mreisner
Well-known member
We got a chance to get a set of new ones sae, still in the plastic, just wondering if anybody has them and likes them. I've always wanted a set.
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SK made in US x-frame wrenches worth it?
- Thread starter mreisner
- Start date
dnschmidt
Well-known member
If they're cheap enough. Other than having holes in the handles they are exactly the same as every other non-reversible ratcheting wrench ever made. The fascination with S-K has always baffled me. If their stuff was that good why would they have to sell their bankrupt business to the Chinese?
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
What's the price? The 9/16 makes putting on the tie downs for my sander much, much easier...it's got about a 1.5" area to swing in, not even my Snap Ons have such a short arc. I like them, but depends on price.
four.cycle
Well-known member
IF I had to go buy a new set of wrenches, I'd probably go with the Facom 440 line.
Honestly I wouldn’t buy SK or Sunex anything anymore. Both started moving there production to china and keep moving more and more. So whenever your us tool brakes you will be given a Chinese one for warranty replacement
Compare that to tekton who keeps moving more and more to the US. You might buy a Taiwan tool that is replaced under warranty with a US tool someday
Compare that to tekton who keeps moving more and more to the US. You might buy a Taiwan tool that is replaced under warranty with a US tool someday
If they're cheap enough. Other than having holes in the handles they are exactly the same as every other non-reversible ratcheting wrench ever made. The fascination with S-K has always baffled me. If their stuff was that good why would they have to sell their bankrupt business to the Chinese?
Except they're not the same as every other ratcheting wrench- they have their own design for the ratcheting end. This is like saying, "all 3/8 drive ratchets are the same", or "all combination wrenches are the same" because they perform the same basic function.
I don't own any SK, so I really have no dog in this fight, but lots of businesses with great products fold up. A quality product is a very small part of what makes a business viable - there are tons of successful businesses selling junk these days.If they're cheap enough. Other than having holes in the handles they are exactly the same as every other non-reversible ratcheting wrench ever made. The fascination with S-K has always baffled me. If their stuff was that good why would they have to sell their bankrupt business to the Chinese?
rancherbill
Well-known member
Go for it. If you've always wanted them and if the price is reasonable go for it.We got a chance to get a set of new ones sae, still in the plastic, just wondering if anybody has them and likes them. I've always wanted a set.
boom10ful
Well-known member
They were very nice when I had them, but after warranting the 10mm ratchet 4 times I sold off my set. The last time they wanted me to pay for shipping to and back.
I picked them up, almost was reluctant to open the package they were in still sealed in plastic, but I did. Very nice chrome, and the mechanism I think is even finer than my Snap-on ratcheting wrenchs. Not that they're going to be a daily driver, but I think they will be a welcome addition.
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cody1325
Well-known member
They were very nice when I had them, but after warranting the 10mm ratchet 4 times I sold off my set. The last time they wanted me to pay for shipping to and back.
During Ideal or Great Star ownership? The guys at the local mine supply have told me that they dropped SK due to issues with warranty as much as it was the Chinese ownership. Apparently, they constantly refused to warranty tools in the later years.
Only experience with SK warranty was on a quarter-inch drive ratchet in 2017. They sent me a repair kit no questions asked and at no charge.
I love made in USA but when it comes to ratcheting wrenches, the Taiwanese just do it better. I’d be surprised if the ratcheting mechanism on the SK X-frame was domestic. The frames are domestic. Taiwan invented the ratcheting wrench, and the vast majority of upper end ratcheting wrenches come from Taiwan.
I wavered back when Epstein's still had the X-frame wrenches, and now they're sold out. Still wondering if I should've grabbed them. No complaints with my almost 30 year old GW's, but feel I might have liked the S-K's.
American Locomotive
Well-known member
I had a set of company-owned X-Frames at my last job and loved them. The open ends worked well and the ratchets were ultra smooth with low back drag - I think 216 tooth? The two downsides were that they were non-reversible, and the smaller sizes (8-10mm I think?) used the same size box end, so the 8mm was a bit bulky.
IMO, they were great wrenches for the time, and would be worth picking up if you got a good deal on them. However there are better options these days (swivel, reversing).
IMO, they were great wrenches for the time, and would be worth picking up if you got a good deal on them. However there are better options these days (swivel, reversing).
The original USA-made x-frames used a bespoke and fully serviceable ratcheting mechanism - definitely not a taiwanese mechanism.I love made in USA but when it comes to ratcheting wrenches, the Taiwanese just do it better. I’d be surprised if the ratcheting mechanism on the SK X-frame was domestic. The frames are domestic. Taiwan invented the ratcheting wrench, and the vast majority of upper end ratcheting wrenches come from Taiwan.
I agree. I would bet my right arm the components are made somewhere in Asia and assembled here.I love made in USA but when it comes to ratcheting wrenches, the Taiwanese just do it better. I’d be surprised if the ratcheting mechanism on the SK X-frame was domestic. The frames are domestic. Taiwan invented the ratcheting wrench, and the vast majority of upper end ratcheting wrenches come from Taiwan.
reader2580
Well-known member
I thought I read that X-Frames are made overseas now.
Congratulations!I picked them up, almost was reluctant to open the package they were in still sealed in plastic, but I did. Very nice chrome, and the mechanism I think is even finer than my Snap-on ratcheting wrenchs. Not that they're going to be a daily driver, but I think they will be a welcome addition.
What a score!
I’d like to find a USA set, I think they look awesome
but
I wouldn‘t use them often
"Assembled in the US of US and Global components" as of less than a year agoChina now
boom10ful
Well-known member
My set were bought under Ideal ownership and the last time I used the warranty it was through Great Star ownership.During Ideal or Great Star ownership? The guys at the local mine supply have told me that they dropped SK due to issues with warranty as much as it was the Chinese ownership. Apparently, they constantly refused to warranty tools in the later years.
Only experience with SK warranty was on a quarter-inch drive ratchet in 2017. They sent me a repair kit no questions asked and at no charge.
I've got two SK socket sets and ratchets and a complete set of SAE and Metric flare nut wrenches that are most likely older than you, if you take care of your tools and don't abuse them why pay big $$$ for a warranty. Never owned an SK X-Frame wrench set but never heard anything bad about them. I would assume this set is NOS and USA made.Honestly I wouldn’t buy SK or Sunex anything anymore. Both started moving there production to china and keep moving more and more. So whenever your us tool brakes you will be given a Chinese one for warranty replacement
Compare that to tekton who keeps moving more and more to the US. You might buy a Taiwan tool that is replaced under warranty with a US tool someday
I have an older sae set when they first came out that stamped made in USA. I have a newer metric set from Lowe’s that were on clearance they don’t have a USA stamp on them. I liked it when I first got them, but for daily use, they did not last long.
Theronswanson
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 13, 2023
- Messages
- 540
For that price they are definitely worth it.Hundred bucks