Icon JUNK ??? let's compare with GW Cornwell Snap-on

[@shadow7796]

After tuning a few of mine, I'm very happy with them. I polished the inside of the heads and the gear faces a little with a Dremmel, shortened and stretched the springs, cleaned and re-lubed, and they turned out very well with very low backdrag, and really smooth. I've had issues with Gearwrench in the past and had to wait a month to get another one. There's no Napa or Home Depot around here. I also have some higher-end stuff too, and while Icon isn't on their level completely, they're still good imo.

[@insurgentlowcash7564]

I agree with ya. When upgrading my hondas suspension, I needed a flex head to remove a part on the rear trailing arm assembly. My buddy really wanted me to use the Icon he had, so I did. The backdrag was terrible, thankfully I was able to reach the bolt and keep hand pressure on it. Afterwards on the driver side I got my Koken 72Z flex and it was absolute butter. I got quite a few ratchets but my list is Snap On dual 80 anything, then Koken 72Z anything, and old SK ratchets are slick when you rebuild them(and when you are strapped for dough also the cheapest [former] good manufacturer ratchets to get into), then second hand old 30-32 tooth Snap On are pretty much ratcheting breaker bars. Now Proto still makes the 24 tooth roller coaster ratchets in USA and ive never broke one, however sometimes the pawls need stone polishing to get the best outta it. Koken makes a upgraded design of the Proto 24 tooth and not only is the backdrag phenomenal but they claim its stronger than Proto. I trust Japan and USA tools the most.

[@douglasmiles1215]

With me, ive bought a lot of ratchets, far more than anyone needs, lol. I think Icon is a decent ratchet at the price point, but there are better. I do agree that both the 84 and 90 tooth versions are better tools than the Icon. But for some, the convience of the HF store for warranty may work better. For me, the only place that has GR is Tractor Supply, and then in a very limited selection. Hell, my Lowes dont even carry the V series Craftsman line. But all in all, there are some very good quality alternatives out there on the web, if you can handle the warranty limitations. The Cornwell line is VERY good and very durable. I found the Wright brand and their Cougar Pro sub line is a very capable line, great backdrag and very smooth actions. There are lots more out there worth exploring.

[@CountryMileGarage]

@@douglasmiles1215 thank you for sharing your opinion and bringing up some good points ... thank you for watching and please subscribe to the channel

[@TurboTyTy]

The 1:08 minute mark 😅 you just can’t beat a quality ratchet.

[@CountryMileGarage]

Do you disagree? For you a quality ratchet maybe a Matco or another brand but Icon sure is NOT a quality ratchet LOL ... thank you for watching my friend

[@richardruiz2383]

lol 😂

[@OneMechanic]

I love my old Cornwell Ratchets. I have a couple Pittsburgh ratchets and I think they are better then the ICONs. I gave them to another tech who had to warranty the 3/8... Good video Theo!!!

[@CountryMileGarage]

UNCLE DAVE the old 30 tooth Cornwell's are very solid IMO ... thank you for watching my friend

[@BDauto86]

I have alot of different ratchets Snap on being the best IMO. I have Gearwrench 120xp and i like them too

[@CountryMileGarage]

@@BDauto86 I agree with you ... thank you for watching

[@xephael3485]

I've yet to buy an icon product... I'm not opposed to it but I've not yet been tempted on the price/performance/value scale. They did have me tempted when they did a 40% off recently but I've been putting my money into other things. You know when they can take 40% off a product they're selling it for a killing already.

[@timweb1510]

That recent coupon for socket sets only was extremely overpriced. It wasn’t just any single ratchet this time

[@T6Tarek]

I own a gold icon ratchets that I got on clearance to make hammer vids with it. I don't own anything else from harbor freight. When icon first came out I thought this might win me over. So far nothing but disappoints that I have no reason to buy. Everything they've copied I already own the original. I don't think they're as quality as people believe. To each their own.

[@timweb1510]

@@T6Tarekyep

[@ragincajungarage]

Cool video

[@CountryMileGarage]

@@xephael3485 yup I don't think the quality is there and they are pricing themselves out of the market with Icon ... thank you for watching my friend

[@MH3GL]

As someone who does not wrench for a living, can you please explain what "back drag" is?

[@CountryMileGarage]

Back drag is how smooth the anvil in the ratchet head moves when you turn it the opposite direction of the selector switch ... hope this helps and thank you for watching and please subscribe to the channel

[@douglasmiles1215]

Like stated before smoothness in the back stroke. Essentially, how easy is the back stroke on allowing the fastener to remain stationary in the back stroke so the tool is actually getting the desired effect of removing off of or running the fastner up on the threads. Not just moving the fastner both ways not accomplishing the task.

[@MichaelDimaggio-h7x]

Ok why does the icon not work. Does it tighten and loosen bolts or not?

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

I had about the same experience, Snap On, GW, ICON. No Cornhole experience though. I mean Cornwell. ;)

[@peterchristlieb]

I bought one and other than the backdrag it was OK. I never used it except as bait so the guys at work would grab it instead of my Astro or Cornwell ratchets.the backdrag never got better. I gave them another chance, same thing, comfort grip was junk, backdrag sucks.

[@CountryMileGarage]

@@peterchristlieb yes sir I agree 100% with you ... thank you for watching my friend

[@peterchristlieb]

@ thanks for being on and inviting me once in a while. I just bought a used Snap On top box and Crafstman lower plus side cab, full of tools. We need to stream and go through the goodies for treasure

[@CountryMileGarage]

@@peterchristlieb o dang that is awesome wouldn't mind seeing your score

[@gilmansgarage6341]

I already have to many ratchets , Snap on mostly..but Thanks for saving me the money & headache if I ever considered checking one out..I don't have any harbor freight tools , but I believe there is one going to open up very close by me..Great opinion appreciated Theo ✌..

[@CountryMileGarage]

@@gilmansgarage6341 thank you Howard and don't get me wrong HF has it's place but Icon is overvalued imo ... thank you for watching

[@georgeferlazzo7936]

Hello again, Country Mile Garage Thank you for another Great Video 👍 Merry Christmas to you and your family. I don't have any experience with the ICON tools. But I do have experience with the Pittsburgh Pro Roto Head Ratchets. Prior to them, I don't have any experience with any other Roto head ratchets. They do a fair amount of back drag. At the time only Harbor Freight had the Roto head ratchets. I also have their angle head wrenches and their picks. I have also bought some of tools that were junk. I would say I am not a HF fan boy. You do have to be careful what you buy at HF. Again thank you 👌

[@CountryMileGarage]

@@georgeferlazzo7936 I agree I have some HF stuff and some of it is good and some of it is not. See with the Pittsburgh tools you know it's cheap so expectations are low and if it holds up that is great. HF has it's place but Icon is over rated imo ... thank you for watching my friend

[@Toolaholic7]

I was the same way with a 1/4 drive flex head Icon ratchet, hated it. I traded it in for a 1/2 drive 30 in Cornwell blue power flex head ratchet through a trade in deal. Trade in deal was trade in a ratchet I hated for a lower price. Capri is another good ratchet as well better than Icon. They say the Icon looks the same as the Snap On too and do not. The inner parts are different. Icon is coming out with the Gen 2 versions which I am not impressed with

[@CountryMileGarage]

@@Toolaholic7 good to hear I'm not the only one who is frustrated about it I have some HF stuff but the Icon is NOT impressive ... thank you for watching Walter

[@ThingsMen]

I fail to see your conclusion. That back drag appears on par if not better than some you are holding. I have a lot of 1/2 ratches and Icons have not proved to be junk. Not my top pick, but not far down the list. The newer 3/8 fixed have a wave washer issue, but the 1/2" flex has been solid. Hell I've attached it to a 27" breaker bar on my channel. Lots to you can do to make it even better, but other than oil i have no complaints out the box.

[@CountryMileGarage]

@@ThingsMen I did a modification video on this Icon ratchet. The point is that better quality is available for a better price for example GW. Icon is NOT the same as Snap-on not and even close ... thank you for watching

[@ThingsMen]

@@CountryMileGarage Harbor Freight typically has their icon lineup on sale several times a quarter for between 20-40% off. Today is a 40% off day coincidentally, so price is a mute point. I have GW as well and they fall about in the same category. Both solid Taiwan made products. Doesn't matter what fanboys say, when you are honestly looking for the best products for your time and money. And that changes for each person and their situation. ;)

[@victorhoyt4352]

I'm very very excited for harbor freight's new Icon G2 ratchets that come out next year. I really believe they are going to be on a whole other level. I definitely agree, their current ratchet line us straight trash. Their ratchets right now are hot garbage for sure, but I really believe the new generation that debuted at sema is going to be really nice. I 100% agree though, for the money, definitely go with a gearwrench over the icon. Their are other great Taiwanese made ratchets on the market too. Brands like Capri, Vim, Tekton, Gearwrench, Tone, Napa Carlyle, and a few others that are all better choices than the icon. Icon has some great tools for sure, but the ratchets are definitely not on the list. I'm all about Koken right now to be honest. Snap on ratchets are nice for sure, but you can get a ratchet just as good, or in some cases better than for a fraction of the price. Project farm has made 2 videos over the last few years where the gearwrench ratchet had beaten the comparable snap on in every category.

[@CountryMileGarage]

@@victorhoyt4352 I'm not judging on Icon other hand tools because I have not tried them how ever trying this ratchet makes me think twice tho. YES the other brands you mentioned are good as well ... Thank you for watching and please subscribe

[@sixoid4104]

The issue I have with Cornwell that I’ve found, is the 1/4 and 1/2 ratchets flip back to the opposite position when using them. It infuriates me. I have mainly snap-on ratchets now for that exact reason

[@CountryMileGarage]

@@sixoid4104 o wow that's happened to me yet with these Cornwell ratchets but I don't use them everyday either. Like you Snap-on are my go too ratchets ... thank you for watching

[@shepherdsfleetservicesllc8147]

I haven't on the icon yet. But I've had all the other brands not as old as a cornwell you have. But I am getting icon tools to put my service truck in case something happens to him I'm not hurting as bad as I am over a snap-on or something but I'm doing capri for ratchets

[@CountryMileGarage]

@@shepherdsfleetservicesllc8147 I have filled a couple of services trucks in my life with the big Pittsburgh socket sets. My first set i still have and that's Taskforce at 20+ years old lol ... Thank you for watching

[@shepherdsfleetservicesllc8147]

@CountryMileGarage np

[@kjsmolik]

There is a second generation Icon ratchet coming out in 2025 thsts significantly better than the current model.

[@CountryMileGarage]

@@kjsmolik so they say time, will tell. But with the current ratchet there's plenty of room for improvements imo lol ... thank you for watching and please subscribe

[@anthonygm85]

I prefer my sk lp90 and snap on, the gearwrench 90 over the 84 for shure, work gave us mostly 84 and im not a fan of them but they can take a beating

[@CountryMileGarage]

I have no experience with the LP90 nor with GW 90 tooth I have 120XP on my torque wrenches but I don't use them daily ratcheting bolts and nuts off LOL ... thank you for your input and thank you for watching Anthony

[@sethallison5682]

I’m not a snap on fan boy, OR harbor freight fan boy. I don’t really have brand loyalty, I have tools of every brand. That being said I have no real interest in Icon ratchets. For the price I can probably find a snap on ratchet used 🤷‍♂️ I’ve got cornwell, snap on, gear wrench, sk, matco and even craftsman ratchets. They all do what they should do but yeah you’re right the snap on 80 tooth ratchets are heaven. Cheap wrenches should be cheap, and can be fine but for icon prices I’ll just find some used made in USA stuff. And yeah the 30 tooth cornwell ratchets are sweet, no backdrag.

[@biggiefitz6275]

I prefer Carlyle from NAPA over an Icon any day. GW has never let me down either, when it should have...doing what l was with it lol

[@CountryMileGarage]

Yes sir I have and had Carlyle tools and they are solid as well especially for the price ... thank you for watching Biggie

[@xephael3485]

A: Yes

[@prevost8686]

When you hear someone claim that Icon is just as good as SnapOn you are listening to someone who has a very limited experience with professional quality tools.

[@xephael3485]

Depends what they're talking about. Swiveling sockets might not be a bad idea to get an icon versus snap-on

[@kalybnielsen4183]

I've had more issues with Snap On than my Harbor Freight, and I'm a lot harder on my Harbor Freight ones, they're cheaper and much easier to warranty. When you have had the same locking flex head Snap On break, multiple times and the assh*le dealer says "This is the last time I'm going to warranty this", huh, I thought it was lifetime warranty, not lifetime warranty but only for 4 failures

[@ihavethedocuments2580]

Sayz you. People who say Icon is not professional level have little experience with tools and just like blabbing on videos because they overpaid on the tool trucks.

[@CountryMileGarage]

@orevost8686 agreed 100% my friend ... thank you for watching

[@CountryMileGarage]

@xephael3485 I would look at GP if you want to go cheaper on swivel impact sockets I have GW, S-K and Cornwell for regular chrome swivel sockets

[@Rob-n6k]

I bought a icon 3/8 flex head. I hated it. I took it back to the store

[@MichaelDimaggio-h7x]

Ok call me inexperienced or whatever, I have used Icons for a while and they are smooth. If you have a bad one replace it. Maybe Walmart brand is better than Icon to you I suppose.

[@jasondedic]

HF spent too much time and money trying to make their tools look like Snap On instead of working like a Snap On LOL. I'd go GW, Capri 90 or even Proto USA 90s over Icon at those prices.

[@CountryMileGarage]

You have that 100% right Tekton would be another one to look at, but I have very little experience with them ... thank you for watching

[@jasondedic]

@@CountryMileGarage Yeah I've heard they are nice too but Ive never used a ratchet from them. Tekton has a lot of really nice tools. Plus they are the only company trying to build more USA made tools which is awesome. I also just saw Capri released a new ratcheting wrench with no slip teeth or whatever they call them on the open end.

[@niallcosgrove5596]

Great points. We dont get ICON tools in are part of the world certainly alot of hype about them on social media. But in my experience. As a heavy diesel mechanic of almost 20 year's. Snap-on makes a dam good ratchet period. Now in saying that tools have come along way as in other manufacturers. Mactools Gearwrench koken tools cornwell stahlwille the list goes on. The Gearwrench xp120 fist generation, is a dam good ratchet for price point and durability. i know lots of guys, that have them 10 year's now chrome peeling of them still going strong 💪 i can say the same for koken ratchets also but price is more.

[@CountryMileGarage]

@@niallcosgrove5596 you are 100% correct and you have valid points ... thank you for watching

[@ihavethedocuments2580]

If they selled a bag of dogshit with a snap on label on it you would buy it and brag about it

[@CountryMileGarage]

You clearly don't know my channel I own a wide selection of different brands of tools, but the Icon ratchet is clearly overrated and it sounds like that's what you would do if it had Harbor Freight on it LOL ... thank you for watching

[@timwindsor03]

Awesome video brother. Thanks for sharing. Keep the content coming. Hope you have an incredible night. Much love and RESPECT

[@CountryMileGarage]

@@timwindsor03 thank you for watching and for all of the support my good sir

[@timweb1510]

Icon is junk for the price

[@xephael3485]

Agree 💯

[@CountryMileGarage]

@@timweb1510 for sure ... thank you for watching Tim