SK Tools in 2025
- Thread starter 1320it
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Yeah, their wrenches are now made over seas.
And I bought a 1/2 drive socket set somewhat recently too and they were stamped usa but they are far from quality. The broaching is very different across the set. Some are deep some are shallow, and for 12 points the points are very rounded. They don't fit well at all. Kind of wished I didn't buy the set.
And I bought a 1/2 drive socket set somewhat recently too and they were stamped usa but they are far from quality. The broaching is very different across the set. Some are deep some are shallow, and for 12 points the points are very rounded. They don't fit well at all. Kind of wished I didn't buy the set.
I don't know if SK still makes any pliers in the US, I don't think so, but maybe they do. There may also be some old USA stock leftover in some of the uncommon models. I'd assume the current pliers are imported unless you can find out otherwise.
Someone here said that Wright was making their USA sockets, but that may have changed as that was at least a year ago.
All of my SK stuff is 10+ years old and it's great, but I doubt I'd ever buy anything from them again unless they introduced something unique that I had to have. Which is very doubtful.
Someone here said that Wright was making their USA sockets, but that may have changed as that was at least a year ago.
All of my SK stuff is 10+ years old and it's great, but I doubt I'd ever buy anything from them again unless they introduced something unique that I had to have. Which is very doubtful.
Wiz02
Well-known member
I feel the same, sad but true. Another one bites the dust.
I grabbed a pair of LP90 ratchets when Epstein's had them. Last delivery (I think) of the USA-made ratchets S-K was selling off. Glad I did. Those things are nice.
I try and grab any older S-K stuff that I come across in the wild as that eliminates wondering what the COO is on new stuff.
I try and grab any older S-K stuff that I come across in the wild as that eliminates wondering what the COO is on new stuff.
I don’t believe SK has made any tool in house since ideal shut them down. I don’t believe they ever made the LP90 ratchets. There sales had fallen to less then $30 million when ideal pulled the plug. They sure had years of inventory though. You can still purchase new USA speed wrenches. It would be interesting to know when those were manufactured!
SK has been dead to me for quite awhile now. I don't even think to look at them if I need something.
A small local lumber yard closed down and they had quite a few NOS SK stuff but they wanted a wh*rehouse price for it all, plus I consider the warranty to be useless since a replacement piece will probably be some subpar offshore tool. I decided against buying any off it even though it would have just been spare/road box tools.
A small local lumber yard closed down and they had quite a few NOS SK stuff but they wanted a wh*rehouse price for it all, plus I consider the warranty to be useless since a replacement piece will probably be some subpar offshore tool. I decided against buying any off it even though it would have just been spare/road box tools.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Given that PRC made SK tools are now featured prominently on the SK Tools website, I don't think anything SK is currently made in the USA 
Most of the current SK line up appears to be mostly rebadged Duratech tools in green/black instead of blue/black trim. There used to be two SK market platforms. Amazon sold mostly the PRC made tools and SKTOOLS.COM had mostly made in the USA tools. Was it all old stock? only SK knows for sure 
As for the LP90 series ratchets, I don't think SK actually made those in house. I'm leaning towards someone else like AJ Manufacturing making them since Olsa Tools has a version, and VIM had a similar prototype version a SEMA last November. To me, the LP90 ratchets were hit or miss as to the performance of the ratcheting action. I had flex heads with binding/seized direction switches and other issues.
Most of the current SK line up appears to be mostly rebadged Duratech tools in green/black instead of blue/black trim. There used to be two SK market platforms. Amazon sold mostly the PRC made tools and SKTOOLS.COM had mostly made in the USA tools. Was it all old stock? only SK knows for sure As for the LP90 series ratchets, I don't think SK actually made those in house. I'm leaning towards someone else like AJ Manufacturing making them since Olsa Tools has a version, and VIM had a similar prototype version a SEMA last November. To me, the LP90 ratchets were hit or miss as to the performance of the ratcheting action. I had flex heads with binding/seized direction switches and other issues.SK told me what they are selling now for USA made chrome sockets is not NOS and was manufacturered this year. I live in Canada so they have to disclose the COO to ship to me.Given that PRC made SK tools are now featured prominently on the SK Tools website, I don't think anything SK is currently made in the USA
SK does outsource LP90 and chrome sockets. They may also outsource some pliers and other items to US manufacturers. They do not have a manufacturing facility of there own. The 216 position ratcheting products seem to be sold only under the SK brand, or am I missing other offerings?
atomicpunk
Well-known member
I bought a pair of SK snap ring pliers last summer, both Internal and external and they were made in China.
My pair has USA stamped on the heads. I was under the impression the early run was American made, but could be mistaken. Anyway they are nice ratchets.
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I took a look at the pliers on the SK website, and they sell some of the lock ring pliers which may be sourced from Wilde in the US; if not, they look just like the Wilde pliers. And the hose pinch pliers are either rebrands or copies of the USA ones. Otherwise, probably all imports.
I believe the LP90’s are still US made, just not in-house by SK. They are farmed out to a third party manufacturer, thought to be AJ Manufacturing, No idea how fast they are selling or when the last run was stamped SK.
four.cycle
Well-known member
S-K was acquired by Great Star in 2021.
By what stretch of the imagination should they still be manufacturing tools in the U.S. in 2025?
By what stretch of the imagination should they still be manufacturing tools in the U.S. in 2025?
Ohio Andy
Well-known member
Since of my current favorites.... Very easy to open / close. I own a couple. Razors
My favorite hawk bill
This is my favorite portable socket set just because it goes from a quarter inch drive to 1/2 drive in no skips shallow and and it has a few extra tools. I just want to specific size. I probably grab my text and I have quite a few sets
I have a few different sizes of these spinners I really like them
I really like their lp90 USAA ratchets. This is a length to the 3/8 in.
The pull set one quarter through one half is like $250 right now but it's still up and available. I really like it do we
My favorite hawk bill
This is my favorite portable socket set just because it goes from a quarter inch drive to 1/2 drive in no skips shallow and and it has a few extra tools. I just want to specific size. I probably grab my text and I have quite a few sets
I have a few different sizes of these spinners I really like them
I really like their lp90 USAA ratchets. This is a length to the 3/8 in.
The pull set one quarter through one half is like $250 right now but it's still up and available. I really like it do we
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I bought about a dozen chrome 1/2 deep 6pt metric sockets from SK late last year. They seem well made. My complaint is that the stamping for the sizes is really shallow on more than half. You have to catch the light just right to read some of it.
I went with SK because I'd heard the same rumor, that they were rebadging Wright. The sockets I have from Wright do not share that issue. Wright is the only US company that stamps their sizes nice and big.
It's not a huge issue for me, as I usually read the sticker on the rail rather than trying to spin a socket around to find the size. For the cost though (much higher than even Wright), I would have gone with Gray tools up in Canada had I known about them.
I went with SK because I'd heard the same rumor, that they were rebadging Wright. The sockets I have from Wright do not share that issue. Wright is the only US company that stamps their sizes nice and big.
It's not a huge issue for me, as I usually read the sticker on the rail rather than trying to spin a socket around to find the size. For the cost though (much higher than even Wright), I would have gone with Gray tools up in Canada had I known about them.
I asked SK about a month ago who makes their LP90 because Olsa had the same ratchet head and the customer service rep told me AJ Manufacturing in Illinois. That wasn't surprising to me but it was surprising that they told me that.
Which SK tools pre 2021 should I be looking to buy new old stock of? What did they make back in the day that honestly is better than current stuff from other manufacturers?
I already got the famous 1/4 3/8 and 1/2 round head ratchets as hand me downs and I replaced with new upgrade kits for higher tooth.
what else should I look for while it’s still exists to find in good shape from back in the day
I already got the famous 1/4 3/8 and 1/2 round head ratchets as hand me downs and I replaced with new upgrade kits for higher tooth.
what else should I look for while it’s still exists to find in good shape from back in the day
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The short answer is nothing. Many of the tools today have much better features than the SK of old but, that's just me. I have a lot of SK because, they were the tools of my youth sold at almost every auto parts store in my area. I've never cared for their combination wrenches. Too bulky and wide in the hips. It's hard to find NOS SK and I'm not sure if it's worth the effort. SK's super chrome stubby metric boxed end wrench set is nice. Their locking extensions in chrome & impact are very good. the 3/8 drive roto ratchet is a keeper despite modern versions from other brands having more teeth & less bulk. The SK G Pro series of ratcheting wrenches were probably some of the best ratcheting wrenches of all time. Not US made but, they were probably the first Kabo made ratcheting wrenches introduced to the USA. Another keeper would be the SK indexing trim tool set and green handled indexable pry bars. Your results may vary but, those are my SK gems and keepers.
Actually, even though I have a lot of SK, I don't necessarily think of them as better than anyone else's tools. When I built the core of my tools it was a different era. I was pretty hung up on domestic tools (still am in a way) and couldn't afford or justify Snap'On. SK was situated between Snap-On and Craftsman at that time and that suited me fine. I'm not an auto tech so SK was more than high enough in quality for me. My sockets are mostly SK and I have no problem with them at all. No regrets. They'll last me all my life. The SuperKrome combination wrenches work for me but I wish I had more knowledge when I bought them. I probably would have chose Proto or Williams if I knew then what I know now. Actually I use some old NAPA combination wrenches made by New Britain and some Blackhawks more than the SK's. All the pliers I have are very good but I only have 3 or 4 pair.
As Fedwrench pointed out, I don't think there's anything that stands above the rest although the line wrenches are very good. I'm sure by now others have brought their quality up to that level though.
SK was readily available back then. I felt I was getting better tools than Craftsman and was upgrading from some pretty low quality ****.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Back when Facom owned them, they had a lot of good tools. Anything made in France from that era was pretty good quality.
They also had a 30" 1/2 drive breaker bar that had a good reputation. I never owned one. #41656
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I bought a Dresser Industries era set in 1980. Still have it, still use it. No issues. 45 years old and still gets the job done.
When S-K got bought out by Great Star, I figured old stock S-K stuff was gonna do what happened to Craftsman. People were gonna ****** everything up and prices would skyrocket. I set out to build a spare sets to the ones I have. I accomplished my mission, except for a set of deep metric 3/8" drive sockets.
Here's my 45 year old SAE set on the left, with my spare piece-by-piece SAE set and my spare metric set. If the house burns down these tools will get saved - along with my birth cert and military form 214!
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Thanks for making me aware of this. I deal with the small center push pin style body clips all the time, and as soon as I saw that the small 6648 tool has a punch on the other end of the pry handle, I ordered it. Honestly, I'm a little surprised no one else has come out with a similar design, as I've never seen one like it. I'm sure it will prove as handy as it looks.
because they still have a plantS-K was acquired by Great Star in 2021.
By what stretch of the imagination should they still be manufacturing tools in the U.S. in 2025?
The shop vac facility turned out to be a warehouse rather than an SK plant. They never moved production equipment into it. SK sure made it look like they were going to ramp back up, but it never happened. Epstein’s was a long time trusted distributor for SK, and bought a lot of the surplus finish goods inventory from great star. This was described as a clearance only on the items that SK was going to discontinue. Epstein’s seems to have been lied to throughout the process. They have a video on their YouTube channel that discusses this. Ideal never bought any new equipment for SK, didn’t move the x-frame equipment from Western Forge to SK, and let sales dwindle to less than $30 million. I don’t think there was anything for Great Star to save. Sad. Actually Great Star did save the x-frame 216P design, and seem to have improved the quality compared to the Western Forge production. I didn’t have a 23mm combination wrench until I bought a rusty surplus one from Epstien’s. It was inexpensive, and I’ve still never encountered a 23mm fasteners, but you know, piece of mind. I think they still have those.
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The chrome SK sockets I bought last year off Amazon were made in PRC.
I talked to Epsteins a couple of months ago and asked about their final S-K shipment(s). They said they were still pending but no idea of time frame. I sure hope they get some more surplus S-K in. Will be the last hurrah for S-K IMHO.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
As far as I'm concerned, SK is dead. The current tools are just Duratech in Green.
So, I have everything that I need out of the SK shelf… in theory. Mike is going to sell his warehouse. Before he does, he is going to bring some of what is at the warehouse to the store and also have an estate sale.
I am hoping that some more SK and some more Cleveland Twist drill sets are part of this.
Lately, I have been buying the Snap-on and Plomb extensions that went into government Cosmoline in 1951… I can’t justify buying any more, though. I have a lot of them, and I don’t resell.
I do love, as you know, NOS… so, I am hopeful that some cool stuff is found in the warehouse. I started shopping at Kitts in ‘93. I have been buying NOS SK a little at a time ever since.
Here are a few NOS things that I have bought over the years…
Back in the 1990’s, the metric 1/4” drive deep chrome sockets, that came in the metal trapezoids, came out to about $2 a socket.
Here are the NOS Cleveland Twist Drill sets. After this era of CTD, they went to Hout indexes with a company sticker. I love these indexes. The store has not had these in years, but I am hopeful that Mike finds some in his warehouse.
I think that GJ members are sick of me advising people to be picky and cheap and to never stop looking. The earlier you get very picky in what you add to your collection, the better your collection is. I avoid chrome loss and engraved tools… with lots of caveats.
Sometimes you have to see through the rust to see the gold, though. Sometimes unused rusty tools just need a few minutes on the bench grinder.
woody 73
Well-known member
Sigh I grew up with sk tools, every parts store in town had them and I was hooked line and sinker with their tools. They have a very special place in my heart. Sadly, after they moved to China, I stopped buying them, but I still enjoy finding them a few at a time at the flea type places.
Funny story for some of you back around 1965 a few Kraeuter tool sets (were made by SK); well, I went to a garage sale a few years back and a heavy-set man blocked the door and yelled I am first and he dove in headfirst. Well from the posted pictures I had seen a 3/8 ratchet that I wanted very much. I walked in calmly grabbed thar ratchet and walked out and paid for it. Everything else was just Chinese junk, but that heavy set man was still foaming at the mouth.
Funny story for some of you back around 1965 a few Kraeuter tool sets (were made by SK); well, I went to a garage sale a few years back and a heavy-set man blocked the door and yelled I am first and he dove in headfirst. Well from the posted pictures I had seen a 3/8 ratchet that I wanted very much. I walked in calmly grabbed thar ratchet and walked out and paid for it. Everything else was just Chinese junk, but that heavy set man was still foaming at the mouth.