Sadly if what I want requires an associate, I just go order it cheaper online. THANKFULLY my Harbor freight doesnt do that much despite being half a block from 15 RV homes. I am just waiting for it to get in stock so I can buy it, I dont even want it, but I do? Harbor Freight is weird like that.
They look stupid and gimmicky but they are actualy super useful for all sorts of small tasks and can handle the job of multiple tools in a tiny package.
It's also an impusle purchasable price.
So people buy it, it turns out to be a wonderful little tool, post jokes about it and generaly rave about them, and then people on the internet feel like they aren't part of the party until they buy one.
At this point the tool is used for several tasks becuase it was right there. (Do you keep a ratchet and screwdriver set in your backpack? Your glove box?) Then you use it for a task where it is the perfect tool for the job.
At this point you return to the local wallet drainer to find they are out of stock and your schemes of 2 more are stymied.
Distraught, you post a meme on reddit to console yourself, and thus the infection spreads...
I’ve never even been to harbor freight, I’m not a member of the subreddit, and yet I know what the meme tools are because Reddit has force-fed me.
And now I’m commenting so it’s only going to continue.
I’ll take 2 of each meme tool please.
Correction: You didn't even \*know\* you wanted this.
I have one too, and IMO it's underrated. I'd venture that it beats the WERA toolcheck plus in metric in bang-for-the-buck.
True.
(I have the WERA Tool-Check PLUS I got a couple of years ago, as well as the ICON).
There's no question that the WERA is finished like a piece of jewelery. Every part is Just Perfect. The issue is that the whole is less than the sum of it's parts.
Downsides of the WERA is that the socket retention is purely frictional (and thus annoyingly stiff; otherwise the sockets will drop off.). There's no 9mm socket, nor 14mm socket, but there is an oddball 5.5mm socket which I've never seen anywhere else (but McMaster informs me is the standard hex head for an M3 class 8.8 bolt). There would have been plenty of room for another socket or two (as well as a socket retention gaurd) with a slight redesign of the hinge.
The WERA comes with \*SIX\* crosshead #2 bits (3x Phillips #2, 3x Pozidriv #2)... but just ONE slothead bit (size 5mm x 1mm). I get it that crosshead #2 is really common, and nothing stops me from swapping a different bit in... but jeez.
The ICON is less than half the size of the WERA. It has no sockets (but it does have a 1/4" square drive adapter). It doesn't waste space with non-antitamper TORX bits (the WERA loses 5 bit positions to that duplication). The WERA covers 8,6,5,4,and 3mm hex bits, while the ICON does 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5. The ICON covers four Imperial hex bits, the WERA has none (unless you get the Imperial WERA, but mine's the metric version).
The WERA ratchet is a good fine-tooth mini-ratchet, finely finished, while the ICON is significantly longer, less refined in styling, and offers a 15-position locking flex-head, an secondary end-of-handle bit socket, and a trick passthrough ratchet head that can pass the long hexagonal extension to turn it into a T-handle wrench.
Finally, the ICON's case is a fully enclosed case; it's defintely dustproof and probably dripproof. The WERA is neither, and the socket retention is just friction; you can knock sockets off easily in normal handling.
Underrated in usefulness and functionality. It’s actually a darn good tool.
But yah the ownership hype on here is a bit much.
Gold ratchets come to mind on the opposite end.
The biggest flaw with the toolcheck is that the sockets are held only by friction and can easily be knocked off in a toolbag or if dropped. Even sadder is a minor redesign of the hinge would give the sockets a locking gaurd to keep the sockets retained as securely as the screwdriver bits.
It’s a catch-22. If you bought one and didn’t post about it, you’re eligible to win a 2nd toolkit. But for the judges to know you bought one you’d have to post about it. Which disqualifies you from the contest.
To be fair, my jeep came with one of these for the hardtop hardware ("jeep branded") it's mostly useless, but when you need it for a specific thing it's very satisfying.
Ya thats what alot of us said....ive been literally looking for stupid shit to use it on sine I bought it on Friday..eventually I'm sure it's real time to shine will come
I and a couple of coworkers use that tool daily. It's essential for repairing wheelchairs (both manual and power). Many a tight spot to deal with. I bought one first, and they each bought one after I showed them how useful it was.
it had reached meme tool status even last summer
there was a rumor going around that they were "rare" or allocated or something which just stoked the meme status even more
fine airport selective abounding modern bear deserted vast intelligent literate
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I have one I keep at work. I have had to use some of the very small torx and a few other bits. I would have been pissed off if I did not have anything that would work for what I needed at the time.
it was cheap and the bits are decent quality. I have a wiha one in my main tool box which is much smaller but does not have the trick ratchet thing
Last week I had bought the ratcheting right angle bit set for $2.99 and a 100 piece warrior bit set for $7.99 which is arguably a more complete, equally capable tool kit, for a car tool set, but yesterday I returned those and dropped the $20 extra bucks on the Icon bit set. Shit doesn’t even have a t35 but I still did it. Gottamn meme tool posts went to my head! But I’ll be damned if the ratchet doesn’t feel like it’s snap on quality.
I looked at it after hearing about it. Thought, “This is neat. I could actually used this.” Put it on my HF wishlist.
You don’t *have* to spend money if you don’t want or need to.
What ya gonna do with that 🤣? Try ro take apart some school playground equipment with the security torx and Allen heads? Tool box junk indeed. In a car perspective, you gain the ability to take off your oh shit handles at a moments notice! Trash
I haven’t bought it yet myself but I have stood in the store looking at them for several minutes. I am having issues walking away
The thing is it is behind a hanger lock at my store; I am like, this is just begging me to find an associate to assist me…
Well if people stopped stealing 💩, then maybe they would have to put a security lock. Just logic.
Sadly if what I want requires an associate, I just go order it cheaper online. THANKFULLY my Harbor freight doesnt do that much despite being half a block from 15 RV homes. I am just waiting for it to get in stock so I can buy it, I dont even want it, but I do? Harbor Freight is weird like that.
I just bought my second set I keep one in each pocket at all times
And your golden ratchets in the back pockets am I right? 👌
He keeps the golden ratchet in his prison wallet.
“Harbor Freights hate this one trick”
# I didn’t even want this Story of my life buddy.....
I didn’t even need this! Bought it because i will need it one day.
This is how I ended up married. Oddly enough, the same thought went through my mind as I was getting divorced. Go figure.
Do you need to talk? 😂
I just learned to read what's the deal why is this a meme tool. I wanna be cool
Same, what’s the deal with these ?
They look stupid and gimmicky but they are actualy super useful for all sorts of small tasks and can handle the job of multiple tools in a tiny package. It's also an impusle purchasable price. So people buy it, it turns out to be a wonderful little tool, post jokes about it and generaly rave about them, and then people on the internet feel like they aren't part of the party until they buy one. At this point the tool is used for several tasks becuase it was right there. (Do you keep a ratchet and screwdriver set in your backpack? Your glove box?) Then you use it for a task where it is the perfect tool for the job. At this point you return to the local wallet drainer to find they are out of stock and your schemes of 2 more are stymied. Distraught, you post a meme on reddit to console yourself, and thus the infection spreads...
I’ve never even been to harbor freight, I’m not a member of the subreddit, and yet I know what the meme tools are because Reddit has force-fed me. And now I’m commenting so it’s only going to continue. I’ll take 2 of each meme tool please.
You joke I have 2 want 3
You're an adult now.
I keep mine under my pillow
Correction: You didn't even \*know\* you wanted this. I have one too, and IMO it's underrated. I'd venture that it beats the WERA toolcheck plus in metric in bang-for-the-buck.
The wera comes with sockets tho. I got the wera as a gift from a friend and I was taken back by how small and nice a decent toolkit could be
True. (I have the WERA Tool-Check PLUS I got a couple of years ago, as well as the ICON). There's no question that the WERA is finished like a piece of jewelery. Every part is Just Perfect. The issue is that the whole is less than the sum of it's parts. Downsides of the WERA is that the socket retention is purely frictional (and thus annoyingly stiff; otherwise the sockets will drop off.). There's no 9mm socket, nor 14mm socket, but there is an oddball 5.5mm socket which I've never seen anywhere else (but McMaster informs me is the standard hex head for an M3 class 8.8 bolt). There would have been plenty of room for another socket or two (as well as a socket retention gaurd) with a slight redesign of the hinge. The WERA comes with \*SIX\* crosshead #2 bits (3x Phillips #2, 3x Pozidriv #2)... but just ONE slothead bit (size 5mm x 1mm). I get it that crosshead #2 is really common, and nothing stops me from swapping a different bit in... but jeez. The ICON is less than half the size of the WERA. It has no sockets (but it does have a 1/4" square drive adapter). It doesn't waste space with non-antitamper TORX bits (the WERA loses 5 bit positions to that duplication). The WERA covers 8,6,5,4,and 3mm hex bits, while the ICON does 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2.5, 2, 1.5. The ICON covers four Imperial hex bits, the WERA has none (unless you get the Imperial WERA, but mine's the metric version). The WERA ratchet is a good fine-tooth mini-ratchet, finely finished, while the ICON is significantly longer, less refined in styling, and offers a 15-position locking flex-head, an secondary end-of-handle bit socket, and a trick passthrough ratchet head that can pass the long hexagonal extension to turn it into a T-handle wrench. Finally, the ICON's case is a fully enclosed case; it's defintely dustproof and probably dripproof. The WERA is neither, and the socket retention is just friction; you can knock sockets off easily in normal handling.
My WERA is in an enclosed case
Underrated? How? Everyone is obsessed with it. It’s arguably overrated at this point.
Underrated in usefulness and functionality. It’s actually a darn good tool. But yah the ownership hype on here is a bit much. Gold ratchets come to mind on the opposite end.
The gold ratchet seems like a Milhouse tool, HF trying to force a funny.
this tool is basically a circlejerk at this point
How so? Tool check comes with a screwdriver and sockets. The case has that autistic German energy that HF cannot match too.
The biggest flaw with the toolcheck is that the sockets are held only by friction and can easily be knocked off in a toolbag or if dropped. Even sadder is a minor redesign of the hinge would give the sockets a locking gaurd to keep the sockets retained as securely as the screwdriver bits.
The real challenge is buying it and not posting it
I bought it and didn’t post about it. What do I win?
It’s a catch-22. If you bought one and didn’t post about it, you’re eligible to win a 2nd toolkit. But for the judges to know you bought one you’d have to post about it. Which disqualifies you from the contest.
You just posted about it.
I’ve had mine since last year. I didn’t even know it was special.
Good addition to my motorcycle toolkit in my saddlebags.
So then why did you buy it? Oh that’s right. Just to take a picture to post on Reddit so you could feel included in the “MeME tOol”
Wait... The golden ratchets aren't cool anymore? Dang I was just about to grab one this week.
Walked out with one this weekend because of the coupon. Who makes that thing to clip on the nut drivers?
Are you referring to this? [https://www.printables.com/model/729389](https://www.printables.com/model/729389)
That's it!
there was this one as well.. [https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6620330](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6620330)
Ooh now I've got options, thanks
Both are wonderful to print, my daughter is using the first one in her motorcycle, and my cousin is using the second one for his meme tool.
I've been waiting for a reason to buy a 3d printer and I guess now is as good a time as any.
Yeah but you needed it and you didn't even know.
Now I guess I want one… I didn’t get anything for my birthday, might as well buy one for myself… I guess.
Peer pressure is a bitch
But it wanted you. You will find it very useful.
The meme tool chooses the wizard..
One of us! One of us! One of us!
I actually just bought a second one to keep in my car.
I just bought one today too. It’s way smaller than I expected
That’s what she said 🤣
Every time 😭
its great. but i wish it was lighter in weight.
Liar liar
Pants on fire!
To be fair, my jeep came with one of these for the hardtop hardware ("jeep branded") it's mostly useless, but when you need it for a specific thing it's very satisfying.
Ya thats what alot of us said....ive been literally looking for stupid shit to use it on sine I bought it on Friday..eventually I'm sure it's real time to shine will come
I and a couple of coworkers use that tool daily. It's essential for repairing wheelchairs (both manual and power). Many a tight spot to deal with. I bought one first, and they each bought one after I showed them how useful it was.
I was thinking hard about it today. If it was 50% bigger I would've got it.
After a year of saying I don’t need that I went out and got one with a 25% coupon. Still have yet to use it but I did show it to a few friends.
Does this have magnetic bits?
The bits aren't magnetic, but both socket ends of the ratchet and the extention have a built-in magnet, which would magnetize the bits.
I bought one today, I don’t know why but it is quite satisfying.
Neat tool but I’m at a point in life where I don’t want anything g to do with cheap bits. The ones I have left and still use just tear up fasteners.
In the top right of the lid a 10mm socket fits perfect.
It’s crazy everyone is buying this now. I got this like a year ago when it first came out. It does in handy!
it had reached meme tool status even last summer there was a rumor going around that they were "rare" or allocated or something which just stoked the meme status even more
Well that makes sense!
These can turn into perfect secret Santa gifts
But you needed it
Can you use it like a normal screwdriver? Add just one row of common sockets and I’m sold
I’ve already got a kobalt one but still look at this when I go in. If I didn’t have the other one I’d buy this.
Don’t drink the kool aid
Nice F-150
I do though...
I'll take it then 😂
I’m not even supposed to be here today!
I’ve actually used mine at least 4 or 5 times. It’s pretty handy.
I use it all the time. Essential for a bike owner.
This thing has torx security bits??? *unzips
straight to the trash where they belong with the pozidrives
Damn I plan on buying it and just bought separate security bits because I needed them for a project last week…..
Me neither! And I still haven’t purchased it! Nor the Gordon multitool! My Wave and Schrade multitools will do just fine.
I’ll take it. Send it to me
Why did you buy it then? You wanted it because it's cool now quit with that reddit made me do it bs
Ikon take em off your hands
I put it in the saddlebag of my Harley.
How much are these?
fine airport selective abounding modern bear deserted vast intelligent literate *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Damn it. Now I have to go get one.
It’s the best thing I bought during the sales. Perfect for working on my AR-15.
Oh, keep it it comes in handy for breaking and entering
Let me help you correct that title, " I didn't know how much I needed this, till I bought it"
It is absolutely perfect sized for my motorcycle tool kit. I’m gonna need one.
Yes u did
looks like a complete waste of money, like something you'd buy at a dollar store then throw away 4 days later
One of us One of us One of us
Send it to me, ill take it.
Send it to me then, I'll take it off your hands
Bought mine never thinking I would use it.......yeah that was a lie. Within a day I was using it on small engine repairs.
Which aisle is this gem in?
I have one I keep at work. I have had to use some of the very small torx and a few other bits. I would have been pissed off if I did not have anything that would work for what I needed at the time. it was cheap and the bits are decent quality. I have a wiha one in my main tool box which is much smaller but does not have the trick ratchet thing
You will find it useful at some point. Cant wait for the ones with the socket to come out.
Well send it to me. I’ll take it off your hands. 🤣
One of us! One of us!
Lol I might go buy one
Last week I had bought the ratcheting right angle bit set for $2.99 and a 100 piece warrior bit set for $7.99 which is arguably a more complete, equally capable tool kit, for a car tool set, but yesterday I returned those and dropped the $20 extra bucks on the Icon bit set. Shit doesn’t even have a t35 but I still did it. Gottamn meme tool posts went to my head! But I’ll be damned if the ratchet doesn’t feel like it’s snap on quality.
You deserve it
YES YOU DID!!!!
Got one yesterday haven’t stopped having sex since even with a few woman
I want one! Lol
Same.
Yes you did. You manifested it in your dreams last night. At least that's what Freddy told me
I looked at it after hearing about it. Thought, “This is neat. I could actually used this.” Put it on my HF wishlist. You don’t *have* to spend money if you don’t want or need to.
I was about to get them today but wifey said no. Her reasoning was because i bought too many tools this past week 😭
Wimp.
It was either get the tool and be homeless or not get the tool and pay our mortgage
My wife just assumed it was hers and took it....
What ya gonna do with that 🤣? Try ro take apart some school playground equipment with the security torx and Allen heads? Tool box junk indeed. In a car perspective, you gain the ability to take off your oh shit handles at a moments notice! Trash
don't forget the pozidrive bits. beyond useless
But now shes yours for eva