SK Flex Zone Impact Sockets
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nmantas
Well-known member
Just got the email. Interesting concept. I feel like this is just for industries that are hard on impact sockets like tire shops/factories and that even autotechs don't have them fail too often to warrant the upgrade.
Looks like they use an induction annealer on a hardened broached socket to bring down the hardness (and increase ductility) in the center of the socket. Simple process also done to two piece ratchets after joining the head to the handle.
I'm curious how much it helps, it seems like the CR-V sockets I've broken that proved too brittle didn't break in the center as if it were trying to break in half. Should help with wearing away the hex and square drive end through, those do get loosy goosey over time for sure on standard CRO-MO impact sockets.
I'm curious how much it helps, it seems like the CR-V sockets I've broken that proved too brittle didn't break in the center as if it were trying to break in half. Should help with wearing away the hex and square drive end through, those do get loosy goosey over time for sure on standard CRO-MO impact sockets.
I feel like this is just like the X-frame wrenches. It seems like they have invented a problem and then solved it. I've worn out many an impact socket but NEVER there, it's always the drive end.
Dont get me confused with an SK hater, I'm a huge fan of their tools. I just think these sockets and their X-frame wrenches are gimmicky, and again solve a problem I've never had. I've never had a socket fail there and I've never had a wrench break there!
Dont get me confused with an SK hater, I'm a huge fan of their tools. I just think these sockets and their X-frame wrenches are gimmicky, and again solve a problem I've never had. I've never had a socket fail there and I've never had a wrench break there!
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
What is wrong with SK?People want more versions of their 90 tooth ratchets and X Frame wrenches and SK gives us torx plus sockets and better deep impact sockets
I just don't understand their rationale in selecting and releasing new products.
American Locomotive
Well-known member
I think the idea is that the softer center allows the drive end and fastener ends of the socket to be much harder than a traditional impact socket.
nelstomlinson
Well-known member
I think that's the point: they are hardening the places where they do fail.
I'll second Fedwrench's question. What's wrong with SK? This is probably a really good idea, but there is a lot of 90% developed merchandise they could be moving TODAY, if only they would bring it to market.
SK, lets have some double box versions of your new ratcheting wrench design, some 1/4 and 1/2 drive versions of your new pear head ratchets, regular and flex, and bring back the rotohead! There is almost no design work to be done on any of those, just tool up and watch the money roll in.
Edited to add: more ideas for SK here.
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Jaysreal
Well-known member
This thread actually reminded me that I've signed up for SK Club pro and have yet to receive any benefits.
Nevertheless, I just went to their Site and noticed a new tab that wasn't there a week ago called "Resources" where I found product sheets for all the new stuff.
So I Re-Download the new "LP90" product sheet and to my surprise it only lists the standard handle versions with no mention of any flex head variant. BUT! once I searched the actual product numbers I found that ALL THREE DRIVE SIZES ARE AVAILABLE AND CURRENTLY IN STOCK!!!
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3baygarage
Well-known member
^ Was this a top secret release, or is everbody slipping around here?
thesilverone
Well-known member
IMO these ratchets are nothing new, more meh
DerekV
Well-known member
IMO these new sockets seem like something that they could "make" by modifying an existing stock pile of sockets. In other words, an inexpensive new product. Add some marketing fluff and a fancy name and presto, new product. I actually think this is a cool idea for both functional and business reasons, but it's kind of concerning. SK has said that they're going to come out with all of these new products...years ago...and still virtually nothing has happened...but out of no where these fancy sockets appear? To me, it giving off a feeling of desperation and struggle, which is really unfortunate for this company. I hope I'm wrong.
Kaizen
Well-known member
This thread actually reminded me that I've signed up for SK Club pro and have yet to receive any benefits.
Nevertheless, I just went to their Site and noticed a new tab that wasn't there a week ago called "Resources" where I found product sheets for all the new stuff.
So I Re-Download the new "LP90" product sheet and to my surprise it only lists the standard handle versions with no mention of any flex head variant. BUT! once I searched the actual product numbers I found that ALL THREE DRIVE SIZES ARE AVAILABLE AND CURRENTLY IN STOCK!!!
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Weren’t they coming out with a 100 tooth ratchet? Or was it this 90 that everyone was waiting for?
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Even provided that the pending releases for the tools that you want have not arrived, releasing any new products is the correct trajectory. I would love SK to make a new forging die that has a circular end for a box instead of the open end for the SureGrip with the ratcheting end and handle as is. I think that releasing anything progresses toward that. Now that all three drive sizes are released I'll probably buy the set.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Sockets are cheaper to replace than anvils.
Just my .02.
Just my .02.
DerekV
Well-known member
Who's criticizing SK?
This thread actually reminded me that I've signed up for SK Club pro and have yet to receive any benefits.
Nevertheless, I just went to their Site and noticed a new tab that wasn't there a week ago called "Resources" where I found product sheets for all the new stuff.
So I Re-Download the new "LP90" product sheet and to my surprise it only lists the standard handle versions with no mention of any flex head variant. BUT! once I searched the actual product numbers I found that ALL THREE DRIVE SIZES ARE AVAILABLE AND CURRENTLY IN STOCK!!!
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Nice! My 84t Craftsman premium 1/4" ratchet just started locking up on me.
Time to replace with SK I guess!Nice! My 84t Craftsman premium 1/4" ratchet just started locking up on me.
Did you like that Craftsman Premium set? I remember wanting them years ago, but thinking that the price was too high. I can't remember how much that they cost. When I saw all three of the new SK together the set reminded me of the Craftsman ones without the flat handles. I wonder what the difference in price for the Craftsman set was to what the SK set will be at Harry Epstein's.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Great Find on the resources tab there Garnett Tools Thanks. 
I'll have to check with Epstein's to see if they have the new ratchets in stock. I am sad to see that after all of this time, SK can't release long handled or flex head versions.
I was also surprised to that SK got back into the government tool kit business again. That didn't do well for the old SK in the past.
I'll have to check with Epstein's to see if they have the new ratchets in stock. I am sad to see that after all of this time, SK can't release long handled or flex head versions.
I was also surprised to that SK got back into the government tool kit business again. That didn't do well for the old SK in the past.
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
General Geoff
Well-known member
Great idea, though these sockets probably won't hit quite as hard as normal uniformly hardened impact sockets, so may have trouble busting really tight/rusted fasteners loose.
If the center area is the same hardness as a normal impact socket (I don't know if that's true, but let's assume for the sake of discussion) and both ends are harder, would this socket hit harder, just as hard, or not as hard as the regular socket? Why?
General Geoff
Well-known member
No way of knowing without the actual figures on hardness of the middle steel compared to the hardness of a regular impact socket. The difference probably won't be too great, but the fact is that if it's designed to flex, that flexion is eating up impact power. Just like a torque stick or any old regular extension.
The premiums are pretty nice but are really heavy. The handles are a little longer and are super beefy. The weren't really that pricey from what I remember. I bought the 3 piece set for under $100 I think. I later lost my 1/4" some how (along with a 10mm socket?!) and bought a replacement on eBay. Here recently it started locking up so I took it apart, cleaned and lubed but its still doing it. Ive considered upgrading to the matco 88 mechanism but it will cost me around $30 after shipping.
Super Sport
Well-known member
I think retail on them was $125 for the set. I like mine - the flat handle allows you to more comfortably "get on it" for stubborn fasteners. That mostly comes in handy on the 1/2" model. The 1/4" is known for issues, although I've been lucky with mine so far.
turtl631
Well-known member
I agree that the rollout of products by SK is a bit confusing. There really seems to be a great opportunity here to sell high-quality american-made tools below the snap-on price point. I got a set of the x-frame wrenches which are great, but would really prefer flex or reversible offset head. I picked up a few Armstrong ratchets before they folded which are great, otherwise I might give these LP90s a try. I am a weekend warrior car guy and I find that I use my flex heads 90% of the time. I get releasing the most basic version first but this has been so drawn out.
It may have been around there. I couldn't remember and $125 meant more to me a few years ago. I saw used sets on e-bay for ~$300. I don't think that these ratchets will find their way into my tool chests.
I was really excited about the double box ratcheting and the other new tool offerings that never materialized from Craftsman. These ratchets seemed like the testing of the waters for new tools, then the death knell was sounded for Sears.
Now I'm buying this set of ratchets as an equivalent. I'm waiting for SK to make double ended box ratcheting wrenches next. I'd probably buy the whole list in SK equivalents. http://c.shld.net/rpx/newars/crafts...strial/images/201506-CI-Brand-Flyer-FINAL.pdf
nelstomlinson
Well-known member
I'm bothered by SK's slow pace, too. Surely it can't be that difficult to tool up a new line to make a ratcheting double box, or a flex handle for the pearhead?
How about it, SK? Why the delays?
How about it, SK? Why the delays?
American Locomotive
Well-known member
I've worked in full-CNC machine/job shops, who specialized in rapid tooling up for production parts. Even with the most sophisticated CAD/CAM and most modern equipment available, it would still sometimes take months and months of work before we could consistently make parts to spec and profitably.
A forging and stamping line (like one that'd be used for making ratchets) is an entirely different ball game, and an order of magnitude more complicated to implement. You've got all the same CNC steps needed to make the tooling, plus a lot of hand tweaking and finishing, and then throwing it all out and starting over when the forging process doesn't work as expected. Months and months and months of work to tool that kind of line up. Add even more time if you need to overhaul/replace line equipment.
An SK rep said when Ideal bought the remains of SK, they basically got a mothballed factory with worn out and outdated equipment. It wouldn't surprise me if they basically had to replace everything. That sort of thing takes a lot of time, and a lot of money.
anndel
Well-known member
I got a free one during socket of the month back in February or March and used it a bunch of times. I don't notice anything different than my regular impacts.
Same here. Got a 3/4" deep, my most used size. Haven't noticed a bit of difference over the Pittsburg ones I bought at Harbor Freight 10 years ago. The Pittsburg ones drive me nuts, because that is the only Harbor Freight tool left in my box that I haven't killed yet... but I can't replace them since they work great still...
Farmall450
Well-known member
Andres26tnt
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 11, 2018
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Just don't understand SK, I don't know who asked for these sockets. I feel like they should focus on expanding the LP90/Xframe line and updating the regular wrenches. They invented the roto ratchet, so where is the new one? Soft/semisoft handles?
A lot of this stuff is standard and should be quick to put to market.
A lot of this stuff is standard and should be quick to put to market.
KBigg
Well-known member
You can put it on a rockwell tester to find the hardness.
I assume they left the center of the socket alone and just make the ends a tad harder to keep them from wallowing out like they all do ever time. If thats the way they did it, it should truly be a longer lasting impact socket (unless they made the ends to hard, in which case they would probably break like a chrome socket under heavy load)
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The Fall
Well-known member
I've got nothing but good things to say about SK. Good warranty experience. All of my stuff is from the Ideal ownership, for the most part. Great value, USA made. Hard to beat.