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SILCA Introduces the HX-One Hex Essentials Kit

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Many of us from years past think of classic indestructible floor pumps, (their frame pumps, though pretty, weren’t so tough), when we think of SILCA.  Since taking ownership from what was the oldest family owned company in the cycling industry in 2013, Josh Portner and his crew have made a bee line for producing some of the most ridiculously drool worthy and well thought out products that this industry has seen.  Not for everybody, but for those that will still crack a smile 5 or even 10 years later when they look at their investment, it takes on a whole new meaning when justifying such a purchase.  To add to their growing collection of family heirlooms, SILCA is introducing the HX-One Essentials Kit, which is a set of hex keys that look and are simple, but what went into them is another story…

silca-hx-one-allen-wrench-set-detail-2

Being the most common tool used on any bicycle, nothing is more important than having a dependable easy to find set of hex keys, and SILCA put every consideration into making what they feel is the best hex keys one can buy.  Knowing how quickly a cheap hex key’s fragile end points can deform, later damaging or completely stripping out the fastener’s head, I can attest to how important it is to invest in quality tools.

silca-hx-one-allen-wrench-set-detail-1

For the HX-One, SILCA started with S-2 Steel which was refined by Swiss and German Tool makers to yield a metal that possesses an optimal balance of strength, hardness, shock resistance, and dimensional control, (so it won’t bend, break or twist under an extreme and abusing load). The keys are coated with a thin-but-dense chrome that is the hardest and most stable finish available and is usually reserved for optical grade surfaces inside molding tools.  To top it off, each tool is spray coated with a high grip, high visibility textured polymer finish to give even the greasiest of fingers a fighting chance.

Silca Wrench Set w adapter

Included with the HX-One Essentials Kit is the proprietary SILCA 17-4 Stainless Magnetic Adapter that turns the 6mm Hex key into a 1/4″ adapter which can fit their included driver bits….. or any of your old ones that got lost under the work bench. The SILCA HX-One Essentials Kit is nicely housed in a CNC machined box made of sustainable beech wood that is then hand sanded and finished before receiving the stainless steel SILCA shield on the lid.

“One of our goals with this lifetime set of tools was to have it be completely one-hand accessible (we’ve all been there..). The fine Beechwood Box uses a magnetic closure system and each tool rests in a CNC machined slot, held in place by a single elastomeric tab. Each tool fits into and out of its slot with a satisfying ‘click’ so that even when stretched one-handed from work stand to workbench, you can be confident in your placement,” says Josh Portner, president of SILCA.

The SILCA HX-One Essentials Kit is due to start shipping in limited quantities on September 1st.  Retail on the HX-One is $125, or roughly about $7 per included tool and a really nice container.

Silca.cc

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39 Comments
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dave barnes
dave barnes
8 years ago

Drool.

Colin
Colin
8 years ago

No JIS Screwdriver bit?

Slow Joe Crow
Slow Joe Crow
8 years ago

That is very pretty, but I don’t quite understand why hex keys should be treated like gage blocks?

Bog
Bog
8 years ago

On my list for a fall purchase! So nice.

Ryan
Ryan
8 years ago

HUGE fan of heirloom quality anything. I can’t stand the disposable age. Finally something I can put on my wishlist for birthday/Christmas. Thank you Silca.

chasejj
chasejj
8 years ago

My order will be placed.

Steven
Steven
8 years ago

I wonder how these will compare in quality to PB Swiss.

Bicyclego
Bicyclego
8 years ago

Frankly, it just makes me wish I had thought of it first.

'Merika
'Merika
8 years ago

Artisanal bike tools. Inevitable.

Coming soon: Himalayan Air–fill up your bike tires with environmentally conscious air.

AlanM
AlanM
8 years ago

@’Merika, if you think that tools that are well thought out and made to last are some sort of joke, you are missing out.

plif
plif
8 years ago

On paper, I like what Josh is doing with Silca. In practice, I’ve been using the same set of Home Depot hex keys, as a professional mechanic, for over eight years, and they’re fine. I replaced my 5mm when I lost it, which was a lot less painful than losing one of these is going to be.

Anyway, I appreciate the quality, and if someone wants to buy them for me, I’ll certainly accept.

Natalia
Natalia
8 years ago

Very nice stuff, but I can’t see myself ever spending that kind of money on tools that can be bought at 90% of the quality for 10-20% of the price. Seems to be for the folks that really get off on how clean and organized they keep all of their stuff, and like to show it off to people. As long as my wrenches make it back into their plastic holder or their drawer in the toolbox, so I can find them again later, I’m good. More time to spend riding.

Timbo
Timbo
8 years ago

By golly, these are cheaper than a Campy seatpost! He probably won’t sell a ton, but I bet there’s a healthy market out there for these nice looking tools. I like the direction Abbey and now Silca are taking things in.

Rocky Gardeno
Rocky Gardeno
8 years ago

Merica and plif are on fleek!

Matt
Matt
8 years ago

I’ll be your huckleberry.

Matt Holland
Matt Holland
8 years ago

“so it won’t bend, break or twist under an extreme and abusing load”
Wow! Can we get some of that steel at work please? If this were 100% true, they’d be worth alot more than $125!

Pnutz
Pnutz
8 years ago

They do look nicer than snap-on or Bondhus.

sspiff
sspiff
8 years ago

These are cool as long as no one has illusions about practicality, which is what tools are all about.

A $20 Pedros L-handle set will last >5 years in professional everyday use or a lifetime investment for a home mechanic and wrenches are individually replaceable. And that little plastic holder found on conventional sets is far more compact (and probably more durable) than that beech box.

While I’m sure they’re a joy to use, anyone convinced they need a $125 hex wrench set to work on their bike is probably a bit of a tool themselves.

Collin S
Collin S
8 years ago

Quote: “to yield a metal that possesses an optimal balance of strength, hardness, shock resistance, and dimensional control,”

Careful with your words. Yield is not something you want to happen with your tools.

Frippolini
Frippolini
8 years ago

Throw in a torque wrench and it will be a perfect fit.
What is a hex tool + carbon – torque wrench = a pizza face waiting to happen. 🙂

Madd Dogg
Madd Dogg
8 years ago

I love nice tools. The presentation on these looks top notch. However, the hex wrenches look identical to the hex wrenches by a company called Titan. I own a Titan set and the work well, but the finish does not hold up over time. However, they are about $20/set. Same coating and chrome plating. I have a hard time believing these are made to Silca spec wrenches at a Silca price….

http://www.titan-us.com/products/MECHANIC@@27S%20TOOL/HEX%20KEY.aspx

If you want something nicer than Park or Pedros (which all work fine) look at Wiha. Best hex wrenches I’ve ever personally used.

Erik
Erik
8 years ago

Perfect coffee table display set to compliment the Silca floor pump end table lamp I made!

Alex
Alex
8 years ago

This pertains to my interests. I’ve just about worn out all the main sizes in my Pedro’s hex wrench set – got about ten years of solid wrenching (home game) out of them. Been looking for a replacement set but didn’t really like some of the options. Good tools are one of those things that once you experience, you won’t ever head back to Harbor Freight or the like again. Part of the appeal is not just the function, but the feel in the hand. For more nerding out on tools and workspaces check out Garagejournal.com.

SNIPE-HUNTER
8 years ago

OK… That’s just silly. I’m with Slow Joe Crow, there’s really no reason to hustle allen keys in a fancy box, and display them as jewelry. My professional shop is adorned with Snap-On tools for a reason, excellent quality, durability, customer service(weekly visits from the tool-man), and a lifetime replacement warranty; we replace worn allen keys regularly, for free… a $125 set of small tools that really have nothing innovative or unique to bring to the bench. FYI; I rarely post any negative reviews or comments.

Dave
Dave
8 years ago

I don’t care what unobtanium alloy they are claimed to be made of or how beautifully presented, small hex keys wear out and sooner rather than later in heavy use. These are tools for bragging, not for daily use.

Pette
Pette
8 years ago

If the kit included a set of torx keys instead of torx bits and some t-handles in both hex and torx this would be the ultimate set. Torx bits are too short for adjusting Campy hoods or getting at the rear derailleur mounting bolt. I have the 6mm hex that came with my ultimate floor pump and I use it whenever a 6mm gets in my way, got me thinking why don’t they make a complete set? Now here it is. Thanks Silca!

Mike
Mike
8 years ago

Friend: “Hey, are those cubans? Let’s smoke one!”

Me: “No, even better, they’re bespoke hex keys! Each one is spray coated with a high grip, high visibility textured polymer… hey where are you going?”

Allan
Allan
8 years ago

The box and presentation are by far the best part. Price seems over the top to me, especially for use with greasy hands and heavy use.

S. Molnar
S. Molnar
8 years ago

What I’d like to know is are they laterally stiff, yet vertically compliant? Or maybe the other way around.

KT
KT
8 years ago

I’ll stick with my snap ons.

Joe Maki
Joe Maki
8 years ago

Sigh, there are lots of people who think a $1000 bike is a stupid investment too. These are want items, not need items.

Shadwell
Shadwell
8 years ago

Hex keys wearing.. just grind the top few mm off them and file the edges.. another 5 yrs right there.. ball end not so much, but possible..

cole
cole
8 years ago

So much basic manufacturing knowledge is being displaced with the onset of disposability, automation, and outsourcing… A cutoff wheel/bench grinder will give hex keys at least three lives, just keep the steel cool by occasionally immersing it in water or you’ll ruin the hardening. But even then, tool steel can be re-hardened, google “oil hardening steel”. Quenching with used diesel oil will give a better blackened finish that is corrosion resistant, for low alloy steels anyway.

goridebikes
goridebikes
8 years ago

PB Swiss is way better quality and similarly priced. Also it’s a shame that a “high-end” tool set should use philips instead of JIS screwdrivers or bits – given that JIS is way more appropriate for bike use.

Kevin K
Kevin K
8 years ago

Check out the web site for the $1200 pumps!

Dave P
8 years ago

Too bad it doesn’t have breaker bars included…

Mark
8 years ago

These will make a great travel set but without a dedicated T25 this is no-go for shop mechanics. Beta 951 are still my tool of choice but at almost twice the price they better be.

M Turner
M Turner
7 years ago

More Money than sense to buy these, very nice though! I’m a professional engineer and have used a set of Facom Long Allen keys for the past 20 years, and they are still as good as the day I bought them!!

Jason
Jason
7 years ago

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000R6U188?th=1 pretty sure these are the exact same

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