Is the Icon ratchet the same as Snap On?

Here's a special episode of Tool Demos, viewer requested! In this video, we have a close up look at Harbor Freight's Icon 90 tooth ratchet and compare it to its Snap On ratchet counterpart. We'll test, measure, and tear them apart.

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#tooldemos

[jerbear]

People will always try to justify snap on by saying they feel better or they like them more. The same way people justify buying a $1500 kirby vacuum cleaner or a Harley. Its a status symbol pushed by talented salesman with easy credit. Admitting that anything else is just as good or better would mean admitting they made a mistake.

[rmcdaniel]

Taking apart a ratchet reminds me of my job with the Sears Hardware department MANY years ago, before they went completely to shit. Yes, we could replace your ratchet if it broke or didn't work right. Free. No questions asked. But the old timers who really knew better would ask for a rebuild of their old one, and for a very short time when I worked there, they were still doing those rebuild kits. The guts of the old ratchets were just so much more superior.

[SWC]

WOW IVE USED SNAP-ON FOR 45 PLUS GOING 2 HF AND PICKING UP A ICON. LET YOU KNOW!

[mrsqueakthecat.]

This reminds me of the 'fake fluke Meter' thing that happened years ago.

The short story goes a bit like this.
Some big online electronics hobbyist forum/club commissioned a foreign electronics manufacturer to make a custom multimeter for them.
Fluke saw them and then tried to sue them for copyright infringement since it was basically identical to one of their high-dollar units.
The foreign manufacturer got pulled in to explain things and said that yes it's basically a Fluke meter we did some minor changes to in order to get around the copyright issue.
Fluke then had a fit about it because they admitted that it was a copy, only to have the manufacturers say that they were legally allowed to make copies of every FLuke meter they made per the fine print of the manufacturing contracts they had with Fluke.
Fluke claimed that was a lie because their meters were 'Made in the USA'. To which the foreign manufacturer rebutted them with, "No, they are ASSEMBLED in the USA. We make all your parts here for you then you put them together there."
Fluke then quietly shut up and bought out all the club's meters they had made in hopes the leak about their meters being grossly overpriced cheap foreign-made junk would never get out. 🤣

[Richies_Garage]

Your comparing a 72 to a 90 tooth anvil they're gonna be drastically different with deeper machining just an observation thank you for this video man!

[cudaboy]

I had many different ratchets over the last 30 years and snap on has always worked the best

[robbieraychannel]

Hello 30+ year pro mechanic here. Nice video, I think it depends on what tool and how often you use it. I have a mix of all kinds of brands based on that. The snap-on truck has tons of items on it that are clearly made in Asia. They slap-on a snap-on decal and charge 5 times the price. However, their wrenches and sockets are 2nd to none. This is due to the quality of the steel and their special tempering process. This matters because the sockets can be thinner walled and the wrenches can be thinner at the box and open end and still be very strong. Engines and other things are built using such tools, You may not be able to access certain fasteners using cheaper tools because they are to bulky. Just my 2 cents

[subaraptor]

Project Farm has a great side by side test between various ratchets. Their video complements a comparison like this very well.

[stevenstanselljr]

Finally an honest guy out here making tool promise your an original. When I say no one who's done relative videos isn't a shill for tool trucks or harbor the truth

[mikeske]

I have been wrenching for the past 50 years on everything from Air Force low bid tools to the Snap-on's. Personally I really do not care as long as it does the job that I want a ratchet for. I do have a variety of different ratchets including Icon, Snap-on, Bonney, SK, Craftsman, Mac, Channellock, Thoreson and Matco. I just grab what is handy to grab and it is off to the nut or bolt. I also know that for sheer toughness I grab my old Bonney 32 tooth round head ratchet for the tough jobs and the finer jobs I actually like the Channellock ones my wife picked up in a garage sale one time. I never bought any of these tools off the truck but my fullest set of tools are from Bonney that I got from Grainger in 1983.

Over the years I been an automotive mechanic for 10 years and then 30 years working as an aviation mechanic and the tools I had at work were mostly my Bonney tools.

[DearSX]

Thanks for the review! I went with a $13 dollar Crescent 90T, to add to my various other Pittsburg and Craftsman ratchets. I have yet to break a ratchet in the last 15 years of working on my cars, bikes, motorcycles and home. I just use the right tools for the right job. If I need more than 150lb/ft of torque I use a 1/2" ratchet. If I need a something for a small bolt I use a 1/4", which I own like 6 different affordable models, keep one in each car, home and motorcycle as needed.

[MsCnote]

Finally, someone that can give an honest opinion about the quality of Icon vs SnapOn. Most guys are fanboys and assume that if you aren't spending 10× the amount on a similar tool, you aren't a real mechanic.

[Anthony-wjxb]

Keep in mind, the steel of the anvil is totally different. I believe the Snappy is USA MADE N Icon ids Taiwan. I have broken the anvil on both a 3/8" ratchet from Icon n a 1/2" breaker bar. My old snappys never had an issue

[shawns]

Nice comparison. But also consider that the Icon’s anvil is 90 tooth compared with the Snap-On’s 72. The Icon’s teeth aren’t going to be as deep or defined.

[bcamcam]

I hate the ON/OFF switch, always confuses me when I have a reverse thread fastener.. Also it bugs me after a long week end to find I forgot to turn them off and they are dead, I prefer the ones with auto off...

[vjqzbrl]

I love my 120 tooth Craftsman Gunmetal Chrome ratchets - not only do they work great but they are beautiful like no other ratchet out there.

[gregkeller]

Sadly the 1/4 inch drive snappies can’t withstand constant use. The mechanisms seem to fail prematurely. Never had a problem with the 3/8 drive. Nothing beats the in hand feel of snap on.

[jasonfeaster]

So you're comparing an older style ratchet to a newer style ratchet makes sense honestly I've had both of them and the snap-on is so much better and way way more reliable Yes icon does have lifetime warranty however you're warranting that ratchet more times than one should for a tool

[NoName-cyh]

RAM dealership left a Snap On ratchet under the hood, and I must say it was the best tool that has me wanting more.❤ Harbor Freight is like a kia, or Hyundai to me where I still remember it being junk.

[HenryRodriguez-tuip]

Great video. Just picked up an icon 3/8 flex head ratchet with an additional 25% off this weekend for $33.