What I don't like about HF is their return policy on if you break one socket you have to bring in the whole set! Well that means that if you loose one socket you have lost the warranty of the whole set! ASK them about that!
I actually did ask him about that off camera. He told me that if you bring in your broken socket, they will open up a set and give you the replacement you need. They just end up selling the partial set as a discounted item.
I just asked this question at my local store. They said what ToolDemo said. Bring in the bad (bit driver in my case) and they open another set and then put that set out as an open box item. Apparently it can be different from one store to the next.
I have taken things like a broken tap in, and they just brought up a set, opened it up and gave me the tap. Never had a problem like that. Must be the individual store you go to.
policy is that they open a new set and give you the single replacement, and they put the open set on clearance. Some stores have bad managers that go explicitly against that policy. You can try another store, report that store/manager to corporate, or go online and call to order a single replacement (they have a pdf on their site with every skew so you can lookup your item skew and tell the person on the phone exactly what you want. They will pay for the single item but the shipping is free.
...and the Torque Test Channel. TTC recently tested 1/2" drive swivel sockets and the ICON version broke. I have the same set and I don't get to use it everyday like the 50-60 hr/wk mechanic does; so mine hasn't broke yet. Fortunately that mechanic has the connivence of running to HF for a replacement.
@@nicktetra1824 Wrong. The best is the best, regardless. And I don't send my money to China/Taiwan when and where ever I can help it. And in tools, I can help it 90+% of the time. And I have literally watch EVERY SINGLE ONE of his vids. When I discovered him, I bing watched all the previous ones, and that was a long time ago. What you really should be upset about is HF charging 2-3 times as much for chinesium rebrands that you can get on Amazon, Alibaba, and Temu for a fraction of what they are charging. The exact same tool! Icon is not much cheaper than other US made tools. Yes, Snap-On is overpriced, which is also why my quantity of Snap-On tools is fairly small. They aren't the only name in quality, US made tools. Just the biggest name.
No one’s getting hired with a harbor freight tool set. When a garage is interviewing, the first thing they ask is “how much money do you have in tools”. They’re looking for a number usually over 60k. Most mechanic schools offer a financed tool set as part of their education cost, something close to a value of 10-40k. They’re usually matco, Cornwel, or some other lower end professional tool mfg. You’re expected to continually build on that through out your career. A mechanic is only as useful as his tool set, though tools aren’t everything. That said, for home mechanics, harbor freight is wonderful. It empowers people to take charge of their own vehicles maintenance and learn more about how it works without breaking the bank. But one would run into the limits of harbor freight tools if you had to use them everyday all day. They’re starting to make higher end tools that definitely can have their place in a pro tool set, especially as back up tools, and there’s absolutely a handful of tools that are used infrequently that I would recommend harbor freight for.
@@chinchillaintheheat2641 I started out with a $10,000 craftsman set. If you are just starting out nobody is expecting you to have 60k in tools. That is something you build up over time. You buy the basics and then add the specialty items you need. I have never been asked how much money I have invested in tools when I have been in an interview only if I did have my own tools.
Was at the same show Fri 8th. The engineer I was talking with had formerly worked at DeWalt. Very approachable people, with a large display. Unlike other vendors that only gave me an answer of " the person you need to speak with was here yesterday" now get lost! Go Harbor Freight!
Master Auto Tech here with over 30 years in the trade , I love what you are doing with all the tool lines at harbor freight and i look forward to what else is coming
I stopped by the Harbor Freight booth on SEMA Day one and had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Oaty. He was very patient with me and answered all of my questions. I asked if Snap on had sent Harbor Freight a cease & desist letter over the three position long nose pliers and if that's why it was taking so long to bring them to market. The new G2 ratchets look and feel great. There was a 26 inch long comfort grip locking 1/2 drive flex head ratchet that HF will get my money for once it's available. HF is using the older Armstrong locking mechanism. I also like the redesigned comfort grip handle. As long as pricing doesn't go through the roof, the new ratchets should be a winner-winner chicken dinner. Great video, thanks for sharing.
For decades mechanics were ripped off by various tool truck brands encouraging them to go into huge debt. It's past time that this changes. If Harbor Freight does employ a tool truck division and offer tools at reasonable prices then good for them!!!
As long as they are still making POS chinesium tools, I don't care if they got a truck or not, I won't be stepping on it. I cringe when I have to go to HF as it is. HF is good for one thing, and one thing only: when you need a specific tool you do not have, and you need it RIGHT NOW. Then you go to HF and pick it up. And the way I do it - if I ever have to use that HF tool I bought again, then I buy a quality one.
@@puterg0d I agree that a lot of HF tools are junk however, even the name brand stuff is trash also, looks the same, made in China and sold at a higher price.
@@richardstone5241 Lots of "name brand", sure. Just as much junk as HF. 99% of the tools in my toolboxes are Made in USA. Many are "old school" that you can't buy Made in USA anymore, but many aren't. There's still many brands of tools that make some, most, or "nearly" all of their tools in the USA. A few of the brands of tools that are Made in the USA that grace my boxes are: (the obvious one) Snap-On, Proto, *Armstrong, *SK, *Craftsman, Wright Tool, Lang, Lisle, Wilde, Mayhew, Malco, Matco, Williams, Channel Lock, Klein, Mac, OTC, Irwin Hansen, Precision Instruments, Bondhus, Eklind, *K Tool, Starrett, and several others I can't think about at the moment (* old school). Yes, I know some of those no longer exist, or exist in the same incarnation, and I know several of them don't make many tools in the USA, but 99% of the ones I have bought are.
Im a full time diesel mechanic and i use only harbor freight tools. I refuse to buy overinflated tool truck tools. Plus i love the Hercules brand. I honestly hope harbor freight starts bringing out tool trucks
I have home shop and at work snapon tool boxs. And one shop full of snapon tools now. I have been building these up for like 20 years now. I started my tool box and tool set with original Sears Craftsman stuff back in the late 90s. If i was starting today, i would absolutely be buying everything from Harbor Freight. To me it's like the old Sears tool section with Craftsman. I love Harbor Freight. And there's not much i need anymore nowadays, but I'm trying to buy everything from Harbor Freight from here on out. Im talking to my brother into starting his tool collection by going to Harbor Freight and getting what he needs.
Everyone acts like companies don't constantly copy/reverse-engineer each other on a regular basis. They all do it. Some just more subtly than others. That's how they can improve on designs. Yeah I get it, some are just straight copies, but don't pretend that Snap-On has never copied anything.
Koken tools claims they invented the wobble/fix extensions, much like how snap on claims they did. I read this on an article so I dont know the true validity but apparently Wright tools invented off corner loading in socket designs, but snap on won all the contracts for the military decades ago. From what I've read, they just love saying they invented shit
@@ToolDemosThe problem people are having is the fact that quality tools are being knocked off by Chinese factories. They're blatantly stealing designs and putting out an inferior product and putting Americans out of jobs. You're also supporting a Communist country in China. Aesthetics are not even close to the real problem.
My wife is 49 and she says “ it doesn’t matter because most people think I’m in my 30’s”. on the other hand, I’m 46 and I feel like I’m 80. Soon I can start playing Santa Claus at the mall during Christmas because my beard is all gray
He said he's got at least 14 years experience. He's around 30. Probably hasn't smoked or drank himself into looking like an old catchers mitt. Take care of yourself kids!! 😂😗
Harbor Freight has put a lot of work into their tool line over the years and has a good name for themselves. I remember them, the dad and then son, calling me in the late 70s every month or two selling tools. Over the years I purchased many HF tools and now retired I am setting up a home shop with all HF tools.
Snap On is Harbor Freight’s R&D department. Without Snap On, there would be no Icon. It’s nice to have both tiers of options, high end USA and upper tier Taiwan. Anyone who uses tools and/or is honest with themselves knows Snap On’s products are mostly better by a decent margin, but these new ratchets and some of the Icon ratcheting wrenches may be objectively better, which keeps the pressure on Snap On, which is a good thing for consumers.
There have been real tests of Harbor Freight Icon ratchets and when opened up they were not as beefy as the Snap On and you could see the wear on them because they are made with softer metals, that is the problem with all the Harbor Freight Icon tools they are made in China with softer metals, the one thing Harbor Freight can't copy is the metal alloy formulas Snap On has developed over the decades. It is one thing to make a shiny tool that looks like a Snap On, it is another thing to actually make it with the same alloy formula as the Snap On.
It's not a "decent margin" though. People who buy Snap-on don't understand the concept of diminishing returns and spend $200 on a ratchet when you can get Icon, SK, Tekton, etc. for $50.
@@jm97240 these discussions are like the budget ar15 discussions. Most can get away with cheap options because they don’t use the equipment hard. They’ll never see the difference in alloys that those of us who actually use the equipment do. I have an icon wrench I put a wrench extender on trying to break a leaf spring bolt and the wrench is box end is bent about 45 degrees. I also have an old pro series craftsman wrench that is the same way. The snap on in same condition broke the bolt and stayed perfectly straight. Rusted bed bolts on old ford trucks are another example. T50 icon and gear wrench both broke. Snap on took the bolts out. Most folks will never see the benefit of quality “on the margins” like a lot of us do. For me I live 45 min from town. If I break an icon like I did in that job and I don’t have any others, it’s a 2-3 hour ordeal to go try to get it warrantied and time is money. For basic hand tools, if one buys used snap on or new CAT versions, or equivalent, these margins begin to disappear with extreme haste. It’s then a matter of do I pay an extra 10$ for an icon socket set or run to the CAT dealer and get a high quality USA made set. I have a lot of the Taiwanese stuff and I do like it, but it’ll never be what Snap on or Mac etc is.
Being able to walk into a store and warrantee swap a tool is big for me. Now that I'm no longer in a shop, getting warrantee on my "truck brand" tools is a pain.
I do not have a favorite brand, but I do appreciate companies that keep manufacturing within fair labor markets and not markets where the workers make less per month than what one ratchet sold makes.
Agreed. Mostly. Some economies are so ‘inexpensive’ that poverty wages to an American would buy a lavish lifestyle somewhere else. Instead of meaningless dollar amounts, I just want to see workers well compensated for what they do - enough to raise a healthy, happy family.
Since ICON is the premire tool product of Harbor Freight, can we please have a section of each store that is exclusive to ICON? I really hate having to go to different sections of the store when I just want ICON.
Where would it end? Separate sections of the store for every premium brand of everything? It would be a chaotic mess. Possibly you just want to shop online, where a browser search input of "Icon" will help narrow your choices.
@@stinkycheese804 ICON is HF's premier brand. If they want to showcase their top brand, a section just for that brand could be easily obtainable to customers who ONLY use the ICON brand. If you don't mind hopping from the screwdriver section to the pliers or other sections to get the ICON tool, more power to you.
I like Harbor Freight for their range of quality. I use them a lot for those need an item for one job type buys or buys for someone just starting to build their tool chest. Recent buys include just needing more pliers as sometimes things get to multiple job sites at once and many times tools are on site for a maybe need, you don't need a top of the line tool for a maybe or just in case.
I'd like to see Icon make all their tools in the USA and sell at the same price. You have to remember that SnapOn is probably paying their employees double or triple what a Taiwanese worker is making so naturally their tools are going to at the very least be double the price. Now imagine Trump coming in and increasing tariffs, we could very well see Icon tool prices getring close to SnapOn prices.
Snap on doesn't rip people off. People buying Snap on are buying all the bells and whistles, they know that there were no sweat shops used to manufacture the tools, and they know there wasn't any excessive pollution in the manufacturing process. I like your comment & I like your spirit and passion for supporting Icon, keep voting with your dollars.
@Dancing_Alone_wRentals I respect your opinion, the best thing is I don't have to agree with you and you don't have to agree with me. That doesn't mean I'm right or wrong same goes for you!
@@Dancing_Alone_wRentals "Snap on are buying all the bells and whistles" Snap on price on tools is way past those bells . I been passing by that Truck for 30 years used craftsman instead. Even at half price snap on tools are over priced imo - there is other tools made in USA and they only charge third or less for their tools. Who wants to pay for Snap on they can .
@@ericwest128 I like Craftsman...I used to buy some, now I can only find it used. It was my own fault, I should of supported them when they were USA made. China isn't the enemy, they started surprise inspections to clean up their factories in 2017. I suppose the world was watching, Germany was probably bent because they manufacture without the pollution and they fight to keep their costs down...but Germany would be pressured to help us clean China. From what I see first hand, China sends endless amounts of students to our universities, it shouldn't be long before they take out the rest of our USA factories. Not much for our guys to do when the jobs dry up...I guess male suicides and overdoses will keep rising. Craftsman, Proto, Williams, SK,...some of my favorite finds at yard sales.
Being a mechanic for over 50 years .. I have bought very few Tools off from Tool Trucks. I have started with a Craftsman's biggest tool set and added Industrial Tools like Armstrong to my Tool Box. I have Snap on Torque wrenches and my 1" Drive sockets are made in Tiawan.
They definitely are ripping off snap on and knipex. The pliers look almost identical to the brand name ones. I think without seeing the label or feeing it in your hand, it would be hard to differentiate the two. They’ve copied the high leverage pliers, the flush cuts, the new needle nose. The grips look very similar to snap ons. I’m all for icon doing their own thing. But change up the look of the tools.
Harbor Freight if you're listening the biggest problem with Icon ratchets is the direction selector not staying in place. I'm not getting rid of the snap ons but if that gets fixed I'll buy the g2 ratchets any day.
Retired truck mechanic and was amazed when I bought some hf tools about 35 years ago. The one set of 1/2” drive 6 point impact sockets I still have in my garage to fix my own cars. They were made in Taiwan I believe and are still going strong. I think the 3/4” size wore out changing tires in my gas station jobs. I bought a chisel set that was a copy of snap-on set that I purchased years before and have grown to use them without seeing if they were the cheap tool...lol . As I recall I used to have to order hf tools from North Carolina back in the 70’s but not sure. The stores are all over now especially after Sears craftsman disappeared. Hope the company manufactures here in USA or at least brings more back to USA with our new president...thanks to everyone who voted for common sense..
Product engineer at Harbor Freight means take a Snap-On tool, disassemble, copy and change just enough where they dont feel Snap-Ons patent attorneys can sue. Kid didn't even deny it. Just dodged question. Eventually Snap-On will have enough of it and win a multi-billion dollar lawsuit against these guys.
Their higher-end sump pumps have been surviving abuse that would burn out any Zoeller at my house and you can buy three backups for the same amount of money.
No idea what you're talking about. My Zoeller has been running many years and so far only needed the switch replaced which was about a $38 DIY repair, which is crazy high for a mere switch, but a lot cheaper than any other options. Just sayin', I don't see how you burn out a Zoeller if you ever had one, so you're just telling us you paid more to replace pumps or are just making up this story?
You will not beat the price point and quality of Harbor Freight tools. Great company. I have been a fan for many years and like any great company they keep getting better…more offerings at fair prices.
In regards to Icon tools, I like them a lot. But theres a few changes I'd make to them. The 1/2" ratchets flex, the bolt that goes through to make the flex joint, starts to back it's way out over time. My idea is for them to install a slightly longer bolt and put an E-clip on the end to prevent it from backing out. I've tried red loctite and it never holds. Another thing on the 1/2" ratchets, they use small screws to hold the ratcheting mechanism inside, those small torx screws like to back out. Again loctite does not help keep those in place. Other than those small gripes, I still use them as an automotive technician. Being 1/3-1/2 the cost of tool truck brands. We lost our Mac dealer earlier this year, so unless you can call him, good luck getting it warrantied out.
Not a bad business mobe honestly. Patents are up make the most popular tools from the most popular brands win for the consumer if we get decent tools at a budget price. They are filling in where craftman left off
I remember when I first heard of Harbor Freight (more than 2 decades ago) my brother had a set of Harbor Freight combo wrenches. They were stamped "INDIA" and looked barely finished. They were almost double the thickness of the Matco wrenches I had. Harbor Freight has come a long way. They still have some junk, but a lot of their tools are a good price for value.
The Icon Pliers Wrench is a fantastic product. Just as good as the Knipex at nearly half the price. I'm hoping that they will come out with different sizes for this item. HF is killing it with their Icon tools line.
You are aware that they just copied the design and had China/Taiwan produce it right? They didnt design or research anything. Even the Icon ratchets are simply etched Icon and you get the same ratchets cheaper.
Good video. I can’t help but think that Harbor Freight is trying to take over the former Craftsman tools market. Back in the day, plenty of mechanics got their start at Sears.
Trying? They did. HF decimated Sear's tool market 20 years ago. Part of it was just inevitable, I mean I have two full sets of lifetime warrantied Craftsman, so besides niche tools, I no longer need to buy more of the staples, just get them replaced under warranty which was a long term liability for Sears. It will eventually be one for HF too.
ICON brand needs to step their after the sale service. Premium brand needs premium service. I was at SEMA saw the tools and got the run around on ICON tool box warranty. "We'll send you the drawer slides for you to install" Or if you want to go through all of the hassle of emptying your tool box and loading it into your truck and delivering it to a HF store, then that's your other option. They really made it clear they did not want to deal with it.
If Harbor Freight tried to sell tools out of a truck/van, there prices would have to go up a lot. A new tool truck/van starts at around $150k and goes up from there. Add in Fuel cost, insurance, Maintenace like tires and brakes, not to mention unseen breakdowns, and now the profit margin has to go up in order to survive. Not to mention payroll for an employee. And then all tool trucks allow their customers to purchase tools and make payments on them. Anywhere from 5 weeks to 26 weeks (sometimes more) and no interest charged. If you want to purchase an item in the HF store, your expected to pay for it in full. Customers making payments sometimes skip out on the tool trucks when they have a balance. It's kind of like Shop Lifting in disguise. It's not right but it does happen a lot. Plus, the cost to develop and design or improve tools such as ratchets, pliers, etc. Those cost go away when you are simply copying someone else's product. And then you have the warranty. When mechanics have a so called, Lifetime Warranty, you would be surprised how bad that is abused. Using a socket as a bushing driver, cutting live 110-volt wire with wire cutters, extensions as a punch and mushrooming the ends so they don't work anymore, drill bits that are dull, and the list goes on and on. So, you would be dead wrong if you think you could buy HF off a tool truck for the same price at a brick-and-mortar location.
I agree that a premium delivery service adds substantial overhead, but it doesn't explain the pricing when the tools are bought elsewhere like direct from Snap Off instead. There is no excuse for their premium pricing in this day and age, but if someone wants to pay that, they should be able to.
ICON is absolutely ripping other products, but they're doing a great job creating quality products at a much better price. I have many of the originals, but it's increasingly difficult to tell which is which. One thing is certain, that missing USA stamping hurts my heart.
I love both Snap On and Harbor freight. My ratchets are all Snap On and I have some other stuff as well. For context I get them at like 50% off at my college. However I am looking at buying some more icon sockets and other stuff. It will be interesting to see how there new dual pawl compares to Snap On.
Been a tech for 20 years and own my own shop for 5 years now . The icon line is absolutely the best quality for the price of any available “pro” tools right now. Is snap on better? For the most part just barely. But for the price icon is far better. Snap on has lost there damn mind with there prices. If I didn’t already have my big ass snap on box i would have gotten the icon box
I'm a home DIY'er and have a 50 year collection of tools, little bit of everything with my fair share of Snap On. Just bought a full on 73" ICON toolbox setup.
@@castortroy9194 that because they copied the dual 80 design and added a split switch. Basically improved it a little, great improvement. The Snap-on pat is probably expired now. They should get their own identity, but you know gotta copy everything.
Ask your HF engineer friend what happened to the update for the ICON Locking Flex Head Ratchet and Bit Set, 35-Piece that was announced last year at SEMA 2023. It was supposed to be out this past spring.
Internet snobs are making everyone believe that they need premium features. Once upon a time ago, people who weren't mechanics, even settled for less than ball bearing drawer slides. I inherited such a tool box, is now about 50 years old and still works fine. It doesn't slide the drawers as "smooth", OH NOEZS!!!!! lol, granted that is more of an issue if you have 50lbs of tools per drawer, not so much 20 lbs.
Their G2 internals look to be a copy of SO’s dual 80 ratchets. When they start using U.S. sourced steel and build the products in the U.S. and paying U.S. wages maybe they will be equal to SO!
I mostly only buy single hand tools to work on my toyota and volkswagon pickup trucks, not tool sets. I do not want a bunch of sockets and wrenches I never use that I have to fumble through to find the tool I need. ICON tool sets are priced where I can buy an entire set and then just give the sockets and wrenches I never use like (16 and 18mm) to somebody who might want them.
The airplane graphic was most cool. Well done Editor. ( I would add that to my videos but it would take away from the boring & dull niche my videos tend to soak in )
Ive bought into the icon stuff on a couple things. Pair of 3 position pliars and a 1/4" ratchet. The pliars are decent but definitely have softer metal then my Knipex. The ratchet was garbage. Way to much back drag and was hard to switch from F/R. Tossed it right into the trash can. Lately ive been using the new 120 tooth Gearwrench ratchets and they are really nice. I have a couple Snap on ones and a couple Koken ones as well. If the 120 tooth Gearwrench ones last like the 80 or 90 tooth (cant recall exact number) then they will continue to get my money.
Meh, there are other brands really close in "quality" for a fraction of the price. They need not be made in the same factory to achieve that. At the same time, there is also a certain minimum cost to make a quality tool and many brands are more suited to occasional rather than daily use.
Since selling off my Snap On tool box and buying an ICON Tool Box I have enjoyed a quality tool box and putting money back in the bank. Don't miss the SO Debt at all.
The bottom tier of HF tools is terrible. I bought a set of three Pittsburgh adjustable wrenches lately for a very simple job and they’re worthless. Just removing a nut the wrenches wouldn’t stay closed around the nut. This was a little more than finger tight. The other problem with HF is their prices across the whole store have risen to the point that you can’t be assured of getting the lowest price like you used to.
The rumors around Icon and snap on are insane and so far from the truth. The two companies aren’t affiliated at all and in reality snap on makes almost all their hand tools in house in the USA and Icon basically just makes knock offs that are made in Taiwan.
If you listened he said he had 9 years experience on a tool truck brand before jumping over to HF aka he is copying what he was helping make before. Lol looks like a few hard drives went missing when he left haha
I’m a guy who just likes tools 😂. I’ve got every icon socket, ratchet, hammer, plier. I don’t use any of it 😅. One day I hope to buy a bus and make it into a RV.
Shopping at home depot or other similar places feels like a rip off after shopping at harbor freight . Especially with their return no questions asked.
I have a S. O. rachet a gearwrench, Icon and Craftsman and the S. O. is definitely the best with the Gearwrench coming in 2nd. I think the Gearwrench is the better value. Wasnt very impressed by the G1 Icon , maybe the G2 will be better
idk why but he seems not very pasonate about them. Maybe it's just because he's camera shy, maybe it's just because he's paid to copy tool, i'm just guessing, but I feel like they never send the people who really designed the stuff. The gearwrench guy seemed very passionate about the stuff he was presenting and talked about it in a way that didn't just seem like marketing. I feel like I could ask a more specific question about the products and I would get a deeper, more specific answer that I couldn't know simply from being trained on what to say.
So snap on’s patent ran out and harbor freight made slight changes and patented that? Gotcha…. Not mad at y’all one bit. You basically took a snap-on and matco ratchet then combined them which in my opinion is awesome. Then did direct copies of snap-on’s pliers which was cool because honestly they’re severely overpriced. Then the boxes are really a copy of Mac’s tech series box. Not snap-on. I’m honestly impressed at where harbor freight is now and what they offer compared to the garbage they used to offer back in the day.
What I don't like about HF is their return policy on if you break one socket you have to bring in the whole set! Well that means that if you loose one socket you have lost the warranty of the whole set! ASK them about that!
I actually did ask him about that off camera. He told me that if you bring in your broken socket, they will open up a set and give you the replacement you need. They just end up selling the partial set as a discounted item.
I just asked this question at my local store.
They said what ToolDemo said.
Bring in the bad (bit driver in my case) and they open another set and then put that set out as an open box item.
Apparently it can be different from one store to the next.
You can purchase individual replacement tools for the ICON line at HF.
I have taken things like a broken tap in, and they just brought up a set, opened it up and gave me the tap. Never had a problem like that. Must be the individual store you go to.
policy is that they open a new set and give you the single replacement, and they put the open set on clearance. Some stores have bad managers that go explicitly against that policy. You can try another store, report that store/manager to corporate, or go online and call to order a single replacement (they have a pdf on their site with every skew so you can lookup your item skew and tell the person on the phone exactly what you want. They will pay for the single item but the shipping is free.
Just remember HF, Project Farm is going to test that! 😳
...and the Torque Test Channel. TTC recently tested 1/2" drive swivel sockets and the ICON version broke. I have the same set and I don't get to use it everyday like the 50-60 hr/wk mechanic does; so mine hasn't broke yet. Fortunately that mechanic has the connivence of running to HF for a replacement.
Harbor freight wins Project Farms head to heads more often than not!
@@RotflmaoProductions9 No, no they don't... lol
@puterg0d you must not watch lol. Getting ridiculously close to snapon is winning considering Snapon cost 5 times more on average
@@nicktetra1824 Wrong. The best is the best, regardless. And I don't send my money to China/Taiwan when and where ever I can help it. And in tools, I can help it 90+% of the time. And I have literally watch EVERY SINGLE ONE of his vids. When I discovered him, I bing watched all the previous ones, and that was a long time ago.
What you really should be upset about is HF charging 2-3 times as much for chinesium rebrands that you can get on Amazon, Alibaba, and Temu for a fraction of what they are charging. The exact same tool! Icon is not much cheaper than other US made tools. Yes, Snap-On is overpriced, which is also why my quantity of Snap-On tools is fairly small. They aren't the only name in quality, US made tools. Just the biggest name.
At harbor freight, a newly hired mechanic can get a nice starting set of tools for $1000. SnapOn won't even let them on the truck with that budget.
But they will get you set up on a credit plan, which makes their tools even more expensive:/
No one’s getting hired with a harbor freight tool set. When a garage is interviewing, the first thing they ask is “how much money do you have in tools”. They’re looking for a number usually over 60k.
Most mechanic schools offer a financed tool set as part of their education cost, something close to a value of 10-40k. They’re usually matco, Cornwel, or some other lower end professional tool mfg. You’re expected to continually build on that through out your career. A mechanic is only as useful as his tool set, though tools aren’t everything.
That said, for home mechanics, harbor freight is wonderful. It empowers people to take charge of their own vehicles maintenance and learn more about how it works without breaking the bank. But one would run into the limits of harbor freight tools if you had to use them everyday all day. They’re starting to make higher end tools that definitely can have their place in a pro tool set, especially as back up tools, and there’s absolutely a handful of tools that are used infrequently that I would recommend harbor freight for.
@@chinchillaintheheat2641 I started out with a $10,000 craftsman set. If you are just starting out nobody is expecting you to have 60k in tools. That is something you build up over time. You buy the basics and then add the specialty items you need. I have never been asked how much money I have invested in tools when I have been in an interview only if I did have my own tools.
@@chinchillaintheheat2641 That's not true at all
@@chinchillaintheheat2641that’s a bald headed lie just like your bald head 😂 ain’t no shop asking that bs
Was at the same show Fri 8th. The engineer I was talking with had formerly worked at DeWalt. Very approachable people, with a large display. Unlike other vendors that only gave me an answer of " the person you need to speak with was here yesterday" now get lost! Go Harbor Freight!
I’m glad SEMA let locals in on Friday, they didn’t have to. Yup, all the Harbor Freight folks were very helpful.
Master Auto Tech here with over 30 years in the trade , I love what you are doing with all the tool lines at harbor freight and i look forward to what else is coming
I stopped by the Harbor Freight booth on SEMA Day one and had the pleasure of speaking with Mr. Oaty. He was very patient with me and answered all of my questions. I asked if Snap on had sent Harbor Freight a cease & desist letter over the three position long nose pliers and if that's why it was taking so long to bring them to market. The new G2 ratchets look and feel great. There was a 26 inch long comfort grip locking 1/2 drive flex head ratchet that HF will get my money for once it's available. HF is using the older Armstrong locking mechanism. I also like the redesigned comfort grip handle. As long as pricing doesn't go through the roof, the new ratchets should be a winner-winner chicken dinner. Great video, thanks for sharing.
Oaty seems like a really good guy. I appreciate that he took time to do the interview.
What was his answer?
Okay, you asked him... What was his answer?
@@omicrondec His answer was no. They used the time to tweak the pliers until they were the best they can be.
@@Fedwrench Which is still far inferior to the one they copied.... And that's pretty sad.
For decades mechanics were ripped off by various tool truck brands encouraging them to go into huge debt. It's past time that this changes. If Harbor Freight does employ a tool truck division and offer tools at reasonable prices then good for them!!!
If Harbor Freight makes a tool truck, they’re becoming a monopoly within 5 years.
As long as they are still making POS chinesium tools, I don't care if they got a truck or not, I won't be stepping on it. I cringe when I have to go to HF as it is. HF is good for one thing, and one thing only: when you need a specific tool you do not have, and you need it RIGHT NOW. Then you go to HF and pick it up. And the way I do it - if I ever have to use that HF tool I bought again, then I buy a quality one.
@@brandondickie3456 🤣🤣
@@puterg0d I agree that a lot of HF tools are junk however, even the name brand stuff is trash also, looks the same, made in China and sold at a higher price.
@@richardstone5241 Lots of "name brand", sure. Just as much junk as HF. 99% of the tools in my toolboxes are Made in USA. Many are "old school" that you can't buy Made in USA anymore, but many aren't. There's still many brands of tools that make some, most, or "nearly" all of their tools in the USA. A few of the brands of tools that are Made in the USA that grace my boxes are: (the obvious one) Snap-On, Proto, *Armstrong, *SK, *Craftsman, Wright Tool, Lang, Lisle, Wilde, Mayhew, Malco, Matco, Williams, Channel Lock, Klein, Mac, OTC, Irwin Hansen, Precision Instruments, Bondhus, Eklind, *K Tool, Starrett, and several others I can't think about at the moment (* old school). Yes, I know some of those no longer exist, or exist in the same incarnation, and I know several of them don't make many tools in the USA, but 99% of the ones I have bought are.
Im a full time diesel mechanic and i use only harbor freight tools. I refuse to buy overinflated tool truck tools. Plus i love the Hercules brand. I honestly hope harbor freight starts bringing out tool trucks
Nobody cares dude just buy wat u can afford
I use a mix of everything, more of a Milwaukee guy. But it would be cool to see icon tool trucks with the same pricing as in stores.
@@vinichi3014 I post these comments so new guys getting in the field understand you don't have to buy took truck tools to do your job
@@StrongerThanBigfootI appreciate your comment, especially since you are a professional.
Thanks for sharing man. glad to hear it.
Icon and Quinn have been pretty awesome recently. I really like those tools.
I have home shop and at work snapon tool boxs. And one shop full of snapon tools now. I have been building these up for like 20 years now.
I started my tool box and tool set with original Sears Craftsman stuff back in the late 90s.
If i was starting today, i would absolutely be buying everything from Harbor Freight. To me it's like the old Sears tool section with Craftsman. I love Harbor Freight. And there's not much i need anymore nowadays, but I'm trying to buy everything from Harbor Freight from here on out.
Im talking to my brother into starting his tool collection by going to Harbor Freight and getting what he needs.
@@phillipsmith5013 I started the same way. I used to love going into the Sears tool aisles looking for new tools.
As a heavy equipment mechanic, I love harbor freight.. a tool breaks, I can go during lunch to replace it. Tool trucks take weeks !
Craftsman dropped the ball years ago, Carlyle is raising prices closer to the tool trucks , I’m looking forward to more ICON tools !
Same. I hope they can keep their prices under control.
If I lose an Icon wrench or socket, I get Carlisle. Exact same
And Carlyle are not even that great.
Everyone acts like companies don't constantly copy/reverse-engineer each other on a regular basis. They all do it. Some just more subtly than others. That's how they can improve on designs.
Yeah I get it, some are just straight copies, but don't pretend that Snap-On has never copied anything.
Yeah, I think the problem most people are having is aesthetic. Nobody is re-inventing the wheel, but a different look might help.
@@as3sxp naw most copy and improve the designs with a different look. HF is copying and paste the same look down to the font.
@andrestnt snap on didn't invent the look either they copy and pasted just like everyone else. Most copied craftman teardrop design from the 50's
Koken tools claims they invented the wobble/fix extensions, much like how snap on claims they did. I read this on an article so I dont know the true validity but apparently Wright tools invented off corner loading in socket designs, but snap on won all the contracts for the military decades ago. From what I've read, they just love saying they invented shit
@@ToolDemosThe problem people are having is the fact that quality tools are being knocked off by Chinese factories. They're blatantly stealing designs and putting out an inferior product and putting Americans out of jobs. You're also supporting a Communist country in China. Aesthetics are not even close to the real problem.
"Senior Engineer" looks like he's waiting to turn 21 to have his first beer ;)
Srsly, he looks like he hasn't started shaving yet.
I looked 21 until I was 31, too. Embrace youth while you can.
Engineer vs mechanic :(
My wife is 49 and she says “ it doesn’t matter because most people think I’m in my 30’s”. on the other hand, I’m 46 and I feel like I’m 80. Soon I can start playing Santa Claus at the mall during Christmas because my beard is all gray
He said he's got at least 14 years experience. He's around 30. Probably hasn't smoked or drank himself into looking like an old catchers mitt. Take care of yourself kids!! 😂😗
"My primary focus is buying Snap On tools and sending them to Taiwan with a note saying 'Make this. Cheap.'"
Does snap on sell exclusively made in America (or German) made products?
I wish they did, but that water has been muddied for many years.
Great video and nice running into you at the show!
Thanks Jeff. I appreciate your ‘insider’ tip. Cheers!
HF has stepped up their game. More stores popping up all over my area. The tool truck guys better watch out
12 years ago there were no HF stores in my area, now there are two. HF has all the momentum in the retail tool space.
No body cares about that cheap Chinese garbage lol tool trucks have nothing to worry about
Harbor Freight has put a lot of work into their tool line over the years and has a good name for themselves. I remember them, the dad and then son, calling me in the late 70s every month or two selling tools. Over the years I purchased many HF tools and now retired I am setting up a home shop with all HF tools.
🤣
Snap On is Harbor Freight’s R&D department. Without Snap On, there would be no Icon. It’s nice to have both tiers of options, high end USA and upper tier Taiwan. Anyone who uses tools and/or is honest with themselves knows Snap On’s products are mostly better by a decent margin, but these new ratchets and some of the Icon ratcheting wrenches may be objectively better, which keeps the pressure on Snap On, which is a good thing for consumers.
Exactly. HF guys are like “snap on sucks!” Yet anything they make worth a shit are direct copies of actual tool companies, not cloning operations
There have been real tests of Harbor Freight Icon ratchets and when opened up they were not as beefy as the Snap On and you could see the wear on them because they are made with softer metals, that is the problem with all the Harbor Freight Icon tools they are made in China with softer metals, the one thing Harbor Freight can't copy is the metal alloy formulas Snap On has developed over the decades. It is one thing to make a shiny tool that looks like a Snap On, it is another thing to actually make it with the same alloy formula as the Snap On.
@@mustangecoboosthpp3869Icon is made in Taiwan, like Matco and Mac... and blue point
It's not a "decent margin" though. People who buy Snap-on don't understand the concept of diminishing returns and spend $200 on a ratchet when you can get Icon, SK, Tekton, etc. for $50.
@@jm97240 these discussions are like the budget ar15 discussions. Most can get away with cheap options because they don’t use the equipment hard. They’ll never see the difference in alloys that those of us who actually use the equipment do. I have an icon wrench I put a wrench extender on trying to break a leaf spring bolt and the wrench is box end is bent about 45 degrees. I also have an old pro series craftsman wrench that is the same way. The snap on in same condition broke the bolt and stayed perfectly straight. Rusted bed bolts on old ford trucks are another example. T50 icon and gear wrench both broke. Snap on took the bolts out. Most folks will never see the benefit of quality “on the margins” like a lot of us do. For me I live 45 min from town. If I break an icon like I did in that job and I don’t have any others, it’s a 2-3 hour ordeal to go try to get it warrantied and time is money.
For basic hand tools, if one buys used snap on or new CAT versions, or equivalent, these margins begin to disappear with extreme haste. It’s then a matter of do I pay an extra 10$ for an icon socket set or run to the CAT dealer and get a high quality USA made set.
I have a lot of the Taiwanese stuff and I do like it, but it’ll never be what Snap on or Mac etc is.
Being able to walk into a store and warrantee swap a tool is big for me. Now that I'm no longer in a shop, getting warrantee on my "truck brand" tools is a pain.
I do not have a favorite brand, but I do appreciate companies that keep manufacturing within fair labor markets and not markets where the workers make less per month than what one ratchet sold makes.
Agreed. Mostly. Some economies are so ‘inexpensive’ that poverty wages to an American would buy a lavish lifestyle somewhere else. Instead of meaningless dollar amounts, I just want to see workers well compensated for what they do - enough to raise a healthy, happy family.
Since ICON is the premire tool product of Harbor Freight, can we please have a section of each store that is exclusive to ICON? I really hate having to go to different sections of the store when I just want ICON.
I usually find more cool tools they have when looking for something
Where would it end? Separate sections of the store for every premium brand of everything? It would be a chaotic mess. Possibly you just want to shop online, where a browser search input of "Icon" will help narrow your choices.
@@stinkycheese804 ICON is HF's premier brand. If they want to showcase their top brand, a section just for that brand could be easily obtainable to customers who ONLY use the ICON brand. If you don't mind hopping from the screwdriver section to the pliers or other sections to get the ICON tool, more power to you.
I like Harbor Freight for their range of quality. I use them a lot for those need an item for one job type buys or buys for someone just starting to build their tool chest. Recent buys include just needing more pliers as sometimes things get to multiple job sites at once and many times tools are on site for a maybe need, you don't need a top of the line tool for a maybe or just in case.
Them talking about their engineering is kind of hilarious. They are literally just a knock off of snapon and knipex.
Great interview. Thank you for sharing this with your viewers. I am stoked for the release of the G2 Icon ratchets. I can't wait.
I appreciate that. I’m excited to see the G2 at launch myself.
They better have a 3/4" ratchet available. I don't understand how they could have missed that 😡
Icon to the top! All the Snapon fans boys are going to be mad😅😊
At least harbor freight is thinking about the customers and not ripping people off.
I'd like to see Icon make all their tools in the USA and sell at the same price. You have to remember that SnapOn is probably paying their employees double or triple what a Taiwanese worker is making so naturally their tools are going to at the very least be double the price. Now imagine Trump coming in and increasing tariffs, we could very well see Icon tool prices getring close to SnapOn prices.
Snap on doesn't rip people off. People buying Snap on are buying all the bells and whistles, they know that there were no sweat shops used to manufacture the tools, and they know there wasn't any excessive pollution in the manufacturing process.
I like your comment & I like your spirit and passion for supporting Icon, keep voting with your dollars.
@Dancing_Alone_wRentals I respect your opinion, the best thing is I don't have to agree with you and you don't have to agree with me.
That doesn't mean I'm right or wrong same goes for you!
@@Dancing_Alone_wRentals "Snap on are buying all the bells and whistles" Snap on price on tools is way past those bells . I been passing by that Truck for 30 years used craftsman instead. Even at half price snap on tools are over priced imo - there is other tools made in USA and they only charge third or less for their tools. Who wants to pay for Snap on they can .
@@ericwest128 I like Craftsman...I used to buy some, now I can only find it used.
It was my own fault, I should of supported them when they were USA made.
China isn't the enemy, they started surprise inspections to clean up their factories in 2017. I suppose the world was watching, Germany was probably bent because they manufacture without the pollution and they fight to keep their costs down...but Germany would be pressured to help us clean China.
From what I see first hand, China sends endless amounts of students to our universities, it shouldn't be long before they take out the rest of our USA factories.
Not much for our guys to do when the jobs dry up...I guess male suicides and overdoses will keep rising.
Craftsman, Proto, Williams, SK,...some of my favorite finds at yard sales.
Being a mechanic for over 50 years .. I have bought very few Tools off from Tool Trucks. I have started with a Craftsman's biggest tool set and added Industrial Tools like Armstrong to my Tool Box. I have Snap on Torque wrenches and my 1" Drive sockets are made in Tiawan.
They definitely are ripping off snap on and knipex. The pliers look almost identical to the brand name ones. I think without seeing the label or feeing it in your hand, it would be hard to differentiate the two. They’ve copied the high leverage pliers, the flush cuts, the new needle nose. The grips look very similar to snap ons.
I’m all for icon doing their own thing. But change up the look of the tools.
U can copy the design but not the quality
@@vinichi3014 Also not copying the price.. HF will be a fraction of the price and do the same job..
@turboimport95 ok brokie
@turboimport95 and a bike will take you where ever you wanna go too dummy idiots will use any excuse for being broke and cheap
@@vinichi3014 i have the full knipex set, that was made in germany.. so yeah..
Harbor Freight if you're listening the biggest problem with Icon ratchets is the direction selector not staying in place. I'm not getting rid of the snap ons but if that gets fixed I'll buy the g2 ratchets any day.
Retired truck mechanic and was amazed when I bought some hf tools about 35 years ago. The one set of 1/2” drive 6 point impact sockets I still have in my garage to fix my own cars. They were made in Taiwan I believe and are still going strong. I think the 3/4” size wore out changing tires in my gas station jobs. I bought a chisel set that was a copy of snap-on set that I purchased years before and have grown to use them without seeing if they were the cheap tool...lol . As I recall I used to have to order hf tools from North Carolina back in the 70’s but not sure. The stores are all over now especially after Sears craftsman disappeared. Hope the company manufactures here in USA or at least brings more back to USA with our new president...thanks to everyone who voted for common sense..
They have some USA stuff, I hope they bring more home myself.
Product engineer at Harbor Freight means take a Snap-On tool, disassemble, copy and change just enough where they dont feel Snap-Ons patent attorneys can sue. Kid didn't even deny it. Just dodged question. Eventually Snap-On will have enough of it and win a multi-billion dollar lawsuit against these guys.
Misery loves company.
Their higher-end sump pumps have been surviving abuse that would burn out any Zoeller at my house and you can buy three backups for the same amount of money.
No idea what you're talking about. My Zoeller has been running many years and so far only needed the switch replaced which was about a $38 DIY repair, which is crazy high for a mere switch, but a lot cheaper than any other options.
Just sayin', I don't see how you burn out a Zoeller if you ever had one, so you're just telling us you paid more to replace pumps or are just making up this story?
You will not beat the price point and quality of Harbor Freight tools. Great company. I have been a fan for many years and like any great company they keep getting better…more offerings at fair prices.
In regards to Icon tools, I like them a lot. But theres a few changes I'd make to them. The 1/2" ratchets flex, the bolt that goes through to make the flex joint, starts to back it's way out over time. My idea is for them to install a slightly longer bolt and put an E-clip on the end to prevent it from backing out. I've tried red loctite and it never holds.
Another thing on the 1/2" ratchets, they use small screws to hold the ratcheting mechanism inside, those small torx screws like to back out. Again loctite does not help keep those in place.
Other than those small gripes, I still use them as an automotive technician. Being 1/3-1/2 the cost of tool truck brands. We lost our Mac dealer earlier this year, so unless you can call him, good luck getting it warrantied out.
Not a bad business mobe honestly. Patents are up make the most popular tools from the most popular brands win for the consumer if we get decent tools at a budget price. They are filling in where craftman left off
I remember when I first heard of Harbor Freight (more than 2 decades ago) my brother had a set of Harbor Freight combo wrenches. They were stamped "INDIA" and looked barely finished. They were almost double the thickness of the Matco wrenches I had. Harbor Freight has come a long way. They still have some junk, but a lot of their tools are a good price for value.
Great interview
Thanks.
The Icon Pliers Wrench is a fantastic product. Just as good as the Knipex at nearly half the price. I'm hoping that they will come out with different sizes for this item. HF is killing it with their Icon tools line.
You are aware that they just copied the design and had China/Taiwan produce it right? They didnt design or research anything. Even the Icon ratchets are simply etched Icon and you get the same ratchets cheaper.
When are they going to make a slide top full bank tool cart?
This shows the beauty of capitalism.
yeah export manufacturing so no labor costs and lower prices - love to see american factories close its beautiful
@@vincentdipazio8143 What percentage of snap on tools are manufactured in the United States?
Good video. I can’t help but think that Harbor Freight is trying to take over the former Craftsman tools market. Back in the day, plenty of mechanics got their start at Sears.
@@cdee6096 I certainly did. Was upset when they stopped caring about the brand.
Trying? They did. HF decimated Sear's tool market 20 years ago. Part of it was just inevitable, I mean I have two full sets of lifetime warrantied Craftsman, so besides niche tools, I no longer need to buy more of the staples, just get them replaced under warranty which was a long term liability for Sears. It will eventually be one for HF too.
Great video bro 👍
Appreciate it
Also very excited about the new ratchet.
ICON brand needs to step their after the sale service. Premium brand needs
premium service. I was at SEMA saw the tools and got the run around on
ICON tool box warranty. "We'll send you the drawer slides for you to install" Or if you want to go through all of the hassle of emptying your tool box and loading it into your truck and delivering it to a HF store, then that's your other option. They really made it
clear they did not want to deal with it.
If Harbor Freight tried to sell tools out of a truck/van, there prices would have to go up a lot. A new tool truck/van starts at around $150k and goes up from there. Add in Fuel cost, insurance, Maintenace like tires and brakes, not to mention unseen breakdowns, and now the profit margin has to go up in order to survive. Not to mention payroll for an employee. And then all tool trucks allow their customers to purchase tools and make payments on them. Anywhere from 5 weeks to 26 weeks (sometimes more) and no interest charged. If you want to purchase an item in the HF store, your expected to pay for it in full. Customers making payments sometimes skip out on the tool trucks when they have a balance. It's kind of like Shop Lifting in disguise. It's not right but it does happen a lot. Plus, the cost to develop and design or improve tools such as ratchets, pliers, etc. Those cost go away when you are simply copying someone else's product. And then you have the warranty. When mechanics have a so called, Lifetime Warranty, you would be surprised how bad that is abused. Using a socket as a bushing driver, cutting live 110-volt wire with wire cutters, extensions as a punch and mushrooming the ends so they don't work anymore, drill bits that are dull, and the list goes on and on. So, you would be dead wrong if you think you could buy HF off a tool truck for the same price at a brick-and-mortar location.
I agree that a premium delivery service adds substantial overhead, but it doesn't explain the pricing when the tools are bought elsewhere like direct from Snap Off instead. There is no excuse for their premium pricing in this day and age, but if someone wants to pay that, they should be able to.
Ko-ken mentioned. 😳😳😳😳
Yeah, looks like they have their sights on Snap On and now Ko-ken too!
He's young smart and already experienced. Nice 👍
ICON is absolutely ripping other products, but they're doing a great job creating quality products at a much better price. I have many of the originals, but it's increasingly difficult to tell which is which. One thing is certain, that missing USA stamping hurts my heart.
I love both Snap On and Harbor freight. My ratchets are all Snap On and I have some other stuff as well. For context I get them at like 50% off at my college. However I am looking at buying some more icon sockets and other stuff. It will be interesting to see how there new dual pawl compares to Snap On.
Been a tech for 20 years and own my own shop for 5 years now . The icon line is absolutely the best quality for the price of any available “pro” tools right now. Is snap on better? For the most part just barely. But for the price icon is far better. Snap on has lost there damn mind with there prices. If I didn’t already have my big ass snap on box i would have gotten the icon box
I'm a home DIY'er and have a 50 year collection of tools, little bit of everything with my fair share of Snap On. Just bought a full on 73" ICON toolbox setup.
how do you like it so far?
@@ToolDemos It being delivered today
@ right on! I hope you enjoy it.
They developed the G2 from the ground up? It looks like a dual 80 to me
@@castortroy9194 that because they copied the dual 80 design and added a split switch. Basically improved it a little, great improvement. The Snap-on pat is probably expired now. They should get their own identity, but you know gotta copy everything.
Ive said for years...icon needs 9 inch slip joint needle nose pliers! Cause i love the 9 inch snap on needle nose pliers!
@@brandonyeager4217 yeah, they’re the best!
Ask your HF engineer friend what happened to the update for the ICON Locking Flex Head Ratchet and Bit Set, 35-Piece that was announced last year at SEMA 2023. It was supposed to be out this past spring.
The thing i noticed at harbor freight is the new tool boxes. They really went up in price compared to the previous line.
Yeah, they have.
Internet snobs are making everyone believe that they need premium features. Once upon a time ago, people who weren't mechanics, even settled for less than ball bearing drawer slides. I inherited such a tool box, is now about 50 years old and still works fine. It doesn't slide the drawers as "smooth", OH NOEZS!!!!! lol, granted that is more of an issue if you have 50lbs of tools per drawer, not so much 20 lbs.
Good Morning, Where is Oaty From I detect a slight Austrian dialect.. Thanks & great video! Huge effort!
Their G2 internals look to be a copy of SO’s dual 80 ratchets. When they start using U.S. sourced steel and build the products in the U.S. and paying U.S. wages maybe they will be equal to SO!
I remember buying prybars at harbor freight several years ago that were the same as MAC . I was even able to warranty some of them on the tool truck
Yep. They’re made by Mayhew Tools.
The prybars they sell now dangerously cheap made
Great Video,, I love Harbor Freight.
Thanks 👍
I mostly only buy single hand tools to work on my toyota and volkswagon pickup trucks, not tool sets. I do not want a bunch of sockets and wrenches I never use that I have to fumble through to find the tool I need.
ICON tool sets are priced where I can buy an entire set and then just give the sockets and wrenches I never use like (16 and 18mm) to somebody who might want them.
The airplane graphic was most cool. Well done Editor.
( I would add that to my videos but it would take away from the boring & dull niche my videos tend to soak in )
Hey, thanks. 🍻
Ive bought into the icon stuff on a couple things. Pair of 3 position pliars and a 1/4" ratchet. The pliars are decent but definitely have softer metal then my Knipex. The ratchet was garbage. Way to much back drag and was hard to switch from F/R. Tossed it right into the trash can.
Lately ive been using the new 120 tooth Gearwrench ratchets and they are really nice. I have a couple Snap on ones and a couple Koken ones as well. If the 120 tooth Gearwrench ones last like the 80 or 90 tooth (cant recall exact number) then they will continue to get my money.
Icon needs to come out with a master set like gearwrench would be pretty cool.
In other words the lawyers prepared me on how to answer the counterfeiting question.
Good speaker and it looks like he knows what he's talking about. Too bad the US lost this manufacturing
Anybody with any common sense would know that Snap-on are not made in same factory or even in the same country 😂 and are not even close in quality
Meh, there are other brands really close in "quality" for a fraction of the price. They need not be made in the same factory to achieve that. At the same time, there is also a certain minimum cost to make a quality tool and many brands are more suited to occasional rather than daily use.
Those engineers must be working hard. Those tools look like some tools I have already
The dual pawl design is very similar to Snap On.
Since selling off my Snap On tool box and buying an ICON Tool Box I have enjoyed a quality tool box and putting money back in the bank. Don't miss the SO Debt at all.
harbor freight , bring back the 36 inch icon toolbox!!
I like the Icon copycat pliers.
The bottom tier of HF tools is terrible. I bought a set of three Pittsburgh adjustable wrenches lately for a very simple job and they’re worthless. Just removing a nut the wrenches wouldn’t stay closed around the nut. This was a little more than finger tight. The other problem with HF is their prices across the whole store have risen to the point that you can’t be assured of getting the lowest price like you used to.
Yeah Pittsburgh has taken a hit. I think their Quinn line is the quality Pittsburgh use to be. However they do have a lifetime warranty.
If icon starts building 30” deep boxes it’s over 🙏🏽🙏🏽👍🏽👍🏽
Could happen.
You should have asked them if icon are made in the same factory in China the most spread rumor of all but you didnt.
He would not of answered that
Torque test UA-cam channel did some good side by side testing of icon and snapon.
Good to know. They do a great job on their channel.
The rumors around Icon and snap on are insane and so far from the truth. The two companies aren’t affiliated at all and in reality snap on makes almost all their hand tools in house in the USA and Icon basically just makes knock offs that are made in Taiwan.
I support USA whenever possible
Gotta trust a guy with that sir name. :)
Icon engineer = king of copy and paste buttons
😂😂😂😂😂😅
This comment is spot on!
If you listened he said he had 9 years experience on a tool truck brand before jumping over to HF aka he is copying what he was helping make before. Lol looks like a few hard drives went missing when he left haha
Can ICON make their boxes 30" deep please!!! At least their flagship 72/84" box....
I second that 🙋♂️
So now we know the true identity of ChrisFix 😊.
I’m a guy who just likes tools 😂. I’ve got every icon socket, ratchet, hammer, plier. I don’t use any of it 😅. One day I hope to buy a bus and make it into a RV.
Shopping at home depot or other similar places feels like a rip off after shopping at harbor freight . Especially with their return no questions asked.
I have a S. O. rachet a gearwrench, Icon and Craftsman and the S. O. is definitely the best with the Gearwrench coming in 2nd. I think the Gearwrench is the better value. Wasnt very impressed by the G1 Icon , maybe the G2 will be better
What I’m dying to know is if they will ever come out with an Icon 2 toolbox that looks like a snap-on epiq
According to the magic 8 ball, ‘signs point to yes’.
Sad thing is he mentioned no copying of other brands when almost all the new tools look like snap on talon grips or there 80 tooth ratchets.
He kinda danced around that question lol
Who cares if they are copying. If they are not breaking the law and giving value to consumers than it is a win win.
Nice but please open a store in Puerto Rico please
idk why but he seems not very pasonate about them. Maybe it's just because he's camera shy, maybe it's just because he's paid to copy tool, i'm just guessing, but I feel like they never send the people who really designed the stuff. The gearwrench guy seemed very passionate about the stuff he was presenting and talked about it in a way that didn't just seem like marketing. I feel like I could ask a more specific question about the products and I would get a deeper, more specific answer that I couldn't know simply from being trained on what to say.
WHEN ARE WE GOING TO SEE HF TOOL TRUCKS?!!!!
Well tell bro to make a 60 or 68 inch icon tool box with three wide drawers and trim tool
😂😂 but the guy didn't answer. U answered for him
You should have asked if HF has any plans to go Public - oh wait, the guy who knows that left yesterday! But seriously...
As long as their made anywhere but China.
Here is a question for Mr. ICON Engineer, what is the paint code for a blue ICON toolbox????????????? Why is that answer so hard to get??????????????
At 7:03 you said Hart tools? That's Wal-mart.
@@stevem1081 good catch, thanks.
So snap on’s patent ran out and harbor freight made slight changes and patented that? Gotcha…. Not mad at y’all one bit. You basically took a snap-on and matco ratchet then combined them which in my opinion is awesome. Then did direct copies of snap-on’s pliers which was cool because honestly they’re severely overpriced. Then the boxes are really a copy of Mac’s tech series box. Not snap-on. I’m honestly impressed at where harbor freight is now and what they offer compared to the garbage they used to offer back in the day.
Seem like SOFT BALL questions , how about why the have almost exact copies of Knipex and Snap On
Senior (in high school) Engineer