Really liking Icon sockets

[Tools4Me]

3/8 metric deep: https://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-drive-metric-professional-deep-socket-12-pc-57956.html

I guess when they show them as being new on their site, they mean the regular price is now 25% higher? That same set was $40 regular and $34 with a coupon less than a year ago.

ICON 12 Pc 3/8 in. Drive SAE Professional Deep Socket for $33.99

Buy the ICON 12 Pc 3/8 in. Drive SAE Professional Deep Socket (Item 64789) for $33.99, valid through December 17, 2020.Compare our price of $33.99 to Snap-on at $308.00 (model number: 211SFSY). Sav…

go.harborfreight.com

In regards to this thread and portable tool sets, I'm glad the OP is enjoying his new ICON sockets. I chose to use the regular Pittsburgh Pro Taiwan chrome sockets, for my 3/8 drive portable tool set instead of their Icon sockets. I have been very happy with them. Part of the reason for that choice was because I like having chrome 12pt sockets in my portable sets, and then I keep 6pt impact socket sets along with any specialty or lesser used sockets at home in my shop. That gives me fastener flexibility, while also preventing me from having too much redundancy in my overall socket selection. It can easily get away from a person, needing to have multiple socket drive sizes, and a good selection of standard, deep, swivel, low profile, SAE, metric, mid-length, pass through, 6pt, 12pt, chrome, and impact sockets to pick amongst. You can end up with a huge amount of sockets that each rarely get used if you're not careful. I was able to thin things out a bit by selling off several valuable but redundant socket sets after switching my travel socket sets to 12pt.

 

[lardy1]

I have Icon 1/4" deep sockets. I bought them off eBay though. Rarely go to Harbor Freight.

 

[Magnum440d100]

I have the deep metric, so I went ahead and got the deep SAE.


When I get home, I’m going to organize the socket drawer in my road box, and I should have a functional and organized socket drawer.

More pics to come.

 

[nbpt100]

I believe the knurl is to indicate it is metric vs. SAE. It is not realy intended to help with gripping. But it may a little.

 

[Hammer1963]

The ICON sockets are fine and dandy. Sure there are other alternatives, but they are of very good quality and probably will never let you down. I own Snap-on, MAC, Matco and a few oddball sockets and I bought a set of ICON 1/4" just to see and they passed my test with ease.

 

[gungatim]

LGR!

 

[UglyViking]

in 40 years of wrenching, I have broken one snap-on socket, one 80's era HF impact socket (pre-Pittsburg), rounded 3 craftsman sockets of questionable origin (80's era 12 pt.), broke an S-K wrench (with a cheater), and 1 newer pittsburgh HF ratchet 1/4" drive that the pawls won't always engage.

I have shitloads of Stanley, Kobalt, Husky, Craftsman, Snap-on, S-K, Quin, Pittsburg, and Icon sockets.

I don't care about the brand anymore. if they work, they work. I tore down my first SB Chevy with a $4 set of junk 40pc socket set in the tin case from a junk store and only stripped the 9/16 socket on those damn intake bolts.

i'm your Sberry...

Agree with your POV here. I personally have had 1 primary tool setup from Craftsman that was questionable at best, and a handful of others to replace, upgrade, etc. I've got a decent amount of faith in the HF stuff, at least to the point where I wouldn't be nervous about spending the cash on them. That said, they have done a admirable job thus far about releasing updates to both the sockets and wrenches when issues were found. I wish there would have been some QA up front but it is what it is and at least they have made attempts to make it right.

I think I've only ever split a socket once, prob just random happenstance, but I will tell you that my craftsman sockets have worn enough that they like to round bolts a bit more than others.

End of the day, I think a lot of guys spend more time discussing the tools than it's worth. That said, everyone has to have a hobby right?

 

[qqzj]

Icon sockets look good. My GearWrench sockets are all of the same length. In this regard, Icon might be better. However, I have GW short, mid height and deep. All three series. Is it possible that my three sets of GW can beat two sets of Icon with more variety in length? I don't have an Icon set. So it would help a lot if someone can do a 3 sets vs 2 sets comparison.

 

[dstblj52]

Icon sockets look good. My GearWrench sockets are all of the same length. In this regard, Icon might be better. However, I have GW short, mid height and deep. All three series. Is it possible that my three sets of GW can beat two sets of Icon with more variety in length? I don't have an Icon set. So it would help a lot if someone can do a 3 sets vs 2 sets comparison.

the orignal set where not great but the new set of sockets they released look awesome

 

[Ton ton]

in 40 years of wrenching, I have broken one snap-on socket, one 80's era HF impact socket (pre-Pittsburg), rounded 3 craftsman sockets of questionable origin (80's era 12 pt.), broke an S-K wrench (with a cheater), and 1 newer pittsburgh HF ratchet 1/4" drive that the pawls won't always engage.

I have shitloads of Stanley, Kobalt, Husky, Craftsman, Snap-on, S-K, Quin, Pittsburg, and Icon sockets.

I don't care about the brand anymore. if they work, they work. I tore down my first SB Chevy with a $4 set of junk 40pc socket set in the tin case from a junk store and only stripped the 9/16 socket on those damn intake bolts.

i'm your Sberry...

Nice to meet you,Sberry.

 

[FMB4]

IIRC I've broken a 1/2" US Thorsen and a 3/8" SK plug ratchet. Have worn-out or cracked only a few 6 pnt and maybe 4-5 12 pnt US made sockets of any drive size (again, as I remember). Also wore out a #2 SO Phill driver. Again, all US name brand tools. Had a HF-ish Pr*to style 1/2" drive extendable handle ratchet that held up for years as a full time mechanic (was very often used by more than just myself). This ratchet finally failed and was later lost by me (I had plans on trying to repair it with a genuine Proto rebuild kit).

Meanwhile, the tool brands that I've used during the last 50 yrs run more or less from A-Z, both US and Off-Shore including, CF, Proto (and sub brands), SO, Matco, SK, Thorsen, Herbrand, and India, N and/or S Korean, Taiwan, and of course Chinese made stuff. The 'dark horses' of these 'Off Shore' tools were, for me, '80s Korean and India made stuff (believe it or not).

Edit: I also cracked a HF (non Pitts, no name) 3/4" drive 13/16" socket on frozen lug nut while using a 3/4" drv breaker bar from the same cheap socket set.

 

[Wrapitinbacon]

Why are they on clearance rack with the open package stuff ? Went to HF to get some cheap batteries today and saw em.

 

[dstblj52]

Why are they on clearance rack with the open package stuff ? Went to HF to get some cheap batteries today and saw em.

they upgraded them recently those are the last gen versions

 

[Magnum440d100]

Why are they on clearance rack with the open package stuff ? Went to HF to get some cheap batteries today and saw em.

Saw that at my local HF tonight. I really like those cases. I have the deep metric in that case, and was itchin on buying the rest in those cases. Oof.

 

[Magnum440d100]

IIRC I've broken a 1/2" US Thorsen and a 3/8" SK plug ratchet. Have worn-out or cracked only a few 6 pnt and maybe 4-5 12 pnt US made sockets of any drive size (again, as I remember). Also wore out a #2 SO Phill driver. Again, all US name brand tools. Had a HF-ish Pr*to style 1/2" drive extendable handle ratchet that held up for years as a full time mechanic (was very often used by more than just myself). This ratchet finally failed and was later lost by me (I had plans on trying to repair it with a genuine Proto rebuild kit).

Meanwhile, the tool brands that I've used during the last 50 yrs run more or less from A-Z, both US and Off-Shore including, CF, Proto (and sub brands), SO, Matco, SK, Thorsen, Herbrand, and India, N and/or S Korean, Taiwan, and of course Chinese made stuff. The 'dark horses' of these 'Off Shore' tools were, for me, '80s Korean and India made stuff (believe it or not).

That extending handle ratchet is handy! When I swapped engines in this truck, my brother had the extending handle ratchet from HF. I found myself using it a LOT during the engine swap!

 

[Compressed]

This was the thread i read a month or so ago, i think this is the one? so i just now came across it again.
Since then i have purchased TEKTONS entire socket sized collection except they're Oxygen sensor sockets, all the sizes & depth's including all their Impacts as well. I have donated all my other sets to friends. I have had so many different mixes of brands new and old but never a 100% complete total livery.

 

[andersen24]

ah yes the generic rule of the day. the answer to every question is "tekton........." even though nobody asked the question.

really? the op just said he had good luck and liked his icon sockets. wasn't asking for advice or other options but low and behold the first response is "tekton"

why, just why? why do they need to inject "tekton" into every conversation? it happens daily and then those that do it have the nerve to call others pretentious.

it's almost like they need to validate their purchase by forcing their opinion on others. even when not asked for.

Haha, i've been guilty of doing this as well! For the OP I just hope you have better luck than I have had with returns. Just LAST week, I took an Icon tool back that broke. I had my online receipt pulled up on my phone and even then it was an act of congress to get them to honor their warranty. I think it totally depends on each HF store which is annoying AF!

 

[FMB4]

Was in my local HF the other day. And almost the entire socket set side of the mechanics handtool isle was nearly empty (no Icon, no Pittsb, not even the unbranded dirt cheap stuff. Sadly, it's been pretty much this way for well over a month now (maybe 2 mos). Online, HF has far too many "Back in Stock Soon" statements at my city's location on many such items. Other stuff on some other isles is way under stocked, or not stocked at all as well. Makes me wonder if HF plans on closing my 4-5 yr old location down (and I'm not kidding). Oh well, HD and Lowe's seems to pretty well stocked with their offerings ('CM' and Husky).

 

[Ton ton]

Was in my local HF the other day. And almost the entire socket set side of the mechanics handtool isle was nearly empty (no Icon, no Pittsb, not even the unbranded dirt cheap stuff. Sadly, it's been pretty much this way for well over a month now (maybe 2 mos). Online, HF has far too many "Back in Stock Soon" statements at my city's location on many such items. Other stuff on some other isles is way under stocked, or not stocked at all as well. Makes me wonder if HF plans on closing my 4-5 yr old location down (and I'm not kidding). Oh well, HD and Lowe's seems to pretty well stocked with their offerings ('CM' and Husky).

That's too bad .

 

[dstblj52]

That's too bad .

yeah my local locations is pretty normal in terms of stock but where near a major port so

 

[M635_Guy]

Was in my local HF the other day. And almost the entire socket set side of the mechanics handtool isle was nearly empty (no Icon, no Pittsb, not even the unbranded dirt cheap stuff. Sadly, it's been pretty much this way for well over a month now (maybe 2 mos). Online, HF has far too many "Back in Stock Soon" statements at my city's location on many such items. Other stuff on some other isles is way under stocked, or not stocked at all as well. Makes me wonder if HF plans on closing my 4-5 yr old location down (and I'm not kidding). Oh well, HD and Lowe's seems to pretty well stocked with their offerings ('CM' and Husky).

I was in mine today (picking up the Full Bank tool cart) and it was a little thin here and there but stocked pretty completely.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

I was in mine today (picking up the Full Bank tool cart) and it was a little thin here and there but stocked pretty completely.

Yeah, our HF is also less full but the shelves have stuff on them. The icon section is typically more full than the rest. But I live in a blue collar ‘burb and the shade tree mechanics here are as cheap as hell.

OP, I have a limited number of Icon stuff and I’ve been pleased with them. I like them more than my Tekton stuff but less than my new Craftsman stuff. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy more if I needed it.

 

[DemoFly]

At this point I'm convinced people are paid to post Tekton stuff on this site. The products aren't good enough for people to be that fanatic about them.

 

[UglyViking]

At this point I'm convinced people are paid to post Tekton stuff on this site. The products aren't good enough for people to be that fanatic about them.

Having only been active on these forums a little while there seems to be a few camps of tool users I've seen.

• The tool truck only guys (nothing else is close to good enough)
• The guys who hate on HF and/or Tekton (anything and everything made by them)
• The guys who shill HF and/or Tekton (anything and everything made by them)
• The guys who are just trying to find the modern craftsman (there seems to be no clear answer to this question anyway)

Maybe your experience is different but that seems to be mine. For what it's worth, I've got a single Tekton ratchet and I'm pretty happy with it thus far (3/8 flex head), I'm planning on replacing some poor quality Craftsman wrenches with something (still trying to figure out what direction I wanna go here, sorts a toss up between Tekton, Gear Wrench and Icon) but that's just me.

 

[Ton ton]

I like the fast easy warranty with Tekton. I only have one set of impact sockets and 1 screwdriver from Tekton. And a 2 lb hammer.

 

[Magnum440d100]

Having only been active on these forums a little while there seems to be a few camps of tool users I've seen.

• The tool truck only guys (nothing else is close to good enough)
• The guys who hate on HF and/or Tekton (anything and everything made by them)
• The guys who shill HF and/or Tekton (anything and everything made by them)
• The guys who are just trying to find the modern craftsman (there seems to be no clear answer to this question anyway)

Maybe your experience is different but that seems to be mine. For what it's worth, I've got a single Tekton ratchet and I'm pretty happy with it thus far (3/8 flex head), I'm planning on replacing some poor quality Craftsman wrenches with something (still trying to figure out what direction I wanna go here, sorts a toss up between Tekton, Gear Wrench and Icon) but that's just me.

I agree with those camps lol

As for myself, I have a little of everything. Ratchets from snap-on, craftsman, husky, Stanley, etc etc.

I use what I can “easily” warranty. But LATELY, I’ve been on a quest to have a decently stocked, decently comprehensive road box. This box sits in the rail to rail (under rail) tool box in my truck. I know I could go cheaper tools (cheaper as in Pittsburgh brand, and I do have some of those as well), but if I have to perform a roadside repair, I want predictable quality. Be it predictably good or predictably bad. Plus, if this box gets stolen (high possibility eventually) I’m out $1k or less in tools. That’s still a lot admittedly, but they aren’t my dads tools I got when he died, nor are they my grampas tools I got when he died. The trade off is worth it.

I’m not paid by harbor freight to post this. I decided to post for a couple reasons:

1), My brother and I were talking. He mentioned that after using my Icon combo wrenches, they felt solid enough that if he were tooling up again, Icon would be a very very strong contender. He is a union welder, and doesn’t mind spending money on tools that make him money!

And 2, I’m hoping that any new techs come across this thread and see that it is indeed possible to work with Icon (or any other non tool truck brands). I finished taking the heads off my brothers dads work truck, using “mostly” Icon tools. Icon wrenches and sockets, snap on ratchets, OEM harmonic balancer puller, PLVMB flat screwdriver as pry bar, and my friend Paul used my craftsman set to remove the exhaust manifolds from the heads.

I’m going to be changing careers in a month from commercial glazing to tractor/trailer maintenance, when I get back home to Indiana. I’m bettin this box is what I’ll be working out of for a little while, Icon tools included

 

[nadogail]

I am glad you like those ICON tools and enjoyed reading your post. When and if I decide to buy more tools I will keep your post in mind.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

Magnum - that truck is CRAZY clean. Is that typical in Indiana? Looking at the coolant passages I'd say the engine isn't factory fresh, but you could eat off that frame. No torches for the exhaust bolts?

 

[Magnum440d100]

Magnum - that truck is CRAZY clean. Is that typical in Indiana? Looking at the coolant passages I'd say the engine isn't factory fresh, but you could eat off that frame. No torches for the exhaust bolts?

California truck with almost 300k miles! Frame rails and underside are nice, but the outside is HAMMERED. It is a welders rig that doubles as a ranch truck. Unknown mileage on the engine, as I sourced it from a salvage yard last year. When I picked up the engine from the salvage yard, there wasn’t a spec of grease or grime on it, and it ran BEAUTIFUL. The downfall of this engine was the plastic T for the expansion tank. It cracked, truck lost coolant, engine overheated, and here we are lol.

As far as torches on the exhaust bolts, I took care of those during the engine swap. They gave me a HARD time then!

 

[Magnum440d100]

Was in my local HF the other day. And almost the entire socket set side of the mechanics handtool isle was nearly empty (no Icon, no Pittsb, not even the unbranded dirt cheap stuff. Sadly, it's been pretty much this way for well over a month now (maybe 2 mos). Online, HF has far too many "Back in Stock Soon" statements at my city's location on many such items. Other stuff on some other isles is way under stocked, or not stocked at all as well. Makes me wonder if HF plans on closing my 4-5 yr old location down (and I'm not kidding). Oh well, HD and Lowe's seems to pretty well stocked with their offerings ('CM' and Husky).

Fortunately I have two Harbor Freights that are equidistant from me in either direction.

I do enjoy craftsman as well, and one of my “beater” ratchets back home is a new 1/2” husky. I do like the feel of that husky ratchet, and use it when I know I’m gonna break it (but it just ends up working haha!) And I did just “upgrade” from an older husky ratchet. I found it in a junkyard, rusted solid. Got it cleaned up/freed up, and it was my go to 1/2” drive ratchet in my road box for quite a while, but I got frustrated with it being finicky of the back swing, and locking up if not pressed just right. But for $free.50, it worked great for the couple years I used it.

 

[UglyViking]

God, I don't know if I'm along but I've always hated that style head on a ratchet. "free" is free tho.

 

[zendriver]

Maybe the store name itself is a clue, as to why shelves are empty of popular, low price goods.

If it’s any consolation, all that imported goodness that we know, love (and survive on ) is most likely “out there somewhere!”

 

[Ton ton]

I think it depends which Harbor freight you shop @ for availability. Not that I am an expert on the subject. But I have to agree that it is a brick and mortar store. Although I am not super cracked over the non Icon stuff.

 

[m6z]

They're solid tools. Prices are creeping up though.

 

[Blind1]

Having only been active on these forums a little while there seems to be a few camps of tool users I've seen.

• The tool truck only guys (nothing else is close to good enough)
• The guys who hate on HF and/or Tekton (anything and everything made by them)
• The guys who shill HF and/or Tekton (anything and everything made by them)
• The guys who are just trying to find the modern craftsman (there seems to be no clear answer to this question anyway)

Maybe your experience is different but that seems to be mine. For what it's worth, I've got a single Tekton ratchet and I'm pretty happy with it thus far (3/8 flex head), I'm planning on replacing some poor quality Craftsman wrenches with something (still trying to figure out what direction I wanna go here, sorts a toss up between Tekton, Gear Wrench and Icon) but that's just me.

Look at Capri as well.

 

[Blind1]

These threads crack me up. Any hunters here? How many times have you heard “a 243win is a great choice for a kid - but I need a wizbang mag to kill my deer.”

The disagreements in this thread boil down to what is “good enough.” That will be different for everyone. COO Taiwan tools get hyped because they offer a whole bag of performance for an excellent value. There are price and value points throughout the COO taiwan range as well. Still comes down to what’s good enough (particularly in OP’s case as a road backup).

Anyone here recommending a blue point socket set over Tekton? What about over Icon?

It’s no surprise that folks will recommend brands that offer great value and convenience while remaining accessible and easy to acquire outside of a tool truck.

Sunex, Capri, Tekton, Icon, etc. all offer a great pro-am quality that used to be filled by craftsman. Tekton has just been better about getting their products packaged and made available like the craftsman of old. Why whine about it?

 

[stillnostrebor]

Having only been active on these forums a little while there seems to be a few camps of tool users I've seen.

• The tool truck only guys (nothing else is close to good enough)
• The guys who hate on HF and/or Tekton (anything and everything made by them)
• The guys who shill HF and/or Tekton (anything and everything made by them)
• The guys who are just trying to find the modern craftsman (there seems to be no clear answer to this question anyway)

Maybe your experience is different but that seems to be mine. For what it's worth, I've got a single Tekton ratchet and I'm pretty happy with it thus far (3/8 flex head), I'm planning on replacing some poor quality Craftsman wrenches with something (still trying to figure out what direction I wanna go here, sorts a toss up between Tekton, Gear Wrench and Icon) but that's just me.

Well said.

I think the Tekton guys are just excited that they found something that "feels" like Craftsman availability, warranty service, etc. I have all kinds of stuff, and some Tekton combos have made it into the pile by way of a birthday gift. They are solid wrenches. I bought some other Tekton stuff for my son and they are great too. With that said I also have a lot of old Craftsman, some Gearwrench, even a bit of Snappy stuff. It all gets the job done, or it hits the bin!

I have not purchased any Icon sets yet, but having the extra bit of knowledge from this thread helps. Knowing that they graduate the socket sizes rather than use the same height blanks for all is a bonus to me that makes them worth a bit more $$ at time of purchase, especially for the 1/2" drive stuff. Mt Craftsman sockets are mostly from the early 80's, and some are pretty worn. Maybe some Icon should accidentally slip into the mix.

 

[gfd_703]

Biggest issue I have with Icon tools is no singles available. I like my tools in sets and sure if I break one they will take one from a set to replace it but what if I loose my 10mm socket? They force me to go to another tool brand for the replacement and now I have a mismatched set. Until they do this they are not even in the league of the old Sears Craftsman much less Snap-On. I understand Pittsburg being sets only but not Icon.

 

[UglyViking]

I had not thought about the single tool issue, that would be quite annoying. They do sell singles as replacement parts (pdf, page 77) I don't know how much shipping costs but the prices seem pretty reasonable. Annoying, sure, but let's face it if you lose a socket you're waiting for HF/Tekton to send a replacement, driving out to your local wherever to pickup something ASAP, or waiting for the tool truck to show up (and praying to god it wasn't yesterday).

Hopefully they will start to carry singles in store in the future. I think if they did that with Icon, that would really set them up as a real player as it's basically 1:1 with what the truck offers, and 1:1 with what you could get at HD/Lowes.

 

[DAustin]

If getting something with a warranty from a store that's close you can go to NAPA, Auto Zone, O'reilly's or the like. They are everywhere and all their tools have a warranty with them.