[Shop-talk] Quality Ratchets

[Karl Vacek]

SK stuff is still good.  It's actually made by SK, (I think it's still made 
here in Chicago - at least their factory is still there) not some unknown 
private-label factory like the place Craftsman stuff is now made.  They 
stand behind their warrantee, their chrome is good, and AFAIK they haven't 
dropped their roll-stamped size markings like Sears has.  I hate those 
laser-engraved sockets, and hope I don't have to trade too many broken 
sockets in for those new ones.

Craftsman stuff took a huge nosedive about 10 years ago.  It's not that it's 
that much weaker or softer, and the degree of finish may in fact be a bit 
better, but the chrome is thinner, their consistency is poor now, and the 
socket and box wrench designs are too thick.

And why can you only buy sets of combination wrenches nowadays ?  They seem 
to still have some stock of regular open-end wrenches and regular box 
wrenches, but not always.  I just never got that enthused about combination 
wrenches, though I'm not exactly sure why.

There was a thread here years ago and someone worked at the company that 
made Craftsman, Snap-On, and a few other brands.  They don't make Craftsman 
any more.

Karl


> So is SK stuff actually good???  I thought they were a brand that used
> to be decent, but had gone to crap over the last couple decades.
>
>   -(the other) Wayne