Northern Tool

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Originally Posted By: tomcat27
in a recent breakage test where we sacrificed numerous sockets... (mostly craftsman...) we determined that Blackhawk sockets are much stronger than Craftsman sockets.

Any publishable test or was this a "This bolt is really tight. Let's see who's socket can take it off without breaking." Blackhawk is Stanly Proto and like so many the other brands what they make today may be better than what they outsource tomorrow.

The tool set has a Easco/Danaher logo with it. Unfortunately Danaher does have tools produced outside the USA. The fuzzy images of wrenches and the plating on the sockets look Taiwan to me. That doesn't make them bad unless you are intent on buying from a specific country of origin.
 
Willix,

Just how did SK "cost you time"? You made a ridiculous statement about them and I am curious just how many SK tools you have bought in the past 2 years. SK's hard line tools are MADE IN THE USA and are one of the few that still do make tools here. They are not owned by Facom and they are better than Craftsman for the most part (SK does make some tools for them) and while they might not be up to Snap-on standards, they offer a good value for the money and are better than all but a handful of Asian tools.

Northern Tools does sell Chinese tools but the last time I checked, Bondhus allen and torx wrenches, Channellock pliers, Vaughn hammers, Enderes punches and chisels, Klein screwdrivers, Pratt-Read screwdrivers, Allen hex bits and sockets, SK ratchets, sockets, wrenches and screwdrivers and Irwin bolt removers are ALL made in the USA. They also carry Hobart welders, Milton air line fittings, Quincy compressors and a host of other American made products.

I don’t work for Northern Tools but I do shop there. They try to offer a good value for the money and carry Asian, European and USA tools.
 
I was very positve about the beautiful chrome on that box wrench set. S-K is poor/bad quality, New box end, broke on the first turn. Thats it. I can't think of any reason I would ever need any of there products. The same goes for craftsman. I have not dissed Northern tool in any way. I am well aware of the products northern carries. S-K is garbage. S-K is a poor choice. Really nice chrome if it doesn't peel off. This is my opinion.
 
I must agree on some of the SK points. Saw a 1/4 drive ratchet at sears labeled SK, it was 59.96. Also, with their distribution in disarray, one must assume that it might be hard to return a SK tool in 6 months if it breaks. I live in Springfield MO and SK is almost like a Packard, you remember them but don't know what happened to them. If one could adjust their prices, and really get a good open channel of distributors, you might have a good alternative to Snap On. I bought a 72 tooth SK ratchet set at oreilly's some time back, ratchet broke 2 time I used it. Took it back to Oreilly, they didn't have a 72 tooth replacement, exchanged it for a 40 tooth replacement. Ratchet was so loose, I gave it away.
SK is not the high quality brand some think it is. Bought a 82 piece Stanely set at Walmart after Christmas, set was sale for 25 bucks! Now thats a deal.
 
Originally Posted By: willix
I was very positve about the beautiful chrome on that box wrench set. S-K is poor/bad quality, New box end, broke on the first turn. Thats it. I can't think of any reason I would ever need any of there products. The same goes for craftsman. I have not dissed Northern tool in any way. I am well aware of the products northern carries. S-K is garbage. S-K is a poor choice. Really nice chrome if it doesn't peel off. This is my opinion.


Well your last sentence sums it all up, and we can take it as such!
 
If what you say about the current SK lineup is accurate, then it's very troubling. Through the years SK was every bit as good as Snap On and sometimes better.

With no retailers, no distributers, no truck sales, warrantee replacement fees, union squabbles, diminishing hand tool demand and quality control problems they can't possibly survive. It's too bad.
 
They don't charge warranty replacement fees if you go through a local dealer. They do have local retailers/distributors although that number has decreased recently.
 
Originally Posted By: benjamming
They don't charge warranty replacement fees if you go through a local dealer. They do have local retailers/distributors although that number has decreased recently.


I can't think of any local SK retailers. They used to be stocked at auto parts stores but the big ones like AZ, Schucks, NAPA, etc have all gone to other brands.

The industrial distributers don't carry SK nor do the home centers like Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware.

I would not have a clue as to how to track down a SK tool in a B&M store.
 
Originally Posted By: davefr
Originally Posted By: benjamming
They don't charge warranty replacement fees if you go through a local dealer. They do have local retailers/distributors although that number has decreased recently.


I can't think of any local SK retailers. They used to be stocked at auto parts stores but the big ones like AZ, Schucks, NAPA, etc have all gone to other brands.

The industrial distributers don't carry SK nor do the home centers like Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware.

I would not have a clue as to how to track down a SK tool in a B&M store.


Its really not to difficult to find SK tools. Just did a google search for "S&K tools" and found all sorts of venders with the # 1 being Sears. I realize you don't like SK but then again as I said it not hard to find where to buy them.
 
Originally Posted By: jcwit
I realize you don't like SK but then again as I said it not hard to find where to buy them.


No, that's not me. I love my SK tools!! However I bought most of them when SK was part of Wayne and then Dresser. I haven't had the ocassion to buy many SK tools from the Facom or post Facom era.
 
I believe he's referring to Brick and Mortar - so, a regular retail store as opposed to online.
 
Oh! See what happens when you get old and you don't know all that "COOL" talk. I thought it might some chain store they had on the west coast.
 
Does anybody know if reviews on Northern Tools websites are rigged? Many of their power tools are being rated very highly by their users.

- Vikas
 
Originally Posted By: jcwit
The only problem I see with Craftsman (and I like craftsman) is they are part of Sears which is part of K-Mart and both are shakey and together they aren't any better. According to some finicial whizzes they are one of the companies that will go away. To bad really, but it seems to be whats happening with our economy.


I hope SEARS doesn't go under. Life time warranty on all my tools is kaput!
 
Forbes magazine discussed that a year or 2 ago. They suggested the Craftsman name is a valuable asset somebody would buy up. Lowes has put a lot into Kolbalt. That leaves HD and Menards. Even WM is moving upscale.
 
Home Depot has Husky. Menards was supplying Allen but seems to want to push this brand off the shelves. Menards is not nationwide.

Sears isn't the only place that sells Craftsman. Fastenal sells it and honors the warranty. The loss of Sears could boost Fastenal popularity.
 
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