Icon made in USA snap ring pliers
- Thread starter TexF18
- Start date
fourjeepin
Well-known member
I’ve given up on removable tips. I break one about every other time. Never bent or broken a regular tip.
The quarter turn set looks to be the same as Lang. They both offer a 12 piece set but Lang's is actually cheaper.
www.jbtools.com
Or orange handles with free shipping from Amazon.
Lang Snap Ring Pliers Set https://a.co/d/5bqng3T
Of course if you've got a good HF coupon, they're probably pretty close and you get that warranty.
Lang Tools 12-Pc Combination Int/Ext Retaining Ring Pliers Set (3495)
Manage internal and external snap rings with ease using Lang Tools 12-Pc Combination Int/Ext Retaining Ring Pliers Set. Features 12 fixed-tip pliers in .038" to .090" sizes, with 0°, 45° & 90° angles.
www.jbtools.com
Or orange handles with free shipping from Amazon.
Lang Snap Ring Pliers Set https://a.co/d/5bqng3T
Of course if you've got a good HF coupon, they're probably pretty close and you get that warranty.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
No doubt they are Lange but I will not use interchangeable tips so I would go with the first option. Just don't like interchangeable tips. For snap ring pliers I go with Knipex.
demarpaint
Well-known member
I agree, buy once cry once.
gizardlizard
Well-known member
Absolutely agree. The removable tip pliers ****!!! Buy the good ones. You’ll be so much happier you did.
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
I have the Lange branded set of non-replaceable tips and they work great for me in AZ where we don't deal with rust. I'm just glad to see HF sourcing more stuff domestically.
wantedabiggergarage
Member Emeritus
I have/use the removable tip version at work (something like a total of three snap rings, that it works fine for), then I bought the Lang/Craftsman version years ago for automotive/rust issues. Light duty the replacement tip is fine for, but as above long term your better off with the Lang.
Nick Rivers
Well-known member
6 piece set ICON at HF:
6 piece set Knipex at KC Tool:
6 piece set Knipex at KC Tool:
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
For another $60, I'd probably go Knipex.
Kind of apples to oranges though, right? I mean, the quarter turn set gives you essentially 12 pairs, because each set is convertible from inside to outside.6 piece set ICON at HF:
6 piece set Knipex at KC Tool:
I have this set and it's decent ($40 at HD right now):
Channellock 8 in. Retaining Snap Ring Pliers 927 - The Home Depot
Acquire the Channellock 8 in. Retaining Ring Pliers 927, with spring-activated latch for easy storage includes 5 interchangeable tips and converts quickly for use with either external or internal rings
www.homedepot.com
I have that set as well. I keep it in my road box because it doesn't take up any space. But if you have the space, I wouldn't want to mess with interchangeable tips for everyday use.I have this set and it's decent ($40 at HD right now):
Channellock 8 in. Retaining Snap Ring Pliers 927 - The Home Depot
Acquire the Channellock 8 in. Retaining Ring Pliers 927, with spring-activated latch for easy storage includes 5 interchangeable tips and converts quickly for use with either external or internal ringswww.homedepot.com
Attachments
I have that same set and broke a tip first time I used it. The tool itself seems well made. Ive broken those replaceable tips from other brands (Blue Point etc) they work fine for infrequent use but are sometimes a PITA.I have this set and it's decent ($40 at HD right now):
Channellock 8 in. Retaining Snap Ring Pliers 927 - The Home Depot
Acquire the Channellock 8 in. Retaining Ring Pliers 927, with spring-activated latch for easy storage includes 5 interchangeable tips and converts quickly for use with either external or internal ringswww.homedepot.com
Ive wanted to buy that USA made Harbor Freight set since they came out but haven't pulled the trigger yet. I have a couple of the very large ICON snap ring pliers which i havent had any issues with and worked great on some large snap rings on wife's Mercedes. I also purchased several Wilde USA Made pliers that I used on my truck's transmission rebuild. The Wildes seem to be very well made and worked perfectly. I may just fill in the sizes I dont have with those vs the ICON set. This is one of those tool sets that I'd like to buy but don't really have a need to use them all that much.
I hear ya about the replaceable tips. I have fixed tip unidirectionals as well:
four.cycle
Well-known member
^ Essentially the same as the Craftsman I paid $34 for several years ago.
As 99% of use is simply for disassembling ratchets, it works just fine.
Not sure I'd want to tackle anything much larger, as they're fairly lightweight.
Bagherra
Well-known member
I have this set and wouldnt waste it on a broke **** dog......worthlessI have this set and it's decent ($40 at HD right now):
Channellock 8 in. Retaining Snap Ring Pliers 927 - The Home Depot
Acquire the Channellock 8 in. Retaining Ring Pliers 927, with spring-activated latch for easy storage includes 5 interchangeable tips and converts quickly for use with either external or internal ringswww.homedepot.com
I wouldn't buy a broke **** dog or use snap ring pliers on one either!
Look at the Icon description again, holy sh**, these are the big snap ring pliers up to 4" not dinky little ones like the knipex so many are stroking off to. Interchangeable tips is all you get in this size and probably all just rebranded lang.
Knipex make fixed tip pliers that deal with shafts and bores up to 140mm (5.5"). Bigger than that, they're interchangable tips. They are not inexpensive, about 50 or 60 a pop, last I looked at them.
the icons are pretty clearly rebrands of Lang, which are excellent pliers, though HF have added a hefty markup to them.
Any link to those knipex? I search and the largest set I could find was 9in pliers. You're not moving much of a snap ring with that small of a lever. Even those langs take some force to move heavy duty 2" rings.
Another "hell no" to interchangeable tips. Even if I only need to use it once a year, I don't want to have to swap parts and assemble the damn thing and spend 10X more time changing parts than using it. I had a pair decades ago and had issues with the 90* tips rotating. They went into the trash and were replaced with a set from HF that was similar to the Lang, and no failures with them- they were made in Taiwan and quite good for the $; I used them a lot working on small engines.
I now have the Knipex with the piano wire tips; they're a pleasure to use. If you don't want to spend that much $, then get the Lang set as it's a bargain.
I now have the Knipex with the piano wire tips; they're a pleasure to use. If you don't want to spend that much $, then get the Lang set as it's a bargain.
https://www.knipex-tools.com/produc.../internal-snap-ring-pliers-forged-tips/4411J4
That's an internal pair, 12.5" long, good to 5.5".
do some clicking from there, and you can find the rest. I don't think they make a set of the bigger ones, probably because they're specialized, and people buy them as they need them.
paulsomlo
Well-known member
From Amazon.de:
used mult different size sets of these, i like them for occasional use and havent had any issues for years nowI have this set and it's decent ($40 at HD right now):
Channellock 8 in. Retaining Snap Ring Pliers 927 - The Home Depot
Acquire the Channellock 8 in. Retaining Ring Pliers 927, with spring-activated latch for easy storage includes 5 interchangeable tips and converts quickly for use with either external or internal ringswww.homedepot.com
i have these non convertible type icons for years now too (first icon tool i ever saw in store) and havent had any issues
I thought the quarter turn pliers like the Icons are made by Imperial.
imperial-tools.com
I have Lang pliers, but they are either a thumb screw or a different style of quarter turn that do not come apart when converting between internal/external.
The large interchangeable tip Icon pliers also looks similar to the ones Imperial makes.
imperial-tools.com
QTR-Turn® Convertibles - Imperial Tools
FIXED TIP CONVERTIBLE PLIERS FOR 1/4” TO 3-1/2” RINGS• Quickly and easily converts from internal (rings in a housing or bore) to externalapplications (rings on a shaft).• Pivot will not loosen while using tool.• Unique patented design provides stability.• Low profile “T-Knob” for working
imperial-tools.com
The large interchangeable tip Icon pliers also looks similar to the ones Imperial makes.
Heavy Duty Replaceable Tip Pliers - Imperial Tools
Heavy Duty Replaceable Tip Pliers THE PROFESSIONAL’S CHOICE FOR INTERMEDIATE SIZE 1–1/2” TO 4” RINGS IR-50K HEAVY DUTY PLIERS SET • Two replaceable tip pliers (internal and external) with 8 pairs of tips take the place of 16 separate pliers! • Spring ratchet lock mechanism
imperial-tools.com
I was in harbor freight and saw that this kit and a convertible tip version were both made in USA. Are these any good. Currently have a set of craftsmans with the tips. Kind of a pain but only use them every so often.
I have the full non convertible set. Very good.
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
From Amazon.de:
That's a nice set for the money, and Austrian made according to the pics.
Interesting nothing came up for large sizes even individually.
isb cornbinder
Well-known member
I bought a full set of SK convertible snap-ring pliers. I discovered that these pliers are the same as OTC, SnapOn and MAC. I do not have a picture, yet, to show this. The only difference is in the colour of the handles
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Probably Stride-Imperial making those for Icon.
Even if that sumbitch was dug in like an Alabama tick?
There are different pliers for that.
Just a heads, these are no longer made in USA - classic Harbor Freight bait-and-switch, they even covered up the Made in USA flag on their product packaging - also they are on sale for ITC members for $49 this week for obvious reasons
Love me some Harbor Freight
Love me some Harbor Freight
I looked at the Icon fixed tip / non-convertible set in the post above mine, last time it was marked down to $50. Ultimately, I decided to buy a Knipex set for something like 3x the cost. I think the Icon is probably a great value though.