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Squankum

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Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
7,839
Location
Southeast
I like the Icon light a lot, but I wish the lights had replaceable li-ion batteries. It ***** when they die and then you have no light until they're charged up again.

I guess you're supposed to keep spare lights handy to use while the others charge... or work faster and get everything done before they run out of juice.

Yeah, I'm a big fan of the Habor Freight "Braun" brand (I will never stop using irony quotes) LED flex-y work light. And being able to unscrew the aluminum base and swap out batteries in a jiffy are a big appeal to me, and the ICONs they'd like to sell you for more, no. Basically, their attitude, if you're a pro or doing a longer project is, "Well why don't you just buy another complete light?" I understand why real pros flailing under the book rate deity just have a row of these things, in various states of charge, but even so, because some batteries eventually give up the ghost, give me easy access, not soldered-in.
 
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assassin10000

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 11, 2022
Messages
376
Yeah, I'm a big fan of the Habor Freight "Braun" brand (I will never stop using irony quotes) LED flex-y work light. And being able to unscrew the aluminum base and swap out batteries in a jiffy are a big appeal to me, and the ICONs they'd like to sell you for more, no. Basically, their attitude, if you're a pro or doing a longer project is, "Well why don't you just buy another complete light?" I understand why real pros flailing under the book rate deity just have a row of these things, in various states of charge, but even so, because some batteries eventually give up the ghost, give me easy access, not soldered-in.

On the icons, I like the smaller LED for close work and maybe better CRI. Plus the magnet is stronger.

Only buy on sale though. I have 2, one with the led flipped.
 
Last edited:

Squankum

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
7,839
Location
Southeast
On the icons, I like the smaller LED for close work and maybe better CRI. Plus the magnet is stronger.

Only buy on sale though. I have 2, one with the led flipped.

There are smaller LED's in the long bar? Because the "Braun" does have a small LED in the tip. And yeah, sometimes that's just the light. Like when peering into an oil filler hole. The "Braun" also evolved a few years ago so its light wand could pivot better and fold all the way in half, which can also protect the on/off button.

Can't argue with a better magnet!

I'm still not keen on soldered in/built in batteries.
 

AndreaW

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 23, 2024
Messages
53
Location
Texas
I recently purchased the Astro 9409A Hose Clamp Pliers thanks to this thread (or some thread here on GJ...I'm subscribed to so many, lol).

IMG_9172.jpeg

Included in the package was this little part. I'm not understanding what it is for.

IMG_9174.jpeg
 

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Squankum

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
7,839
Location
Southeast
I recently purchased the Astro 9409A Hose Clamp Pliers thanks to this thread (or some thread here on GJ...I'm subscribed to so many, lol).

IMG_9172.jpeg

Included in the package was this little part. I'm not understanding what it is for.

IMG_9174.jpeg

I own those, I decree them necessary. I am one of the weirds who likes these kinds of hose clamps, not as a user experience but for their being the right clamping force, no follow up needed, and working in hot conditions.

But my collection of tools for such clamps is large! Am I done? Probably. The Knipex Cobras with little pivoting divots to hole these clamps actually work quite nicely, but the ones I have don't have a locking feature. But that locking feature is insanely overpriced and I can live without it at that price.

Proto (and other sellers of Taiwanese things) also sold some Vise-Grip-like pliers with a wide waffle grids to grab such hose clamps, alas, that seemed to peter out a few years ago.
 

Squankum

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
7,839
Location
Southeast
Went to Walmart and Lowe's today for some odds and ends and these followed along with me:
Hyper Tough 6 in 1 screwdriver, made by Great Neck. It says Made in USA on the package, but it probably should be Assembled in USA because the bits definitely look like Asian imports.

Hyper Tough USA Yardstick, made by Mayes Level div. of Great Neck.

Since SBD is shutting down US production of tape measures I picked this up at Lowe's.

PXL_20260711_223844013.jpg

I was looking for the Wilde Hyper Tough pliers but my store doesn't have them nor does Walmart's website.

Found them on the website! They're dimly lit and the red, white, and blue bands are hard to spot in the the thumbnail.

 

Ohio Andy

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 31, 2024
Messages
2,345
Location
Columbus, Ohio
Proto (and other sellers of Taiwanese things) also sold some Vise-Grip-like pliers with a wide waffle grids to grab such hose clamps, alas, that seemed to peter out a few years ago.
I like the matco locking pliers so bought one pair of the similar Snap-on pliers... They feel like a suitable replacement.
 

oled

Active member
Joined
Dec 13, 2025
Messages
40
Location
Denmark
These are currently in my Amazon cart as a backup pair of lights.

Screenshot_20260711-223624.Amazon Shopping~2.jpg


I have the same on my Amazon list. Looked through many, many cheap magnetic work lights recently and chose these, maybe because the brand was not BXGHRRDF or something like that ...
 
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