Harbor Freight Tool Haul #65: Icon SAE Stubby Wrench Sets (25% Off!) + Bonus Wrench Drawer

[@shadow7796]

I've had the regular metric stubbies for a few years now. They've performed just as well as any high-end brand I've had in the past. I got them right after they were released. I still need to pick up the sae set. I ordered a Tekton stubby wrench roll to keep the mm set in, and it's perfect for them and good quality, too. BTW, SK still produce their USA made line of tools. They just moved the factory to Pennsylvania from Illinois. There are a few tools from the US line that they've farmed from the Chinese line, like their adjustable wrenches. All their same nicer wrenches, sockets, ratchets, screwdrivers, pliers, etc, are still US made. You just have to make sure it explicitly states that they're USA made or is stamped USA, or you may get the Chinese stuff. I've been in email contact with their customer service recently, which was the best "out of store" customer service I've ever experienced and still based in the US, and I asked about things like that.

[@lonestarmopars]

Nice, glad the little Icon's have held up over a few years. They are, especially for the price, pretty dang solid. It seems quite a bit will cross over with Tekton. I nearly bought an SK ratchet the other day, but held off due to missing the "deal." I think they are taking a pretty long break for inventory/Christmas/New Years, which is actually kind of cool. That said, I stumbled on their foam socket trays. I was curious if they were US, or imported. I considered getting one (it would be for my Nephew), just to check out. Way back when it was going on, I said it was very possible Great Star could improve things (you know, Giant box with one socket, haha) and communication. Glad to see they seem to be on track...I think a good chunk of people just totally gave up due to the sale. I'll try to investigate it better...good customer service is harder and harder to find.

[@marko11kram]

Those SKs are impressive

[@lonestarmopars]

Really nice wrenches and I snagged them for Icon prices, lol.

[@andrewhendricks4629]

Great episode i have stubby wrenchs now for about 25 years i need to upgrade

[@lonestarmopars]

Thanks! These are very nice, especially for the price. I want to say tomorrow is also a big discount on them via their 12 Days of Deals for Christmas.

[@4rmDEC2FRE]

Where are you at for it to be 100 in December in NA?

[@lonestarmopars]

I am always busy at work so I record and stack videos. Stuff I'm releasing now was recorded back in the summer. Some of the videos will even be older, just depends on how I rotate them. If it is something I expedite it is more real time, but everything else just kind of waits in a queue. Case in point, I['m recording stuff now where I will complain about my feet being blocks of ice...you will probably see most of those this coming June, lol.

[@johnpaulprise9706]

Have you looked at adding the locker to your cart???

[@lonestarmopars]

The #1 thing I have wanted from HF for several years is the Icon Locker. That thing, in my opinion, is killer. There is so much that would fit in that locker perfectly, that just kills space in a box, or winds up sitting out collecting dust. The downside is the price and the more limited color range in Icon. The other, unintended downside is that locker made me not like the US General lockers as well. I haven't kept tabs on it, but I'm guessing by your comment people are fitting the US General lockers to the full bank carts? I could actually use the space, but at the same time I sort of like the "reasonable" profile of the cart as I can slide it around the shop pretty easy (the thing is packed and pretty heavy). I do think it would be doable, especially if the cart was more "stationary" (they make great standalone boxes imo). Let me know if you pull the trigger.

[@johnpaulprise9706]

@lonestarmopars I have not seen anyone mount one to that cart yet, husky has one as well that I like and is lower priced, and has casters. I am hesitant to pull the trigger on the side locker and it not mount good enough to be stable enough to stack the not used often tools. It looks like the Icon would be too big and stick out alot.

[@lonestarmopars]

Got it. Yeah, the US G will have a much smaller foot print (and will be considerably lighter), so it would work best for mating to the Master Tech cart. I know the Icon kind of comes with place holder legs opposite the casters that apparently works for standalone stuff. I'm not sure the US G do. You could definitely build something, but it might be easier to put it all on a frame. I'd probably cut plate to match the caster mounts, run square tube legs off of that to a mirrored plate that you could bolt to a channel frame and mount the casters on the underside of the channel. The hidden benefit with that setup would be the extra backside real estate of the locker to mount magnetic stuff.

[@Abyss0206]

Will be 40% off 12/13/24

[@lonestarmopars]

Thanks for posting...hopefully some people catch that and can cash in... I wish it wasn't in store only...I've been working late and won't be able to make it...had a couple of things I'd like to try with the 40% in place. I need the stores to stay open until 9 or 10.

[@SpotOnTrimming]

nice bonus . you said you used the stubby for a tap. I was reading comments on HF website and a lot of the comments on the Pittsburgh spline sockets are that they are super useful for the occasional tap/square head. The bonus for me is that for some reason the spline Pittsburgh sockets are in flat chrome that matches Stahlwille and german tool brands. My next HF purchase is going to be the spline sockets. I'm not a pro with mechanics tools so its kind of buy what you like for me. I have a nice master set of Tekton no skips in 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 and then their metric and standard no skip wrenches. Those are my abuse wrenches and sockets. but I don't love the feel in my hand and look of the shiny chrome. I Love love love my stahlwille, just arbitrary monkey brain. The nice part of having a lifetime guarantee master set is that you can then get the german tool brands or Japanese tool brands and the skips don't bother me at all. I don't care if Koken doesn't send me a 9mm I know I can always go bust open the Tekton case. I have learned a lot from your long format vids over the past few months helped me but together a plan. thanks

[@lonestarmopars]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed...I put it in the title in hopes more people would check it out. I am pretty torn on the plastic cases...never thought I'd keep them, but have sort of grown to like them (especially after shooting them with foam). I'm also still trying to get Ernst to make the Wrench Pro in Orange, haha. I was actually having to tap an item at work yesterday and the only reason I didn't use the stubby is because I had since added a 12 point Proto set and a tiny Koken ratchet (very good combo for what I was doing), but yeah, the wrench is great for that. I haven't really looked at their spline sockets...I'll have to investigate...odd they would be in matte/satin. I can't fault you for the Stahlwille preference. Any satin/matte will offer way better grip and less glare. Different brands do chrome differently, but the satin finish is what I prefer as well. That is a good setup and there is ZERO wrong with getting a quality mid-tier set that covers all the bases. Plus, with Tekton, you have a very easy warranty process and they are actively striving to move more production back home, so it is a win-win. The other cool thing is that as you upgrade, you can either make the higher end stuff your main use, or keep it for specific jobs. This also frees up the older, mid-tier stuff for mobile use, or full on beater. It is really nice to have something that you don't care if it breaks...I'm not saying intentionally abuse it, but say you had a bolt that you could only reach with a chrome socket and couldn't wedge a long handle so you had to use an impact...boom. Never a great situation, but doable. If it works, cool. If it shatters...easy to replace. If you go way back to the earliest of my "tool" videos, I was just sort of upgrading from my Craftsman USA stuff...sort of snowballed from there, haha. Glad the videos have been helpful...I enjoy finding all the brands/tools and then deals and bringing them in to test/compare. Slow process compared to most, but it has been a lot of fun and very enjoyable.

[@tinyz81]

i like u spending ur hard earn money on hobo freight since i cant :D i am eyeballing stubby wrenches and S wrenches on amazon but i cant justify it i´d rather have the leverage and i´m sure i have plenty chapos i can cut if need be.

[@lonestarmopars]

I do my best, lol. Even thought it is "cheaper" I still wait for sales, haha. Plus, have you noticed the German companies don't really offer stubby wrenches, let alone in ratcheting form? I'd gladly take Stahlwille/Hazet/Gedore, but it just doesn't seem to be a thing. Stubby wrenches are really handy and sometimes vital when nothing else will fit. Does HF not ship internationally?

[@tinyz81]

@@lonestarmopars BGS technic does (stubbies) but these are china wrenches either :D wich kinda answers ur HF questions :D but HF is like one and done kinda deal thats why admire it so much :D

[@lonestarmopars]

Never heard of BGS Technic. Too bad you aren't over here. The Harbor is having 40% off on wrenches. I'd offer to get you set, but I don't think I can get there before the store closes...and sadly, it is "in store only."

[@tinyz81]

@lonestarmopars i could get it from a friend in Texas thanks buddy i guess u can compare quinn and Pittsburgh pretty well with workpro i like workpro very well so far