SK Tool Collection, who's loving on SK?
- Thread starter zoomieport
- Start date
GForceJunky
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2011
- Messages
- 562
Wow, that's an impressive SK collection. That's a nice setup even if multiple brands. How long have you been working on it? Anything in particular you don't have you wish you did?
I don't have a ton of SK stuff but what I do have I love. It's all over the place in different boxes but I'll see if I can get some of it together for a 'family photo'.
I don't have a ton of SK stuff but what I do have I love. It's all over the place in different boxes but I'll see if I can get some of it together for a 'family photo'.
B_Bimmer
Well-known member
Way to win the thread in the first post. That's extremely impressive.
I don't think the wall in your hardware store counts!
Very nice, though. I'm jealous of having that much wall to put stuff on. Do you work off the wall, or do you have other tools you use, or do you pick what you need and put it on a cart or the like?
Very nice, though. I'm jealous of having that much wall to put stuff on. Do you work off the wall, or do you have other tools you use, or do you pick what you need and put it on a cart or the like?
Mr.Smoke
Well-known member
I've loved the SK wrenches and sockets ever since my first experience with them as an apprentice. I actually prefer their wrenches over Snap-On and basically every other brand.
I just recently finally treated myself and picked some up. I got the 15pc set of 12pt standard length in both SAE and metric and added 1-1/16", 1-1/8" and 1-1/4" as they are some of my most commonly used sizes. I don't use metric much at work where I have them, but I wanted to get the matching set. To compliment these I also got both the 10pc stubby sets.
I really considered going with them for sockets too as my current set is a 15+ year old Mastercraft (like Craftsman) kit that is missing pieces and has seen better days. The cost to replace what I have with SK was absolutely absurd for my needs and budget. I ended up opting for the 243pc Gearwrench set instead as I saved over 25% ordering through my work. Years ago SK was sold in the catalogue my work is a vendor for, but that changed back when SK got purchased and brought back from the dead.
I just recently finally treated myself and picked some up. I got the 15pc set of 12pt standard length in both SAE and metric and added 1-1/16", 1-1/8" and 1-1/4" as they are some of my most commonly used sizes. I don't use metric much at work where I have them, but I wanted to get the matching set. To compliment these I also got both the 10pc stubby sets.
I really considered going with them for sockets too as my current set is a 15+ year old Mastercraft (like Craftsman) kit that is missing pieces and has seen better days. The cost to replace what I have with SK was absolutely absurd for my needs and budget. I ended up opting for the 243pc Gearwrench set instead as I saved over 25% ordering through my work. Years ago SK was sold in the catalogue my work is a vendor for, but that changed back when SK got purchased and brought back from the dead.
IndyGarage
Well-known member
That's a lot of SK and I like having it all out where you can see it.
I love my green box 44 piece SK socket sets. I have one each in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 drive.
I've wanted to take them to my shop and use them there, but that would mean taking the tops off the boxes and I like the portability of having the set nicely packaged.
I love my green box 44 piece SK socket sets. I have one each in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 drive.
I've wanted to take them to my shop and use them there, but that would mean taking the tops off the boxes and I like the portability of having the set nicely packaged.
Ton ton
Well-known member
I like it .
My sk is limited to a set of 1/2 inch sockets with a Frankenstein ratchet, a hard handle #2 Phillips screwdriver, and a 1/2 inch ratchet that I picked up cheap at a hardware store that was going out of business-it was missing the internals, but a quick call to sk customer service got me a replacement kit, no charge
d42jeep
Well-known member
There is an active thread about earlier S-K tools in the Vintage Tool Discussion area. I have a decent collection, especially of WW2 wartime sets.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278177
-Don
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278177
-Don
Attachments
Last edited:
I probably have around 20 SK ratchets. I use about all of them. I have a complete set of 1/4 and 3/8 that I bought new. Mostly complete set of 1/2 that I've pieced together over the years. I even have several 3/4 sockets. I like SK because I like affordable USA made tools.
Kutch420
Member
dnschmidt
Well-known member
In answer to your actual question: I don't and never have. Overpriced for what they are which is about middle of the road Taiwan quality at 5 times the price. If waving the flag is what you're into that's fine. To me it's value and in my opinion the value per $ just isn't there. With Snap-On at least you get a truck.
guitarbutt
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 29, 2017
- Messages
- 237
I do. Everything I have from them (lots of sockets, a few ratchets, and misc hand tools) have all been great. I get them on sale when I can
BigBoreFan
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2010
- Messages
- 311
I inherited a mostly full set for the general home mechanic (400 pieces or so) from my stepdad. They were bought in the 1970s and 1980s. I love them. Just today I used them to fix a friend's power window.
I also inherited a set of Powr-Kraft (Wards) from him. And I already owned a set of USA CM, but using his tools feels extra special.
I also inherited a set of Powr-Kraft (Wards) from him. And I already owned a set of USA CM, but using his tools feels extra special.
Mr.Smoke
Well-known member
Here is my newly acquired set of SK wrenches, along with other recent purchases. I've wanted these wrenches for over a decade but SK retailers vanished in Canada when they went bankrupt and then sold/purchased. I also have a ½ " torque wrench from them but that is the extent of my collection. I wanted to get their sockets too, but completing a large comprehensive set would have been far more than I was willing to spend.
I'm very happy to finally have the wrenches I've wanted for so many years. Call me crazy but I actually prefer SK wrenches over the holy grail of Snap-On.
I'm very happy to finally have the wrenches I've wanted for so many years. Call me crazy but I actually prefer SK wrenches over the holy grail of Snap-On.
Ton ton
Well-known member
Here is my newly acquired set of SK wrenches, along with other recent purchases. I've wanted these wrenches for over a decade but SK retailers vanished in Canada when they went bankrupt and then sold/purchased. I also have a ½ " torque wrench from them but that is the extent of my collection. I wanted to get their sockets too, but completing a large comprehensive set would have been far more than I was willing to spend.
I'm very happy to finally have the wrenches I've wanted for so many years. Call me crazy but I actually prefer SK wrenches over the holy grail of Snap-On.
[/QUOTE I like it .
justintendo
Well-known member
Nice...i love sk wrenches..very comfortable, great fit, and very durable
View media item 91766
Currently my only S-K is this SAE flare nut wrench set - I already had a Craftsman Pro metric set that I got years ago; never bothered to get the corresponding SAE set back then because I didn't think I'd ever need SAE. However, the brake proportioning valve on my 1998 Jeep wrangler froze and it turned out that one or two of the fittings that needed to come apart to replace it were SAE and the others were metric. #%&%#% Jeep!
So I came on here to see what people recommended and got the impression that S-K flare nut wrenches were second-best after snap-on, so that's what I got. The S-K wrenches did fine - the one that's wrapped up in the photo had an 18" cheater bar on it and came thru with flying colors.
I like the looks of a lot of S-K tools, but they do seem a bit pricey for my amateur efforts; I keep my eyes open for sales tho. The SAE wrenches were very reasonable tho, especially since flare nut wrenches are one of those times when cheap tools are probably a false economy.
Currently my only S-K is this SAE flare nut wrench set - I already had a Craftsman Pro metric set that I got years ago; never bothered to get the corresponding SAE set back then because I didn't think I'd ever need SAE. However, the brake proportioning valve on my 1998 Jeep wrangler froze and it turned out that one or two of the fittings that needed to come apart to replace it were SAE and the others were metric. #%&%#% Jeep!
So I came on here to see what people recommended and got the impression that S-K flare nut wrenches were second-best after snap-on, so that's what I got. The S-K wrenches did fine - the one that's wrapped up in the photo had an 18" cheater bar on it and came thru with flying colors.
I like the looks of a lot of S-K tools, but they do seem a bit pricey for my amateur efforts; I keep my eyes open for sales tho. The SAE wrenches were very reasonable tho, especially since flare nut wrenches are one of those times when cheap tools are probably a false economy.