I always love these tests, but I wouldn’t normally put a breaker bar on a 3/8 inch drive tool. I would go to one of my longer 1/2” drive tools, then a cheater bar. What the test does for me is to show that the ratchet probably isn’t going to break so I can put full hand force when needed.
I've had a Pittsburgh 3/8 ratchet with the extension handle for 10 years and used it for everything including a breaker bar and it's still working awasome.
I’ve used the Pittsburgh pro ratchet at work for roughly 10 months. I’ve broken one in that amount of time at the pin in the flex portion. Pretty dang good ratchet for the money I’d say. Warranty was very easy as well. Have yet to break the second one. I’m very impressed with how they hold up in profession automotive mechanic use.
@@brotherbrian1 ahh back yard bullshit lol 😂 I have some blue point stuff by snap on , but I don’t have enough for what I’m doin and goin to pick a few more I didn’t know which ones to go with
Completely agree with you...checked them out in store today....It's more than half the price as they allow 20% to %25 off on everything Pittsburgh. The switch annoys me greatly on the Icons
There’s a lot more to it than just the ultimate strength. Not going to say it doesn’t matter, but stripping isn’t my biggest concern in ratchets. Pittsburg pro ratchets are plenty tough enough for 90% of things. Problems they have....self reversing, flexing in the handles, flex heads are notoriously floppy, screw coming lose and selector switch falling out (this happens in road boxes just going down the road....grab one out of the box...no switch) They’re worth what they cost, but, honestly, they kind of suck. I’ve not used an icon, but they look better.
I like my Pittsburgh Pro 3/8, but the selector detent is very weak and changes direction sometimes if it bumps into something in a tight space. I assume the spring on the detent ball is a bit weak, not 100% sure. I've owned it for maybe a year and a half now
@@Jamesbond22855 wrap a small rubber band around the switch (between the switch and the head of the ratchet) to keep it from moving so easily...it works well for my ratchet.
The Icons definitely feel a little more well built, and do seem to have more durability, but for the money I think the Pittsburg Pro line is still the better buy, especially cuz they're half the price and almost just as good with the same exact warranty.
My suggestion, you commented about the handle flexing, yet for the final breaking point the pipe slid “passed” the flex head pin - which I believe supported/transferred the extra torque to the gear. I would have like to seen that bar back further to see if the flex head pin would have snapped first
I personally own the Pittsburg and will never change it for anything else. It has serve me well over the years. Do not over do it trying to take a wheel nut off with a 3/8, use the right tool for the right job.
Agreed lol. I work at HF, and literally had a guy come in with a busted 3/8 drive breaker bar wanting to return it, which I did for him cuz he was within his 90 days for refund. I asked him what he was trying to do with it and he said he tried taking off an over tightened lug nut with it (I couldnt help but laugh to myself inside lol). I told him he definitely need at the very least a 1/2in drive when loosening any sort of large fastener, especially a lug nut.
This convinced me to keep my Pittsburgh Pro ratchets. If I needed to crank down that hard to break a bolt loose, I’d just use a breaker bar. The lifetime warranty would replace it if it broke anyways. Pass on the ICON.
I've used the Pittsburg pro flex head ratchets for years now. I have no illusions that they are great, but they have held up very well. The 3/8" binds a little every once in a while if I really get into it, but most of the time if I'm torquing that hard I'm using the 1/2" and I've had no problem with that one. Both flex heads got pretty floppy soon after purchase, but I took them apart, and inserted a shim made from an old feeler gauge and they've been fine since. I think they're good value for the price.
I bought a 3/8 version of the Pittsburgh pro a few years back. Used it a bit, head got all floppy, and then stripped the screw out for the pivot. Warrantied it, same thing. Threw it in my truck box for a spare ratchet and bought a Gearwrench 120XP equivalent. No regrets, no problems and I've abused that 120XP ratchet. It even came with a 1/4" drive flex head long handle as some sort of promotion all for $40. On the flip side I bought the 1/4" drive flex head version of the Pittsburgh pro and that one always worked great and I've used it a ton. Also have the non flex head regular length 3/8 Pittsburgh pro and it's been fine. Doesn't look like the Icon versions are much better than the old Pittsburgh pro ratchets.
I had the same thing happen to most of my old Pittsburgs. It didn't really bother me that much though with the floppy head, it still held it's strength pretty well and did not break or fail on me. When it did get floppy it definitely took a little while before it started to happen to me
@@coytus94 The one I warrantied got sloppy within 2 hours of it being brand new removing the cylinder heads from a 01 saturn. I mostly used it on the exhaust bolts. I put that thing in the tool box of my truck and bought a gearwrench equivalent and it's still going like new years later.
::::: SUGGESTION ::::: Since you've already broken the ICON ratchet, wouldn't it make a great video if you cut off the soft grip handle on that broken ICON ratchet to see how far down the metal extends into the soft grip coating. (does it go all the way to the end, or is there an inch of plastic at the bottom)
@Emerald lx Sounds like you don't use tools. Snap on has a warranty, and yet even when you fall into their stipulations they will knowingly not follow warranty. Testing their warranty is a good test. As if you actually used tools, you would want to know if the company will stand behind their product or not. Reading a piece of paper does nothing.
ICON long flex head fails at 229 - $49.99 Pittsburgh Pro long flex head fails at 217 - $21.99* Both have lifetime warranty and as of right now, ICON has no discount while Pittsburgh Pro has a $5 coupon with no expiration making it $21.99 (reg $26.99).
@Dennis Adkins as of now. Wouldn't be surprised if they give each store a small back stock. It's too easy of a system now to make it more difficult on people for what are nicer items.
I just wonder what the consistency of this test would be as far as two out of three, you never know just a different batch could change the results, and if that was to happen the icon is nothing but a polished turd for its Price Line
I’ve never broken my Snap On 3/8th flex head ever, and that is with years of use, still bought the Icon as it feels the most familiar and I don’t care much for space when I have other tools for tighter spaces
i think the more important outcome is the fact that the handle looks identical but the flex was totally different. personally because its only a sample size of one breaking point doesnt matter too much
216lbs break point on the Pittsburgh and 229 on the icon. Not a lot of difference. However there is a lot of difference in the price. For that reason I'd pick the Pittsburgh ratchet every time. I just can't imagine needing to put that much torque on a ratchet. That's when you reach for the air ratchet gun. No stress, no strain ...just using the brain😅
I'm a DIY guy and mostly small engine mechanic. I own several ICON, Pittsburgh Pro, and Tekton, ratchets. Working as I do, ANY of these brands will give you a lifetime of service.
I am a professional tech with a ratchet addiction. That said all of my ratchets are either, Pittsburgh professional, or snapon dual 80, and I use them interchangeably every day. Watching these reviews I think I may stick with the Pittsburgh pro. They seem like more of a professional ratchet than the icon.
I use to be a snap on fan I'm starting to think they're all the same idk I feel snap on quality has gone down. They break on me all the time without using power tools. My gear wrench lasted longer then snap on ratchet. The gear wrench still hasn't broken
The Icon was an immediate no go for me when I realized there was no detent in the flex head. Don't own the Pittsburgh but I'd buy it before the icon for half the price.
@@diogenesstudent5585 in this case a spring and ball bearing mechanism to stop the ratchet head from flopping around. If you look at some other brands like say gearwrench they have this feature.
I think 100+ lbs/ft out of a ratchet like this is not bad. The pro may not be the best option for someone who does a lot of wrenching but should work plenty good enough for the diy'er.
I've been using the Pittsburgh pro long flex head comfort grip as my go-to for a long time. Picked up the icon one today with 40% off coupon ($32.99) I will compare the 2 in use and probably put the Pittsburgh in 2nd string.
Don’t expect tools to withstand abuse like that. Tools aren’t meant to be used that way. That’s why tool companies make breaker bars. That Pittsburgh ratchet did way more than expected.
I'm not gonna lean in at 220lbs on a ratchet Have a breaker bar for that How comfortable is it to work with. Click angle, ease of switch, grip, socket attachment/release Cost value I'm more concerned about damage from dropping. PP seems fine
I have been using the 3/8 Pittsburgh Pro for over 2 years never have had it take a shit. For the price it cant be beat. I have broke the 1/2 Pittsburgh Pro once but after breaking the Snap on 3/8 3 times I sold it.
I believe the Icon 3/8" drive flex head ratchets were all recalled, all handle lengths, and they never returned for sale at Harbor Freight. The 1/2" drive ones (and 1/4"?) are still available, but in 3/8" now Pittsburgh looks like the only choice at Harbor Freight.
Pittsburgh is just fine if you intended for normal use. And not forcing it. That’s what a breaker bar is for, I have Pittsburg going on 3 yrs now using it everyday and my savings is really happy. I’ve seen mechanics with 40k tool set up and drives a $500 car, it’s confusing.
Good Video ..Glad you Took my advice into consideration ..Now that's what I'm talking about the viewers wanted to see that ...That was a great look Great Content and the Pittsburgh shaft looks thinner than the Icon so the flex is self explanatory
These are being operated way outside their spec so both actually did well. Pittsburgh definitely won for the price. You could actually buy a 1/2" long handle Pittsburgh ratchet and a set of 1/2" sockets and it would be about the same price as that Icon 3/8". If I was intending to abuse the ratchet that much I'd buy the 1/2" Pittsburgh.
I broke the Ppro like that on a 18 mm bolt that I used my foot to push on got it replaced the next day and have been using it every day for 2 year since the replacement. I use it more than my mac I've broken it 3 times they wear out really fast one broke on a 6.0 drain plug. I recommend the harbor freight over the Mac. Harbor freight has better warranty and last year's not months. I was getting about 5 months out the Mac. The only problum with the harbor freight Ppro is the head gets too loose. But it's literally 1 tenth the cost
Ok so both failed at around the same level. So what the hell are you paying for? When you take it back it's all the same. Again you dont put a ratchet under 200 ftlbs of torque, breaker bar for the win.
Yup. And you can pick up a Pittsburgh breaker bar for only $20! I’ve bought one for every box and even got one for the wife’s car with a lug nut socket. I’ve put a lot of force into the one on our farm.
I have both the Pittsburg breaker bar and the 3/8" long flex head ratchet. Both have a ton of flex. When I was trying to get a stubborn rear axle nut off the bar would flex so far it would hit the ground with me standing/jumping on it. I ended up having to raise the car up off the ground in order to get enough range of motion out of the breaker bar to do the job. I've barely used the 3/8" long flex head ratchet, but the weakness of that tool is that yoke spreads apart and renders the flex head useless. One of my friends mentioned he had that problem with his when I bought mine, but I didn't really think it would be an issue. Sure enough, shortly after buying it and having barely used it and not put any big force into it, the flex head on mine flops around no matter how much I try to tighten it up.
Wasn't the point on the rats back? As the tail was missing yesterday with the pencil blunt dick, because the tail is on the hedgehogs head straight ratchet
I have been useing pittsburg pro ratchets in my shop aswell as 4 other mechanics use them for years,,not one single broken,never a problem,,we use our tools properly and keep them clean/lubed
I hope about 50-60 ft lbs is what most of these 3/8 ratchets would see in day to day use. Maybe 80-100 once in a while. So any would do the job, just keep em lubricated.
Broke my 4th Pittsburg today warranty is great. But there is no way I ever put this kinda torque on any of them never put a pipe on them. At some point I would think building a better tool would be cheaper for them in the long run. Picked up the icon so hopefully this one will hold up.
Guess owning snap-on products makes me recognize junk when i see it sorry for trying to discourage the hope that the ICON brand has anything worth looking at
I feel like it's good that the Icon it failed at the anvil rather then st the gears. That way all that has to be swapped out is the gear. But 229ftlbs before failure is impressive
I have the Pittsburgh pro and a snap on.use the snap on daily and the pro as a loaner or beat up ratchet. Have broken the pro 3 times by hand all times the flex pin snaps.
i use my Pittsburgh flex 3/8 correctly as a professional mechanic and it doe not break. Best wrench i ever owned. you do not use 3/8 when dealing with more that 80ftlbs. you go to 1/2 inch.
I’ve used it in a pinch for some stuff I shouldn’t have but they should be able to do 100-125 ftlbs all day long, but you have to start working to do it and it’s definitely easier to just go 1/2 drive.
I don’t think 6% more torque resilience is worth the mark up. I like the pp line. But I think there is better stuff out there for the money than icon. Like the craftsman gunmetal and v series ratchets some are a little pricier than icon but better tools. Husky I think is more price comparable and a better product all around.
I have the Pittsburgh pro one already so I'm probably not going to upgrade that. It's my favorite ratchet to use and I even use it over my 84 tooth Craftsman set. I did buy the Icon socket sets though in metric. They seem a lot better than the regular Pittsburgh stuff.
On another channel were were talking about ratchets; how most of the folks there would rather use a 45 tooth SK than a XP120. Solely due to their subjective feel. Coming back to the two ratchets in the video, would you say the Icon feels significantly more preferable to use? Edit: why the thumbs' downs?
I can tell you that after breaking both I would prefer to break more ICON over Pittsburgh Pro. How about for the fixed head ICON torture test I throw in as SK Tools 45170 just for you.
The Pittsburgh is a better ratchet not strength but back-drag I have many ratchet’s snap on Mac almost every USA made and always pick up the Pittsburgh one.
Use a Pittsburgh pro everyday for the last 3 years and I’ve never had a problem out of the 1/4,3/8 or the 1/2 now the 1/4 Snap on stripped the head twice so it’s retired to back up
Justin Snyder The pin, actually a torx screw, didn't fail in Justin Dows video, it backed out. He put some red Loctite on it and put it back to work. He also said that his tool truck flex heads do the same thing.
i hate my snap on flex head comfort grip that keeps sliding off and is not warrantied. I own 4 Pittsburgh and love them. I wont even use the snap on anymore. If you are a professional mechanic buy a few of these. the 1/4 flex head is really nice. their Earthquake 1/2 impact for 90$ is awesome. My prior one lasted 20 years of professional use and abuse. It still works but I wanted a new fresh one. the colored sockets are awesome but they do not come in 6 point 3/8th anymore. I would buy another set if they did.
The Pittsburgh pro has served me well. I did a break job the other day and I couldn't get the lug nuts off! The tire shop over torqued them. I had a three foot cheater bar on it and had to lean my bodyweight into it. It did flex bad but didn't brake or damage it. I was really impressed
I would like to see a test of the green pittsburgh ratchets vs the red pittsburgh pro, i like the green ratchets better just because of the quick release and how smooth they are.
I’ve never had a Pittsburgh fail that way but the everyday use is under par. I’ve returned 3 within the last yr, never had a problem with returns. Pain in the butt though when in the middle of a job and it fails.
That is a 1.7% difference in failure torque. Not a sh*t worth of difference for the price difference, and at that point one should be using a breaker bar. Oh, btw, torque is lb/ft, not ft/lb despite what every mechanic thinks/says.
3:34 - 4:07, moral of the story--> all of those teeth are not what they are cracked up to be. Craftsman slim raised panel 36 tooth ratchets have been defeating fasteners for nearly a century. Rest assured not one of those stubborn fasteners remained unturned, 1930 to the present.
to me they both look like professional grade i know you're testing its limits but like you say that's not how a ratchet is suppose to be used that's what a breaker bar is for.
Tengo un Pittsburgh media pulgada con cabeza flexible todo bien hasta ahora lo uso regularmente, el único problema fue el plástico que cubre se rompió 😢
To be honest it looks like the Pittsburgh is plenty strong enough for average everyday use. I like the Icons to and a great value compared to the tool trucks but at the end of the day though if you're using a rachet above 75ftlbs ish consistently you're using the wrong tool. Personally, if I am using a wrench or ratchet and have to apply enough pressure it starts to hurt my hand I grab either a breaker bar or impact.
Ive had pgh pro since 2018 and just returned it a month ago for another.ive gave my last one alot of abuse,which i use it just about everyday.only reason i returned it because it started gettin sloppy on the return which is critical in certain situations.was a very good ratchett for 4 yrs and i kinda abuse them but not too far
If harbor freight gave me a test on how their ratchetts work from day to day within a yrs time id def take it..one thing i will say keep the ratchett mechanism lubed and tighten the flex head bolt periodacally.
If it costs more, you save more when you get the percentage off coupon. Lol. But, I got the icon, just for the tooth count. I'm sure Pittsburgh just as good, but how often do you buy them when they are lifetime?
When are you going to start adding in some newer sk tools? I’m curious how they stack up. I have some newer sk and love them. Pricy but very nice tools
Which one do you like best? Full ICON Ratchet video czcams.com/video/kW0uW-6Z5Nc/video.html
Both
Pittsburgh Pro, checked them out in store today. Switch bugged me a lot, other than that didn't seem really impressive.
Ratchets I Use Gearwrench 120xp but sockets I use is Pittsburgh Pro Sockets made in Taiwan'
Huh. Are you a metallurgist? Doesn't prove a thing except you've got alot of broken tools, and money to burn.
I always love these tests, but I wouldn’t normally put a breaker bar on a 3/8 inch drive tool. I would go to one of my longer 1/2” drive tools, then a cheater bar. What the test does for me is to show that the ratchet probably isn’t going to break so I can put full hand force when needed.
I've had a Pittsburgh 3/8 ratchet with the extension handle for 10 years and used it for everything including a breaker bar and it's still working awasome.
I’ve used the Pittsburgh pro ratchet at work for roughly 10 months. I’ve broken one in that amount of time at the pin in the flex portion. Pretty dang good ratchet for the money I’d say. Warranty was very easy as well. Have yet to break the second one. I’m very impressed with how they hold up in profession automotive mechanic use.
If I broke 2 on the pin, I'd replace it with a grade 8 pin.
@@snap-off5383 yeah makes sense I seen the price yesterday what was it 12 89 😭
I've got the 3/8 Pittsburgh Pro and the 1/2 Pittsburgh Pro flex, and the 1/2" is an absolute beast.
Yea I got the 1/2” too i definitely agree
So in ur opinion is the icon worth the price over the Pitts pro?
@@shanetritt3656 if used professionally yes.
@@brotherbrian1 ahh back yard bullshit lol 😂 I have some blue point stuff by snap on , but I don’t have enough for what I’m doin and goin to pick a few more I didn’t know which ones to go with
Im not a Pittsburgh ratchets fan but IMO the PPro is better. Lower profile head, recesed selector switch 12ftlb shy and half the price of the ICON.
Completely agree with you...checked them out in store today....It's more than half the price as they allow 20% to %25 off on everything Pittsburgh. The switch annoys me greatly on the Icons
There’s a lot more to it than just the ultimate strength. Not going to say it doesn’t matter, but stripping isn’t my biggest concern in ratchets. Pittsburg pro ratchets are plenty tough enough for 90% of things. Problems they have....self reversing, flexing in the handles, flex heads are notoriously floppy, screw coming lose and selector switch falling out (this happens in road boxes just going down the road....grab one out of the box...no switch) They’re worth what they cost, but, honestly, they kind of suck. I’ve not used an icon, but they look better.
@@dylanbland5993 Suggest removing the screws and making sure good blue lock tight. Solved my issues.
I like my Pittsburgh Pro 3/8, but the selector detent is very weak and changes direction sometimes if it bumps into something in a tight space. I assume the spring on the detent ball is a bit weak, not 100% sure. I've owned it for maybe a year and a half now
@@Jamesbond22855 wrap a small rubber band around the switch (between the switch and the head of the ratchet) to keep it from moving so easily...it works well for my ratchet.
The Icons definitely feel a little more well built, and do seem to have more durability, but for the money I think the Pittsburg Pro line is still the better buy, especially cuz they're half the price and almost just as good with the same exact warranty.
Now you can go test out the Warranty!
Absolutely! Only if your Harbor Freight is like mine, it may be a return because of lack of stock.
Lifetime warranty on all handtools
I can confirm I just went a few days ago to return my pittsburgh ratchet that broke and they replaced it, no receipt, no questions asked
Warranty at Harbor is easy.. they also will replace 1 broken tool in a set in store.. theybwill take out broken one out of new set and give to you..
@@jackhammergaming3526 I recently bought a 1/2" drive Quinn digital torque wrench and I don't get any warranty with it
This is EXACTLY the test I wanted to see. WELL done!
I wondered about the pawl engagement on the Pittsburgh Pro. Thank you.
My suggestion, you commented about the handle flexing, yet for the final breaking point the pipe slid “passed” the flex head pin - which I believe supported/transferred the extra torque to the gear. I would have like to seen that bar back further to see if the flex head pin would have snapped first
I personally own the Pittsburg and will never change it for anything else. It has serve me well over the years. Do not over do it trying to take a wheel nut off with a 3/8, use the right tool for the right job.
Agreed lol. I work at HF, and literally had a guy come in with a busted 3/8 drive breaker bar wanting to return it, which I did for him cuz he was within his 90 days for refund. I asked him what he was trying to do with it and he said he tried taking off an over tightened lug nut with it (I couldnt help but laugh to myself inside lol). I told him he definitely need at the very least a 1/2in drive when loosening any sort of large fastener, especially a lug nut.
This convinced me to keep my Pittsburgh Pro ratchets. If I needed to crank down that hard to break a bolt loose, I’d just use a breaker bar. The lifetime warranty would replace it if it broke anyways. Pass on the ICON.
Smartest man in the comments sir I feel the same way
I've used the Pittsburg pro flex head ratchets for years now. I have no illusions that they are great, but they have held up very well. The 3/8" binds a little every once in a while if I really get into it, but most of the time if I'm torquing that hard I'm using the 1/2" and I've had no problem with that one. Both flex heads got pretty floppy soon after purchase, but I took them apart, and inserted a shim made from an old feeler gauge and they've been fine since. I think they're good value for the price.
I bought a 3/8 version of the Pittsburgh pro a few years back. Used it a bit, head got all floppy, and then stripped the screw out for the pivot. Warrantied it, same thing. Threw it in my truck box for a spare ratchet and bought a Gearwrench 120XP equivalent. No regrets, no problems and I've abused that 120XP ratchet. It even came with a 1/4" drive flex head long handle as some sort of promotion all for $40. On the flip side I bought the 1/4" drive flex head version of the Pittsburgh pro and that one always worked great and I've used it a ton. Also have the non flex head regular length 3/8 Pittsburgh pro and it's been fine. Doesn't look like the Icon versions are much better than the old Pittsburgh pro ratchets.
I had the same thing happen to most of my old Pittsburgs. It didn't really bother me that much though with the floppy head, it still held it's strength pretty well and did not break or fail on me. When it did get floppy it definitely took a little while before it started to happen to me
@@coytus94 The one I warrantied got sloppy within 2 hours of it being brand new removing the cylinder heads from a 01 saturn. I mostly used it on the exhaust bolts. I put that thing in the tool box of my truck and bought a gearwrench equivalent and it's still going like new years later.
Awesome, think I'll stick with my pittpro. Handles all I need. Icons new line is very nice.
Siege mechanic??
I work in a shop and that Pittsburg professional ratchet is a beast . I’ve put a cheater bar on it many times and over one year using it still great
::::: SUGGESTION ::::: Since you've already broken the ICON ratchet, wouldn't it make a great video if you cut off the soft grip handle on that broken ICON ratchet to see how far down the metal extends into the soft grip coating. (does it go all the way to the end, or is there an inch of plastic at the bottom)
He might not be able to get warranty replacement if he tears up hand grips.
Another guy already did. Equal distance in.
Why not test the warranty?
Grips compared here ICON vs Pittsburgh Ratchet Comfort Grip Look Touch Thoughts Opinions czcams.com/video/kdQKmw9ul3c/video.html
@Emerald lx
Sounds like you don't use tools.
Snap on has a warranty, and yet even when you fall into their stipulations they will knowingly not follow warranty. Testing their warranty is a good test. As if you actually used tools, you would want to know if the company will stand behind their product or not. Reading a piece of paper does nothing.
ICON long flex head fails at 229 - $49.99
Pittsburgh Pro long flex head fails at 217 - $21.99*
Both have lifetime warranty and as of right now, ICON has no discount while Pittsburgh Pro has a $5 coupon with no expiration making it $21.99 (reg $26.99).
Check your prices these are the 3/8” Flex Head Long Handle Ratchet in the video🙈
ClientGraphics - You’re right, I used the standard length prices vs long handle. Good catch. I have edited the original post
@Dennis Adkins as of now. Wouldn't be surprised if they give each store a small back stock. It's too easy of a system now to make it more difficult on people for what are nicer items.
I just wonder what the consistency of this test would be as far as two out of three, you never know just a different batch could change the results, and if that was to happen the icon is nothing but a polished turd for its Price Line
Chip B the icon panel design is way better though, more teeth engaged at once.
I’ve never broken my Snap On 3/8th flex head ever, and that is with years of use, still bought the Icon as it feels the most familiar and I don’t care much for space when I have other tools for tighter spaces
i think the more important outcome is the fact that the handle looks identical but the flex was totally different. personally because its only a sample size of one breaking point doesnt matter too much
216lbs break point on the Pittsburgh and 229 on the icon. Not a lot of difference. However there is a lot of difference in the price. For that reason I'd pick the Pittsburgh ratchet every time. I just can't imagine needing to put that much torque on a ratchet. That's when you reach for the air ratchet gun. No stress, no strain ...just using the brain😅
I'm a DIY guy and mostly small engine mechanic.
I own several ICON, Pittsburgh Pro, and Tekton, ratchets. Working as I do, ANY of these brands will give you a lifetime of service.
I am a professional tech with a ratchet addiction. That said all of my ratchets are either, Pittsburgh professional, or snapon dual 80, and I use them interchangeably every day. Watching these reviews I think I may stick with the Pittsburgh pro. They seem like more of a professional ratchet than the icon.
Have to pick the right bang for your buck that allows you to do your job, have fun, and save for the future. Stay safe!
I use to be a snap on fan I'm starting to think they're all the same idk I feel snap on quality has gone down. They break on me all the time without using power tools. My gear wrench lasted longer then snap on ratchet. The gear wrench still hasn't broken
Just an update HF just posted a %20 coupon on the Icon tool line it on the web site. Thanks for all you do and JD, Redemption Garage and Den of Tools.
It's for the tool "storage" aka the tool boxes and accessories.
The Icon was an immediate no go for me when I realized there was no detent in the flex head. Don't own the Pittsburgh but I'd buy it before the icon for half the price.
What's a detent
@@diogenesstudent5585 in this case a spring and ball bearing mechanism to stop the ratchet head from flopping around. If you look at some other brands like say gearwrench they have this feature.
@@SonnyJ26 ty
In my case I bought bc no detent.
I think 100+ lbs/ft out of a ratchet like this is not bad. The pro may not be the best option for someone who does a lot of wrenching but should work plenty good enough for the diy'er.
especially in a 3/8" ratchet.
I've been using the Pittsburgh pro long flex head comfort grip as my go-to for a long time. Picked up the icon one today with 40% off coupon ($32.99) I will compare the 2 in use and probably put the Pittsburgh in 2nd string.
Great test. Exactly the comparison I wanted to see.
Don’t expect tools to withstand abuse like that. Tools aren’t meant to be used that way. That’s why tool companies make breaker bars. That Pittsburgh ratchet did way more than expected.
I'm not gonna lean in at 220lbs on a ratchet
Have a breaker bar for that
How comfortable is it to work with. Click angle, ease of switch, grip, socket attachment/release
Cost value
I'm more concerned about damage from dropping. PP seems fine
I have been using the 3/8 Pittsburgh Pro for over 2 years never have had it take a shit. For the price it cant be beat. I have broke the 1/2 Pittsburgh Pro once but after breaking the Snap on 3/8 3 times I sold it.
I believe the Icon 3/8" drive flex head ratchets were all recalled, all handle lengths, and they never returned for sale at Harbor Freight. The 1/2" drive ones (and 1/4"?) are still available, but in 3/8" now Pittsburgh looks like the only choice at Harbor Freight.
I noticed that too
I miss this channel
I think this video sold me on the ICON sockets
agreed. I've broken way more sockets than ratchets
Pittsburgh is just fine if you intended for normal use. And not forcing it. That’s what a breaker bar is for, I have Pittsburg going on 3 yrs now using it everyday and my savings is really happy. I’ve seen mechanics with 40k tool set up and drives a $500 car, it’s confusing.
Cant wait to see that video. Great Video as usual. I love to see test to fail. Thanks Chris!
I like to do them too, but my arm is killing me today after two days in a row😟
Good Video ..Glad you Took my advice into consideration ..Now that's what I'm talking about the viewers wanted to see that ...That was a great look Great Content and the Pittsburgh shaft looks thinner than the Icon so the flex is self explanatory
More icon went on sale on the website overnight
Search Results For "Icon” Hand Tools is now (55 Items) 👍🏼
I use the pro for oil changes and engine maintenance. No complaints
I saw that Stanley pass through in the back of the drawer 😉 great video. Awesome comparison 👍 keep up the great work 🤘
The maintenance Man Stanley was some of the first stuff I bought on my own when I couldn’t use my Dads tools.
These are being operated way outside their spec so both actually did well. Pittsburgh definitely won for the price. You could actually buy a 1/2" long handle Pittsburgh ratchet and a set of 1/2" sockets and it would be about the same price as that Icon 3/8". If I was intending to abuse the ratchet that much I'd buy the 1/2" Pittsburgh.
I watched the Icon video yesterday. Neither ratchet broke at the joint like I expected.
I broke the Ppro like that on a 18 mm bolt that I used my foot to push on got it replaced the next day and have been using it every day for 2 year since the replacement. I use it more than my mac I've broken it 3 times they wear out really fast one broke on a 6.0 drain plug. I recommend the harbor freight over the Mac. Harbor freight has better warranty and last year's not months. I was getting about 5 months out the Mac. The only problum with the harbor freight Ppro is the head gets too loose. But it's literally 1 tenth the cost
The tolerances in that icon socket look sloppy just a observation
Ok so both failed at around the same level. So what the hell are you paying for? When you take it back it's all the same. Again you dont put a ratchet under 200 ftlbs of torque, breaker bar for the win.
Yup. And you can pick up a Pittsburgh breaker bar for only $20! I’ve bought one for every box and even got one for the wife’s car with a lug nut socket. I’ve put a lot of force into the one on our farm.
200 ft lb is a 1/2 drive assignment or 3/4
I'd use the Pittsburg, good nuff for me
I have both the Pittsburg breaker bar and the 3/8" long flex head ratchet. Both have a ton of flex. When I was trying to get a stubborn rear axle nut off the bar would flex so far it would hit the ground with me standing/jumping on it. I ended up having to raise the car up off the ground in order to get enough range of motion out of the breaker bar to do the job.
I've barely used the 3/8" long flex head ratchet, but the weakness of that tool is that yoke spreads apart and renders the flex head useless. One of my friends mentioned he had that problem with his when I bought mine, but I didn't really think it would be an issue. Sure enough, shortly after buying it and having barely used it and not put any big force into it, the flex head on mine flops around no matter how much I try to tighten it up.
20 extra teeth and an annoying switch...some fancy packaging from what I can tell....
I wouldn't call this a tool failure. A 3/8 ratchet shouldn't be stressed to 200lbs, that's easily a job for a 1/2 or 3/4 BREAKER bar
cant wait to see the breaker bar test .... i have broken 5 , 1/2 in. drive pittsburgh breaker bars in work , but my duralast is still going strong .
People ask to much of a Ratchet. that's why they make a breaker bar so you wont break a Ratchet. Good video
Noticed that gear and pawl didn't strip... nice...💪
@json json nope, icon they swap it out as well.
I'd love to see a snap on compared to the icon and see what it's failing point is
Be patient you might get that wish as we still have to do the fixed head 3/8 ratchet👌
Wasn't the point on the rats back? As the tail was missing yesterday with the pencil blunt dick, because the tail is on the hedgehogs head straight ratchet
I have been useing pittsburg pro ratchets in my shop aswell as 4 other mechanics use them for years,,not one single broken,never a problem,,we use our tools properly and keep them clean/lubed
What do you recommend to keep ‘em lubbed?
@anthonyliu6374 I use a small dab of red grease works great,,almost any wheel bearing grease will work good but just a dab of it don't over do it
I hope about 50-60 ft lbs is what most of these 3/8 ratchets would see in day to day use. Maybe 80-100 once in a while. So any would do the job, just keep em lubricated.
One thing I don't like about the Pittsburgh is the switch itself, the ICON is a great ratchet, handles the same as the Snap-On.
Broke my 4th Pittsburg today warranty is great. But there is no way I ever put this kinda torque on any of them never put a pipe on them. At some point I would think building a better tool would be cheaper for them in the long run. Picked up the icon so hopefully this one will hold up.
Flex heads aren’t not designed for this kind of torque. You either use a impact gun or a breaker bar for tough bolts/nuts.
TBH I like the inside failing instead of the outside
"ICON" SHOULD HAVE CHANGED THE "COMFORT GRIP" HANDLE! To me they just look like a Pittsburgh Pro ratchet. Change my mind.
They also have no comfort grip version. But the mechanism are totally different so not really the same
Checked them out in the store and they feel like a Pittsburgh Pro too save your money
@@robertburns8567 not true, when I was comparing them in store they icon felt so much better
Guess owning snap-on products makes me recognize junk when i see it sorry for trying to discourage the hope that the ICON brand has anything worth looking at
@@robertburns8567 I'm glad you're proud to get shafted my snap-on prices. Enjoy debt.
Love that the Pittsburgh Pro has a lifetime $5 off coupon 😁
I feel like it's good that the Icon it failed at the anvil rather then st the gears. That way all that has to be swapped out is the gear. But 229ftlbs before failure is impressive
I have the Pittsburgh pro and a snap on.use the snap on daily and the pro as a loaner or beat up ratchet. Have broken the pro 3 times by hand all times the flex pin snaps.
I was really hoping mine was going to break at the pin or the yolk but alas it did not only a stripped gear. Stay safe my friend.
i use my Pittsburgh flex 3/8 correctly as a professional mechanic and it doe not break. Best wrench i ever owned. you do not use 3/8 when dealing with more that 80ftlbs. you go to 1/2 inch.
I’ve used it in a pinch for some stuff I shouldn’t have but they should be able to do 100-125 ftlbs all day long, but you have to start working to do it and it’s definitely easier to just go 1/2 drive.
@@ClientGraphics i love my tool. it works better than my snap on
I don’t think 6% more torque resilience is worth the mark up. I like the pp line. But I think there is better stuff out there for the money than icon. Like the craftsman gunmetal and v series ratchets some are a little pricier than icon but better tools. Husky I think is more price comparable and a better product all around.
I'd like to see this again with the Quinn added in
Seems like both did good.
I can't get behind that zinc switch...sticks out, weak metal, no recess channel like Pittsburgh Pro
I have the Pittsburgh pro one already so I'm probably not going to upgrade that. It's my favorite ratchet to use and I even use it over my 84 tooth Craftsman set. I did buy the Icon socket sets though in metric. They seem a lot better than the regular Pittsburgh stuff.
On another channel were were talking about ratchets; how most of the folks there would rather use a 45 tooth SK than a XP120. Solely due to their subjective feel. Coming back to the two ratchets in the video, would you say the Icon feels significantly more preferable to use?
Edit: why the thumbs' downs?
I can tell you that after breaking both I would prefer to break more ICON over Pittsburgh Pro. How about for the fixed head ICON torture test I throw in as SK Tools 45170 just for you.
@@ClientGraphics It would be very interesting to see how the SK would do.
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My new icon fell apart in my hand after 4 uses seriously was impressed at first not sure now.
The Pittsburgh is a better ratchet not strength but back-drag I have many ratchet’s snap on Mac almost every USA made and always pick up the Pittsburgh one.
I have broken the handle on my pittsburgh pro 2 times now. So today I picked up the icon. Let's see what happens.
Use a Pittsburgh pro everyday for the last 3 years and I’ve never had a problem out of the 1/4,3/8 or the 1/2 now the 1/4 Snap on stripped the head twice so it’s retired to back up
I'll have to get the Icon, I go through a Pro in about 6 months. The pin fails.
Pin fails on the Icon also see Justin Dow video.
Justin Snyder The pin, actually a torx screw, didn't fail in Justin Dows video, it backed out. He put some red Loctite on it and put it back to work. He also said that his tool truck flex heads do the same thing.
Mike is right I’ve seen the video
That's not too bad I guess if it's used a lot. Maybe you could swap out the pin for a harder one?
i hate my snap on flex head comfort grip that keeps sliding off and is not warrantied. I own 4 Pittsburgh and love them. I wont even use the snap on anymore. If you are a professional mechanic buy a few of these. the 1/4 flex head is really nice. their Earthquake 1/2 impact for 90$ is awesome. My prior one lasted 20 years of professional use and abuse. It still works but I wanted a new fresh one. the colored sockets are awesome but they do not come in 6 point 3/8th anymore. I would buy another set if they did.
2 things now I like the pitsburgh ratchet and icon sockets
Fir ratchets have mainly snap on and Matco with a couple dewalt and needed something 3/8 with a flex head I’m giving the ppro a go
hey thanks for spending your $$$ to test the tools for us.
MuffyThePomeranian No problem and I can tell you 💯 of all my earnings have gone back into my channel for other tools and videos✌️
This was one of the best reviews I have seen on the tubes. I will subscribe for more tool fuckery. Excited for the next one.
Shiiiiittt is gonna get real
The Pittsburgh pro has served me well. I did a break job the other day and I couldn't get the lug nuts off! The tire shop over torqued them. I had a three foot cheater bar on it and had to lean my bodyweight into it. It did flex bad but didn't brake or damage it. I was really impressed
Great review!
I would like to see a test of the green pittsburgh ratchets vs the red pittsburgh pro, i like the green ratchets better just because of the quick release and how smooth they are.
The Green handle will be in Part 2 of the Strongest Ratchet Brand. Hopefully have that video up today or tomorrow.
It would have been nice to see the internals of the ICON.
Gregory Turner You can check out the internals in this video czcams.com/video/kW0uW-6Z5Nc/video.html
Nice break
I broke a Pittsburgh pro long handle flex head. Brook clean off at the forks with one hand no cheater, Piper, anything
3/8” ratchet not what I would use when 1/2” is better suited!
I had the paper slip for the icon today. I put it back and just grabbed the Pittsburgh pro. Plenty good enough. Break it and go get another one!
I’ve never had a Pittsburgh fail that way but the everyday use is under par. I’ve returned 3 within the last yr, never had a problem with returns. Pain in the butt though when in the middle of a job and it fails.
That is a 1.7% difference in failure torque. Not a sh*t worth of difference for the price difference, and at that point one should be using a breaker bar. Oh, btw, torque is lb/ft, not ft/lb despite what every mechanic thinks/says.
I mean no one but a snap on guy though it even might fail before 150 but thats above the spec for 3/8 anyway right
3:34 - 4:07, moral of the story--> all of those teeth are not what they are cracked up to be. Craftsman slim raised panel 36 tooth ratchets have been defeating fasteners for nearly a century. Rest assured not one of those
stubborn fasteners remained unturned, 1930 to the present.
AvE's torture test found without exception that the fine tooth ratchets held more torque than the coarse toothed.
A few more items for the hammer drawer
to me they both look like professional grade i know you're testing its limits but like you say that's not how a ratchet is suppose to be used that's what a breaker bar is for.
I love green color alot better then gray sick seeing gray
Snap on works the best for me. I started with craftsman and gearwrench
Tengo un Pittsburgh media pulgada con cabeza flexible todo bien hasta ahora lo uso regularmente, el único problema fue el plástico que cubre se rompió 😢
To be honest it looks like the Pittsburgh is plenty strong enough for average everyday use. I like the Icons to and a great value compared to the tool trucks but at the end of the day though if you're using a rachet above 75ftlbs ish consistently you're using the wrong tool. Personally, if I am using a wrench or ratchet and have to apply enough pressure it starts to hurt my hand I grab either a breaker bar or impact.
Ive had pgh pro since 2018 and just returned it a month ago for another.ive gave my last one alot of abuse,which i use it just about everyday.only reason i returned it because it started gettin sloppy on the return which is critical in certain situations.was a very good ratchett for 4 yrs and i kinda abuse them but not too far
If harbor freight gave me a test on how their ratchetts work from day to day within a yrs time id def take it..one thing i will say keep the ratchett mechanism lubed and tighten the flex head bolt periodacally.
If it costs more, you save more when you get the percentage off coupon. Lol. But, I got the icon, just for the tooth count. I'm sure Pittsburgh just as good, but how often do you buy them when they are lifetime?
When are you going to start adding in some newer sk tools? I’m curious how they stack up. I have some newer sk and love them. Pricy but very nice tools
If these two were priced the exact same which looks like they are now in my area what do you find has a better construction?
Have you heard when the replacement ratchets will be out?