Icon Professional (?) Hex Wrench Sets: 1/2 Ball Performance. 100% Hex Action. PB Swiss Still Rules!

Summary

In this review, Doc examines Allen and hex key wrench sets from Harbor Freight, comparing their comprehensiveness and build quality to sets from PB Swiss and Vera. He highlights the color-coded, long ball end version's affordability at $21, noting its full range of sizes from 1.5mm to 10mm. Doc praises the plastic case's design, which allows tools to slide in and out securely. However, he points out that while the Harbor Freight set is a good value, the ball end's angle is not as precise as advertised, making it less ideal for professional use. He concludes by recommending the set for its solid construction and color-coding, despite the ball end's shortcomings.

Takeaways

• 🔩 The Harbor Freight Icon Allen/Hex key wrench sets are comprehensive and well-built, offering good value for their price point of around $21.
• 🎨 These wrench sets are color-coded and come in long ball end versions, which is a feature that enhances their usability.
• 📏 The Icon set includes a wide range of sizes from 1.5mm to 10mm, which is more comprehensive than many other sets on the market.
• 🧰 The wrench set comes with a plastic case that has a unique feature allowing the wrenches to be locked in place when aligned correctly, providing secure storage.
• 🆚 In comparison to PB Swiss and Verus sets, the Icon set has a fully painted shaft, which is different from the stainless steel revealed in PB Swiss or the plastic coating of Verus.
• 🔵 The Harbor Freight Icon set uses a unique color scheme for the sizes, which contrasts with the bright, standardized colors of other brands.
• 🛠️ The ball ends of the Icon wrenches are not as deep or round as those of PB Swiss, which affects their ability to engage fasteners at an angle.
• 📐 The advertised 20° ball end angle of the Icon wrenches is not accurate, as tests showed a significant discrepancy, limiting their utility for angled applications.
• 💰 Despite the shortcomings in the ball end design, the Icon set is still recommended for its overall fit, finish, and value, especially when considering the use of S2 steel.
• 🏷️ The Harbor Freight coupons can provide an opportunity to purchase the Icon wrench set at a significantly reduced price, enhancing its value proposition.

Q & A

What is the maximum suggested retail price for the Harbor Freight Allen or hex key wrench set mentioned in the script?

The maximum suggested retail price for the Harbor Freight Allen or hex key wrench set is about $21.

What are the unique features of the plastic case included with the Harbor Freight wrench set?

The plastic case has a feature where the wrenches can be locked in place when turned a certain way, preventing them from sliding out, but can be easily removed by turning them slightly.

What is the range of sizes included in the Harbor Freight wrench set?

The range of sizes included in the Harbor Freight wrench set is from 1.5mm to 10mm, with no skips in between.

How does the Harbor Freight wrench set compare to the PB Swiss set in terms of size range?

The Harbor Freight set includes a more comprehensive range of sizes compared to the PB Swiss set, which skips some sizes and does not include a 10mm wrench.

What is the material of the wrenches in the Harbor Freight set?

The wrenches in the Harbor Freight set are made of S2 steel.

What is the issue with the ball end of the Harbor Freight wrenches as described in the script?

The ball end of the Harbor Freight wrenches does not provide the advertised 20° angle for accessing fasteners at an angle, and it is significantly less than the 22.6° achieved by the PB Swiss wrenches.

How does the Harbor Freight wrench set compare to the Craftsman set in terms of quality and price?

The Harbor Freight wrench set is considered a good value for the price, similar in quality to the older Craftsman set which was purchased for around the same price 30 years ago, adjusted for inflation.

What is the color-coding system used for the Harbor Freight wrench set?

The Harbor Freight wrench set uses a color-coding system where each size has a specific color, but it differs from the bright rainbow colors used by other brands like PB Swiss and Vera.

What is the main advantage of the Vera wrench set over the Harbor Freight set as per the script?

The main advantage of the Vera wrench set over the Harbor Freight set is the better ball end angle, which allows for a greater angle of access when using the wrench.

What is the recommendation regarding the Harbor Freight wrench set based on the script?

The recommendation is that the Harbor Freight wrench set is a good solid set for the price, but it lacks the professional level ball end angle, making it suitable for general use but not for situations where the ball end angle is critical.