23 CHIEF
Well-known member
Looking to add to my tools who's better wrenches and sockets icon or Capri also has anyone used the wave drive wrench set do they grab as good as the RBRT stuff
Icon vs Capri sockets and wrenches
- Thread starter 23 CHIEF
- Start date
In terms of quality, I think it's six of one, half dozen of the other. Capri offers more sizes and non skip sets, Icon offers ease of warranty and not having to wait for shipping (assuming you have a store near by and they have what you need in stock). I haven't tried the "Wave drive", but I don't know how much I'd want them as my main combo wrench. I prefer a more "basic" anti slip design, and save the extraction style wrench when things actually become rounded and you're not going to re-use the fastener.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Who knows? The RBRT wrenches were just released at the recent MAC tools dealer expo. The Capri wave drive wrenches are a more complete set of the Astro Flankbite damaged fastener removal wrenches. They grip damaged fasteners well. The RBRT wrenches look like they took the older MAC Edge anti slip design and put it in a precision torque wrench series body. Both are made in Taiwan.
Capri regular combination wrenches are the same as Tekton except for the name. As for Capri chrome sockets, they're just basic no frills get the job done type tools. To me, the advantage would be the availability of open stock with Capri. I would say Icon combination wrenches are nicer than the Capri/Tekton versions. In chrome sockets, I'd say it's a draw. Except, I would give Capri credit for not overpackaging their tools and their holders are much better than those thin plastic snap on cloned trays Icon uses.
Capri regular combination wrenches are the same as Tekton except for the name. As for Capri chrome sockets, they're just basic no frills get the job done type tools. To me, the advantage would be the availability of open stock with Capri. I would say Icon combination wrenches are nicer than the Capri/Tekton versions. In chrome sockets, I'd say it's a draw. Except, I would give Capri credit for not overpackaging their tools and their holders are much better than those thin plastic snap on cloned trays Icon uses.
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I’d pick Capri over Icon. Icon stuff seems a bit overpriced. And their chrome sockets peel from my experience anyway. Capri using it professionally I’ve had excellent luck with it. Never used WaveDrive so can’t speak for that.
I'm essentially the opposite - it seems like Icon is at least a half-step up from the Tekton or Capri. My standard combination set is a Tekton set, so no hate at all, but the main negative for Icon is the annoying Buy-a-Set-or-Buy-Nothing business model and, to a lesser extent, a smaller selection of options (though they seem to have expended that a lot over the last couple years).
There's not really a mistake between them, though I'd probably choose Icon for sockets over Tekton if I was buying again. Nothing wrong with the Tekton - they just run longer in 3/8" which has occasionally been inconvenient.
Quality, Q/C, overpackaging, etc. aside, my complaint with Icon has and always will be the asking price for what you're actually buying (especially for HF). I feel HF has overpriced Icon in general, some tools more than others.
Anyway, since no else has mentioned it, I think Capri is a more affordable option. I went with Capri for my SAE sockets. I'm not going to invest heavily in something I don't use often but I still need. I needed a 11/16" socket (I think) yesterday for the seat belt bolts on a 305.5 excavator.
As others have mentioned though, Tekton is also a great option. My SAE wrenches are Tekton. I've had their metric wrenches (sockets too) in the past with no complaints. Although their newer stuff is definitely more expensive.
I'm putting together some tools for home and I plan to buy Tekton wrenches and their 3/8" socket/ratchet set.
Anyway, since no else has mentioned it, I think Capri is a more affordable option. I went with Capri for my SAE sockets. I'm not going to invest heavily in something I don't use often but I still need. I needed a 11/16" socket (I think) yesterday for the seat belt bolts on a 305.5 excavator.
As others have mentioned though, Tekton is also a great option. My SAE wrenches are Tekton. I've had their metric wrenches (sockets too) in the past with no complaints. Although their newer stuff is definitely more expensive.
I'm putting together some tools for home and I plan to buy Tekton wrenches and their 3/8" socket/ratchet set.
demarpaint
Well-known member
I'm interested in them, just wondering if I really need them? Not for the sake of having more tools. I have a set of Rocketsockets which have been great the few times I needed them.
I've got 1/4 capris shallow and deep and some 3/8 deep icon sockets to compare. The main difference is that icon has a shallow broach on their deeps, capri has deep deeps. Icon sockets used to be soft to my knowledge, they changed the material to chromoly. I only recently grabbed the 3/8 set so no issues with them atm. The capris have been just fine no complaints.
Capri bit sockets have been rock solid would recommend.
Capri bit sockets have been rock solid would recommend.
You should wander into a NAPA and eyeball what they're charging for their versions. The supplier overlap between Carlyle and Icon is pretty high, and NAPA wants significantly more for theirs.
Examples:
Standard combination wrench sets
Carlyle 13 piece metric combo wrench set (7mm-19mm) - $164/$12.61 per wrench
Icon 14 piece metric combo wrench set (6mm-19mm) - $120/$8.57 per wrench
Long double-box flex ratcheting wrench set
Carlyle 5-piece - $412
Icon 5-piece - $225
etc. (like HF, NAPA often has sales or "Product of the Month" discounts, but I think the sales are generally pretty equivalent, so I'm not going to try to normalize for that)
I have Tekton wrenches, sockets and a couple ratchets. There's absolutely nothing wrong with any of them, and I'm 100% confident in Tekton's excellent customer service but based on what I've seen and what I own, overall they seem more comparable (and possibly from the same supplier in some cases) to HF's Quinn line than Icon. And where I have direct comparisons in-hand for Icon vs. Tekton (1/4" and 3/8" sockets, pear head ratchets), my Icon stuff is demonstrably a step up. The Icon sockets share less blanks, so the smaller sizes are shorter, especially in the 3/8" set, which has been super-handy on occasion, and the overall feel of the ratchet and the mechanism itself on the Icon is beefier than the Tekton, and subjectively feels better to me. I also prefer the Icon ratchet handle over the Tekton by a hair. (If I'm rating my ratchets, it's SO first, followed closely by Icon with SK a step back from both. Tekton is nice, but a clear 4th to the others).
I'm not trying to **** on Tekton at all - I think they have a great value-for-money strategy backed by excellent customer service, which is why I own a number of their tools.
Got an SAE set for my old Chevy, in case the old fasteners ever get too worn for a standard issue combo wrench.
demarpaint
Well-known member
I grabbed the Rocketsockets for an old Ford, I'm not sure if the Capri Wave wrenches would get any use from me . I'll be kicking it around a bit more.
I have a set of Rockets too. The Capri's offer a little more access in tight spaces. We'll find out how well they work when the weather warms up and I'm back in the garage.
Why not. You grab it and ask for 20% discount. Win winI’m sure this can happen with any brand of sockets but this shouldn’t be on display …
Odd-job
Well-known member
Unfortunately I am more likely to lose a tool than to have to exercise the warranty. A couple of clicks on Amazon and I feel a lot better rather than staring at the empty slot on the socket rail because I am an idiot.
Apparently you can buy singles from HF through some special number? This being said its a lot easier to add socket or two on top of the weekly household Amazon orders for me at least.
Apparently you can buy singles from HF through some special number? This being said its a lot easier to add socket or two on top of the weekly household Amazon orders for me at least.
seber
Well-known member
How much slop (backlash) is there in those wave sockets? It looks like it would be a serious issue.
bubinga
Well-known member
See, I don't care for those deep broached deep wells.
bubinga
Well-known member
Do you know if Capri offers a chrome semi deep socket in metric?Who knows? The RBRT wrenches were just released at the recent MAC tools dealer expo. The Capri wave drive wrenches are a more complete set of the Astro Flankbite damaged fastener removal wrenches. They grip damaged fasteners well. The RBRT wrenches look like they took the older MAC Edge anti slip design and put it in a precision torque wrench series body. Both are made in Taiwan.
Capri regular combination wrenches are the same as Tekton except for the name. As for Capri chrome sockets, they're just basic no frills get the job done type tools. To me, the advantage would be the availability of open stock with Capri. I would say Icon combination wrenches are nicer than the Capri/Tekton versions. In chrome sockets, I'd say it's a draw. Except, I would give Capri credit for not overpackaging their tools and their holders are much better than those thin plastic snap on cloned trays Icon uses.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Looking at their website, they don't list chrome semi deep.
Chrome Socket Sets Archives
capritools.com
bubinga
Well-known member
Thanks
bubinga
Well-known member
I'll say they went up.
I paid $32.44 for these in 2018.
Now, they are $85.00
TEKTON Combination Wrench Set, 15-Piece (8-22 mm) - Holder | 18792 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OZJN3PQ/?tag=atomicindus08-20
bubinga
Well-known member
Thanks, l just ordered the Icons!Looking at their website, they don't list chrome semi deep.
Chrome Socket Sets Archives