ICON brand tools
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Lookin4'67Galaxieconv
Well-known member
Basskiller
Well-known member
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SJay3660
Well-known member
I have a few, nice tools, gets the job done. Been switching most of my tools over to Tekton
Icon tools are fine. A tool is designed to do a job, nor more or less. If someone complains how it looks or feels, they are most likely echoing what their wife tells to them on a daily basis.
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Nothing to get excited about, ratchet wrenches and roto ratchets only thing that stands out a worthwhile offering with a decent coupon code ...
range coverage is piss poor and sitting fairly stagnent like most HF lines .
range coverage is piss poor and sitting fairly stagnent like most HF lines .
highland512
Well-known member
I picked up the 3/8 torque wrench. Its ok
This. Decent stuff, but certainly not bargain priced.
I've picked up a couple of items, but there is no way I'd try to fill an entire box with Icon tools. Too expensive and limited offerings. They're pushing their credit card now, so I don't see prices coming down.
It's still a nice option for "I need it now" now that Sears is gone.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Some of it is nice, some of it isn't so nice. They used to have some decent sales but, covid seems to have dried those up. ICON suppliers couldn't make a 3/8 drive flex head ratchet out of the gate that didn't bind and over a year later, they still haven't figured it out. 
Most of the Icon you tube videos are pure infomercials. Please keep that in the back of your mind as you view them.
Most of the Icon you tube videos are pure infomercials. Please keep that in the back of your mind as you view them.
demarpaint
Well-known member
I'd buy Tekton and pass on the Icon tools.
Ton ton
Well-known member
I like performance tool brand of wrenches. Not sure if they compare to Icon or not.
Ilikeike
ALLIANCE MEMBER
That ICON brand is the nicest stuff I've seen in a Harbor Freight.
I actually bought the large four piece over 1" wrench set for home, I rarely use that size around the house so didn't really want to pony up for a USA set.
I actually bought the large four piece over 1" wrench set for home, I rarely use that size around the house so didn't really want to pony up for a USA set.
Pittsburgh Pro is already very decent tools. Icon is in general better than most users need. Everyone is different. A home owner doesn't need or can not justify to spend the same amount of money that can be deducted from income by pros. So the decision will be a personal one. The problem with icon is they're too expensive and in some cases marginally better than Pittsburgh pro. You can find very specific information on YouTube. Asking information for a brand is in general useless to you.
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jgromada
Well-known member
I have a couple of different sets of Icon sockets. No issues work great.
I also have a 1/4 ratchet. Real smooth and i love using it.
I also have a 1/4 ratchet. Real smooth and i love using it.
I'm not a tool review guy... nor am I an online collector.
I use tools. Every single day, I use tools.
And if there has been one constant in my life of using tools, it's this - YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
Given that, if you are tackling a project and need some specialized tool that you are confident you are only going to use once or very few times, but some cheap ****.
However, if you are buying the building blocks for a tool set... something you are going to use for years and maybe even pass down, buy the absolute best you can afford. Spend the money. In the long run, it's cheaper.
I could absolutely be wrong. As I said, I don't really collect tools or review them in any real capacity... BUT, I would never consider buying foundation tools at Harbor Freight - even if I was limited by budget.
Instead, get on eBay and search for some old USA Craftsman stuff. Or go to yard sales and pawn shops and look for SK, Snap-On, etc... good used stuff...
If you are smart, patient, and practical you can build a very high end tool set for as much or less than you can buy some ******** at Harbor Freight.
I use tools. Every single day, I use tools.
And if there has been one constant in my life of using tools, it's this - YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
Given that, if you are tackling a project and need some specialized tool that you are confident you are only going to use once or very few times, but some cheap ****.
However, if you are buying the building blocks for a tool set... something you are going to use for years and maybe even pass down, buy the absolute best you can afford. Spend the money. In the long run, it's cheaper.
I could absolutely be wrong. As I said, I don't really collect tools or review them in any real capacity... BUT, I would never consider buying foundation tools at Harbor Freight - even if I was limited by budget.
Instead, get on eBay and search for some old USA Craftsman stuff. Or go to yard sales and pawn shops and look for SK, Snap-On, etc... good used stuff...
If you are smart, patient, and practical you can build a very high end tool set for as much or less than you can buy some ******** at Harbor Freight.
Mekks082
Active member
The torque wrench's seem to be pretty decent and have great reviews. Nothing else really stood out for the cost.
ThePostman
Well-known member
I have the 1/2" flex head. I use it daily. It's a pretty damn good ratchet. I lean and cheat on it hard and have done cash job parking lot suspension jobs with it. That being said, my only beef is that the flex head pivot bolt likes to back out. Just pay attention to it and it's a really good value, especially since I got it with the coupon. It was 50 or a little less out the door. Again daily shop use since at least first quarter.
I have the 3/8 comfort grip standard. From time to time there's a little slop. If you put a wrench on the handle, it will permanently indent. Did it to loosen an oil drain plug out of curiousity. I'm done with ratchets with grips. It's an ok ratchet. I use it with a 12 point as a tap wrench mostly.
Surprise underdog I seem to like. The sunex low profile 3/8 standard length that comes with their nano sockets. People ***** about the selector switching, I haven't had that, I think its fat fingers. The handle is nice, not knurled, but shaped well, weight is nice, and I've submitted it to daily use for a few months.
I have the 3/8 comfort grip standard. From time to time there's a little slop. If you put a wrench on the handle, it will permanently indent. Did it to loosen an oil drain plug out of curiousity. I'm done with ratchets with grips. It's an ok ratchet. I use it with a 12 point as a tap wrench mostly.
Surprise underdog I seem to like. The sunex low profile 3/8 standard length that comes with their nano sockets. People ***** about the selector switching, I haven't had that, I think its fat fingers. The handle is nice, not knurled, but shaped well, weight is nice, and I've submitted it to daily use for a few months.
Kscardsfan
Well-known member
They’re not bad. I’ve got a smattering of stuff from icon that I used coupons and friends employee discounts on that I like. But I’m not a pro by any stretch. For shade tree mechanics and tinkerers like myself it’s good stuff. I also have a literal pile of various vintage Craftsman, SK round head and LP90, and a couple of odd Snap-On ratchets I’ve acquired over the years to compare them against. I don’t think they’re Matco or Snap-On killers, but they’re a good jump ahead of their normal made in China ****. And certainly as good or better than the current offerings from Craftsman.
Cryptic1911
Well-known member
The icon wrenches and ratchets seem quite nice, but I don't have any. I did pick up one of their small torque wrenches and it's fantastic. Very nice quality. A little pricey, but its way nicer than the usa craftsmans I have
wow, hard to imagine what made you pick this topic to chime in on.
can't say i disagree with much of anything you stated above. except.......your complete dismissal of harbor freight. i have some icon sockets and have been using them pretty regular for the last year or so. they are not ******** and perform as well any of my other sockets. are they better? no but they are certainly not garbage.
Robbie B
Well-known member
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I have heard mixed things on them. My coworker bought a set of their sockets when they were first released he cracked the 13mm on a brake caliper bolt so he took it back to the store they ripped open a set gave him that one and discounted the other set. He sold the set on eBay for what he paid for it so he was happy lol. From what I have heard Pittsburgh Pro is where it’s at. I buy all different brands as a professional mechanic and Pittsburgh Pro has been fine for breaker bars and sockets. I’d go with Sunex, Tekton, SK, Kobalt or the Pittsburgh Pro.
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BrandoJames
Well-known member
Agreed. Frequency of use is a big factor--particularly for DIYers. I just bought a cheap $40 engine compression test kit via Autozone while working on my mum's Camry. How often will I use that compression kit? I may never use it again. I also own professional quality Snap-on and Matco ratchets that I picked up used on eBay. I use those ratchets a lot, and like to think those tools will eventually go to my son one day.
Some of the Craftsman USA stuff is getting a bit pricey on eBay. A year ago, I tried putting together a set of Craftsman Professional USA combo wrenches, buying them individually off eBay. I paid quite a bit, between $15-$20 a pop. As one guy posted here, I could've picked up a new Williams combo set for about the same money. He was right--I really didn't think that through. You have to be smart about what you're doing, even on eBay.
carterbeauford
Well-known member
Anyone know if they plan to expand the Icon line? It's pretty limited. I'd like to see pliers.
I think you're definitely wrong. There are plenty of people out there wrenching every day and earning money on tools from HF. And while the finishing on P-Pro stuff is often a little rough, I can't recall one coming up as a FAIL in one of the biggest threads on this forum. For the most part, they're fine to good. The Icon line as a whole is good (there are a couple exceptions that are only fine) and goes all the way up to excellent.
I don't earn money with my tools, but I use them enough and have a mixed enough set of things that I think I'd see the bad spots (e.g. my Icon ratchets vs. my Tekton and Snap On). But I don't
I tend to reach for the SO 3/8", but still prefer my Icon roto 1/4" to my Snap On.I think it's a travesty that one of the first thing that seems to happen to most guys who enter the profession of being and auto tech is they're sold a bill of goods that they need hideously-overpriced box full of very expensive tools. It's just a payment, right? They'd be far-better served by getting a USG box and a bunch of HF wrenches, ratchets, sockets, etc. and put that $25-$50 a week in a freaking IRA. (Other than the box, you could substitute Tekton or even Napa Carlyle in that sentence, but whatever).
Harbor Freight is still trying to live down the **** quality they delivered 20 years ago, but these days their core tools deliver pretty damn good quality. The Icon and Doyle lines are (overall) a healthy step up from that. Their power tools line is flawed mainly because they have a terribly battery platform/portfolio, but there's a lot of value-for-money in the basic lines (though there are some stinkers), but there are generally at least two more tiers to go up for better quality/power/features/whatever. Even AvE gave a fair amount of love the the Earthquake impact a while back for quality of design, components, etc.
I'm not an HF flunky, but I'm also not holding any grudges from a couple decades ago. I choose tools carefully, and have a lot of non-HF brands in my (USG
) cart and box, but I'm not unhappy with any tool I've gotten from HF. :dunnovisionguru
Well-known member
I recently bought Icon crowfoot metric set, and was quite impressed with the quality. Icon is probably among the best store branded tools, similar to Carlyle. The next level is truck brands.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
I have the ICON reversible ratcheting wrench set which I really like because they are truly long pattern and the ICON branded super long dual ratcheting box wrench set made by KABO which is a premier Taiwan brand. Haven't used their ratchets or sockets but I love the wrenches and I'll compare them to any truck brand.
^
I have the long reversible set and the 2 style of kabo ring wrench sets all in metric and been using them good 10 months professionally on auto and light farm equipment repair and they doing fine .
For price with coupon of 20 to 30% they fair price considering current usable life warranty and tool design is decent, long combo ratchet wrenches with normal open end are nice and handle fastener loosening with ease if just full hand force and no silly cheater use (most do as it tooth wear from constant ratchet swing cycle and dirt ingress that causes most problems) .
Only a few tool gems truly pro viable under ICON and HF brands but if you make most of each brands best offerings you get a great tool kit .
I have the long reversible set and the 2 style of kabo ring wrench sets all in metric and been using them good 10 months professionally on auto and light farm equipment repair and they doing fine .
For price with coupon of 20 to 30% they fair price considering current usable life warranty and tool design is decent, long combo ratchet wrenches with normal open end are nice and handle fastener loosening with ease if just full hand force and no silly cheater use (most do as it tooth wear from constant ratchet swing cycle and dirt ingress that causes most problems) .
Only a few tool gems truly pro viable under ICON and HF brands but if you make most of each brands best offerings you get a great tool kit .
ThePostman
Well-known member
Long-handled 1/2" flex head ratchet. I've used it for most of the year, everyday in an auto shop environment, and side work where I may not have access to air and or a lift, and I've been pretty happy with it, especially for 45 or 50 with a coupon.
Meh, pliers are cheap, I can't imagine anything they come up with will be even a little exciting for the price they will charge.
It appears those are in the "Doyle" line
seber
Well-known member
I'm sort of in the market for a new 1/2" flex ratchet. My Snap-ons are all low tooth count. So I was in HF and looked at the Icon. Then went to Home depot and checked Tecton. For $34 I think the Tecton is at least as good if not better. The kicker is that Tekton is a real company and you can expect the warranty to be around indefinitely. Who knows about Icon.
yeh the doyle and bremen lines have some pretty usable offerings and with vouchers they offer good value .
If want get fussy with needle nose and side cutter ability then you got go known top tier brands and spend a bit more but for general basic pliers in general basic use they got stuff that do job perfectly fine .
amazing !
who really gives a flip on lifetime warranty on a 30buck ratchet .
ICON soctet ratchets are nothing special and plenty other choices at the price range offering more useful design .
Most important thing is aim for a nice designed tool that works well and if it got a usable warranty then it maybe a bonus if still usable and still offering same tool quality couple decades down the road .
experience tells me most of these brands won't be lol .
who really gives a flip on lifetime warranty on a 30buck ratchet .
ICON soctet ratchets are nothing special and plenty other choices at the price range offering more useful design .
Most important thing is aim for a nice designed tool that works well and if it got a usable warranty then it maybe a bonus if still usable and still offering same tool quality couple decades down the road .
experience tells me most of these brands won't be lol .
Moose97
Well-known member
I was gifted by my son an Icon low profile ratchet in 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" drives. I have been very pleased with their performance. Those are the only Icon tools I've used.
carterbeauford
Well-known member
I see. I don't trust a $6 pair of pliers. I'll stick with my Talon Grips.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
The Doyle line is really good value for money. In fact I'd say the best value for money available at Harbor Freight and you can use a 20% off coupon with this line as well. I have several of their pliers, diagonals and their sort of multitool electrical pliers/strippers/boltcutter thing and it's great.