Icon tools are coming spring/summer 2019
- Thread starter Fedwrench
- Start date
bubinga
Well-known member
Bummer the price on the long pattern reversibles went from the Youtube price of ~$110.00 up to almost $150.00 I was thinking of picking up a set of them.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
They're only a ripoff if you're not able to recognize the difference in quality between the real tools and the fakes.
The reason I'm not jumping up and down with excitement over these ICON tools is that I'm confident with a high degree of certainty that I'd find discrepancies that don't measure up to the real tools.
ICON sockets:
Probably have the detents in the wrong place like all the other Taiwan made sockets do.
ICON ratcheting wrenches:
Probably don't have as smooth of a ratcheting mechanism as the real wrenches do.
ICON non-ratcheting wrenches:
They already have the Carlyle open end that I despise.
ICON ratchets:
I'm sure I'd find something wrong with them and I don't mean the chrome finish either. As soon as I flipped the direction lever or listened to the way they sound turning a socket, it would be game over.
bubinga
Well-known member
Oh Good, Might grab a set
chad w
Banned
"Fake" tools? You have a vested interest in letting the world know you dont like hf tools or the new icon line. How does posting the same silly drivel over and over do anything but waste your time? Move on to another thread and continue sucking the tool trucks exhaust.
Right? I use mine, i guess some people just spin them between fingers.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
Yes I can judge a ratchet mechanism by the sound it makes. I am THAT good.
Merk, you never cease to amaze me. I mean to be able to judge a new tool line without touching the tools, let alone actually using them is quite impressive.
I thought you would be elated that ICON included polishing cloths with their ratchets
What brand of tools do you use in your day job? What is your day job exactly?
I am surprised though that you would criticize the ratcheting wrenches given that Taiwan has the ratcheting wrench market covered worldwide.
Carry on, polishing your Mac & Snap on tools
Retroman
Well-known member
Now don't sell yourself short your better than that, you can judge an entire line of tools without ever-laying a glove on them. Now that's impressive.
You didn't look that good when posted a thread on tools needed do a basic suspension task .
I've used selection of taiwan tools in daily work for decades and they not fake tools lol.
Lot of fake people using tools though ...
Nineeightyone
Well-known member
Still here, still interested at some point.
The screenshot from the website reminds me though, I wonder if there's going to be an ICON ball joint press kit which will replace the current Maddox one, similar to how we lost the long reach low profile Pittsburgh jack to the Daytona -- which may be built better, but definitely costs more.
At a price point around $110, I was very interested in the ratcheting reversible wrenches. But around $150, it's hard to stay interested, with the abundance of other similar options that are a little more established.
I think that the place ICON tools are going to do well is in the ease of access. If I could get Tekton locally I would, because I would far prefer to hold a tool in my hands to determine if I like it or not, rather than purchasing online. Harbor Freight has stores all over the place, and I could be swayed to spend ICON money on similar tools to what Tekton offers, if I can handle one without putting money out first.
Either way, open stock singles is interesting, and hopefully more competition will drive prices lower and improve the options for everyone.
The screenshot from the website reminds me though, I wonder if there's going to be an ICON ball joint press kit which will replace the current Maddox one, similar to how we lost the long reach low profile Pittsburgh jack to the Daytona -- which may be built better, but definitely costs more.
At a price point around $110, I was very interested in the ratcheting reversible wrenches. But around $150, it's hard to stay interested, with the abundance of other similar options that are a little more established.
I think that the place ICON tools are going to do well is in the ease of access. If I could get Tekton locally I would, because I would far prefer to hold a tool in my hands to determine if I like it or not, rather than purchasing online. Harbor Freight has stores all over the place, and I could be swayed to spend ICON money on similar tools to what Tekton offers, if I can handle one without putting money out first.
Either way, open stock singles is interesting, and hopefully more competition will drive prices lower and improve the options for everyone.
sweet victory
Well-known member
Shopguy78
Well-known member
Never have I seen so many precognitive people that can judge and condemn an entire new tool line without ever having handled or used them. It's actually kind of entertaining.
Mechanical Noise
Well-known member
At my local HF, they hung the ICON breaker bars right next to the Pittsburgh Pro bars. Aside from the price, there was hardly any difference between them.
That much of the ballyhooed ICON roll-out was less than impressive.
bubinga
Well-known member
I'll "Bite" at $110.00, But yes, @ around $150, it's hard to stay interested.
Hopefully!
kythri
Well-known member
Since we're still pre-launch, I wouldn't judge early displays - it's entirely possible that the stocking at your store is not final.
I wouldn't be surprised that a planogram is being distributed for a dedicated display, and current displays don't accommodate that.
Mechanical Noise
Well-known member
I would have been impressed if the ICON bar looked beefier than the Pittsburgh Pro bar.
The yoke area, where the PP bar is known to crack, looked identical on the ICON bar. By eye, the shaft was the same thickness and I expect it would be as flexy as the PP bar.
The plating looked pretty good on both bars. I can't say the ICON bar wasn't made of a better alloy but I don't remember any indication on the hang tag.
The cosmetic differences were so slight that, if they were unbranded, I would have thought that they could be just different lot runs from the same supplier.
The everlasting detent issue that no one but the man with the finest hand and keenest senses can discern. It's a job for Super Tool
AS556
Well-known member
Rabid Badger
Well-known member
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Husky
Home Depot
He also advocates running an angle grinder with a dry gearbox. He's a fountain of wisdom.
Wamsutta
Well-known member
I use a different kind of Ratcheting Mechanism for my day job Fedwrench. And being that the commute is 64 miles round trip, I spend most of my paycheck on the gasoline required to get there.
Retroman
Well-known member
I use a different kind of Ratcheting Mechanism for my day job Fedwrench. And being that the commute is 64 miles round trip, I spend most of my paycheck on the gasoline required to get there.
He has got to be a Mechanical engineer, but wait probably does Electrical engineering on the side or is working for NASA building the next Mars Rover by himself because "He is that Good"
Mikeske
Well-known member
Popcorn and a beer would be nice.
[emoji897][emoji481]lol
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DSLTRK
Well-known member
I've been using the ratchet for a few days and overall, I like it.
I did a torture test by removing a rusted 7/8" leaf spring bolt, using my foot on the handle. I was easily putting 250ft-lbs+ on it and eventually the bolt broke free.
It did deform the drive end a bit, but that was expected. Taiwanese tools have a more ductile anvil, vs the hardened Snap-On.
The handle is easily worn, but about the same as the Snappy Soft grips. I prefer the solid plastic handles for this reason. After the torture test, the handle can be clocked about 10* if firmly twisted.
The action is still smooth and tight. Hasn't slipped once whether wrenching fast, slow, high or low torque.
I think these are a decent value(again, the fixed head only, I haven't tried the flex heads). Hoping to try the 1/4" and 1/2" version shortly.
I did a torture test by removing a rusted 7/8" leaf spring bolt, using my foot on the handle. I was easily putting 250ft-lbs+ on it and eventually the bolt broke free.
It did deform the drive end a bit, but that was expected. Taiwanese tools have a more ductile anvil, vs the hardened Snap-On.
The handle is easily worn, but about the same as the Snappy Soft grips. I prefer the solid plastic handles for this reason. After the torture test, the handle can be clocked about 10* if firmly twisted.
The action is still smooth and tight. Hasn't slipped once whether wrenching fast, slow, high or low torque.
I think these are a decent value(again, the fixed head only, I haven't tried the flex heads). Hoping to try the 1/4" and 1/2" version shortly.
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DSLTRK
Well-known member
I managed to pick up a few ICON tools today....
Now for some initial observations, Please keep in mind that these are my opinions and your results may vary.
......Carry on, that's all I have for now.
Thanks for the pics Fedwrench. That confirms my suspicions about the flex heads.
I also noticed based on your pictures, the ICON ratcheting wrenches seem to have a larger tolerance between the drive ring/wrench body vs the Blackhawk and Dewalt brands.
Could this be the norm for ICON? Or perhaps they were left in the vibrating polish stage for too long?
Whatever you're seeing may just be the result of my crappy photography. the dewalt and Icon's ratcheting boxed ends look identical in every aspect holding them in my hands side by side. the open ends are different as my Dewalt is older and still has the anti slip open end whereas. the Icon open end is just a plain open end without anti slip properties. i don't think i've seen a reversible combination ratcheting wrench as long as the ICON version.
tonyciambrone
Well-known member
This is all well and fine but I think most of us really want to know how the polishing cloth is doing.
Nineeightyone
Well-known member
Sounds like it's a competently made ratchet, so it's up to personal preference, as usual. Good point about the anvil, it's a careful balance between shearing it off and having it fracture.
DSLTRK
Well-known member
I promptly threw the box in the recycle can and kept the cloth for my glasses. I think they could save at least 75 cents getting rid of that ****.
techieman33
Well-known member
Clearly inferior to the Snap-On 1200 threadcount cloth
People still use those? I gave up on them years ago. I had a bunch of micro scratches showing up from polishing my tools every night before I went to bed. Ended up having to throw most of my tools away because of them. So this time I went with silk for the drawer liners and the polishing cloths. So far so good. /s
Handyandy23
Well-known member
The packaging is actually one "minor" annoyance that might stop me from really jumping on these Icon tools. To me, the real advantage of these is getting decent quality tools in a brick and mortar store so I can touch and feel them, and evaluate if I think they are what I want. As someone else pointed out, in this segment of the tool market a lot of it comes down to personal preference.
However, with these giant theft-deterrent packages, so is one supposed to be able to feel or evaluate anything? Buying a ratchet encased inside a plastic tray that's inside a taped up cardboard box in a brick and mortar store is no different than 'blindly' ordering a ratchet online and having it show up at your door. I know several people have mentioned they also like being able to touch things before they buy them, and using that as a negative against other tools like Tekton, GearWrench, etc. But with the packaging I don't see the Icon line being any different.
I also somehow doubt there will be open stock ever put on shelves if they are so afraid of theft that they have to encase the socket and wrench sets in these trays and boxes. Packaging them this way is more about preventing someone from grabbing one or two wrenches or sockets and shoving them in their pants - box or not, there won't be too many people stuffing a whole socket rail down their trousers. So if the idea of the sets in big boxes is theft deterrence, then it makes no sense that they would have singles hanging on pegs right beside them. If they did it would be nice, not only for warranty purposes, but for handling and testing them. But if they do it will make zero sense to me.
However, with these giant theft-deterrent packages, so is one supposed to be able to feel or evaluate anything? Buying a ratchet encased inside a plastic tray that's inside a taped up cardboard box in a brick and mortar store is no different than 'blindly' ordering a ratchet online and having it show up at your door. I know several people have mentioned they also like being able to touch things before they buy them, and using that as a negative against other tools like Tekton, GearWrench, etc. But with the packaging I don't see the Icon line being any different.
I also somehow doubt there will be open stock ever put on shelves if they are so afraid of theft that they have to encase the socket and wrench sets in these trays and boxes. Packaging them this way is more about preventing someone from grabbing one or two wrenches or sockets and shoving them in their pants - box or not, there won't be too many people stuffing a whole socket rail down their trousers. So if the idea of the sets in big boxes is theft deterrence, then it makes no sense that they would have singles hanging on pegs right beside them. If they did it would be nice, not only for warranty purposes, but for handling and testing them. But if they do it will make zero sense to me.
DSLTRK
Well-known member
The packaging, for the ratchets at least, isn't too difficult to open. There are two tape stickers on the bottom that are easily cut and the inner box/tray slides out. This assumes that it isn't secured hanging on a rack, because the hang tag must pass through the box for it to slide apart.
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DSLTRK
Well-known member
I bought the deep 1/2" drive set to do an initial comparison of fit, finish and quality.
Right off the bat you can just picture HF executives dumping Snap-on sockets on the table of the Taiwanese manufacturer, then saying "how much?"
They are that close in design.
The chrome finish is bright with a whiter finish than my Snap-On.
These sockets are not as 'perfect' as the Snap-On, showing dings, scratches that were chromed over. Snap-On sockets are highly polished with little to no defects from handling.
The Taiwan tolerances are quite good, as you can see in the pictures. The Snap-On has significant wear, so take it's measurements as you will.
The detents are milled evenly and at the proper depth. Socket retention on any brand of ratchet is solid and keeps the socket end close to the inner part of the anvil for strength.
I also like to see the shallow concave end where the anvil inserts. This is a huge difference between cheap sockets and the higher quality brands.
I do like the thin profile neck on the smaller sizes as well as the shallow broach depth. These will have improved access, just like the truck brands, vs the typical 'Craftsman' style.
I paid $50 for these plus tax, not a bad deal if you have a HF nearby in case any break. But I hardly ever break 1/2" chromies. The set runs from 12mm to 24mm, no skips.
Right off the bat you can just picture HF executives dumping Snap-on sockets on the table of the Taiwanese manufacturer, then saying "how much?"
They are that close in design.
The chrome finish is bright with a whiter finish than my Snap-On.
These sockets are not as 'perfect' as the Snap-On, showing dings, scratches that were chromed over. Snap-On sockets are highly polished with little to no defects from handling.
The Taiwan tolerances are quite good, as you can see in the pictures. The Snap-On has significant wear, so take it's measurements as you will.
The detents are milled evenly and at the proper depth. Socket retention on any brand of ratchet is solid and keeps the socket end close to the inner part of the anvil for strength.
I also like to see the shallow concave end where the anvil inserts. This is a huge difference between cheap sockets and the higher quality brands.
I do like the thin profile neck on the smaller sizes as well as the shallow broach depth. These will have improved access, just like the truck brands, vs the typical 'Craftsman' style.
I paid $50 for these plus tax, not a bad deal if you have a HF nearby in case any break. But I hardly ever break 1/2" chromies. The set runs from 12mm to 24mm, no skips.
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1990 Grand Wag
Well-known member
Alright fellas, I can't lie. Because of this thread, and the initial reviews on the Icon ratchets..............................you mofos are DIRECTLY responsible for me purchasing two Tekton 90T ratchets! Ha!
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