Icon tools are coming spring/summer 2019

[Mr_B]

[*]The beam of the 17mm wrench I was able to handle seemed way too thin for comfort. It just didn't feel good in the hand.


[*]Not that it would affect function in any way, but to my untrained eye, it seemed that they went to extra trouble to make their stamping and numbering scheme on the wrench look very "snap-on like"
[/LIST]


If I was in the market, the only thing that would stop me from considering them would be the uncomfortable (to me) thin beam.

That the problem with HF and icon, they copied rather than inovated which means they got same flaws such as thin beams, small size markings and waste of effort knurling .
under the snapon type style it same taiwan tools as all the other rebrands, few things bit special due to differences but on the whole nothing breath taking ...

 

[Legion Prime]

Yes they are 6 PT.

Nice! I stopped in HF today for the hell of it and they actually had a pair of Icon shelves. One side was all the sockets and ratchets and the other side of the aisle had the wrenches. I gotta say I'm disappointed by how long they diddled themselves before putting these out. If these had been available I would likely have bought these rather than the Williams set and possibly even the Wright's. They do look good, better in person than I thought they did on screen. $90 would get me a full fractional set plus ratchet, not too much more than the Williams set excepting a universal, extension and spinner handle. This is now a dilemma for me. LOL
Do you mind if I now ask how tall the trays they give you the sockets in are?

I grabbed an ICON 1/4” swivel head ratchet.

Came with a cleaning cloth. Lol. Is that a SO thing?

I have a bunch of SO ratchets but purchased them all used. Do they normally come in fancy boxes?

The ICON 1/4” swivel ratchet seems really nice no complaints.

If a cleaning cloth is a SO thing it's certainly a newer thing. All any of mine came with were a receipt with the exception of the Tshirt that came with my flex head since they were introducing the comfort grip on that style when I bought it. Other than that one the dudes would just open the drawer they had them in, hand them to me and that was it.

What DID impress me today was the Pittsburgh Pro 1/4 in, 3/8 in. Drive Long Reach Dual Flex Head Ratchet Now THAT looks useful, not only are the heads low profile but even the selector switch is inset. Having a drive at each end might be a little annoying especially flex heads but still for the occasions it's useful I could live with it. I may just end up with one of them in my box.

 

[sgtgeo]

The cleaning cloth shocked me.

It’s like a lens cleaning type cloth.

I mean I’ll wipe down my tools if I get oil all over them but I’m not polishing ratchets lol

 

[NewEdgePerf]

I've held them next to each other and they are definitely not the same. I have all these 1/4" drive metric socket sets as well I could compare......

You are my hero!


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[Bigblue&Goldie]

AI also stopped by HF today to get a jack and check out the ICON line. Overall, nice tools, but nothing stand out from other Taiwan imports. I agree the wrench beams were too thin for my liking. The long pattern ratcheting wrenches were the only thing I actually kinda wanted. My overall impression was I could get a lot of Proto or Williams USA stuff for not much more money. I looked at their 1/2" torque wrench that was $99; not interested when I can get a Made in USA CDI for $60 more. In other words, the savings wasn't worth the gamble. Also, the calibration certificate said the calibration was done by "Nick"......I've never met a non-American Asian named Nick. Sounds like the calibration is ********.

If I was in the market for hardline import tools I'd price shop ICON to other Taiwan imports and go with what's cheaper. Definitely should've come in at a lower price point and skipped the ******** packaging.

3/8 drive shallow SAE 12pc set:

Williams USA $42.61
https://www.toolsdelivered.com/Will...ools-3-8-Inch-Drive-Chrome-Metric-Socket-Sets


ICON Taiwan $34.99
https://www.harborfreight.com/12-pc-38-in-drive-sae-professional-socket-set-64791.html

For an additional $7 I can have Snap On engineering and quality instead of an import copy. Icon just doesn't appeal to ME at the asking prices.

 

[vssjim]

Just like snap on beams too thin lol,the new style SO with block letters way too thin older script letter wrenches all are ok




QUOTE=eyeball;8101934]I confess that I did not read this entire thread before posting...

I visited Harbor Freight today to buy some moving blankets. While I was there I checked out the Icon tools they had on the shelf. I played around with the 17mm reversible ratcheting wrench they had tethered to the display and noted a few things:

1. The ratcheting mechanism is smooth and had a bit more back drag than I would like but not bad.
   
   
2. The beam of the 17mm wrench I was able to handle seemed way too thin for comfort. It just didn't feel good in the hand.
   
   
3. Not that it would affect function in any way, but to my untrained eye, it seemed that they went to extra trouble to make their stamping and numbering scheme on the wrench look very "snap-on like"

If I was in the market, the only thing that would stop me from considering them would be the uncomfortable (to me) thin beam.[/QUOTE]

 

[unslow1]

What DID impress me today was the Pittsburgh Pro 1/4 in, 3/8 in. Drive Long Reach Dual Flex Head Ratchet Now THAT looks useful, not only are the heads low profile but even the selector switch is inset. Having a drive at each end might be a little annoying especially flex heads but still for the occasions it's useful I could live with it. I may just end up with one of them in my box.

I find that ratchet pretty useful.

I did checkout their new stuff today while looking for a towing adapter. Too close in price to name brand tools for my taste. I'll wait until someone I know buys some to see how they work.

 

[kythri]

So, what's the giant gripe about the selector? I got my hands on some of the new Icon ratchets today, and the selector is virtually identical to the Snap-on Dual 80 selectors.

 

[Fedwrench]

So, what's the giant gripe about the selector? I got my hands on some of the new Icon ratchets today, and the selector is virtually identical to the Snap-on Dual 80 selectors.

I feel it sticks up to high on the ratchet head. I also feel that there is a decent sized gap between the ratchet head and the direction switch on the flex head ratchets. I'm concerned that when my ratchets take a swam dive off of a lift arm, the switch may get damaged on impact. I would have preferred a recessed or lower profile direction switch but, that's just my opinion. The direction switches are slightly different between fixed head and flex head ratchets. Time will tell if this will be an issue. I know I've snapped snap on direction switches in the past from dropping ratchets. you can see what i'm talking about in the photos a few posts back #504.

 

[Mikeske]

I feel it sticks up to high on the ratchet head. I also feel that there is a decent sized gap between the ratchet head and the direction switch on the flex head ratchets. I'm concerned that when my ratchets take a swam dive off of a lift arm, the switch may get damaged on impact. I would have preferred a recessed or lower profile direction switch but, that's just my opinion. The direction switches are slightly different between fixed head and flex head ratchets. Time will tell if this will be an issue. I know I've snapped snap on direction switches in the past from dropping ratchets. you can see what i'm talking about in the photos a few posts back #504.

Here is picture of my older Snap-on 3/8ths inch ratchet. I see no issue of the selector switch get busted off that is why there is a warranty. The Snap-on has a similar selector switch to the Icon and I never had a issue with the way the Snap-on selector switch. As a matter of fact I like the switch a little bit out as it is easier to hit with your finger when you need to reverse direction on a nut or bolt.

 

[eyeball]

Just like snap on beams too thin lol,the new style SO with block letters way too thin older script letter wrenches all are ok

AI also stopped by HF today to get a jack and check out the ICON line. Overall, nice tools, but nothing stand out from other Taiwan imports. I agree the wrench beams were too thin for my liking...

I know I am in the minority around here but I really like the feel of my early 80’s Craftsman raised panel wrenches.

 

[WittHay]

For some of us, I think we are always looking for something a little better or different. Not exact copys of somebody else design.

If you like the thin Snap-on combo wrenches, the Icon are probably a cheap alternative. Similar to the Maximum wrenches sold here a few years back. Good up to a certain size and then get uncomfortable in the larger sizes.

The Snap-on style is my least favorite ratchet selector. Prefer the recessed Mac Axis and GearWrench

Snap-on is always going to be the most popular mechanics brand and if you are going to copy I guess its a safe bet. I just think a tool company has more respect when they come out with their own unique products

 

[mudflap]

I know I am in the minority around here but I really like the feel of my early 80’s Craftsman raised panel wrenches.

Me too..so i guess theres 2 of us...lol. And i have an old set of 6pt RP wrenches that have been on the job for 20 yrs..and still get pounded onto rusty dozer track backer nuts, and anything else that looks like it gonna put up a fight.....I like the thick beams..and ridges.

 

[classic70]

I played with the ICON ratchets in store. Not very impressed. Felt like mechanism was dry on them. I would rather have Gearwrench 84t ratchets.

 

[1foxracing]

Do you mind if I now ask how tall the trays they give you the sockets in are?
.

 

[kythri]

I just think a tool company has more respect when they come out with their own unique products

Wow, I thought I had heard all of the reasons to hate HF. Now it's "I hate Harbor Freight because they don't respect Snap-on!"

Holy hell.

 

[Shane6377]

Snap-on is always going to be the most popular mechanics brand and if you are going to copy I guess its a safe bet. I just think a tool company has more respect when they come out with their own unique products

Snap on copies other tool company designs all the time. Most tool manufacturers do. Many companies (including SO) rebrand tools which is literally putting their name on someone else's work.



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[Mr_B]

Snap on copies other tool company designs all the time. Most tool manufacturers do. Many companies (including SO) rebrand tools which is literally putting their name on someone else's work.



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Nothing wrong with copying good design and engineering but when copy without thought or knowledge you add nothing new so it no better in design just a cheaper similar looking copy .
Snapon ratchets while mechanism and alloy top quality the lever design not the best and been easy improve on .
Same with sockets and wrenches, sockets easy improvement with more usable knurl or lower half as satin chrome and wrench beems could of been improved with a mix of facom stahlwille and snapon design elements.
Seems to me this tool design team done next to sweet FA besides ship over selection of snapon products to copy dimensions, font and even part number format !
I not knocking HF on whole as I use the store but they really not even put half the thought or effort in this tool range that they could of and to be honest lot of small design elements are obvious and would of been better marketing some design differences over just comparing a taiwan copy to snapon and assuming snapon got everything right or looking same means will sell better !
Really is lowest level design and retailing you can get .

 

[Cheapskate]

Looks like some people are going all in on the new ICON tools!

 

[Cheapskate]

Is there a way to embed Youtube videos into a post?

TEST

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_E5sW6-kL8g" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Legion Prime]

Thanks 1Fox, looks to be maybe a touch over inch and a quarter. Just wanted to know about clearances.

Snap on copies other tool company designs all the time. Most tool manufacturers do. Many companies (including SO) rebrand tools which is literally putting their name on someone else's work.

Yes except rebranding is paying the company that makes a well designed tool to put your name on it thereby expanding their manufacturing giving them more capital and incentive to continue to design, develop and manufacture new and different/improved tools in the future. That's just a little different than saying "okay boys break out the abacai, we're going to copy someone else's work, slap our name on it and say ours is better because it's cheaper!" The part about not having invested in the metallurgy, developing and testing of new designs in order to come up with a marketable product of course being left unsaid. There is certainly room & market enough for both but some will always choose to support different philosophies than others. You know free will, an open market, consideration of second and third order effects and all that they entail.

 

[kythri]

Weird! It's almost as if the patent system was specifically designed to allow/promote this behavior!

 

[Parrothead]

I’m not sure if anyone has posted this yet, but ClientGraphics did a breaker bar test that included the ICON and Pittsburgh Pro.

Summary:
ICON failed at 279 ft lbs. - $49.99
Pittsburgh Pro failed at 271 ft lbs. - $19.99 ($15.99 after coupon)

It would be hard to for me to justify paying the $34 for such a small increase in performance.

 

[unslow1]

I’m not sure if anyone has posted this yet, but ClientGraphics did a breaker bar test that included the ICON and Pittsburgh Pro.

Summary:
ICON failed at 279 ft lbs. - $49.99
Pittsburgh Pro failed at 271 ft lbs. - $19.99 ($15.99 after coupon)

It would be hard to for me to justify paying the $34 for such a small increase in performance.

People have been saying that about truck brands for decades.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I’m not sure if anyone has posted this yet, but ClientGraphics did a breaker bar test that included the ICON and Pittsburgh Pro.

Summary:
ICON failed at 279 ft lbs. - $49.99
Pittsburgh Pro failed at 271 ft lbs. - $19.99 ($15.99 after coupon)

It would be hard to for me to justify paying the $34 for such a small increase in performance.

And why pay $49.99 for an ICON when a 24" Proto can be delivered to your door from Amazon for $43.09?

 

[jgromada]

Bought my first Icon tool the other day as my local HF just rolled out their Icon line. I had been interested in actually trying one out since i had been reading about the Icon rollout. I bought a comfort grip 1/4 ratchet as my other 1/4 ratchets aren't all that great.

This one is very nice! Initial impressions are that the packaging is overkill. Nice quality but why? I am going to store it in my tool cabinet drawer with my other ratchets so it will not feel lonely at all. Its got a nice feel for the ratchet mechanism, very defined action. A review I saw on YT said his was dry and maybe at some point I will see fit to put more grease in, but no immediate need. In the limited use I've had with it, feels great, nice socket retention (variety of socket brands including Proto, Craftsmen, SK & Gearwrench. ) Seems like a good value for money. The selector worked fine with a very distinct action. Rapidly turning the ratchet head does not result in the selector lever moving around like with the old Craftsman raised panel (US) made. Back drag seems minimal as well. I cringe when i see these reviews that intend on inducing failure. If it seems like it will take an inordinate amount of force I will reach for a breaker bar first. Seems like a truly fair evaluation would be to use the ratchet for a year or so and then really have a better feeling for its quality.

You can see no brand loyalty with me, i use what works. I had a Gearwrench available for comparison and a variety of similar brands and it s at least as good as any of those. I don't own any SO so I would never say better than SO. If that's what you want to spend your money on that's fine and I suppose if you are a Professional Mechanic that's what you need.

BTW there is a 10% no exclusion coupon floating around on one of the numerous HF coupon sites. It worked fine, but strangely enough the cashier seemed totally surprised and even brought it to the manager's attention. HF will always be HF so use a coupon if you can.
www.hfcoupons.com
www.hfqpn.com
www.struggleville.net

 

[WittHay]

Wow, I thought I had heard all of the reasons to hate HF. Now it's "I hate Harbor Freight because they don't respect Snap-on!"

Holy hell.

Well somebody at Harbor Freight management sure must like, admire, respect Snap-on , You know that saying 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"

Somewhere after HF lawsuit over the illegal pricing. They changed from being a normal discount tool store to comparing everything they sell to the highest price competitor usually Snap-on.

Hey Snap-ons got a neat jack, lets go find the Chinese company that assembles it. Maybe if we order way more jacks than Snap-on, they can change the color and design just a bit so we can sell them in the US

Why does the Icon line have to be clones of Snap-on. Importers have been copying square Snap-on hard handles for decades, Why cant you go over to Taiwan and design your own products that are different than the competition

 

[dnschmidt]

This argument makes me laugh. It's not like copying a Lamborghini. It's a fricken' wrench. How much difference can there be in a wrench? TOPTUL "copies" Stahlwille. HF "copies" Snap-On. Who gives a ****? There is an open end on one side and a box end on the other with a bar of steel in between. How much uniqueness can there be?

 

[techieman33]

Well somebody at Harbor Freight management sure must like, admire, respect Snap-on , You know that saying 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"

Somewhere after HF lawsuit over the illegal pricing. They changed from being a normal discount tool store to comparing everything they sell to the highest price competitor usually Snap-on.

Hey Snap-ons got a neat jack, lets go find the Chinese company that assembles it. Maybe if we order way more jacks than Snap-on, they can change the color and design just a bit so we can sell them in the US

Why does the Icon line have to be clones of Snap-on. Importers have been copying square Snap-on hard handles for decades, Why cant you go over to Taiwan and design your own products that are different than the competition

It's all about cost. It's easier and cheaper to have a middle manager hand over an already existing product and say copy this, but cheaper. Hiring teams of designers and engineers full time gets expensive.

 

[Mr_B]

toptul for example doesn't copy part number structure, font styling or use a similar brand name and doesn't market itself using german brands in marketing material.
Nothing wrong with some copying but way HF does it is pretty dirty cheap shot .

 

[javyLSU]

And why pay $49.99 for an ICON when a 24" Proto can be delivered to your door from Amazon for $43.09?

My favorite part of that Amazon page is they offer "expert setup for $95.27 more..." I need to get into this business of "setting up" breaker bars!

 

[kythri]

This argument makes me laugh. It's not like copying a Lamborghini. It's a fricken' wrench. How much difference can there be in a wrench? TOPTUL "copies" Stahlwille. HF "copies" Snap-On. Who gives a ****? There is an open end on one side and a box end on the other with a bar of steel in between. How much uniqueness can there be?

Thank you.

 

[powertrip]

20% coupon code 13211439
Valid In-Store Expires 10/31/2019

Still spendy with 20% off, needs 30-33% be reasonable and compete to likes of exrreme, masterforce, homak .

Boxes look pretty good but prices too close to truck deals and I think it make easier get a deal off the truck if they try get the sale .

Personally i'd take 1 to 3K to the used market before buying new from anyone.
Over 35 years I never had issue finding good used deals, many times buying for sake of a deal and a resale later on . certainly no need get in debt even if 0% rate although could be handy for guy starting off and using it wisely .
Going be a few icon items worth having but it long way off iconic design and retail effort .

Is that coupon available to be printed anywhere?

 

[kythri]

Is that coupon available to be printed anywhere?

http://www.hfqpdb.com/coupons/20_percent_off_1569190442.215.jpeg

Has anyone seen a coupon for the tools themselves? I'd like to pick up the ratchets (sans comfort handle models).

 

[sgtgeo]

I’m surprised there wasn’t a 20% of any ICON tool coupon to launch the line.

 

[LXCam]

I’m surprised there wasn’t a 20% of any ICON tool coupon to launch the line.

I'm betting we see 50% off'rs within 6-8 months. Matter of fact after pricing those stupid lockers a couple days ago.....I'm doubling down on that bet.

 

[Mikeske]

I just got ask and this is it. How many different ways can you make a modern ratchet, sockets, wrenches look different. In today’s world they are all made as cheap as possible using as little steel alloys as possible. I am sure that Snap-On, Matco and all the others have had folks spying on each other for the last 70-100 years. What difference does it make. Years ago Snap-On got sued by Triangle Corp the makers of Bonney, Herbrand, and Utica for copycating the patent on Utica’s Loc-Rite design for wrenches and sockets. Snap-On called it Flankdrive the settlement was royalty to Utica for every wrench sold. Years later when Utica went out of business Snap-On bought out the patents

So what difference does it do. Harbor Freight isn’t doing anything new with the Icon brands and we will see in a couple years of use by the consumer whether those tools are any good.

 

[kythri]

I just got ask and this is it. How many different ways can you make a modern ratchet, sockets, wrenches look different.

About as many ways as you can make a modern jack look different.

 

[zktk01]

And why pay $49.99 for an ICON when a 24" Proto can be delivered to your door from Amazon for $43.09?

Thanks just ordered the Proto

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Thanks just ordered the Proto

I've had mine for a few years; definitely one of the better deals in tools. I think I paid $37 for mine even.

It seems with some shopping you can meet or beat ICON pricing on a lot of items with more established "name brands".