Icon ratchet wrenches vs. Snap On ratchet wrenches very surprising results at the end. We test to see where harbor freight exceeded expectation and where Snap on fell short.
I work as a industrial millwright (where the money is at) 20 years experience swinging wrenches. Big wrenches. While Harbor Freight tools are not Snap on tools, They do a fine job. I used to be a snap on guy when I wrenched on cars. But when I moved to industrial work, I started carrying cheap tools with me because my toolbox wasn’t next to me all the time and a lot of times other hands were using my tools or I was carrying things to other locations. That being said, I slowly started bringing my snap on tools home to use in my garage and Harbor freight tools started populating my professional bag/box, mainly because if something got lost, I wouldn’t give a shit. I have not been on a snap on truck in over 5 years now. Great tools. But honestly way too overpriced for what you get. I’m sure I’ll get flak for this but whatever. I picked up a icon set not long ago and they do just what I need. For me a open end on a wrench of for rapid on off twisting of a already lose fastener that’s still more than finger tight. Otherwise there’s better tools for the job, like a closed end wrench or 6 point socket. This test is great and shows the difference, but if I saw someone do that in the field with a open end, I would call them a butcher as it destroys the fastener. Being a mechanic isn’t how expensive your box is, or the name on a wrench, it’s knowing how to use a tool properly and knowing the right tool for a job. Great review though. Nice job guys.
Yep. You are right. Anybody using that kind of torque on an open-end wrench is bound to round over a nut. He should have been using the box end to simulate a real world situation. That's what everyone else would have done. Also, Snap On uses the flank drive just for these situations, where the pressure is needed at the middle of the surface of the nut rather than the corner.
Thanks for the tip on using an open end wrench "" for quick turning not torque "" this video is irrelevant , it should be entitled ""How not too use an open end wrench "" smh
Does the Millwright union allow members to use foreign made tools now? They used to require all tools to be made in USA and this was verified by the hall. Anyone using foreign tools would find their tools welded to an I beam.
@@MIKEROADDOG There's a reason why the open end exists, and it's because you can't always get a socket or box end around the fastener. If you want quick turning then use an impact socket. Imagine this guy's demo except the long threaded stud is screwed into another component so you can't get the box end over it and there isn't enough clearance for a flare nut wrench. The type of arrangement in the video is exactly what the open end is for. If you're using a wrench at all you are already on Plan B, because the first choice is sockets. Even with sockets the first choice is electric or pneumatic impact or ratchet, then hand ratchet.
Icon is better then snap on just off price along . Fucking hammer is a hammer a wrench is a wrench been working with tools for 23 years and I have some snap on and it’s good but since Icon came out I use it and it’s almost the same
Gotta be honest as someone who had all snap on & cornwell wrenches my whole wrench drawer is becoming Icon. Got that set, the stubbies, the double flex offset wrenches also picked up a mid length set to keep in my roll cart. And some anti slips. In total I have about 50 icon wrenches, all different styles. So far only two have broken, mind it was either from me striking it with a hammer or lowering the car on it to break a bolt free, and they were swapped out no questions asked. May be my experience but I got tired of breaking a tool truck wrench and waiting weeks for a replacement/repair. Maybe my tool guys just suck idk? But I highly recommend the icons and I abuse them on a daily basis
The reason they sell the non flank drive wrenches is to tighten chrome or anodized fasteners like AN fuel lines and not leave marks in them from the extra bite they give.
Yes, like a custom / show motorcycle engine and the chrome bolts / nuts are part of the aesthetic appearance. Dings or blemishes on the nut or bolt head would be unacceptable.
When I win the lottery, a snap on truck will show up in my driveway. Until then, Icon will do just fine. Great video. Thanks for your time in making it.
There is reason to have the non flank drive version, as they do damage the fastener at times even on the snap-on ones. Now for most people this is not an issue. As I build classic cars where visuals can and do matter, the un-cut version defiantly has its place.
Thats a good point, I have yet to have someone complain about bolt finish being damaged but probably will happen now that you have said something haha.
@@AutoRepairTips For standard repair it really isn't a big deal, I work in the weird part of the industry that it does matter. Looking right becomes more important then the work being done fast.
I realize this is an old thread but another point to not have the flank drive is aviation. You definitely don’t want to damage the fastener with the flank drive. Then again we are never tightening a fastener to the point of rounding it out. Great video comparison though! 👍🏼
The icon are a great value to new techs. As a new tech I bought the basics to get started for value (think Tekton, icon, husky, gear wrench, etc.). Overall they will work for basic stuff. For more rounded fasteners and day to day use...I vote Snap on. The quality is superior, especially in the metal vitality. For starting our however, Icon are good. For standard wrenches, the next sets I'll buy will be Wright tools. Their anti-slip seems the best imo. Anyway, Icon took a good jab at Snap on for price vs quality. But not many things beat Snap on overall
Im not going to begrudge people for buying snap on wrenches, once you see a wrench fail you just arent going to be able to trust it. That said wrenches are about the only snap on tool anyone would ever really need. Cant think of much else and yet i see people using snap on prybars, screwdrivers, hammers, power tools, yada yada, its insanity.
I was in a bind and needed another open-ended wrench IMMEDIATELY, so I went to the store and got a set of Crescent black wrenches. They have the same ends on them as the Snap On. I use them with a wrench extension bar and they fit into the slot perfectly. They're my new favorite open-ended wrenches. Try them out. Pleasantly surprised.
Old school mechanic here, toward the end of your video, when your comparing the Anti slip Icon ratchet wrench with the Icon non anti slip. Overall in reality its not a scam. The difference is that the non anti slip is so that you don't dent or scratch up a shinny nut on a chrome part when unfastening or losening like something on a motorcycle, some customers are quite picky on custom thing especially if the part is chrome. And the anti slip, well thats for like tuff rusty bolts or nuts that are to lossen. That are like underneath are vehicle or engine bay.
Snap On is always the best quality but is it worth the price. Some people will notice that with Icon you stood straight on the fastener while with Snap On you turned sideways to apply further leverage & force which makes a difference as well Most tools will do 95% of a tradesmans needs if used properly. But if you turn wrenches daily in tge automotive field, you definitely need tge better quality tools . They do grip better & last for tge long haul
Nope. I was a heavy equipment mechanic in the Air Force and I stripped all 3 sizes of ratchets after we switched from classic Craftsman to Snap Off and the dealer tried to deny replacement claims every time. To hell with them.
The true test of a tools value is how well it holds up over the years. There are a lot of good tools out there pick what works for your needs and budget. Many of my snap on tools are sitting in a us general cart. Nice cart from harbor freight and an amazing value
I have the icon anti slip wrenches... 1 I would never use a open end wrench to tighten a fastener to that extreme 2 I think the icon anti slip is designed for fastener removal.
They make the non-Flank Drive wrench because in some applications people don’t want their fasteners all chewed up and they don’t abuse the shit out of the wrenches and have to strip the bolt out
@@delusion_904 dude, Snap On makes wrenches that are not flank drive plus with no marks in the open end at all the closed end is tapered so it uses the center of the wrench. Yes, but they have open and wrenches that are not flank drive.
@@toddthomas4542 negative GHOST RIDER, go back and read my original comment your clearly don’t know how to listen. Up until the 60’s they’ve used flank drive design 🤣 and the “markings” or teeth is what makes the wrench FLANK DRIVE PLUS
No one use open end to tighten the nut, let along put that much force on a nut. Snap on able to turn but chew up the nut, the nut will eventually need to be replace. But good video as to demonstrate 👍
6:25... That particular set doesn't have the flank drive but icon wrenches do come with a version of flank Drive. It just so happens. Those ones do not. But you can get it. This is apples to oranges not Apples to Apples.
I bought Silver Eagle (Matco imported brand) because they were cheap, then I learned about flank drive wrenches. While it does work great, and it's a great invention, my dad taught me how to not need it a long time ago- don't break em loose with the open end! Just my 2 cents y'know. But like this guy said, I like how much leverage you get with the long Snap-On wrenches.
Only broke 2 icon ratcheting wrenches. Broke the 18 mm because I was impacting on the other end of the bolt (to be fair they were my only wrenches at the time) and on the 14 mm the switch broke off because it got stuck behind a flex plate on a locked up engine trying to get the torque converter off. 3 years deep with my set and nothing but praise from me.
I wish the tool companies would have a store as well. It sucks needing a warranty and i have to wait a few days for the tool truck to arrive and even then it usually has to be ordered in. With icon i dont have this issue as there are many locations.
Sorry, but I'd NEVER pay Snap-On prices for tools. To me, they were just a status symbol for mechanics. With all the tools offered today with lifetime warranties, there is NO reason to make that company rich off of your sweat and labor.
Every time I go on the Snap on truck, I feel like I'm being stupid. They make great tools, but the pricing is ridiculous. I do like buying American made when I can, but damn it hurts. I can afford it, but I'm not sure I should.
I bought a cresent tool set from the gas station on clearance for $30 and rebuilt 2 car engines. Broke the 1/4 drive, but the set still works great. I wish i had the icon.
The ICON wrenches look decent quality. Main issue I have with ICON is if they will be around in 5 years. Harbor Freight constantly changing brands. I can still get parts for my 25 year old Snap On ratchet.
The real question is how many tools have you really broken? Most cases are caused by misuse. At any rate the Taiwan tool company that re labels ICON had been around for many years. Wouldn’t worry me one bit. But I don’t break tools so there’s that.
You mis tested the icon with the wrench facing the wrong direction at 11:30 when you said it's not going to tighten the rounded edge, then you used the snap on in the correct direction. I'm not sure how much of a difference it made, but that needs to be pointed out.
I like Snap On tools and I do have a few but my budget just won't allow me to have a full toolbox of basic stuff from Snap On and have found myself filling the gap with Harbor Freight tools their stuff holds up and besides the lifetime warranty on Pittsburg tools and I think Icon? also works a lot like Craftsman you break a tool take it back to any Harbor Freight Store and get another tool swapped out walk back out the door that's hard to beat and I live close to two different Harbor Freight stores it saves me lots of money on tools with a good warranty
Ok I know this is an old video but the reason for the non flank drive AND flank drive for me i have both just my flank drive in racheting an non flank drive in standard box end the reason for making both is the flank drive will kinda butcher the fastener up so if you're doing like brake line work dont use the flank drive hope this clears things up
Snap on is better hands down. Thing is, you're going to pay for those tools. Yeah they will last, but you'll pay for it. Icon may not be Snap on level but they get the job done and Harbor Freight's warranty is really good. If you have problems swapping tools, then you drive to another store.
Buy a wrench that is likely to round out bolts? I would rather have my wrench flex from over torquing and leave the possibility to remove the bolt, then completely round the head off, once the head is completely round your job is infinitely harder sometimes.... kind of a gimmick if you ask me. Common sense sometimes isn't so common, and Snap-On truly believes you are an idiot to sell you on it.
it actually makes perfect sense. a smooth open end isn’t going to mar the fastener. if you don’t need the flank drive, don’t use it. i have snap-on in both
Yes, the snap ons had better grip, but in practice, you would never tighten a nut up that much, because it stretched and damaged the bolt, thereby weakening it beyond specification.
Hmmmm, still don't think Snap On is worth the money. There's a really good video that compares Icon Torque Wrench that has a lifetime warranty, for only $100 bucks or so and it beat the Snap On torque wrench that's like $450 in just about every test they did. Really opened my eyes. In fact, it convinced me Icon is def worth the price and just as good.
I rarely use them. Only when required, to back off a stud's nut or to get into a tight clearance. That's it. I'm not spending more than 150 per set. They better be extended, too, for that price.
I mostly hear about the tool truck comes to you ,well that might of ment something 20 years ago nowadays the trucks are obsolete, i took a picture of a broken tekton tool on monday ,had a new one in mail box Wednesday. If i had to pick the "perfect wrench" it would be wright tools wrenchs . snap on second .
I'm sure the icons have thier place but I really do believe snap ons wrenches are the better tool. I had the XL matco wrenches and loved them, they had a knock off flank drive end and grabbed really well. Snap on guy offered a trade for some flank drive plus wrenches, he demonstrated the hardness on the snap on by hitting the matco wrench with the snap on. The matco had a big dent, the flank drive, no damage.. better tools..hand tools I'd go with snap on, everything else, harbor freight or Amazon.
@@ruvimmishchuk8337 so you believe in no cases can it ever make up the price difference? If you value your labor at 10 bucks an hour and all you ever work on is your own lawn mower, I guess you’re right.
Also the snap on didnt give up until you let go, and forced it quickly. I dont know why you chose to do this, but if you had applied even consitant pressure like you did the Icon, I bet you would have ended up with much different results.
Owning over $50 K of Snap On tools I stopped buying Snap On because of warranty and have switched to Icon. I have over $40 K in Snap On boxes and have switched over to the Icon Boxes. They are all made in the same factory. Wake up and smell the coffee.
Absolute bullshit. Snap On toolboxes are made in the USA. HF boxes are made in red china. I've never had an issue with Snap On warranty. Snap On just warrantied 3 wrench's for me and didn't even want the old wrench's back, they let me keep them.
Yeah? Because you can tour the facility in Kenosha Wisconsin that builds ALL Snap On tool boxes. Funny thing is, there ain’t a GODDAMN thing coming out of that factory EXCEPT Snap On. The proof is there to see, but most people just believe bullshit. The world we live in.
If you replace the motor in a Ferrari with a Chevy 350, is it still a Ferrari? Looks the same! If you take the boron out of the snap on steel, you’ll have a harbor freight tool. Snap on is without a doubt the king of hand tools. If you don’t believe that, do more research. Whether they’re worth it to you or not is the only question.
The Chrome Boron steel that Snap On uses is without a doubt the best steel in the industry. Harbor Freight uses Chrome Vanadium, which is the worst steel for wrench's, sockets, etc. The Chrome Boron steel that Snap On uses has a Rockwell hardness of 52. The Chrome Vanadium is less than 45. The Snap On steel is harder, tougher and stronger. If you take the Snap On wrench and the HF wrench and smack the edges together the Snap On will literally put big dents in the HF wrench while the Snap On won't even have a blemish on the chrome, let alone damage to the steel. The superior steel produces a wrench that can handle the Snap On design and produces a better, longer lasting wrench.
Love Snap-on tool. Expensive and overpriced compare to years ago. But I still buy them. One stripped nut or bolt with cheap tool, might turn into a nightmare. Just think about that. But I do think some of this Snap-on copy cat are getting really good. Yes I do have some of them. For some of those negative comments on Snap-on tools you have no idea until you work in a auto shop. Repairing you own car at home is not the same. Once a while you come across a hard son of a bitch nut in a tight place. Stripped that nut and the engine has to come out.
Auto Repair Tips I have full sets of wright grips and the beams are much better than snap on. The length is standard on the wrights but I prefer a standard length wrench. There have been times the snap ons were too long.
@@Peep18m I also have the wrightgrips 2.0 and snap on. Comparing them the Wright wrenches are definitely the best value for the money and damn near or equal to snap on flank drive
I use the Icon anti-slip grip combination wrenches and love them I’ve had a few master techs/ diesel techs who have used the snap on flank drive wrenches like the icon ones better. Especially since it starts at 6 and goes to 19mm
fortunately i have snap on and sk tools from my father he was a machinist for general motors for 34 yrs when i started out bad tools didnt have a warranty today even the many foreign made wrenches etc come with warranty and if a tool gets the job done and you the mechanic etc think what you are using is a good tool then i guess it is i know old timers that had mostly craftsman when they were usa made so it always comes down to what you can afford and quality
First of all blank Drive is for stubborn Fasteners not rounded off fasteners I've been using snap on blank Drive wrenches for years the one thing I can say is that when a blank Drive grabs a fastener it will not let go
icons break the fastener snap ons break the piece of work. subjective. is the job done? will it hold? im sure icons are perfectly fine or serviceable- almost never use an open end for torque anyway
@@ronaldjohnson1474 this isn’t real world testing. I’m talking about every day use over several years. I’ve used many different brands and the snap ons have always worked the best.
You’re comparing an anti slip wrench to a non anti slip wrench. Icon makes those same wrenches in anti slip for $10 more. This test was inconclusive 🤷🏽♂️
I got the same icon set but with the anti-slip. I don't trust the normal open end anymore. I wish they went the anti-slip design that they have on the ratcheting ones with the normal combination set. Almost all carlyle ratcheting wrenches comes with anti-slip on their ratcheting wrenches.
I understand the point this video is trying to make, but I feel the test metric is just weird. The whole time, most of what he’s doing is tightening down nuts, way past the torque rating anyone would ever use. If you need to tighten a nut or bolt down to a torque that is rounding off the edges, you either have an extremely cheap wrench or a very cheap nut/bolt. No manufacturer would make a part that requires the ridiculous amount of torque he’s putting on these bolts to tighten them down. And I’m pretty sure that’s not even the design/intent of these wrenches. I could be wrong, but I feel the whole reason most people would/should buy these is to loosen, not tighten nuts or bolts. I haven’t worked on any cars that require 4K ft pounds or torque on a bolt, but I’ve worked on plenty that needed some extra grip to take a nut/bolt loose. I’d like to have seen a test where he compared both loosing stuck bolts, rusted bolts, over torqued bolts, rounded off bolts, etc. Ya know, real world things you’d actually run into. I feel the Icon would have fared much better in a test that I feel these wrenches were designed for, imho
I'm going to point out that if you're ever putting this much torque with an open-end wrench you probably have the wrong tool for the job and I don't think that extra half a turn is worth a whole another set of Icon wrenches
An interesting transition is taking place with HF. Several people that used to work for Snap On have moved to HF. You can see the quality improving and with HF's insistence about price point, we are going to see some changes happening. Fun stuff.
If HF really wanted to improve their quality they would start by using quality steel. Instead they use Chrome Vanadium steel in everything from their Pittsburgh line to the Icon line. That's why you see the wrench spread and round the fastener in this video, cheap, inferior steel. You can't make a quality tool with crappy steel.
@shark61111 Agreed. There is a grey area when it comes to price versus quality. Are HF worth the money for a professional? Maybe. Depends on warranty and starting quality. Can it get me through several years of hard work. Then, yeah. Might be worth it. Knowing I can turn it in if it breaks. I can pay 10 times the amount and not replace it, but how often do I use it? That is the grey area. Even if I use it every single day for years, have a bad day and get a new one... I have had so many tools that fit that description and I just have to buy them again. We all have our limits.
@@piercehawke8021 HF is using the same shit tier chrome vanadium steel in their Icon line as their Pittsburgh line. Half the stuff that Snap On sells is continuously on back order, as in they can't keep their tools in stock. Trust me, their not worried about HF.
They the reason snap on gets a pass is if I get a good price on a used or open boxed snap on not from from their their trucks no one wants to warranty them anymore. Snap on turned it's back on previous owners and want proof it was a recent purchase. No longer will they be tools passed down to other generations
I’m sure a cheap set from Taiwan will do just fine for most people.. But to be frank.. I’d rather support my own country even if it is 1000x more expensive to do so. A company that has served the American public- even during the Great Depression by giving loans to struggling business people. It would have been easy and cheap to off shore that business overseas years and years ago with the rest of them, yet they have not. I’ll continue supporting them until or if that changes.
I’m not sure if I’m seeing things or not but it looks like he did not put the icon on the nuts all the way.. go back and watch the video there appears to be a larger gap on the backside of the rich
Born 100 Years Late I was gonna comment this too. That’s a fact bro. I noticed that too. Granted, there was more play in the fit of the icon than the snap on so I’m sure there would still be similar results but I guarantee it wouldn’t be as big of a difference as portrayed in this video.
Oh calm down man. I don't think harbor freights trying to deceive people I think that they produced product with a designated SKU number, and then they rere-engineered snap-on design "not a typo" and that product got a whole new sku number but the good folks at harbor freight being smart enough to not want to just throw away money is probably ethically selling off overstock and isn't currently manufacturing that older product. The boxes are clearly marked and it is at least partially a consumers responsibility to know what they are purchasing. However tell your young friend that I believe he might be able to take his in and upgrade to the newer model at the cost of the difference which you say in this case is $0 so he could essentially just exchange them at zero cost. Don't take my word for it that's just what I hear.
The very few “superior” benefits to a SO set of wrenches in my opinion don’t begin to outweigh the price difference! How can anyone really afford buying from SO anymore?
A really interesting video, and clearly the snap-on wrench's grip is phenomenal, but in the real world, would you really need to apply so much torque until the bolt starts to stretch?
Removing stubborn fasteners is the more likely real world application. The test was done by tightening fasteners so it could be repeatable and so the limits of performance could be encountered.
I mean. I understand the test. But who in their right mind would use the open end of a wrench to turn THAT hard on a nut? I mean the Snap-on grip is clearly superior, but this isn't a real-world accurate test. I'll take the Icon over the Snap-on any day, especially considering that they also have a lifetime warranty.
The Craftsman double box metric 6-30 made in USA original price 85$ they sell online for 800$ -1000$ if you can find them and the made in China old sell for double the original price I had got a set of icon ratchet wrenches for 14$ and I put on offer up for 50$ they didn't sell for a minute and some one offer me 30$ and made double but imagine if I had a emergency and needed to sell all my tools hopefully they are not icon 😂
I have almost every name brand possible of tools and without the shadow of a doubts Snap-on is by far the best you get what you pay for they're worth every cent
Yes, but most of Snap On is rebrands. If it's not a wrench, ratchet. Sockets it's rebrands. Their adjustable lock wrenches use to be made by Malco, now Snap On could buy the plant because Malco is closing down. Who knows
Why didn’t you use an anti slip icon wrench instead of the regular so your comparing apples to apples? Or use a regular snap on wrench without the flank drive, that would have been a more fair comparison
Snapon is king but over priced. For the price of one snapon set, you can stretch the dollar and get a variety of other brand tools to fill your box. If you're always breaking tools then it might justify paying a premium price to get a snapon. I kept breaking my 13/16 deep impact sockets when busting wheels all day but after buying a snapon 13/16 impact socket I never had another problem. Snapon uses quality alloy tool steel.
... First of all.... For $500 bucks a kid can graduate mechanic school and get enough to get by with HB tools... the same money on a SO truck gets him an screwdriver set, a 1/4 inch ratchet and 9 popular socket sizes.... are they better, OF COURSE, given the choice if I was starting out, Harbor Freight all the way... as I go I buy snap on also.... Thats how my son did it and he after 4 years is top tech at Ray Catena jaguar..... also... in 80% of situations the icons will be sufficient... its when you have to get that fastener all the way tucked in the intake manifold that you only get 1 shot to remove, you have to grab the snapped on.... also...even though they both have the lifetime warranty, that doesnt help when your on the job and you waste it.... are the Icons good... ABSOLUTELY, theyre awesome and everyone should use them daily, but if you feel any bit of issue, put it away and snap it off!!....and P.S..... Stop all the talking....too much bla bla bla
I work as a industrial millwright (where the money is at) 20 years experience swinging wrenches. Big wrenches. While Harbor Freight tools are not Snap on tools, They do a fine job. I used to be a snap on guy when I wrenched on cars. But when I moved to industrial work, I started carrying cheap tools with me because my toolbox wasn’t next to me all the time and a lot of times other hands were using my tools or I was carrying things to other locations. That being said, I slowly started bringing my snap on tools home to use in my garage and Harbor freight tools started populating my professional bag/box, mainly because if something got lost, I wouldn’t give a shit. I have not been on a snap on truck in over 5 years now. Great tools. But honestly way too overpriced for what you get. I’m sure I’ll get flak for this but whatever. I picked up a icon set not long ago and they do just what I need. For me a open end on a wrench of for rapid on off twisting of a already lose fastener that’s still more than finger tight. Otherwise there’s better tools for the job, like a closed end wrench or 6 point socket. This test is great and shows the difference, but if I saw someone do that in the field with a open end, I would call them a butcher as it destroys the fastener. Being a mechanic isn’t how expensive your box is, or the name on a wrench, it’s knowing how to use a tool properly and knowing the right tool for a job. Great review though. Nice job guys.
Yep. You are right. Anybody using that kind of torque on an open-end wrench is bound to round over a nut. He should have been using the box end to simulate a real world situation. That's what everyone else would have done. Also, Snap On uses the flank drive just for these situations, where the pressure is needed at the middle of the surface of the nut rather than the corner.
Thanks for the tip on using an open end wrench "" for quick turning not torque "" this video is irrelevant , it should be entitled ""How not too use an open end wrench "" smh
Does the Millwright union allow members to use foreign made tools now? They used to require all tools to be made in USA and this was verified by the hall. Anyone using foreign tools would find their tools welded to an I beam.
@@MIKEROADDOG There's a reason why the open end exists, and it's because you can't always get a socket or box end around the fastener. If you want quick turning then use an impact socket. Imagine this guy's demo except the long threaded stud is screwed into another component so you can't get the box end over it and there isn't enough clearance for a flare nut wrench. The type of arrangement in the video is exactly what the open end is for.
If you're using a wrench at all you are already on Plan B, because the first choice is sockets. Even with sockets the first choice is electric or pneumatic impact or ratchet, then hand ratchet.
Icon is better then snap on just off price along . Fucking hammer is a hammer a wrench is a wrench been working with tools for 23 years and I have some snap on and it’s good but since Icon came out I use it and it’s almost the same
Gotta be honest as someone who had all snap on & cornwell wrenches my whole wrench drawer is becoming Icon. Got that set, the stubbies, the double flex offset wrenches also picked up a mid length set to keep in my roll cart. And some anti slips. In total I have about 50 icon wrenches, all different styles. So far only two have broken, mind it was either from me striking it with a hammer or lowering the car on it to break a bolt free, and they were swapped out no questions asked. May be my experience but I got tired of breaking a tool truck wrench and waiting weeks for a replacement/repair. Maybe my tool guys just suck idk? But I highly recommend the icons and I abuse them on a daily basis
The reason they sell the non flank drive wrenches is to tighten chrome or anodized fasteners like AN fuel lines and not leave marks in them from the extra bite they give.
Yes, like a custom / show motorcycle engine and the chrome bolts / nuts are part of the aesthetic appearance. Dings or blemishes on the nut or bolt head would be unacceptable.
When I win the lottery, a snap on truck will show up in my driveway. Until then, Icon will do just fine. Great video. Thanks for your time in making it.
There is reason to have the non flank drive version, as they do damage the fastener at times even on the snap-on ones. Now for most people this is not an issue. As I build classic cars where visuals can and do matter, the un-cut version defiantly has its place.
Thats a good point, I have yet to have someone complain about bolt finish being damaged but probably will happen now that you have said something haha.
@@AutoRepairTips For standard repair it really isn't a big deal, I work in the weird part of the industry that it does matter. Looking right becomes more important then the work being done fast.
@@beilno2890 This is true. Harbor Freight offers both the flank drive and non flank drive versions for these wrenches so you can choose!
I realize this is an old thread but another point to not have the flank drive is aviation. You definitely don’t want to damage the fastener with the flank drive. Then again we are never tightening a fastener to the point of rounding it out. Great video comparison though! 👍🏼
The icon are a great value to new techs. As a new tech I bought the basics to get started for value (think Tekton, icon, husky, gear wrench, etc.). Overall they will work for basic stuff. For more rounded fasteners and day to day use...I vote Snap on. The quality is superior, especially in the metal vitality. For starting our however, Icon are good.
For standard wrenches, the next sets I'll buy will be Wright tools. Their anti-slip seems the best imo.
Anyway, Icon took a good jab at Snap on for price vs quality. But not many things beat Snap on overall
Im not going to begrudge people for buying snap on wrenches, once you see a wrench fail you just arent going to be able to trust it. That said wrenches are about the only snap on tool anyone would ever really need. Cant think of much else and yet i see people using snap on prybars, screwdrivers, hammers, power tools, yada yada, its insanity.
I was in a bind and needed another open-ended wrench IMMEDIATELY, so I went to the store and got a set of Crescent black wrenches. They have the same ends on them as the Snap On. I use them with a wrench extension bar and they fit into the slot perfectly. They're my new favorite open-ended wrenches. Try them out. Pleasantly surprised.
Old school mechanic here, toward the end of your video, when your comparing the Anti slip Icon ratchet wrench with the Icon non anti slip. Overall in reality its not a scam. The difference is that the non anti slip is so that you don't dent or scratch up a shinny nut on a chrome part when unfastening or losening like something on a motorcycle, some customers are quite picky on custom thing especially if the part is chrome. And the anti slip, well thats for like tuff rusty bolts or nuts that are to lossen. That are like underneath are vehicle or engine bay.
Snap On is always the best quality but is it worth the price. Some people will notice that with Icon you stood straight on the fastener while with Snap On you turned sideways to apply further leverage & force which makes a difference as well
Most tools will do 95% of a tradesmans needs if used properly. But if you turn wrenches daily in tge automotive field, you definitely need tge better quality tools . They do grip better & last for tge long haul
Nope. I was a heavy equipment mechanic in the Air Force and I stripped all 3 sizes of ratchets after we switched from classic Craftsman to Snap Off and the dealer tried to deny replacement claims every time. To hell with them.
The true test of a tools value is how well it holds up over the years. There are a lot of good tools out there pick what works for your needs and budget. Many of my snap on tools are sitting in a us general cart. Nice cart from harbor freight and an amazing value
I have the icon anti slip wrenches... 1 I would never use a open end wrench to tighten a fastener to that extreme 2 I think the icon anti slip is designed for fastener removal.
They make the non-Flank Drive wrench because in some applications people don’t want their fasteners all chewed up and they don’t abuse the shit out of the wrenches and have to strip the bolt out
All snap on combination wrenches are flank drive
@@delusion_904 negative ghost rider you are incorrect
@@toddthomas4542 negative ghost rider you are incorrect lmao do your research what your talking about is “flank drive + “ all wrenches are flank drive
@@delusion_904 dude, Snap On makes wrenches that are not flank drive plus with no marks in the open end at all the closed end is tapered so it uses the center of the wrench. Yes, but they have open and wrenches that are not flank drive.
@@toddthomas4542 negative GHOST RIDER, go back and read my original comment your clearly don’t know how to listen. Up until the 60’s they’ve used flank drive design 🤣 and the “markings” or teeth is what makes the wrench FLANK DRIVE PLUS
No one use open end to tighten the nut, let along put that much force on a nut. Snap on able to turn but chew up the nut, the nut will eventually need to be replace. But good video as to demonstrate 👍
the flank drive damages the bolts i fix older vintage vehicles and clients notice so i use regular wrenches to not damage there nuts
6:25... That particular set doesn't have the flank drive but icon wrenches do come with a version of flank Drive. It just so happens. Those ones do not. But you can get it.
This is apples to oranges not Apples to Apples.
I bought Silver Eagle (Matco imported brand) because they were cheap, then I learned about flank drive wrenches. While it does work great, and it's a great invention, my dad taught me how to not need it a long time ago- don't break em loose with the open end! Just my 2 cents y'know. But like this guy said, I like how much leverage you get with the long Snap-On wrenches.
Only broke 2 icon ratcheting wrenches. Broke the 18 mm because I was impacting on the other end of the bolt (to be fair they were my only wrenches at the time) and on the 14 mm the switch broke off because it got stuck behind a flex plate on a locked up engine trying to get the torque converter off. 3 years deep with my set and nothing but praise from me.
Smooth jaw wrenches is for when you have to keep a nut cosmetics perfect.
120$ with a coupon! They are 180$ now, 6/2021. HF jacking up the prices on Icon.
I wish the tool companies would have a store as well. It sucks needing a warranty and i have to wait a few days for the tool truck to arrive and even then it usually has to be ordered in. With icon i dont have this issue as there are many locations.
I would've loved to see this with the v-groove wrench also
Here's an interesting fact. The ICON wrenches lose to the flank drive plus, but actually perform better than the Snapon regular flank drive wrenches.
Sorry, but I'd NEVER pay Snap-On prices for tools. To me, they were just a status symbol for mechanics. With all the tools offered today with lifetime warranties, there is NO reason to make that company rich off of your sweat and labor.
Every time I go on the Snap on truck, I feel like I'm being stupid. They make great tools, but the pricing is ridiculous. I do like buying American made when I can, but damn it hurts. I can afford it, but I'm not sure I should.
Remember which orientation for loosening or tightening. You kept using the icon backwards.
Was looking for this comment
Yup I just saw that. Flank drive vs smooth. Backwards icon. Yeah this isn’t a true test.
Wait what aren’t the orientation the samr
had my snapons since before they offered flank drive. they are 22 years old and just as good as the day they were new...
I bought a cresent tool set from the gas station on clearance for $30 and rebuilt 2 car engines. Broke the 1/4 drive, but the set still works great. I wish i had the icon.
The ICON wrenches look decent quality. Main issue I have with ICON is if they will be around in 5 years. Harbor Freight constantly changing brands. I can still get parts for my 25 year old Snap On ratchet.
I've got some Craftsman Professional. Good luck getting those warrantied too.
@Jon Doe thats my main complaint plus people have alot of issues with getting stuff warranted with snap on
@Jon Doe even home depot is offering a lifetime warranty on their Husky tools
@@Nick-yh6of worst Warrenty in the industry! Can't find a truck, good luck
The real question is how many tools have you really broken? Most cases are caused by misuse. At any rate the Taiwan tool company that re labels ICON had been around for many years. Wouldn’t worry me one bit. But I don’t break tools so there’s that.
You mis tested the icon with the wrench facing the wrong direction at 11:30 when you said it's not going to tighten the rounded edge, then you used the snap on in the correct direction. I'm not sure how much of a difference it made, but that needs to be pointed out.
I like Snap On tools and I do have a few but my budget just won't allow me to have a full toolbox of basic stuff from Snap On and have found myself filling the gap with Harbor Freight tools their stuff holds up and besides the lifetime warranty on Pittsburg tools and I think Icon? also works a lot like Craftsman you break a tool take it back to any Harbor Freight Store and get another tool swapped out walk back out the door that's hard to beat and I live close to two different Harbor Freight stores it saves me lots of money on tools with a good warranty
Worst thing to happen to snap on is market place buy stuff half price or better and still have the same warranty
Non flank drive style doesn’t mar fasteners up so if you have chrome or stainless fasteners you get non flank drive
Ok I know this is an old video but the reason for the non flank drive AND flank drive for me i have both just my flank drive in racheting an non flank drive in standard box end the reason for making both is the flank drive will kinda butcher the fastener up so if you're doing like brake line work dont use the flank drive hope this clears things up
Snap on is better hands down. Thing is, you're going to pay for those tools. Yeah they will last, but you'll pay for it. Icon may not be Snap on level but they get the job done and Harbor Freight's warranty is really good. If you have problems swapping tools, then you drive to another store.
Buy a wrench that is likely to round out bolts? I would rather have my wrench flex from over torquing and leave the possibility to remove the bolt, then completely round the head off, once the head is completely round your job is infinitely harder sometimes.... kind of a gimmick if you ask me. Common sense sometimes isn't so common, and Snap-On truly believes you are an idiot to sell you on it.
it actually makes perfect sense. a smooth open end isn’t going to mar the fastener. if you don’t need the flank drive, don’t use it. i have snap-on in both
Yes, the snap ons had better grip, but in practice, you would never tighten a nut up that much, because it stretched and damaged the bolt, thereby weakening it beyond specification.
Hmmmm, still don't think Snap On is worth the money. There's a really good video that compares Icon Torque Wrench that has a lifetime warranty, for only $100 bucks or so and it beat the Snap On torque wrench that's like $450 in just about every test they did. Really opened my eyes. In fact, it convinced me Icon is def worth the price and just as good.
I rarely use them. Only when required, to back off a stud's nut or to get into a tight clearance. That's it. I'm not spending more than 150 per set. They better be extended, too, for that price.
Have they improved the fitment? I feel like if it was a little tighter fit it would so much better
I mostly hear about the tool truck comes to you ,well that might of ment something 20 years ago nowadays the trucks are obsolete, i took a picture of a broken tekton tool on monday ,had a new one in mail box Wednesday. If i had to pick the "perfect wrench" it would be wright tools wrenchs . snap on second .
I'm sure the icons have thier place but I really do believe snap ons wrenches are the better tool. I had the XL matco wrenches and loved them, they had a knock off flank drive end and grabbed really well. Snap on guy offered a trade for some flank drive plus wrenches, he demonstrated the hardness on the snap on by hitting the matco wrench with the snap on. The matco had a big dent, the flank drive, no damage.. better tools..hand tools I'd go with snap on, everything else, harbor freight or Amazon.
In some cases, the headache of rounding off a fastener can make up the price difference in one instance.
False
@@ruvimmishchuk8337 so you believe in no cases can it ever make up the price difference? If you value your labor at 10 bucks an hour and all you ever work on is your own lawn mower, I guess you’re right.
Also the snap on didnt give up until you let go, and forced it quickly. I dont know why you chose to do this, but if you had applied even consitant pressure like you did the Icon, I bet you would have ended up with much different results.
Owning over $50 K of Snap On tools I stopped buying Snap On because of warranty and have switched to Icon. I have over $40 K in Snap On boxes and have switched over to the Icon Boxes. They are all made in the same factory. Wake up and smell the coffee.
Absolute bullshit. Snap On toolboxes are made in the USA. HF boxes are made in red china. I've never had an issue with Snap On warranty. Snap On just warrantied 3 wrench's for me and didn't even want the old wrench's back, they let me keep them.
@@shark61111 smoke on
Yeah? Because you can tour the facility in Kenosha Wisconsin that builds ALL Snap On tool boxes. Funny thing is, there ain’t a GODDAMN thing coming out of that factory EXCEPT Snap On. The proof is there to see, but most people just believe bullshit. The world we live in.
If you replace the motor in a Ferrari with a Chevy 350, is it still a Ferrari? Looks the same! If you take the boron out of the snap on steel, you’ll have a harbor freight tool. Snap on is without a doubt the king of hand tools. If you don’t believe that, do more research. Whether they’re worth it to you or not is the only question.
The Chrome Boron steel that Snap On uses is without a doubt the best steel in the industry. Harbor Freight uses Chrome Vanadium, which is the worst steel for wrench's, sockets, etc. The Chrome Boron steel that Snap On uses has a Rockwell hardness of 52. The Chrome Vanadium is less than 45. The Snap On steel is harder, tougher and stronger. If you take the Snap On wrench and the HF wrench and smack the edges together the Snap On will literally put big dents in the HF wrench while the Snap On won't even have a blemish on the chrome, let alone damage to the steel. The superior steel produces a wrench that can handle the Snap On design and produces a better, longer lasting wrench.
Love Snap-on tool. Expensive and overpriced compare to years ago. But I still buy them. One stripped nut or bolt with cheap tool, might turn into a nightmare. Just think about that. But I do think some of this Snap-on copy cat are getting really good. Yes I do have some of them. For some of those negative comments on Snap-on tools you have no idea until you work in a auto shop. Repairing you own car at home is not the same. Once a while you come across a hard son of a bitch nut in a tight place. Stripped that nut and the engine has to come out.
If you want the best of both worlds for less coin, Williams super combo is the one to beat. Consistently cheaper and performs better than snap-on.
Snap on is not only brand with this feature, snap on is overpriced shit
The wright Grip 2.0 wrenches match snap on at a fraction of the price and made in Ohio with Ohio steel
I'll have to check them out
Auto Repair Tips I have full sets of wright grips and the beams are much better than snap on. The length is standard on the wrights but I prefer a standard length wrench. There have been times the snap ons were too long.
@@Peep18m I also have the wrightgrips 2.0 and snap on. Comparing them the Wright wrenches are definitely the best value for the money and damn near or equal to snap on flank drive
Bonbon Flippers couldn’t agree more sir 👍🏼👍🏼
I have a set of Wrightgrip 1.0 and I wish they were ratcheting!
I use the Icon anti-slip grip combination wrenches and love them I’ve had a few master techs/ diesel techs who have used the snap on flank drive wrenches like the icon ones better. Especially since it starts at 6 and goes to 19mm
? Not likely. The “teeth”on the icon virtually have no affect on removing stripped fasteners the flank + do. Still prefer rbrt wrench
fortunately i have snap on and sk tools from my father he was a machinist for general motors for 34 yrs when i started out bad tools didnt have a warranty today even the many foreign made wrenches etc come with warranty and if a tool gets the job done and you the mechanic etc think what you are using is a good tool then i guess it is i know old timers that had mostly craftsman when they were usa made so it always comes down to what you can afford and quality
First of all blank Drive is for stubborn Fasteners not rounded off fasteners I've been using snap on blank Drive wrenches for years the one thing I can say is that when a blank Drive grabs a fastener it will not let go
Wait until next years. Harber freight will perfect their little mistake.
"look at how much better the snap on rounded the head off!"
icons break the fastener snap ons break the piece of work.
subjective.
is the job done? will it hold? im sure icons are perfectly fine or serviceable- almost never use an open end for torque anyway
I have those snap on wrenches. They’re freaking great. I also have a the 25pc snap on non flank drive and they never round off bolts either.
This video just disproved your lie. Snappys DO round off bolts & nuts.
@@ronaldjohnson1474 this isn’t real world testing. I’m talking about every day use over several years. I’ve used many different brands and the snap ons have always worked the best.
Bro sounds like better call Saul 😂 u sure you arnt him bro
You’re comparing an anti slip wrench to a non anti slip wrench. Icon makes those same wrenches in anti slip for $10 more. This test was inconclusive 🤷🏽♂️
Some snap on is made in the same factory as icon
I got the same icon set but with the anti-slip. I don't trust the normal open end anymore. I wish they went the anti-slip design that they have on the ratcheting ones with the normal combination set. Almost all carlyle ratcheting wrenches comes with anti-slip on their ratcheting wrenches.
when did curtis armstrong become a tool reviewer?
Dude - I'm not sure your point on the "scam" - I don't want to have the flank-drive style on my old, collectible car.
Great video! Very helpful. How about doing this with Mac knuckle savers? I’m in a toss up between buying either of the two.
Bro sounds like Saul Goodman
That is what i have noticed the icon wrench doesnt fit the nuts right
I understand the point this video is trying to make, but I feel the test metric is just weird.
The whole time, most of what he’s doing is tightening down nuts, way past the torque rating anyone would ever use. If you need to tighten a nut or bolt down to a torque that is rounding off the edges, you either have an extremely cheap wrench or a very cheap nut/bolt. No manufacturer would make a part that requires the ridiculous amount of torque he’s putting on these bolts to tighten them down.
And I’m pretty sure that’s not even the design/intent of these wrenches. I could be wrong, but I feel the whole reason most people would/should buy these is to loosen, not tighten nuts or bolts.
I haven’t worked on any cars that require 4K ft pounds or torque on a bolt, but I’ve worked on plenty that needed some extra grip to take a nut/bolt loose.
I’d like to have seen a test where he compared both loosing stuck bolts, rusted bolts, over torqued bolts, rounded off bolts, etc. Ya know, real world things you’d actually run into.
I feel the Icon would have fared much better in a test that I feel these wrenches were designed for, imho
can you redo the test with the anti slip grip icon wrenches (only made it halfway then realized you got the other ones)
what about the milwaukee open wrench review because it's much a more tighter grip than icon
I'm going to point out that if you're ever putting this much torque with an open-end wrench you probably have the wrong tool for the job and I don't think that extra half a turn is worth a whole another set of Icon wrenches
An interesting transition is taking place with HF. Several people that used to work for Snap On have moved to HF. You can see the quality improving and with HF's insistence about price point, we are going to see some changes happening. Fun stuff.
If HF really wanted to improve their quality they would start by using quality steel. Instead they use Chrome Vanadium steel in everything from their Pittsburgh line to the Icon line. That's why you see the wrench spread and round the fastener in this video, cheap, inferior steel. You can't make a quality tool with crappy steel.
@shark61111 Agreed. There is a grey area when it comes to price versus quality. Are HF worth the money for a professional? Maybe. Depends on warranty and starting quality. Can it get me through several years of hard work. Then, yeah. Might be worth it. Knowing I can turn it in if it breaks. I can pay 10 times the amount and not replace it, but how often do I use it? That is the grey area. Even if I use it every single day for years, have a bad day and get a new one... I have had so many tools that fit that description and I just have to buy them again. We all have our limits.
The way H-F is improving its product line, if I were Snap-On, I'd be worried
@@piercehawke8021 HF is using the same shit tier chrome vanadium steel in their Icon line as their Pittsburgh line. Half the stuff that Snap On sells is continuously on back order, as in they can't keep their tools in stock. Trust me, their not worried about HF.
@@shark61111 why is chrome vanadium shit tier? Or is it just bias against HF?
They the reason snap on gets a pass is if I get a good price on a used or open boxed snap on not from from their their trucks no one wants to warranty them anymore. Snap on turned it's back on previous owners and want proof it was a recent purchase. No longer will they be tools passed down to other generations
I’m sure a cheap set from Taiwan will do just fine for most people..
But to be frank.. I’d rather support my own country even if it is 1000x more expensive to do so. A company that has served the American public- even during the Great Depression by giving loans to struggling business people. It would have been easy and cheap to off shore that business overseas years and years ago with the rest of them, yet they have not. I’ll continue supporting them until or if that changes.
Where's a Wright wrench now?
Who uses an open end for that much torque
I’m not sure if I’m seeing things or not but it looks like he did not put the icon on the nuts all the way.. go back and watch the video there appears to be a larger gap on the backside of the rich
Born 100 Years Late I was gonna comment this too. That’s a fact bro. I noticed that too. Granted, there was more play in the fit of the icon than the snap on so I’m sure there would still be similar results but I guarantee it wouldn’t be as big of a difference as portrayed in this video.
You’re not seeing things. He had a point to prove to his boy. This wasn’t a fair comparison
I watched it again and all the wrenches were all the way on.the snap on wrenches are more curved inside than the icrap wrenches
The fact that I could see the difference before you could feel it does not give me much confidence in your subjective review.
Icon has an answer for the flank drive. That's the icon non slip design.
The regular Icon wrenches have those grooves on the open end, don’t know why they didn’t carry that over to the ratchet wrenches
Why? It makes no difference in stripped fastener removal
New review of the use and condition or how many times you already went to harbor freight to warranty swap them icons
Oh calm down man. I don't think harbor freights trying to deceive people I think that they produced product with a designated SKU number, and then they rere-engineered snap-on design "not a typo" and that product got a whole new sku number but the good folks at harbor freight being smart enough to not want to just throw away money is probably ethically selling off overstock and isn't currently manufacturing that older product. The boxes are clearly marked and it is at least partially a consumers responsibility to know what they are purchasing. However tell your young friend that I believe he might be able to take his in and upgrade to the newer model at the cost of the difference which you say in this case is $0 so he could essentially just exchange them at zero cost. Don't take my word for it that's just what I hear.
The very few “superior” benefits to a SO set of wrenches in my opinion don’t begin to outweigh the price difference! How can anyone really afford buying from SO anymore?
I would give snap on hand tool better than icon tool. Those are serious grab
Can’t believe I found Saul goodmans TH-cam channel
The snap on is the extra grip and the icon you used is a regular one. Way to try and fool people
Saul Goodman becomes mechanic
Haha I have heard that many times from videos but never in person.
A really interesting video, and clearly the snap-on wrench's grip is phenomenal, but in the real world, would you really need to apply so much torque until the bolt starts to stretch?
Removing stubborn fasteners is the more likely real world application. The test was done by tightening fasteners so it could be repeatable and so the limits of performance could be encountered.
$45 for a small SnapOn ratcheting wrench….. damn!
I now know I will never trust ART to work on my vehicles. He puts rounded nuts and bolts back in to your vehicle to let the next guy worry.
If its rounded off how the hell I am going to tighten it going back on LMAO. Not sure where you got this from.
There is BIG PRICE DIFFERENCE 😱😱😱😱DOES IT WORTH IT YOU DECIDE 👍👍👍👍👍
I'd be pissed if someone is banging my wrenches against each other.
Okay. So now the Snap-On Truck can't get to the shop fast enough.
I mean. I understand the test. But who in their right mind would use the open end of a wrench to turn THAT hard on a nut? I mean the Snap-on grip is clearly superior, but this isn't a real-world accurate test. I'll take the Icon over the Snap-on any day, especially considering that they also have a lifetime warranty.
Great video .. Awesome to see the test..
The Craftsman double box metric 6-30 made in USA original price 85$ they sell online for 800$ -1000$ if you can find them and the made in China old sell for double the original price I had got a set of icon ratchet wrenches for 14$ and I put on offer up for 50$ they didn't sell for a minute and some one offer me 30$ and made double but imagine if I had a emergency and needed to sell all my tools hopefully they are not icon 😂
I have almost every name brand possible of tools and without the shadow of a doubts Snap-on is by far the best you get what you pay for they're worth every cent
Yes, but most of Snap On is rebrands. If it's not a wrench, ratchet. Sockets it's rebrands. Their adjustable lock wrenches use to be made by Malco, now Snap On could buy the plant because Malco is closing down. Who knows
Why didn’t you use an anti slip icon wrench instead of the regular so your comparing apples to apples? Or use a regular snap on wrench without the flank drive, that would have been a more fair comparison
you did not watch the video. I dont get it, did you comment before you watched even 2 minutes?
Harbor freight Warrenty kicks snap on in the balls, your broken 14mm selector proves this lol
Snapon is king but over priced. For the price of one snapon set, you can stretch the dollar and get a variety of other brand tools to fill your box. If you're always breaking tools then it might justify paying a premium price to get a snapon. I kept breaking my 13/16 deep impact sockets when busting wheels all day but after buying a snapon 13/16 impact socket I never had another problem. Snapon uses quality alloy tool steel.
... First of all.... For $500 bucks a kid can graduate mechanic school and get enough to get by with HB tools... the same money on a SO truck gets him an screwdriver set, a 1/4 inch ratchet and 9 popular socket sizes.... are they better, OF COURSE, given the choice if I was starting out, Harbor Freight all the way... as I go I buy snap on also.... Thats how my son did it and he after 4 years is top tech at Ray Catena jaguar..... also... in 80% of situations the icons will be sufficient... its when you have to get that fastener all the way tucked in the intake manifold that you only get 1 shot to remove, you have to grab the snapped on.... also...even though they both have the lifetime warranty, that doesnt help when your on the job and you waste it.... are the Icons good... ABSOLUTELY, theyre awesome and everyone should use them daily, but if you feel any bit of issue, put it away and snap it off!!....and P.S..... Stop all the talking....too much bla bla bla
I noticed that when you worked the snap on wrench, you went SLOWER on your pull. Not impressed with your "test". !!!!!!
ICON does come with a version of flank drive.