Feedback from users of SK X-Frame wrenches

[Briancapecoral]

I would like to hear from people who have used these. I came across them looking for 6 point ratcheting wrenches, and the grip on the open end seems like an added bonus. It's great that they can snap the head off a bolt with a long pipe on the end (you tube video), but I would like some real use reviews. I tried to search but SK is too short a word to include. I'm not a professional mechanic, just enjoy working on cars with my sons. I mainly have old craftsman wrenches mismatched from my father and kobalt sets I have received as gifts. Looking to start getting better US made tools going forward, but can't justify the tool truck prices for most items. Thanks.

 

[48548]

I have a set and like them... They are really smooth and are very fine, the quality appears top notch... Sadly I don't use them as much as my gear wrench as they are too nice looking to get dirty and scratched.... But I do use them and like them, they are my favorite ratcheting wrench.

 

[willjogervais]

I just got a set of metric and sae x-frames. They are very well built. I was looking to add a set of 0* offset ratcheting to fill out my wrench drawer and am very pleased with them. I will admit, the cost was an offputting factor but I ended up finding a set of both for a little over 300. They are an extremely fine tooth, smooth ratcheting wrench. I have only used them on one tractor engine rebuild and install but have torqued on them more than I would dare my gearwrenches and all wrenches worked perfectly. I'd have to agree with 48548 though, I felt bad dirtyin them purty things up!

 

[PureLeaf]

Just remember they do not offer an offset. So if you want a few different types like flex head, offset, flat, stubby etc you may just be better off with Gearwrench.

We're having this same discussion here on X-Frames and Proto USA:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6521626

 

[SK-Mike]

I have just ordered a set of both Metric ($192) & SAE ($119) from tooldiscounter.com. They should arrive any day now, can't wait to try

 

[espyking83]

Theyre pretty great over all. The open end grips just as well as wrightgrip or FD+. Ratcheting mechanism is untouchable. If i had to nitpick, they can dig into your hand a bit. Not as comfortable as my WG's, and i wish there was a bit of an offset on the box end. Well worth the money imo, and the best ratcheting wrenches out there

 

[Briancapecoral]

Thanks for info everyone. I'll be getting a set of metrics. I've looked around and tool discounter.com looks like the best price I can find. Glad to hear they work as good as they look.

 

[SK-Mike]

Just got my metric set in today from tooldiscounter.com, awesome, flawless. WOW!, super smooth action, feel really nice in hand, and to my surprise, they have pretty good length, which for me is a big +, I always prefer longer tools whenever possible.

My SAE set should be here tomorrow. I'm not a professional mechanic, just a DIY guy, but I like the direction that Ideal has the SK heading in. Good quality, fair price, and made in USA.

 

[Fedwrench]

Although they took awhile to get to market, they are sweeet!!!

Ultra fine tooth crisp ratcheting action, super strong non slip open end, what's not to love?

The beams are thicker than most wrenches making them a little beefy and a pleasure to use.
I wish they would come out with different versions like fixed boxed end on one side with the ratcheting boxed end on the other side.

 

[spicyoli]

Glad someone made this thread! I am in the same situation as you. From what i've seen i like them but just haven't heard or read much reviews on them till i signed up here. Check out the link Pureleaf posted he hooked it up with some pics comparing them to the proto wrenches. I was going to buy a set the other day for a good deal but was a tad too late!

 

[ToolNuttt]

I'm still trying to find a local place that stock these.

 

[turtl631]

There was a post here a while back about them releasing flex and other versions in the future. Any word on that? I'd like a flex head set. I have gearwrench standard, reversible, and stubby sets. They're fine until they fall apart... I've had issues with the reversible ones especially just falling apart. I'd love to get a nice high quality American made set to use the majority of the time.

 

[Briancapecoral]

Just got the metric set dropped off Friday. They feel solid, but not to heavy, and are a little longer than I expected. I'll find some kind of maintenance on one of the cars today to try them out.

 

[Snap_cap]

Although they took awhile to get to market, they are sweeet!!!

Ultra fine tooth crisp ratcheting action, super strong non slip open end, what's not to love?

The beams are thicker than most wrenches making them a little beefy and a pleasure to use.
I wish they would come out with different versions like fixed boxed end on one side with the ratcheting boxed end on the other side.

Yeah, agree that would be an excellent follow-on set for SK to release.

 

[countryroad82]

Love mine. Here's a short review I did on them awhile back.

 

[Fedwrench]

One more thing, I haven't heard of a single X Frame failing.

Believe me, I know if someone broke one, it would covered in graphic detail here.

 

[SK-Mike]

IMO the only thing that would make these SK X frames better (for my personal uses anyway) would be to have double box end. One Ratcheting the other non ratcheting box end.

That way you would have the non ratcheting box end to break loose & and final torque on fastners, while the ratcheting end would do 99% of the tightening and loosening.

But that's only "MY Opinion", I am surely glad I purchased A set of these wrenches, they are awesome. If your in the market for Ratcheting wrenches, BUY SK X Frames! Awesome wrench that's made in USA, whats not to like.

 

[anndel]

I just ordered the 12pc metric set from Epstein's. I replaced the transmission fluid on my 05 Toyota Avalon and there's 1 bolt on the pan that's above a crossmember with a 3/4" clearance. My Snap On ratcheting wrench couldn't remove it but it had a 5 degree offset so can't complain. I used the 10mm SK X-frame that came in the special Green Box set from last year's Epstein's Day and it removed it. I had to use the open end first for a couple of turns then finished with the ratcheting box end. Yeah I could have used any 0 degree offset and it would have worked but then checked HJE and found they stocked these where it was hard to find last year. I ordered a set helping out HJE and SK.

 

[Trey T]

Those wrenches are like a piece of art, looks very cool.

 

[Keelhauled]

IMO the only thing that would make these SK X frames better (for my personal uses anyway) would be to have double box end. One Ratcheting the other non ratcheting box end.

That way you would have the non ratcheting box end to break loose & and final torque on fastners, while the ratcheting end would do 99% of the tightening and loosening.

While I am far too poor to justify buying the X-frames, I prefer having an open end in general, a lot of fasteners I work with are worn or rusted enough that a box end will round them off instead of breaking them loose. An open end will give me a fighting chance.

 

[Briancapecoral]

The 6 point on the ratcheting end not rounding bolts is the reason I wanted them. I had an oil drain plug that was rounded pretty bad. I actually bought a replacement after the last oil change. It took it off, with no problem, didn't slip at all. The open end having the ridges is a great feature also. They are the most expensive tools I own, my others are Kobalt (the ones rounding the bolt heads) and some older craftsman that were my father's.

 

[wafrederick]

I have both sets and like them,my go to ratcheting wrenches most of the time.I had to warranty the 10mm and 8mm so far,hassle free.The 10mm,brake fluid got in and did jam up the mechanism up.The 8mm,jammed up and the replacement is fine,this one was not brake fluid related

 

[anndel]

I have both sets and like them,my go to ratcheting wrenches most of the time.I had to warranty the 10mm and 8mm so far,hassle free.The 10mm,brake fluid got in and did jam up the mechanism up.The 8mm,jammed up and the replacement is fine,this one was not brake fluid related

Hmmm, that's not good if brake fluid (BF) jammed the internal mechanism. I know BF eats paint on cars so there must be something inside that's susceptible to getting eaten by chemicals? I wonder if others like Snap On, Gearwrench, etc., are like this as well.