Icon tool reviews.

[dogdog]

Because lots of people do it...

I am curious how they get those dents on the side wall of the socket... as if some one beat it with a BFH... if that is a normal thing to do in a pro mechanic shop? I would never let that turd touch or service any of my cars, if that is the case... next thing who know if he would say my nuts are too frozen for him.

Talking about the right tool for the right job... abused the tool and complain they were not made to stand up for his abuse... yea those type of people.

The guy obviously abused his tools and trying to grab attention and view.. I guess many just turns blind eyes on that and go head hear what they wanted to hear instead... hmmmm is this a fad thing.... or just the sign of time from top down.....

 

[Mechanical Noise]

I think the real question is why buy Quinn over the Pittsburgh Pro sockets. They’re the exact same sockets in the same packaging with the only difference being the stickers, handle color or a blue or red painted stripe.

The truth of the matter is, Icon hasn’t really solved the problem HF had, and that’s full sets with no skips and singles. 8-19 in a 3/8 drive isn’t going to cut it. That doesn’t even beat Tekton, yet alone Snap-on.

Maybe HF thinks the "you get what you pay for" crowd notices only the pricetag.

 

[Mikeske]

I am curious how they get those dents on the side wall of the socket... as if some one beat it with a BFH... if that is a normal thing to do in a pro mechanic shop? I would never let that turd touch or service any of my cars, if that is the case... next thing who know if he would say my nuts are too frozen for him.

Talking about the right tool for the right job... abused the tool and complain they were not made to stand up for his abuse... yea those type of people.

The guy obviously abused his tools and trying to grab attention and view.. I guess many just turns blind eyes on that and go head hear what they wanted to hear instead... hmmmm is this a fad thing.... or just the sign of time from top down.....

i have never seen dents like that and it does raise my BS flag. I have been wrenching since 1975 and never seen any sockets dented like that. I mean ten years years as a ASE certified mechanic in heavy line transmission and suspensions and then the last 34 years as a A and P aviation mechanic. I have had seen sockets crack break and the never a dented socket. I have several sockets that the drive end wore out and they were all warranty replaced. I am of the opinion about the only thing that might do that damage is a impact gun with punch die in it to get that type of denting.

 

[dogdog]

i have never seen dents like that and it does raise my BS flag. I have been wrenching since 1975 and never seen any sockets dented like that. I mean ten years years as a ASE certified mechanic in heavy line transmission and suspensions and then the last 34 years as a A and P aviation mechanic. I have had seen sockets crack break and the never a dented socket. I have several sockets that the drive end wore out and they were all warranty replaced. I am of the opinion about the only thing that might do that damage is a impact gun with punch die in it to get that type of denting.

The world is full of people looking for evidence to support their misguided believes... no matter how silly that claim is... as long as it is out in the internet.

 

[davethorik]

yeah, but you really weren't, and no one is putting up $450 as a dig to some strangers on the internet. you were trying to troll people who use tools daily as a major part of their job, have infinite more real world experience than you in seeing what tools work, where to spend and where you can save, what to have confidence in, etc. so it just came off as lame, ill informed and predictable to everyone else when you thought you were 'poking the bear'.

This needs to be quoted again on this page.
I guess some people think trolling just means acting like a psychopath.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

I am curious how they get those dents on the side wall of the socket... as if some one beat it with a BFH... if that is a normal thing to do in a pro mechanic shop? I would never let that turd touch or service any of my cars, if that is the case... next thing who know if he would say my nuts are too frozen for him.

Talking about the right tool for the right job... abused the tool and complain they were not made to stand up for his abuse... yea those type of people.

The guy obviously abused his tools and trying to grab attention and view.. I guess many just turns blind eyes on that and go head hear what they wanted to hear instead... hmmmm is this a fad thing.... or just the sign of time from top down.....

i have never seen dents like that and it does raise my BS flag. I have been wrenching since 1975 and never seen any sockets dented like that. I mean ten years years as a ASE certified mechanic in heavy line transmission and suspensions and then the last 34 years as a A and P aviation mechanic. I have had seen sockets crack break and the never a dented socket. I have several sockets that the drive end wore out and they were all warranty replaced. I am of the opinion about the only thing that might do that damage is a impact gun with punch die in it to get that type of denting.

Some of my sockets have dents. Joys of the rust belt. More often than not the old "hit a punch through the bottom" trick doesn't work. I will admit, I see most people wail on them far too hard with full size hammers. Normally tapping the socket with a ratchet handle will release the fastener.

 

[Yarpo]

Meh.

I went in to work today to throw tires on my car and figured I'd swing by harbor freight since I had nothing going on. At 20 dollars I figured I'd give them a try. First impressions are fine, not good, not bad. The packaging is obnoxious and angers me just because its so over the top and such a waste of material. Sockets are ok, full length shoulder but the knurling might as well not exist. Even if they hold up and are not soft as was reported, I don't think I'd ever buy them over Gearwrench or Tekton. Full priced they're way to expensive, 50% discount makes them fair but I don't imagine they'll stay there forever. Size stampings are similar in size to my Gearwrench sockets, but the stamping is...upside down? Odd. Not sure if I should bring them to work or not. Should I beat on them with a hammer and report back?

 

[M6erfan]

Meh...

My thoughts exactly!

 

[m6z]

That is odd that the markings are upside down, but yeah it would be hard to justify at more than $20 with the other options that are available.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Yarpo]

My thoughts exactly!

SORRY SORRY I MEAN, TOOL TRUCK QUALITY

(Please send me tools HF)

That is odd that the markings are upside down, but yeah it would be hard to justify at more than $20 with the other options that are available.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using The Garage Journal mobile app

Yeah, is that a feature? Not seen anybody point it out yet, but seems odd

 

[parks31]

Is it possible the markings are upside down to avoid a lawsuit by snap on for direct copying?

 

[m6z]

Maybe they're planning on releasing peg style organizers for the Icon sockets? About the only reason the markings would be purposely upside down.

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[WittHay]

SORRY SORRY I MEAN, TOOL TRUCK QUALITY

(Please send me tools HF)



Yeah, is that a feature? Not seen anybody point it out yet, but seems odd

Somewhere over the years since the Hansen trays have become a thing. The tool truck brands have made the markings upside down. Most industrial brands and Taiwan brands have the markings in what I call normal. Exceptions like SK being normal and Gray Canada reversed

The first picture is my own sockets the Napa brand vs. the reversed Snap-on. The second picture is from the net comparing Snap-on and Icon

 

[NSXRguy]

upside down marking works well when using the US general socket tray for the short and long sockets

 

[Yarpo]

Somewhere over the years since the Hansen trays have become a thing. The tool truck brands have made the markings upside down. Most industrial brands and Taiwan brands have the markings in what I call normal

Yeah I kinda figured that's what they where going for, but they sell them in their own tray. LOL It's like people pointed out before, they just BLINDLY copied something without thinking. They could have made a good socket, but instead went in blind chasing Snap Ons socket. If they had proper knurling and placed the stamping so they weren't upside down they'd be a little nicer.

upside down marking works well when using the US general socket tray for the short and long sockets

Yeah...seems silly when they've molded and sold a tray with the sockets.

 

[Mikeske]

Have you seen how much room those socket trays take up. There is a lot of wasted space if you use the plastic trays provided by Icon. If you have a smaller roller box you will end up chucking the Icon socket tray for something more compact. The peg style take up a lot less room.

 

[Yarpo]

Have you seen how much room those socket trays take up. There is a lot of wasted space if you use the plastic trays provided by Icon. If you have a smaller roller box you will end up chucking the Icon socket tray for something more compact. The peg style take up a lot less room.

Of course, but the trays HF sells have you leave the socket drive side down, so the writing would still be upsidedown. So either they want you to buy hansen trays and spend your money elsewhere or they overlooked yet another simple detail.

And any regular style rail leaves the writing upside down too. Dumb!

Edit; Nvm it appears they've recently released US general trays (hansen copies) which is what NSXRguy was pointing out above.

 

[dogdog]

Meh.
............ Should I beat on them with a hammer and report back?

I am interested in this one....

 

[dogdog]

Some of my sockets have dents. Joys of the rust belt. More often than not the old "hit a punch through the bottom" trick doesn't work. I will admit, I see most people wail on them far too hard with full size hammers. Normally tapping the socket with a ratchet handle will release the fastener.

I think of all these years other than those walmart sockets that is just pure **** quality... I bought when I was younger... the only socket that I have dents like whats in the video was the Craftsman 15mm or 5/8 something that I used to jam into a stripped lug nut on the Honda so I can take it off ... I did pretend that was a POS socket so I can get the warranty... the Sears associates were smarter back then and knew exactly where those "dents" were from... but still gave me the replacement anyways... maybe it's just the koolaid we drink these days not to see through that. anyways....

 

[Yarpo]

I am interested in this one....

I smashed this thing fairly hard a dozen times or so, passes my tests

Obviously not smashing it with full force, and obviously not love taps, the video and sound makes it look like I'm just tapping it, but I hit it pretty good, harder than I'd probably ever be smashing it under normal use certainly haha. Hard enough the concrete felt it it appears!

https://vimeo.com/373811345

 

[dogdog]

I smashed this thing fairly hard a dozen times or so, passes my tests

Obviously not smashing it with full force, and obviously not love taps, the video and sound makes it look like I'm just tapping it, but I hit it pretty good, harder than I'd probably ever be smashing it under normal use certainly haha. Hard enough the concrete felt it it appears!

https://vimeo.com/373811345

Ok..... remind me not to double down on bets with you..... was just kidding... now I will have to go get a set to beat with ...

 

[Yarpo]

Ok..... remind me not to double down on bets with you..... was just kidding... now I will have to go get a set to beat with ...

I had limited use for them, I have so many sockets between my work box and my home box that I figured...why not haha. And it was only an 11mm, doesnt see much use! No deformation and the most damage appears to be where I landed a few good hits, and then opposite that, where the socket was resting on the concrete is pretty scuffed and scratched but looks great. I figured I'd see a few small dents given how hard I hit it, but none at all. Doesnt change my opinion of them, but at least mine dont appear to be as soft as was reported.

 

[dogdog]

I had limited use for them, I have so many sockets between my work box and my home box that I figured...why not haha. And it was only an 11mm, doesnt see much use! No deformation and the most damage appears to be where I landed a few good hits, and then opposite that, where the socket was resting on the concrete is pretty scuffed and scratched but looks great. I figured I'd see a few small dents given how hard I hit it, but none at all. Doesnt change my opinion of them, but at least mine dont appear to be as soft as was reported.

It doesn't matter what opinion you have , but that is your opinion and preference, no one can change that... But there is a fine line in opinion and just go fabricate something that boarder line shady and questionable just to ..... give people what they wanted to hear.... so you get more view and followers... . but I guess what is the worse is those who just blindly follows just because some one presented them what they wanted to hear... and followed no questions asked. I guess people can be tools too....

 

[m6z]

Icon snap ring pliers

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[m6z]

Is this acceptable workmanship?

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[monster1]

Is this acceptable workmanship?

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using The Garage Journal mobile app

I've seen some of their standard Pittsburgh line with better fit than that. Embarrassing.

 

[dogdog]

Is this acceptable workmanship?

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using The Garage Journal mobile app

didn't look appealing to me... might be functional.... might not be, doesn't matter .... but my craftsman changeable jaw one does all I needed so far.. Other than taking up space, not sure why people want individual snap ring pliers...

Does that set perform substandard or just looks bad ? I can't tell functional from looks. unless you are telling me those pliers are dented after 1 month of use with the tips all worn out...

I think stigmatism and image of HF tools being a cheap tool is going to be hard to change in a lot of people's opinion / preference... If that same set is sold by Snap-on say from the same factory... pretty sure people find a way to defend them (prime example, that snapon vs hf jack thread, if it hasn't been cleaned up ).... if you don't like snap-on mention just mentally replace it with the other red , or yellow. Of cause the exception is if they make the exact same tool in the USA...(same tool same quality, same look) different price point, people will think it is the best thing since the slice of bread no matter how **** that thing is.

 

[81turbota]

Is this acceptable workmanship?

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using The Garage Journal mobile app

Nope. I’d expect that for their Pittsburgh line but not the price they want for their dear icons.

 

[jgromada]

i have some Icon i bought. Did i expect Snap-On? no but i paid a fraction of what SO would have cost and since I'm not a professional mechanic i am fine with that. I have both some sets of sockets & a 1/4 ratchet and they are great. no complaints using them.

My big complaint is they followed Snap On's stupid practice of putting on the markings UPSIDE DOWN! Meaning the bottom of the socket has to be on top to read the socket value. I don't like using trays and put my sockets in rails so it is a bit annoying. SK or Proto don't do that so they are still my preferred sockets. Minot nit but they went too far copying SO on this.

 

[WittHay]

i would say the quality is acceptable on those HF Icon pliers. They look identical to the Jet that are sold in about 10 different places up here. They are at the bottom end of the individual type snap ring pliers. Most of the places that sell the Jet also carry the made in Germany Knipex. Usually regarded as the best in class. Jet has recently introduced a heavy duty version that is similar to the Mac. No external springs

When you really get into gear boxes and cases, there are other brands with different designs like Imperial Stride and Snap-on that work better in certain situations

 

[m6z]

They're serviceable for sure.

I guess expected better fit since this is their premium brand. The couple other Icon items I bought are very nicely finished.

I'll be returning the snap ring pliers spending a bit more on something nicer.

Even the storage case is cheap and poorly branded.

8 pc Icon pliers for $60 vs the 12 pc Lang kit for $75. The lang seems like a much better value.

 

[parks31]

I dont think you will be disappointed with the Lang brand.

 

[cosmokenney]

This image pretty much sums it up:


On and Off? Are there batteries?

 

[dogdog]

This image pretty much sums it up:

On and Off? Are there batteries?

LOL... it's just a naming convention... as to turn your Nuts ON, Turn your Nuts Off ? Maybe ? I don't get what is the big deal... Unless your Nuts are Lefty Tighty Specials. I guess if you are that picky, you will find FWD/REV a problem as well. Some people are just trying to pick bones out of the Egg.

 

[M635_Guy]

Is this acceptable workmanship?

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using The Garage Journal mobile app

I think it's below what I'd expect based on how they're positioning Icon. At $60 less a 20%/25% coupon I guess I'd mainly weight it against how well they work. I have the interchangeable tip snap-ring that HF sells and it works...OK...

But that looks more like a Pittsburgh thing for $40 than an Icon at $60. It's one of two things I kinda want (the other being their nicer tap and die set, which is more likely to happen), but I'll be sure to eyeball the snap ring set in the store if I ever decide to pull the trigger...

 

[M635_Guy]

This image pretty much sums it up:


On and Off? Are there batteries?

Their ratchets seem awfully nice. IDGAF about the On/Off...

FWIW, Snap On does it on their swivel heads...

 

[Steve_P]

I have an older Snap On oval head ratchet with "on off" at the selector switch. Never saw anyone complain about this on a Snap On

 

[Kev442]

Gearwrench XP120 has on/off. So does my 60 year old Williams B1. Guess they're second rate too.

 

[Alpine4x4]

All my dual 80s say it too.

 

[Fedwrench]

This image pretty much sums it up:


On and Off? Are there batteries?

You have to be kidding me

There are many people here that won't even look at a ratchet unless it has the on/off marked on the direction switch. I'm not one of them but, many people consider that to an indication of a quality ratchet. I think it was just trying to clone a snap on ratchet