The TRUTH about ICON Wrenches, Harbor Freight ICON tools review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ส.ค. 2024
- WATCH TIL END if you Wanna know the truth about ICON wrenches. Harbor Freight tools made a big splash when they first dropped these new ICON tools several months back. It started with harbor freight giving youtubers free Icon tool sets in exchange for good reviews. From there it quickly escalated into guys on youtube getting free $5000 Icon toolboxes all for the sake of a good video review. I don't know about you, free tools are one thing, but when a company starts handing out FREE ICON toolboxes... SOMETHING IS UP. We all know Harbor freight Isn't giving these toolboxes away out of the kindness of their heart but how is any of that supposed to help you guys decide if these ICON wrenches are for you? So today I'm going to tell you the truth about ICON tools and ICON wrenches. I'm not on the take from ICON tools or Harbor Freight tools so were going to see what a guy who's not on Harbor Freight tools payroll, ICON tools payroll, or doesn't constant push Harbor Freight videos all day, thinks about this ICON tools ratcheting wrench set.
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The TRUTH about ICON Wrenches, Harbor Freight ICON tools review - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
UPDATE: I've heard from many regarding the WARRANTY, for the majority of users it is a non issue and they will simply exchange the broken one for a new one from a set. Although A small amount are reporting that a phone number was required. In the portion of the video I mentioned warranty, I also explained that I "SUSPECT" it will work a certain way. INDICATING IT WAS A THEORY, and not a definite statement.
Also, Discovering the actual manufacturers is not a knock on the tools themselves, just questioning their ability to say they 'designed' these but the main reason i showed such information is to show the other brands that also offer tools nearly identical to some ICON TOOLS. By all regards, Today, Icon is the cheapest out of them all, but that may not always be the case. Armed with the knowledge of other brands that offer the same tool, one can make an informed decision and purchase what is best for them.
Hello, I work at harbor freight and our registers prompt us to have an account (phone number) on file when processing a warranty. Most people already have an account so typically it's a nonissue.
Have you used any tekton? If so how do they compare? Good shit!
@@TeamWagy Hopefully you guys dont process all the lifetime "pieces" like a socket, a wrench, a screwdriver as a full return through the register. That would screw you guys over in the daily sales goal target and time. Also have LP with their magnifying glasses. Instead of doing the return via register we just take the new set and use the chameleon scan gun and scan as signposts/openbox...So rather the store losing the whole amount on that item they're only losing 20% of that item when bought...as %20 is really the norm of nothing lol.
That is why you'll see a lot of stores just write the item number down or just take the old bar-code and send the customer on their way. Also worrying about the telephone number or name collection would be pointless because who holds onto a receipt for a lifetime? Its only in the systems network for 90% days. I only mentioned this because a few stores in our district process everything as return from the register and they lose a crap ton that way...a return through the register is returned for full amount they paid when really they should judge it off of you broke about __% of that set.
@@bondchristian-loveland4324 I believe tekton is a better choice for hand tools. Warranty is great and the tools are the same quality as hf
When I've returned tools to them, they've required the entire set and they ended up replacing it as a whole set. Not sure if they handle it the same way with Icon though
I am a Harbor Freight employee that's been working there for 8 months now. If your "13 mil" fails, bring back the whole set and we will replace the whole set. If you don't have the whole set any more, (Like if you lost them) just bring back the "13 mil" and we will take a set off the shelf, open it, take out the new "13 mil" and and replace your broken one with that. We will then sell the "New" set, (without the "13 mil" of course,) at a discounted, open box, clearance price. Lastly we ship your defective wrench back to the manufacturer.
Dang I always thought that discounted, open set, clearance marked, set of tools was where someone just stole the wrench or socket they needed and left the pack on the wall Haha
Yep. I have returned broken tools to them and this is how they handled it.
Will this happen if I don't have a receipt or proof of purchase?
@@franciscorojas274 This will happen on all "hand tools" (wrenches, sockets, ratchets, screwdrivers, pliers, hammers, clamps, etc) regardless if you lost your receipt. In other words, all hand tools at HF do not require proof of purchase to receive an exchange if it breaks or no longer functions properly.
Keep in mind, Jacks, garden tools, Maddox products etc, do not carry a Lifetime Warranty. Every product in the store that has a lifetime warranty, will clearly say it on the front sticker in big letters.
They should give you all singles to keep in the back and to sell individually.. not everyone needs a whole set
Spent 20 years as a dealer mechanic. Are Snap On Tools good, yea, they do perform well. The open end on the Flank Drive wrenches do not open up. I thought the prices were high in the 80's and 90's, but now, the prices are idiotic. The problem is Snap On makes it's money selling businesses to idiots, and the mark up in that is obscene.
Been using ICON daily on diesel engines for 6 months now. No complaints. My Snap-On guy test icon 10mm deep vs Snap-On 10mm deep
Icon broke at 113 ftlb and Snap-On broke at 109 ftlb. He was not happy. 😂
For real???
@@VinnieSuhfatwop yes sir. No kidding no fooling. It out performed the snappy.
I heard some stuff about icon. It was actually supposed to be snap on line, but they didn’t patent. A couple of higher ups who worked for snap on were fired or quit, and they went to work for harbor freight management. The US general tool boxes come from the snap on design, as well as icon.
@@joshuastevens5910 I heard the same thing.
@@joshuastevens5910 Interesting. I never knew that.
just so your tracking they will open the box, give you the one right out of the box then sell the box at a discount... that is coming from a manager at harbor freight ( yes I believe her ... she sleeps next to me at night and has not killed me yet soooo)
Doesn’t anyone understand that the wrench is not designed to break loose tight bolts with the open end? When it opens and slips you are going to injure your hand or damage the bolt head. A combination wrench is meant to be used to loosen the bolt with the box end first then use the open end for speed. The ratcheting end is used for speed where space allows.
Good point bud, common sense & logic wins me over!!!
Exactly right this guy is a Rookie~!!
I agree with you man all this reviews are either biased or paid by the competitors because they put the open end under extra load that are not designed for and they said that the tool is garbage because it failed the test
Either they don’t know how to test or they are stupid
All this channel that has done this can a test prove clearly that each brand has work correctly for the load torque they were designed for regarles it was a snap on or any other brand
What is you have to bust a bolt loose in a place where the open end only fits?
Says Who ?
I take new icon over the new craftsman junk
Why didn’t you just ask them about the warranty instead of bad mouthing them not knowing?
I use the that set daily and it performs better than I originally expected! Also as for warrenty if you take the broken wrench back to the store they will pull one out of a new set, or just warrenty the whole set. Had to do that with a 15mm because I was hitting it with a hammer to knock loose a caliper bolt.. on the ratchet side. Not my proudest moment but I had to get the job done.
Thanks for that truthful testimonial cause all of us have done that at one time or another~!
Hello sir I work at harbor freight. This applies to ALL lifetime tools, come to the store bring in the wrench or whole set we will open the box up and give you the brand-new one right from box no number no receipt. We prefer you bring in the set cause it's a little easier. If we open a box we will open box the set after we remove the tool. Thanks
I work at HF too and this is correct. We don't ask for receipt on lifetime tools. Unless you are asking for money back. You bring the tool we open a box and swap it out. We then sell the open packaging with a open box discount.
So that's where the open box sets come from. I thought it was customers swiping them.
@@davidho2977 yup
Without measuring and showing that you are applying the same amount of torque per test and measuring degrees of rotation the tests performed here are essentially futile.
Essentially ALL wrench tests on TH-cam are worthless. With that said, what I did here was a demonstration, not a test Per se
Harbor Freight will replace your wrench on the spot with a new one from a set and put that set as (open box) in the clearance section.
As a person who is a weekend warrior, only owns old cars and trucks and toys, I’m always turning wrenches. If anyone is unhappy with their icon tools, send em my way and I’ll say thank u! Sometimes I feel like people treat tools Like a nice restaurant. Like they go to Bobby flay restaurant and took a hidden camera. Found out Bobby not only didn’t cook the meal, but he wasn’t even in the kitchen!!! Then they dig further and the head chef didn’t cook the meal, nor did the current kitchen manager. But the kid who just graduated culinary arts got lucky as the real chefs were swamped and they asked him to quit cutting carrots and celery and to quickly cook my meal. In reality, if I’m eating at Bobby flay restaurant, just sit back and enjoy. Let your mind enjoy the experience. If u like icon buy it. If u like snap on buy it. If u like hart or Pittsburgh cuz u save money, enjoy it. Who cares. Name the product, there’s name brand and generic. It’s your money, decide on brands and prices
I had a 13 mm 3/8 icon socket, get marked up a little bit and I also broke the comfort grip on my 1/2 inch drive my fault I put a breaker bar on it. But I took it back to harbor frieght, and the guy opened up a new, set and gave me a 13mm and a new ratchet no questions asked.
Can't beat that~!!
I’ve tried icon tools for a while now in a garage and I have had no problems use them more then my Mac and snap on work about the same but easier to get repaired or replaced if need be.
and a fraction of the price of the rape wagons
@@gynat5968 LOL 😝
You aren't the only one. I wasn't paid by HF, nor given the tools I reviewed by HF.
It's was a joke dude.
@MrSubaru1387 don’t waste ur time here man.
@@assclown8625 Truly an ass clown comment
Appreciate this video man, very well done. Look forward to checking out more of your content and reviews
I'm with the others here on the warranty. I thought it was very distasteful to complain about how HF would handle a warranty based entirely on your idea of what they would do, rather than breaking over and going in to see.
Really unprofessional.
If you break one you can bring that one in or bring the whole set in and they will either give you the size you need out of a set on display or swap the whole set for a new one. Fact!!!!!
Harbor Freight will think nothing of opening up a set and giving you a wrench out of it for warranty. When you go to their tent sales they're always selling partial sets.
This is called private labeling. HF going to a company, selecting the product from hi-five tools, rebranding it with a HF brand in this case ICON, and create their own packaging. So HF could have "engineered" their own packaging lol.
Somebody should teach how to use a wrench.
Idk what made him come up with that warranty conclusion. I work there...you simply bring your broke/defective wrench and we just grab a new set and take it from there. That set becomes marked down as open box. Every 2 weeks it sits in the store the price is knocked down another 20%. Lifetime stuff you don't even need reciepts for because receipts are only valid for 90 days and gone from your account via network so returns won't be abused. Why is the warranty even in question...the icon stuff been out for nearly a year already not weeks...People have bought this stuff.
Also not here to try to fend for them, but if they come up with something that works during manufacturing why fault them for it? How many other tool companies are working with the same usual names behind the scenes and nobody says anything? Seemed like they held up pretty well in the video.
Exactly.
Snap on have the same policy stating that the warranty only applies to the original owner, and you could just as easily be refused the warranty if the rep in your area is an ass.
Right On~!! This guy has some kind of Hard On for HF~!!
Harbor Freight has the right to refuse anything returned, however that is if they felt like it was abused purposely or misuse of the tool of how it was intended. The thing with that is nobody wants to deal with the headache of fighting with a customer...and we look at it like corporates policy's on returns and theft are more like let's burn and flush money down the drain so the employees also have the don't care attitude.
@@RickaramaTrama-lc1ys dude, what is your deal? Are you just here to troll? All your comments are shit.
ihavenousername1805 absolutely it true
As the author of the video was questioned about this in the comments, some clarification is in order. "10.9" is a rating that's applied to Metric Bolts. It's a bit confusing, but metric bolts are typically rated for tensile strength in Mpa (Megapascal), while SAE bolts are commonly rated in PSI. The tensile strength of a 10.9 Metric Bolt is rated at 1,040 Mpa (minimum) and a Grade 8 SAE bolt is rated for 150,000 PSI (minimum). As I find it much easier to associate this specification with common American torque ratings, 1,040 Mpa is equivalent to 150,839.2 PSI, which, obviously, is fairly close to the tensile strength of a Grade 8 SAE bolt. Put simply, Tensile Strength, is the maximum tension-applied load a fastener can support prior to fracture, so a 10.9 Metric Bolt is fairly close to the "strength" of a Grade 8 SAE bolt.
Thanks for the info. What is a good set with the 15° offset and the reversable lever ? Without paying snap-on prices... Also everyone is gonna want some of the smaller and larger wrenches under 10 and above 19. Thanks
I broke my 13 mm took it back to Harbor freight give my phone number they Pulled out a new one out of the Box And said they would put the remaining Set minus the 13 on clearance
I've heard back from lots of people and HF is breaking up sets to do returns on the spot. As to "Original purchaser only". Tekton is the only tool company that explicitly says their tools are "Aways Guaranteed", as in even if you found it on the street. Everyone else, from Snapon on down has the same OP policy. HF does not have a policy of requiring proof of purchase for anything with a lifetime warranty. I do have contacts over at HF and they are all in the engineering side. Sorry man but not only do they do their own testing but they also do design work as well. The outside of the tool might be similar or use MIM parts to save on costs but the metallurgy and interior design is done in SoCal. Don't believe me? Then why was the Icon flex ratchet the only one that had that issue? I also have insiders who send me stuff on the sly. I have published images of tools years before they come out. You spent a long time sleuthing out who makes these but you stopped there, why not finish the job and get the whole story? Speaking of which, you should actually watch my vids and listen to what I actually say before calling me a shill. To many people out here making stuff up just to puff themselves up.
!!! Oh no 🥱 looks like I've poked the bear, but if I'm being honest, he doesn't seem all that ferocious. Are you sure these are the hills you want to die on? 😂😂😂
@@GarnettTools Me ferocious? Nah, all I do is deal in truth. The only people who fear me are fanboys who don't want to face facts.
Mr bear. I must agree with you on the manufacturer’s. Garnett? Decent reviews and I am not knocking you. But a little more research on the mfg before you put on video would be best. Do not take this as disrespect towards you. Because you are the ones doing video not I. Even country folk make fun of my country talk. So I couldn’t be taken seriously on audio or video.
Seriously, facts require evidence. 1st and foremost, I only theorized what the warranty process would be. Literally every thing else you provided in this comment can be proven wrong. MANY actual tool mfg's state "life of the tool" and period point blank, the ICON NON RATCHETING share every single detail with the Carlyle and channellock wrenches made by INFAR. SO AGAIN, are you sure this is the hill you wanna die on?
Research on what? On who makes these tools? I already showed that. Guess what? When ICON comes out with their flex ratcheting double box end wrenches, from the early pictures I've seen, they are gonna be made by KABO and are physically the same as Platinum, Mountain, and Carlyle Versions. Sorry, just because someone who wants to bear the same resemblance as Winnie the Pooh, regurgitates the things a companies marketing department tells him doesn't make it fact.
This video was great man!!! :-) I know I am 3 years late on this Review but it helps a lot man. THANKS again 🙂
My experience with EVERY lifetime warranty is that it is useless once the product is discontinued or the company goes out of business. There is a set of Capri ratcheting wrenches I would love to purchase, but they've been discontinued.
Used to be for $150 you could buy an entire Harbor Fright store.
😂😂😂
What about using a 1/2 icon wrench? Because 1/2 is a tad bit smaller than 13mm to get rid of the play
I have never had to warranty out any Icon wrenches yet as I only have a set of metric stubbys. However, I've had to on occasion, warranty Pittsburgh branded 90°double box wrenches (their non- high polish ones). The employees have always just taken the ones I needed out of another, new set. But I don't know if they do the same for their Icon branded wrenches. The only problem with the Pittsburgh branded wrenches is that sometimes the box part is too thick to fit in tight areas. The newer ones, which at first glance appear identical nevertheless, have improved making the box ends narrower which is a huge improvement for accessing fasteners in tight areas.
You should do video on the Quinn 6pc diamond tip screwdriver set #56198. I just bought a set today and the grip fills awesome. I like the colored ends and the magnetic tip. Thanks good video.
Who gives a crap who “designed” each little thing. If it works great it works great.
Sounds like you are just making some drama over a new tool line. Lets also point out that most all of the other tool lines have them made by a third party manufacturers'. If it is needed it sounds like you could buy an entire additional set if you really needed to replace a single wrench and still be better off the a tool truck wrench. It should also be pointed out that if a wrench became broken it would because of misuse my adding a cheater bar or the like so the tool cant be blamed for that. All in I think it is still a better deal than getting something off of the "Rape Truck" or making payments forever.
Oh yeah, just keep feeding the red dragon.
I love my icon Metric big combo and regular combo wrenches, also have their long handle flex head 1/2 ratchet and it’s also great. Although have to say I got the fixed head 3/8 and I couldn’t get any good luck with it at all replaced four times before I returned and got a snap on
Hello Garnett Tools
I just subscribe to your channel. I appreciate your information. My question to is now that it's been six plus months from your original broadcast. Have you revisited issue with the warranty? Has your original opinion changed? On the tool and or Harbor Freight? Keep up the good work, those of us who use tools daily appreciate your efforts.
10.9 is the grade of metal
You can tell by the way it is...
@@TH3V3RN I've never known bolts to have their size listed on the head. The only way you can tell, and it's only if you have a trained eye for it, is by the thread pitch.
While that true that it is the grade, it's a guaranteed way to know for sure that it's metric, which is the point he was making.
It's the hardness, roughly equal to Grade 8 SAE
Dude you don’t have any idea what you are talking about
😂😂
Solid, comprehensive review. Nice done. Glad I found your channel! 👊
I agree ....Nice done.
Dude, I love how you explain everything. Keep up the great content.
Yes. I went in with a broken one and they pulled it out of a set that was on the shelf and I was on my way.
And the wrenches are just fine!!
They have done me proud.
Add up the lost time and wear and tear and gas to drive to Harbor Freight to warranty their cheap tools and it just does not make sense to buy their cheap garbage.
@@mustangecoboosthpp3869 so how do really feel?? Haha 😂
I like your videos, but this one has a bit too much speculation. They do in fact go over and get you the one wrench you need. From what I've heard, they do not ask for a receipt. I do think that they need to step up their game even more and cary individual sockets and wrenches in the store. I feel like they would sell a ton. Probably a lot of shoplifting at that point, but a lot of their stuff is locked up now anyway.
I don't know about the icon set, but they have pulled a wrench from a set to replace one for me. It was one of the lower end ratcheting wrench sets. The 10mm, whole mechanism fell out of the wrench. They broke a set, handed me a replacement, no questions asked. I asked what they were going to do with the now incomplete set. They put it on the "bargain" table at the front of the store.
Damn solid review!!! One of the best Ive seen since @realtoolreviews was dropping em! Good job 👍🏼
Thanks, that's much appreciated 👍🏾
Really appreciate you tracking down the original manufacturer that's nice knowledge to have because if they're basically the same as other brands and I want the set I'll just buy whoever has got it for the best price assuming the warranties are the same too.
Yes that is precisely why I do that
That's why i use Tekton Tools. Tried and true warranty, great tools, and their ratcheting wrenches come 8mm-19mm no skips for $80
Those are great tools!
I got gear wrench brand they are good.
Great demo that’s why I bought gear wrench bolt bitter sockets and isn’t it great that Lowe’s has individual sockets and wrenches , etc for both craftsman and kobalt.. who keeps those disposable receipts 5 yrs later when you need em I don’t even bother anymore . Ex Snap On industrial sales rep back in the eighties . Peace out !
Amazing research you earned a subscriber for your due diligence.
Been a mobile mechanic for body shops for over 7 years anything from frame swaps to cradles to motor and tranny pulls. I don’t have the luxury of tool trucks, therefore harbor freight is local never had an issue with a warranty rarely issues with tools. Honestly I have more broken snap on stuff that takes more time to warranty then anything.
Finally, a wrench I can use to tighten bolts inside my vice....
This is the only place I've seen the info about who actually makes these tools. That's great info. I'm considering Icon chrome SAE socket since I've got some gaps in my SAE set. About to work on a classic truck so I'll be needing SAE for once.
Great video, will definitely be subscribing for more content like this 🤟🏻
Can you do a review on the Milwaukee Wrench Set versus the Icon Wrench Set? I was given the Milwaukee 15 Piece Metric (Black Tray) and Milwaukee 15 Piece (Red Tray) free. But before I was given it, I was going to go grab some Icon Wrench Set.
Obviously you don't know how harbor freight works... or the tool world in general. Point 1... when you warranty a tool from a set, they will open a new set and give you the one you need. Point 2... harbor freight, and most tool manufacturers for that matter, work with companies like hi five to build tools to their specs (Mac tools are made by Stanley black and decker) and lastly but most importantly just because a tool manufacturer makes a bunch of similar tools for multiple vendors does not mean that they are all the same... often they will pick a design they like, and then opt to upgrade materials or finishes to make a more durable or more attractive tool.
Whatever helps you sleep at night bud
@@GarnettTools That make your shady arse butthurt?!? You edited the video for the “icon turn”, why? Because you’re a sellout!
@@OGRH agreed the man is a shill! Trying his best to do the "Chris Fix" hand movements when describing the item but without the honesty.
Thanks for the video good job on the video good to see someone asking the question we all have how they are going to do the warranty thanks
Thanks bud, lots are responding about the warranty and the general consensus is that Harbor freight is replacing ICON TOOLS easily.
I bought a set of the SAE set and was told “bring the set back and we will replace it all” I bought a set of the Pittsburgh about 15 yeas ago and never had any issue. Only one wrench open end is stretched out. Will see about the new set. Having to wait for the Snap On truck to come by and the extra $250 plus doesn’t seem worth it. Then you have to hope the truck has what you need in stock. HF is close to the house so is not a issue. Been working on pumps for over 22 years. Will make my own mind in the real world not with a bolt on a vice. The extra length is grate and posible I use the box end so time will tell!!!
I love when people knock tools from HF. I’m starting to think I should buy a lotto ticket because I never seem to have issues with their tools nor their warranties. What people don’t seem to understand is HF is not a brand they’re a retailer. Like Home Stupid or Lowlifes. (Home Depot and Lowe’s). The biggest problem with tools is basic consumer psychology: “if it’s inexpensive or even a reasonable deal then it must be garbage and suck!” These are the same people that buy the tool anyways (let’s say it’s a cordless drill) then proceed to use it as a hammer and act surprised when it doesn’t hold up to “simple tasks”🙄. These are the same people that give low ratings on the HF website product reviews page which no matter how bad HF STILL posts it! You see, 11 times out of 10 it’s operator error and the tool is just fine. Unfortunately most consumers are also retarded and shouldn’t be allowed around anything that exists including life! BUT, the same goes for many of the people that work at ANY retailer! Including HF (though again I have yet to have a bad experience with. Wherever there are humans there is a chance of encountering assholes. These assholes always excel in making everything they associate with seem terrible! Example: I NEVER ask for help from ANYONE that works at Home Depot with anything! Apparently there is ZERO quality control when it comes to their hiring process. In fact it appears they go out of their way to hire people that have no idea what wood is made of, the difference between a metric screw and a roll of carpet, or which isle the gas powered windows are on top of! It’s embarrassing to watch them attempt to answer simple questions like what their name is or if they work there! ANYWAYS! Tools don’t have brains....neither do 90% of the people that should’nt be allowed around them.😂
You must not have bough anything that said PITTSBURGH
I've been buying HFT for about 15 years and I think I've probably only had to warranty out a handful of things. I used the tools at home, on a race team and in a dealership. I've abused most of them too lol.
Chinese junk. Apparently you've never used Pittsburgh wrenches or their power tools.
Glad to see some real people on these comments that have been there done that~!
@@RickaramaTrama-lc1ys dude, shut the fuck up.
Great film, Garnett. I stepped a foot onto the ICON bandwagon back in February when I bought the metric, non-ratcheting, stubby wrench set. I wasn't using the set and I always found a way to work around it. A month ago I took the wrench set back to my local HF and made an exchange for the 25" breaker bar. I made a short film about it on my channel.
Curious to know how the exchange process went, did you have receipt? did they look up your phone number?
@@GarnettTools I didn't have an issue. I was still within the 90-day time frame required by the return/exchange process on the website and the back of the receipt. No I didn't have the receipt, the print was faded out. I called the store, told the cashier my issue with the receipt, gave my phone number to the cashier and the purchase was still in the computer when I bought the set in February. The last time I was in HF a week ago the exchanged wrench set is still on the "open box" shelf waiting for someone else to buy them.
Since it appears to be the same wrench as a DeWalt or other brand, I wonder what the cost saving is? Is it only a lack of iconic brand or is there maybe some clearance or quality control process that’s left out to keep costs down. Assuming the metal is the same and the ratchet hardware is the same, it could be a coating or other above stated attribute.
Thanks for the review and information.
Thanks for genuine good detective work on this and the wrench comparisons were on point!
No problem, it's what I do bro!
People can talk all the shit they want about harbor freight tools but fact is many of them are as good as snappy or any other truck brand. I have a good mixture of tools of all brands and truth it most of them will get the job done over and over again. Don’t get me wrong though there is a great pleasure pride in owning some of the iconic brand (Snapon) just take care of your tools and buy the best you can afford and you will be fine.
Just don't get Pittsburgh I've had too many of them break and it's not worth me having to go to HF to warranty the tools every other week. Though I do use the icon tools professionally and have no complaints a little pricey for HF frieght but still great value
You can really only say they are just as good after getting out the micrometer, hardness tester and electron microscope to check the grain structure and metallurgy etc. The devil is in the detail after all.
For example, for cheaper tools, the broaches (the tooling for the machining the size) tend to be used for longer between replacement so the tolerance doesn't tend to be as tight. Or the steel quality or heat treatment might not be quite as exacting. Reducing the number of items rejected by quality control is one way to cut costs after all.
Sockets and wrenches made in Taiwan have quite a big range in price and quality. While the top stuff may be just as good as the best stuff made in USA, France or Germany and the tooling might be replaced just as often on the Taiwanese Facom production line as the French Facom production line, there's also cheaper stuff made to lower tolerances as well.
Thanks for always giving honest reviews! Keep em coming
No problem, I most certainly will
Great video, extremely helpful. Thank you, Sir!
broke my icon torx bit they opened a new box for the t25 bit socket
I had to exchange an ICON 1/4 inch flex head ratchet. It was super easy and hassle free. They asked me what was wrong with it and I told them it wasn't working correctly. That's all they needed to know, didn't press the issue and gave me a new one right off the shelf. ef waiting for the Snap-On guy to show up once a week or twice a month even when I can just go to the HF after work..
Thanks for the video. I just picked up a set @20% off . But after this I think I'm headed back up north about 40 miles to return em. I'll wait till Black Friday and get a set of tekton. I want up to 32 anyway. This was just what I needed to kick the little tool devel off my shoulder.
Harbor Freight has some nice tools but they're pricing themselves out of my comfort zone.
I don't go there as often as I used to.
Their quality has most certainly gone up substantially tho. I have bought plenty of this icon stuff and it rates right up there with snap on
If price is your main driving factor, then be prepared to “settle” for quality. If ICON is out of your price range, you can’t go wrong with Pittsburgh Pro line either. You have to ask yourself the question “Am I willing to drop $40 on a ratchet that will hold up or pay less for one that may fail?” A $10 ratchet is priced that way for a reason.
2:50 a little tip for not breaking a vise.
Put the bolt more toward the center of the jaws.
Don't worry I do the same thing all the time before correcting myswlf and moving it🤣
I Cringed badly~!!!
Don’t know about the icon line specifically but I know with the other lifetime warranty lines that harbor freight carries if you return a tool that’s part of a set they will pull that tool out of a set they have in store and just put the rest of their set on the clearance rack missing an item.
Looking to get a roll cart and I'm not wanting to pay an arm and a leg. A top big drawer and maybe 2-4 small drawers underneath. Any recommendations
Hater video with warranty as the issue and proven wrong over the last 3 years with no edit... Uniformed shilling for an amazon affiliate link - lol.
Uninformed commenter not knowing how TH-cam works, 🤣 the edit is a pinned comment you glossed over go cry elsewhere
@@GarnettToolsyou're a clown
@@luke8222 sounds like your butthurt 😂
Wondering why, when you tried the first coupe of wrenches, you had your hand choked up on the wrench, but when you used the Icopy, you had your hand way out on the end, for more leverage?
Ok, let's see you do better. Don't like the video? Don't come back to my channel then. Or you could continue commenting and help it grow. Makes no difference to me.
Also, nice job on making assumptions about how I work professionally, I never attacked you personally, glad to know you are willing to stoop to such a level. Good luck with all that hate!
@@GarnettTools , I was simply asking a question as I observed something out of the ordinary with your methods. Why are you jumping down my throat for pointing out some key differences in your testing method. Don't get defensive when you put yourself on the world platform and have someone or some people ask you questions.
@pittattak While I agree that his testing procedures are a little off kilter, I don't see any reason to go after this man and his education of lack thereof. We can critique his methods in which we can see. I have never seen him work on a vehicle, so I don't know his quality of work completed.
@@jmackinjersey1 those responses were to the other individual, WHO for the record was unwilling to respond to me within our existing conversation. This person had to find someone else who might potentially "agree" with him to justify his/her online outrage.
Well put together video Sir. 🍻 Subscribed
I bought the regular metric wrench set an it doesn’t even have the grip in the open end I’ve used them I kinda like them so far. Keep the great video’s
Yes, wish I would have got the regular open end. The open end play in the anti slip is definitely a disappointment but not enough to return em.
We have a few HF stores around town and almost all the employees are kind, helpful and willing to honor whatever warranty your particular product has even if you're slightly out of your time frame.
That said, I've had a number of Pittsburgh Pro tools for 7+ years of use and haven't broken anything yet 3ven on some pretty tough jobs.
Ditto~!!
All should also note that ratchet wrenches are designed to remove a already loosened nut or bolt.
You first need to break free a nut or bolt with a proper tool then use a ratchet wrench.
Lmfao are you even real 🤣 what are you going to tell us to do next not use a flat head screw driver as a pry bar or a chisel lol
@@infernoeagles5812 I see it it all the time.
Tool boxes full of broken tools.
Lmfao ohh I have too but sometimes life is easier when you use tools wrong 😂
@@infernoeagles5812hahah
Great video I just subscribed to your channel after your update on icon and the HF bs
Great review. I was very interested in some of these wrenches and the review almost sold me on them until you got to the warranty. Very good point about how that would work. Harbor freight has finally realized that they could step up their tool game and become competitive with the big boys in the tool sales market. They have a few things to work out but once they do, watch out "Strap-On" !!
This review is a joke, dont worry about hf warranty, i quit using snap an mac ratchets because they wont honor warranty, cant say about hf, havent broke 1 yet, using their wrenches, sockets an ratchets with no issue
Y’all do know he click baited yall 🤦🏾♂️
Nothing BUT click bait.
So the icon turns the nut, doesn’t mar the head, and you complain about the wrench 😳🤦🏻♂️
Nice honest review man, great camera work too
I want to see the ratchet end tested to distrocktion. Thats the test. Thanks for this information it helps make an informed decision.
That’s exactly what they do. Rip out what you need from the pack and exchange it for you. That’s why you always see packs on sale missing things. Pretty good deal to me.
Harbor Freight Tools are much better now than a few years ago and of course their tools are still good tools in most cases.
They look good and from your test I wouldn’t be worrying about warranty too much anyway. Can’t get them in the U.K. anyway, but my issue would be the size range. I regularly use 6mm-36mm on fork trucks, even my most used sizes would be 8mm-24mm, then 27,30 and 32. so they should look at adding a few sizes here, or have a large size set. That would appeal to everyone who doesn’t fix cars.
I do also wish they had larger sizes. They do have larger sizes in the non ratcheting tho
Great video with excellent detailed information.
the answer for the warranty is yes, they are going to grab a wrench from one of the sets and hand it to you. Then theyll take the remainder of the set and put it on the open box or clearance shelf.
The warranty was no problem for me they open a brand new set and gave me what I ask for
Yeah a handful are saying the same thing, I hope they continue the trend.
@@GarnettTools They always have done this. And in the case of my store, they will put the tool set back on the shelf missing one item lol.
Yeah with their other cheaper tools, these are decidedly more expensive. id be surprised if they keep doing it
Would be nice to have a deviation gauge at the end to tell us how much actual force is needed.
Nice video! I was wondering when you were going to review Icon wrenches. I've been eyeing them but never gave much thought to how they would replace one wrench. When you doing a video about cross contamination?
Thanks bro, plenty around here are saying warranty process is fine. And I'll be sure to make a vid next time a subway employee tells me he can't put mayo on it first 😂
@@GarnettTools Nice!
Nice catch on the selector lever on the Hi-Five homepage. Just so happened to be the same as the one on ICON. I'm pretty certain that if we went to Hi-Five as buyers, they'd provide a dozen different selector switch designs for us to choose from.
You must've changed your mic? ...sound different than usual, haha.
Yeah I've noticed that on both Hi-five's and Infar's site there are multiple selector options. And yeah this mic is distorting guess I'll have to place it further away from me. Just figuring out which mic works with my phone was a challenge
Try harder
So am I the only one that noticed how he struggled so hard to turn the other wrenches but with the icon he didn't put any effort into it at all? I know length helps but seems fake as hell to me
Yupp. Looked to me like the vise may have been looser but you could find fault in any online review whether it’s real or perceived.
Regarding the ICON warranty on one particular wrence in a set- If you have a question about the warranty, why wouldn't you simply ask the store manager what to do in one wrench in a set breaks and for which they do not sell individual pieces?
As always, great video. On the warranty, I cannot speak for what their official policy is, but we have bought several sets of almost all the hand wrench sets Icon makes for our professional shops. After breaking a wrench(possibly abusing a wrench with cheater, but not admitting guilt here, LOL), we took the Icon wrench back for warranty. The manager took one out of a set on the shelf and replaced it without question. Now I know that's how they handle most of their other branded hand tool warranties, but was not sure if that is common with the Icon line. But then again, we have a great relationship with that HF location. Setting up our newest location, most of our cabinets are US Gen and tools are Icon, not to mention all of our monthly consumables are from there. In other words, we spent many thousands of dollars there, so maybe the manager was more motivated to help us on this Icon warranty.
Yeah I'm getting a lot of responses about the ease of warranty, glad people made it that far in the video but maybe warranty is generally a non issue for these. If that's the case it definitely trumps Carlyle's process
My Harbor frieght told me all i have to do is bring in the broken tool and they would replace the tool not the whole set
Subscribed 2 seconds after you said you aren’t on harbor freights pay roll. Tired of seeing biased reviews. 👍
Thanks bud, happy to have ya aboard,👍🏾
I just returned my metric 3/8 impact swivel socket set :(, I didn't want to, but they had an awful bump when using them on an angle, I bought the stubby ratcheting wrenches thou, and are pretty good for tight spaces for the money I think I got a good buy with the stubby, but for the long ones I can't think of a better option than the tekton 6mm to 24mm reversible ratcheting wrenches
I was at a harbor freight today and saw one of the icon wrench sets with a missing wrench and the set was rewrapped in plastic sold as open box. I’m thinking they opened a set to give someone the missing wrench under warranty.
Yes they did just that~!! Great for someone on a budget to pick this set up~!
A good review would have included a review of the warranty process, since you stressed it so much as a negative. Remove any perceived bias from your videos and your credibility will increase exponentially. Check out Project Farm and Real Tool Reviews as examples and you'll see what I mean. Just trying to be helpful. 👍
Nail on the head Bro and show me in complete agreement~!
Lol...imagine Todd from Project Farm responding to commenters like this dude does.
Also, Project Farm doesn't begin the test with preconceived results in mind.
BR Harris Totally agree.