New Icon Bigger Meme Tool

[zendriver]

WTF is a "meme tool"?

Whew!

Glad I’m not the only one not up on the slang that the cool kids use nowadays

 

[four.cycle]

Will be cool to see a tekton kit like the facom or icon.

^ I am waiting.
Where Tekton seems to have come up short is on the "bit ratchet". They seem to be running with a standard 1/4" square male drive + adapter + bit, which just doesn't work when there are clearance issues.
I believe that is the reason the $40 "ICON" set has been so successful in gaining market share.

All of them are in a frenzy trying to come up with a "one size fits all" solution - I see more comprehensive and more well-thought-out kits coming in the future, which is why I flipped the Tekton kit right away. (and then only days later was shown a "Fanttik" 4mm bit and driver kit that looked quite interesting.

 

[Andres26tnt]

^ I am waiting.
Where Tekton seems to have come up short is on the "bit ratchet". They seem to be running with a standard 1/4" square male drive + adapter + bit, which just doesn't work when there are clearance issues.
I believe that is the reason the $40 "ICON" set has been so successful in gaining market share.

All of them are in a frenzy trying to come up with a "one size fits all" solution - I see more comprehensive and more well-thought-out kits coming in the future, which is why I flipped the Tekton kit right away. (and then only days later was shown a "Fanttik" 4mm bit and driver kit that looked quite interesting.

They can always include both. But that will increase the price, maybe a combo or just get the same bit ratchet everyone rebrands.

I made my own after most kits had drawback with small bit ratchet. Also wanted my own bit selection. Came in at a higher cost due to selection of higher quality tools. But still under 60$. "One size fit all" is exactly what I didn't want. Most are hit or miss.

 

[DAWrench]

They can always include both. But that will increase the price, maybe a combo or just get the same bit ratchet everyone rebrands.

I made my own after most kits had drawback with small bit ratchet. Also wanted my own bit selection. Came in at a higher cost due to selection of higher quality tools. But still under 60$. "One size fit all" is exactly what I didn't want. Most are hit or miss.

What brand is the roto head ratchet?

 

[Andres26tnt]

What brand is the roto head ratchet?

That's a Astro products 1/4 ratchet, also has a nice 1/4 magnetic bit holder at the bottom of the handle. Not sure if any brand in the USA rebrand this fyi. Maybe VIM , also the price increase .

Amazon | AP 1/4DR スイベルラチェットハンドルミニ 90T ｜ ラチェットハンドル ラチェットレンチ 早回し 1/4DR 首振り DIY 工具 手動工具 ミニ 小さめ | ラチェットレンチ

AP 1/4DR スイベルラチェットハンドルミニ 90T ｜ ラチェットハンドル ラチェットレンチ 早回し 1/4DR 首振り DIY 工具 手動工具 ミニ 小さめがラチェットレンチストアでいつでもお買い得。当日お急ぎ便対象商品は、当日お届け可能です。アマゾン配送商品は、通常配送無料（一部除く）。

amzn.asia

Also recommend this one, the brand is SK11 and it really cheap but high quality.

Amazon | SK11(エスケー11) ビット差替式スイベルラチェットドライバー 90山 SRD-290 | ドライバー

SK11(エスケー11) ビット差替式スイベルラチェットドライバー 90山 SRD-290がドライバーストアでいつでもお買い得。当日お急ぎ便対象商品は、当日お届け可能です。アマゾン配送商品は、通常配送無料（一部除く）。

amzn.asia

 

[four.cycle]

They can always include both.

^ That is exactly what I suggested to them: remove the "stubby" standard 1/4" square male drive ratchet, and replace it with either the "two-way" type "bit ratchet" you have in your kit above, or one of the gimbal-headed "bit ratchets" (similar to the Titan 11318 model) OR possibly both (which would be possible with the same size kit if they eliminated both the "stubby" ratchet and the short extension.)

 

[Andres26tnt]

^ That is exactly what I suggested to them: remove the "stubby" standard 1/4" square male drive ratchet, and replace it with either the "two-way" type "bit ratchet" you have in your kit above, or one of the gimbal-headed "bit ratchets" (similar to the Titan 11318 model) OR possibly both (which would be possible with the same size kit if they eliminated both the "stubby" ratchet and the short extension.)

Or a combo 1/4 / bit ratchet like this one I used to replace the craftsman V series. This one is rebranded by MAC, I think Vim also rebrands it. It's great quality and offers some flexibility. Mine is from astro products, unfortunately they don't ship to the USA via Amazon.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I like the set (mainly due to the SAE and MM sockets), but I don't know that I have a use for it considering I already own equivalents, and I can't find an application that warrants taking all that with me.

 

[four.cycle]

Or a combo 1/4 / bit ratchet like this one

exactly... because the standard 1/4" male square drive + adapter + bit = clearance issues in tight spaces, which is one of the issues these "bit kits" do not address in every case, and is (I believe) one of the reasons the $40 "ICON" kit has been so successful in terms of unit sales.

 

[Andres26tnt]

I like the set (mainly due to the SAE and MM sockets), but I don't know that I have a use for it considering I already own equivalents, and I can't find an application that warrants taking all that with me.

It's mostly for new buyer imo, basically everyone wants to have a "solve everything kit". But for mechanics this type of kits are kinda useless. For homeowners it's probably more useful.

 

[KnurledNut]

I saw the updated ICON set at last year's SEMA show, and I wasn't impressed with the ratchet nor the $79.95 suggested retail price. It was nice that they added SAE & MM sockets though. The Craftsman V series clone of the FACOM set on Christmas clearance or that small Kobalt set that was selling for $20 looked better to me. I just haven't warmed up to the updated Icon set and I'm not sure that I will.

What didnt ya like about the ratchet?
As always, appreciate your opinion.

 

[rust in the eye]

It's mostly for new buyer imo, basically everyone wants to have a "solve everything kit". But for mechanics this type of kits are kinda useless. For homeowners it's probably more useful.

Well said.
I still think that even Joe homeowner will never touch most of the pieces in these kits and they are, as you stated, mostly useless.

 

[lund]

I'm still using my OG Gearwrench set from 15 years ago:

I have that one too. It is very good. Better quality before they started producing much of their line in PR China.

 

[Hohn]

It's mostly for new buyer imo, basically everyone wants to have a "solve everything kit". But for mechanics this type of kits are kinda useless. For homeowners it's probably more useful.

It’s puzzling to me that the put flat screwdriver bits in these kits. Have any of these people actually TRIED to use a flat bit in a small ratchet?

Never mind how rare is a slotted screw now that industry has finally figured out they ****.

 

[nicks78camaro]

It’s puzzling to me that the put flat screwdriver bits in these kits. Have any of these people actually TRIED to use a flat bit in a small ratchet?

Never mind how rare is a slotted screw now that industry has finally figured out they ****.

Slotted screws definitely **** but if they skipped them people would be mad they skipped them. They still have their place in kits. Although I'd rather everything be torx, not slotted or Philips.

 

[MiteyF]

Slotted screws may ****, but they're still EVERYWHERE. I can count on one hand the number of times I've needed saftey torx in the last 5 years. It would take all my digits to count the flatheads I've taken out in the last 2 months.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Looks interesting like a good travel kit.

 

[Hohn]

Slotted screws may ****, but they're still EVERYWHERE. I can count on one hand the number of times I've needed saftey torx in the last 5 years. It would take all my digits to count the flatheads I've taken out in the last 2 months.

I haven’t fit a tool into a slotted screw in YEARS. Well, unless you count the occasional reloading die adjustment. Nothing that’s actually a fastener…

 

[ecotec]

Slotted screws may ****, but they're still EVERYWHERE. I can count on one hand the number of times I've needed saftey torx in the last 5 years. It would take all my digits to count the flatheads I've taken out in the last 2 months.

T20 tamper proof is used on GM and VW.

 

[whateg01]

In typical GJ fashion, if I hadn't used a "xyz" in 30 years, neither should anybody else.

 

[ecotec]

In typical GJ fashion, if I hadn't used a "xyz" in 30 years, neither should anybody else.

Trade your xyz in for some xzn. You might use those.

 

[Fedwrench]

What didnt ya like about the ratchet?
As always, appreciate your opinion.

Now, November was a while ago but, I thought of it as a cheaper version of the Prestacycle bit ratchet. I thought that for $80 I wanted a bit ratchet and a regular 1/4 square drive ratchet. I don't think the bit ratchet is a good match for the sockets.
Reddit has pictures of the final version.

 

[MiteyF]

T20 tamper proof is used on GM and VW.

As someone with 3 VW's (granted, they're 13, 17 and 63 years old), I've found lots of T20's, and not one safety T20 while working on them.

Depends on usage. Around the house, flatheads are everywhere. On a (newer) vehicle? Obviously, almost none to be found.

But any driver kit without a flathead would be a big "F U" to everyone who bought it.

 

[whateg01]

The set screw on the trailer plug I just used for my backup camera uses a ...
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Flat blade screwdriver!

 

[KnurledNut]

Now, November was a while ago but, I thought of it as a cheaper version of the Prestacycle bit ratchet. I thought that for $80 I wanted a bit ratchet and a regular 1/4 square drive ratchet. I don't think the bit ratchet is a good match for the sockets.
Reddit has pictures of the final version.

Does the ratchet come with a fixed or removable 1/4 drive anvil?

 

[mngundog]

It’s puzzling to me that the put flat screwdriver bits in these kits. Have any of these people actually TRIED to use a flat bit in a small ratchet?

Never mind how rare is a slotted screw now that industry has finally figured out they ****.

I see only one out of the 7(?) kits, that only has a ratchet, all the others have at least an extensions that could be used like a screwdriver. As for bits, my Bronco is loaded with Torx Plus with the cheapest fasteners possible that are just destroyed by guys thinking they are Torx.

 

[whateg01]

Does the ratchet come with a fixed or removable 1/4 drive anvil?

From the pic, unless the anvil is removable from the handle, it looks like a 1/4" drive with a 1/4" hex adapter just to the left of the end of the ratchet.

 

[Andres26tnt]

From the pic, unless the anvil is removable from the handle, it looks like a 1/4" drive with a 1/4" hex adapter just to the left of the end of the ratchet.

That's a bit ratchet with a removable anvil. It's the same ratchet as before, just with a thumb wheel.

 

[65k10]

Now, November was a while ago but, I thought of it as a cheaper version of the Prestacycle bit ratchet. I thought that for $80 I wanted a bit ratchet and a regular 1/4 square drive ratchet. I don't think the bit ratchet is a good match for the sockets.
Reddit has pictures of the final version.

Having both a regular and a bit ratchet would have made the case a bit bigger, but I agree, the set would be more useful with both. Although if I could only have one I would have probably opted to have a regular 1/4" ratchet, but I can see preferring the bit ratchet. I bought a handful of Blackhawk branded Facom Nano sets a few years back and think they are great with one exception. I still deal with a lot of inch fasteners (the Blackhawk sets only came in metric), so that somewhat limits their utility outside of leaving in cars and metric equipment. Having a kit like this that incorporates both inch and metric would be great because as much as you are buying this set for the tools, you are buying it for that case as much as anything. It's much handier in a portable tool kit to have something like that case to organize all those small 1/4" sockets and bits so they do not get lost among the bigger tools.

 

[Professor Gascan]

I wonder why the new ratchet looks to be closed off on the back? If the end of the ratchet handle is still machined to take 1/4 inch bits wouldn't that remove the feature of being able to use the extension as a t handle?

 

[KnurledNut]

That's a bit ratchet with a removable anvil. It's the same ratchet as before, just with a thumb wheel.

Any way to confirm this? It would make the most sense but I haven't seen any hard proof of it yet.

 

[Fedwrench]

Does the ratchet come with a fixed or removable 1/4 drive anvil?

If I remember correctly, the 1/4 square anvil was removable, but the bit ratchet had a solid cover so, you couldn't use the indexable bit extension to create a Tee handle with the ratchet like you can with most other versions. There's at least one reddit member in the tools section that has the new kit. Perhaps they'll post more details.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Any way to confirm this? It would make the most sense but I haven't seen any hard proof of it yet.

Sorry I remember it from a video at Sema, also that ratchet exist already. Can't remember the brand that offer it. But you can remove the anvil, not the thumb wheel as that is part of the ratchet.

 

[Hohn]

I like that the ICON includes both SAE and MM sockets. A lot of the other options out there are just metric.

YMMV with application. Honestly I can't blame them for only offering metric, but SAE was so ubiquitous for so long it will never die. More's the pity.

 

[bwringer]

Meh, I might possibly end up with one of these for my car kit if I can catch a sale or coupon at a more reasonable price. $80 seems a bit much to me.

One thing that's surprised me a little is that I more often end up using my car tools to fix someone's lawn mower than their car (or my car). So having a few inch sockets, up to 1/2" or so, as in this kit plus the bits might be just the ticket.

Or maybe I should just spend $10 on a set of 1/4" drive inch sockets to extend what I have.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Meh, I might possibly end up with one of these for my car kit if I can catch a sale or coupon at a more reasonable price. $80 seems a bit much to me.

One thing that's surprised me a little is that I more often end up using my car tools to fix someone's lawn mower than their car (or my car). So having a few inch sockets, up to 1/2" or so, as in this kit plus the bits might be just the ticket.

Or maybe I should just spend $10 on a set of 1/4" drive inch sockets to extend what I have.

I'm glad I don't have that problem, all my lawn mower stuff in metric(Japan ). To be fair once I leave Japan, I'ma have to redo my SAE collection. Gave my friend all my snap-on SAE stuff to start his A&P career. Glad he's getting some use out of it. Good thing I only keep my first "tool set", a craftsman USA made sae 1/4 deep and shallow socket set.

 

[Steel_Rain]

 

[nicks78camaro]

Not that they could ever please everyone, but offer a metric only set with shallow and deep sockets

 

[Cruzan80]

But would it be shallow or deep broaching on the sockets?

 

[Basskiller]

Medium broaching