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Hello again, Things Men Thank you for another Great Video 👍 My first experience with Gearwrench was in 1997 or 98. When someone bought a set on one of my early contracting jobs. And I was able to use it. What a difference. However, a little later I bought my set. Not knowing how weak the gears was. And stripped it out. My opinion of Gearwrench is very low. My current understanding is they haven't changed much since 1997 time frame. There's too many good choices out there.
HI George. I appreciate the feedback. I think some of the best GW years were mid 2000's to mid 2010's. All before shifting production to China. They have since brought some manufacturing back to Taiwan (very good thing) and the China stuff is finally a lot better than it was just 5 years ago. There are better sets out there, but the price tag is quite a bit more. Thank you for sharing your experience. 👍
I just sold some Craftsman pliers made in USA for 85$ i bought for 2$ 20$ original price Craftsman is the only brand that resales for more than original price the Craftsman double box end made in USA wrench set resale for 800$ original price 80$ snap on resales for more than half original price and the icon resale for less than half the original price and snap on only warranty if u bought the tool from them and if u pass away your children can't warranty it ❤😂
@@craigdave3266 fair assessment. Do you ever think vintage HF tools will ever claim high resale values?
Biggest question is are there that much of a difference to justify the higher price. Answer is no if you're getting 95% of the quality at 1/3rd the price the clear winner is the icon. No waiting a week or 2 for a warranty either. Walk in any day during business hours and exchange. Are Snap on tools great yes, but, they're are other alternatives now days that are a better buy and make more sense
@@ShawnC8030 I think that if you are a professional and work with them daily then you might have a case for the snap on. Otherwise they are going to be identical in use and function and no reason for spending the extra cash. 👍🏻
Not disagreeing with you on your point but to play a little devils advocate, keep in mind harbor freight is very often out of stock of their "snap-on copies" because they are so popular with a lot of people and the boat from china is a slow one lol
Stop buying cheap rebrand tools hf tools are all rebrand and u can buy them way cheaper most of there things are trash might of well spend the money and buy it one time
@@user-qz7pn7dp2e its actually quite good. I challenge you to try them out.
I've had the icon for a while, they're mighty fine for 20 bucks. I haven't lost grip on anything and they really just do what you want them to. I like their handle is thicker and squishier too
@@ryanle1293 yea the handle is almost indistinguishable from snap on. Glad to hear yours continues to hold up. 👍🏻
$18.00 and a Lifetime Warranty. I just don't have Snap-on money. I do have the Harbor Fright pliers and they are great. Thanks for sharing your expertise
@@michaellindsay8934 yes nothing wrong with going that route. 👍🏻
I have the small snap on ones but no trucks have had the bigger ones so I was reducing to buying 4 sets of the icon and some tsunoda ones. Only needle nose slip joints I can find are ips other than snap on. The finish isn’t that great but they work really well and they have some similar to the long Milwaukee cross grips that are slip joint and awesome. They don’t look as good but don’t rust like the Milwaukee. Same thing w the tsunoda. They don’t rust like the snap on and icon do. They also have a smaller angle for grip so you can put more pressure on stuff because the handles are closer together
@@bulshavix6 you should check out my other videos with TSUNODA. They have some great pliers and actually prefer them at the moment. Especially for the price and quality. Exceptional.
I own several brands of tools i got into the icon line a year ago I've never had one fail me and for the price especially when hf does the 25 percent off icon limit 5 tools you just can't beat it on price and warranty
@@heman85515 agreed. Most of the icon stuff performs quite well while also having an excellent return policy to complement it.
I own them both. But the snap-on are the ones i always reach for first. Ive never been super impressed with icon stuff. I think Tekton does a much better job than icon.
@@NunYa953 good to know. Why purchase the icons then?
@@thingsmen Figured Id try some icon stuff. Some people like the icons better than the snap on I'm not one of them. As far as sockets and ratchets, the Tekton stuff blew icon out of the water for me.
I have snapon matco icon gearwrench quinn and some old craftsman in my box I find that icon and gear wrench are of similar quality but I appreciate how icon has been going after the big boys and hf is 3 miles from work and 8 miles from home our snapon guy come bi weekly. But in all honesty the only tool I've met I've hated Is the gator socket
And that new adjustable Cresent wrench from hf what a gimmicky pos
@@heman85515 oh those gator sockets. 😡
I have the icons and love them. Use them everyday doing HVAC. Keep them in my toolbag
Nice to see they have treated you well. 👍🏻
I don't care which performs better. I will always buy USA made vs overseas, regardless of cost.
@@shawnoen1029 that’s an interesting take on it.
I don’t always buy USA but I admire that you do !
Hey good on you my friend I have tools of all brands and the Japanese are the best
@@heman85515 Japanese and German have been performing well. 👍🏻
In my opinion the ICON design is *improved* over the 47ACF's, the ICON is *66%* less cost(even cheaper with a coupon) and the ICON being a slightly softer metal is a good thing Something I've noticed with Snap-On tools is they tend to straight up crack under high stress, personally I would rather the tool deform before becoming completely useless Snap-On used to be relatively affordable 20+ years ago but now they're completely out of touch with reality, auto mechanics are paid less of the door rate than ever(it's been dropping for 40 years) and no one can afford to drop thousands of dollars on sockets & wrenches.. let alone $60-100 for a single pair of pliers..
@@COBRO98 appreciate your comments and I think many would agree. If I had a budget or money was tight I would get the icons all day long. Great quality and great warranty. 👍🏻
How has the icon improved the design?
@@andrewscott8892 Slimmer profile, slightly softer metal, more defined teeth for better bite, the grips themselves are softer and slightly thicker Idk if you're aware of this but ICON are made from last-gen Snap On tooling, that's why they're able to mimic Snap On for a much lower price tag
Thank you switching hands most people don't realize their hands are not same strength.
@@PapasHobbyGarage yes trying my best to be fair with the test. 😉
Great video
@@Jtx_Tools thanks 🙏🏻
Looks like it will get the job done thank you
@@michaellindsay8934 yes especially for medium to small fasteners.
When I needed to cut the cable wire rope, I've been using my Klein Side Cutters Linemans Pliers but they just smash down the wire rope too much and then I can't get it through the aluminum ferrules to hand crimp. UPDATE: Through amazon, I originally bought the WC-225 and so after 2 weeks, they notified me that delivery will now be delayed for 2 more weeks. I was supposed to get them today: 7/26/24 and all of a sudden I got a notification saying they just Canceled my order on the day I was supposed to get it delivered, wtf. So , I just ordered the Tsunoda WC-150 Wire Rope Cutter 6-Inch - Lets see what happens NOW?! Thanks to your video, I can see that you cut 1/8" vinyl coated wire rope - that make the overall thickness: 3/16" and that exactly what I need to get the job done correctly, Thanks :)
@@ProflexFitness sorry to hear about the cancellation. They are both great cutters so long as their jaw clearance is sufficient. I really like the style and size of the smaller ones but the jaw opening on the larger ones is a nice upgrade. Let me know what you think. 👍🏻
@@thingsmen Ok, cool, I should get them on Tuesday :)
I didn't know they made this change on those. I might finally get some lol. I've always eyeballed them. Its probably one of the few ratchets i don't have from hf lmao
@@joshdane5657 your timing couldn’t be better then. Much better mechanism.
@@thingsmen yea I'm glad I waited to buy those now lol. They look better. The only thing is I wish they put a screw instead of pin almost. But lifetime warranty lol. If it gets floppy I can warranty it out.
@@joshdane5657 exactly. Its a small gripe, but you can always trade it in under warranty.
@@thingsmen those with my low profile sockets would be a good set up for getting in some tight spots. And I just work on my personal little Honda and Toyota 4x4 pickup. I think it would take almost anything loose on the Honda without breaking. Except for things like the lug nuts, crank pulley bolt, some suspension bolts and axle nuts of course 😂 I wouldn't even try it on them plus ain't no need to try it on them. I think it would be worth it for me. As little as I do I probably wouldn't even need to warranty them. But if I do need to I can.
@@thingsmen I gotta keep an eye out for those. Last time I was at my local hft they still had the old style. But it's been a few weeks. Shoot I been thinking about taking Pittsburgh professional ratchet in for warranty because it skips a few teeth lol. Then I'd get a green handle too lol. But it don't say professional no more. I might just buy another one and see if it's the same thing just different handle and writing on the head. That's all I noticed by eye.
DONT CHEAP OUT ON TOOLS!!!!! buy the best and youll never have to buy that tool again in most to all cases.
@@Bankss999 sometime true but not always. I also wouldn’t consider icons cheap.
@@thingsmen IMO would rather support the people that actually created and designed such amazing tools than get copies from a company that's clearly just tryna pump money out of stealing ideas and the popular iconic look of knipex but 🤷♂ also cant even buy anything harbor freight anyways they don't ship nor sell in Canada plus the whole look and finish looks cheaps, only reason i got into knipex was because of my journeyman who had these exact ones in the video but obviously knipex and they still looked brand new after 3 years in his tool bag which is filthy. so now i own like 7 knipex tools and love them all
@@Bankss999 nothing wrong going OEM for your tools. Point of the video is helping others see the good and bad with either decision as there are factors in play for everyone looking to purchase. What might be a no brainer for you might not be for someone on an extreme budget who would only use a tool a couple times a year.
They werent forced IMO it was just a natural progression to make the tool better.If they were forced...it would have happened a long time ago.Nice title though..
Judging by the number of returns we all have made its very plausible in order to keep that line net positive.
Probably not called "Pro" in order to not cause confusion with their other Quinn and Icon ranges.
@@Fredjoe5 reasonable explanation
Yea I noticed they took the professional off the red handled Pittsburgh professional ratchets and also made the handles green and black now instead of the old red and black.
They are beautiful and made very well, but I honestly hate it. The older style was much easier to flip the selector with your thumb so you can adjust the angle with one hand in a tight place. This one is damn near impossible since the button is flush. I prefer the button style on my Mac locking flex or even my Carlyle. Gearwrench make a great ratchet, and if you don't need to adjust in a tight spot, it would be perfect.
@@nitroangus23 thanks for sharing you experiences with this ratchet. I would probably leave in the unlocked mode but I have other ratchets that can lock that way so I could switch over as well if needed. So far mine hasn’t let me down. 👍🏻
I might pick up one of those new style flex heads. Never liked the switch on the old one. Not sure what the point of the fixed double head is for…Maybe so you don’t have to carry 2 ratchets 🤷♂️. May only be good in a pinch. Thanks for sharing!
@@chiparooo yes both of their new ratchets are an improvement. I think they wanted to make them a bit more versatile. I liked using mine for odd jobs or taking to the salvage yard for parts. Made it more versatile. 👍🏻
love the thin long flex for belt tensioners and using it for a long handle quarter drive ratchet when I need it, i have had trouble out of the selector switch jumping direction under a bind which from what i read in the past is common so it's nice to see they've updated
@@88power73 I’ve been there as well. I’m confident you’ll like this setup more. 👍🏻
@thingsmen something I forgot to mention I was in my local store a few weeks ago and they had the old styles on the clearance rack, so this could explain why. I didn't see the new ones but I wasn't looking either
@@88power73 that would make sense.
Japan makes a ton of swivel heads I own one by KTC. The toothcount and backdrag feels great on it.
I gave up on these dual headed ones.
@@santastabber I could understand that. I would say the new version is at least worth revisiting. 👍🏻
@@santastabber I get that. The new version is worth revisiting. 👍🏻
Not saying these didn’t have issues but people need to understand ratcheting wrenches like these are not made for high torque they are more of a precision tool or for speed. Use something else to break the bolts loose and to put the torque down when tightening. Something like that long version would be easy to put a lot of torque on it. On another note the gears in those don’t sound like a quality mechanism in the first place it has that cheap sound like it’s got a weak spring or dry or something. They just don’t sound right.
Oh they had their issues. Its tough to see them build a long low profile ratchet and not expect someone to put torque on them. Honestly shame on them for putting a sub par pawl in them as well for all these years. The new versions so far have fixed that issue and made them much more enjoyable.
They have a nice finish and wen they discontinue they resale for more than original price the Craftsman 1/2 flex with a thumb wheel made in USA are resale for 400$ tell me what snap on tool resale for more than double original price
I guess there is a chance they could definitely go up in price. Craftsman still has a pretty loyal following. Good observation!
I waited nearly 2 years for a replacement long flexhead ratchet when covid started. They refunded me when they finally got inventory and made me repurchase! They used to say bring the replacement to the counter and exchange it for the defective one. Its one of my favorite tools from Harbor Freight but it does seem like the quality has diminished over the last couple years and the ratcheting Mechanism is now a bit clunky.
@@64Cyclone odd they rang you up. Well at least your replacement this time will be much better. I’ll be surprised if you don’t like the improvements. 👍🏻
Hi do you know of any locking bit extension that fits into this screwdriver that would let it take normal size bits? I was found the Wera 889/4 R but I think it will still stick out quite a bit. Thanks!
Great question. I have used several, but you probably don't want to go under 3" length as it wont fully seat. 4" and longer should be ok. Doesn't matter the brand, but i think i have an Irwin, and a Makita that i last used.
Thx for the video, now you have me hunting down the new one 😂. Glad I never bought the 1st version of this. But I hadn’t seen one till your video anyway. Went to my local Harbor freight this morning looking for the new version and all they had was the old ones. I can’t believe with all the faulty wrenches, they haven’t pulled those off the shelf permanently yet. I will keep you posted if I get the new version. Heading to a different Harbor freight store later today.
@@crushrreviews well you got lucky then. The new one is an improvement for sure. It may take a while for the new ones to show up at your store. Especially if they still have a lot of the old inventory stocked up. Hang in there. 👍🏻
I have that exact ratchet. It is now my favorite fixed head 3/8 drive. The quality is absolutely fantastic. I went back and ordered all 3 sizes of pinless swivels and finger spinners to try and fell in love with those, too. I'll be ordering Koken now whenever I can afford it. BTW, you can only use oil in the head because the spring pressure from the pawl to the anvil is so low that any grease will not let the teeth engage. I use a high-quality silicone oil in mine regularly.
@@shadow7796 glad to see you like them as well. The pawl design is amazing and the backdrag is the best. I’ve got a couple others on the way so stay tuned. 😉
dont sleep on the that long flex head version, when i was working on a bmw that was the only ratchet i could get down in the side of the motor to do spark plugs, it was small enough and thin to get a turning radius to get the job done, even snap-off did not have anything that would get such a tight area. They are bad about the colored ring falling off, but warranty is great.
@@turboimport95 glad to see it worked. Will you be picking up the new version as well?
@@thingsmen i still have the old version and it works it was warrantied a few years ago.
My buddies use them professionally to replace/rebuild motors and transmissions. Its funny they all started off with Snap-On, Mac, Matco, but realized the price wasn't worth it so they switched to Harbor Freight, Milwaukee, DeWalt, etc.
@@James-ne3lc as long as it works. That’s all that matters. 👍🏻
lol I see that all the time. I got the snap on tools at work for me to abuse them, at home I got whatever else I could afford 🤣
Have both of the originals. The direction control has always been a problem, even when new. Hope they fixed them.
@@tedcollins4684 agreed. New is much better layout and construction 👍🏻
I use those slip joint pliers to mainly take off spring clamps. I have not yet need to take off a nut with them. Hopefully I never have to 😅
@@jacksonjohnson2132 only in a pinch 😉
So if I were to brake the old one they would give me this in its place?
@@Hugolopez732 bingo.
Quinn has replaced the Pittsburgh Pro level of tools. Then ya get Icon.
@@TexTom1981 it seems they are going that direction for now.
Hey listen I make my money wrenching full time things like pliers are not that expensive so if means your getting a better tool for and extra $30.
@@noisycricket8924 I think we are all in the same boat. This is an alternative solution that also has a very easy and hassle free warranty process. 👍🏻
I'm liking the new ones. Always thought the old ones were a good idea but never felt great in store. The double ends are good for a mobile kit.
@@F0XD1E yes I used them frequently for salvage yard runs until they wouldn’t stop breaking. 🫤
I broke so meny of these
@@mobiletiretechs welcome to the club bud. 🫂
I've been looking at those for a while. I just haven't picked any up yet. Those can come in extremely handy with a low profile socket in tight places. I was wondering if they could be serviced easily. I'll probably go ahead and try them out since they updated the design a little. I believe I heard someone at HF say that they're slowly phasing out the Pro-Line and just calling the brand Pittsburgh. It would make sense with the additions of Quinn and Icon brands.
Yes these are low profile and gear for tight places. They are not serviceable so once they go bad just take them back in for a new one. 👍🏻
They need to make it 1/2 3/8 flex head
@@craigdave3266 that would be a welcome addition for sure. 👍🏻
Maybe can custom make one. Since it has the pin or torx screw. Always worth a try
I'm surprised they didn't release the revised models under the Quinn brand. Perhaps in keeping with harbor Freight's good, better, best product strategy, they don't expect these to hold up. The long one is great for tight areas but, I never really leaned on it hard as I didn't it could handle it. The short one is nice for a salvage yard kit giving you two drive sizes in a single compact unit. Thanks for sharing
@@Fedwrench these make for great low profile ratchets and tool yard sets. Glad they didn’t rebadge them.
Maybe dropped the pittsburgh pro because they now have Icon?
@@patrickcallahan2210 I think that’s a fair assessment
Dang I just bought the old ones.
@@michaeliddings879 take them back or break them on a tight fastener.
lol put them on a lug nut and break it
They need to have 1/4 an 3/8 lines
@@JMS_89 agreed. Was hoping to see those drop by now. 🤷
@@thingsmen I mean I don't have a problem with these sets but 1/4 and 3/8 is more common to have then 1/2
@@JMS_89 for impacts I think 1/2” and 3/8” would be most common. 👍🏻
@@thingsmen I work at a car dealership and 1/4 impacts are a thing 🫡
I love the longer ratchet. Mainly because of it being so thin but I agree with you. I’ve had to warranty mine a couple of times because of the retainer ring & the last time because it randomly switched directions. My main bitch has always been the stupid flex head. I HATE flex head ratchets & I just don’t get the push for them. I’ve never once needed one. Still, glad to see they’ve improved it.
@@stevemccauley5734 glad to see I’m not alone. 😊 Hopefully this improvement lasts.
Yeah normally flex head does not want to stay on the nut/bolt. Sometimes it's the only way to get to something easily, however. I prefer not to use them but they are handy to have around.
You can use any tool as a hammer, (light tapping) but not this one. They blow apart.
That’s not even an exaggeration. 😂
This is a great ratchet for its job very thin and long I used it for about 10 years I warranty it maybe 1 time it’s not a every day 3/8 ratchet it’s made to get into the tight spots
@@MrWeisser22 agreed. It’s not my main go to but the fact that it’s low profile and long makes it extremely useful in certain situations. Now with the new improvements it’s THAT much better. 👍🏻
Does it work well for tiny screws (precision work) like T6 / T8 for pocket knife maintenance? I’ve thought about getting one but I feel for knife maintenance the ratcheting system might not work so well for tint torx screws.
@@Balizilla it’s a good small size for tasks like that. It doesn’t have the best backdrag but it’s close. I think you’ll like it. Otherwise you still have 30 days to return. 👍🏻