops. I am starting to rethink my opinion of Ideal/SK after all the initial hype and the stories of super product support. I actually have a full stocking SK dealer near me. Sad.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[V22mech]

If I wanted USA made I’d go Williams. I don’t see the point paying the premium, so I went Tekton... it’s comparable to the few sk/Porto examples I have. It stacks up fine against some older Matco as well. Sacrilege... I know.

Are there any reputable online dealers that sell the full Williams line? I have quite a few Tekton tools at home and they are unbelievably nice for the price, but they don't carry much 12 point stuff.

 

[V22mech]

On these threads, I have also read of problems with the new SK teardrops. I am starting to rethink my opinion of Ideal/SK after all the initial hype and the stories of super product support. I actually have a full stocking SK dealer near me. Sad.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

I bought one of the teardrop ratchets during the initial run. The quality is impeccable and it has fast become my favorite ratchet. That goes for pretty much any other SK products I have bought except for these sockets.

 

[Skin]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with those larger 12pt. I agree the tiny 3/8 drive looks like chatter, man up and just get them replaced with a 2 minute phone call. Stop polishing and start using.

 

[anndel]

See if HJE would take them back as well. They do look ugly and unfinished more like chicom sockets than USA made.

 

[6PTsocket]

In another thread, the OP said his went bad after a few months and the warranty replacement quickly failed too. Like everyone else, I read reviews and try to get an average between the good ones and bad ones. I prefer not to be some company's field tester.

I bought one of the teardrop ratchets during the initial run. The quality is impeccable and it has fast become my favorite ratchet. That goes for pretty much any other SK products I have bought except for these sockets.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[JR 42]

Are there any reputable online dealers that sell the full Williams line? I have quite a few Tekton tools at home and they are unbelievably nice for the price, but they don't carry much 12 point stuff.

Dunno about the full line, but Tools Delivered has a lot of Williams stuff, including some 12-pt. socket sets. Some is Taiwan- made, some is US- made; they're upfront with the COO.

JR

 

[V22mech]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with those larger 12pt. I agree the tiny 3/8 drive looks like chatter, man up and just get them replaced with a 2 minute phone call. Stop polishing and start using.

The larger sockets, especially the deep wells, have that shoulder created by the broaching process that physically blocks the bolt threads from passing through them when the nut is is on a stud or treaded further down on a bolt. It's common in aviation to see self locking nuts combined with longer than usual bolt threads as a safety feature. They will work fine, but I will have to machine the shoulder down first. I'm not super concerned about the finish, but the 1 inch deep well in the picture has very thin wall thicknesses that aren't an issue with any of the other larger sockets.

I do plan to call customer service, but I work nights and it will be in the middle of my sleep schedule, hence why I sent the email. However, I don't think it should be necessary to constantly pester them to get it done. I'm also less than thrilled to have to warranty so many sockets for legitimate functionality issues when I have never needed to warranty a brand new hand tool in two decades of profession wrenching.

 

[Wamsutta]

Them SK boys need to buy some new machines.

Here is a Chinese made GearWrench:

 

[Bockscar]

I am going to put this out there ....how much water does it hold I don't know. I was reading an article pertaining to Buck Knives and the difference with the same style knife ....one made in the USA and the other made in China and they said that the one made in China will hardly ever come with a finish issue while the USA will have more of chance with a problem being it would be more expensive to throw a knife away in the U.S. than in China.... So a U.S. knife they may let things pass by..... Now I'm not saying SK works this way and it could be because Larry on third shift was sleeping while working....I know from experience that can happen

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[PJNJ]

Them SK boys need to buy some new machines.

Here is a Chinese made GearWrench:

Did you have them verified as authentic and not "counterfeit"?