ICON 3/8 Semi-deep chrome

[geojag]

I picked up a set of the GearWrench semi-deep/mid-length shortly after they came out at a pawn shop for a good deal. 6-19mm with no skips. They are the set I grab when I am getting into something new. The ICON set does look like a good entry option, but the knurling is quite a bit less than on the gear wrench set (my early set at least).

 

[Madjik Man]

I picked up a set of the GearWrench semi-deep/mid-length shortly after they came out at a pawn shop for a good deal. 6-19mm with no skips. They are the set I grab when I am getting into something new. The ICON set does look like a good entry option, but the knurling is quite a bit less than on the gear wrench set (my early set at least).

Those are really nice looking.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

i bought a set of the sae ones this morning, they weren't even on the pegs yet, guy had to go get them from the back.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

they are 1 3/8 long

 

[Marvin Berry]

i bought a set of the sae ones this morning, they weren't even on the pegs yet, guy had to go get them from the back.

Same thing happened to me yesterday. Took them awhile to find them too.

 

[ecotec]

These must be very new as no reviews yet online.... I wonder what the length is as semi-deeps can be slightly different. My Snap On semi-deep set is 1-5/8" Long and my Gearwrench mid-length set is 1-3/4" long... Still have only Mac or Snap On for 12 pt's as far as I am aware.

The length is the same or close to Snap-on.

I also have Carlyle, and they are longer than both.

 

[Blain]

I had to come back to the thread and check out the picture in the OP. I got my metric set in and noticed the sizes are upside down if you have them on an organizer.

 

[Madjik Man]

I had to come back to the thread and check out the picture in the OP. I got my metric set in and noticed the sizes are upside down if you have them on an organizer.

That’s idiotic.

 

[milky2k]

Icon sockets are just copying the Snap On size direction so Snap On must be idiotic too. Really it's a minor thing. Any socket may be upside down depending on your organizer. If you have socket rails or are using the Icon tray just turn your organizer 180 degrees and it will be fine. Also they are right side up on a Hansen tray.

 

[Madjik Man]

If Snap On orientates the stamping that way, then yes it’s idiotic too.

 

[milky2k]

If Snap On orientates the stamping that way, then yes it’s idiotic too.

I thought that sort of talk was blasphemy around these parts.

 

[Madjik Man]

I thought that sort of talk was blasphemy around these parts.

I fully expect:

 

[ihateminimumwage]

The stamping is just doing the knock off Snappy thing for the Hansen socket holders.

Gearwrench 3/8" mids in MM and SAE (plus MAC in 15/16 & 1") are my daily use sockets for 90% of my day to day.

 

[Mr_B]

The stamping is same font style and orientation as snapon .
Another example of why you best not copying everything and having some design and engineering input of your own lol . Even Snapon sockets can be improved by simple things like ergonomics, larger size stamping and stamping orientation lol .
Smarter people in the ICON team would of mixed in design elements from koken, stahlwille gedore mac and even gearwrench .
ICON sockets are pretty good and easy for all to buy in a local store with pretty good prices/coupons and current useful warranty potential .

 

[qqzj]

Why bother if the customers are happy enough? Exact copying with lowest cost and selling price is the winning strategy.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Why bother if the customers are happy enough? Exact copying with lowest cost and selling price is the winning strategy.

Pride in creating a top notch product.

I know, I'd never make it in business school.

 

[M6erfan]

They look OK for the price point. But why on earth, if starting from scratch on the design, would they not include knurling like GW, OEM or Hazet style? Not everything about S-o sockets are "awesome".

 

[Mr_B]

Why bother if the customers are happy enough? Exact copying with lowest cost and selling price is the winning strategy.

the advantage would be recognition of being more than a copying low cost sloppy retailer to having some true level of innovation and design that makes the tools more useful/user friendly & gives a respected long term brand/company image and more potential customer growth ...
One method uses marketing BS and copying high priced brand design elements to make the sales the other uses product knowledge and product design that would sell itself and create a respected brand/company .
Unfortunatly HF still prefers the first option ...

 

[M6erfan]

You do realize what this kind of intellectual property theft does to your own country right? It’s one thing to save a buck or 2 here and there. But to fully endorse this practice blindly is ignorant.

This is the same thing Asian car companies have been doing for years. No R&D, inventiveness and creativity. Just stealing our hard work.

It kills the North American economy and also lines the pockets of China regime. A country I might add that is the biggest threat to our way of live since the Nazis.

Just sayin…

You might want to rethink that statement. The Japanese ate our lunch years ago (car manufacturing wise).

 

[Shop-hound]

You might want to rethink that statement. The Japanese ate our lunch years ago (car manufacturing wise).

I won’t deny they make great cars. And the (now) investment in facilities in North America and some R&D helps. But the source of the data back in 70s/80s was directly lifted from the big 3.


The taking of hard won designs and Engineering is what gets my goat. And especially in this case the brainless copy catting.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

You might want to rethink that statement. The Japanese ate our lunch years ago (car manufacturing wise).

I don't think any of the big 3 Japanese manufacturers are dumb enough to copy domestic designs/build quality.

 

[boom_bap]

Companies will be copying each other for the rest of human existence. It is part of the evolution of technology and a competitive market. One company pushed their industry a step forward, the other companies catch up and or surpass, repeat. Good example is the power tool industry.

 

[M6erfan]

I won’t deny they make great cars. And the (now) investment in facilities in North America and some R&D helps. But the source of the data back in 70s/80s was directly lifted from the big 3.


The taking of hard won designs and Engineering is what gets my goat. And especially in this case the brainless copy catting.

Really? My recollection is that the Japanese did pretty much the opposite of U.S. car manufacturers in the 70's and 80's. What data?

 

[qqzj]

Pride in creating a top notch product.

I know, I'd never make it in business school.

That's assuming those who are complaining have valid points. But if they are, shouldn't Snap On already taken care of those complaints? So who is going to be to the judge? If HF decides that SO is worth copying, making carbon copy is the right thing to do.

 

[Madjik Man]

You do realize what this kind of intellectual property theft does to your own country right? It’s one thing to save a buck or 2 here and there. But to fully endorse this practice blindly is ignorant.

This is the same thing Asian car companies have been doing for years. No R&D, inventiveness and creativity. Just stealing our hard work.

It kills the North American economy and also lines the pockets of China regime. A country I might add that is the biggest threat to our way of live since the Nazis.

Just sayin…

The US likes to claim it’s a democratic republic nation.

But the reality is we are a capitalistic nation.

It’s what corporations and our government want.

What you’re describing above is a component of capitalism. It’s what we are.

ps: thank god the Japanese didn’t steal anything from GM o Ford. They produce superior automobiles.

 

[Firebrick43]

I had to come back to the thread and check out the picture in the OP. I got my metric set in and noticed the sizes are upside down if you have them on an organizer.

No they are not? If the sockets are in a laydown or hansen type organizer they are they are printed the right way.

If the sockets are on an organizer that is drive side down its hard to impossible to see the size anyway due to how many other sockets are around it so what does it matter?

 

[Shop-hound]

Admittedly should be more specific to China copying (everyone else’s) designs:

A Recent History of Chinese Car Companies Blatantly Stealing Designs

Why spend money on a designer when other companies have already done so?

amp.www.complex.com

And point taken about the recent few years of North American car quality. I mostly drive and work on trucks from the big 3 (oil patch Alberta). And they still rule the roost.

For “normal” daily driver cars I have seen some pretty atrocious designs (Chevy Cruze) working on family members cars.

 

[Firebrick43]

Really? My recollection is that the Japanese did pretty much the opposite of U.S. car manufacturers in the 70's and 80's. What data?

The data in Dr Demings head, data he gathered during the war effort that the big three for some odd reason purposely ignored after the hostilities ended. The japanese revere him almost as a god.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Edwards_Deming

 

[M6erfan]

The data in Dr Demings head, data he gathered during the war effort that the big three for some odd reason purposely ignored after the hostilities ended. The japanese revere him almost as a god.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._Edwards_Deming

Great. But how does this relate to "stealing our hard work"? Especially in the 70's and 80's as mr. @Shop-hound suggested?

 

[Shop-hound]

Great. But how does this relate to "stealing our hard work"? Especially in the 70's and 80's as mr. @Shop-hound suggested?

Dr. Demings is American… That said there’s nothing wrong with sharing ideas and building on them (six sigma) which wasn’t the point of my post.

 

[M6erfan]

Dr. Demings is American… That said there’s nothing wrong with sharing ideas and building on them (six sigma) which wasn’t the point of my post.

What was/is your point?

 

[Shop-hound]

What was/is your point?

The R&D and Engineering put into great products costs money. When we accept the copies we don’t reward the originator and discourage innovation. It’s a slippery slope.

There are many cases of blatant copies and we would all be better served to be more mindful in supporting innovation and industry.

 

[qqzj]

The inventors got their share of profits before patents expired. Asking for protection after that is anti human evolution, and not supported anywhere except maybe some online forums?

 

[Blain]

No they are not? If the sockets are in a laydown or hansen type organizer they are they are printed the right way.

If the sockets are on an organizer that is drive side down its hard to impossible to see the size anyway due to how many other sockets are around it so what does it matter?

Out of an entire drawer with over 15 sets of sockets it's the only one different. Why does it matter???

 

[2ndGearRubber]

That's assuming those who are complaining have valid points. But if they are, shouldn't Snap On already taken care of those complaints? So who is going to be to the judge? If HF decides that SO is worth copying, making carbon copy is the right thing to do.

Snap on did, with the FDX sockets. Undercut at the base to ease removal.

That's why I don't care for copying. No thought is put into it. Everything should be a choice to be made. Even if that choice is just lowering cost

 

[Firebrick43]

Out of an entire drawer with over 15 sets of sockets it's the only one different. Why does it matter???

As for 1 out of 15 sets being different, Its not our fault that you don't own socket sets by one of the largest(if not largest) single brand of hand tools

I don't know why it matters, but you made it a point to point it out. Then people went on to make comments about it being idiotic based on your statement. All without knowing why.

 

[qqzj]

Snap on did, with the FDX sockets. Undercut at the base to ease removal.

That's why I don't care for copying. No thought is put into it. Everything should be a choice to be made. Even if that choice is just lowering cost

Snap On might have patented it and making it hard to copy. Anyway, it adds to cost and HF is trying to maximize the profit. Making a better socket is not the same as making profitable product.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Snap On might have patented it and making it hard to copy. Anyway, it adds to cost and HF is trying to maximize the profit. Making a better socket is not the same as making profitable product.

I seriously doubt a groove is patented, but I'm not an attorney.

That's why I said I'm not in business school. I'd accept making less, and a superior product, than maximizing profit. Same deal at work, avoiding high pressure ******** sales techniques on cheapo oil changes. Let the customer/client know you'll take care of them and advocate for them. "hey this is pretty rusty, don't spend money you don't need to, save it for the new car in 24months". Build a quality product 1st. Take pride in what you do. That's why copying is lame to me.

I don't want to "compare to snap on". I want to compete and win.

 

[M635_Guy]

Snap on did, with the FDX sockets. Undercut at the base to ease removal.

That's why I don't care for copying. No thought is put into it. Everything should be a choice to be made. Even if that choice is just lowering cost

There is zero doubt in my mind that if IP protection didn't expire, you'd hate that it didn't, I promise you. The good news is that the inventor of a technology tends to stick around beyond their patent, so most often you have the chance to buy what you perceive to be the better tool from the inventor.

Expiry of patents/intellectual property is the cornerstone of healthy, vibrant and competitive industry. Protection of monopolies has an utterly horrible history on scales large and small.

 

[M6erfan]

The R&D and Engineering put into great products costs money. When we accept the copies we don’t reward the originator and discourage innovation. It’s a slippery slope.

There are many cases of blatant copies and we would all be better served to be more mindful in supporting innovation and industry.

Agreed. But what does that have to do with Japan automakers in the 70's and 80's? Again, they ate our lunch, by innovating and doing pretty much the opposite of Detroit.