SK Hand Tool sent over their 18pc 3/8″ fractional socket set, model 94520, for review. I figured that this set should give me a really good impression about the brand’s sockets, basic ratchets, and extensions, and it has.
As with most (if not all) SK’s tools, this set is made in the USA.
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If you’re interested in SK tools, also check out my review of SK’s thumbwheel ratchet, and an SK hex bit socket set.
The set comes packaged in a green blow molded plastic case. There’s nothing spectacular about the case, and while it might be a little light duty it still feels plenty durable.
One thing I liked about the case is that it has recesses on both sides of the case, making it easy to carry the case from a shelf or drawer and to a work area. The grooves serve to create a simple but effective handle.
There’s nothing fancy about the ratchet either it’s a basic 3/8″ round-head ratchet with 40 teeth. As with other coarse-tooth ratchets, you’ll probably keep this in your drawer after you upgrade to a finer-tooth one. It’ll still be handy for those times when you need brute strength.
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One thing I must say – for a socket set ratchet, SK sure went to a lot of trouble giving the head and handle a nice full-polish chrome finish. The knurling is exemplary and gives the ratchet a comfortable grip.
The sockets are near-flawless. Fit, function, and finish are great almost all-around. SK’s SuperKrome chrome plating is said to be good, but I may have underestimated how great it would look in person.
I like that deep sockets have partial recesses, which can make it easier to work with longer fasteners and studs. With sockets that have full-length hex recesses, it’s hard to tell where the fastener is. With these, you get the same visual feedback as you do with shallow sockets.
I don’t think I’ve come across any applications where a partial recess is required or works better than a full-length hex recess, so I see it more as an added convenience.
The sockets have clear and easy-to-read markings. You could always fill them in with a little grease or paint to have the sizings stand out even more, but I don’t think that’s necessary here.
The socket recesses also have SK’s SureGrip hex design that grips fasteners at their sides, instead of the corners. This helps to provide a strong grip with greatly reduced risk of rounding or fastener damage.
And yes, all of the tools in this SK set are made in the USA. The same is likely true with all of SK’s socket sets and individual sockets, drive tools, and accessories.
One thing I found unusual is that some of the smaller deep sockets aren’t quite as deep as other brands’ deep sockets. Compared to my Craftsman deep sockets (I picked these up when they were clearancing out their Ti-coated socket sets), SK’s 9/16″ and smaller sockets are shorter, while the 5/8″ and larger sockets are around the same height.
I almost said shallower, but since SK deep sockets have a partial hex recess, you don’t gain or lose socket recess depth according to socket height.
This comparison image also shows how much clearer SK’s size markings are.
I like that the smaller sized deep sockets are shorter, as it makes them more manageable and proportional to fastener sizes. On the other hand, the smaller heights could in theory reduce fastener access and reach. I cannot think of any recent applications where these mid-sized SK sockets would be insufficiently short.
The extensions look like they have aggressive knurling, but they’re just as comfortable and easy on the hands as the ratchet.
Now, I did mention that the set was nearly flawless. The shallow 7/16″ socket had very rough recess walls. This image makes the recess edges look a lot rougher than they really are, but it’s pretty clear that this socket missed a finishing step. The socket is perfectly usable, but if I had purchased this set I would have immediately requested a replacement from SK.
Returning the entire set for a replacement would have been another option, but there’s no guarantee that every piece in the new set would be perfect.
If I had spent money on the set, I would have been a little annoyed. But, mistakes happen. I recently had to send back two premium Proto ratcheting wrenches due to manufacturing defects.
So far I used the ratchet, a couple of the shallow and deep sockets, and both of the extensions. I think that this is among the finest mechanics tools I’ve used to date. While one of the sockets isn’t perfect, one defect is better than the several defects I encountered in Williams and Wright sets in recent months. The Sk ratchet had a dimple or two, but no chips or anything of the sort.
SK pricing might seem high, but I think that it’s on-level with the professional quality of their tools, and on-par with those of other USA industrial and professional tool brands. With this and their other socket sets, you get top-notch quality with no compromises.
To be perfectly honest, SK Hand Tool wasn’t on my “brands to consider” list for the longest time. I only started considering them for personal purchases and upgrades once it was clear how the brand would be run after their bankruptcy buyout by Ideal Industries. I am happy to say that it looks like they are holding up to all of the great things said about the brand over the years.
My experience with this set, although only spanning a couple of months, has changed how I see SK Hand Tool as a brand, and for the better. They’re holding up to quality standards set before the quality issues the preceded and followed the brand’s bankruptcy. I’ve heard that their customer service and warranty turnaround is great, although I have no experience with this myself.
Before I started testing this socket set, or rather before I reviewed SK’s hex bit socket set, I didn’t really see SK tools as anything special. I hadn’t had much experience with the brand, and didn’t see reason to change that. My experiences here have led me to start seeing SK as a very attractive and competitive brand.
It’s hard to gauge SK tools against Proto, Williams, Wright, Armstrong, and other USA-brands’ tools I own or have used, as I simply haven’t done enough side-by-side comparisons. These tools are definitely a step above Craftsman – of that there’s no question. I would say that they’re at least at the same quality level as other brands.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Buy Now(Other SK sets via Amazon)
Price: $110-$130 via Amazon and industrial suppliers.
Thank you to SK Hand Tool for providing the review sample unconditionally. Review samples are typically given away, donated, or retained for editorial and comparison purposes.
fred
Over the years I’ve seen some chatter about deep sockets that are not broached all the way not really being deep sockets at all. My thought is that as long as the shoulder provides adequate clearance for the bolt, stud etc. then it is actually a positive feature – particularly when starting the nut off. I guess if there were a really oddball – extra thick nut – that would protrude out of the socket then the shoulder might be an issue – but I don’t recall ever encountering such a nut.
BTW – the Amazon link is for a sale through an outside supplier (J B Tool Sales) that I have found to be good to deal with. They can be dealt with directly as well as through Amazon – and they had a nice % off deal for either Black Friday or Cyber Monday that I availed myself of for several Christmas gifts
Harry
SK has issues with finishing the inside of their sockets and it bothers some people. At a recent SK day event many socket sets were purchased by different people and no two people had consistent finishes on their sockets. Some had the silver paint applied, some didn’t, some had it applied splotchy. Some sockets weren’t bored evenly, some had like little wedges bent down after cutting the size.
Will it affect the tool’s performance? Probably not but, if paying top dollar for superchrome finish, it better be perfect out of the box, SK needs to deliver. I’ve used SK tools since I was a kid in high school a long, long time ago when every auto parts store in Southern California had displays of them behind the counter. Great tools but, they need to step up their game to compete against other brands today.
fred
Back in the early 1960’s when I was interested in cars – and many took a lot of tuning and fixing – I also recall that SK (called SK-Wayne back then – and part of Dresser-Wayne) were carried by many better Auto Parts stores. Some lower-end (IMO) stores carried Thorsen and Herbrand – but better stores that didn’t have SK tool boards might have Blackhawk, Husky (then New Britain Tool), Proto, or Bonney Forge. Hardware stores seemed to favor Williams, Armstrong, Proto, Fairmount-Martin and Wright. Us shade-tree mechanics were cut-off from SnapOn and the other truck brands – but certainly had Craftsman as an option. European cars were gaining in popularity – but in the 60’s European socket wrenches from folks like Stahlwille, Hazet, Beta etc. were nowhere to be found. The first set of Japanese sockets I saw were from a company called Daido – and marketed as Truecraft.
Stuart
Yikes! I hadn’t seen that on the GJ yet, but checked it out. I suppose I should be happy that this set only has one botched socket then.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=257824
I went through the last couple of dozen posts – those images don’t give me a lot of confidence in SK’s QC, but I’d like to give them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe a lot of what people are getting are “new old stock” that was produced before Ideal rebooted SK’s tool production. I’m really hoping that’s the case. If not, then hopefully SK will address whatever is leading to these issues.
EMILIO E GONZALEZ
I have to agree. I’ve been purchasing Sk sockets and other tool recently, and I have to say, I’ve been disappointed with some of the sockets. I tried using a deep 24mm socket yesterday and couldn’t get the threaded stud to slip through the recess.
The Sk 24mm deep socket recess web was too thick. For a 24mm deep socket, the recess hole was way too thick. I had to use my old USA Craftsman semi deep socket, which has a lot more clearance in the recess. Which I like. I also wish Sk offered semi deep sockets when deep is too much.
I really like Sk Hand Tools, but Sk needs to get the socket division to do a better job on QC. The sockets are not finished consistently, like was mentioned above. I did write to Sk and they will be exchanging the few badly finished sockets from the set for me., but now I fear buy more Sk sockets because of the problems.
I look at my other sockets and they have so much more room in the recess, yet very strong walls. I hope Sk gets things sorted out. They are charging good money for a lot of tools.
T
I wouldnt worry about the case. The case my at-home socket/wrench set lives in is approx 15yrs old and saw pro-duty for at least 5 before reasignment. Only failure is on one of the case snap tabs, it snapped off. No big deal.
I have never experienced any of the quality issues claimed over the years, from the near pre-Facom ownership days (when the green blowmold cases appeared) to current. I loved the availability of SK, great quality and price and ONLY replaced at-work SK tools with snappy or a german brand, all other brands werent worth the money compared to the SK, though I do/did employ various drive tools from Wright/cman/et al, too. Ive had some tools from everybody be a bit rough from time to time too, but nothing worth returning, most “defects” should really be accepted as “nature” sans usability. That said, some of the quality pics and stories are unacceptable. I read somewhere years ago that humans arent really capable of accuracy above 90% for any reasonable amount of time. Id suspect what humans build retains that balance of screwed up or screwdriver. Just my 2 Rubles.
Phil
Most of the SK sockets have a painted finish inside, I suspect the one rough socket will be fine once you’ve had it on a couple of bolts and the paint wears off. There is little to no plating inside, and the paint is there for cosmetic reasons, to prevent any rust in shipment.
I own and have used lots of sockets and sets over the years, and my favorites have always been SK, even over Snap-on in most cases. I bought my first SK set 40 years ago, and most of it is still original. I lamented when the switch was made from metal boxes to the blow mold cases, the metal boxes have the most compact profile for the amount of tools inside, but as far as plastic cases go, they are rugged and tidy, plus the lids can easily be removed to allow the bottom to be used as a tray inside a drawer. The knurling might look old school, but nothing tops it for grip when my hands are oily. The simple round head ratchet might seem quaint, but it’s a time proven design that stacks up against any other similar head style today and can’t be beat. The simple but beefy knurled handle remains my favorite for use in greasy situations, I find myself able to put a lot of torque on a fastener with the knurled handle over any other styles, including soft grips, I owe this to having weightlifting hands that are accustomed to gripping knurled bars.
Few sockets and accessories can match SK’s chrome finish and solid stamped letter/numbering. While there might be a little flaw here and there that I’ve encountered, none of this reduced the effectiveness of the tools in any way. I’m no tool polisher, but I do take good care of my stuff and keep in for decades. Many years ago I would pick up sets and individual pieces from a couple nearby high-end auto parts store and a very old but comprehensive independent hardware store. By the mid ’90s, these little independent places disappeared, and so did my local source for the brand. I had a couple favorite suppliers that were constantly present at the Carlisle swap meets which I still use for my SK fix.
SK fills the niche above the (former) Craftsman upper-level consumer/professional brands and Snap-on, with good value and quality for the money, with the all-important US manufacture. I just wish the tools were more available in local shops like in the bygone days.
grandpas_tool_box
Do you know when SK stopped using metal boxes? What year? Thanks!
Michael Tarpinian
The photo shows a set nearly identical to mine. It is one I inherited from my Dad. It is 35+ years old. It works flawlessly—the same today and the day Dad bought it. None the worse for wear. I would not hesitate from buying any other SK Tools.
Hang Fire
SK has been a favorite brand of mine, through their ownership and quality ups and downs for 25 years, except for the insufficiently broached deep sockets. After running into problems I have replaced my SK deeps with another brand.
The situation where full broaching is required is when you have a nut on a long stud or a bolt that is long, and just enough clearance to assemble the deep socket and then the ratchet wrench on that socket. If the deep socket cannot fully accommodate the length, I am forced to use a shallow socket or (worse) a ratcheting gearwrench (which constantly falls off) until it is down far enough to switch to the deep. I’m usually required to finish with the deep socket or deep offset wrench because of other clearance issues.
A typical example is many vehicle water pumps, which are up against shock towers (transverse mount) or behind accessory wheels, engine mounts, fans or radiators. Other engine accessories often have at least one long bolt with the same issue, but water pumps usually have several.
This is not an abstract criticism. Water pumps are one of the most commonly replaced items on older vehicles, and it’s happened to me several times to the point I got myself a set of Craftsman deeps (back in the USA era) and relegated the SK deep sockets to backup status.
imtools
Not a specifically SK comment though by looking at the pictures, they haven’t seen this issue yet either. When is somebody going to print/laser etch/stamp the size on 3 or 4 ‘sides’ of the socket so that no matter what side is facing you, you can see the size. While I am still looking for a socket storage device that really works for me, I am using the Craftsman racks where the square end of the socket snaps/clips onto. If you don’t put the socket back on with the size facing one side or the other, it becomes a royal PITA to select the right size.
I think the partial recess is a plus for starting a nut.
I never heard of the inside of a socket being painted. It would have to be done after the plating process and how is it that the plating would not be on the inside? It may not be polished but it would still be there.
Dan
Stuart,
I’m looking to replace my cheap chicom sockets with a good quality set from either the US or overseas.
So far it looks like SK & Carlyle tools sockets are a good value. Have you looked at the Carlyle sockets & how would you compare them to SK. They appear to be around 20% cheaper than SK, but if they are junk then the savings would not be worth it.
Thanks,
Dan
BK
Buy SK. Well made, US made.
BK
I have used SK brand tools for years. I have used SK, SK Wayne, and newer product under Ideal. The product is phenomenal. Because of how well it is made, particularly the thickness of the wrenches, and ratchet, they feel great in your hand. I had one of my 80s era wrenches break (provided many years of normal, regular, use) and SK replaced it quickly through the mail. I will continue to buy more SK brand tools and continue to applaud their quality.
EMILIO E GONZALEZ
Here is an update to my review of Sk sockets. I recently purchased some individual Sk sockets in standard, deep, metric/sae in 1/4″ drive to 1/2″ drive, all 6 points.
I had a real problem with the Sk 24mm 6 point chrome 1/2″ drive deep socket; it would not fit over a long nipple stud pipe that I needed to remove from my Automotive oil cooler. The Sk 24mm deep sockets’ ID did not have enough clearance. The ID wall was way too thick. I finally bought an Sk 15/16″ deep 6 point socket since they’re close to 24mm. The SAE 15/16″ socket had more clearance!
Sk did exchange some of my “bad” sockets but returned the 24mm socket in the same condition. I really like Sk tools. I own quite a few, but my Snap On sockets are 100X better. I hope Sk gets there act together. The QC department needs to pay closer attention to the finish on all sockets. This is one more reason I buy sockets from Snap On, Wera, Hazet and older Craftsman USA and vintage Wright USA. I used to think all sockets were the same. Upon close inspection.. I see they are not. So I shop carefully now for sockets. I wish I could upload images.
J.L. CARNELL
I purchased an SK set of 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch drives sockets, extensions, and drivers in 1965. It was great, but since stolen in 2016, it is undergoing replacement. Along the way, I added Snap-on and Craftsman. No more craftsman, I have seen lots of broken Oriental tools. Many folks aver that if it has lifetime warranty, no problem. I see broken tools, broken hands. No Oriental tools for me. SK, Snap-on, Armstrong, Williams, Wright, or Proto, period.
EMILIO E GONZALEZ
I understand the whole quality issue with Asian Imports. I always try to buy the best from the USA, Germany, Japan, and other European countries that make quality tools. You will pay a heftier price for these, but your tools will last forever.
For some applications, Asian Imports will work just fine when you need to save money or when a shop has a lot of people and you don’t want pricey tools to walk away. But, keep in mind, I’ve seen QC issues with SK, Snap On and others, but the customer service is usually better. Sadly, more and more US companies are outsourcing their tools. Look at Metabo. Not made in Germany. Wiha is making some tools in Asia.
Chris
I bought 1/2 drive deep SAE and metric and 3/8 drive deep SAE and metric sockets, and most of them were alright but there are also a decent amount of sockets with horrendous chrome finish. Around the drive end and the hex end there are areas where it wasn’t chromed. And there are some spots around the circumference of the socket that looks like the chrome was almost smeared.
And I don’t care for the broaching they used. Lots of excess flashing(?) inside the socket