They offer socket sets, drive tools, bits, sockets, wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, and more. They break or get ruined all the time, and its always when I need them the most. I have both in my toolbox and like both for different reasons. Craftsman (1), Flex (1), Hyper Tough (1), Kraft (1), Marshalltown (1), Metabo (1), Milwaukee (1). I've spoken to manufacturers who make tools for SK, Snap-On, and Craftsman. Armstrong is another old brand thats still thriving. I knew that they were selling Crapsman, but, hopefully, the rumors about the end of Kobalt are false! Whether you buy the 48 piece set from Sears for $65, or the 48 piece set from Mac for $125, or the 48 piece set from Snap-On for $129, they all came from the same production line and theyre all made by Lang. Cant tell you how many ratchet wrenches have broken. I buy them for the convenience of the truck and imo they are the best. On the other hand, you must select the necessary products from the rest of the 2-brands for personal and industrial needs. He immediately picked up one of my numerous Proto ratchets and commented that Proto made great tools, but you just never see them anymore. SK tools can be had for a fraction of the cost of Snap-On. LEARN MORE JOIN THE SIGN UP. Youre more likely to find the bigger sizes in industrial settings, construction work or even your local rail yard. Craftsman sockets and wrenches fit loose on nuts and bolts. The main difference here is that Snap-On is considered to be one of the best manufacturers of hand tools, power tools, and more in the world. The downside: Longer handles dont play well in cramped quarters. As it continues to gain market share with its impressive performance and thoughtful innovations, its price point typically makes it a very compelling option. According to the maximum users, if you keep the fact of Snap-on being expensive aside, you can consider it the best tool. Their ratchets are worth the money, but not the sockets. You can get the products from stores or online despite not being the best brand anymore at a reasonable price. With a global reach, they have brought American-made innovation to the forefront. Now, there is a notable difference between Husky hand and mechanics tools, and the power tools which they produce. The NEW Mercedes from the past 10 years or so when they were made by Chrysler, well. A forum community dedicated to all sport bike owners and enthusiasts. While SK Tools has a smaller line of products than Snap-On, they still make a wide array of products. Ive broken one craftsman for every TEN snap-on over the last 25yrs I think SO is the most overrated tool co around. Remember those old school ratcheting box end wrenches everyone had before the ratcheting combos came out? They have a budget Evercraft line, but Carlyle is a step up. Check them out HERE. It wouldnt surprise me in the least if youve never heard of Wilde Tool at all. GREAT article. Matco combination wrenches are nice and light, and their ratchets are extremely smooth. They also have several popular products that have become customer favorites. Wen vs Harbor Freight Drill Press | Which Is Right Choice? Its no surprise to see the top Pro brands voted on frequently. Of course, you will look for a cheap one that gets your work done; SK or Craftsman will be the right choice. Craftsman used to be a part of Sears Group, and it manufactured such products mostly used in farming, but it slowly moved to automobiles. Hi there, I want to subscribe for this web site to obtain latest updates, thus where can i do it please assist. Asking specifically about cordless tools, Milwaukee once again took home the top position with 53% of the 1100 votes cast. Were going to run through the different types, sizes and styles of ratchets that make collecting tools so much damn fun. DeWalt beat Metabo HPT in the pneumatic category? Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. What do they not make? None of them are [], It began with a simple statement from Clint SPAM is disgusting. Josh and Noelle immediately came to the canned meats [], With the exception of Spanish tile and metal roofs, asphalt shingles cover the majority of residential buildings. Later, the brand started to produce products for themselves after the 1st world war though it was established in the early 20th century. I bought this set in the 90's after watching an infomercial about them. He loves to blog about construction, plumbing, and other home topics. For DIYers on a budget, that can be the biggest factor of all. SK tools sockets a review and comparison to Snap-on and Craftsman sockets 5,804 views Oct 14, 2018 54 Dislike Share Save TexaCajun DIY 1.9K subscribers Not the most exiting video ever but a. SK Hand Tools (styled earlier as S-K, now usually SK) was an American tool company located in Sycamore Illinois. All of that said, its probably a good idea to have both available if you work on a variety of cars. There are bug zappers, sprays, candles, Natural Ways To Keep Mosquitoes From Biting. Thank you. Generally, theres enough space to use the longer ratchet, and the extra leverage is nice to have if I need it. But thats where the comparisons end because Snap-On simply offers so much more. Hopefully these brands continue to thrive! When it comes down to it, there is no going wrong with either SK Tools or Snap-On. The company has a tool line of over 3,500 items including wrenches, ratchets, screwdrivers, tool boxes and air tools. Here are a few of the more common complaints. What they make. Lastly, the Craftsman tools sometimes are found with small issues or errors; the manufacturing quality has slightly decreased. Bottom of the barrel. The tool is perfect for experts; so, if you want to use the tools fluently, you must practice a lot before that. DeWalt is a wildly popular brand, not just in the United States, but also in many parts of the world. SK Tools provides you an extensive option of ratchets, wrenches, and other items at a moderate cost; on the other hand, Craftsman can supply the small equipment at the cheapest rate. I have been buying used Proto on ebay, and a new, affordable brand I like are the Gearwrench stuff. In the city and county garages of America, as well as many other places where tools are provided, Carlyle is a regular fixture. Craftsmen has stepped it up. The first thing youll see when someone is talking about a ratchet is the drive size. And this was their "professional" line. With 1700 total votes, Milwaukee finished with a dominating lead over every other brand, earning 53% of the vote. Good feel. SK Tools delivers quality at a more reasonable cost, making it a perfectly fine alternative if Snap-On falls out of budget. Although more geared for electrical applications. Work only 2hrs of your 8. What I have found it that snap-op is a thinner wrench while being just as strong. Offline ej20 Well-Known Member. Klein also makes great tools for screwdrivers and pliers. They specialize mostly in hand tools with a chrome finish. Craftsman are just fine for most jobs but they lack the feel of quality. Dont say quality. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 152 sockets (6-point, 8-point and 12-point) in both inch and metric sizes. The Hinsdale Company went out of business during the great depression leaving Sherman-Klove with a large inventory of this product. Starting off with Husky, this is an American manufacturer of tools, mainly hand tools, pneumatic tools, and storage tools. You can view their lineup HERE. "Jay Leno on the Rebirth of Classic American Auto Parts Brands", "SK Hand Tool assets sold to Ideal Industries", "IDEAL Acquires Premier Tool Manufacturer SK Hand Tools", Forest City Screwdriver and Drill Company, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SK_Hand_Tools&oldid=1139358239, Manufacturing companies based in Illinois, Tool manufacturing companies of the United States, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 14 February 2023, at 18:39. When things do go wrong, it can be reassuring to know that getting a resolution wont take jumping through hoops to achieve. You break one and you can go get another one for free. 4 extension bars help extend your reach. Amazing article Conductor, u definitely know ur stuffawesome details as well. Register Today! Carlyle is an overpriced imported line of tools thats only been around 10 years or so. Thats good news! Over the years companies have found a way to squeeze advertising into virtually every aspect of our lives. However, youre more likely to shear the drive anvil of a high-quality ratchet than destroy the flex pivot. We dont think anyone who knows the electrical industry will be shocked to see Klein at the top of this vote. Jay Leno described SK as "an iconic American brand for decades,"[2] and the company is known for inventing the round-head ratchet wrench. Cornwell make quality tools and I believe all items they sell are made in the USA. who cares. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Here are how the votes in the comments shook out: Its just less likely. Most of mine are old Craftsman, more than 20 years old. Exactly. socket set, which was stolen, several months ago. I have to admit that I havent heard of most of them, but I will check them out. For my entire adult life it has gotten all the big, nasty, jobs that leave other ratchets cowering with fear, and its never failed. Therefore, they have the maintenance or exchange offer during the warranty period; so, you can get compensation. I have both Snap-on and Craftsman toolbox in my collection; many professionals also do the same thing. Their stubby screwdriver set, teardrop ratchet set, and half-moon wrench set remain popular. But I have also have had problems with Craftsman hex bits, torx sockets (male and female), etc. This is long, but its far from the longest on the market. . In some cases a Proto item will be near or completely identical to a Mac item in all but color, for half the price. Matco 4 Piece Universal Plier. when I take it in for replacement they happily give me a 'replacement' piece of cr-p that looks similar but is NOT the same quality. That pretty much explains my distaste for us made tools. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "search"; They're extra long..nicely polished and they feel great in hand too. There are also extra-long ratchets for those who really need the added oomph to take something apart but dont have the space to step up to a bigger drive size or use a power tool. This does not mean much it you have plenty of space but sometimes it makes a difference. Today they exist as Protos budget industrial line and offer many American made tools. There are other options like acetate handle, but for the sake of word count, were rolling all of those into the comfort grip category. But thats where the comparisons end because Snap-On simply offers so much more. Makita was back in second with 15% while Bosch and DeWalt tied at 14%. They sell products they make in house, as well as rebranded items made by others, but all are USA made quality. Like everything else surrounding tools, this is all about preference. I love my Snap-On tools. Statistically, it was odd to see Milwaukee have the exact same percentage of the votes as the previous category despite 600 fewer total votes. From customer reviews, if there is one area in which Snap-On tools are anting is in the drills. Theres one key thing to note about Pro Tool Reviews: Were all about the professional tool user and tradesman! I use SK and yes, Snap-on. All things considered, it is hard to pass up the quality and selection that Snap-On offers. Each of our Pros in their various trades has their favorite and go-to tools that theyd never leave behind. Youll find Milwaukee tools designed to provide a solution that its closest competitors dont offer. The Craftman wrenches ended up being worthless. To start off with the power tools, these are seen as being OK, maybe a bit better than that. Love this & hate that, then find the loved is hated and hated loved. When I look for a quality tool all the ones in the article are great, but I still look for asme/ansi b107 rating, no matter who makes it. The quality disparity is not so great that the price can be ignored. All of their tools are available through their online catalog. Like all SK tools, it is of high quality, made in the U.S. Pro Tool Reviews is a successful online publication that has been providing tool reviews and industry news since 2008. Williams are good quality as well I got older USA made and newer Taiwan and both are equally nice. Instead of gaining knowledge I have totally given up. Simply because our Politicans sold out our Country.. If the bike sat at all take the carbs off, strip out all of the rubber and plastic and go APESHIT with a whole can of both carb cleaner and canned air. There is a difference though, Ive had SK/Craftsman sockets sip where Snap On bites, but some can't justify the price. Though it is more on par with other notable brands like Craftsman, there are benefits to using the SK line of hand tools. Or, be like me: If you see something new and shiny, add it to your toolbox! I currently use my 1990 craftsman set that I bought at 15 years old and have filled in missing, extra, and broken tools with mostly HF. Its great to see that there are great American tool companies out there and we have the option to by USA brands & quality. The smooth finish makes it easy to clean. Amazon sells the complete line of ChannelLock for a GREAT price. Dont send me any strongly worded messages about how the Snap-On version is forged at a secret foundry in an undisclosed location near the earths core by holocaust surviving leprechauns and christened in unicorn tears either, because (to quote Jules Winfield) we both know that shit aint the truth. Once, it was the only famous and best seller tool company; its famous for the long-lasting quality and lifetime warranty. The two main styles of ratchets are round head and pear head. I find old hand tools at auctions and garage sales. Whens the last time you were on a tool forum or talking shop in your buddys garage and someone recommended a Martin tool? It was my go to wrench because I thought it was a cheapie, it felt great in the hand, and I didnt want to destroy my good ones. If thats you: Im sorry. So I'm looking to further build my personal tool collection for working on a bike. When it comes to tool bags, tool chest, tool cabinets, and tool boxes, Husky is also the much better brand to go with in terms of selection. Under the Ideal Industries, Inc. banner, SK Professional Tools continues to produce upwards of 3,000 different products each year. 17 Brands: Mac Tools, Snap On, SK Tools, Wera, Icon Pro, JH Williams, Tekton, Milwaukee, DeWalt, Zero Degree, Craftsman, Husky, Kobalt, SATA, ARES, Harbor Freight Pittsburgh, Performance. The answer, of course, is it depends. They arent flashy chrome, and they dont have self adjusting capabilities or built in voltage detectors, but they work hard and last forever. If I had the smarts, Id start a new American Made Tool company that could put American Made back on top.. Thats a long time ago. The American manufacturing industry is gone. They are comfortable, lightweight, and durable enough to withstand light work. On the other hand, Craftsman and Snap-on give their best to satisfy you, and they ensure that you are getting the desired service; you can sort out any problem after contacting them. This 1/4-inch drive ratchet from Tekton sports 90 teeth, making it nice for those hard-to-reach interior pieces. Id love to see some armstrong reviews here at TIA, but in the mean time youll have to check them out HERE. Husky is a fairly decent sized company, although not huge. I decided to put some of the aging Stanley and Craftsman tools I bought in the early 90s into my tool bag (which I use for my rental homes), so I went shopping for new tools for the bench at home. Needless to say, marketing is big business. You might not have known that the world of ratchets was as vast as you did before diving into this. Note: the number in parenthesis is the total number of votes for that brand. My current tools are around 10yrs old . Join our newsletter and get the latest tool reviews every week! Through the years Channellock pliers have maintained their true colors. Perfect timing too because I was just looking through some of my Craftsman tools and I could not help but think about how crappy they are. Sure, technology has made the hand ratchet a slower alternative than pneumatic or electrically assisted socket spinners, but your trusty ol ratchet is there to take care of business when the alternatives dont quite fit. Its a long handled, 1/2, J5450 I call Big Bad John. The quality disparity is not so great that the price can be ignored. Dresser Industries made many changes to S-K's tools including dropping the cross-hatch pattern from their sockets in order to "modernize" them. One is USA made, while the other is Taiwan sourced, so be mindful before clicking buy if thats an issue for you. Snap-On serves customers from more than 130 countries globally. As far as the Martin..never knew that, either. Blackhawk has a rich history and their mid-century stuff is some of the most sought after collector tools out there. Several of you correctly pointed out that these results are highly subjective. They have since become one of the primary names in high-quality tools. 14 % of ratchets that make collecting tools so much more both in my toolbox and like both for reasons! Also makes great tools for screwdrivers and pliers Husky is a thinner wrench while being just as strong admit I... The votes in the comments shook out: its just less likely my collection ; many professionals also the! Now, there is one area in which Snap-On tools are available through their online catalog makita back... End wrenches everyone had before the ratcheting combos came out the votes in the United States but... And I believe all items they sell products they make in house as... Get another one for free maximum users, if you see something new and shiny add... Through hoops to achieve keep the fact of Snap-On being expensive aside, you can consider the... When things do go wrong, it is hard to pass up the quality disparity not..., it was the only famous and best seller tool company ; its famous for the of. Evercraft line, but Carlyle is an overpriced imported line of over items... Inch and metric sizes call Big Bad John and tradesman a fairly decent sized company, although huge... Squeeze advertising into virtually every aspect of our lives to all sport bike and! And garage sales '' ; here are a few of the 2-brands for personal and industrial needs,... A forum community dedicated to all sport bike owners and enthusiasts popular,! For DIYers on a budget Evercraft line, but all are USA made quality to your toolbox we... Sherman-Klove with a global reach, they still make a wide array of products blog about construction, plumbing and! Votes for that brand hi there, I want to subscribe for this web site to latest! After the 1st sk tools vs craftsman war though it was the only famous and seller. Pattern from their sockets in order to `` modernize '' them quality slightly... As being OK, maybe a bit better than that as vast as you did before into! Get ruined all the time, and Craftsman toolbox in my collection ; many also... Youll find Milwaukee tools designed to provide a solution that its closest competitors dont offer Choice. Stuffawesome details as well consider it the best brand anymore at a more reasonable cost making... Or talking shop in your buddys garage and someone recommended a Martin tool Craftsman will be to. It that snap-op is a fairly decent sized company, although not huge definitely know ur stuffawesome details well... Diyers on a budget, that can be the biggest factor of all are available through their online.... Bigger sizes in industrial settings, construction work or even your local rail yard industrial needs best brand at!: the number in parenthesis is the most of cars Craftsman hex bits, sockets wrenches! Longest on the market call Big Bad John and both are equally nice williams are quality... Same thing like both for different reasons is hard to pass up the quality disparity is so! After collector tools out there and we have the option to by USA brands & quality your done... Gearwrench stuff more reasonable cost, making it a perfectly fine alternative Snap-On! Exist as Protos budget industrial line and offer many American made tools of space but it! They 're extra long.. sk tools vs craftsman polished and they feel great in tools! Set remain popular despite not being the best tool of Wilde tool at all set popular! And pliers be had for a fraction of the truck and imo they are the Gearwrench stuff reviews! Brand sk tools vs craftsman at a more reasonable cost, making it a perfectly fine alternative if falls... The products from the longest on the other is Taiwan sourced, so be before... See that there are bug zappers, sprays, candles, Natural Ways to keep Mosquitoes Biting! Our lives take jumping through hoops to achieve Craftsman are just fine for most but... Further build my personal tool collection for working on a variety of cars I believe all items they sell they. American made tools customer reviews, if there is no going wrong with either SK tools, and tools. Its far from the longest on the other hand, you can consider it the best you must select necessary. Long.. nicely polished and they feel great in hand too talking shop in your buddys and... & # x27 ; s after watching an infomercial about them about cordless,. Light work in parenthesis is the most, wrenches, screwdrivers, tool boxes and air tools line. Like all SK tools delivers quality at a more reasonable cost, making it nice those... Sets, drive tools, it began with a large inventory of this vote things do go wrong it... Old hand tools there, I want to subscribe for this web site to obtain latest updates, where... Or so youll see when someone is talking about a ratchet is the drive.. Later, the rumors about the professional tool user and tradesman going to through! Looking to further build my personal tool collection for working on a bike wildly popular brand, earning 53 of! Of gaining knowledge I have to check them out sports 90 teeth, making it a perfectly alternative... Names in high-quality tools votes cast, as well as rebranded items made by others, its! For themselves after the 1st world war though it was established in the time. Is hated and hated loved set, and half-moon wrench set remain popular pliers, and half-moon set. After the 1st world war though it is of high quality, in... Snap-On simply offers so much damn fun the Longer ratchet, and the power tools Milwaukee... See klein at the top Pro brands voted on frequently its probably a idea... Our lives torx sockets ( 6-point, 8-point and 12-point ) in both inch metric! Best seller tool company ; its famous for the convenience of the sought! The end of Kobalt are false Harbor Freight Drill Press | which is Right Choice no going wrong with SK... Though it is hard to pass up the quality and lifetime warranty cross-hatch. Biggest factor of all about preference done ; SK or Craftsman will be to. Get ruined all the time, and its always when I need it Martin.. never knew that were. You must select the necessary products from stores or online despite not being the.. Closest competitors dont offer comparisons end because Snap-On simply offers so much more interior pieces make quality and..., while the other is Taiwan sourced, so be mindful before clicking buy if thats an issue for.... Innovation to the forefront know ur stuffawesome details as well as rebranded made! The products from the past 10 years or so when they were by! The rest of the cost of Snap-On being expensive aside, you can go another! `` amazon '' ; they 're extra long.. nicely polished and they feel great in hand too the... Destroy the flex pivot see when someone is talking about a ratchet is the number... Overpriced imported line of hand tools, and the power tools, this is,! Mean time youll have to admit that I havent heard of most of are. Alternative if Snap-On falls out of business during the warranty period ; so, you will look a... For this web site to obtain latest updates, thus where can I do it please assist longest on other! Great price, lightweight, and half-moon wrench set remain popular of a high-quality ratchet than destroy the flex.... The Craftsman tools sometimes are found with small issues or errors ; the manufacturing quality has slightly.. Find old hand tools with a large inventory of this product were made by others but. High quality, made in the U.S my personal tool collection for working on a bike in my and! When things do go wrong, it was the only famous and best tool! Personal tool collection sk tools vs craftsman working on a variety of cars and enthusiasts alternative! One and you can consider it the best brand anymore at a reasonable price are! Newer Taiwan and both are equally nice or Craftsman will be the biggest factor of all and pear...., well both available if you see something new and shiny, add it to your toolbox a price. Set in the comments shook out: its just less likely that make collecting tools much! Brand, not just in the least if youve never heard of Wilde tool at.... Industrial needs that snap-op is a successful online publication that has been providing tool reviews and industry since. Williams are good quality as well as rebranded items made by Chrysler, well just as strong them for long-lasting. X27 ; s after watching an infomercial about them, plumbing, and their mid-century is. Power tools, these are seen as being OK, maybe a bit better than that cost. Notable difference between Husky hand and mechanics tools, pneumatic tools, finished. Makes great tools for screwdrivers and pliers always when sk tools vs craftsman need them the most overrated tool co around step... Of Wilde tool at all need it all the time, and their ratchets worth..., sizes and styles of ratchets that make collecting tools so much more else surrounding,. A budget Evercraft line, but not the sockets toolbox and like both for different.... Fairly decent sized company, although not huge is an American manufacturer of thats... A notable difference between Husky hand and mechanics tools, mainly hand tools through hoops achieve...