Was at HF buying gloves and saw that my store was carrying the Icon stubby 3/8 ratchet. Since I was without one, I figured it was a perfect opportunity to pick one up and try out the Icon line.
Unboxing.
The packaging is very premium. Really nice. It also came with branded wipe cloth to keep your tool clean. The ratchet was placed in a nice plastic tray that you could use as a tray in your box if you were so inclined. Unfortunately, you'd have to destroy the outside packaging to do so. Since I don't have the space for individual ratchet trays I just left it as-is, but nice all the same.
Initial Quality
Taking it out the ratchet felt like a nice heavy duty unit. The chrome was nice and uniform although there were minor scratches in the chrome??? The 90-tooth felt really smooth and made a nice whirring noise on the backstroke. So it felt like a really nice ratchet!
Usage
Used it for the first time to change out some spark plugs. I actually tried to break a plug loose with the ratchet but being a stubby I didn't get all that much torque on it and had to get a regular sized ratchet to break the plugs loose.
After that though, having the stubby was so nice! I have a finger/thumb or palm ratchet as well but the stubby was much more comfortable. The 90-tooth probably didn't aid much in this particular job since there was plenty of room but it was smooth and pleasing to the ear.
Unfortunately, the pawl did slip three times on me and it happened during mid-stroke also so not like a tooth wasn't fully engaged after a back stroke. It did catch almost immediately after slipping but I figured what the hell, I'd return it and test the warranty process.
Warranty Claim
Took the ratchet and box back to HF and asked to exchange the ratchet. They asked for my receipt and unfortunately I complied. Should have tried it without the receipt to see what happened. But they got a new one out without any other questions and a couple of register clicks later I was back out the door.
From what I can recall, not quite as easy as a Craftsman exchange. The last CMan exchange I did I remember the Sears guy simply took my old one and reached under the counter and gave me a new/repaired ratchet but that was at least a decade ago. Still simple enough, but still wished I would have tried it without a receipt.
Unboxed the new one and similar initial quality as the first, minor scratches and all. I haven't had a chance to use the new ratchet but hopefully it does not slip on me like the last one. Probably something this afternoon and report back.
Unboxing.
The packaging is very premium. Really nice. It also came with branded wipe cloth to keep your tool clean. The ratchet was placed in a nice plastic tray that you could use as a tray in your box if you were so inclined. Unfortunately, you'd have to destroy the outside packaging to do so. Since I don't have the space for individual ratchet trays I just left it as-is, but nice all the same.
Initial Quality
Taking it out the ratchet felt like a nice heavy duty unit. The chrome was nice and uniform although there were minor scratches in the chrome??? The 90-tooth felt really smooth and made a nice whirring noise on the backstroke. So it felt like a really nice ratchet!
Usage
Used it for the first time to change out some spark plugs. I actually tried to break a plug loose with the ratchet but being a stubby I didn't get all that much torque on it and had to get a regular sized ratchet to break the plugs loose.
After that though, having the stubby was so nice! I have a finger/thumb or palm ratchet as well but the stubby was much more comfortable. The 90-tooth probably didn't aid much in this particular job since there was plenty of room but it was smooth and pleasing to the ear.
Unfortunately, the pawl did slip three times on me and it happened during mid-stroke also so not like a tooth wasn't fully engaged after a back stroke. It did catch almost immediately after slipping but I figured what the hell, I'd return it and test the warranty process.
Warranty Claim
Took the ratchet and box back to HF and asked to exchange the ratchet. They asked for my receipt and unfortunately I complied. Should have tried it without the receipt to see what happened. But they got a new one out without any other questions and a couple of register clicks later I was back out the door.
From what I can recall, not quite as easy as a Craftsman exchange. The last CMan exchange I did I remember the Sears guy simply took my old one and reached under the counter and gave me a new/repaired ratchet but that was at least a decade ago. Still simple enough, but still wished I would have tried it without a receipt.
Unboxed the new one and similar initial quality as the first, minor scratches and all. I haven't had a chance to use the new ratchet but hopefully it does not slip on me like the last one. Probably something this afternoon and report back.
