SK X-Frame ratcheting wrenches

[Spn1025]

http://www.sktools.com/SKXFRAME.aspx

Anybody use these yet? They look amazing. They appear to be between $50-75 each on Grainger, $338 for a 7-piece, or $570 for a 12-piece. No picture and limited description, so I'm not 100% sure these are the X-Frames on Grainger.

$166 for the 7-piece on Sears sold by CPO Outlets
$136 for the 7-piece on National Tool Warehouse

Can't find em on Amazon.


Anyone know where else to find them? I'm not usually one to buy the expensive brand tools, but I may have to bite on these beauties. My current ratcheting wrenches are a $30 Stanley set from Walmart lol.

 

[doojus]

I just searched for them and found a couple of google stores that had them:

I ordered from stockwiseauto who claimed to have them in stock, we'll see what happens.

 

[twertsy]

I searched forever the other day for a more complete SAE set to no avail. I've given up until someone tells me it's out there somewhere.

 

[LB-1911]

SK Tools X-Frame Ratcheting Wrench (VIDEO) - MADE IN USA
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=287679

does any one know when the SK x frame is coming out?
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4890474

SK is unveiling new ratcheting wrenches
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=266466&page=14


https://www.google.com/#q=sk+x+frame+garage+journal+site:www.garagejournal.com

 

[02camaro86]

those are the smoothest wrenches i have ever used. i would buy them if i had more money

 

[doojus]

^^So you're saying there are other threads about the SK X-Frame?

 

[tightwad_wrencher]

I just called HJE and they haven't received any yet. I then phoned SK directly and the gal in customer service stated that they would be shipped out to distributors by the end of this week .

 

[efb16acrx]

I searched forever the other day for a more complete SAE set to no avail. I've given up until someone tells me it's out there somewhere.

That's where I'm at with it. I want the sae and metric sets, but a 3/8-3/4 set is ********.

 

[twertsy]

That's where I'm at with it. I want the sae and metric sets, but a 3/8-3/4 set is ********.

Yup.........how you been bro? We'll have to meet up at the flea. Although, I'm usually there at 6ish...

 

[efb16acrx]

working and waiting on my box to show up. I also didn't know the flea market opened that early. Usually up at 4am so no big deal.

 

[doojus]

They showed up yesterday, didn't get much chance to play around with them though. From what I can tell they're a really nice well made set. I think I'll be giving SK my business from now on instead of Snap On / MAC / Matco.

 

[maico]

On the larger sizes isn't there a danger you can mash your small finger in the cutout ?

 

[doojus]

it didn't seem likely but i'll check it out when i get a chance

 

[wiens80]

Love the look of those. Anyone know what size they'll go up to?

 

[LB-1911]

Love the look of those. Anyone know what size they'll go up to?

Post #2

I just searched for them and found a couple of google stores that had them:

I ordered from stockwiseauto who claimed to have them in stock, we'll see what happens.

80049
3/8", 7/16", 1/2", 9/16", 5/8", 11/16", 3/4"

 

[wiens80]

Seems odd that they would have a design that offers strength, but then only offer them up to 3/4.

Gearwrench offers those same sets 3/8-3/4", but you can get individual wrenches over 1".

 

[doojus]

I'd have to assume at this point in the product's life (hot off the press) that we're not getting the full picture of everything that'll be available.

 

[Strouty]

It looks like they are going to blow goats when you get in between something. At least you get the high tooth count, but I can't imagine it makes up for the extra wide neck on both ends. The x frame strength would make me think that they should be very long wrenches, but they appear to be normal sized. If they put that ratchet style on a flex head wrench, then I will try them for sure.

 

[Sanny81]

I hope these will soon be available individually (are they?) I'd like to try one out for a few weeks before I commit to the sets.

 

[shockwave]

Looks really nice I like the fdp style open ends too.

But a lot of tool trucks quite carrying sk due to warrantee issues a few years ago.

 

[Fedwrench]

I am sooo confused and disappointed over these X Frame wrenches.

I preordered a metric set from SK after testing the 10mm wrench they sent me. This was back in March. The metric sets were then scheduled to ship in April. April was pushed to June. I called SK customer service about it again yesterday, and the woman on the phone said there is a cosmetic issue with the wrenches and that they wouldn't ship until at least July because they wanted to put the best possible quality wrenches in my hands.
I am not happy with this ****. If SK is having this many problems bringing the metric X Frame wrenches to market 8 months after they were shown at last November's SEMA show, it doesn't bode well for them introducing any other new tools like their new pear head ratchet.

 

[TTLLOGIC]

I'm not very impressed by these new wrenches. My tool dealer had a demo set and two out of the set were already having trouble turning freely.

 

[buba]

Received a shipping notification this evening on the metric 12 piece X-Frame set part number SKT-80019.

 

[Leoruiz]

SK is, and always has been, pathetic. They make good stuff. The management is totally pathetic and always has been. They need to move to Taiwan and get a good work force.
Maybe Apex would grab them up and make them first class ?

 

[David Paul]

SK is, and always has been, pathetic. They make good stuff. The management is totally pathetic and always has been. They need to move to Taiwan and get a good work force.
Maybe Apex would grab them up and make them first class ?

Wow....first person ever on my ignore list....

 

[buba]

Wow....first person ever on my ignore list....

Ya, 165 posts in the past 16 days. Seems to be power-posting, trolling or both.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I too, am disillusioned. I really like my SK screwdrivers, ratchets, and sockets.


I've been dying to get a metric set, but all of the waiting, questioning, delays... makes me loose faith that they will be a good product. The shape of the wrench (really all of SKs wrenches) already makes me uneasy. It looks cumbersome. I'm all screwed up on these wrenches.

 

[Fedwrench]

Received a shipping notification this evening on the metric 12 piece X-Frame set part number SKT-80019.

Did you order direct from SK?

 

[buba]

Did you order direct from SK?

Ordered from NTXtools months ago. In the past they charge your card and email an invoice when the item ships. My invoice shows a shipping date of 8/5/2015. NTX uses a shared network of warehouses with other web e-tailers, so other vendors should be showing stock soon unless the initial allocations were consumed by back-orders like mine.

 

[doojus]

I'm not going to say I've used my fractional set every day since I got them but I've used them for a few projects and liked them so far. I don't really see any 'gotchas' to them.

 

[szak]

SK is, and always has been, pathetic. They make good stuff. The management is totally pathetic and always has been. They need to move to Taiwan and get a good work force.
Maybe Apex would grab them up and make them first class ?

Officially dedicating my first post to how much I disapprove of this statement.

 

[HanShotFirst]

I find the X frame wrench very interesting, I'd like to see a flex head version, that would be a more useful tool. I don't like box ends, ratcheting or non-ratcheting that don't have the 15 degree offset, I find them WAY less user friendly for just about anything. I will take a reversable ratcheting wrench over a non-offset non-reversable every time.

The X frame's ratcheting mechanism coupled with the 6 point design is VERY interesting to me, I think it's a fantastic innovation; but the non-offset design, or the lack of a flex head makes them a non-starter for me. And I consider myself an SK fan.

 

[1982fxr]

I too, am disillusioned. I really like my SK screwdrivers, ratchets, and sockets.


I've been dying to get a metric set, but all of the waiting, questioning, delays... makes me loose faith that they will be a good product. The shape of the wrench (really all of SKs wrenches) already makes me uneasy. It looks cumbersome. I'm all screwed up on these wrenches.

They've publicly stated they are holding back the release to fix a minor cosmetic flaw. If you're losing faith because they are going the extra mile then you are all screwed up on more than just these wrenches.

 

[Brownsfan]

Dammed if they do dammed if they don't. Can you imagine the tool polishers if they let them go with a minor COSMETIC flaw. Some will be predicting the end of SK and American manufacturing because there is no quality control. Then they don't release them because they want to fix it and now they are horrible and incompetent. Since I found a local SK retailer near me SK has been my new choice for any new purchases. OK they sell Wright and Proto too. So ot has been split between them. Lol. Keep up the good work SK you have a now customer for life in me. The new wrenches are on my list as well as a few other things when money permits.

 

[Brownsfan]

SK is, and always has been, pathetic. They make good stuff. The management is totally pathetic and always has been. They need to move to Taiwan and get a good work force.
Maybe Apex would grab them up and make them first class ?

Really? Troll much? SKs new management has them on the right track. Quality tools and a 100% commitment to being USA made top to bottom. Not many other tool companies can make that claim.

 

[buba]

The Metrics are really out in the wild, naked, and unafraid. See attachment, pardon my poor photo skills and the optical distortion of the set picture. All appear to have flawless chrome. I have a few projects this weekend that these will get used on. Will see if the chrome is still flawless come Monday.

I spoke with the folks at NTXtools today and they said they only received a limited number of sets from the initial SK shipment of Metrics. They still had over 400 back-orders for the #80019 sets pending in the queue.

 

[PJNJ]

SK is, and always has been, pathetic. They make good stuff. The management is totally pathetic and always has been. They need to move to Taiwan and get a good work force.
Maybe Apex would grab them up and make them first class ?

Ah, the obligatory post bashing whatever is the topic of the thread. So the management of the company is "totally pathetic and always has been"? Please provide the facts to back that up. Because AFAIK, Ideal is a family owned company that will be celebrating its' 100th anniversary next year. So they must be doing something right! They have since their purchase of SK completely reinvented the company and are currently expanding the capacity by building a new plant. The tools are 100% made here including the raw materials used.

And what the heck is wrong with their workforce and employees? You don't think AMERICAN workers can do a good job? Wow. Completely insult the employees of a company you probably know nothing about. Maybe you should move to Taiwan if you think so much of the country.

 

[stage20]

they look so bulky?

 

[bonneyman]

I bet they are comfortable, tough, and work well. But it'd take alot of advantages for me to spring for that money when my original Gear Wrenches have been great and still going strong after 15+ years of use.
And that one pic I've seen looks like the gear assembly is removable for repair or rebuild. Now that's a nice feature!

 

[1950mercury]

The Metrics are really out in the wild, naked, and unafraid. See attachment, pardon my poor photo skills and the optical distortion of the set picture. All appear to have flawless chrome. I have a few projects this weekend that these will get used on. Will see if the chrome is still flawless come Monday.

I spoke with the folks at NTXtools today and they said they only received a limited number of sets from the initial SK shipment of Metrics. They still had over 400 back-orders for the #80019 sets pending in the queue.

I don't see why they made them with smaller sizes longer than a larger size. My ocd kicks in when they are on a rack and I think they are not in the correct order because of the length. Than I realize the 7\16 is longer than the 9\16. I guess that's just another reason why I won't be buying them