Eklind Is Closing Its IL Plant

[CHI_Tool&Die]

Eklind filed a WARN to close its HQ production facility in Franklin Park which is just outside of Chicago. As an Illinois resident and a dude in manufacturing I can say this *****. I know Eklind wasn’t the best but they were still decent hex keys at a really good price. It’s just Bondhus now for US-made hex keys as far as I know. It’s going to be interesting to see who sources from who once Eklind is gone. I like Bondhus but their QC has kinda sucked since Covid.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

Seems they only have one plant, so that's it for them as a proper toolmaker?

 

[NoahG]

That really really *****.

 

[cody1325]

Looking at my hex key drawer--I think only one isn't Eklind--and there's like 20 in there between what me and my Granddad acquired over the years.

In fact, a small set was one of the first tools I bought with my own money as a kid.

 

[finn]

Looking at my hex key drawer--I think only one isn't Eklind--and there's like 20 in there between what me and my Granddad acquired over the years.

In fact, a small set was one of the first tools I bought with my own money as a kid.

That’s part of the problem: Nobody buys hex keys anymore.

The imported HF and box store brands, while perhaps not of the highest quality, are still good enough for 99% of the people that buy them, and they’re inexpensive.

 

[ecotec]

This is a bummer. I use Eklind Allen keys almost every day.

The majority of my Allen/Torx key drawer is Eklind.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

Seems they only have one plant, so that's it for them as a proper toolmaker?

Yeah, it’s just the one location as far as I know. So with the closing I am assuming they are officially done.

Looking at my hex key drawer--I think only one isn't Eklind--and there's like 20 in there between what me and my Granddad acquired over the years.

In fact, a small set was one of the first tools I bought with my own money as a kid.

This is a bummer. I use Eklind Allen keys almost every day.

The majority of my Allen/Torx key drawer is Eklind.

My first hex key set as an apprentice were Eklinds. I still have them and a some long and standard bright finish sets at the house. I’m really bummed about this news.

 

[ecotec]

Yeah, it’s just the one location as far as I know. So with the closing I am assuming they are officially done.


My first hex key set as an apprentice were Eklinds. I still have them and a some long and standard bright finish sets at the house. I’m really bummed about this news.

I can imagine, as a Chicago resident, this would hit you where you live.

Even if they are not “done”, they would probably rebrand Allen keys from other countries and lower their overhead, infrastructure and logistics to very little.

 

[southalabama]

Unfortunately if they die the brand name will be sold overseas like Chinese made S&K just doesn’t seem right but that’s the way it is.

 

[RoninB4]

-Interesting news. Howard Eklind has probably been dead a few years and the people he hired in while I was there (Earl C. for one) didn't have (IMO) the interest or capability for manufacturing. The one co-worker I'd feel bad for has likely retired a few years ago and hope (Ron) is doing well. The huge sum of cash paid for the machinery that makes the ball ends is 30 years old and has likely been slap worn out for some time now if it survived the catastrophic crashes I was told about (with more likely in the ensuing years). I should probably feel some disappointment for the death of another American manufacturing entity but my past involvement with them leaves me thinking "They had it coming when they wouldn't listen to me". Sour grapes? No not really, I just feel that American businesses are too often run by short-sighted incompetents and this is what happens. They had it by the short hairs and still effed up the business? I can't shed a tear for them, they set on this course some time ago.

Edited: for partial thoughts

 

[L.Cheapo]

-Interesting news. Howard Eklind has probably been dead a few years and the people he hired in while I was there (Earl C. for one) didn't have (IMO) the interest or capability for manufacturing. The one co-worker I'd feel bad for has likely retired a few years ago and hope (Ron) is doing well. The huge sum of cash paid for making the ball ends is 30 years old and has likely been slap worn out for some time now if it survived the catastrophic crashes I was told about (with more likely in the ensuing years). I should probably feel some disappointment for the death of another American manufacturing entity but my past involvement with them leaves me thinking "They had it coming when they wouldn't listen to me". Sour grapes? No not really, I just feel that American businesses are too often run by short-sighted incompetents and this is what happens. They had it by the short hairs and still effed up the business? I can't shed a tear for them, they set on this course some time ago.

I feel bad that 100+ Americans lost their jobs, most of which probably had nothing to do with the downfall of the company.

 

[willf650]

Well that kinda *****. About 3/4 of my hex key sets are either Eklind or rebranded Eklinds from Klein and others.

 

[zendriver]

-Interesting news. Howard Eklind has probably been dead a few years and the people he hired in while I was there (Earl C. for one) didn't have (IMO) the interest or capability for manufacturing. The one co-worker I'd feel bad for has likely retired a few years ago and hope (Ron) is doing well. The huge sum of cash paid for making the ball ends is 30 years old and has likely been slap worn out for some time now if it survived the catastrophic crashes I was told about (with more likely in the ensuing years). I should probably feel some disappointment for the death of another American manufacturing entity but my past involvement with them leaves me thinking "They had it coming when they wouldn't listen to me". Sour grapes? No not really, I just feel that American businesses are too often run by short-sighted incompetents and this is what happens. They had it by the short hairs and still effed up the business? I can't shed a tear for them, they set on this course some time ago.

Always bad management. What would they have done different that would keep them successful today?

At one time, America had a gigantic manufacturing base, that all used hex keys, to fix or build something - gone! The weekend duffers grab the ones from HF.

Where is (was) their market?

 

[turbowoodworker]

You sure they aren't relocating to Austin?

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

You sure they aren't relocating to Austin?

What’s in Texas related to Eklind?

 

[Firebrick43]

Always bad management. What would they have done different that would keep them successful today?

Make keys that were worth a ****.

CNC machines have 95% of their fasteners that are Allen/hex. While we had hex bits/sockets probably 1/2 the time it was a L key in our hands due to space constraints or small fixes that we didn’t want to drag our full size boxes out. For at least the last 10 years they were horrible for durability. Corners round off quickly.

Bondhus would last 4 or 5 times longer as would wera or wiha

At one time, America had a gigantic manufacturing base, that all used hex keys, to fix or build something - gone! The weekend duffers grab the ones from HF.

Where is (was) their market?

Bondhus is still in the USA

 

[turbowoodworker]

What’s in Texas related to Eklind?

It seems every company from CA to NJ and NY are looking to relocate to Austin.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Well that kinda *****. About 3/4 of my hex key sets are either Eklind or rebranded Eklinds from Klein and others.

Most of mine Eklind as well. Generally they would be the first to reach for if I needed another set.

Maybe time to reach for a back up set while still in stock.

 

[Wamsutta]

I like their spring loaded T-handles ( for lack of a better term ) so that I don't over-torque stuff.

 

[Zewnten]

Mediocre tool company shutting down oh well. But as someone else said I hope the employees will find as good or better jobs soon unless they get severance or training packages and management doesn't walk away with golden parachutes while employees are kicked to the curb.

 

[Schurkey]

I just feel that American businesses are too often run by short-sighted incompetents and this is what happens. They had it by the short hairs and still effed up the business? I can't shed a tear for them, they set on this course some time ago.

My cousin--50 years ago--was known to say "It's amazing we won the War!" meaning WWII. I believe that things are much worse now than fifty years ago.

If you guys knew how City Buses were built, you'd never get on one, and you'd run when one was coming at you. There was a time when I understood "Hand Made" to mean "true craftsmanship". Now I know that it means "the folks building the subassemblies are incompetent, and now we have to die-grind everything to make it fit." It's as if it was 1900 and interchangeable parts hadn't been popularized yet.

 

[Ohio Andy]

I'm curious all you hex key users, what do you grab first?

An L, fold out set of keys , regular screwdriver shape, T shape, or bits?

For portability (like a set to carry on a bicycle ) I'll probably grab fold out set of keys. If portability is my concern more often than not. If I'm around my tools, I probably just grab a screwdriver shape. I have a couple T handle sizes when I know I'm going to want more torque.

That said, if I'm pulling tools to the work and I don't really know I'm going to need. I grab one of those big bit sets I put together that has ball hacks and regular hacks and then a couple adapters and allowed. We can get links and then I can throw it in either one of my ratcheting screwdrivers or use a battery powered driver.

I think almost all of my hex drivers that are not bits are bondhus.

Sorry to see them close though

 

[Firebrick43]

I'm curious all you hex key users, what do you grab first?

An L, fold out set of keys , regular screwdriver shape, T shape, or bits?

Panels I usually use 1/4 bits in a M12 fuel driver. Most of the actually components in a machine its almost all L keys with a L Key cheater.. If I am rebuilding a component back in the shop I may pull out the T handles.

Absolutely never will I use a fold out set of keys, terrible things.

 

[RoninB4]

Always bad management. What would they have done different that would keep them successful today?

-The rolling eyes suggest your management potential.

Where is (was) their market?

-What was important 30 years ago was catalog sales. I've not been informed about what they've been focused on for the last 30 years.

 

[RoninB4]

Make keys that were worth a ****.

-Am inclined to agree. Much like a high profile restaurant that dishes up mediocre food, they failed in the first priority.

Corners round off quickly.

-That may very well have been because of a further lowering of hardness (Rc scale) that I've posted about previously. The shiny appearance of some of the products I've recently seen may also indicate a change of material and/or heat treating. Eklind may even have been out-maneuvered in the material supply chain (previous posting about this too) and forced to use a lesser steel. Rounding of corners would prompt me to select a different maker in future purchases.

Bondhus would last 4 or 5 times longer as would wera or wiha

-When your competitor outperforms your product you're already losing the race. Lowering the hardness for fear of product liability (1995 incident) doesn't seem to have affected Bondhus.

Bondhus is still in the USA

-I wish them well.

 

[Firebrick43]

-When your competitor outperforms your product you're already losing the race. Lowering the hardness for fear of product liability (1995 incident) doesn't seem to have affected Bondhus.

I didn't realize that there was an "event" that had a profound change to the L key manufactures? I have always been impressed in bondhus steel. We didn't treat them kindly. A lot of operators would loose the small L keys out of the sets and would get another set out of the crib so they would have sometimes several 5/16 or 3/8 unused keys in their listas. I would cut the L off with an abrasive wet saw and hard turn in the super precision to starter punches. One large reoccurring job involved removing (144) 1/8" roll pins to change out bearings on a rollers for a large pallet. The would buy a dozen mayhew pro punches for the job because we would break that many (or more) removing the pins. Most were broke just getting the pins to break free from mild rust. My shop made bondhus starter punch could make it through the whole job or sometimes I would break one.

10 or 15 years ago I remember reading the Sales sheet PDF for a 350 ton mining truck. One bullet point was talking up safety features as it had a 2" thick steel floor in the Cab to protect the driver from tire blowouts.

I said to the guy next to me, "Can you imagine the guy that found out 1" of steel couldn't handle a tire blowout?" completely unaware that my coworker was aware of the accident, even knowing the mine where the accident happened, that brought about the redesign.

I was horrified as he rattled off the details.

 

[ecotec]

I'm curious all you hex key users, what do you grab first?

An L, fold out set of keys , regular screwdriver shape, T shape, or bits?

For portability (like a set to carry on a bicycle ) I'll probably grab fold out set of keys. If portability is my concern more often than not. If I'm around my tools, I probably just grab a screwdriver shape. I have a couple T handle sizes when I know I'm going to want more torque.

That said, if I'm pulling tools to the work and I don't really know I'm going to need. I grab one of those big bit sets I put together that has ball hacks and regular hacks and then a couple adapters and allowed. We can get links and then I can throw it in either one of my ratcheting screwdrivers or use a battery powered driver.

I think almost all of my hex drivers that are not bits are bondhus.

Sorry to see them close though

Probably a set of L keys first, so I have every option. After I know what’s up, I will use a ratchet and bit sockets or t-handles.

I have folding sets, and I used to keep them in my work box… but, too many times they were too short or too bulky for a given situation.

For the factory that I am working on right now, I bring Eklind Metric and SAE L-key sets, a Eklind 4mm T- handle and Wright 4 and 5mm bit sockets.

 

[JeepYJ]

Much more difficult to move manufacturing than headquarters though.

Part of the decision making to move HQ to other locations is the ability to recruit new employees. How many people, especially young people fresh out of college with a myriad of opportunities and no baggage, wants to move to Peoria, IL to work for CAT when there are similar jobs in coastal cities or warm southern states?

 

[3baygarage]

The folding sets used to be everywhere and resold easily when I would take them to the flea market.

I don't know where or how they were sold in recent years.

Sad news to hear.

 

[zendriver]

-

-What was important 30 years ago was catalog sales. I've not been informed about what they've been focused on for the last 30 years.

I haven’t been informed either, but since they are out of business, I’ll tos out a couple of guesses

Diminished domestic demand and increased foreign competition is probably a good start
.

 

[RoninB4]

I didn't realize that there was an "event" that had a profound change to the L key manufactures?

-The incident I mentioned was just at Eklind and I've previously posted about it a few times. I have no idea if this happened to other makers but since they're out of country I doubt they had to deal with lawyers talking product liability lawsuits. My comments about this were largely regarding the heat treating process.

I have always been impressed in bondhus steel.

-I had no more complaints about the products from Bondhus than anybody else.

They would buy a dozen mayhew pro punches for the job because we would break that many (or more) removing the pins. Most were broke just getting the pins to break free from mild rust.

-Did you ever subject any to hardness testing for Rc numbers? A steel from the "S" group should have been used IMO.

My shop made bondhus starter punch could make it through the whole job or sometimes I would break one.

-Likely it was softer than the Mayhew punch material. That's speculation on my part.

 

[RoninB4]

No Doubt Cadillac sales with the ticket

-?

I haven’t been informed either, but since they are out of business, I’ll tos out a couple of guesses

Diminished domestic demand and increased foreign competition is probably a good start
.

-Well I guess your insightful commentary has answered your own questions in your previous post.

 

[NoahG]

I feel like I’m in a minority here, but I love folding sets. Impossible for a technician to lose a single key, or a shop handle to hoard all of one size.

My favorites are the Bondhus design, with keys on both sides, saves time not having to fold out the larger sizes to get to the smaller ones. Also bondhus has the brilliant split MM/SAE version, which is amazing for dealing with all the tiny grub nuts on shop tools and av equipment.

In order of use, I’d say I go:
- folding sets,
- 1/4” insert bits (in driver handles and bit ratchets)
- T handles
- Sockets (usually the long style one)
- Finally, L keys, only when nothing else fits.

 

[Ohio Andy]

I feel like I’m in a minority here, but I love folding sets. Impossible for a technician to lose a single key, or a shop handle to hoard all of one size.

I'm fond of them when I don't know the actual size. It's pretty quick for me to check even faster than the L keys in the plastic holders. Or I can flip them out and check them.

My favorites are the Bondhus design, with keys on both sides, saves time not having to fold out the larger sizes to get to the smaller ones. Also bondhus has the brilliant split MM/SAE version, which is amazing for dealing with all the tiny grub nuts on shop tools and av equipment.

Klein has one like that as well

I almost bought the combination metric/sae, but to get them all in it was limited to the smaller sizes only and a lot of times I'm working right on the edge of that.

In order of use, I’d say I go:
- folding sets,
- 1/4” insert bits (in driver handles and bit ratchets)
- T handles
- Sockets (usually the long style one)
- Finally, L keys, only when nothing else fits.

I really like the T-handles, but I feel like I'm often using them in places or the tee handle gets in the way... Which is why I so often use the The standard screwdriver style. To be fair, I have those with a ball and so then I can even come in a bit from an angle

 

[Firebrick43]

-Did you ever subject any to hardness testing for Rc numbers? A steel from the "S" group should have been used IMO.

It was S2 steel and I did test them but it’s been it’s been long enough I don’t remember the Rockwell number now

-Likely it was softer than the Mayhew punch material. That's speculation on my part.

I did not test any mayhew punches so

Interestingly I have never had do dress one of the larger ones like I have had to do on the striking end of mayhews, not that mayhew is bad, they have been excellent compared to other many other brands.

 

[KnurledNut]

Eklind has long been a widely-stocked brick and mortar item, made in America, and sold at a very affordable price.

Maybe Snap-on will start manufacturing the tools they were sourcing from Eklind.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Eklind has long been a widely-stocked brick and mortar item, made in America, and sold at a very affordable price.

Maybe Snap-on will start manufacturing the tools they were sourcing from Eklind.

My guess is Eklind customers will migrate to Bondhus. Quality, US made, reasonably priced tools

 

[Ohio Andy]

If you are looking for a replacement foldable set, see the size difference between Klein and bondhus. Klein has more sizes and are longer.

 

[Zewnten]

Eklind has long been a widely-stocked brick and mortar item, made in America, and sold at a very affordable price.

Maybe Snap-on will start manufacturing the tools they were sourcing from Eklind.

What did snap on source from elkind?

 

[Hakeem]

I'm curious all you hex key users, what do you grab first?

An L, fold out set of keys , regular screwdriver shape, T shape, or bits?

For portability (like a set to carry on a bicycle ) I'll probably grab fold out set of keys. If portability is my concern more often than not. If I'm around my tools, I probably just grab a screwdriver shape. I have a couple T handle sizes when I know I'm going to want more torque.

That said, if I'm pulling tools to the work and I don't really know I'm going to need. I grab one of those big bit sets I put together that has ball hacks and regular hacks and then a couple adapters and allowed. We can get links and then I can throw it in either one of my ratcheting screwdrivers or use a battery powered driver.

I think almost all of my hex drivers that are not bits are bondhus.

Sorry to see them close though

For handyman type stuff, the fold out sets are great as they don’t get lost and access usually isn’t an issue.

For mechanical stuff, I’ll take SAE & metric sets to the fastener and see which fits best. Once I know the size, I usually switch to a bit socket + ratchet. L keys get the job done but I don’t really like using them for some strange reason