Icon tools are coming spring/summer 2019

[jdlong]

This should be interesting. I wonder what the backdrag of those ratchets will be like.

 

[RoundedNut]

Nice looking tools and likely will be competitive with Tekton with their new lineup, 90 tooth as well. Should be interesting to see HF, Tekton, Sunnex, Gearwrench, Capri, Carlyle, etc. all jostle about for market share/positioning. This competition is all good.

 

[Jtels85]

These tools look like Carlyle tools. Has anyone mentioned that yet?

 

[ChrisLS8]

They already upgraded their Pliers with the Doyle brand. They really need a good screwdriver offering. They upgraded their meters and scan tools as well. Did you see anything else from the Icon brand?

They already have snap ring pliers and torque wrenches in store

 

[rmsg0040]

What was the longest 1/2 ratchet you saw at the booth?

 

[Skin]

These tools look like Carlyle tools. Has anyone mentioned that yet?

Besides the Infar open end nothing looks like Carlyle. Looks like they sent Snap-On tools to Taiwan and told them to copy them.

 

[mowersplus84]

They are all Taiwan and high quality looking. Do you know what their price point is if you are already stating you can buy US made tools for less?

My guess is these will phase out Pittsburgh Pro as they are offered with a Lifetime warranty as well

They will still have the Pittsburgh pro line from what i hear Harbor Freight is
going with a Good,Better,Best approach across all there products.

 

[kctyphoon]

Hf already won the Daytona jack lawsuit with SO didn’t they - so why would they stop there?? Listen, if your gonna charge someone $5,000 - $10,000 for a tool box - its your own fault when someone else finally comes along and bends the same ******* metal into the same ******* shape for half the price..

I can hear them already “but the slides....”. “Door to door service...”. Lmao.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

Goin to be hard pressed to sell these 'RE-BRANDED' CHINESE tools at UNION prices. As you can buy Made in USA tools from other sources for the same or LESS money.

Not only that, that 'Icon' brand will disappear and be replaced then they will come out with another name called 'Fill-In-the-BLANK' from the CHINESE LOTTO wheel of names.

can always count on you for some childish HF bashing

 

[Tallpilot]

Besides the Infar open end nothing looks like Carlyle. Looks like they sent Snap-On tools to Taiwan and told them to copy them.

It does actually. The Carlyle reversible ratcheting wrenches have a much more flank drive plus looking open end. The non ratcheting combos have the V groove with pipe wrench teeth like the Milwaukee. A design I personally detest.

 

[Tallpilot]

Hf already won the Daytona jack lawsuit with SO didn’t they - so why would they stop there?? Listen, if your gonna charge someone $5,000 - $10,000 for a tool box - its your own fault when someone else finally comes along and bends the same ******* metal into the same ******* shape for half the price..

I can hear them already “but the slides....”. “Door to door service...”. Lmao.

Competition is doing wonderful things. I like the Snap-on tools I own but I'm finding more and more items that are very good for half the.price. The quality difference is narrowing. It isn't gone so if you can afford and want the top of the line go for it.

I'll be curious to see if Snap-on wants to waste more money in legal fees or choses a different strategy to respond. Pricing and support do matter though. If this stuff is Carlyle pricing I'll go with Napa or Tekton simply because their customer service is better.

 

[Tallpilot]

What's the opinion on INFARs ratcheting wrench mechanism? My gearwrench set 8-24 has done me welll, but there are times the head is too large.

My Carlyle reversibles are lower profile than my Gearwrench or Tekton and larger than Snap-on

 

[Nineeightyone]

They will still have the Pittsburgh pro line from what i hear Harbor Freight is
going with a Good,Better,Best approach across all there products.

I'm inclined to believe this is the smart approach.

I have a fair number of Pittsburgh Pro tools, and I like them. I've gotten my use out of them, but I'd like to continue to use them as long as possible/sensible, because I've already paid for them. But if HF discontinued the Pittsburgh Pro line (and I'd no longer have easy lifetime warranty support), it'd be a tough decision to continue to buy their tools. It would definitely cause me to look more at other brands, because warranty longevity is almost as important to me as longevity of the tool itself.

 

[Robert Haas]

Any idea when the Icon truck will be swinging by the shop?

Wonder what Icon truck franchises will start at?

wait, what?


never mind

 

[protegeV]

Any idea when the Icon truck will be swinging by the shop?

Wonder what Icon truck franchises will start at?

wait, what?


never mind

 

[woody 73]

Is it me or do all the new tools look like snap on copies ? They all look great but darn they all look like snap on clones is that a good thing ?

 

[Robert Haas]

Is it me or do all the new tools look like snap on copies ? They all look great but darn they all look like snap on clones is that a good thing ?

Is it me or does your post look like you did not read this thread at all?

Besides the Infar open end nothing looks like Carlyle. Looks like they sent Snap-On tools to Taiwan and told them to copy them.

Looking at those pictures is like looking at Snap On stuff but with an ICON logo. Am I the only one who sees a copycat of SO tools here? Jeez they could have altered the design a bit but no, even the font and marking positions are the same. I like better quality tools as much as the next guy but to model it 1:1 off Snap On? Meh.

My first thought also, font, italic slant, the detail at the bottom of the sockets; all very snap on esque.

Damned if all those tools dont look like snapon knockoffs

 

[protegeV]

Is it me or does your post look like you did not read this thread at all?

A lot of people read the OP only and comment on it without reading further.

 

[freudianfloyd]

I'm not sure if it has ever been mentioned or not, but last time I was at Harbor Freight, I took a look at the ICON torque wrenches and was very surprised to see they offer a lifetime warranty on them. I have never seen that on a torque wrench as they constantly get out of spec. Maybe this is common, but on all the torque wrenches I have bought, they usually only come with a 1 year warranty.

 

[protegeV]

I'm not sure if it has ever been mentioned or not, but last time I was at Harbor Freight, I took a look at the ICON torque wrenches and was very surprised to see they offer a lifetime warranty on them. I have never seen that on a torque wrench as they constantly get out of spec. Maybe this is common, but on all the torque wrenches I have bought, they usually only come with a 1 year warranty.

I wonder if there is find print, where only the head (ratchet and drive mechanism) is warrantied. I would be extremely surprised if they warranted them for being out of calibration.

 

[xin]

Is it me or do all the new tools look like snap on copies ? They all look great but darn they all look like snap on clones is that a good thing ?

They let the USA companies do all the R&D work, then copy it. Another reason to have import Tariffs to make a level playing field for USA companies and workers.

 

[Mr_B]

I'm inclined to believe this is the smart approach.

I have a fair number of Pittsburgh Pro tools, and I like them. I've gotten my use out of them, but I'd like to continue to use them as long as possible/sensible, because I've already paid for them. But if HF discontinued the Pittsburgh Pro line (and I'd no longer have easy lifetime warranty support), it'd be a tough decision to continue to buy their tools. It would definitely cause me to look more at other brands, because warranty longevity is almost as important to me as longevity of the tool itself.

If they stopped pitts pro you get closest equivalent or store credit .

 

[jdlong]

I wonder if there is find print, where only the head (ratchet and drive mechanism) is warrantied. I would be extremely surprised if they warranted them for being out of calibration.

Most likely short term warranty on calibration. Their description reads "This high accuracy torque wrench comes with a factory certificate of calibration and can be re-calibrated".

 

[ChrisLS8]

can always count on you for some childish HF bashing

I just skim over that particular close minded babbling. Didn't you know that US manufacturing is the only one that can be innovative and produce quality tools?

 

[mowersplus84]

I'm assuming the icon specialty items will be made in china.I just picked up the snap ring plier set yesterday and that where they are made.

 

[RedneckWelder]

They let the USA companies do all the R&D work, then copy it. Another reason to have import Tariffs to make a level playing field for USA companies and workers.

Tariffs are populist ******** market meddling that screws over the consumer. Considering that I am a consumer I am not too appreciative when people who don’t understand the very basics of how economics works want to screw me over.

Want US made pay the US price. 99% who scream about the demise of US production are the same cheap bastards who won’t pay for US production.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Tariffs are populist ******** market meddling that screws over the consumer. Considering that I am a consumer I am not too appreciative when people who don’t understand the very basics of how economics works want to screw me over.

Want US made pay the US price. 99% who scream about the demise of US production are the same cheap bastards who won’t pay for US production.

100% true, i see so many people preaching usa made and then complaining about the price.

 

[Snakebyt]

was there the other day, they already had some ICON torque wrenches in stock, but thats all i saw

 

[General Geoff]

Tariffs are populist ******** market meddling that screws over the consumer.

To counteract the market meddling done by EPA, OSHA, and various other regulations that make it impossible to manufacture products at anywhere close to the same price as you can in Asia.

We seem to like the relatively clean air and water table that these regulations have been affording us though. No such thing as a free lunch, and China's industrial pollution problem is getting worse & worse.

 

[Fedwrench]

was there the other day, they already had some ICON torque wrenches in stock, but thats all i saw

the new Icon Mechanics tools aren't showing up until May or so of 2019.

 

[L.Cheapo]

Most likely short term warranty on calibration. Their description reads "This high accuracy torque wrench comes with a factory certificate of calibration and can be re-calibrated".

Warranty does not include calibration, nor wear and tear.

I don't see the typical HF shopper spending $100 on a torque wrench there when the last one they bought was $9. $100 is getting perilously close to well known, trusted brands.

 

[xin]

Warranty does not include calibration, nor wear and tear.

I don't see the typical HF shopper spending $100 on a torque wrench there when the last one they bought was $9. $100 is getting perilously close to well known, trusted brands.

Goin to be a TOUGH sell when most people shop their for the disposable tools...

$100 you can get a USA CDI or another for not much more - with a track record. Much better quality tools in that price range.

 

[Sloper0204]

Goin to be a TOUGH sell when most people shop their for the disposable tools...

$100 you can get a USA CDI or another for not much more - with a track record. Much better quality tools in that price range.

How many people that are in HF looking for a torque wrench are going to know that? Two guys I work with already expressed their intent to go ape **** on the Icon tools when they show up simply because they are "done" dealing with "expensive" tools. And they regularly use the HF warranty already.

 

[M6erfan]

...Listen, if your gonna charge someone $5,000 - $10,000 for a tool box - its your own fault when someone else finally comes along and bends the same ******* metal into the same ******* shape for half the price...

This might be my new sig line...

 

[M_George]

Be interesting to see how this plays out. Lowes recently closed 20 stores and it's questionable how well their doing. HF is opening new stores everywhere.
Wonder how Stanley B&D will compete with them?

 

[M6erfan]

Be interesting to see how this plays out. Lowes recently closed 20 stores and it's questionable how well their doing. HF is opening new stores everywhere.
Wonder how Stanley B&D will compete with them?

I suspect they'll do fine in that segment, as long as they're in Walmart

 

[M_George]

I suspect they'll do fine in that segment, as long as they're in Walmart

I'm hoping for a good old fashion price war.

 

[SuperCat]

Thanks for the heads up, Fedwrench. I have a few HF hand tools, along with every other brand out there. I'm not a Pro Tech, just a DIY garage guy, but I do save my pennies for the best quality I can afford. I'm going to keep my eyes on these and see what the reviews look like.

 

[Bagherra]

The first thing that comes to mind when I hear ICON, is motorcycle helmets and gear.

Same here...

 

[Fedwrench]

To me, Icon is that guy in California that restores Broncos & Land Crusiers. He also has the derelict line of restomods