Reader Question: Who Makes the Best Socket Set? - ToolGuyd

Etchase

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• Mar 8,

• #1

This isn’t good news. Maybe they will be excellent sockets.

SK 1/2" Drive Socket Set, Standard Metric Sockets, 11-Piece, Size Covers 10-20mm, 6 Point, CR-V Steel, with Storage Rail https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSGQLN7G/?tag=atomicindus08-20 To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

hefnerconstructionlc

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sparky

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• Mar 8,

• #3

Where does it say they are made in China? As far as I know, according to an from SK, the sockets and ratchets are going to be made in the USA. I've also heard, but not verified that sockets are being farmed out to Wright for production.

Dagny

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• Mar 8,

• #4

oh its a sad day in mudville.

unslow1

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• Mar 8,

• #5

I couldn't find specifically where SK was being made. The say they have 20 manufacturing plants 3 in the US and make these tools.

GreatStar Industrial Co., Ltd is Asia's leading tool manufacturer. The company's primary activities are R&D, manufacturing, and sales of hand tools and power tools. The company manufactures tools for premier private brands like BOSCH, MILWAUKEE, SNAP-ON, CRAFTSMAN, and so on, it also owns a variety of world-class tool brands such as WORKPRO, ARROW, PONY&JORGENSEN, Goldblatt, BeA, Shop Vac, SK, and etc.

KnurledNut

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• Mar 8,

• #6

Question:
Made in the USA?

Answer:
Dear Customer,
The SK industrial series (White Label) is made in the US, and the tools we sell belong to SK Professional (Black Label), which are made in Taiwan and China, providing high-quality tools for professionals.
Best Wishes， … see more
By SK Black Label Store SELLER on March 9,

(These sockets are Black Label and imported. At least the pricing is appropriate.) Last edited: Mar 8,

The Cobbler

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• Mar 8,

• #7

Manufacturer ‎Hangzhou Great Star Industrial Co.,LTD.
I would not suspect US made, based on the name of the manufacturer

sparky

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• Mar 8,

• #8

Question:
Made in the USA?

Answer:
Dear Customer,
The SK industrial series (White Label) is made in the US, and the tools we sell belong to SK Professional (Black Label), which are made in Taiwan and China, providing high-quality tools for professionals.
Best Wishes， … see more
By SK Black Label Store SELLER on March 9,

(These sockets are Black Label and imported.)

I'm suffering from an excess of tools and certainly not in the market to buy any from anyone for quite awhile. If I was, how would I be able to tell the difference between the white and black labels? It would make way too much sense to have white or black packaging or labeling.

sparky

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• Mar 8,

• #9

Manufacturer ‎Hangzhou Great Star Industrial Co.,LTD.
I would not suspect US made, based on the name of the manufacturer

That's the parent company that bought SK and moved them to PA back in . I was in contact with them over a year ago when I was wanting to buy a couple of things and couldn't. According to the , they were going to keep ratchet, socket, and cushion grip screw driver production here, wrenches were going to be China made, and I can't remember the rest because I got the answers I was looking for and no longer cared. Last edited: Mar 8,

CobraRed

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• Mar 8,

• #10

US doesnt use Cr-V anyways, if the price point wasnt enough of an indication it's not USA

Fedwrench

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• Mar 8,

• #11

what a weird range of sizes for a 1/2 drive socket set I'd prefer it start at 13mm, skip 20 mm and run to at least 22mm but, that's just me.

They are attractive sockets though but, anything can look good in an Amazon photo. I like the green band with the green rail. useless but, good looking.

I think all bets are off as to where SK tools are made. It will be an evolving target leaning towards more and more offshore..

tarbellb

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• Mar 8,

• #12

well.... they figured out the marketing photos and bling look

William Payne

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• #13

Where does it say they are made in China?

Further down in the specs box.

dnschmidt

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• #14

I’m not social media savvy enough to find the dead horse emoji but this would be the place to use it. Another S-K thread, oh happy day.

KnurledNut

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• Mar 8,

• #15

Im guessing these SK’s sockets are coming off the same line as their Duratech sockets. The knurling on them actually gives them a small advantage over the SK.



They also have pics on their Amazon store of the new imported adjustable wrenches (ugly), a couple pliers (meh), and combination wrenches (decent looking).



Last edited: Mar 8,

dnschmidt

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• #16

Im guessing these SK’s sockets are coming off the same line as their Duratech sockets. The knurling on them actually gives them a small advantage over the SK.



They also have pics on their Amazon store of the new imported adjustable wrenches (ugly), a couple pliers (meh), and combination wrenches (decent looking).

Which leads to the obvious question: why not just buy the DuraTech at 1/4 the price? Last edited: Mar 9,

shibertus

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• #17

Im guessing these SK’s sockets are coming off the same line as their Duratech sockets

In the other items listed by the same seller, the adjustable wrenches are labeled SK but the item title says Duratech

Last edited: Mar 9,

boom_bap

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• Mar 8,

• #18

what a weird range of sizes for a 1/2 drive socket set I'd prefer it start at 13mm, skip 20 mm and run to at least 22mm but, that's just me.

They are attractive sockets though but, anything can look good in an Amazon photo. I like the green band with the green rail. useless but, good looking.

I think all bets are off as to where SK tools are made. It will be an evolving target leaning towards more and more offshore..

My thoughts too, 10-20? That is what I'd want a 3/8 socket set size wise 8-19...

KnurledNut

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Guess we have to wait for the SK White Label store to open for the USA stuff...?

General Geoff

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• Mar 8,

• #20

Maybe they will be excellent sockets.

It wouldn't take that much to improve QC over what they were churning out in the past 20 years from their US plant. To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

dnschmidt

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• #21

It wouldn't take that much to improve QC over what they were churning out in the past 20 years from their US plant.

That's heartless. Completely true but heartless.

Mgdoug3

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• Mar 9,

• #22

I had a feeling SK was going to start being made overseas especially after hearing about the wrenches. I started buying SK tools because they were made in the USA and a decent piece. I won't pay USA prices for Chinese tools. These sockets are a lot less than the USA made ones but they're higher than other Chinese sets.

I have no incentive to buy anymore SK tools. Wright has become my new USA bargain tools.

Meursault74

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• Mar 9,

• #23

I’m not social media savvy enough to find the dead horse emoji but this would be the place to use it. Another S-K thread, oh happy day.

type a "colon" deadhorse then select it. OP E

Etchase

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• #24

I would prefer a blue label line to come out, Johny Walker has always comes thru for me.

Jtels85

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• Mar 9,

• #25

This isn’t your Grandfathers SK.

I never understood the obsession with SK. Mediocre tools at best. There are so many other brands Made in the USA.

Maybe if all of you complain enough, ‎Hangzhou Great Star will build a new tool manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, TX.

reader

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• Mar 9,

• #26

I never understood the obsession with SK. Mediocre tools at best. There are so many other brands Made in the USA.

Many others? I know of Snap-On, Williams, and Wright in addition to maybe SK if they still make anything in the USA. SK used to be a relatively inexpensive made in the USA option, but SK's insistence on MAP pricing made SK a lot more expensive in recent years.

Jtels85

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• #27

Many others? I know of Snap-On, Williams, and Wright in addition to maybe SK if they still make anything in the USA. SK used to be a relatively inexpensive made in the USA option, but SK's insistence on MAP pricing make SK a lot more of

I’m being facetious.

Everything I said was how the tool snobs address the Craftsman USA topic whenever it comes up. We can now add SK to that list.

ike

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• #28

Let's be real, nobody needed a crystal ball to see that SK was going to be selling mostly made in China tools.

m6z

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• Mar 9,

• #29

They'll certainly dupe a few people.

Personally, I don't need anymore sockets and that's an odd sized set.

Davefr

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• #30

This isn’t your Grandfathers SK.

I never understood the obsession with SK.

I don't think there ever was an obsession for SK. They were generally a respected brand thruout the years but professionals tended to gravitate towards SO and the tool truck brands while DIY'ers gravitated towards CM. SK's niche was kind of in between and rather thin. Go to garage sales/flea markets and you'll see used SK sell for a pittance compared to CM or SO.

If Great Star's hope for SK is Amazon, it's a very crowded field.

threewood

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• Mar 9,

• #31

Nope! From that one picture they look to have a huge bevel. Knuckle bust city.

four.cycle

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• Mar 9,

• #32

I do not believe that this should come as a great surprise to anyone.
This is classic bait-and-switch stuff, and now Great Star has finally showed us their cards.

I'd call it fairly definitive evidence that they simply cannot be trusted.
Full stop.

Garcky

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• Mar 9,

• #34

Yup, looks like it. I'm not surprised, though. Will they turn out to be any good? Who knows? It's all becoming a crap shoot, really. Most 1/2" drive sockets I've encountered have worked just fine, regardless of brand or COO. So, I'm not that bothered.

roofdweller49

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• Mar 9,

• #35

That's heartless. Completely true but heartless.

When was "best era" SK? I've heard people complain about all eras starting with SK Wayne

People wax nostalgic about SK ratchets, but they're just kinda clunky and head heavy for me. Then the LP90 had lock up issues. The short 1/4" is nice, I guess?

VolvoRyan

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• Mar 9,

• #36

Sounds like Great Star is trying to expand SK's offerings/markets. For better or worse, who knows?

One thing folks don't immediately grasp is that SK wasn't "sold to China".... Ideal basically ran the brand "out of business". SK's traditional market between Craftsman and tool truck probably evaporated, but there were some big missteps in the brand before the sale.

I really like my SK tools. I managed to buy most everything they sold in metric in years leading up to the sale. I had to quit all the SK social media groups. Everyone there got mad that SK went to China..... but then only bought stuff during the Steals and Deals..... and wondered why the brand ceased to be a profitable entity.

Like others, I wandered into Wright's offerings.

-Ryan

wjjeep

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• #37

I don't keep up with tools news that closely but I only read that SK was sold to a Chinese company. I don't recall hearing about production moving abroad though.

Wrench97

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• Mar 9,

• #38

Where does it say they are made in China? As far as I know, according to an from SK, the sockets and ratchets are going to be made in the USA. I've also heard, but not verified that sockets are being farmed out to Wright for production.

Bubba Fett

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• #39

Sounds like Great Star is trying to expand SK's offerings/markets. For better or worse, who knows?

One thing folks don't immediately grasp is that SK wasn't "sold to China".... Ideal basically ran the brand "out of business". SK's traditional market between Craftsman and tool truck probably evaporated, but there were some big missteps in the brand before the sale.

I really like my SK tools. I managed to buy most everything they sold in metric in years leading up to the sale. I had to quit all the SK social media groups. Everyone there got mad that SK went to China..... but then only bought stuff during the Steals and Deals..... and wondered why the brand ceased to be a profitable entity.

Like others, I wandered into Wright's offerings.

-Ryan

Western Forge, Pratt-Read, and SK. All brands/manufacturers that Ideal used to own and are dead or mere shadows of their former selves. Even Ideal electrical tools are being replaced with China-made tools, possibly part of the deal with HGS.

Frankly, the folks at Cree Lighting should probably be concerned.