First sign of the G2 Icon ratchets ….

[M635_Guy]

How they're filling out this line confuses me. I personally don't give a **** about a 3/8" stubby (don't have one, have never wanted one), but would like to see them offer a 10" locking flex in 3/8" (essentially my Matco 88, which I'd probably sell). At 10" and under they seem to think you need a 1/4", which just isn't how I work - I use 3/8" most of the time unless I'm doing pretty small stuff and/or working in tight space. Maybe I'm just weird.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

How they're filling out this line confuses me. I personally don't give a **** about a 3/8" stubby (don't have one, have never wanted one), but would like to see them offer a 10" locking flex in 3/8" (essentially my Matco 88, which I'd probably sell). At 10" and under they seem to think you need a 1/4", which just isn't how I work - I use 3/8" most of the time unless I'm doing pretty small stuff and/or working in tight space. Maybe I'm just weird.

It’s because HF is releasing their version of the Snap-on ratchet line. It’s a mirror and I doubt you’d see anything launched from Icon’s ratchet lineup that doesn’t have a Snap-on equivalent. I don’t hate HF, in fact I shop there quite a bit for automotive stuff, but their inability to create new, competitive hand tools drives me nuts. Everything they are producing is 99% of the time a Snap-on copy. And I don’t even care about Snappy ratchets, I don’t personally like them, but c’mon HF just try something for once.

 

[Fedwrench]

How they're filling out this line confuses me. I personally don't give a **** about a 3/8" stubby (don't have one, have never wanted one), but would like to see them offer a 10" locking flex in 3/8" (essentially my Matco 88, which I'd probably sell). At 10" and under they seem to think you need a 1/4", which just isn't how I work - I use 3/8" most of the time unless I'm doing pretty small stuff and/or working in tight space. Maybe I'm just weird.

I thought the same thing when MAC tools first released their AXIS 90 tooth ratchets.
I believe there's 26 -29 of these new G2 ratchets coming out this year. I also believe that there is a 10 inch locking 3/8 drive flex head comfort grip ratchet among them. I know a G2 fixed head 10 inch long, 3/8 drive comfort grip ratchet was recently released.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

I thought the same thing when MAC tools first released their AXIS 90 tooth ratchets.
I believe there's 26 -29 of these new G2 ratchets coming out this year. I also believe that there is a 10 inch locking 3/8 drive flex head comfort grip ratchet among them. I know a G2 fixed head 10 inch long, 3/8 drive comfort grip ratchet was recently released.

MAC’s new Max90 lineup is also pretty confusing. Not a lot of options available for guys that want the chrome handles and a lot of long options only for the comfort grips. I guess they figure it would be smarter to push long comfort handles over anything else.

 

[Fedwrench]

MAC’s new Max90 lineup is also pretty confusing. Not a lot of options available for guys that want the chrome handles and a lot of long options only for the comfort grips. I guess they figure it would be smarter to push long comfort handles over anything else.

It might have a bit to do with which style of ratchet sells best and offers the wider profit margin

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

It might have a bit to do with which style of ratchet sells best and offers the wider profit margin

Oh, for sure there was some kind of collection of data points for SBD to dictate what to do. It’s just crazy to see what they ended up going with. My assumption is techs today like longer lengths with fatter grips.

 

[FTG-05]

It’s because HF is releasing their version of the Snap-on ratchet line. It’s a mirror and I doubt you’d see anything launched from Icon’s ratchet lineup that doesn’t have a Snap-on equivalent. I don’t hate HF, in fact I shop there quite a bit for automotive stuff, but their inability to create new, competitive hand tools drives me nuts. Everything they are producing is 99% of the time a Snap-on copy. And I don’t even care about Snappy ratchets, I don’t personally like them, but c’mon HF just try something for once.

I'm strangely comfortable with it.

Of course, the odds of me buying and owning anything Snap-on is somewhere between zilch and zero.

 

[M635_Guy]

It’s because HF is releasing their version of the Snap-on ratchet line. It’s a mirror and I doubt you’d see anything launched from Icon’s ratchet lineup that doesn’t have a Snap-on equivalent. I don’t hate HF, in fact I shop there quite a bit for automotive stuff, but their inability to create new, competitive hand tools drives me nuts. Everything they are producing is 99% of the time a Snap-on copy. And I don’t even care about Snappy ratchets, I don’t personally like them, but c’mon HF just try something for once.

The G2 line is closer to a Matco88 than a SO, but it's better IMHO - sealed head and a better soft grip (IMHO). My particular copy of the Matco88 had a very balky locking switch I assumed would break in but never did. The replacement head they sent me is better...but only sorta. It has broken in a bit though, so I guess we'll see. The Icon mechanism was better and perfect out of the box, and has improved a bit with use too.

All the hulaboo about being able to swap SO internals into an Icon is...silly... to me since doing that loses a better design (IMHO) of having a shoulder locating the gear in the head that the SO equivalent does not have. And while I like the Dual-80 mechanism and would agree it was likely head-and-shoulders over a lot of what was out there when it emerged, I don't see much difference at all between either of the Icon mechanisms (G1/G2) and the SO.

My point is the G2 ratchets are not copycat of SO at all IMHO and indirectly at best of Matco or anyone else. The locking mechanism is the same as GearWrench/Matco, but they're doing their own thing for the handle and the mechanism.

 

[blown94conv]

I'm strangely comfortable with it.

Of course, the odds of me buying and owning anything Snap-on is somewhere between zilch and zero.

That’s not entirely accurate, you just have the imported generic version of the Snap on tool.

 

[Steel_Rain]

Four new ones dropped today:

New Tools - Harbor Freight Tools

Explore our collection of new power tools, hand tools, air tools, tool storage, automotive equipment, generators, lawn and garden supplies, safety equipment, and more at Harbor Freight Tools.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[David99]

I think I've found the real first sign of the G2 Icon Ratchets...