I finally got my ratchet kits from S-K. Well over a year and a half and many phone calls. If you want to send a tool back for warranty they charge $5.00 per item.I have seen Craftsman hand tools made in Asia for awhile now. Snap On makes Kobalt tools at Lowe's and most of the Blue Point is made in Taiwan.You really need to look at the labels to find out where it's made.
True enough, there have been Craftsman branded tools made in China for quite some time now. The basic line of raised panel ratchets have not. That is a new development and was kind of what I meant to show. The Made In China mark on the Slim Profile ratchets is new too. I had hoped they would keep at least a few things made in USA.
SK had been in a 'transitional' period for quite a while now and just recently got things settled and back underway. Maybe the trouble you had was related to that?
July 2011 Article about SK:
SK Tools begins first shipments from new facilities
by slake on July 6th, 2011
Professional Distributor Magazine
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
The tools — many manufactured using original dies from now-shuttered SK Hand Tool plants in Chicago and Ohio — are being produced in a newly-built, state-of-the-art headquarters in Sycamore, IL, and in Colorado Springs, CO.
“SK is an iconic American brand that we are proud to continue manufacturing in the United States,” said Doug Spitler, Vice President/General Manager of SK Hand Tool. LLC. “We’re excited to show mechanics the SK brand is alive and well, and in fact, better than ever.”
IDEAL has fully leveraged its considerable resources into assuring the success of its SK acquisition. Along with building a new 130,000-square foot facility in Sycamore, it has invested in technically advanced metalworking, and CNC machinery to guarantee superior tool quality, and has refurbished essential equipment salvaged from SK plants. Modern management practices, such as small batch and one piece flow manufacturing, are being applied, resulting in world-class quality and on-time shipping capabilities to SK dealers and distributors, and ultimately, greater end-user satisfaction.
SK Hand Tool, LLC, as the company is now known, will manufacture the full line of SK brand tools that professional mechanics continue to demand. Mechanics can continue to expect the superior corrosion resistance of the SuperKrome finish, the excellent grip and torque of the SureGrip screwdrivers and the quality and variety of the SupetSet™ socket sets.
For more information, phone (800) 825-5575. On the web visit the newly launched
www.skhandtool.com.
