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.

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.

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. 🤣

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!

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

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 !!!!!!

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.

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

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

I love my snap on ratchets, I haven't liked any other handle design and my other ratchets are always puking their guts out when I drop them lol

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.

How did you mix them up there? I saw the different plate as soon as you started. Anyone working with snap-on tools would have saw that coming.

Interesting taredown & comparison ..Thanks Steve..good job..👍

Nice comparison, thanks for sharing

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...

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

My favorite 1/4 Dr ratchet is the gearwrench 90T really slim head on it still love my sk lp 90 ratchets

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.

+1 for using "Schmoo". All I could think of was AVE saying schmoo when you were talking about the seal on the snapon, and then you said it. LOL

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.

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.

Are the screws in the pawls what retains the spring?

Snap on 3/8 and 1/2 ratchets have been 80 tooth for 20 years as far as I know. 1/4 drives are 72. I own about 12 snap on ratchets and I've only broken a couple

I have both 1/4 drives in my ratchet draw at work both are very good but I prefer the snap-on. The ratcheting mechanism seems to have less drag when your in a tight space. The price is vastly different though 40 vs 100 is hard to swallow but I do like American made.

The only thing I would add to the tooth strength assessment is the fact that Icon has a wider set of teeth. Love the video

I love my Snap-ons and my Icons both, but I love my Snap-ons a little bit better. I get a warm feeling every time I pick up one of my 3/8 Snap-on wrenches, though whether it's the tool warming me or me warming the tool is an open question. I bought a set of 3/8 metric Snap-ons a few years ago with short, medium and long sockets, along with a couple of wrenches and some extensions used for $850, and they are my treasure. I have other Snap-on tools and all have that inner glow quality that comes from being exorbitantly expensive. I wish I could justify the cost of all Snap-on tools, but I can't. But those I have I love like my own children, except my Snap-ons are reliable and pretty to look at. I view my Icons a bit differently. They are also pretty, but they fail to emit an inner warmth. I guess you could say they are like classy strippers compared to Snap-on's prom queens. Not someone you'd bring home to momma, but a lot more accessible. Now if some of you are wondering what exactly it is I do with my tools, it's not like that. As far as you know.

I’ve got icons regular and swivel wrenches, things are practically bulletproof. Have used and abused these things. They’ve done everything I’ve asked of them. For ratchets though I’ll stick With my gearwrechs

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.

I have a really old patent pending snap on ratchet that I inherited at my job. I'm guessing the newest it could be is from the early 80's. But I got it because it only worked in one direction. The pawl spring broke, and the other spring was worn out. A $15 repair kit fixed it to like new condition, on the company's dime of course.

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.

Retired ASE certified tech with 40 plus years experience, I have used many different brands of ratchets over the years but the quality of the Snap On ratchets is way better than anything else in my opinion

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

I like Harbor Freight stuff because I'm cheap. 😄 I work on planes. So far, I haven't had any bad experiences shopping at Harbor Freight. The only tool that stopped working on me was a 1/4" drive stubby ratchet made by Pittsburgh. Harbor Freight gave me a new one with no questions asked because the ratchet has a lifetime warranty. When I'm feeling a little bougie, I spend my money on Icon tools 😊

The teeth typically don't break in snap-on ratchets. The square shears off.

i saw the thick ass edges in the first 2 seconds and i already knew which one was the snap on without seeing a logo

So how do you get that little spring and ball in, then the selector ? I’ve tried, but that little spring is brutal ! Never remove selector !

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

if snap on and icon made airplanes which one would you fly in? i trust my knuckles and my livelihood to snap on

Great comparison Steve, there are definitely differences that I think go in favor of the Snap-on, but are the differences worth the additional $85? I say yes, but that's me and everyone else will have to make that decision for themselves. Thanks for another awesome video dude!

If you make your living with Snap On tools, and you break one, do you really have a week to wait for the truck to come around to hopefully have one in stock? Or do you drive to HF the same day for the free replacement and you are back to work?

i got a small set of Icon to see for myself how good or bad they are. man for the price, they can take a beating and they fit the nut sizes. i hate sloppy sockets or wrenches. wish i just went with a bigger set now. but i really didn't want to spend the money if they were junk. giving Pittsburg a run, never had Snap On. better than Craftsman that's for sure.

I kinda wonder what the duel pull does vs a single when you hit the point of the wrench failing. Or if it even does any difference. Cause I’ve seen a bunch of torture test and snap on always beat icon I just feel like a one piece vs a two peace pull would be stronger? Idk either way great video

I like this video good info and good to see the different points of both im a dealer tech and have more rachets and 1/2 drive impacts than any of my co workers but I have older snap on rachets I've never had to warranty but the price point is higher icon I think is great for a guy just starting out or for someone that wants nicer than husky or kobalt

Seriously, you're counting the 0.01" height difference on a flexible component as an objective victory, with the same value as a 72 vs 90 tooth difference?

I was looking at the icon tools the other day at harbor freight… They look like good quality for the price.

Who in the hell ever said that ICON was equivalent to Snap On??? The Snap on is 2x the price. I own snap on. They aren’t the best, KOKEN is by a MILE. Japanese make better stuff than us bone head Americans. Just true. But for the everyday shade tree icon is fine.

Just bought the new 1/4 inch 80 tooth ratchet thr72 off the truck, there is too much side to side play on the anvil. With the thicker comfort grip you can't even tell if you're applying too much side force on the ratchet.

At Walmart in the Auto Care Center, we don't supply our own tools, we use the corporate contracted tools. As long as I've been here, just over 16 years, we've been using Steelman, and not their top tier line. However, if we were able to use our own tools, I'd have absolutely no problem buying Icon. My own personal tool line is mostly Craftsman with some Gearwrench and Pittsburgh Pro. But if I were to start over, I'd go Icon.

Snap on anvil is on the right side its the Narrower not As thick Anvil 8:10 @Tool Demos

Who will be around to warrant there tools Snapon has been a proven leader

As a snap on guy, I am impressed by the icon ratchets but you buy a snap on tool you have a tool for life with the warranty, have to wait and see if icon is as good on their warranty as snap on is

Based on your comparison, Snap-On is clearly superior in terms of both design and execution - whether it's worth paying 3 to 4 times as much for is going to be a personal decision, based on how deep your pockets are, and/or how much you're going to be using your ratchet. Ultimately, you can see why Snap-On is 'the professional's choice' here.

Interesting Comparison even though 90 vs 72 tooth designs I still like the snappy a bit more

Hello again Steve Thank you for another Great Video 👍Hello again Steve, you are most welcome ☺️

I would no doubt prefer a snap on ratchet. But $50 for a 3/8" flex head ratchet. If you got multiple tool boxes or want something to throw in the truck tool kit or keep in a car or whatever. The icons are pretty hard to beat.

I knew you were joking because I’ve been looking at snapon for 65 years

I will let you in on a little secret. The secret the secret the secret is icon, hired one of the engineers that had worked at Snap on and paid him a lot more money to design tools for Harbor freight that would compete with Snap on, so you can understand the similarities. There are between Snap on an icon because they were designed by a former Snap on engineer, the problem is. He has to make small subtle design changes in order to be able to hold the patent for Harbor freight and avoid copyright infringement, other otherwise, if he built exactly the same way as the Snap on even right down to the hardness, the depth of the teeth Snap on consume icon into oblivion. That's why if you take a look. There are very subtle small changes. But here's the real fun fact. I do know somebody that works for Snap on and Snap on tools are all made at the same factory that makes icon Snap on no longer manufactured their tools in the United States. Their manufactured in China under a contract for Snap and having said that, I will say to any of you who are going to buy tools for mechanic use. Don't buy Snap on. I fell into that trap. And I was a professional automotive mechanic for 34 years. Cost in marine mechanic as well. Aviation mechanic work, motorcycle mechanic work and heavy equipment diesel mechanic. So I have covered it all. And I do know what I am talking A bout spent years wasting a lot of money on Snap on Mac matco Cornwell all of them. On The tool trucks even I could tell you that had I known what I know now back then if icon had existed I would have bought icon exclusively and saved a hell of a lot of money over the years. Without having extremely high tool payments.

They look similar but the materials, workmanship and warranties are completely different. Yes, I've broken teeth on my 50 year old 1/4" SnapOn ratchet, but SnapOn replaced the insides for free. The 3/8" ratchet has never given me any problems of any kind.

One other difference is the depth, front to back of pawls & anvils, essentially the contact area.

I bought my first ratchet (SK) from a pawn shop with the idea when it wore out I would be better off financially and be able to buy a better one. I do not like the round twisty switch in the head and want a lever switch. Can’t wait to get my new one when this one dies. I bought the SK IN 1976 and it won’t die.

Why file the pawl? I got the soft handle variants of the Icons and they are just super nice- surpsingly so considering I got a couple of snap on soft handles and a hard handle in my rotation. Also the degree difference is moot if the icon neck is thicker than the snap on ratchet neck. I don’t remember if they are, just saying 90° tooth pawl is as fancy as a 0° Cam ratchet but head too big to fit in some tight spots, as well as they silently switch directions 😂 Gotta have a round 2 with the Pittsburgh pro red handle ratchets too, since their heads are disturbingly thin 🧐

as a non-professional, DIYer, both ratchets do the same thing sitting in the tool box in the garage...I have a Metrinch (3/8) socket set that's been w/me for 25+ years and that ratchet (unknown teeth ct) is still going strong. it takes a long sweep for a tooth click so I suspect it has 72 or fewer teeth. It too sits still just the same when not in use.... I'll save money where I can as my tools rest more than they work.

Snap on certainly feels better in the hand, that FL80 and all of the variants are probably the best 3/8 on the market. However, nearly $200 is, well it's just that and there's one heck of an argument to be made for gearwrench or icon simply because they both feel really good and they're about 25% of the money versus snap-on. Decision gets even harder if we start talking about tool boxes. Those icon boxes are the best value on the market. Oh before I forget, on the snap-on, one of the best parts is that replaceable soft handle. Costs you about 10 bucks to switch it out when it gets beat up

I hear you on the snap on if you can afford it go for it or buy used,i have all brands and to be honest although i don't wrench like i use to,i haven't broken anything of any brand.

Good job Steve you know what they say imitation is the lowest form of flattery and harbor is the most unoriginal tool buisness around!! Lol

I don't wrench every day. But I'm also hard on my tools. Owning a 89' burb. I m going with icon. Great prices. So far icon has had great reviews on y.t. even from some pros. If I wrenched everyday. Maybe snap on. But even that would still be pushing it. I've Bae the hell out of my craftsman too. Still wrenching.

You really need to compare the Rockwell hardness test on the pawls and ratchet wheels. I'm going to guess the Snap-on is made of much harder tool steel...

I had my first use of a icon this weekend that was well used at a shop. It was junk. lol. The mechanic said it was crap too. lol. That was enough for me on the ratchets.

Thanks for confirming that snap on is over priced junk. I’ll be buying icon from now on thanks!

I've got over 30K in SnapOn stuff and love it, but I gotta admit, that Icon stuff is tough to beat for the price. Within the last year I bought an Icon 1/2" ratchet and broke it (my fault), walked into harbor freight without receipt and they just said "Refund or exchange?" Then told me to go grab a new one off the shelf. I also broke my Snapon 1/2" (my fault) and dealer put in a parts kit which I was OK with, but my Snapon1/2" breaker bar that failed and the dealer simply replaced the anvil, was a bit disappointing for what I've spent and knowing if the knuckle fails and break my knuckles open, I'm gonna be pissed. Hard to tell anymore where a lot of this stuff is made and BS "blue point" and stanley buying mac , both years ago, didn't help.

I think there is a bit of discrepancy for the tooth engagement. 6 larger tooth pawl engaged on 72 tooth main anvil gear. Will likely be stronger than the smaller shallow 90 tooth main anvil gear with 7 tooth pawl engagement. I could be wrong but I believe the engagement is based on tooth percentage and contact patch. This would increase the contact patch with Snapon including the 2 piece pawl in Snapon which allows more articulation into increase better tooth to tooth engagement. This also amplifies with tooth design of Snapon. Again I could be wrong but I don’t think I am.

Project Farm did a video comparing various ratchets. The tooth number often didn't make that much difference.

Less teeth means that they can be milled into the Anvil deeper. 90 teeth only have a limited amount of space and thus can't be "deeper". It's all about how the pawl grabs the Anvil for Strength...

years ago I made the mistake of stepping into a snap on van I stepped out stint🙂

Being that the icon has finer teeth it actually is stronger with more teeth like that than the snap-on with deeper grooves with less teeth.

the spring on the snap on is for check ball detent not so much for parts retention

Thank you for making the comparison video. Icon copied the profile of Snap On. The inner workings are different. My guess is that Snap On's patent for the ratchet shape has long been expired. The Icon looks to be a good ratchet for $35. If it fails it can be exchanged for a new one.

You cam buy a snap on rebuild kit and install it on the snap on

"Snap on makes me happy". So true.

One more note about Snapon on the exterior (aside from the obvious grip handle), noticed just before he starts taking them apart, is that the Snapon is just a bit LONGER. Which means you can get just a bit more LEVERAGE. Physics matters. Enough to warrant the COST difference? That's a whole different question, and since I'm not a mechanic and just a random dipstick on the internet, I don't really have a valid opinion.

Icon is a lot softer then the snap on Anvil 13:07

One thought to add to this, the harder the anvil the more prone it is to shearing in a stress load applied to it. So assuming one tool will wear out faster becuase of lack of hardness, it may not break as easy when anvil hits its limits. If both tools have lifetime warranty, snap on will be breaking anvils when pushed after being used with some hours on the tool, the icon will just wear out and may have problems like old school craftsman where it wolnt hold direction on the paw selector when loaded. Icon would be simply worn out and then other is broken in a manor that could be related to abuse. If your using cheater bars, they make breaker bars in different drive sizes. They will both break if you use a cheater bar. Most fasteners shouldnt be torqued over a 100ft lbs with a 3/8 drive even though ANSI specs 150 ft lbs. Thats just poor engineering if you have a faster only acessible by a 3/8 or smaller drive that requires more torque than the said 100 ft lbs. Just my 2 cents

the snap on teeth are also deeper and more defined better grip when applying torque.... tbh i hate ratchets with soo many teeth they usually messed up mid motion....and switch the other direction and bind up.. havent found a good 1/4 ratchet yet....

I’d be willing to bet snap on are milled, but that icon anvils are that “powdered metal” type of manufacturing.. can’t recall the actual name off hand but that’s at least a solid descriptor.. more than enough to google for the curious

Anyone that says that Snapon is a status symbol, most likely does not use tools every day, i have purchased every company sockets and tools, snapon last a lot longer and are more durable, at the end of the day shade tree mechanics do not need snapon, but when you wear out a matco socket every month, then going to a snapon that wili last a year or more make s big difference,

I'll take that chance

Icon is great quality for the price ..

Can you do snap on vs koken next

Good job From Dino Mares Fontana CA

The snap on with a dual paw is a 80 position ratchet. It is termed the dual 80. It isn't a 72 tooth ratchet.

Snap on totally worth it with the soft or hard grips

For those of us who are not using tools professionally or using them daily, buying some of these brands that don't come with the name rec is the way to go.

Project farm has tested ratchets and wrenches and the only thing snap on was #1 at was being the most expensive.

The double pawl are still the best ratchet

@8:18 Well you already told us the Snap-on was a 72 tooth and the Icon was a 90 tooth, so obviously the Snap-On is the one on the right!

The icon may not be the same but you can get a bahco ratchet with same part number as snap on (bahco is a snap on company) for half the price

I always thought the duralast looked a lot like snap on

Someone come get their snap on dealer.

Snap-On $185 Icon $50 Enough said.

Good video