SK Tools in 2025

[Andres26tnt]

AJ manufacturing is making them more than likely, especially since they're who's making them for Olsa and VIM.

Interesting I thought the vim 90t had different internals.

 

[Callelle]

Interesting I thought the vim 90t had different internals.

They have an import 90t that's the same as the Titan, PowerTorque, Klutch, (etc the ones with the aluminum handles).




They also have their US ones, still haven't been released yet and were shown at the last SEMA

 

[Andres26tnt]

They have an import 90t that's the same as the Titan, PowerTorque, Klutch, (etc the ones with the aluminum handles).




They also have their US ones, still haven't been released yet and were shown at the last SEMA

Yes I know, Koo trucking or whatever his name on YouTube was claiming it's different as he's "seen" the internals. That's clearly a 90LP .

 

[KnurledNut]

Those VIM USA ratchets need the original SK green selector switch so bad!

 

[Samuel D]

Sorry to belabour this point, but if a 40970 ratchet has the letters “USA” inscribed on it, can that be trusted to really mean US manufacture?

 

[Callelle]

Yes I know, Koo trucking or whatever his name on YouTube was claiming it's different as he's "seen" the internals. That's clearly a 90LP .

Oh I don't know anything about that, I stopped watching him once he was VERY clearly a VIM shill. I can easily see him lying through the skin of his teeth, that and his "tests" were a joke.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

Ok again SK doesn't make tools anymore, Including the LP90. Someone else makes them for SK. The rumor company is AJ manufacturering. They sell old stock and new from who ever they are getting them from.

AJ is making a ton of ratchets now. Matco, Olsa, SK, and now VIM. That’s all they do, get contracted work and roll with it. They do not sell anything AJ branded for the public. They also manufacture Matco’s extensions and some of their impact stuff. Rumor has it that AJ may try to manufacture chrome sockets for Matco due to all the supply issues, tariffs, and, frankly speaking, the asking msrp associated with imported sockets on the Matco truck. It’s kinda embarrassing that Matco asks so much for there imported sockets and have zero domestically sourced chrome sockets like every other tool truck. Not that there’s anything wrong with their imported sockets, but I mean every other truck has two lines — cheaper imports and expensive domestics.

I believe it was HJE that had the hypothesis that Wright was contracted out to make SK sockets. You should be able to tell because Wright likes to use the same letter/number stamping dies for all their sockets. My Martin sockets matched perfectly with my Wright sockets, for example.

 

[KnurledNut]

Sorry to belabour this point, but if a 40970 ratchet has the letters “USA” inscribed on it, can that be trusted to really mean US manufacture?

Yes. But it would be old stock. As far as I know, the current roundheads are no longer produced in the USA. If someone knows otherwise feel free to correct.

 

[loveinthe ruins]

I suppose there are worse fates than being DURATECH but green and throwing a couple bones to AJ, Wilde and Wright(?) to keep up the artifice the SK is a US brand. Had SK not spun itself off when SBD bought Facom, they would gotten the total liquidation treatment that KD/Allen/New Britain due to total overlap with Proto.

Indeed it was a forlorn hope considering dysfunctional state of US industrial/corporate policy and the American consumers obsession with cheap. Getting the lp90 and xframes out the door an accomplishment given the circumstances imo. Now that they are out as Olsas/VIM with better QC and there are much cheaper/reliable Great star x frames maybe people with come around on them.

 

[Kaervak]

Yes. But it would be old stock. As far as I know, the current roundheads are no longer produced in the USA. If someone knows otherwise feel free to correct.

You're correct, the new SK round heads are not US made. I bought a 40971 from JB Tools recently and asked before purchase if it was old US made stock or new China production. Even though they confirmed it was US production, the ratchet I received didn't have USA stamped on it and was China production. If you look on the SK site, none of the round head ratchet pictures show USA stamped on them anymore. Such a shame, the SK round heads are my absolute favorite ratchet.

 

[Ohio Andy]

You're correct, the new SK round heads are not US made. I bought a 40971 from JB Tools recently and asked before purchase if it was old US made stock or new China production. Even though they confirmed it was US production, the ratchet I received didn't have USA stamped on it and was China production. If you look on the SK site, none of the round head ratchet pictures show USA stamped on them anymore. Such a shame, the SK round heads are my absolute favorite ratchet.

I bought this ratchet set and I think it's really well set up because it is a no skip very small to very large regular and deep socket with 1/4-in 3/8 and 1/2 in ratchets

https://a.co/d/gzed06E

When I first tried these Chinese round-headed ratchets I didn't like them just because of how hard it was to switch directions, but the more I use them the less I hated them and now I think they're okay but they're not my preferred ratchets.

I am very fond of these ratchets that claim to be made in the USA and are stamped USA. I like them.

https://a.co/d/3kGlh0t

Admittedly, I might prefer Proto but I own both, I also own those USA sk lp90s with flex heads.

I did not like the Chinese version of those lp90s

https://a.co/d/8vg1v32

I don't even remember if I kept any of those. I own a lot of ratchets. I don't need to keep ratchets. I don't like if they're not in a set for a molded case that I can't just swap something in I like. And I didn't use it hard enough for it to wear in or for me to decide I actually like it.

If I really want to rinse like that I'm with a similar form factor. That's inexpensive. I'll probably buy tekton. I've been very happy with those.

So is AJ manufacturing in the United States?

And who makes those Proto ratchets? I kind of like them. I own a couple and I haven't had one yet. I've disliked. I have another one showing up soon. I have not tried their flex heads yet, but I have this one showing up.

https://a.co/d/8SJzgbP

My secret Santa sent me an older Proto that's really nice so I decided to try one like those.

 

[Etchase]

The pear head Proto ratchets are made in Texas. The round head ratchets are made in Italy. No reason to buy anything else.

 

[Callelle]

And who makes those Proto ratchets?

Proto ratchets are made by Proto...

 

[liliysdad]

S-K is dead, even more dead than Craftsman, if that's possible. Its always sad when a quality, American made brand dies. It's somehow sadder when that brand is kept alive by cheap lies and half truths, and offshoring to fill in the gaps. Much like leaving brain dead grandpa on life support, it's better for everyone just to let them go.

 

[neophyte]

I suppose there are worse fates than being DURATECH but green and throwing a couple bones to AJ, Wilde and Wright(?) to keep up the artifice the SK is a US brand. Had SK not spun itself off when SBD bought Facom, they would gotten the total liquidation treatment that KD/Allen/New Britain due to total overlap with Proto.

Indeed it was a forlorn hope considering dysfunctional state of US industrial/corporate policy and the American consumers obsession with cheap. Getting the lp90 and xframes out the door an accomplishment given the circumstances imo. Now that they are out as Olsas/VIM with better QC and there are much cheaper/reliable Great star x frames maybe people with come around on them.

KD and Allen both eventually wound up being owned by Danaher Corp, not Stanley, although your premise of dissolution if SK was purchased by Stanley along with Facom is likely correct.

 

[bobg03]

I was under the belief that any SK ratchet that has the green bar on the chrome handle is not Made In The USA, I could be wrong.

Dewalts also come with yellow on their chrome handles, I;m NOT refering to the SK and Dewalt cushioned grips just the chrome handled ones.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

So is AJ manufacturing in the United States?

AJ is in Elmhurst, IL. I literally pass their facility every day commuting to work. It’s one of the reasons I have bought so many Matco ratchets and accessories…to support a local shop.

 

[Ohio Andy]

I was under the belief that any SK ratchet that has the green bar on the chrome handle is not Made In The USA, I could be wrong.

Dewalts also come with yellow on their chrome handles, I;m NOT refering to the SK and Dewalt cushioned grips just the chrome handled ones.

I was under the impression that the green on the handle meant that the SK was Chinese, not USA

 

[Ohio Andy]

AJ is in Elmhurst, IL. I literally pass their facility every day commuting to work. It’s one of the reasons I have bought so many Matco ratchets and accessories…to support a local shop.

Excellent, thanks. I appreciate that very much. So the pearhead 90 tooth ratchets they made for other companies should be similar. I do like the SK ones

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

No problem amigo. I was actually looking into the LP90s but never pulled the trigger on them. I like having a faceplate held in with screws instead of the retaining ring like the Matco Eighty8s, but so many dudes had issues with the first run of the LP90s that I didn’t want to chance it. To be real, AJ seems to have issues with first batch runs. The LP90s had the switch issues and the spring issues and the Matco ratchets had the pawl and heat treat problems. The VIMs and Olsa ones should be good since they are basically LP90s with the kinks worked out.

 

[Andres26tnt]

I was under the belief that any SK ratchet that has the green bar on the chrome handle is not Made In The USA, I could be wrong.

Dewalts also come with yellow on their chrome handles, I;m NOT refering to the SK and Dewalt cushioned grips just the chrome handled ones.

SK has never had any USA ratchet with green on a chrome handle. Just the LP90 with a green switch. Those are china made Durantec rebrands.

 

[bobg03]

SK has never had any USA ratchet with green on a chrome handle. Just the LP90 with a green switch. Those are china made Durantec rebrands.

So my belief is correct, thanks.

 

[bobg03]

I was under the impression that the green on the handle meant that the SK was Chinese, not USA

Isn't that what I said? And someone confirmed I was correct.

 

[Upstater57]

I also have an S-K Roto-head ratchet that I swapped a DT90 rebuild kit into. Doubled the tooth count, long knurled handle, for those times I need a "flex" head. Works nice!

The DT changeouts make a big difference. The flex head is a good unit that was copied by all.

I use Superlube Synthetic grease to lube the 1/2 inch drive and Superlube synthetic oil to lube the 3/8 and 1/4 drive units.

 

[Hakeem]

Rumor has it that AJ may try to manufacture chrome sockets for Matco due to all the supply issues, tariffs, and, frankly speaking, the asking msrp associated with imported sockets on the Matco truck.

Yeah the district manager came to my school last week and confirmed this. He said “a couple months” before all sockets would be made at AJ, with Wisconsin-sourced steel.

I had zero interest in their sockets before but now I’m pretty stoked and plan on saving up to get a few sets. Good on Matco for re-shoring that production line.

 

[Schurkey]

Good on Matco for re-shoring that production line.

Agreed.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

Yeah the district manager came to my school last week and confirmed this. He said “a couple months” before all sockets would be made at AJ, with Wisconsin-sourced steel.

I had zero interest in their sockets before but now I’m pretty stoked and plan on saving up to get a few sets. Good on Matco for re-shoring that production line.

I’m really hoping that is true because I’d rather have some US-made sockets made in my backyard over the German or US-made Proto sets I currently have. I have a really nice collection of tools that I use that are Illinois-made.

 

[lowbucktruck]

I am looking for ratchet rebuild kits for my S-K ratchets. Mainly for a 3/8 in drive 45170. Have you all had any luck sourcing ratchet rebuilt kits from S-K directly? Looking on Harry Epstein site now for kits.

 

[Ohio Andy]

I am looking for ratchet rebuild kits for my S-K ratchets. Mainly for a 3/8 in drive 45170. Have you all had any luck sourcing ratchet rebuilt kits from S-K directly? Looking on Harry Epstein site now for kits.

I believe that zoro has then in stock

SK45170-2

I would also check jb tools

 

[Upstater57]

I am looking for ratchet rebuild kits for my S-K ratchets. Mainly for a 3/8 in drive 45170. Have you all had any luck sourcing ratchet rebuilt kits from S-K directly? Looking on Harry Epstein site now for kits.

I find them on ebay for pretty much any SK ratchet.

 

[Steel_Rain]

I feel like I missed the boat because maybe I’m not old enough to remember the glory days of SK. The older made in USA stuff I’ve seen looks good though. I’m lukewarm on my first SK purchase, not because it’s not a decent little tool, but because it’s made in China and not in the USA.

Anyways…here it is:





Compared to the 125mm KNIPEX pliers wrench and the 100mm Cobra:

 

[terrific]

More tools should be compatible with tethers. Not sure that's a great spot for it, but it's a good idea.

 

[Steel_Rain]

*Edit* I kid you not, but the cat just barfed on it. I set it on the counter and the cat yakked all over the handles.

Maybe this isn’t a good sign.

 

[Upstater57]

I own many, many SK tools and have been saddened by the loss of american made. With that said, I have zero SK pliers. Those SK mini pliers do resemble the Knipex. I would think for a homeowner, the SK will work just fine. I own some Knipex pliers and do like them. I mainly use Knipex, Channelock, or my trusty Utica pliers.

 

[willf650]

I feel like I missed the boat because maybe I’m not old enough to remember the glory days of SK. The older made in USA stuff I’ve seen looks good though. I’m lukewarm on my first SK purchase, not because it’s not a decent little tool, but because it’s made in China and not in the USA.

Anyways…here it is:





Compared to the 125mm KNIPEX pliers wrench and the 100mm Cobra:

Here’s what started my love of sk. I was working on a roof pulling a large compressor out of an industrial refrigeration system. I was using a 3/8 craftsman socket set and a 1/2 sk set. It started raining so I packed up all my tools and got off the roof. When I opened my socket sets the following day the craftsman set was rusty and the sk set was as shiny as ever.

I liked the SK stuff because it was better than craftsman and reasonably priced and available.

Ideal made a go of it after they bought SK but I noticed the tools were not quite as nice as before. The knurling on the ratchet handles wasn’t as defined.

I haven’t bought an SK tool since Ideal sold them except for an NOS green handled torx screwdriver to complete a set.

I miss SK and Armstrong. They were two of the best industrial tool brands out there.

 

[Upstater57]

Here’s what started my love of sk. I was working on a roof pulling a large compressor out of an industrial refrigeration system. I was using a 3/8 craftsman socket set and a 1/2 sk set. It started raining so I packed up all my tools and got off the roof. When I opened my socket sets the following day the craftsman set was rusty and the sk set was as shiny as ever.

I liked the SK stuff because it was better than craftsman and reasonably priced and available.

Ideal made a go of it after they bought SK but I noticed the tools were not quite as nice as before. The knurling on the ratchet handles wasn’t as defined.

I haven’t bought an SK tool since Ideal sold them except for an NOS green handled torx screwdriver to complete a set.

I miss SK and Armstrong. They work two of the best industrial tool brands out there.

My love of SK started in the early 1970's when my uncle gave me his SK 1/4 drive set from the 1940's. I still have it. Since then, I have collected, repaired and restored many SK tools. I also have 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 Armstrong socket sets in my collection. The SA-51 ratchet is a real heavy-duty tool with very little back drag. I think Armstong stopped production in 2017 or 2018. Alot of that newer USA inventory is still out there for sale.

 

[sk farmer]

SK has never had any USA ratchet with green on a chrome handle. Just the LP90 with a green switch. Those are china made Durantec rebrands.

So my belief is correct, thanks.

false.

sk made a classic round head, hard handle (plastic) ratchet in 3/8 (45177) and 1/2 drive (42477). i have a 3/8 drive model and they appear in my 1997, 75 anniversary catalog.

there is no doubt that they are uncommon, but they do exist, sk made a lot of stuff or at least carried that people didn't know or didn't realize. that catalog has a lot of facom ratchets, locking pliers, screwdrivers, punches etc.

 

[sk farmer]

search 45177 here on the gj. there is a picture of one in that thread that was bought by cruiser 808. it is a great blast from the past with some names only the old guys will remember

 

[sk farmer]

Here's a picture. I think they were on the market in the late 80's or early 90's. It's basically a SK professional series 3/8 ratchet with a green plastic handle.

a quote from fedwrench in the topic. i was hoping his pic would quote but it didn't. i bumped the thread for all to see.

 

[esben57]

*Edit* I kid you not, but the cat just barfed on it. I set it on the counter and the cat yakked all over the handles.

Maybe this isn’t a good sign.

Known from now on as Sicky Kat