Icon tool reviews.
- Thread starter woody 73
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Cheapskate
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2010
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- 219
If they start putting out 50% off coupons on all the ICON tools I may start buying them even though I have no need(or room) for any more tools. 
Mikeske
Well-known member
I one hundred percent agree with the statement of using budget boxes as I went my entire career with a budget beater box. I mean a Waterloo box bought in 1983 and used abused beat on and having hydraulic fluid sprayed on it and I did not give a rip about it as long as I could store my tools. After I retired I bought a pair of us general 44” boxes as a reward to myself. The icon boxes are if no interest to me as I never utilize them in a professional setting and I have no need for them. The icon tool line for me is a filler for missing and tools not made back in the time I bought my Bonney set in 1983.
Went in to check this stuff out and I have to say it looked decent, but I was APPALLED to see the $35 3/8 breaker bar that was brought up in an earlier thread.
At that price point, I'm approaching US made stuff. You can literally get the Proto Equivalent on Zoro for $25.
At that price point, I'm approaching US made stuff. You can literally get the Proto Equivalent on Zoro for $25.
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rsk4today
Active member
If they start putting out 50% off coupons on all the ICON tools I may start buying them even though I have no need(or room) for any more tools.
Interestingly, they currently have a coupon for 50% off of the 12-piece 3/8 drive deep SAE and metric socket sets. Search Icon on the hfqpdb web site for the coupon if interested.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Mikeske
Well-known member
Mikeske
Well-known member
This is actually going to start me off on a observation about the various fields of mechanics. In the vast majority of the case the professional level of mechanics they become very conservative in the choice of tools and will only buy the brand that they have traditionally used in their chosen profession. I do notice with the younger folks who are starting off that they are open to the different tool brands then as they progress they find what works and is worth keeping and what does not work they upgrade to a better brand until they find the best fit.
A lot of what we are seeing on the various threads anytime the name Icon is mentioned the long swords come out in the vane attempt to slay the evil dragon from the east. That is east is all bad without a attempt to really find out and if that can not be accomplished then they steak out in the dead of the night and when no one is watching, spend the money to get said tools and then do a "review" which is rigged to make their chosen brand to be the better choice. If someone mentions that a particular "professional" brand is not available to the general unwashed masses then that person is unceremoniously dumped to the curb, kick out on the street on a dark and unfamiliar street to be run over by a bus (thrown under the bus).
I am thinking that once you reach a certain age and I am one of those who never had regular truck visits (OMG on to the Truck) that it was always every man for himself and make sure you take no prisoners.
.
I just also say it is the free enterprise system and this just gives options to everyone with a thousand stores to visit and see if they can fit the bill for the tool buying acquiring folks like the rest of us who has no tool truck to grab our money.
A lot of what we are seeing on the various threads anytime the name Icon is mentioned the long swords come out in the vane attempt to slay the evil dragon from the east. That is east is all bad without a attempt to really find out and if that can not be accomplished then they steak out in the dead of the night and when no one is watching, spend the money to get said tools and then do a "review" which is rigged to make their chosen brand to be the better choice. If someone mentions that a particular "professional" brand is not available to the general unwashed masses then that person is unceremoniously dumped to the curb, kick out on the street on a dark and unfamiliar street to be run over by a bus (thrown under the bus).
I am thinking that once you reach a certain age and I am one of those who never had regular truck visits (OMG on to the Truck) that it was always every man for himself and make sure you take no prisoners.
. I just also say it is the free enterprise system and this just gives options to everyone with a thousand stores to visit and see if they can fit the bill for the tool buying acquiring folks like the rest of us who has no tool truck to grab our money.
WittHay
Well-known member
I agree with my fellow Canadians. The thing that sticks out for me the most with this new Icon line is that damaged socket from that review video. The only way to get marks like that on a socket is to really heat it up and hit it. I dont think the YouTube guy did that
I am guessing somebody screwed making the batch of 13/16" 3/8 drive shallow sockets. i suppose this is acceptable because with the 50% off coupon Icon is a really cheap line of tools and there are going to be quality control issues like the ratchets
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emeraldcoupe
Well-known member
the October one? i'll have to look again
jeepnatv4life
Well-known member
seber
Well-known member
If you look on the last page you will see that is the regular price after 20% off. Sorry, no special deal here.
Page 9, bottom right corner of the flyer that just came today.
rsk4today
Active member
Here is a photo of the coupon. It isn't stated as 50% off - It's stated as a $40 socket set for $20.
Motorman55
Well-known member
Must be the November catalog. Should get mine this week.
Looks like I'm buying that set of ICON deep metric sockets for $19.99. They're good enough for me.
Looks like I'm buying that set of ICON deep metric sockets for $19.99. They're good enough for me.
DSLTRK
Well-known member
This is actually going to start me off on a observation about the various fields of mechanics. In the vast majority of the case the professional level of mechanics they become very conservative in the choice of tools and will only buy the brand that they have traditionally used in their chosen profession. I do notice with the younger folks who are starting off that they are open to the different tool brands then as they progress they find what works and is worth keeping and what does not work they upgrade to a better brand until they find the best fit.
A lot of what we are seeing on the various threads anytime the name Icon is mentioned the long swords come out in the vane attempt to slay the evil dragon from the east. That is east is all bad without a attempt to really find out and if that can not be accomplished then they steak out in the dead of the night and when no one is watching, spend the money to get said tools and then do a "review" which is rigged to make their chosen brand to be the better choice. If someone mentions that a particular "professional" brand is not available to the general unwashed masses then that person is unceremoniously dumped to the curb, kick out on the street on a dark and unfamiliar street to be run over by a bus (thrown under the bus).
I am thinking that once you reach a certain age and I am one of those who never had regular truck visits (OMG on to the Truck) that it was always every man for himself and make sure you take no prisoners.
I just also say it is the free enterprise system and this just gives options to everyone with a thousand stores to visit and see if they can fit the bill for the tool buying acquiring folks like the rest of us who has no tool truck to grab our money.
Enough of the lies regarding the supposed posts that are defensive of a tooltruck brand. Posts are defensive in general because some can see through the BS hype.
It's like non-stop from the same people on this forum. Making claims 'fanboys are attacking' when it never happened.
The only thing that's been rigged is the nauseating amount of "reviewers" that have received the **** for free from HF, and then claim to make non-biased reviews.
Oh, the above is okay, but when a mechanic buys the **** and you don't like the result, all of a sudden it's rigged to make his preferred brand look better? Really dude? This is becoming insanity.
I have completely turned a 180* on this brand after buying, reviewing and experiencing the hype.
Maybe the damn sockets really are just junk soft steel. Maybe the ratchet grips are glued with Elmer's school glue and pop off with light use.
If you have stock in HF, fine, you can buy as many Icon sets as your heart so desires. But don't discount reviews that don't fit your opinion unless there is a valid reason to do so.
Mikeske
Well-known member
I was being torque in cheek and trying to joke around. No reason to get defensive or angry as most took the entire thing I said and ignored it. I don't really care as I have only bought a few items that are fill ins for the professional set of Bonney tools that I bought 36 years ago and I still have.Enough of the lies regarding the supposed posts that are defensive of a tooltruck brand. Posts are defensive in general because some can see through the BS hype.
It's like non-stop from the same people on this forum. Making claims 'fanboys are attacking' when it never happened.
The only thing that's been rigged is the nauseating amount of "reviewers" that have received the **** for free from HF, and then claim to make non-biased reviews.
Oh, the above is okay, but when a mechanic buys the **** and you don't like the result, all of a sudden it's rigged to make his preferred brand look better? Really dude? This is becoming insanity.
I have completely turned a 180* on this brand after buying, reviewing and experiencing the hype.
Maybe the damn sockets really are just junk soft steel. Maybe the ratchet grips are glued with Elmer's school glue and pop off with light use.
If you have stock in HF, fine, you can buy as many Icon sets as your heart so desires. But don't discount reviews that don't fit your opinion unless there is a valid reason to do so.
At $19.99 for those ICON deepwell sockets, with a lifetime warranty, it's hard to go wrong. At $20 a set, you could easily buy two sets of the Metrics. One great thing about HF, is that there are a lot of locations, and they're easy to warranty due to HF's lifetime no hassle warranty (at least on sockets - other tools are a separate subject).
The above said, I was thinking... Craftsman (under Sears / Danaher contract) were such an amazing deal for high quality USA made tools. Once Stanlely Black & Decker acquired the brand and Sears was in bankruptcy, everything changed... although, I believe SB&D is bringing some of the manufacturing back to the US. I was reading the Wiki on Sears Craftsman (under Danaher) and realized how many high quality USA tool manufacturers Sears contracted with for the Craftsman brand. The details of that may be a subject for a different thread, but wouldn't it be amazing if Harbor Freight (still a family owned biz as far as I'm aware) used some of its financial might (that's only increased with the downfall of Sears) were to manufacture it's high end tool line ICON in the USA?
Many have balked at ICON's retail price, and for good reason in my opinion. What really separates them from the masses of other Taiwanese made sockets from Husky, Kobalt, Apex's GearWrench, the lower end HF brand, Quinn, and so many other generic store brands... there was even that one Mexican tool company that was subbing out their high end sockets for forging in Taiwan. While Taiwan quality is definitely world class and better (on avg) than the stuff coming out of China, there's not much to differentiate it to justify its premium price over, well, those Quinn sockets that HF sells right next to the more expensive ICON branded sockets. Wouldn't it be something if HF ICON was Made in the USA?
If Sears with it's much higher overhead was able to sell lifetime warranty USA made sockets (for many decades) at such low rent prices (esp on sale)... then can't HF's premium ICON brand do it, as well? Imagine the goodwill HF would get from US job creation. So, when somebody considered a GearWrench, Husky, Kobalt, Stanley Store Branded sockets vs HF ICON, there'd be a clear distinction.
The above said, I know it's wishful thinking, as unlike Germany where so much is actually Made in Germany, therein justifying the premium pricing... US Corporations have been all too quick to shutter US factories and outsource tool manufacturing to China and Taiwan... by contract... where they don't even own the actual factories, just outsource production.
My 3 cents.
The above said, I was thinking... Craftsman (under Sears / Danaher contract) were such an amazing deal for high quality USA made tools. Once Stanlely Black & Decker acquired the brand and Sears was in bankruptcy, everything changed... although, I believe SB&D is bringing some of the manufacturing back to the US. I was reading the Wiki on Sears Craftsman (under Danaher) and realized how many high quality USA tool manufacturers Sears contracted with for the Craftsman brand. The details of that may be a subject for a different thread, but wouldn't it be amazing if Harbor Freight (still a family owned biz as far as I'm aware) used some of its financial might (that's only increased with the downfall of Sears) were to manufacture it's high end tool line ICON in the USA?
Many have balked at ICON's retail price, and for good reason in my opinion. What really separates them from the masses of other Taiwanese made sockets from Husky, Kobalt, Apex's GearWrench, the lower end HF brand, Quinn, and so many other generic store brands... there was even that one Mexican tool company that was subbing out their high end sockets for forging in Taiwan. While Taiwan quality is definitely world class and better (on avg) than the stuff coming out of China, there's not much to differentiate it to justify its premium price over, well, those Quinn sockets that HF sells right next to the more expensive ICON branded sockets. Wouldn't it be something if HF ICON was Made in the USA?
If Sears with it's much higher overhead was able to sell lifetime warranty USA made sockets (for many decades) at such low rent prices (esp on sale)... then can't HF's premium ICON brand do it, as well? Imagine the goodwill HF would get from US job creation. So, when somebody considered a GearWrench, Husky, Kobalt, Stanley Store Branded sockets vs HF ICON, there'd be a clear distinction.
The above said, I know it's wishful thinking, as unlike Germany where so much is actually Made in Germany, therein justifying the premium pricing... US Corporations have been all too quick to shutter US factories and outsource tool manufacturing to China and Taiwan... by contract... where they don't even own the actual factories, just outsource production.
My 3 cents.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
^ Nobody cares about US manufacturing.
IMO that ship sailed long ago, I doubt the average consumer even knows things are still made in the USA. Craftsman could sell USA sockets because of volume, and IMO that still wasn't enough. I have my doubts that the USA craftsman I grew up using (2000+ era) is any better than the standard Taiwanese made sockets of today. Yes, it kept American workers working. But I think it's difficult to say there was objective traits of those sockets which made them objectively better than their imported counterparts. Remove the "USA" from craftsman, and nobody gives a **** about the product anymore. Case and point, all the threads on here about the death of USA craftsman. The only thing they really had to compete on was country of origin, which has become a weaker and weaker selling point as our world becomes imported from cheap labor countries.
As a business, what advantage would HF have selling a line of USA sockets? Aside from maybe 2,000 guys on garage journal, who is going to go out of their way to choose those USA made tools? At a higher price point, I might add. That, or HF could attempt to maintain the current retail pricing, and loose out on the profitability of the item. US manufacturing is only a plus when the market it sell to deems COO to offset the downside of US production. Most often this is the issue of cost. HF also runs into the issue of flag waving a US made product, in a store full of imports. How does that image look?
I don't understand why so many on this board crave US made tools - when they already exist in great number. Proto, SK, Snap-on, Wright, Williams, Wilde, Mayhew, it goes on. All good tools, made in USA. What this board really craves, are USA made tools sold at a loss or break-even price; because we're cheap. I get it, I'm looking for attenuators for my pico-scope. Pico wants $65, Hantek mystery-meat is $13. My cheapness screams at me to buy hantek, but my logical mind says pico.
I like 1st world manufacturing. Lots of people on this board like it, for good reason. The other 99% of the country doesn't; like it or not. I know a man must have dreams, but a US made HF line isn't one I'd be betting on.
IMO that ship sailed long ago, I doubt the average consumer even knows things are still made in the USA. Craftsman could sell USA sockets because of volume, and IMO that still wasn't enough. I have my doubts that the USA craftsman I grew up using (2000+ era) is any better than the standard Taiwanese made sockets of today. Yes, it kept American workers working. But I think it's difficult to say there was objective traits of those sockets which made them objectively better than their imported counterparts. Remove the "USA" from craftsman, and nobody gives a **** about the product anymore. Case and point, all the threads on here about the death of USA craftsman. The only thing they really had to compete on was country of origin, which has become a weaker and weaker selling point as our world becomes imported from cheap labor countries.
As a business, what advantage would HF have selling a line of USA sockets? Aside from maybe 2,000 guys on garage journal, who is going to go out of their way to choose those USA made tools? At a higher price point, I might add. That, or HF could attempt to maintain the current retail pricing, and loose out on the profitability of the item. US manufacturing is only a plus when the market it sell to deems COO to offset the downside of US production. Most often this is the issue of cost. HF also runs into the issue of flag waving a US made product, in a store full of imports. How does that image look?
I don't understand why so many on this board crave US made tools - when they already exist in great number. Proto, SK, Snap-on, Wright, Williams, Wilde, Mayhew, it goes on. All good tools, made in USA. What this board really craves, are USA made tools sold at a loss or break-even price; because we're cheap. I get it, I'm looking for attenuators for my pico-scope. Pico wants $65, Hantek mystery-meat is $13. My cheapness screams at me to buy hantek, but my logical mind says pico.
I like 1st world manufacturing. Lots of people on this board like it, for good reason. The other 99% of the country doesn't; like it or not. I know a man must have dreams, but a US made HF line isn't one I'd be betting on.
rijndael
Well-known member
Snagged from a FB group:
visionguru
Well-known member
As a big fan of Craftsman, I don't think Craftsman was "such amazing deal" or "high quality" if comparing with today's imports (especially, sockets/ratchets, wrenches). I recently purchased a ratcheting screwdriver from Sears, because it's "Made in USA", and pretty affordable (less than $20).
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005LTD78W/?tag=atomicindus08-20
The workmanship is horrible (the plastic end cap couldn't even close properly), and the ratcheting mechanism didn't even work right out of packaging. That shows: if it's made in USA and cheap, it is garbage.
Motorman55
Well-known member
What happened to this 'ICON Tool Review' Thread? 
Where's the actual tool reviews?
Where's the actual tool reviews?
The Craftsman offshoring began under Sears ownership around 2011, long before Stanley Black & Decker was in the picture. Stanley just picked up where Sears left off, changed the stampings on their sockets and offered a few new items. It’s still the same Chinese made garbage Sears was peddling.
Lmao!!!
The whole idea of me starting this post was just to inform a few of you about some real life experience with using Icon tools nothing sinister in that, better to be more informed I always say.
Take the case where one of the GJ posters said the guy in the video had to using an air gun on his new Icon chrome sockets; but I tend to disagree to agree. (I think that is the way it goes); anyhow the reason I think he/or she is wrong is because an air gun would effect all 4 corners at the same time and clearly only one corner had damage in his video.
As for the dents not sure about soft metal ? looked more like being wacked with other tools at hand? In other words a hammer is to far away use something else to beat on it.
The reason why I posted that video is i do not like unboxing videos without any real world use and his indeed did show real world use.
The second video was again only just to make you a better consumer and to avoid the 3/8 ratchets in question until HF could fix the issue at hand.
I do hope this helps you out some.
Woody
Take the case where one of the GJ posters said the guy in the video had to using an air gun on his new Icon chrome sockets; but I tend to disagree to agree. (I think that is the way it goes); anyhow the reason I think he/or she is wrong is because an air gun would effect all 4 corners at the same time and clearly only one corner had damage in his video.
As for the dents not sure about soft metal ? looked more like being wacked with other tools at hand? In other words a hammer is to far away use something else to beat on it.
The reason why I posted that video is i do not like unboxing videos without any real world use and his indeed did show real world use.
The second video was again only just to make you a better consumer and to avoid the 3/8 ratchets in question until HF could fix the issue at hand.
I do hope this helps you out some.
Woody
Not true... just look at the money USA made Craftsman is going for on eBay, and that's after people know that it's much harder to get Craftsman warrantied, now, than it was many years ago.
Also, USA Craftsman under the Danaher contract WAS very good quality vs China. Just compare a USA made laser etched deep well socket vs the new Chinese made deep wells. I have a set of the 3/8 laser etched Chinese made deep well sockets. The finish on the China made sockets is definitely not as nice as it was on the American made versions. They're still quality sockets, don't get me wrong, but at the same time, the appearance of quality and finish on the Danaher USA-made sockets definitely appears better.
If you think people "don't give a ****" about COI, and American-made, then tell me what would happen if Snap-on and Matco started making all of their ratchets and sockets in China? You know what would happen. It's true that not EVERYBODY cares, but many people outside of GJ still DO care... and that definitely includes a rather large population of professional mechanics, as well as a fair percentage of DIY-ers. I, for one, pay more for Japanese and German made, and will definitely pay more for USA made - and have.
To be fair - the offshoring started occurring more when Sears was suffering financial problems. Also, only certain products were being made in Asia, while most of the hand tools, sockets, ratchets, hammers, wrenches, screwdrivers were all made in the USA.
Again, it's a differentiation strategy.
What really makes ICON that much better than Quinn? They are both HF house brands, have lifetime warranties, and are both made in Taiwan. So, why buy ICON over Quinn?
As an FYI, Excedrin Migraine and Excedrin are the EXACT same medicine with different packaging. Novartis charges about 15% more for the Excedrin Migraine packaging.
Are ICON sockets just Quinn's in Excedrin Migraine packaging? If they're not, then tell me why they're not.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Average consumer. A small population of people collecting craftsman USA does not mean there's high demand. People pay a lot for vintage cologne bottles too, not really a high demand item. I'd like to know how many of those overpriced sets are selling at those prices. There's a guy on the local CL who has been trying to sell an overpriced matco box for 2 years. High price doesn't necessarily mean high demand. Additionally, buying used USA made things, in no way supports USA manufacturing. At best, it's a "no-sale" for imports, but the US guys didn't sell anything either.
Socket finish is subjective, IMO imported tools usually have better chrome finish due to lax environmental regulations. It also is a very minor factor in the usefulness of the tool. Craftsman was an outlier, in the price/COO equation. Few other manufacturers were readily available, and cheap, while having US production. We all remember craftsman happily, while forgetting the only thing that made them stand out was USA production. Were they any better than gearwrench, or other imports? No, not really. People collect and treasure it purely for nostalgia and USA flag waving. How many posts did we see on this site "Craftsman isn't USA anymore, what import tool should I buy?"; a lot. USA tools are plentiful, just not at give-it-away pricing. That pricing model is really the craftsman appeal, otherwise people would just move on and buy Proto or whatever.
I have never worked with anyone who cared significantly about COO. "Oh, made in USA, that's cool" is the best I've heard. Just my experience, I've worked with few/no tool junkies. Most I've known hate spending money on tools, and avoid at all costs. Imports have become a huge thing, since you can either A) reduce total tool costs B) acquire way more tools for the same tool cost you would have output with USA or tool-truck brands. YMMV obviously.
I pay more for quality 1st world manufacturing as well. However in a world where globalism has driven prices down, most consumers aren't paying $150+ for an SK wrench set when a HF imported set is generally functional. FWIW Matco and snap-on trucks both have tools which are imported, yes, even hand tools. Snap ons blue-point line in nearly 100% imported, Matco ratcheting wrenches and some impacts too, MAC had tons of import pliers last time I saw a MAC dealer. I pay attention to COO, for instance MEXICO to me usually means straight junk. However, I think anyone would agree with the statement that 90%+ of consumers are not even aware of county of origin as a decision making metric.
Banshee365
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2009
- Messages
- 194
I was at my local HF today and checked out the Icon ratchets that they finally put out on display to fondle. Not impressed at ALL, not even the slightest.
All 5 of the mechanisms felt different. 1 or 2 actually felt decent, the rest were awful. The Long flex 1/4 had about 5 ft/lb's of back drag. The 1/2" sounded like a Kobalt cheapo ratchet. The teeth engaged with a really sporadic and uneven sounding noise. The other 1/4 drive felt pretty good. The 3/8 drive fixed handle had an incredibly soft engagement. You could hardly feel or hear any engagement in the teeth.
I think the GW ratchets, along with many other import companies, are a MUCH feel feeling ratchet. I suppose since HF is doing it, it's ground breaking.
I haven't seen the toolboxes yet, but a 24" deep double cab for $4k doesn't seem to make much sense when Extreme Toolboxes and Tool Vault are equal quality and much much cheaper. Let's not even get into how mint used Snap-On boxes are under $4k.
I just don't know what all the fuss is about. I guess the ratcheting wrenches felt pretty good.
All 5 of the mechanisms felt different. 1 or 2 actually felt decent, the rest were awful. The Long flex 1/4 had about 5 ft/lb's of back drag. The 1/2" sounded like a Kobalt cheapo ratchet. The teeth engaged with a really sporadic and uneven sounding noise. The other 1/4 drive felt pretty good. The 3/8 drive fixed handle had an incredibly soft engagement. You could hardly feel or hear any engagement in the teeth.
I think the GW ratchets, along with many other import companies, are a MUCH feel feeling ratchet. I suppose since HF is doing it, it's ground breaking.
I haven't seen the toolboxes yet, but a 24" deep double cab for $4k doesn't seem to make much sense when Extreme Toolboxes and Tool Vault are equal quality and much much cheaper. Let's not even get into how mint used Snap-On boxes are under $4k.
I just don't know what all the fuss is about. I guess the ratcheting wrenches felt pretty good.
Well, I'm only pointing out the *demand* for USA made products. I also don't agree with the premise that buying used American Made does not create jobs - at least indirectly. Sure, in a vacuum it does not create jobs, but we don't live in a vacuum. In the real world, people selling USA made tools often buy other USA made tools. Example - Snap-On sales on eBay. The high prices for the used Snap-On allows the sellers to buy new American made Snap-On.
Well, socket finish is not really totally subjective. One can compare the impeccable finish on a KTC Nepros ratchet vs a no-name $5 generic ratchet from China. Also, I own Danaher USA made Craftsman sockets and Chinese made Craftsman sockets and I'm telling you, first hand, the quality on the USA made is materially better.
Yes, I agree there are a number of USA made options, but I'm pointing out that I miss the high quality low-end-price Sears Craftsman sockets. I think there is a much bigger undercurrent of people that WANT USA made for a reasonable price. No, they're not going to pay $20 a socket for SK, Proto, or Snap-On (or even more for Snap-On)... but, they might pay $40 for an entire deep well set made in the USA.
If HF is so obsessed with competing against Snap-On and becoming a legitimate player in the pro-mechanic market, you'd think they might consider a higher end (for HF) USA made line. ICON would have been perfect for this purpose. Instead, I really don't see the value in Made in Taiwan House Brand ICON vs much cheaper Made in Taiwan Quinn House Brand sockets.
Well, you're using the word "significantly." A lot of people CARE about COO, but they're not going to pay $250 + for a set of SK or Snap-On sockets when they can get Quinn at the local HF for $20 (or less, with sale prices and coupons). Snap-On and SK are not not an apples to apples comparison... even though HF loves to compare almost everything to Snap-On prices.
I do not agree that 90% of people are not aware of COO when it comes to tools. I may agree that 90% of people, though, are not willing to spend 1000% more for Snap-On vs Quinn.
I never get smart out of the unboxing tool videos, rather I like real world tool reviews and this next video indeed shows the abuse of the new Icon sockets.
The next video which I am sure all of you have heard about the recall; but just in case a few of you have not heard about this; the next video is for you. A recall for some of their 3/8 drive models that are locking up.
Hope that informs some of you.
Woody
Not that I have used the new icon sockets .... so can't really comment or I am going to raving about it... but I did notice your original video was from Justin Dow? Just let you know.... integrity might be in question in his review...
look at the tone change between these two videos...
the bitter one.
the tone changed after a free toolbox.
There seems to be a pattern here... no more free stuff ? maybe (my guess)? A lot of these KOL makes money from getting paid to unboxing / reviewing tools... and still have no idea how he beats those sockets... ...
also that tool review video? I am not sure how or where he dropped that socket to get the side dented like that...
Oh right... the only time I have a socket like that was a craftsman 17mm socket (I think) beaten onto a rounded lug nut with a BFH (10lb)...
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The Fall
Well-known member
I don't get the ICON toolbox deal (the hand tools make more sense), when the US General boxes remain such a screaming deal.
The only boxes I've purchased are the heavy-duty CMan ones from Waterloo; I was gifted a US General tool cart; I could've purchased a KRL triple-bank box for $500 from a friend who was looking to jettison her father's mechanics tools to sell the house. I didn't have the space for the Snap-on box. Literally, nowhere to put it. Of course, I did make room for the tools. Nothing like Snap-on crows feet and impact swivel sockets.
I've used the gifted US General cart in a garage for over two years. It's overloaded. Abused. And it still works flawlessly. I would've been all over that Snap-on box -- they ended up using it as credit with their contractor for the remodel -- but like others have said, I'd go used tool truck box over a new Icon box any day of the week. I like the Waterloo boxes for home stuff -- and the Cman pro series boxes were good -- but the US General carts are like old CMan USA sockets. You can't beat the quality for the price. I don't understand why you'd pay significantly more for the Icon boxes. Like I said, I've beat mine in a garage. They hold up. HF really shines with the US General boxes. I'm not proud of HF tools and own very few. But that doesn't apply to their boxes.
You've gotta hand it to HF's marketing department. They completely carpet bombed the YouTube tool review community. It's kind of hard not to have a biased view when they drop a pricey box on your doorstep. Hell, if someone dropped a Corvair off at my house I'd be pretty pumped. And I don't think I'd ever be in the market for one.
I'll always defer to SK, Proto and Wright for tools -- especially since they're not THAT much more -- but it is nice to see HF carrying the Icon tool line. I've checked them out. They're nice tools, albeit imported. But at least you can get a solid line there now, and it's not just hit or mostly miss (i.e., the US General boxes, impact sockets and a few other all stars).
The only boxes I've purchased are the heavy-duty CMan ones from Waterloo; I was gifted a US General tool cart; I could've purchased a KRL triple-bank box for $500 from a friend who was looking to jettison her father's mechanics tools to sell the house. I didn't have the space for the Snap-on box. Literally, nowhere to put it. Of course, I did make room for the tools. Nothing like Snap-on crows feet and impact swivel sockets.
I've used the gifted US General cart in a garage for over two years. It's overloaded. Abused. And it still works flawlessly. I would've been all over that Snap-on box -- they ended up using it as credit with their contractor for the remodel -- but like others have said, I'd go used tool truck box over a new Icon box any day of the week. I like the Waterloo boxes for home stuff -- and the Cman pro series boxes were good -- but the US General carts are like old CMan USA sockets. You can't beat the quality for the price. I don't understand why you'd pay significantly more for the Icon boxes. Like I said, I've beat mine in a garage. They hold up. HF really shines with the US General boxes. I'm not proud of HF tools and own very few. But that doesn't apply to their boxes.
You've gotta hand it to HF's marketing department. They completely carpet bombed the YouTube tool review community. It's kind of hard not to have a biased view when they drop a pricey box on your doorstep. Hell, if someone dropped a Corvair off at my house I'd be pretty pumped. And I don't think I'd ever be in the market for one.
I'll always defer to SK, Proto and Wright for tools -- especially since they're not THAT much more -- but it is nice to see HF carrying the Icon tool line. I've checked them out. They're nice tools, albeit imported. But at least you can get a solid line there now, and it's not just hit or mostly miss (i.e., the US General boxes, impact sockets and a few other all stars).
LMFAO.... yea that is about the mentality of A LOT of people here...
If you are referring to the two videos posted... it's not about the tool box... it's about the attitude change between the two... same person, questionable integrity... ... just review all his videos about HF... you'll notice some thing different in between. As far as those sockets....(not tool box).. I think I would wait to hear from my fav cannuckstan AvE to review this...
might learn a new vocabulary too...