Can you recommend other videos or product releases from SEMA? I heard about Koken discount. Any new products there? Any videos of the Snap On booth? I assume they had one. What about Eastwood ?
New Harbor Freight Tools SEMA 2023
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Koon trucking did videos of the VIM and Astro booths that aren't bad.
The Snap on booth displays their shop solutions stuff like john bean balancers and wheel alignment machines and doesn't display individual hand tools. I haven't seen a dedicated Ko-Ken booth video yet but, there are snipets here and there. Obsessed Garage filmed a little of the Ko-Ken booth but, he's hard to watch. Ko-Ken released 3/8 drive nut grip pinless swivel sockets (non impact).
Madjik Man
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It’s prevalent throughout all capitalism.
It’s not just a Harbor Freight thing.
The good news about capitalism is that the consumers have a voice with their money.
i feel they have really stepped up their game int he past few years. used to be you bought the boxes and some of the stuff cause it was good, very few offerings (like boxes) were great. now with the icon line which is a bit more spendy or even the quinn and doyle lines the stuff is better quality overall it seems. the cheaper end quinn and doyle stuff and even some of the pittsburg stuff is actually about the same quality as major brands they carry at the home center stores.
what sets HF apart is they still have cheaper stuff, but as I said the quality is coming up. Hell the bit kit set I held off on cause I have similar items already-but the latest in that video looks WELL worth it.
not everyone needs snappy. i admit for specialized tools and ratchets they are damn good, but the cost is $$$ vs anything else.
what sets HF apart is they still have cheaper stuff, but as I said the quality is coming up. Hell the bit kit set I held off on cause I have similar items already-but the latest in that video looks WELL worth it.
not everyone needs snappy. i admit for specialized tools and ratchets they are damn good, but the cost is $$$ vs anything else.
Maybe the scariest thing about them, is going from a small dusty store of cheap imported junk( in plain cardboard boxes), to a mega huge presentation of exciting new products at SEMA. 
As far as blatant copying something that was neat or popular, seems to have prevalent continuously, on just about everything in my lifetime, but my rose-colored-glasses are broken.
As far as blatant copying something that was neat or popular, seems to have prevalent continuously, on just about everything in my lifetime, but my rose-colored-glasses are broken.
bmdubya1198
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That's a great price on the trailer for sure. I'm sure when it's released it'll probably stick right around there.
As far as prices on the pliers, they'll probably be on the high side of the current Icon pliers offerings... $30-$40 range.
bwringer
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Is there a school or boot camp or something somewhere where we can send the various ToolTubers to learn to NOT be so extremely effing annoying and weird?
1) Shut. Up. You are not funny.
2) Show the tools.
3) ****************. You are not interesting.
4) Get closer to the tools.
5) No, we don't want to see your boogers. We want to see the tools.
6) Ask intelligent questions, if you can.
7) Shut up. Everyone hates your voice.
8) Stop zooming and jumping around. We're gonna puke.
9) Show the tools in a reasonably steady shot for at least one or two seconds.
10) Stop talking sometimes. Your brainless prattling grates upon the ear.
11) We're a lot more interested in the tool than in the company schlub who also won't shut up. Just a hint.
12) Please cease emitting noises from your mouth hole once in a while. We hate you.
13) If a tool is, say, a foot long, then get closer to the tool than, say, ten feet.
14) STFU. Ask your Mom if you don't know what that means.
15) Your gimmick or schtick is physically painful. Stahhhhhhhhhp it, please.
This is part of my problem with ICON as a consumer. They aren’t as good as Snap On. They just look similar. And quality from these sources varies. I have bought 100% of my Snap On pliers either off the truck at a discount or on eBay in used like new condition for this same money or less. It took time and patience which not everyone has I know. There’s a cost there to be sure.
Feel the same about Icon toolboxes. There’s a price at which I have better options. I think they crossed it. I paid $800 for my KRL and it’s a nicer box than any HF offering. But that’s a unicorn box.
A set of disposable sockets for $19.99 is attractive. When they are $50, I’d rather find snappies on eBay for $70.
I think this is how it works and what the HF rep said in the video. It’s a good better best marketing scheme where you go into the store for good and leave with best. The trick is to constantly compare what you could get for the same or dare I say a little bit more.
ICON tools appear to be leaps and bounds better than Pittsburgh. How are they versus Williams or koken or other cost competitors? (I think the answer is a mixed bag. I think their wrenches for example are a good deal)
Bottom line: Just because you bought it in HF doesn’t mean it’s cheap or a good deal.
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This is hilarious and spot on. Surprise surprise the guy with the mullet likes glitter purple. I wish that video was shot by someone like Jay Leno.
Do they have new jacks out? I appreciated seeing the Daytona jack stands up close and personal.
wafrederick
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They also have copied Astro Pnuematic and Knipex too.The impact they shown is a copy of the Astro Pnuematic Thor impacts.CP The Tool Addict put out a video out on it too
that patent isn't on three position joints (which has been around forever), but an improvement on adjustment. As I said, I've ot used them, so I don't know if it's an improvement or not (and given how sucky three position slip joints can be, I'm willing to bet it is.)
You don't know that HF has lifetime warranty on all of their hand tools?
Might want to keep the eBay bargains under your hat, since if everyone dutifully shunned HF and purchased their tools on eBay (where some of it is stolen merchandise anyway), those great low prices might quickly go away.
Just my opinion, but most people probably shop there to get usable tools quickly to get whatever job they need finished. Whether is the best deal in world, they maybe don't care.
I know I don't.
The guy openly admits his own personal hatred for the owner of the Company, but we'll expect that anything his says about any of the products, is without bias.
They're probably off-patent because there isn't any patent to begin with.
I'm pretty confident in my opinion. Beyond the GJ world, things are pretty cut and dry when it comes to price points and markets.
Also, SO and Knipex have gotten a lot of free press via discussions like this, articles about it, etc., which definitely has driven sales for them. It's somewhere between a minimal impact and a wash.
KnurledNut
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Push button slip joint (like Twingrip): 24.99
Pistol grip needlenose (like 912AEP): 21.99
Pistol grip blunt nose (like 612AEP): 21.99
12" S-jaw pliers wrench: 19.99
17" S-jaw pliers wrench: 29.99
21" S-jaw pliers wrench: 39.99
Pistol grip needlenose (like 912AEP): 21.99
Pistol grip blunt nose (like 612AEP): 21.99
12" S-jaw pliers wrench: 19.99
17" S-jaw pliers wrench: 29.99
21" S-jaw pliers wrench: 39.99
UglyViking
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I've actually been waiting for that 3/8" digital torque wrench. I recently purchased the Icon 1/2" digital after seeing a few videos on it, and one specifically from
I wish I knew more about the status of it.
What I was super excited to hear is that their ball joint press is coming out soon. It's (shockingly! /s) a rip off of the SO design, but it's like 1/10th the price. As a serious home gamer, I'm all about that thing and can't wait for it to come out. Got some ball joints that need replacing in my dually and can't wait to get my hands on this kit to do it, looks like an amazing setup.
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Gotcha. That’s not $30-40.
kbeefy
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The portaband and mount are cool.
Same here, I will credit Tools Tested on YouTube with selling me on the Icon digital wrench.
I haven't come across any Sema 2023 videos showing the torque wrenches yet. I'd think I would've seen at least a video about the Icon 3/4" drive torque wrench that just came out, but it seems to have been released without any fanfare whatsoever.
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reader2580
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Apple basically invented both the modern touchscreen smartphone, and the touchscreen tablet. Sure, there were earlier touchscreen phones, but Apple made actually them useful and popularized them. Same with the touchscreen tablet.Apple does it all the time, and people love them to bits...
I'm not an Apple fanboy, but I also recognize they are responsible for making touchscreen smartphones and touchscreen tablets mainstream items that almost everyone uses now.
reader2580
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You must love silent films. I hate the Youtube videos were they are showing something, but there is little or no narration to explain what is being shown. If showing a new type of tool it would be nice to hear a little bit about what the tool actually does, or a demo of what it does.
Pepe's Towing on Youtube started having a different driver, Alex, sometimes film incidents for Youtube, instead of the usual guy Josh. Alex would say only a few sentences during the video. It got so I just turned off the video if Alex was filming. I think they got feedback on not enough narration as about a dozen videos in Alex finally started being more vocal. The video with Alex filming earlier this week was great with Alex being a lot more talkative.
Why are Icon socket sets "disposable"? (I assume you're talking about Icon sockets).I'd love to find a nice complete 12 piece set of Snap-on deep 3/8 drive sockets for $70.
No sir. Icon sockets are more like $50. Pittsburgh are $20 and disposable.
The best thing to do is check completed auctions. You will find that good prices do indeed exist. You need only be patient and stick to your price.
I’m not sure which HF torque wrench was mentioned earlier. They have an Icon professional that was highly rated but it’s like $350. I paid $80 and $120 for my ATECH Techangles. One I sent away for calibration for $80. I spent less for 2 snap on torque wrenches than that single HF wrench.
LoL - they did not invent any of that. They did a good job making their product, and they've done an outstanding job marketing things they didn't invent. And they made an "ecosystem" that creates ongoing revenue/profit streams that are onerously hard to exit from. The difference is HF makes the products affordable.
2ndGearRubber
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I'd love to find a nice complete 12 piece set of Snap-on deep 3/8 drive sockets for $70.
The claim with cheap(er) socket brands being disposable is the brand/line may not ever be available for warranty if need be. Not sure I always buy into that. But some brands are a PITA to deal with for warranty. Imagine if HF dropped the Icon line, what's your warranty then? I don't predict that though, they seem to be investing in it. Of course, the best warranty is the one you don't use.
All sockets are consumables, they just wear out. Be it impact or chrome, they have a finite life. That said, outside of a professional setting I don't see that being a critical need. Unless the socket is failing due to cracking, most non-pro use is not going to be wearing sockets out simply by using them at a high rate. Even if someone uses their sockets for 4 hours a week on average, which is a lot IMO, that's only 208 hours/year. Working 40/hours a week the sockets would see 10X that level of use, so the wear adds up faster.
bmdubya1198
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I agree for the most part. Icon is meant to compete with the quality (even if it's not quite there) for a far lower price. Obviously at a greatly reduced price, you won't see the same quality. I use my Icon tools professionally, and the ONLY Icon tools I've had to replace under warranty are a couple picks. None of the sockets, ratchets, pliers, etc. have given up on me. Although I'll say my 14mm deep 3/8" is starting to show signs of wear, and may crack soon.
HF has the convenience factor though, whereas ordering tools isn't ideal when you need something in a pinch. All of my Snap On stuff has been lightly used, bought on eBay or similar sites. I scored a set of instinct soft grip screwdrivers for $40 years ago, and they've been very good. Handles are far better than Icon, but the lack of magnetic tips is annoying. I've broken one, and the chrome is chipping off in areas. Normal wear as far as I'm concerned... but moral of the story, they haven't proven to be better quality given the cost difference (of NEW sets) versus the Icon set.
Their wrenches are great too, I must say. I've had the reversible ratcheting wrenches for a couple years now, and they've been awesome.
UglyViking
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Tools Tested! That's what I meant, haha. I watch those two channels off and on and I guess I got them flipped.
I assume that most of the guys that need 3/4" are not spending a lot of time on insta/yt? Who knows. It's really cool to see, but there is a huge list of stuff I want to see from Icon before they start getting too deep into the 3/4" world personally.
Warranty reasons always make me roll eyes. I still have my C'man 3/8" socket set from the early 2000's. I've never broken a socket C'man USA, Hazet, Facom, SK, Ko-ken, Sunex. . . I've worn out ratchets, but never a socket. Now, @BlakeTheCarGuy? well that's another story . . .
If one is blowing up sockets on the regular, buy S-o
Or some other brand that's easy to warranty.blown94conv
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The Chinese really don’t care about patents, laws, right or wrong. They care about your money, as does Eric Smidt. That’s why he’s worth 9 billion. But I’m sure the factories pumping out your cheap tools are great places to work, have great environmental regulations in place, and provide a living wage for their employees.
At my shop, the best young tech has a mismatch of tools in a borrowed box. Modern cars might be different but working on old Porsche’s, knowledge and ability is 98%, the tools and the box is 2%. None of our customers care what tools he’s/we are using, only that their car gets done the way they want.
milky2k
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Where are you finding these $70 Snap On socket sets on ebay? All the completed SO sets I see for under $70 are incomplete or beat to ****. These $70 socket sets must be far and few in between. I don't have time to constantly scan ebay for a deal that doesn't exist. I keep reading about people saying how they bought a SO tool for less than Gearwrench/Craftsman/Chinesium prices but I never see those deals. I think I would have better luck finding a four leaf clover.
milky2k
Well-known member
I wouldn't say HF copied Astro. Astro doesn't make their own tools but rather has an ODM make the tool for them. That ODM I'm sure is very happy to sell that same tool/design to HF or whoever else has got the money. This happens all the time, there are tons of products out there that are made by one manufacturer and sold under multiple brands with little variation.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Warranty reasons always make me roll eyes. I still have my C'man 3/8" socket set from the early 2000's. I've never broken a socket C'man USA, Hazet, Facom, SK, Ko-ken, Sunex. . . I've worn out ratchets, but never a socket. Now, @BlakeTheCarGuy? well that's another story . . .
If one is blowing up sockets on the regular, buy S-o
That's what I tell people to do - wear out or break sockets, then buy snap on. The auto tech career has a high enough drop out rate, and IMO it's not possible to outfit ones tools with only premium brands fast enough to do the job. One simply isn't making enough money unless you're dumping all discretionary spending back into tools. In which case I'd still say variety of special tooling is more important.
Breakage is one thing, but it's most often a wear issue. The sockets are just worn out to the point the don't fit right. Pretty common on impacts, happens to chrome too.
they not copied the Thor,
like astro they using taiwan manufacturers that own/use that design/tooling, the motor and trigger will be totally different and hammer mechanism details too i would expect.
Even astro don't tend design and manufacture a tool from scratch if they already got a odm option that close to ideal as it saves a fortune in costs, difference with Astro is amount of internal design details and small version tweaks they do with proper decent in house design engineers along with proper effort in the field testing before release.
HF on the other hand pretty happy with more basic offerings and have little to no engineering/innovation to inject into the odm products and rely on marketing **** rather than truly competing at engineering and innovation level .
Sounds like they are all practicing Capitalism, which seems to be bad, only when someone else practices it.
We love environmental regulations here, right? All employers here make sure their worker have a living wage.
blown94conv
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We do a hell of a better job here, than they do in China. And with it being a communist country, you only see what they allow you to see.Sounds like they are all practicing Capitalism, which seems to be bad, only when someone else practices it.
We love environmental regulations here, right? All employers here make sure their worker have a living wage.
Are we perfect? Absolutely not. Do we have far more checks and balances in place to try and prevent it? Absolutely.
LWB
Well-known member
They're practising copy/paste. If they had a new idea or marketed their tools and designs as their own, I don't think people would be upset. I doubt anyone would be upset.
But, their model of "you can buy this for a 1/4 the price of Snap-On" is getting old. Now blatantly copying others.
It's really a joke IMHO. I use a HF cart and it's virtually identical to Canadian Tire Mastercraft. They don't run around saying "look over here!" "you can buy my inferior cart for less than Snap-On!"
It's seems to be working for them but turning others off.
But, their model of "you can buy this for a 1/4 the price of Snap-On" is getting old. Now blatantly copying others.
It's really a joke IMHO. I use a HF cart and it's virtually identical to Canadian Tire Mastercraft. They don't run around saying "look over here!" "you can buy my inferior cart for less than Snap-On!"
It's seems to be working for them but turning others off.
bwringer
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Okay, you caught me... perhaps my "STFU" hyperbole was a little over-simplified.
Yes, I want to know things about the tools or whatever topic is featured in ToolTuber videos, and this information would often be best conveyed with narration.
What I'm saying is that I would love to hear and see more intelligence and less annoyance. Shouty cartoon voices and wacky "personalities" doing wacky mugging for the camera in wacky zooms (gotta have a wide open mouth hole in the YouTube thumbnail, for some insane reason) are tiresome and grating, triply so when paired with brainless lip-flapping that inevitably gets a lot of things wrong.
Likely the only one's being "turned off" or upset is the sour grapes bunch.
The HF store near me, pretty busy every time I stop there.
Many (most) people now days, fully realize that they could not afford a box full of Snap On if they wanted to. To them why would a 75% savings for a similar design usable product "get old"?
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