Icon tools are coming spring/summer 2019

[techieman33]

Snap-on is still very liberal with their warranty policy as are most truck brands. The biggest change with Snap-on was the requirement for pre-approval and many more call-tags to confirm that someone actually owns the tools they need warrantied. Prior to their policy change they were one of the only companies that would mail out most tools without needing the old one back.

One of the stories I heard that caused them to change was that the same person called something like 30 times to warranty the same ratchet and they just kept mailing them new ones until someone finally noticed.

There was some talk on YouTube a few years back of guys with mechanical channels passing a ratchet around and all of them putting in a warranty claim for a replacement. Then they would just ship the broken one off to the next guy.

 

[M635_Guy]

There was some talk on YouTube a few years back of guys with mechanical channels passing a ratchet around and all of them putting in a warranty claim for a replacement. Then they would just ship the broken one off to the next guy.

That kind of stuff makes me mad.

 

[Fedwrench]

Looks like Icon is adding to their ratcheting wrench line up with a couple of new extra long ratcheting wrench sets in fixed and flex head. Might just be me but, seem a little pricey even if knock 20% off but, if they're Kabo made, probably worth it.


https://www.harborfreight.com/professional-metric-double-box-ratcheting-wrench-10-pc-56653.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/merch...le-box-flex-ratcheting-wrench-5-pc-56694.html

 

[LXCam]

Looks like Icon is adding to their ratcheting wrench line up with a couple of new extra long ratcheting wrench sets in fixed and flex head. Might just be me but, seem a little pricey even if knock 20% off but, if they're Kabo made, probably worth it.


https://www.harborfreight.com/merch...le-box-flex-ratcheting-wrench-5-pc-56694.html

So what's the deal here Fed. These look identical to my Mountains at close to double a sale price??.

 

[Fedwrench]

So what's the deal here Fed. These look identical to my Mountains at close to double a sale price??.

I honestly don't know.

The only thing I can think of is that Harbor Freight is sourcing some of their Icon stuff from better Taiwan manufacturers like Kabo, and raising the price to cover their imitation Snap on packaging. Perhaps Harbor Freight is banking on most people not knowing about the other brands/versions of their tools

I saw the Icon reversible extra long flex head set in a local store and they looked just like my old SK G Pro set.

I'm not sure if Harbor Freight's higher price is to offset warranty claims or theft losses but, it would take more than a 20% off coupon to get me to bite since I have other versions

 

[Ign]

Damn, that flex set is 5 pcs for $200. That's crazy to me for what they are.

I was recently using my Carlyles and I gotta say - in this particular application I kept bumping that little round reversing button, kinda annoying

 

[Fedwrench]

Damn, that flex set is 5 pcs for $200. That's crazy to me for what they are.

I was recently using my Carlyles and I gotta say - in this particular application I kept bumping that little round reversing button, kinda annoying

Yep, it's the same way with my G Pro set.

It bothers me enough you use something without the switch.

 

[Mechanical Noise]

I honestly don't know.

The only thing I can think of is that Harbor Freight is sourcing some of their Icon stuff from better Taiwan manufacturers like Kabo, and raising the price to cover their imitation Snap on packaging. Perhaps Harbor Freight is banking on most people not knowing about the other brands/versions of their tools

I saw the Icon reversible extra long flex head set in a local store and they looked just like my old SK G Pro set.

I'm not sure if Harbor Freight's higher price is to offset warranty claims or theft losses but, it would take more than a 20% off coupon to get me to bite since I have other versions

High Icon prices make Pittsburgh Pro look like an even better deal.

 

[mrjaw14]

I think Carlyle extra long ratcheting wrench set is the same as the icon. I don’t have a Napa closer than hazard fraught, I was considering the icon set For easy warranty. I’ve heard you can’t actually call mountain for warranty, you have to go through your distributor. So Carlyle or icon seem best case for warranty

 

[Skin]

I think Carlyle extra long ratcheting wrench set is the same as the icon. I don’t have a Napa closer than hazard fraught, I was considering the icon set For easy warranty. I’ve heard you can’t actually call mountain for warranty, you have to go through your distributor. So Carlyle or icon seem best case for warranty

They are the same as Carlyle. The Carlyle set, when it goes on sale, has been about $120 but I don't think they've been on sale since last year and all their tools have gone up in price. Their set is now MSRP $310 (up from $279) which is even more than Matco. Figure that one out. Really high end Taiwan tools is great but they're pricing themselves so obnoxiously high and have made sales so restrictive I want nothing to do with the brand. Their marketing department is clueless.

 

[Jaysreal]

I like your YouTube video on Pittsburgh Pro ratchet.

Thanks, except it's kind of invalid now, they released a redesign that now has a Torx fastener flex joint which supposedly holds up better but I still will not be gambling my money away with the amount of times I had to warranty that one. Coupled with the existence of Icon Ratchets, people might as well forget the PGH pro ones exist.

Sent from my ASUS_I01WDX using Tapatalk

 

[Tallpilot]

They are the same as Carlyle. The Carlyle set, when it goes on sale, has been about $120 but I don't think they've been on sale since last year and all their tools have gone up in price. Their set is now MSRP $310 (up from $279) which is even more than Matco. Figure that one out. Really high end Taiwan tools is great but they're pricing themselves so obnoxiously high and have made sales so restrictive I want nothing to do with the brand. Their marketing department is clueless.

It really is a shame. I bought several hundreds worth of stuff around 2018 when the quarterly sales were awesome. If any of it breaks now I might just replace it with something else.

Thanks, except it's kind of invalid now, they released a redesign that now has a Torx fastener flex joint which supposedly holds up better but I still will not be gambling my money away with the amount of times I had to warranty that one. Coupled with the existence of Icon Ratchets, people might as well forget the PGH pro ones exist.

Sent from my ASUS_I01WDX using Tapatalk

Glad to see you back around here. I hope you are doing well.

 

[Formerjeeper]

Looks like Icon is adding to their ratcheting wrench line up with a couple of new extra long ratcheting wrench sets in fixed and flex head. Might just be me but, seem a little pricey even if knock 20% off but, if they're Kabo made, probably worth it.


https://www.harborfreight.com/professional-metric-double-box-ratcheting-wrench-10-pc-56653.html

https://www.harborfreight.com/merch...le-box-flex-ratcheting-wrench-5-pc-56694.html

I just bought the flex head set with a 20% coupon. Definitely Kabo and identical to Mountain and Carlyle. I had been debating over Mountain with iffy warranty vs Carlyle with stupid pricing. I don’t buy much at HF other than consumables but super happy with these wrenches.

 

[Mr_B]

I just bought the flex head set with a 20% coupon. Definitely Kabo and identical to Mountain and Carlyle. I had been debating over Mountain with iffy warranty vs Carlyle with stupid pricing. I don’t buy much at HF other than consumables but super happy with these wrenches.

yes they reasonably good deal if warranty stays usable
was as cheap as 120 bucks for the double box flex from carlyle in real deals .
The no offset fixed box can be had from many brands for 150buck range + or - 10 bucks .
The kabo and high-five wrenches some of only icon items that stand out and then still need that 20% coupon and are relying on warranty and product staying fair for many years for it be a very good deal ...

 

[The Fall]

Does the OEM for the flex-head reversible ratcheting wrench set only make them in metric? Still 95% SAE over here.

 

[dnschmidt]

I know that Texas is a separate country from the USA as I once lived there but 95% SAE in Austin. Do they make cars just for Texas that are still SAE?

 

[The Fall]

Although I live here now, I'm not from Texas. The shop I work at part time -- at least before the virus hit -- was pre-'75 domestics. We'd occasionally get some BMW 2002 and '70s Mercedes in. The owner's first car was a '70s Mercedes diesel, but our focus was hot rods and 1970ish GM land yachts.

Anyway, these looked like useful tools, but would be effectively useless for me in metric.

 

[m6z]

Ouch. The Gearwrench version is less than $100.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DICFCO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Neiko flex for $70.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KN6ZVK4/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[The Fall]

Thanks for the link. But I was looking for the reversible ones. I'm always worried about painting myself into a corner with these.

 

[Ign]

Thanks for the link. But I was looking for the reversible ones. I'm always worried about painting myself into a corner with these.

Smart. It's rare but when you do.....

I got the Carlyles on the good sales pricing. Today's pricing does seem ridiculous

 

[ForrestT]

Any thoughts or experience with this set? I’ve been thinking about getting it. Who is the maker? Infar?




Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Tallpilot]

Smart. It's rare but when you do.....

I got the Carlyles on the good sales pricing. Today's pricing does seem ridiculous

I'm very happy with my Carlyle's. But I can't possibly recommend them at current prices. I think my SAE set was $99.

It's a real shame Napa is being so boneheaded.

 

[BK13]

I'm very happy with my Carlyle's. But I can't possibly recommend them at current prices. I think my SAE set was $99.

It's a real shame Napa is being so boneheaded.

Makes me wonder, outside of shops who have an account, how much stuff NAPA sells that is not in the Real Deals catalog.

 

[Mr_B]

Any thoughts or experience with this set? I’ve been thinking about getting it. Who is the maker? Infar?

]

doubt it infar as these have heat shrink clevis pin like the big brands did few decades back .
infar (geartech) ratchet wrenches all been torx bolt .
infar and ratchets not that great .

 

[m6z]

They've recently added nut drivers.

https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=icon nut driver

 

[measuredtwice]

They've recently added nut drivers.

https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=icon nut driver

Wera: $53.98 shipped
Icon: $112.85 shipped

 

[Mr_B]

^
wow that bit overpriced even for good taiwan offerings .
I got a very complete facom set that cost not a lot more .

 

[1982fxr]

$112 for harbor freight nut drivers...wow.

 

[zendriver]

$112 for harbor freight nut drivers...wow.

Has anyone ever paid full price, for a HF product?

Just curious.

Besides, maybe all that glitters, is not gold.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155581

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Pricing is on par with Carlyle nut drivers, which is a fair comparison of imports. Granted, I'm not paying that much for HF nut drivers even after playing their coupon games.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/CHQNDS7

 

[measuredtwice]

Funny, to watch people rush to defend Harbor Freight charging $50 for an $8 nut driver set.

Besides, maybe all that glitters, is not gold.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=155581

The link is a topic about sockets, not nut drivers. Also the Wera nut drivers are made in Czech Republic whereas the Wera sockets are made for them in Taiwan.

I have the Wera nut drivers. Do you?

 

[zendriver]

Funny, to watch people rush to defend Harbor Freight charging $50 for an $8 nut driver set.



The link is a topic about sockets, not nut drivers. Also the Wera nut drivers are made in Germany whereas the Wera sockets are made for them in Taiwan.

I have the Wera nut drivers. Do you?

No, but I don't have the Icons either, so I can not make a determination, on which one was higher quality, because well, that would just be silly.

I guess, just like you, I made an assumption , but since the Icons are new, no one knows how well they hold up.

Maybe they are the best ones ever made.

 

[lardy1]

My USA Craftsman aren't all that great. But I really don't use them much so they're fine. Functional. I can buy USA made 14 piece set for less than half the price of the Icon. I know which direction I'd be going.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Tekton is selling a 14pc made in USA set for $55......

https://www.tekton.com/nut-driver-sets?quantity=1&unit=combined

 

[Fedwrench]

Over a year after icon's introduction, things are still as confusing as ever.

Since I hate snap on's instinct handle, I'm not interested in a harbor freight clone. I also noticed that the metric set lacks a 5.5 mm. Now, I realize that it depends on what you work on whether you'll miss a 5.5 mm or not but, it's too common of a size for me not to have it.

I think $20-$25 would be a more realistic price though. I have the Tekton set and it's very nicely made but, I wish they weren't all black.