Icon vs. Pittsburgh Professional 1/2" Long Handle Flex Ratchet Comparison
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ต.ค. 2019
- Here's a review and comparison of Harbor Freights to best ratchets the Pittsburgh Pro which they came out with a few years ago and the new icon. I talked about increase rigidity in the icon as well as compared the rochet mechanisms.
Pittsburgh Pro 62332
Icon 64705, R3LFG . .
Im one of the 80% that is completely fine with Pittsburgh PRO... ICON is just out of my price range, although they are beautiful, I don't need my tools to be beautiful works of art... It is true, that the Pittsburgh is roughly half the MSRP of ICON, but after the coupons you can use on the Pittsburgh ONLY, it ends up being closer to 1/3 the cost. I got mine on the special 25% off holiday coupons and it was about $24. Which is a whole lot of ratchet for 24 bucks! I believe Pittsburgh PRO tools are the single highest value per dollar tools throughout the entire tool industry. Notice the "PRO", avoid regular Pittsburgh stuff. I have never had a Pittsburgh PRO tool fail me and they can be had dirt cheap and they work. They work great! If you take care of your tools, maintain them, and make sure you are using the "right tool for the job". They will out last you... In MY OPINION Pittsburgh PRO is the "sweet spot". You get both, high value AND high performance. Pittsburgh PRO for LIFE!
I would agree with you on Pittsburgh Pro being the best value for the dollar on the ratchets, but for some other things I am finding other brands that I went with, such as Tekton 1/2" impact sockets and ratcheting wrenches, as well as Sunex 1/4" and 3/8" impact sockets. I wanted master sets (no skips) and many times Pittsburgh Pro does not have all of the sockets and can't even get them as singles. There are many other brands I would buy for screwdriver set over Pittsburgh Pro too. I did get the Quinn set and that is pretty good for the money I thought. I would say almost anything labeled US General is best bang for the buck for the weekend warrior if it fits the persons needs. I sure do love me some Harbor Freight.
@@opensage01 yes I agree! There are some things that just aren't offered under Pittsburgh PRO. It's funny you mentioned those "Master Sets". That's exactly what I did too. I got everything I could from HF because it's plenty "good enough" and cheap. And then picked up a Sunex #3351 - it's a 3/8" drive metric impact master set with no skips. I could be wrong but I think that set went from 7mm all the way up to 22mm without skipping anything- in shorts, deep, and swivels. That's a good set!! I'll have it for the rest of my life no doubt.
Pittsburg pro ratchets are decent enough...great for the price. The sockets are decent. Pittsburg chrome extensions suck, and their wrenches are not good enough to do what I need.
100% agree. I have one Kobalt 1/2 that I grab when I know something's going to be crazy tight and I need a ratchet. Other than that it's my old Craftsman stuff mixed with new Pittsburg pro. I can hands down say the Pittsburg pro is better than Craftsman stuff.
yeah you buy what you can afford and upgrade when you can or need. i buy my tools almost exclusively on deep sale. im using them at home or occasionally on the car. and for me the professional in house brand at most stores works perfectly fine in most cases.
One minute in,I'll buy the Pittsburgh
Great film, Cat. I like your attention to the details. I'm in the market for a long-handled, locking, flex head ratchet. So far the best deal I found is the Carlyle version in the half-inch drive. I'd just get that one and use the adapter to 3/8" drive. Keep the films a-comin'!
I've never had any problems with pittsburgh pro stuff. Good enough for the home gamer
I’ve been using Pittsburgh for yrs. and I still have them. Not a mechanic by trade, but I have always wrenched on my own cars and on my friends and family’s rides, as well... 🤷🏽♀️
Good stuff. As nice as some of the ICON stuff seems, I just can't justify spending the extra money. I am, however, interested in seeing that new Doyle Ratcheting Multi-Bit Screwdriver. The store closest to me didn't have it in stock yet.
Good explanation of the internals.
I've had the Pittsburgh one for awhile and have had very good success with it, and I recently lived it with WLG and the action is buttery smooth. Due to the Icon recall I got the Icon 1/2" as well so I'll be interested to see the difference in feel for removing lugs and tight suspension bolts.
Both quality tools that would likely be better than most people will need.
I had the same problem of the cross screw backing out on a Pittsburgh pro. I screwed it back on with some loctite and so far I haven't had any problems. If you tighten it too much it binds the mechanism. Works great now. Not bad for the money.
Good tool review. Iam an electrician so I have no need for a long ratchet like that, but the flex heads are nice. Thubs up.
I use the icon rachet alot at work and have not broken it yet. Put tons of torque on it.
I really like the Icon ratchets, especially for DIY use. They are of much better quality than your average cheap chinese ratchet. I pay attention to the smaller details that some people might miss, like for example the amount of backlash on the ratchet mechanism, which will effect the tightness of the swing arc. When you ratchet the wrench, is their an additional "dead zone" at play before you actually engage the fastner and apply torque...some ratchets are really loose with this. And even though they advertise 4 degrees of arc swing, because of the loose tolerances you end up in reality back to 5 degrees or more. So why are you then paying more money for the gimmick of a smaller arc, if the tolerances bring that back up in reality. I always test my ratchets before I buy them for that backlash, sometimes with the cheaper ones you might need to pull a few off the shelf before you find a good one. Same goes for the anvil rocking...
That Pittsburg has been good to me so far. I just stopped by Walmart this weekend and picked up their 7 piece metric ratcheting wrench set. It seems fine and made in Taiwan. I also picked up their 15 piece wrench set and that's made in India. It goes from 8 to 25mm. I just measured the open ends and they are about the same as my craftsman only shorter on both sets. Will upload videos when i make them. I just uploaded the video on a 1/4 set. I do prefer the craftsman length too bad it's only a set of 6. I needed something affordable and with more range.
I have that same set, hyperflex I think it's a good set I have the same 8-19,21,22,25 but I got it for 8 dollars cause it was missing the 21mm
India made wrenchs are crap I've had kobalt and Pittsburgh and they broke on me back to my trusty USA craftsman wrenchs
@@WorkHorseLT there alright I've had them for months they only stripped a union for brake lines but they work for the professional field.
Great video until I heard the tool truck comment, no one needs those over priced ratchets. They break just as easy as the icon does but they cost 3 times the price and then you have to wait for the tool truck to warranty it. I own snap on, Matco and cornwell ratchets and they are nice ratchets but if I could do it over again I would buy icon over those ratchets any day
The long flex heads are nice. 90 tooth on icon would be nice n smooth
Idk if you already have a video on palm ratchets that come in a set of 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2. But it be cool a video like that. Ive been on the hunt for these palm ratchets that come in a set that are made of aluminium.
I’ve broken the teeth on a 3/8 and because of of that I almost cut the end of my finger off. Switched to the Mac axis ratchets and haven’t looked back. But... since the icon came out I might look at em closely. I’m also a heavy diesel mechanic so I torture my tools and I need reliability and strength. Nothing wrong with the 1/2” Pittsburgh but you can definitely feel a difference between them and tool truck brands. Perfect for home use though.
For ratchet lube I was told to use this white lithium stuff, it comes out kind of like a foamy less sturdy whipped cream. I have yet to find out how well it lasts against constantly being covered in like brake clean
I kind of want the icon seeing the Paul mechanism reminds me of gearwrench and they're built to be 180% ansi specs dual paw mechanism I'm soldI'm getting some icon ratchets
I have broken the fork on the Pittsburgh a couple times. Do you think it's worth the extra money for the icon or should I just jump to the tool truck? I am a mid level tech and am trying to get decent tools but don't want to spend the money on tool truck brands( but am able to, I have disposable income).
With that said. Since you have had the icon in hand, would you recommend I try the icon first or just get on the tool truck next week when he comes around?
For what it's worth,if the tool was to fail I would get it replaced and would put it in my home tool box and buy better for work.
Great ratchet comparison
Idk I've never broken a ratchet. I got the Pittsburgh Pro ratchets. Pretty tough to break one unless you're using it wrong (cheater pipes). We have wore the teeth out on an old one at work that is only used to tighten stuff but it never slipped, just got really sloppy. I've only seen one guy break a socket that he was using properly! Good name brand impact 15/16 socket split after a year of use on a bolt that wouldn't come out! (The socket is for a machine that loosens and tighten 60 bolts 3-4x a week). If you're using the tool correctly, it should never break...Unless it's the cheapest thing you can buy lol
I think alot of broken tools especially ratchets is when you use them as breaker bars and jerk hard.
I've seen this Pittsburgh pro 1/2 ratchet pin break because the user was trying to break loose an axle nut. Even I wouldn't think if using a ratchet on an axle nut, that's breaker bar territory!
This is a comparison of China vs. Taiwan quality. All the Pittsburgh pear-head ratchets (and the red handled models) are made in China. While the older Pittsburgh Pro gray composite handle ratchets, and their swivel-head green handled models are made in Taiwan. Spot on regarding the weakness of the two pawl system. Their old Pittsburgh Pro wrenches were made in either China or Taiwan, disappointed to see they are made in India now, the quality control is horrible. I was about to buy a 14-piece metric set for Memorial Day, but upon inspecting it last night, I changed my mind. :-( I looked at Husky combo wrenches too....until I found out Husky wrenches are also made in India! :-( Damn. Time to check if Kobalt wrenches are still Taiwanese made.
The ex-wife stole 30 years and $10,000 worth of tools of every kind. I had a an extensive Craftsman set up that I began building out of high school. Marry the wrong woman and it can destroy your life. I lost more than just tools. But the tools meant the most as I was able to build fix and create so much with them. :(
The internals on the Pittsburgh Pro look identical to Britool Hallmark and Halfords Advanced, both UK brands. I'm guessing that they're all made by Apex Tool Group.
So it’s been a while since Icon was introduced and it’s not been fabulous. Many brands that are closer to its price range (GearWrench, Capri, Williams USA) are either stronger and more durable or smoother operating, sometimes both. I did buy a Icon Ratchet, the 3/8 non-flex metal handle and I am satisfied with it. It is way better than the auto store brands and the hardware store brands including the “new” craftsman. It’s just not the Snap-On killer that it was advertised as.
The 3/8 Pittsburgh pivot screw deformed on me. Heard that from lots of people. I'll warranty it but might go with the icons for the 1/2.
Did you remove the off/on logos from the Pittsburgh pro ratchet? Or did they stop labeling them?
It seemed they were two different styles or different switches between the flex and straight ratchets I haven't figured it out yet but some have the stamped steel switch and some have a cast zinc switch
I've had 3foot long pipes on the Pittsburgh pro, never broke it though
I would just buy the gearwrench 120xp had it for a while love it
Gearwrench China vs Pittsburgh Taiwan
The gearwrench ratchets are taiwan. So are the sockets
@@ernestkills476 Wrenches are Chinesium
@@nathanr.8556 true. That's why I stick to their ratchets and sockets. You'd think now that Armstrong is gone that they would either shift gearwrench production completely to Taiwan. But nope. I'll take the 120xp over the icon for now. My 120xp ratchets are strong as hell
@@ernestkills476 your right the 120xp is a really high quality ratchet. Holds up great to everyday use. The wrenches even be made from China are surprisingly good quality
The Pittsburgh is my favorite ratchet.
Have Pittsburgh pro and snap on ratchets bad thing is I usually grab Pittsburgh over snap on only because they cost so much don’t want to get them nasty with grease and dirt work on farm tractors snap on cost so much almost want to put it in a glass case and just look at it
Austin Goleman So you bought expensive tools just to look at them?
No I use them in the shop but on service calls use the cheaper one in the dirt and mud don’t want to mess up 100 ratchet
I do the same thing...I have USA made tools, but I use my cheap ones more often for just everyday beating. If I’m doing something especially cramped and tight quarters, or working on something like diesel exhaust fasteners that are bad to round....I’ll get out my good tools.
look on line there ia a 5$ cupon for any pittsburg pro ratchet no experation
Hello again Catus Maximus
You said the Pittsburgh Pro use's grease. What does the Icon use, from the video, I cannot tell if it's an oil or grease? Otherwise, another Great Video.
Do you still prefer the icons
If I break the Pittsburgh, maybe I’ll get the icon.
I did go back and get the $10 refund they owed for picking up the 1/2" ratchet. Hope it doesn't take the long to replace the 3/8" one. But I guess they have to build and change the build of it. Could take a min.
The switch being reversed drives me nuts
I still don't think you can buy a better 3/8 flex for 20$ with a no questions asked warentee than Pittsburgh pro...
with a lifetime warranty i dont see a reason to care if it does break after awhile. Ill just get a new one next time i stop at harbor freight. I break tools all the time when working on old rusty cars. mostly extensions and shit like that.
That's the point of an extra long ratchet... Ya don't have to use a breaker bar.
I've always learned that you don't break bolts with the ratchet if you want to take care of your ratchet then magically ratchet start having really long handles and somehow the mechanisms are all of a sudden a lot stronger than they were in the past which they actually are not
Used someone elses pittsburgh pro 1/2" ratchet the other day and I literally hated it, husky makes a better ratchet for less money
The comfort grips on these ratchets are very uncomfortable. It’s tolerable on the 1/2” but obnoxiously too big on the 1/4” and 3/8”
Aric Bolf Yeah I tried the plastic dip on some pliers and wasn’t too impressed with the results. Gearwrench and Snap-On have some of the nicest comfort grips available.
Stop bitching then and buy something better lol
There's nothing really with the Pittsburgh Pro one functionally other than it will lock up under load. The only reason I would want the Icon or other more expensive options is the ratchet locking up. And then Harbor Freight messes up that bit and issues a recall.
Yeah being as a snappy would be 4 times and a half as much $60 bucks ain't to shabby
I hate the raised selector. In tight places that can cause it to switch or just break off completely.
I'll just stick with the Pittsburgh
my dislikes for icon ratchets: selector switch is to far away from the head, the gears are not lubed, there needs to be a long handle 1/4 ratchet such as the snap on, and they need to come up with a 25 or bigger 1/2 ratchet
Even when you got some of the top tier stuff... you still can’t help buying a cheaper ratchet too. To be honest Im not too impressed by Icon and much rather Pittsburgh Pro ratchets as a backup compared to Icon or gearwrench which have sky rocketed ridiculously
I-CON is average and overpriced. Not pro quality.
Snap on is overpriced, no reason for a ratchet to require financing
@@brandonf2163 agree but I-CONNED is not the solution
@@brandonf2163 Icon U into a recall lol
Yes, snapon is overpriced. So Is icon. I’d say by about the same margin. Can catch Carlyle on quarterly sales cheaper than icon, and they’re just as good or better.
I'd love to have some snap on, nobody denies their tools as being the best quality. For me though, it doesn't make much sense. I wrench on things as a hobby and to save money from a mechanic. I don't use my tools everyday, nor are they beat on too much. For me, harbor freight is really stepping their game up. I'd put their professional series tools up against any other big box stores brand and I'd bet it would win. Plus, they have the best return policy. I bet I could cut a ratchet in half with a grinder and they'd exchange it for me with a brand new one.
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i don't know what trump has to do with this, but, i like the way you think.
@@alandesgrange9703 He was #1 and so is Trump.
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