In our shop, we have zero brand loyalty. Tools aren't held on a pedestal and brands aren't ...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.
- Thread starter Ryan
- Start date
In our shop, we have zero brand loyalty. Tools aren't held on a pedestal and brands aren't ...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Made for a great read, They are rather elusive.
anndel
Well-known member
Thanks for the update. I've been eyeing these at HJ Epsteins for the SAE set. Let us know of any issues after it's gone through the wringer.
shortykorte
Well-known member
Hey somebody gets it. Same tool philosophy I have.
Steinmetz
Well-known member
U.S. Patent Application No. 20150135908A1; assigned to Ideal Industries, Inc.
sicnarf247
Active member
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2015
- Messages
- 44
This is tool *****!
Banjorear
Well-known member
Huh? What do you mean?
These look great. I know what you mean about how a tool feels in the hand. My pops has an old SO ratchet from the 80's. Nothing special, but the length, weight and handle just feel perfect when using it.
I find myself reaching for that one and passing over some of my "fancy pants" ratchets I got in the 'ol box.
I'm going to check them out. Maybe they'll bump out my US-made CM's from years ago.
Being non reversible, you have to be aware your surroundings when using it. Your bolt can only spin one way, and if it backs your wench into an object behind it, your screwed.
Kensgarage
Banned
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2015
- Messages
- 442
It would be interesting to see the "rest of the story" on this. Maybe snopes. If I ran into that I' could find a way to get the bolt back in enough to remove it without cutting the wrench.I'd bet money on it.
James E
Well-known member
They are beautiful and the small swing is a huge benefit, for sure. I wondered how you would reverse a ratcheting wrench with six pawls (c'mon Ryan, you know what a pawl is) and I guess the answer is that you don't.
Also explains why they're not offset.
Personally, I find the ratcheting mechanism to be the fatal flaw of most of these types of wrenches. I have a cheap set of Craftsman and an expensive set of Craftsman ratcheting wrenches and the cheap ones occasionally skip on the pawl or reverse themselves if I am rough with them. I don't trust my knuckles to the cheap set. The expensive ones have been one of my best tool investments and I use them absolutely all the time. They have more teeth than the cheap ones, too. I do wish that they were six point, like the cheap ones.
I think that the fact that these SKs are not reversible and not offset would be a deal killer for me. Not having that angled head decreases their usefulness a great deal (and yes, I understand that angling the heads decreases the strength). I have a set of line wrenches with straight heads and they absolutely ****.
Also explains why they're not offset.
Personally, I find the ratcheting mechanism to be the fatal flaw of most of these types of wrenches. I have a cheap set of Craftsman and an expensive set of Craftsman ratcheting wrenches and the cheap ones occasionally skip on the pawl or reverse themselves if I am rough with them. I don't trust my knuckles to the cheap set. The expensive ones have been one of my best tool investments and I use them absolutely all the time. They have more teeth than the cheap ones, too. I do wish that they were six point, like the cheap ones.
I think that the fact that these SKs are not reversible and not offset would be a deal killer for me. Not having that angled head decreases their usefulness a great deal (and yes, I understand that angling the heads decreases the strength). I have a set of line wrenches with straight heads and they absolutely ****.
LegacyIndustrial
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Thanks for this. My craftsman gear wrenches are scattered about. It's time to start fresh.
countryroad82
Well-known member
I have both angled and straight Gearwrenches. I also have an SAE set of angled Snap On. Both the angled sets are reversable and rarely get used as for me personally I prefer the straight sets that are nonreversable.
Yes I've been a doffus not paying attention and backed bolts out to a position I couldn't get the wrench off. But I didn't cut my wrench to get it off!!! I mean yeah it was tedious but I managed to thumb the bolt back down enough to get the wrench off, it's not the end of the world!!! That's only happened to me a handful of times through the years, to hear some guys talk it's an everyday occurance!
That said I'm going to order both metric and SAEs of the SKs for my service truck. If I like them enough I'm getting some for the shop. Why? I'm really digging the fact they're 6 point.
Yes I've been a doffus not paying attention and backed bolts out to a position I couldn't get the wrench off. But I didn't cut my wrench to get it off!!! I mean yeah it was tedious but I managed to thumb the bolt back down enough to get the wrench off, it's not the end of the world!!! That's only happened to me a handful of times through the years, to hear some guys talk it's an everyday occurance!
That said I'm going to order both metric and SAEs of the SKs for my service truck. If I like them enough I'm getting some for the shop. Why? I'm really digging the fact they're 6 point.
Not sure if trolling or serious ?
You pliers are thinner than the head so you can spin the bolt back by grabbing the threads at least.
Getting stuck only happened to me with air ratchets if you didn't think and press the lever too quick.
You pliers are thinner than the head so you can spin the bolt back by grabbing the threads at least.
Getting stuck only happened to me with air ratchets if you didn't think and press the lever too quick.
TNToy
Well-known member
Don't worry. Someone got the joke... because I've done that once, too
(Your reply made me laugh out loud. Actually. Literally.)
Those tools are pretty nice, but the Flatty is what's causing my discomfort!
Not sure what story you're looking to see, and have no idea what "snopes" is.
A flanged head bolt backed out to the point where you cant get the wrench off would likely ruin your day. While its a very low probability, there are instances where it happens.
3dd13
Active member
Never experienced this myself, but I can visualize it...
thegroundpounder99
Well-known member
Not being reversible kind of kills it for me
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Don't worry. Someone got the joke... because I've done that once, too
(Your reply made me laugh out loud. Actually. Literally.)
Glad i could be of some assistance
I've done it more times than i can count. Mostly because i work on big block muscle cars with aftermarket parts. Everything is in there TIGHT. The first time i did it with a reversible ratcheting wrench, i gave away my non-reversible wrenches. Not to mention i'm not a fan of 0 offset wrenches. I don't even use shallow sockets that often because i don't like my knuckles dragging on everything.
They sure do look pretty though.
Banjorear
Well-known member
Ah, yes. Got it now. Didn't think of that.
vette66bob
Well-known member
I came across this supplier offering a low price. I have not used them and do not know there reputation.
http://www.stockwiseauto.com/product_info.php/products_id/2117237
http://www.stockwiseauto.com/product_info.php/products_id/2117237
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Finally after seeing these wrenches at the 2014 SEMA show, SK called me a couple of days ago saying they're shipping my Metric X Frame set to me next week. 
dkroth
Well-known member
Right here on Garage Journal:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=66730
And Google quickly reveals:
http://www.newcelica.org/forums/showthread.php?t=359240
JonDick13926
Well-known member
Cut the bolt.
TNToy
Well-known member
The first line I quoted explains the second.
Zero offset wrenches, I believe, were given directly to us by Jesus himself when he witnessed the plight of the dealership technician who works on vehicles with the engine slapped into them sideways.
Take that timing cover you're used to wrenching on right up front behind the radiator, and turn it 90 degrees and mount it 1.75 inches from the passengers side strut tower. Zero offset ratcheting wrenches (preferably in a loooooong pattern) become your very best friends.
lol don't need snopes, it happens
anndel
Well-known member
Happened to me, duh! I was removing a shield that was rubbing on the exhaust header and started backing out the bolt but then realized it's non-reversible and couldn't remove the wrench and/or bolt. I drove around a week with the wrench hanging but finally cut the bolt with a hacksaw. I just received a Snap On set which are reversible but DUH and double DUH!
Serves me right for rushing because I wanted to get it done quickly to watch a football game with my son.
BioNerd
Well-known member
i ordered a set a few days ago. exited to get them.
countryroad82
Well-known member
You and me think alike! I feel I can get 0 offset in more places than regular offset due to the fact offset wrenches wind up hitting something else when properly positioned on a bolt head.
I would like a set of these! The metric AND SAE sets. Just gotta' figure out how to pay for them...twertsy
Well-known member
Um, not really getting this, unless the head is flanged? Why not just slide it onto the bolt shaft and use another wrench to retighten until you can remove it?? Maybe I'm just dumb....
James E
Well-known member
I don't wrench for a living but I need an offset wrench about 99 times for every time I need a straight wrench. I could probably use a straight wrench about half the time but I prefer an offset since it gives me room for my fat fingers. Especially since I mangled my right index finger and can only curl it a few degrees. It sticks out and hits whatever I'm working on.
Glad i could be of some assistance
I've done it more times than i can count. Mostly because i work on big block muscle cars with aftermarket parts. Everything is in there TIGHT. The first time i did it with a reversible ratcheting wrench, i gave away my non-reversible wrenches. Not to mention i'm not a fan of 0 offset wrenches. I don't even use shallow sockets that often because i don't like my knuckles dragging on everything.
They sure do look pretty though.
I work on the same stuff and have done this quite a few times with my non-reversible Gearwrench set. Fortunately only did this 1 time with a flanged head bolt, and had to break out the sawzall
(cut the bolt, not the ratchet LOL)The 0* offset is nice for some tasks. I like having both. 99% of the time I use my SO FD+ ratchet wrenches with 15* offset, though. If they had these in 12pt I'd pick up a set for my main box, to replace my Gearwrench set. I work with ARP bolts far too often that have 12pt heads.
saceone
Well-known member
always loved your reviews. to the point, raw and honest.
-->
Well-known member
They look good, but I think i'll wait for the reversible ones.