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I'm 74 years old. I use open end/ box end wrenches that were my fathers as well as tools I have bought. From cheap to expensive, few have ever failed me. The cheap ones I don't mind altering to fit a situation. The more expensive ones, such as Snapon, I find their smooth finish become very slippery with greasy hands. Flea markets, yard sales are the best place to find bargins on hand tools. Don't be afraid to buy a cheap hand tool.

@steveskouson9620

11 ай бұрын

I'm only 65, but I use Craftsman stuff, BECAUSE they aren't shiny and smooth. (And, been using them for over 60 years.) A couple friends and I were cleaning out one of their boats. I found a Craftsman 3/8 ratchet. I said, looks like a brand new ratchet. Next day, it was. (Oh, 1970s.) steve

I'm still using the lifetime guaranteed Penncraft combination wrenches I bought in 1974 from J.C. Penneys. And I keep them in the Montgomery Ward roll around toolbox I bought in 1966. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

@tombob671

Жыл бұрын

I am 76 and I had some Powerkraft and Penncraft wrenches from the 60s and 70s. I have just given them and all my tools to my grandson. Lots of old Craftsman too, even a few Snap on (darn few). He just finished a hitch in the Marines and he is super happy. And so am I from the Old folks home.

@rileychu4489

Жыл бұрын

good for you but most of us weren't alive then lol

@dodgesportsman772

Жыл бұрын

Awesome ..but the warranty is no good anymore... But... Seems like you really don't need it

@BirdwellingtonAmalgamation

Жыл бұрын

They don't make em like they used to brother!

@The52brandon

Жыл бұрын

The question is, if it IS broke, will they fix it? Don't get me wrong, I love those old school tools. And in the vast majority of situations, the US-made Craftsman Mechanic's Set (I think like 400-something piece, but a handful of them were allen keys and hex bits) that I got on a Black Friday deal for like $300, something like 10-15 years ago has been more than enough. Though I've added things like ratcheting wrenches, pliers wrench, Crescent auto-adjusting pipe wrench (that I've been particularly impressed with), and a ton of cordless powertools. All of those things are really nice to have, but for the most part, I can probably do it with the Craftsman set, it'll just take more time/effort/sanity/etc. But I think the Penny's Montgomery Ward brands are long-gone by now

You can order individual wrench’s from Harbor Freight. Not by online or in store but there is a customer service line which you do a phone order with. 2 weeks later you get your individual piece. I got one of these sets on the clearance rack locally cause it was missing a 15mm. A phone call and 15 bucks later I completed my set once delivered

@jeterplaysshort

16 күн бұрын

If only were that nice I ordered two ikon a deep well 12 and shallow 10 I got my deep 12 came unmarked very different quality but still no 10 after 2 calls to hf parts

The reason why your reviews are among the best on KZread is because you don't shill for products and more importantly, you actually use them. These wrenches look well used and this is the way reviews should be done. Much appreciated.

I bought a set of Snap-on wrenches back in the early 70s and used them daily at my Dads construction company for 29 years and still use them weekly, they look like the day I bought them and still work perfectly. I believe I paid around one hundred dollars for them back then and never have regretted it.

@phillhuddleston9445

Жыл бұрын

One Hundred bucks in the seventies was far more than one hundred of 2023 dollars!

@chiplangowski3298

Жыл бұрын

@@phillhuddleston9445 ​ - $100 in 1970 was the equivalent of $786.36 today.

@SpicyRok7482

Жыл бұрын

My $100 set of Snap-On OEXM 10mm - 19mm Flank Drive wrenches ( with pouch ) still "work fine" too! OEXM - Open End Box End Metric bought in '76...1976.

@COBRO98

Ай бұрын

@@phillhuddleston9445 Today that set of wrenches will cost you $2800..

Im impressed you managed to keep the coveted 10mm wrench. Mine always seem to disappear.

@truthserum9157

Жыл бұрын

Yep, along with 7/16 and 1/2 always missing.

@jamesgermain8466

6 ай бұрын

mine too 🤣🤣

Lifelong mechanic, owned every brand of tools out there, and i agree …. bought a metric and standard set of these wrenches a few years ago and have no complaints at all. These are good wrenches.

@jimmytate7587

Жыл бұрын

i have the cheaper sets of Pittsburgh wrenches and they are great. both sets were on sale. they have seen some heavy use and come through beautifully.

@brandoncrimmins6296

4 ай бұрын

Communist

@Manuel3525m

Ай бұрын

Lifelong mechanic haven’t had any trouble with my crafsman wrenches

I also had my original set of craftsman wrenches from 30 years ago minus a few missing ones. Recently bought a set of Tekton wrenches after seeing good reviews on KZread. So far so good.

As a coal miner that uses had tools every day at work I have two set of them icon wrenches and they are amazing

I agree, Harbor Freight Icon tools have stepped up their game, they are also lifetime warrantied. I have been picking up a lot of their tools for my shop, farm and home.

Boy Mr. E.... you mentioned your high school tools and brought back a flood of memories. Like you I thought I was lucky when I purchased my first craftsman 4 wrench basic set. Then I added some "Power craft" ,(monkey wards) add-ons, and some cheapos when I couldn't afford good ones. I'm still using my craftsmen and powercraft... those cheapos are long gone. Like you've always said "buy once cry once". Thanks for the insight and you brought up a really good point about Icons, (think all those lost 10mm).👍

I love the fact that you are producing tools review again. this is how i found your channel back in 2009 or 2010 .welcome back man! BTW i did follow the channel threw the farm equipment repair and Hay farming as well.

@MikeCris

Жыл бұрын

Yes...I recognize this voice. I'm happy he's back.

I have a complete set of 1967 Craftsman tools that I bought when got out of High School. They still look great and the all still work. they are mechanic and body tools. I've used them every day since. I'm 74 y.o.

The ICON wrenches are very good. For my application (heavy equipment) they are as good as Snap On all day long. But my gripe with the ICON line is the same... they don't sell individual replacements. However, when Harbor Freight replaces a broken wrench, they replace the entire set, and sometimes the store will have the remainder of the set stashed in the back room. So if you need a replacement, at least ask the store manager if they have a loose one available for purchase. I did this with a lost socket and got lucky... the guy just gave it to me because I shop there enough. It's worth a try.

@DoTheHardThings

5 ай бұрын

Google in stock replacement parts listing harbor freight. There’s a number to call, they do sell individual replacements in case you lose one.

@xsixinfantryx

Ай бұрын

I cracked a socket and they had no single replacement. So they opened a set and gave me a replacement out of that 👍

I have a few of the icons , really like them over anything around right now. I have tons of craftsman tools from the early 90's that I still use all the time.

You know you can order individual tools from harbor freight in the icon series. They literally have a break down for each kit. Then you call them and they send it out to you. Not hard. Same as a lot of companies

Been a long time since I've seen any of your content. Glad to see it again.

Glad to see your back!!!!

IF I am looking at the correct set of wrenches on HF you can now buy individual replacements. 3/4" is $12.95.

I have found that pawn shops are a good place to get tools. Most of them have bins full of single wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, etc. Most sell the tools by the pound, so you can get some quality tools for a good price. And if you use say a 9/16 socket often, you can just buy a dozen of them and not have to hunt for one when you need it.

Great review! Also I really like how large the wrench size is stamped into the wrench.

I'm still using my original Craftsman tools that my parents bought me when I was tuning wrenches, way back when. And they're still going strong. Good thing you were able to find a, almost, matching Snap-On for such a cheap price. Had you gone to a Snap-On dealer on a truck who knows how much that would've cost you.

@tomcatt998

Жыл бұрын

Snapon 1/4" wrench $1,599.38

@mikesmith-po8nd

Жыл бұрын

@tomcatt998, but remember that they will finance it for you at 4 years at only $499.95 a week.

As said below you can order an individual wrench over the phone from HF. They also sell drawers for their tool boxes so you can somewhat customize your tool box. Like replacing 2 shallow drawers with one taller. Not all drawers are interchangeable but many are this works on the icon and general series 2 boxes fyi. They’re in California and in my experience really helpful and easy to deal with.

As good as they are as you pointed out sometimes wrenches get lost, Harbor Freight needs to step up and make replacements available at a decent price. Hopefully this video may catch their eye and they do the right thing. Thanks for all your time in making these videos.

Glad to see you doing well chuckee. You were right all along. I was too naive to know it at the time

im a mechanic and have the same set, ive been very happy with the performance but i did notice recently that its beginning to rust right around where "ICON" is stamped. great performing wrenches but not lifetime tools i think, and the anti slip version is worth its weight in gold

Have not seen you for a while, didn’t know you changed your channel name. Glad I found you on here.

I have a combination of 90's era Craftsman and misc brand wrench's rescued from being USN deep sixed. I recently bought the Icon pro ratcheting SAE and metric. Use them daily for building out GM crate motors into marine engines.

Great video. Thanks. Just an FYI. If you lose anymore you might want to check with HF again. You can usually get replacements.

LMAO! Love the vid! I have the ICON sets and really like them a lot. I think HF is really missing the boat by not selling individual wrenches in the ICON line. Imagine the DIY guy looking at a set of wrenches for say, $150. He's going to think "Nice set, but damn.....I can't see dropping that much right now." Where if HF offered single wrenches, the DIY guy could drop one or two in his cart every time he went there until he had a complete set. WAKE UP Harbor Freight!!

Hell yea bro. I have both those sets and a whole set of hodgepodge wrenches. Never getting rid of those. Icon wrenches are nice

Glad you are back Chucky09

I still use my HF impact sockets, back when I worked for roadside assistance! I musta did Hundreds or thousands of cars with them....I actually Still use them on a regular basis...I've owned an F250, camaro, Toyota and several SUV's...I can't believe they still work, I bought them like 7 years ago! Lol

Stretch!! The best welding videos ever, EVER!

Chuck, go to your H F store and tell them you need to buy a replacement. Some stores will order one for you and some stores will actually take one from a set on the shelf. Replacements are available, it just takes a bit of time and trouble. Good luck !

I bought Icon wrenches back in January, but after two weeks of working with them 9, 10, 12 hours a day, 6 or 7 days a week, I returned all of them and bought Mac Precision Torque wrenches. The Icons hurt my palms, and the open end would spread wide with moderately stuck tierod jam nuts. The Macs feel better and work better. Just my opinion.

I bought a few different icon wrench sets and loosing one is one of my concerns. That's why my gearwrench sets are usually my go to wrenches . I can buy those individually if I need to. So I only use my icons where I know I don't move my project around. But all my icon stuff has held up very well no complaints yet aside from I wish they had more sizes in their other sets. Like the ratchet wrench set is 10 to 19mm I wish it was 8 to 22 or 24.

I have the same wrenches in both Icon and SnapOn. They look the same but the metal Icon uses is very soft. When you push the Icon wrenches hard, they open up and slip. SnapOn won't open up. Whatever it is that you are working on either breaks free, or the wrench will snap. For light to middle weight work, the Icon is fine. But if you do a lot of heavy, abusive type of work, you need good wrenches. Otherwise, you'll be forced to use pipe wrenches or something similar every time you round off a nut or bolt with cheap tools.

@ihavethedocuments2580

Жыл бұрын

Found the snap on rep ☝️

@jbboozer6726

10 ай бұрын

Torque Test Channel Snapon is #2 Icon is #5 ...about 30 competitors....Icon holds its own better than most, they do not just "open up". and Snapon comparison? honestly the price difference? Average $8 vs $40 each. For the price, Milwaukee and Icon are the best value to performance on the market right now

And now, after some time, you will suddenly stumble across your missing 3/4 in the strangest of places. Years ago we lost a short extension and a 3/8ths socket at the racetrack. Fast forward ten years when we tore the front end down, we found them. Still together, and sticking through a small gap in the frame hidden under a control arm.

Keep an eye out for the open box deals at HF. That’s the best chance you have at getting that one wrench. Like for example if you break a different one and take it back for the life time guarantee. And come back later and look for the remaining wrenches listed cheaper.

That's one of my biggest complaints about harbor freight no open stock tools available. A legitimate tool company has open stock available on wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers and more.

@jbboozer6726

10 ай бұрын

manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/parts/P64711.pdf

The 19MM is about the exact same as a 3/4. But a snap on for 20$ is a nice find. I plan to buy the SAE ones later this month. These longer wrenches have saved me from taking out a breaker bar when I only needed extra umph.

I purchased my first set of Flankdrive plus SnapOn wrench sets 28 years ago. The 10-19mm set was about $250 back then and I was aghast at the price but since I was a full time technician I felt they would be worth it. Now, 28 years later I have numerous wrench sets from several different manufacturers but I will still grab the FlankDrives first. They’ve been worth every penny that I paid for them. The only other combination wrenches that are on par with them are the WrightGrip 2.0 wrenches. They feel great in the hand and grip equally as well as the SnapOn wrenches. They’re also made in the USA and are about $100 less a set than the FlankDrive Plus wrenches.

@thegrossmansmx

Жыл бұрын

they grip everything just better...

@Joe-hz1nw

9 ай бұрын

For professionals like yourself, for tools you use frequently, expensive quality tools make total sense.

If you like these, you should also get the ratcheting wrenches. I have them and they're fantastic.

You do realize you're going to turn around and find the missing Icon wrench now, right? LOL! Always happens that way for me anyway. Years back when they just got started, I would buy wrench sets on sale & keep them in my various buildings so I wasn't always running back and forth. Never broke one even after hitting them with hammers. Some of their stuff was good & some not so much but they have gotten a lot better all around now IMO.

@_P0tat07_

Жыл бұрын

Ehh. 3/4” is a common size. It never hurts to have more 😂😂😂 but yeah I was thinking the exact same thing.

@iFixJunk

Жыл бұрын

Same here! More than once I've "lost" a tool I simply can't work without so I panicked and ordered a replacement; before the new one arrives, the original turns up. BUT... like the other guy said, it doesn't hurt to have duplicates of some things. So now there's a drawer in the box dedicated to "backups" of the things I use daily that would cost me too much time in the event they did actually go bye-bye...

@patrickmorrissey2271

Жыл бұрын

Yes. As soon as the replacement arrives and gets dropped in the toolbox, you may as well start a stopwatch.... The "lost" one will re-appear in short order....

I have been beating the tar out of several sets of the Pitsburg wrenches over the last 3 plus years and they are taking it like it aint no thang, bring it on bznach! I mean like a pipe on the 3/4 for rod ends and thinking well something is GOING to break! NOPE.... Set them down next to my Snapon wrenches and from a distance, you can't tell them apart! The sockets are pretty bomb proof too.

Here in the U.S.A. Martin. Gear and Sprocket Company manufactures most sockets, wrenches and hammers under different names. They make tools for Snap-on, Craftsman, Kobalt and many other brands in the same factory. Located in Fort Wirth Texas

My dad bought a Craftsman tool set in the late 70’s… I was still using them until a tornado destroyed my storage unit a few years ago.

Lol. makes you think the same factory is making both sets of wrenches. I have gotten US Tekton wrenches lately and been pretty happy with those. Also pick up random wrenches at garage sales -- useful for building kits to put on a tractor or in a vehicle for handy situations away from the shop.

I always find the odd wrenches and such at pawn shops. Great place to look for old USA made tools.

That's an interesting revelation thanks for sharing have a good one

Thanks, I'm having an internal argument with myself about getting a better set of wrenches👍

I don't know if its the same for you where your at, but the harbor freight where I live also sales the wrenches individually for that exact reason. They have the sets and the singles right next to each other. Same size and length.

Have that same set. Really good wrenches!

I remember your old channel i actually purchased some kobalt tool because of some of your videos .

In 20 years you will almost certainly have a complete Snap-on set!

It's on the frame! I leave mine every time on the frame or crossmember.

This guy needs sponsorship. He already sold me the complete HF tap and die set and I’m glad he did. Going to the “hammer store” to get these next. “…bought from some boomer…” LMAO 😂

Home Depot sells the Husky Brand hand tools. They look as nice as your Icon brand. Several years ago I stopped in the local store just after they opened and they were putting out the Black Friday sales items. I got a box set of 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" ratchets and sockets, 6 pt, 12 pt, deep, shallow, metric, inch, all possible combinations, plus open end / box wrenches, allen wrenches, and more for $90. They are great tools. Plus, I lost the 7/16" open/box wrench. HD sells individual wrenches. Absolutely amazing.

@joeh2085

11 ай бұрын

Husky wrenches are now made in India. Junk

@BryanTorok

11 ай бұрын

@@joeh2085 That is a real shame.

@jbboozer6726

10 ай бұрын

In comprehensive testing, the Icon soundly beats Husky, Kobalt, Dewalt. Icon sells replacement for almost all their products. manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/parts/P64711.pdf

If ever you're driving one of your farm vehicles and hear a strange rattling sound, that's your 3/4" wrench bouncing around at the bottom of a body panel.

You can look up an individual wrench/socket/etc on the replacement parts section of the HF site. Find your set-grab the part number-call the 1-800 number-order an individual replacement. That 3/4” basic combo wrench replacement is part#WCS75 for $12.95. My OCD couldn’t deal with mismatched stampings. Not for my home chest, at least. My work cart, though? I gave up trying to keep things straightened up when you end up having to supplement whats missing from the company supplied box.

thanks for the tip. Onward!

Gearwrench is my go to tools

I like the Icon tools that are almost exact copies of the tool trucks.

Fit and feel for the best wrenches goes to snap on. However since these Icons are so close and such a much better price they win every time. I like em. I bought 3 set now. I don't use my Mac anymore hardly ever

I love icon tools. This is the problem they don't sell individual replacement tools. I love the snap-on in there

@jbboozer6726

10 ай бұрын

Yes they do lol 😆 manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/parts/P64711.pdf

Am using my Craftsman tools bought in 1980 as well as dads that he had at Boeing from 1950- 1984 .

I have an metric set of snap one that I use quite a bit. I bought an sae set of die hard wrenches and they’re identical to the snap on as well. Even replace my missing 10mm w a die hard, can’t tell the difference, even have the open end flank drive

I see you still have your 19mm, use that instead of the 3/4", it's an almost exact match and in my experience is completely interchangeable.

@iFixJunk

Жыл бұрын

If anyone here was playing this game before Harbor Freight was cool (ha!), I have their V-groove Pittsburgh wrenches that I must have bought around 2010, in both metric and standard; the sets were sold separately, but if the metric set had 19mm the standard didn't have 3/4" (or vise-versa). I don't like that practice, although I interchange my 19mm Matco for my 3/4" Mac probably weekly at work, if not more. I just hate the skips in the sets. I see that Icon looks more complete, but that product line came along too late for me. I don't need it now.

@pb68slab18

Жыл бұрын

3/4in = .750" , 19mm = .748"

@iFixJunk

Жыл бұрын

@@pb68slab18 And yet I am convinced that most brands are making the same wrench for both of those and just stamping them differently.

@pb68slab18

Жыл бұрын

@@iFixJunk I've measured several brands of 3/4 and 19mm and yes, they are both oversize.

@iFixJunk

Жыл бұрын

@@pb68slab18 Any stats on the truck brands? Like a Snap-on 3/4" vs. a Snap-on 19mm??? I don't have matching sets so I'd be comparing Mac to Matco...

Good video

I love my Icons. Extremely durable.

One thing I learned growing up learning from my dad, when you're 6'7" and weigh 320 lbs, all wrenches bend when you put serious torque on any wrench...

The other thing they don't tell you is that you have to bring back all of the wrenches to warranty one out. If you are missing a single one, they will not replace the damaged ones. This is why you see so many missing wrenches in the that section and they give you 10% off when 20% of the wrenches are missing. Crazy.

Now that you've gone to that length to replace it, you know it's gonna reappear!

I have been replacing mine with Carlyle tools from NAPA. Lifetime warranty about 2 minutes away from me and they are good tools. They don't ask questions just replace the broken tool.

@jbboozer6726

10 ай бұрын

HF sells replacements, his 3/4" is $13.50

😂 I have that exact one lonely 3/4 snap on wrench in my box too.

How are the SK ratcheting wrenches holding up?

Excellent

If I remember right , I think I saw Steve with it !

FYI I use a lot of GearWrench stuff, and their 3/4" is pretty much the same length and they are usually cheaper than Snap-on.

FYI, on the page for kit, there is replacement parts. You can order the individual wrench, it's about 12 bucks. Makes its very good kit.

They do look like snapon to me and that’s all I use for 59 years and still using them I might buy a set to see

I mean i have some snap on wrenches and some icons, i feel like the open end of the icons spreads a bit more. Don't know if it's worth the price difference if you don't use them daily

I have watched u sense the start of chucky2009. I want u to make a video of where u went for a few year I really enjoy your videos I would like to know what happens to all your old tractor ?

I looked through the comments and haven’t really found it stating you can call and order individual sockets and wrenches and the shipping is free for replacements as well

I would recommend getting 6 point box ends next time.

One question...what's with the spots on the ICON wrenches nothing on the snap on...🖖

Have a lot of the tools in my original craftsman set bought in 1970……

That’s exactly the reason I haven’t bought any icon, or really any tool sets from harbor freight. Well there are two. The first being you can’t buy individual wrenches for warranty or just to purchase. If you break one you have to take the entire set back and they’ll give you a new set. Which is kind of a waste of time if the rest of the wrenches are still good. Second, I had bought a whole bunch of snap on stuff while I was in college with the student discount like a year or two before icon stuff came out. I think icon would probably sell more icon stuff if they could warranty an individual wrench or socket instead of returning the whole set.

@RACustoms

Жыл бұрын

They are supposed to warranty individual. The HF in my area and the one I worked at did singles. But every once in a while I hear someone who has a store that only does sets

@moonshinejesus9059

Жыл бұрын

not true! I have had to replace Tools from HF and they do replace individual ones, so that info is wrong. A month ago I had to replace my Icon 13mm ratcheting wrench I messed up and broke, not the tools fault

@elulysero8863

Жыл бұрын

Look into tekton wrenches

@taintoolreview4188

Жыл бұрын

You can buy individual wrenches. The 3/4 wrenches: Part #17474 (anti-slip) is $13.50. Part #17409 is $12.95.

@jbboozer6726

10 ай бұрын

Doh yes you can replace singles, some stores have uninformed employees. Doh yes you can buy replacements of most Icon products, including this exact set.

Just a heads up. Harbor Freight customer service sells these wrenches individually. I just ordered (2) icon ratchet wrenches that grew legs and walked off lol!

Yeah HF not selling individual sockets and wrenches kinda hard to buy Apex makes lots of wrenches for other places Gearwrench wrenches are a good choice, depending on local the husky at HomeDepot are ok, I have Menards I can shop at and the Masterforce are gearwrench with a local no hassle warranty and they have a better selection than HD Nice find on the Snapon

@jbboozer6726

10 ай бұрын

Icon sells lots of replacements His set is listed here, 3/4" is $13.50 manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/parts/P64711.pdf

nice video

I think your buddy Steve laid it out best I've heard... Always start with the Hobo Freight tool. If it works, you're golden. If not, and you actually need the high end version, just get it. You'll still end up ahead of the game all told.

I ordered the 6pt metric set from snapon truck. I use my 6pt to break free then I grab the craftsman 12pt. I would like a set of the icon 12pt for after I break the bolts free 👍

Snap on is very expensive...but they did fix my torque wrench...had it for 50 years.

A year ago I lost a wrench that was not easy to replace and I found 3 months ago with other random wrenches

Can never have enough tools

Did you try on eBay to find the wrench?

Look on the roof. That's where I found my favorite framing hammer after it went missing for 3 years.