Why does SK struggle w the concept of wrench length?

Ign · Oct 25, 2018

I recently got SK set 86041 "long pattern" metrics.

I was quickly reminded of my other SuperKrome wrenches (which were never much to write home about) and how SK runs short.

In the pic are US Craftsman RP's against the "long" SK's

Note to self: long pattern SK = pretty much normal for everyone else.

bimmer630 · Oct 25, 2018

[emoji23][emoji23]
This is true isn’t it

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bimmer630 · Oct 25, 2018

I got rid of my standard length sk wrenches years ago because the open ends would slip easily. I still have some sk in 21-24mm sizes but I’m not a fan of their smaller wrenches

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Ign · Oct 25, 2018

OTOH here's a long 13mm which is legit IMO. Remember, this is a 13mm so MUCH less torque generally required and the SK long here truly is plenty long - almost surely enough for a strong guy to break any fastener using a 13mm hex head.

Ign · Oct 25, 2018

bimmer630 said:
I got rid of my standard length sk wrenches years ago because the open ends would slip easily. I still have some sk in 21-24mm sizes but I’m not a fan of their smaller wrenches

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The wrenches are beautiful and proudly stamped USA but they need to produce some **** we can be proud of as Americans. Chrome don't get ya home.

bimmer630 · Oct 25, 2018

bimmer630 said:
[emoji23][emoji23]
This is true isn’t it

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I bought 21,22,24 mm sk wrenches years ago thinking they were “normal” lengths, but this 88521 comes up on their page as “long pattern”
Shown next to my “short pattern” 21mm, and a normal length snapon 19mm

Strange indeed

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sweet victory · Oct 25, 2018

bimmer630 said:
I got rid of my standard length sk wrenches years ago because the open ends would slip easily. I still have some sk in 21-24mm sizes but I’m not a fan of their smaller wrenches

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I share the same experience as you. Really not a fan of SK's wrenches after owning the 6-22mm long patterns. They were brand new and rounded off a few smaller fasteners using the open end. Switched to flank drive plus wrenches and absolutely love them. I also have Wright sure grips at work which have been great!

Rickster · Oct 25, 2018

Their deep sockets 3/8 thru 5/8 are like mid length sockets too.

davethorik · Oct 25, 2018

They don't struggle, just their way.

They do struggle with bringing new products to market, however.

Andres26tnt · Oct 25, 2018

davethorik said:
They don't struggle, just their way.

They do struggle with bringing new products to market, however.

totally agree, lets see no LP90 1/2, 1/4, flex heads and bent handles. The x frame wrenches also only come in one flavor, and no flank drive/max drive whatever you want to call it. Not bashing SK they just don't have variety so you are forced to look elsewhere.

bob15 · Oct 25, 2018

No issue with their "long" wrenches. Why must it be the longest out there? Actually, super long wrenches can be a PIA as well. All depends on what you are working on......

WWheeler · Oct 25, 2018

I've never had one of their 'long pattern' but their regular length does run shorter than any other I have. Just a little shorter than a Craftsman RP. The shorter length can come in handy sometimes, but I generally prefer to use the longest wrench i can get away with.

dan360 · Oct 25, 2018

SK's wrench length is based off an ISO standard that was written sometime ago IIRC. There is also an ANSI standard regarding wrench lengths to 'provide configuration control for tool storage applications."

Spacey_G · Oct 25, 2018

I have the SK long pattern and Craftsman RP metric sets too. The difference in length is more significant through 19mm than with the larger sizes shown in the OP. The 13mm pictured later is more representative.

The only length-related issue I see in SK's wrench lineup is that, imo, the least desirable of the three is presented as the standard length.

Wamsutta · Oct 25, 2018

That's how they save money and make a profit ... by short changing you on length.

When you're ready to step up to real wrenches, let me know; I can provide the part numbers.

bimmer630 · Oct 25, 2018

Wamsutta said:
That's how they save money and make a profit ... by short changing you on length.

When you're ready to step up to real wrenches, let me know; I can provide the part numbers.

You’re Wright about that...

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xin · Oct 25, 2018

Ign said:
I recently got SK set 86041 "long pattern" metrics.

I was quickly reminded of my other SuperKrome wrenches (which were never much to write home about) and how SK runs short.

In the pic are US Craftsman RP's against the "long" SK's

Note to self: long pattern SK = pretty much normal for everyone else.

Bought the LONG Pattern 7mm-19mm SK Metric Long time ago, along with their 1/4 and 3/8 chrome sockets/ratchets.

Them wrenches are nearly 25 years old and still in great shape and they have been used a LOT.

jeepinerdeep · Oct 25, 2018

Had a set 6-24 or something like that I gave to a new coworker for just that reason ( they were company owned tools )

bimmer630 · Oct 25, 2018

ecotec said:
When did Wright make long patern wrenches?

I have no clue, I just like word play

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bimmer630 · Oct 25, 2018

ecotec said:
Okay. You picked the one company that does make wrenches, but does not make long patern ones...

So my humor isn’t Wright

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anndel · Oct 26, 2018

Maybe SK is run by Hobbits?

sk farmer · Oct 26, 2018

i really don't get you guys. sk makes three lengths of wrench when many brands make only one. every spec is available online. for comparison before you buy.

fail to do your homework and then blame sk for it. makes no sense to me.

i find it very beneficial to have a variety of lengths and brands as every brand has a slightly different bend, angle or length to them and some time times of them may be just what is needed to fit in the space. any of you who actually use a tool will know this rather than just bitching about one feature that doesn't meet their narrow definition.

i have sk, sk made craftsman, bonney, matco, mac snap-on, wright and a half dozen other quality brands. i have no problem using any of them that fit the situation at hand. some are slightly better and some are slightly worse but none of them have any special, magic pixie dust that makes them vastly better. anyone who tells you otherwise is more than likely injecting opinion over fact.

Sloper0204 · Oct 26, 2018

sk farmer said:
some are slightly better and some are slightly worse but none of them have any special, magic pixie dust that makes them vastly better. anyone who tells you otherwise is more than likely injecting opinion over fact.

That is my opinion as well. :beer:

cliftonbros89 · Oct 26, 2018

I’ve never had a problem with SK wrenches. But I also haven’t been that much in need of a “long pattern” wrench necessarily. There’s only a few times I’ve needed an actual long wrench and I bought a wrench just for those specific instances.

I get why someone might be aggravated if they’re advertised as “long” but for SK that is long. As it’s seen obviously in this thread and many others a “standard” length isn’t actually a specific length. I have several brands of wrenches and the lengths all vary. I’ve just always checked one sizes of things before I’ve bought them. That’s the good thing about tool catalogs. A lot of them with give you specs on the tools.

highland512 · Oct 26, 2018

sk farmer said:
some are slightly better and some are slightly worse but none of them have any special, magic pixie dust that makes them vastly better. anyone who tells you otherwise is more than likely injecting opinion over fact.

I thought the Snap-On truck sold magic pixie dust :bounce:

Why are some guys always so concerned about the length of things?

sweet victory · Oct 26, 2018

ecotec said:
Has anyone compared SK long patern wrenches to Snap-on regular wrenches?

Yes. I've owned both at the same time. The SK long patterns are roughly the same length as a normal Snap On wrench. I much prefer the Flank Drive Plus Open end. I also have an SAE Wight Sure Grip set at work. Those are also excellent wrenches. The Wrights are also far better and I would say are on par with the Snap On's. When I find myself needing something longer, I'll switch to a SO high performance zero offset wrench.

bimmer630 · Oct 26, 2018

bimmer630 said:
I bought 21,22,24 mm sk wrenches years ago thinking they were “normal” lengths, but this 88521 comes up on their page as “long pattern”
Shown next to my “short pattern” 21mm, and a normal length snapon 19mm

Strange indeed

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ecotec said:
Has anyone compared SK long patern wrenches to Snap-on regular wrenches?

I sort of did, earlier in the thread

Spacey_G · Oct 26, 2018

So is the takeaway here that SK makes combo wrenches whose lengths are on par with other quality brands, but they also make shorter lengths and sometimes people get burned by the naming convention?

BDT/NWMN · Oct 26, 2018

WWheeler said:
I've never had one of their 'long pattern' but their regular length does run shorter than any other I have. Just a little shorter than a Craftsman RP. The shorter length can come in handy sometimes, but I generally prefer to use the longest wrench i can get away with.

Yep, that picture is worth a thousand words. Best to ask the S-hort K-id how tall He is if needing a tall one. Add Me to the group who own multiple tool brands in order to take advantage of the length variations. SK included. :beer:

sweet victory · Oct 26, 2018

Spacey_G said:
So is the takeaway here that SK makes combo wrenches whose lengths are on par with other quality brands, but they also make shorter lengths and sometimes people get burned by the naming convention?

I didn't mind the naming convention for their lengths. Where they really fall short of every other modern tool manufacturer is the lack of some sort of "flank drive plus." Just about every other major tool mfger offers this feature.

Mgdoug3 · Oct 26, 2018

Send me any of your crappy SK tools. I'll dispose them properly.

Wamsutta · Oct 26, 2018

Is that SK 5/8 their standard length?

Gmonkee · Oct 26, 2018

Consumer expectations grew. The standards are just fine and have been for decades.

So a trend the last years is everyone vocal is clamoring for a longer flex head ratchet and ratchet wrenches.

When 21" quarter drive ratchets are made everyone will be bitching the drive lug breaks off when used in hard pulls.
duh...
That is exactly why they are mostly made short.

Open end wrenches the same issue. Balance the hardness of the steel for reduced stress flex stretch and brittleness then extend them the formula changes. Now the end needs to be lobster claw or it mushes up fasteners.

Change a material or process and the price goes up and still the vocal minority are unhappy.

Don't like the offerings buy something else you do like. Its not science.

mr natural · Feb 1, 2019

ecotec said:
Okay. You picked the one company that does make wrenches, but does not make long patern ones...

Could be that Wright makes wrenches for people that hammer on them with zero f***s given lol (because the company they worked for bought them) so no need for flashy and/or long ones.

bonneyman · Feb 2, 2019

Ign said:
The wrenches are beautiful and proudly stamped USA but they need to produce some **** we can be proud of as Americans. Chrome don't get ya home.

That's funny! :lol_hitti

hangfirew8 · Feb 2, 2019

Not this again. Does Adam.C have another account? He harped on this topic constantly. I see now he's banned. Don't miss him.

SK makes kinda short regular wrenches, just as short as all standard wrenches used to be made. And "long patterns" that are longer but not as big as Snappy. Don't like it, don't buy them.

My opinion is that people with full vehicle lifts like longer wrenches, and those of us on our backs don't/can't use them as often.

I have regular and long pattern SK's in Metric. I have not had a problem with the open ends spreading. They get the work done job after job. I'm just a DIY guy so what do I know? My radiator, my brakes, my exhaust, my spark plugs, my oil plug, none of them care what brand of wrench I used.

BTW Wright's have the box end point in-line with the wrench, making them useless for tight automotive work. I don't feel the need to point that out on every thread, or start a thread about it. My SK's don't have that problem.

derosa · Feb 3, 2019

ecotec said:
Okay. You picked the one company that does make wrenches, but does not make long patern ones...

I believe Wright calls their wrench a long pattern as well even though it is on the short side.

bobcatdan · Feb 3, 2019

I have no complaints with SK wrench lengths. Granted I use them as topper kits to my snap on on and mac wrenches, their sizes are on par. My 1 /16" SK is longer than my 1" snap on.

Wamsutta · Feb 3, 2019

hangfirew8 said:
Don't like it, don't buy them.

That works for me.

Why does SK struggle w the concept of wrench length?

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