New Harbor Freight Tools SEMA 2023

[Fedwrench]

I didn't make it to SEMA this year but, this video seems to cover all of the New Harbor Freight releases at SEMA 2023.

Please note: This is not a thread for you to voice your hatred of Harbor Freight. It's just to present new tools coming to a Harbor Freight near you in 2024 or earlier. Thanks for your cooperation

I'm interested in their new smoke machine, their compact 1/4 drive socket/bit set, Icon Pliers, and their new Series 3 carts. It's always good to see new product releases.

 

[dsaabm]

If only there was a Snap-on booth and we could then get a sneak peak at Harbor Freights 2025 products

Thanks for sharing, this is the best video I have seen of the booth. The smoke machine looks like a gem, made in usa and the gauge/control looks identical to a Redline could be a great buy.

I was hoping for some more Hercules tools, they seem to be losing steam with the 12v lineup. A 20v Hercules inflator would be welcome.

 

[AEAdam]

Not a huge HF fan, but I really appreciated that video and the capability HF offers mechanics. Just tool storage alone is a market changer. Plenty of criticism for their products, and business practices, but praise is deserved for their focus on basic tools mechanics need at prices really everyone can afford.

 

[KnurledNut]

Rehashing that scratch from last year (30:25) had my dying...

 

[Steve_P]

Thanks for sharing. I'll be watching their Snap On plier copies for possible purchases.

edit- I'm waiting for a 6-7" version of the 8" slip joint needle nose that they already have.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

I’m glad they didn’t kill the yellow color on the US General line. I have the cart and want to add another box eventually to my garage and I want it to be yellow too. Got to match.

 

[bwringer]

That trailer (at about 14:00) looks very, very damn appealing, and the pricing seems in line. Nicely thought out in a lot of details.

 

[Lt CHEG]

I’m in no way a Harbor Freight fanboy. However, I’m very glad to see more and more American made products in the store, and not just EvapoRust and WD40 lol. I remember filling out a survey a couple years ago and I explained that I would not buy made in China tools, would consider made in Taiwan, but would ultimately prefer made in the USA. Maybe enough other people remarked similarly enough for them to take the comments to heart, and at least make some effort. I’m intrigued by the ball joint press, but I’m wondering why it’s not out already since it seems much like what was displayed at last year’s SEMA.

 

[M635_Guy]

Rehashing that scratch from last year (30:25) had my dying...

I missed what they're referring to - story?

 

[WWheeler]

I'm interested in checking out that long "quick adjust S-Jaw pliers (swedish pipe wrench).
I've eyeballed the Snap-on/Bahco versions many times but the price is way out of my budget.

 

[ike]

dang, their business model has evolved to just knocking off what everyone else innovates. the new boxes look good though.

 

[WWheeler]

Rehashing that scratch from last year (30:25) had my dying...

I missed what they're referring to - story?

They explain it very well starting here:

Here's the part of last year's video they were referring to:

 

[619DioFan]

That trailer (at about 14:00) looks very, very damn appealing, and the pricing seems in line. Nicely thought out in a lot of details.

Same here , 1000 bucks seems like a pretty good deal on a 5x10 trailer.

 

[GeoBruin]

Same here , 1000 bucks seems like a pretty good deal on a 5x10 trailer.

Based on the wheel and tire combo, what's the speed rating on the trailer? Is it freeway towable?

 

[m6z]

The new socket sets and pliers look nice.

 

[bwringer]

Based on the wheel and tire combo, what's the speed rating on the trailer? Is it freeway towable?

He mentioned 13" radial tires, upgraded from the usual 12" bias ply, so yeah -- should be fine on the highway.

That bit with the tools in the blow molded cases, but held in with modular blocks of cutout foam... that's a damn good idea that will make more people with more use cases a lot more happy. If you want to tote or store the tools on a shelf, keep the case. If you have tons of room in your box, put the modular blocks in your box and toss the case. If you don't want either, toss it all. Nice!

 

[milky2k]

Looking forward to the new ICON pliers especially the long nose slip joints. A few years ago I was looking at buying some old Western Forge made Craftsman slip joint long nose pliers but they wanted over $100 for them on ebay. Glad to see an affordable alternative is coming. I see they also have a SO version of the wire service tool. I have the Carlyle version of that, I wonder if they are sourcing from the same Taiwanese maker as Carlyle? I'll buy some for sure to do a comparison.

 

[LXCam]

He mentioned 13" radial tires, upgraded from the usual 12" bias ply, so yeah -- should be fine on the highway.

That bit with the tools in the blow molded cases, but held in with modular blocks of cutout foam... that's a damn good idea that will make more people with more use cases a lot more happy. If you want to tote or store the tools on a shelf, keep the case. If you have tons of room in your box, put the modular blocks in your box and toss the case. If you don't want either, toss it all. Nice!

Ya I got to admit that is pretty slick and grabbed my attention too.

 

[TheLawnRanger]

Look at all the new Hercules 20v tools....that they don't have.

 

[M635_Guy]

Look at all the new Hercules 20v tools....that they don't have.

Whattaya looking for? Hercules has a pretty broad product line - lots of expansion over the last 2-3 years...

 

[scooby074]

I just sat through a 37minute Harbor Freight infomercial. Other than the Unistrut trailer I saw a lot of copying but not much innovation. That entire table was basically a rip of Snapon and Knipex, lets not kid ourselves. Its great, especially for people starting out, but it is a bit scuzzy doing the blatant copies then watching the HF reps strut around like they invented what theyre copying.

That said, I wish our Princess Auto would jump on this bandwagon. Their hand tool selection *****, and other than ProPoint, the quality is usually questionable as well. I wonder if our patent laws are stronger and thats whats preventing it?

 

[M635_Guy]

it is a bit scuzzy doing the blatant copies then watching the reps strut around like they invented what they're copying.

Apple does it all the time, and people love them to bits...

 

[scooby074]

Apple does it all the time, and people love them to bits...

Not me lol. I despise apple.

Thats completely different than taking a Samsung phone and putting it in a photocopier like some companies do.

 

[bmdubya1198]

All of the comments on HF's copying others' tool designs... I get where you're coming from, but the whole premise behind HF is "quality tools at ridiculously low prices." Why make your own from scratch when you can save those R&D costs by "copying" an existing tool? It saves a ton of money... otherwise they'd be charging Snap On prices and nobody would have any interest.

 

[M6erfan]

As far as the copying, it bothers me. But it's not illegal, just shady. What gets me is they go to great lengths to copy so closely commuting hand tools. Instead, why not make improvements to the designs?

No innovation.

That said, I do like the new tool cases with foam inserts, there's some innovation. I look forward to taking a look at the trailer too, in person.

 

[71goldss]

I could care less about HF copying other tool designs, and I don't shop at HF for innovation either. Though I still avoid their junk tools, I shop there to get their improved quality tools that have great reviews, and are at prices I can afford. Everyone copies others. It's a fact of life from the time we are born!

 

[bmdubya1198]

As far as the copying, it bothers me. But it's not illegal, just shady. What gets me is they go to great lengths to copy so closely commuting hand tools. Instead, why not make improvements to the designs?

No innovation.

That said, I do like the new tool cases with foam inserts, there's some innovation. I look forward to taking a look at the trailer too, in person.

That's one thing I'd prefer to see... improvements. If they take the time to actually improve upon a design, at least it sort of makes it theirs.

 

[M635_Guy]

Not me lol. I despise apple. And while they didnt create "round corners" from thin air, like they seem to think, you cant argue that their designs arent well done and their phones "just work".

Thats completely different than taking a Samsung phone and putting it in a photocopier like some companies do.

I'm going to keep a lid on expanding my own analogy other than to say I that even if your 'just work' statement was 100% true, it isn't worth the money sent streaming into their coffers. But I digress.

Here's the thing. The way intellectual property (patents/trademarks, etc.) works is to firstly protect true invention to allow inventors/innovators to capitalize on their work for a period of time. When the time ends, it enters the public domain and can be used. This tends to bring the invention to more people at lower prices. Tools are an area that is built on a foundation of generations and layers of invention used to make more tools. I think a lot of the rage about "copying" here is misplaced or transference for something else.

I've said many times I don't love how closely their designs look like Snap On and, more recently, Knipex. At the same time, I doubt it's having any negative impact on either company, at least to an impactful degree. SO and Knipex buyers aren't HF/Icon buyers, for lots of reasons. I'm a weirdo and have a fair bit of both, but I don't think there are many like me. But they're not crappy copies - they're legit nice tools, and if that offers young techs a way to not wind up working to pay the truck and more-serious DIYers like me to have tools nicer than the stuff at the box stores and what was in Sears starting 20 years or so ago. The "nice" tools from SO/Knipex/etc. are mainly gifts to myself. I can see why established pros buy them, but filling my box doesn't close financially for me. The money I save by being a DIYer with the mainly non-pro tools I own helped pay for the month I spent in Europe this year, put more money in my retirement account, etc. Aside from being less original than they could be, there's nothing wrong with what HF is doing with Icon. Even SO is guilty of going hype sometimes...

 

[M635_Guy]

<deleted dupe post>

 

[UglyViking]

HF "fanboy" here (well recent convert anyway).

Here is what I can't understand, let's look at pliers to start. Take SO of Knipex as the "defacto" go to brands in the space. Ok, let's just assume we agree. There are probably a dozen knockoffs that are like 60-80% there, but aren't great because of handle design, jaw adjustments, whatever. So no one buys them. Then you have a company like HF basically make the same design for cheaper (although pliers is literally the worst example since the savings is pretty minimal) and it gets a little too close and everyone loses it.

I mean, could you imagine if patents lasted forever? Imagine all the wonky ratchet mechanisms that would be required for every brand to manufacture a ratchet. Almost guaranteed there would be single brand options for the majority of unique or interesting tools. At the end of the day, a company gets something like 20 years to take advantage of their R&D and gets protected first mover advantage. Past that, it's a free for all, which means (generally) a race for improved features or lower cost, and either way the end customer wins.

I know that all my Icon sockets are rip offs of Snappy. As are their ratchets, wrenches, and basically everything they have. I would much prefer to buy the "all american made" original, but I personally just don't see the 5x+ value for it. I'll spend the money on the Harley over the Honda, honestly if for nothing else than the sound, but I won't do the same so that my chrome socket can say "Snap-On" instead of "Icon". YMMV on that.

Also, I think the age of SO may be coming to an end. More and more young guys entering the trades are looking to companies like HF, Tekton, Capri, etc. for quality, lower cost, tools. I think the idea that "you have to have a box that says snap on full of snap on tools to be taken seriously" is over. The quality of the imports, especially coming out of Taiwan is more than good enough for 90%+ of mechanics, and with companies like Tekton where you get a lifetime warranty with a picture and an email, well that is prob gonna arrive the same day the SO dealer would have anyway. I think the only hope the SO trucks have for continued success are going to be acting as loan sharks for guys that don't have the cashflow to buy their tools.

 

[1320]

At SEMA 2022, HF had an Icon 3/8" drive 100 lbft digital torque wrench, the little brother to the 1/2" drive version.

The Year since came and went and the 3/8" wasn't ever released, and it didn't appear to be on the table with the other torque wrenches, either. Bummer.

Anybody know anything else about it?

 

[scooby074]

I'm going to keep a lid on expanding my own analogy other than to say I that even if your 'just work' statement was 100% true, it isn't worth the money sent streaming into their coffers. But I digress.

Here's the thing. The way intellectual property (patents/trademarks, etc.) works is to firstly protect true invention to allow inventors/innovators to capitalize on their work for a period of time. When the time ends, it enters the public domain and can be used. This tends to bring the invention to more people at lower prices. Tools are an area that is built on a foundation of generations and layers of invention used to make more tools. I think a lot of the rage about "copying" here is misplaced or transference for something else.

I've said many times I don't love how closely their designs look like Snap On and, more recently, Knipex. At the same time, I doubt it's having any negative impact on either company, at least to an impactful degree. SO and Knipex buyers aren't HF/Icon buyers, for lots of reasons. I'm a weirdo and have a fair bit of both, but I don't think there are many like me. But they're not crappy copies - they're legit nice tools, and if that offers young techs a way to not wind up working to pay the truck and more-serious DIYers like me to have tools nicer than the stuff at the box stores and what was in Sears starting 20 years or so ago. The "nice" tools from SO/Knipex/etc. are mainly gifts to myself. I can see why established pros buy them, but filling my box doesn't close financially for me. The money I save by being a DIYer with the mainly non-pro tools I own helped pay for the month I spent in Europe this year, put more money in my retirement account, etc. Aside from being less original than they could be, there's nothing wrong with what HF is doing with Icon. Even SO is guilty of going hype sometimes...

RE: IP. Public Domain. Etc.

Its great that patents have a time limit.

However, HF is blatantly copying stuff that is brand new! Just off the top of my head, the new hotness SO LN47ACF needle nose. Theyve been out for what, a year?

Or the Knipex TwinGrips. Two years old at the most.

They cant be off patent. Yet HF is selling them. Somehow.

I dont have to dig much more than that. Their ripping stuff thats brand new, not decades old designs. I couldnt care less if they copy a design out of patent.

As to no impact on the original companies bottom line or future innovation? I dont think its as cut an dry as you think.

 

[d.mcfarland]

I think the only hope the SO trucks have for continued success are going to be acting as loan sharks for guys that don't have the cashflow to buy their tools.

Sadly, once you realize Snap-On is primarily a lending company and that McDonald's is primarily a real estate company, you understand modern day business models.

That doesn't mean that both of them make products that serve a purpose to their customers. In fact, they need to make a product that can be sold in order to continue with their current business models.

 

[dscheidt]

RE: IP. Public Domain. Etc.

Its great that patents have a time limit.

However, HF is blatantly copying stuff that is brand new! Just off the top of my head, the new hotness SO LN47ACF needle nose. Theyve been out for what, a year?

Or the Knipex TwinGrips. Two years old at the most.

They cant be off patent. Yet HF is selling them. Somehow.

It's very likely they were never patented, or if they were, the claims were narrow enough that HF (or whoever designs the tools) had no problem designing around them. What's novel about the twin grips? It's a slip joint plier. Not novel. It's got a screw exraction tip? Not novel. Putting them together? maybe, but I doubt it. that leaves little details, some of which probably don't matter. I have a pair, and they're great, but I'm not sure they're really special. I've not used the LN47ACF, but it's a long nose slip joint, which isn't novel. Almost all of SO's pliers are excellent, so I'm sure they're nice, but I'm not sure what's patentable about them.

 

[bmdubya1198]

HF "fanboy" here (well recent convert anyway).

Here is what I can't understand, let's look at pliers to start. Take SO of Knipex as the "defacto" go to brands in the space. Ok, let's just assume we agree. There are probably a dozen knockoffs that are like 60-80% there, but aren't great because of handle design, jaw adjustments, whatever. So no one buys them. Then you have a company like HF basically make the same design for cheaper (although pliers is literally the worst example since the savings is pretty minimal) and it gets a little too close and everyone loses it.

I mean, could you imagine if patents lasted forever? Imagine all the wonky ratchet mechanisms that would be required for every brand to manufacture a ratchet. Almost guaranteed there would be single brand options for the majority of unique or interesting tools. At the end of the day, a company gets something like 20 years to take advantage of their R&D and gets protected first mover advantage. Past that, it's a free for all, which means (generally) a race for improved features or lower cost, and either way the end customer wins.

I know that all my Icon sockets are rip offs of Snappy. As are their ratchets, wrenches, and basically everything they have. I would much prefer to buy the "all american made" original, but I personally just don't see the 5x+ value for it. I'll spend the money on the Harley over the Honda, honestly if for nothing else than the sound, but I won't do the same so that my chrome socket can say "Snap-On" instead of "Icon". YMMV on that.

Also, I think the age of SO may be coming to an end. More and more young guys entering the trades are looking to companies like HF, Tekton, Capri, etc. for quality, lower cost, tools. I think the idea that "you have to have a box that says snap on full of snap on tools to be taken seriously" is over. The quality of the imports, especially coming out of Taiwan is more than good enough for 90%+ of mechanics, and with companies like Tekton where you get a lifetime warranty with a picture and an email, well that is prob gonna arrive the same day the SO dealer would have anyway. I think the only hope the SO trucks have for continued success are going to be acting as loan sharks for guys that don't have the cashflow to buy their tools.

Agreed. I'm a younger tech with my own shop. I have some of everything... it would be harder to name a brand of tools I DON'T own. But my go-to these days is Icon. They're solid quality tools with a good, EASY warranty. Can't be said for most truck brands unless you're close with a dealer, which I'm not.
I like my Snap On tools, and I get why the die hards like them, but I simply can't justify the prices. Any of the truck brands, really. HF can sell tools that do the job just as well for a fraction of the cost. It makes zero sense for me to dump money into truck brand tools. Knowing that he name making me feel good is all they really have going for them these days. I don't care that HF doesn't send a truck to my shop, it's never there when you need it anyway! I also have no interest in financing my tools and "only" paying $200/week for them. That's absurd.

As far as the overseas manufacturing aspect... I get that argument too, and I'd MUCH rather buy tools that are made here in the USA. However if I have to spend SO money, it's simply not worth it. A majority of the nicer quality tools on the market today are made in Taiwan, and they are just as good and cheaper.
Plus it's also worth noting that a lot of truck brands have been selling a LOT more imported tools these days... so that argument is also fading.
I'm glad to see HF continuing to make the effort to offer more US-made tools too.

Sorry to veer slightly off topic!

 

[scooby074]

It's very likely they were never patented, or if they were, the claims were narrow enough that HF (or whoever designs the tools) had no problem designing around them. What's novel about the twin grips? It's a slip joint plier. Not novel. It's got a screw exraction tip? Not novel. Putting them together? maybe, but I doubt it. that leaves little details, some of which probably don't matter. I have a pair, and they're great, but I'm not sure they're really special. I've not used the LN47ACF, but it's a long nose slip joint, which isn't novel. Almost all of SO's pliers are excellent, so I'm sure they're nice, but I'm not sure what's patentable about them.

Im not motivated enough to dig into the Ln47s specifically, but SO does have an active patent on the 3 position joint, and Im sure they patented as much as they could on the 47's, I have no doubt.

US8051749B2 - Positive pivot centers for adjustable tools - Google Patents

There is disclosed herein an improved adjustable tool, such as a pair of pliers, having a first jaw portion and a second jaw portion, the first and second jaw portions being pivotably connected to one another by a pivot pin attached in any manner to one of the jaw portions and fitted within a...

patents.google.com

 

[AEAdam]

…I'd MUCH rather buy tools that are made here in the USA. However if I have to spend SO money, ….

Sorry to veer slightly off topic!

If you want Snap On designs for Icon money, Williams is the made in USA option. I wouldn’t compare Icon to Snap On. Icon isn’t in that league. Williams USA is more comparable. There is also Williams Taiwan that is maybe a step up from Pittsburgh.

What I like about HF, is that it’s a one stop shop. I feel like they have just about everything. This is how the craftsman section in the Sears stores used to feel for me. I’d argue, HF is better both in terms of its range of products and in terms of the quality.

One bright spot for me in the video was the release of sockets in foam holders. I’ve been saying for years packaging matters and tools that also offer organizational solutions are attractive and encourage set building. My advice to tool sellers has been, you don’t have to offer stronger than snap on to be successful. Offer sets in packaging that fit together to form whole drawer layouts. My reference was Hazet.

The other thing I like about Hazet is the design and colors, including mixture of bright chrome with satin chrome. I think Icon played it safe color/style-wise. I wish they had offered cool new colors, or multiple colors, satin chrome, black oxide, etc.

 

[bwringer]

At SEMA 2022, HF had an Icon 3/8" drive 100 lbft digital torque wrench, the little brother to the 1/2" drive version.

The Year since came and went and the 3/8" wasn't ever released, and it didn't appear to be on the table with the other torque wrenches, either. Bummer.

Anybody know anything else about it?

An actual on-topic post? How dare you interrupt the tired, repetitive ranting?


Anyhoo, yeah, you touch on something I'm wondering about as well. A lot of tasty stuff promised at SEMA from lots of brands never actually shows up in a manner in which one may exchange fungible value tokens for physical goods.

In other words, I'll believe this stuff is actually available when I start seeing it in my local HF. Which is about a mile from my house...

I did notice that the trailer and its accessory kits have actual retail prices attached, so that lends hope that these are actually making their way onto ships and trucks. I'm not sure whether any stores are going to stock trailers, or maybe you just have to order them.

I don't think they talked price on the pliers, or maybe I just missed it because that YouTuber dude is so intensely annoying. Shaddup already...

 

[GTO]

The trailer kit looks like the best deal.
Thanks for posting.

 

[Notgrownup]

Love me some harbor freight. I don’t use them for everything but I buy a lot of stuff there.