Snap-on vs Harbor freight Icon.... proof is in the steel #harborfreight #snapon #wrench

@harborfreight really uses cheap metal

thanks @malbright45 for sharing the video

[AdriftAndAtPeace]

Help me understand how people are mad that they’re “not using the wrenches as intended” but there’s YouTube channels that make a living torture testing ratchets and people will reference those as quality gauges but not this.

Yes snap on cost more, but it’s showing the higher quality steel used to produce. Likely similar results with other American brands like wright, Cornwell, and Martin. So take the snap on vs harbor freight out of the equation and you’ll see that there’s a difference between American virgin tool steel and Taiwan

[eduffy]

Being able to bend a wrench the wrong direction is not a great selling point...

[djka]

Even better is the one dollar yard sale drop forged wrench from grandpa’s time.

[MikeAnderson-ujoo]

Im a professional mechanic. I don't buy only one particular brand of tools. I buy the ones that work for me. Some tools, like line wrenches for example, you need to buy top quality like Snap On.
A 2 pound hammer, , , HF will work just as well as a Snap On. Spend your money wisely. If you are just starting out, buy some cheaper stuff and replace them when they wear out or break. I have lots of tools that i purchased 30 years ago that still preform exactly the same as when I bought them. So why replace them ? It's way too easy to get yourself in major debt with these tool trucks. Having a big fancy tool box loaded with only one brand of tool will not make you a better mechanic. Just be smart people.

[clifford]

I'd really like to buy American, but snap on prices are outrageous! & i have a hard time getting them exchanged when they fail.

[Flynn_Stones]

Is Snap-on better than Icon? Yes, without a doubt.

Is it as much better as it is in price difference? No, absolutely not.

Does Snap-on charge exponentially more for being better quality or for being made in America? Neither, it's for having the "Snap-on" brand name and because they can.

Lots of Snap-on's stuff is made in the same asian factories as Harbor Freight's stuff.

If anything Harbor Freight's lifetime warranty is easier for most consumers as it's just a trip to the store on the same day it breaks.

If money is no object to you, then sure go ahead and buy Snap-on. But if it is, then why would you? It's like buying designer clothes. You know the markup is like 2000%, and 1600% of that is just them charging you for the brand name.

[dev.b]

My Forman told me that if you use the tool for the job it was meant for as intended you’ll never need to buy it twice.

[Asbivilian]

When I first started as a mechanic the Snap-on 19/21mm flip socket for lug nuts was around $50. I went across the street to Harbor Freight and bought 1/2" drive 19mm and 21mm deep impact sockets. They were $0.99 each. This years makes 21 years that I've had them. I did end up getting the flip socket for work, but I always used those at home. Still going strong.

Most of my tools and box are Matco. They had the better deal when it came to financing it. Over 10 years I spent close to $30k on tools. I used to get a plaque from the Matco man each year that showed how much I had spent with him. He gave them out to his top customers. The Snap-on man did give me a pair of socks though!

[Materthegreater]

I’ve had my icon set for 3 years everyday use no problems. I do have snap on stuff too but I’ll save money where I can. Icon has treated me great.

[richardmann]

Harbor freight has these snap on dealers looking stupid 😂😂😂

[PedalTheGlobe]

Show us both sides before inserting into vice. Could have easily partially cut backside of icon first.

[richardwang]

I personally don't use snapon because i am not a professional mechanic. Im just some asshole who changes oil and an ignition coil or pully every now and then. At the end of the day, you get what you pay for, and your tools need to hold up to the level of work you do.

[Redawesomeoby]

I remember the last time I was undoing a fastener and needed to bend my wrench sideways.

[cslloyd]

I am far more likely to lose a tool than to break one. So I buy the cheapest tools that solve my problem. If it breaks, then i consider moving up in quality. I am not a pro and, for the frequency i use most tools, disposable is fine with me. If this strategy wasn’t best for me, i’d reconsider, but it’s served me well.

[RedneckBaller]

Not much difference for $9 a wrench for icon VS $100 for snap-on

[Memphis_Whistle]

Not a flex, but I've got most people's mortgage just in my ratchet drawer. Took me 10 years of hard work to get my box as full as it is with 90% snap on stuff, including the box. I have no regrets about it, I'm feeding americans, not slave labor countries that put out the bare minimum when it comes to their "quality" work. Bring back american manufacturing

[malbright]

Most of you don’t get it
First off I broke the wrench. That’s me in the video and the icon wasn’t notched and I’ll gladly do it again and show a 360 of the wrench before I put it in there.
But let’s break this all down.
1. Of course you don’t use a wrench that way. That isn’t the point. The point of breaking it 90 degrees was to show the quality of the metal. The icon just snapped and the snap on I had to push and pull to break it. It wasn’t a trick. I honestly just wanted to see if I could do it. And I kept going with bigger sizes.

2. Congrats you made it this far in reading. I’m proud of you.

3. Americans specifically I’m speaking to you. Times are tough as hell and I get it as much as all of you. I see $2 dollars for this icon wrench or $100 for the snap on or whatever the cost. If you have an old lady and she did the shopping you probably go with her now to tell her “hold up put that back we don’t need it” because everything’s crazy now. I get it! But that’s the damn problem! We let the Chinese, Taiwanese, and all these Asian companies produce lesser quality products for a cheaper price. You still may pay Fortune 500 business owner but that’s not at all going into an American line workers pocket. No American Forged that Icon wrench. That was some dude in china or Taiwan or whatever for .50 an hour or even less. Snap on charges because ALMOST all of their product is made here by American hands. And paid a quality rate. Now how can they charge low prices at high quality if they are paying somebody $15-20 hourly not including paying for tooling to build when china can pay somebody 50 cent hourly.

I’m not saying buy snap on I’m not saying icon is the worst ever but their has to be an American company that makes a wrench the same quality as icon that’s a few bucks more. So what? Spend the extra 10 bucks and buy the American set over the Chinese and put it back into American hands.

I buy snap on because I mean look at me, I’m obviously somebodies trophy husband.

[nobuddyimportant]

Years ago, saw a kid shatter a brand new HF 19mm impact socket taking off a lug nut. First use of the socket. Got a small piece lodged in his cheek, under the eye. Snap-on or Matco. Nothing else for me. Well worth the cost. CP, keep the videos like this coming. The younger techs need to understand how valuable good tools really are.

[jeremyhopkins]

Can confirm. Snap on’s metallurgy is top notch, I have a set of long zero offset wrenches for alignments and I use them to ‘forcibly adjust’ camber all the time.

[andreranch]

Got a couple wrenches they just say “Canada” on em. Grandpa used em during the war fixin planes