Icon Quarter Turn Snap Ring Pliers

[BrandonV]

Didn't see this posted here.

Any idea who is making these in the USA for Icon?

Quarter-Turn Convertible Retaining-Ring Pliers Set, 12-Piece

Amazing deals on this 12Pc Quarter Turn Retaining Ring Plier Set at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[Etchase]

Wilde maybe?

 

[Etchase]

Epstein’s has a large selection of snap ring pliers well priced, and available individually.

 

[BrandonV]

Epstein’s has a large selection of snap ring pliers well priced, and available individually.

Tempting. I only buy Knipex and Snap-on since they tend to best the best made.

The Icon are tempting purely from the warranty perspective. I'm glad to see they're adding more and more USA made tools.

 

[cgrutt]

I would have bought these a few weeks ago if I had know about them.

 

[Firebrick43]

Those look like wilde. Between them and stride they have made/rebranded convertable sets for half a dozen name brand companies

 

[Rusted Nut]

Interesting design!

 

[Etchase]

Tempting. I only buy Knipex and Snap-on since they tend to best the best made.

The Icon are tempting purely from the warranty perspective. I'm glad to see they're adding more and more USA made tools.

Wilde has a good lifetime warranty. I believe lang makes the snap on ones. I personally like Proto stuff. My version of the best.

 

[BrandonV]

Wilde has a good lifetime warranty. I believe lang makes the snap on ones. I personally like Proto stuff. My version of the best.

I'll have to check them out. Local warranty exchange is always a plus for me (however I don't need to do it that often if at all).

I like Proto but last time I had to warranty something (snap ring pliers - no joke!) around two years later I got a package in the mail from SB&D and had to think why they sent me a free tool.

 

[Ryan_340]

I'm not sure who is making them, but they are 100% match to my co workers MAC set. I compared them side by side.

 

[saltwater4life]

Yeah identical to my proto set at work. I have the other style icon snap ring pliers I’ve been happy with. I’m pretty sure Wilde owns the patent for quarter turn snap ring pliers

 

[nbpt100]

How is the pricing of the HF set to the Proto or Mac? I like that the Icon comes in a hard plastic case. Really good for taking it on service calls.

For reference here is the HF Icon pliers:

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

 

[BarrelRoll]

How is the pricing of the HF set to the Proto or Mac? I like that the Icon comes in a hard plastic case. Really good for taking it on service calls.

For reference here is the HF Icon pliers:

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

Looks like the proto set is $254 from Circle C Supply. I have the proto set at work, it's a decent set, not sure if it's worth $100 more than the icon set.

 

[Ryan_340]

$385 for the 12 PC. Mac set.

 

[nbpt100]

I'll have to check them out. Local warranty exchange is always a plus for me (however I don't need to do it that often if at all).

I like Proto but last time I had to warranty something (snap ring pliers - no joke!) around two years later I got a package in the mail from SB&D and had to think why they sent me a free tool.

A little off topic, but, I was getting ready to send in an older SBD ratchet that is skipping for warranty and when you mentioned it took two years to process it, I just lost my incentive. Not worth the long wait when I can buy a new one for $25 or so.

The HF icon snap ring pliers look even better at the price point that are at. For what it is worth i have an Icon large snap ring pliers set about 18-24 months years old and i am very satisfied with them. I don't use them a lot but when I do they have done the job.

 

[BrandonV]

A little off topic, but, I was getting ready to send in an older SBD ratchet that is skipping for warranty and when you mentioned it took two years to process it, I just lost my incentive. Not worth the long wait when I can buy a new one for $25 or so.

The HF icon snap ring pliers look even better at the price point that are at. For what it is worth i have an Icon large snap ring pliers set about 18-24 months years old and i am very satisfied with them. I don't use them a lot but when I do they have done the job.

My experience was during the height of the pandemic so not sure if their supply chain was messed up but it did put a sour taste in my mouth.

I'd honestly have a better feeling towards SB&D if I had a Mac tools truck or a business relationship with Grainger. I hear warranties are obviously a lot easier to execute thru distributors.

 

[Wamsutta]

It could very well be Imperial themselves making them for Harbor Freight. I find it very odd that an American manufacturer would be making tools for Harbor Freight, but I guess they're desperate for the business.

 

[dscheidt]

It could very well be Imperial themselves making them for Harbor Freight. I find it very odd that an American manufacturer would be making tools for Harbor Freight, but I guess they're desperate for the business.

AS long as HF are paying more than the marginal cost of the production, it's a good deal for the manufacturer, particularly one that's not selling them primarily under their own name. I'm more than a little surprised that HF aren't listing made in the usa on the product page, maybe they plan on a different supplier (or the oem is offshoring)? Most of the Icon stuff seems good quality (and a lot of it would have been world class 25 years ago), so if the best supplier of these is US based, that's what you do.

 

[M635_Guy]

I find it very odd that an American manufacturer would be making tools for Harbor Freight, but I guess they're desperate for the business.

Why would you find it odd that an American manufacturer would be making tools for an American-owned and -based tool retailer?

 

[Steve_P]

Why would you find it odd that an American manufacturer would be making tools for an American-owned and -based tool retailer?

Right. Like they'd rather lay a few people off, or make less $, than to sell to HF. Ummm.... In addition, HF sells some other US made stuff that's rebranded- Icon pry bars? Yes, I know very little, but...

 

[M635_Guy]

Right. Like they'd rather lay a few people off, or make less $, than to sell to HF. Ummm.... In addition, HF sells some other US made stuff that's rebranded- Icon pry bars? Yes, I know very little, but...

It's strange to me. People here criticize HF pretty harshly for their lack of MiUSA tools (I'll skip my opinions on that phenomenon) but still gripe and disparage when HF listens to them and adds more MiUSA tools.

I agree it's not a massive piece of their portfolio, but far more than they're getting credit for...