ICON Socket——color me unimpressed

[AEAdam]

If you're talking aerospace here's an interesting fact. All of the tools used on the SR-71 blackbird were black oxide and came in unique tool boxes. Apparently the cadmium and chrome used in the plating process would cause the titanium skin to fracture under stress if any chrome tools touched the titanium. MP's routinely inspected all toolboxes for any sign of chrome. These special toolboxes were shipped ahead of the Blackbirds to Okinawa prior to their arrival and left when they did. I was told this by my friend Ed Posavac who worked on the SR-71.

Never heard that and that doesn’t make sense to me. I know that the SR-71 leaked fuel badly. The rumor I heard was that non sparking tools were required because the hangar floors were always wet. But JP-7 isn’t gasoline. A spark shouldn’t ignite it.

 

[dnschmidt]

Never heard that and that doesn’t make sense to me. I know that the SR-71 leaked fuel badly. The rumor I heard was that non sparking tools were required because the hangar floors were always wet. But JP-7 isn’t gasoline. A spark shouldn’t ignite it.

Had nothing to do with igniting fuel. Had to do with a chemical reaction between whatever is in the chrome and the titanium skin of the plane itself when the plane was flying at over 2,000 miles per hour and the skin of the aircraft got super hot. I was told this by Ed as the Blackbirds that overflew North Vietnam were stationed in Okinawa during the war as was Ed who worked on them.

 

[AEAdam]

Had nothing to do with igniting fuel. Had to do with a chemical reaction between whatever is in the chrome and the titanium skin of the plane itself when the plane was flying at over 2,000 miles per hour and the skin of the aircraft got super hot. I was told this by Ed as the Blackbirds that overflew North Vietnam were stationed in Okinawa during the war as was Ed who worked on them.

Interesting. I’m not familiar with this. Sounds like Cad was the problem, maybe not chrome, but who knows.

“Titanium alloys presented numerous challenges because of adverse chemical reactions between the metal and various materials and compounds commonly used in aircraft construction and maintenance. To prevent corrosion and stress-corrosion cracking at high temperatures, it was imperative that titanium parts be prevented from contacting such materials as cadmium, mercury, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, astatine, and iodine. Certain common hand tools were cadmium-plated and some marking materials (pens and pencils) contained chemicals that caused corrosion. Contaminating elements also could be found in the composition of solvents, adhesive tapes, paints, packing materials, plastics, fire extinguishing agents, cleaning agents, and other materials commonly used in aircraft maintenance. Technicians and maintenance personnel were required to be vigilant, and use only compatible materials from approved lists.”

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20090007797/downloads/20090007797.pdf

 

[sandyeyes]

The icon pliers are the best value in tools right now. Good pliers I can use hard and replace if they break or wear out—all for $20? Yes please. You have to spend $30+ to get better pliers and those typically don’t have a warranty.

I’ve been stocking up on the weekends where they do the “30% off everything $20 or less” to get them for $14.

Sorry to be this guy but do you really use them hard? How do the needle nose pliers hold up to not distorting and twisting?

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Sorry to be this guy but do you really use them hard? How do the needle nose pliers hold up to not distorting and twisting?

If you're fighting with spring clamps, trying to twist things, etc - you'll have the pliers twist.

 

[Shoreline_]

Just stuff happens. This obviously isn't common or icon wouldn't have such a cult following. I don't have any icon but I don't give a **** about brands other than if I like them or not. I would buy icon if I had to but I just don't. Anyways I had a brand new snapon screwdriver maybe 10 years ago. I used it 3 times at that point. The 3rd time the tip snapped on a ground screw in an electric motor. Like a very easy environment. Did it stop me from buying SO? Nah. I think it's a fluke. So warranty the socket and try again.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

I have determined based on @liliysdad experience that there is reasonable articulable suspicion and probable cause to avoid the Icons and go another way.

I was considering buying some Icon 1/4" drive sockets this week using the 25% off 4+ Icon sale, to keep in my vehicle kit alongside my 3/8 drive Tektons. Partly because I need to buy 4 things to hit the 25% off, and partly because Icon sockets are cheaper than Tektons because it appears Tekton requires you to buy the set of sockets on one of their Ernst rails, which are cool, but I dont think I need another right now..

But after reading this thread, I'm not going to be buying the Icon sockets, I'll go Tekton. And after talking to another member in private, I wont be buying the Icon hammers either, so I guess I wont be using the coupon again.

 

[liliysdad]

This experience has, so far, been my only negative one with an ICON socket. I still have them in my box and they have performed just fine otherwise.

If I had a need for a decent, cheap socket I’d likely buy them again out of sheer simplicity and convenience.

 

[Hohn]

I returned my early production 3/8 drive set that had peeling chrome but the replacements have been GTG and they have excellent fastener fit. I'm happy with them.

 

[Wamsutta]

This experience has, so far, been my only negative one with an ICON socket. I still have them in my box and they have performed just fine otherwise.

If I had a need for a decent, cheap socket I’d likely buy them again out of sheer simplicity and convenience.

I like to give my money to the people that actually spent the resources and the time to invent the tool.

 

[liliysdad]

I like to give my money to the people that actually spent the resources and the time to invent the tool.

I don’t disagree…which is why the overwhelming majority of my box is from those folks.

Like I said, they fill a need.

 

[Kurt4440]

I like to give my money to the people that actually spent the resources and the time to invent the tool.

So you have JJ Richardson sockets and ratchets?

 

[oldschoolcraft]

So you have JJ Richardson sockets and ratchets?

Maybe he could split the difference and buy Icon sockets and send a $20 iTunes gift card to JJ Richardson's great great great grandchildren.