Great comparison. I’m not a professional who needs the best quality tool for work so I stick with ICON, Doyle, Quinn, and even Pittsburgh Pro for my simple tasks around the house and on my cars. I picked up the ICON wrenches with the 25% off coupon recently and love them for that price. Also got the parrot nose pliers with the coupon.
I don't blame you at all, they're an awesome value and an interesting, even fun to use design... I just hope that Knipex can maintain their quality and keep from making their tools in China or Taiwan. I spent the extra money on the Knipex because I have a lot of respect for the thought they put into their tools, and something about them being made in Germany just tickles my fancy. The German made tools I own are second to none.
@@jetjazz05 yeah I eventually bought the Knipex 5 inch plier wrench, 5 inch water pump pliers, and the twin grips. Just great tools. Also bought some snap on long nose 7 inch pliers and feel like they’re great too. No hate on the icons as I still use them a lot anyway.
Well again like the Icon mini ratchet. The warranty of local change is hard to beat. I will still buying Knipex but Icon is a high recommend tool for everything with a tigh budget. I saw the pliers and didn't like the finished, quite raw. I prefer better cosmetics from Knipex.
Best overview/comparison video I’ve seen of the Icon version of the pliers wrench. Well done. Very thorough. And extremely fair. I think I’ll pick up a pair to supplement my existing Knipex tools for the very reasons that you mention. Thank you.
Just took the calipers to my icon pair and if you open the handles just barely below full capacity you’re able to get the full 2”. But if you fully open the handles another tiny bit they drop back down to about 1.85”
5:22 It looks like they open to about 7/8" and not 3/4" as you indicated. Camera angle isn't the best for viewers but still looks closer to 7/8" to me.
These aren't an alternative to channel locks. They're an alternative to adjustable wrenches. The waterpunp pliers would be Knipex's version of channel locks.
Nice fair and common sense review. I am not a pro but I like your logic about the better stuff in the shop. I use my best stuff in my home shop the lesser stuff in a tool bag in my car and stuff I keep in vacation home where repair men may have access in the offseason. Never had an issue, but i makes me feel better.
Icon looks like an exact copy design wise. Even has the same relief dimples in the moveable jaw guide. I take it the Knipex patents have expired? How does Harbor Freight's "Icon" compare for steel, forging, hardening and tempering/heat treat? Do they run about the same price or is the "Icon" considerably less expensive, giving consumers a viable reason to even consider the copy?
The Icon is considerably less expensive and may not be 100% up to Knipex in terms of build quality / materials, but Icon tools are quite good for what they are. Icon isn't like the good ol' cheapo harbor freight Pittsburg brand that's known for mediocrity. Harbor Freight's Icon line has been on the market long enough now to prove itself as a quality lineup of products. The pliers wrench specifically is still $40 so it's not cheap, just less expensive than Knipex's $60-$70.
The steel definitely isn’t anywhere near as good as Knipex’s and the heat treatment may or may not be as good as it can be but it doesn’t matter as much for this particular tool as the smooth jaws don’t have any teeth that can deform. They will develop more play in between parts eventually and aren’t as well made but are really good for the price, especially considering the fact that they copied the Knipex design 100%. Every single part is identical. Knipex’s pâté for the multi-set adjustment system expired and they decided not to renew it, which i think is admirable as it gives other companies the opportunity to make similar products for cheaper. As for the design patent, I don’t have any information on that particular issue.
Although I love the Knipex tools ... the price of the Icon is great and the warranty is definitely much much easier !!! I totally agree that they both have their place and are both worthy brands !!!
Icon 10" pliers for $40 ($44 total after taxes) vs. Knipex 10" pliers at $65 ($71.50 after taxes), Icon for the WIN anytime!!! Premium tools at half the cost, and there's a store 1.5 miles away from me, Win WIN Icon by Harbor Freights Tools! The best tools are the right tools for the perfect job, not only saving you time but helping you do the job correctly and efficiently and they don't have to cost you another mortgage loan... Oh and this price is not even discounting the adding of the 30% Off coupon you get from time to time at HF which makes the tool more cheaper to own!
@@tylermcelwain I bought the 10" Knipex for equivalent of ~USD50 delivered incl import taxes from Amazon Germany It's not difficult to use a price monitoring website and buy when on sale, HF isn't the only company to have sales The handle flex even with thicker cross section on Icon pliers screams lower quality steel If you want to save money, buy from any of the companies who ethically made their own version of the pliers wrench when the patent expired, instead of making a blatant copy
People need to understand that ICON is a premium tool brand of high quality but won't cost you an arm and a leg! Harbor Freight Tools Co. invested millions in R&D to create a premium high quality tool brand that can be affordable to everyone that can compete with the higher overpriced tool brands out there. Think kind of like Milwaukee power tools, better than Snap-On but way for less yet very well made quality tools! Trust me, on a recent torture test vid, Milwaukee destroyed the cheaper too and embarrassed and destroyed the $1,000 Snap-On Impact tool in all tests!!! Yes they are made in Taiwan and Taiwan is a leader of high quality manufacturing, just take a look of all motherboards in high quality computers, all made in Taiwan from super high quality Taiwanese brands such as ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, etc..... (leaders of computer motherboard engineering & manufacturing in the whole world) I rather have something made from Taiwan than in China hands down anytime!
Icon is nothing but a copycat. One thing about a copycat is they're never as Good as the original. As much as they might try they just can't top the original designers. They're just want to be Knipex and Snap On
@MrWhitetailtracker what a lazy way to try to argue against it lol. There are so many videos doing close comparisons of the two and them being a blatant ripoff of theor competition is pretty obvious. You may think the price difference justifies the shitty business practice, but they are still just a copycat product.
The steel definitely isn’t anywhere near as good as Knipex’s and the heat treatment may or may not be as good as it can be but it doesn’t matter as much for this particular tool as the smooth jaws don’t have any teeth that can deform. They will develop more play in between parts eventually and aren’t as well made but are really good for the price, especially considering the fact that they copied the Knipex design 100%. Every single part is identical. Knipex’s pâté for the multi-set adjustment system expired and they decided not to renew it, which i think is admirable as it gives other companies the opportunity to make similar products for cheaper. As for the design patent, I don’t have any information on that particular issue.
The steel quality matters. Grab some hardened steel with them, 10:1 mechanical advantage, dent the jaws on the Icon and then the chrome is ruined. You can file them flat but you'll get flaking chrome which is a PITA
It may be a decent tool but I would be embarrassed to buy anything from them harbor freight is not on my favored vendor list. Do you know anything about globalization? It’s the high cost of low cost products.
Don't know. But as I mentioned I try to not buy into globalism. In the US many are only interested in their personal cost. We have a vote whenever we buy anything. Do we vote for local products or consider the consequences of buying a product from a country that has few human rights, environmental laws or is an ally? @@victorhoyt4352
@@DenyTheZeitgeist Did I mention anything about where things are made? This has to do with a multitude of elements of globalization. 🙂What about the rocks?
It's a German plier. K sounds are not silent in German. You are applying English rules to a foreign name. Obviously Americans with call it Kni-pex and pronounce it like knife. I also discovered I have been saying Samsung wrong. My Thai friends apprised me that it is "Sam-soong". Easy to do if you are monolingual like most Americans.
@@samuelwilliams3130 The reality is that the American English is strange, Sean=Shawn? Why does Aaron have two A's? Why do we even need a silent K in front of words? Sorry, just a short rant.
Icon 10" Pliers Wrench - sovrn.co/1kdcul9
Knipex 10" Pliers Wrench - amzn.to/3I5ET8E
Well Ben...you sold me..also love the section at the end with the testing especially!
Wiha also has their own version. I will probably be picking one of them up soon.
@@txtoolcrib ?!?! Crazy
You do such intricate reviews. You’re really good.
That is very much appreciated, thank you sir.
Great comparison. I’m not a professional who needs the best quality tool for work so I stick with ICON, Doyle, Quinn, and even Pittsburgh Pro for my simple tasks around the house and on my cars.
I picked up the ICON wrenches with the 25% off coupon recently and love them for that price. Also got the parrot nose pliers with the coupon.
I don't blame you at all, they're an awesome value and an interesting, even fun to use design... I just hope that Knipex can maintain their quality and keep from making their tools in China or Taiwan. I spent the extra money on the Knipex because I have a lot of respect for the thought they put into their tools, and something about them being made in Germany just tickles my fancy. The German made tools I own are second to none.
@@jetjazz05 yeah I eventually bought the Knipex 5 inch plier wrench, 5 inch water pump pliers, and the twin grips. Just great tools. Also bought some snap on long nose 7 inch pliers and feel like they’re great too. No hate on the icons as I still use them a lot anyway.
Well again like the Icon mini ratchet. The warranty of local change is hard to beat. I will still buying Knipex but Icon is a high recommend tool for everything with a tigh budget. I saw the pliers and didn't like the finished, quite raw. I prefer better cosmetics from Knipex.
I looked for that ratchet the last time I was there but was unable to find it. I’ll check again soon.
Best overview/comparison video I’ve seen of the Icon version of the pliers wrench. Well done. Very thorough. And extremely fair. I think I’ll pick up a pair to supplement my existing Knipex tools for the very reasons that you mention. Thank you.
I appreciate the compliment, thank you very much.
HF keeping prices sane
Just took the calipers to my icon pair and if you open the handles just barely below full capacity you’re able to get the full 2”. But if you fully open the handles another tiny bit they drop back down to about 1.85”
Hard to go wrong with ICON considering quality, price and easy warranty. Right?
I can tell you that I have these in my work trailer, and they worked perfectly.
@@txtoolcrib that’s good to know. Have you tried any other ICON tools?
5:22 It looks like they open to about 7/8" and not 3/4" as you indicated. Camera angle isn't the best for viewers but still looks closer to 7/8" to me.
Honestly, I was a little off angle myself. It’s not much, but the Knipex does have a bit more travel between the settings.
Thx Ben, great info on these tools
whats the benefit over channel locks? Non marring surface?
Pretty much, less chance of rounding off a nut or bolt at the same time
These aren't an alternative to channel locks. They're an alternative to adjustable wrenches. The waterpunp pliers would be Knipex's version of channel locks.
Nice fair and common sense review. I am not a pro but I like your logic about the better stuff in the shop. I use my best stuff in my home shop the lesser stuff in a tool bag in my car and stuff I keep in vacation home where repair men may have access in the offseason. Never had an issue, but i makes me feel better.
Jus got mine with a coupon for 30 bucks pretty stoked I love knipex but this is rad
Icon looks like an exact copy design wise. Even has the same relief dimples in the moveable jaw guide.
I take it the Knipex patents have expired?
How does Harbor Freight's "Icon" compare for steel, forging, hardening and tempering/heat treat? Do they run about the same price or is the "Icon" considerably less expensive, giving consumers a viable reason to even consider the copy?
The Icon is considerably less expensive and may not be 100% up to Knipex in terms of build quality / materials, but Icon tools are quite good for what they are. Icon isn't like the good ol' cheapo harbor freight Pittsburg brand that's known for mediocrity. Harbor Freight's Icon line has been on the market long enough now to prove itself as a quality lineup of products. The pliers wrench specifically is still $40 so it's not cheap, just less expensive than Knipex's $60-$70.
That’s well stated Jason.
The steel definitely isn’t anywhere near as good as Knipex’s and the heat treatment may or may not be as good as it can be but it doesn’t matter as much for this particular tool as the smooth jaws don’t have any teeth that can deform. They will develop more play in between parts eventually and aren’t as well made but are really good for the price, especially considering the fact that they copied the Knipex design 100%. Every single part is identical. Knipex’s pâté for the multi-set adjustment system expired and they decided not to renew it, which i think is admirable as it gives other companies the opportunity to make similar products for cheaper. As for the design patent, I don’t have any information on that particular issue.
Although I love the Knipex tools ... the price of the Icon is great and the warranty is definitely much much easier !!! I totally agree that they both have their place and are both worthy brands !!!
The icon looks identical to the original knipex version. They revised it 4-5 years avo with all the weight improvements.
That may very well be, I never owned an early version of the Knipex Pliers Wrench.
@@txtoolcrib ua-cam.com/video/aAEaKGZQ8Ec/v-deo.html
German tool reviews shows a good comparison between old and new here.
I have the original knipex pliers wrench version and i can say the icon looks 90% identical.
Both were close to 7/8s of an inch
better to use mm instead of fractions here
Icon 10" pliers for $40 ($44 total after taxes) vs. Knipex 10" pliers at $65 ($71.50 after taxes), Icon for the WIN anytime!!! Premium tools at half the cost, and there's a store 1.5 miles away from me, Win WIN Icon by Harbor Freights Tools!
The best tools are the right tools for the perfect job, not only saving you time but helping you do the job correctly and efficiently and they don't have to cost you another mortgage loan...
Oh and this price is not even discounting the adding of the 30% Off coupon you get from time to time at HF which makes the tool more cheaper to own!
And that $65 is Amazon’s price lol..I’ve seen them go for $90 on other tool sites
oddly enough at the time of writing in the EU, knipex 86 02 250 is 41 euro (with 20% VAT, so that would be 34 euro before taxes, the US version)
@@tylermcelwain I bought the 10" Knipex for equivalent of ~USD50 delivered incl import taxes from Amazon Germany
It's not difficult to use a price monitoring website and buy when on sale, HF isn't the only company to have sales
The handle flex even with thicker cross section on Icon pliers screams lower quality steel
If you want to save money, buy from any of the companies who ethically made their own version of the pliers wrench when the patent expired, instead of making a blatant copy
People need to understand that ICON is a premium tool brand of high quality but won't cost you an arm and a leg! Harbor Freight Tools Co. invested millions in R&D to create a premium high quality tool brand that can be affordable to everyone that can compete with the higher overpriced tool brands out there. Think kind of like Milwaukee power tools, better than Snap-On but way for less yet very well made quality tools! Trust me, on a recent torture test vid, Milwaukee destroyed the cheaper too and embarrassed and destroyed the $1,000 Snap-On Impact tool in all tests!!!
Yes they are made in Taiwan and Taiwan is a leader of high quality manufacturing, just take a look of all motherboards in high quality computers, all made in Taiwan from super high quality Taiwanese brands such as ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, etc..... (leaders of computer motherboard engineering & manufacturing in the whole world) I rather have something made from Taiwan than in China hands down anytime!
Harbor freight works for me. 👍🏻
Icon is nothing but a copycat. One thing about a copycat is they're never as Good as the original. As much as they might try they just can't top the original designers. They're just want to be Knipex and Snap On
How many Icon and snap on tools etc do you own?
@MrWhitetailtracker what a lazy way to try to argue against it lol. There are so many videos doing close comparisons of the two and them being a blatant ripoff of theor competition is pretty obvious. You may think the price difference justifies the shitty business practice, but they are still just a copycat product.
@@zialfps7038 How did you come up with all of that conclusion out of my question??
@@MrWhitetailtracker what were you TRYING to imply with your question?
@zialfps7038 Not an imply. It was a question wanting to know how much hands on experience they had with each tool brand.
The steel definitely isn’t anywhere near as good as Knipex’s and the heat treatment may or may not be as good as it can be but it doesn’t matter as much for this particular tool as the smooth jaws don’t have any teeth that can deform. They will develop more play in between parts eventually and aren’t as well made but are really good for the price, especially considering the fact that they copied the Knipex design 100%. Every single part is identical. Knipex’s pâté for the multi-set adjustment system expired and they decided not to renew it, which i think is admirable as it gives other companies the opportunity to make similar products for cheaper. As for the design patent, I don’t have any information on that particular issue.
You have zero proof for your statement. Btw, when was the last time you beat your wife?
The steel quality matters. Grab some hardened steel with them, 10:1 mechanical advantage, dent the jaws on the Icon and then the chrome is ruined. You can file them flat but you'll get flaking chrome which is a PITA
I hate they can steal the pattern of someone else hard work
The patent has expired!
@@ronaldjohnson1474 I see 👀👍🏻
knock offs........
It may be a decent tool but I would be embarrassed to buy anything from them harbor freight is not on my favored vendor list. Do you know anything about globalization? It’s the high cost of low cost products.
You think knipex costs anymore to make?
Don't know. But as I mentioned I try to not buy into globalism. In the US many are only interested in their personal cost. We have a vote whenever we buy anything. Do we vote for local products or consider the consequences of buying a product from a country that has few human rights, environmental laws or is an ally?
@@victorhoyt4352
Dude, what? Knipex isn't American either. The rocks some people live under...
@@DenyTheZeitgeist Did I mention anything about where things are made? This has to do with a multitude of elements of globalization. 🙂What about the rocks?
"Nipex", silent K
It says on knipex’s website that it’s pronounced “kuh-nip-ex”
@@xylophoneiwnl4191 well in that case I admit I'm wrong 🙏🤷♂️
But it still sounds wrong 😅
It's a German plier. K sounds are not silent in German. You are applying English rules to a foreign name. Obviously Americans with call it Kni-pex and pronounce it like knife. I also discovered I have been saying Samsung wrong. My Thai friends apprised me that it is "Sam-soong". Easy to do if you are monolingual like most Americans.
@@mackjones7688 I'm English but yeah that's exactly what I was doing. Still sounds strange though.
@@samuelwilliams3130 The reality is that the American English is strange, Sean=Shawn? Why does Aaron have two A's? Why do we even need a silent K in front of words? Sorry, just a short rant.