Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Dargo]

I think it is reasonably clear that the Chinese can build almost any quality you want (eg space ships if necessary) but because they are primarily used as a source of goods to undercut the price of US, Japanese or European made merchandise, the US retailers either specifiy or accept junk quality just to keep the cost down. If low cost has a higher market value than good quality then who is to blame when those poor tools show up at HF?

Yessir! You're right. It's a misconception that the Chinese can't produce something of quality. It's the retailers who can peddle junk if it's cheap enough who help perpetuate the idea that all "Made in China" stuff is of poor quality.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

...I think we are seeing the same transition with Chinese made stuff today. The quality has improved enormously over the past decade, but the reputation has not come up correspondingly. Some of the Chinese-made items I have seen are as good as anyone's, some still lag a little, but not nearly so much as a lot of us claim.

10 years ago I automatically rejected anything made in China, today I am a lot more open-minded. And, if there is any kind of a warranty or a return policy, I have no hesitation at all.

I agree that China's ability to make better quality stuff is improving. Practice makes perfect, you know; and no country is getting as much manufacturing practice as China nowadays. I think the biggest flaw right now in Chinese manufacture is not the lack of quality so much as the lack of consistency. That is evidenced here on this thread as well as anywhere else. One guy may get a perfectly fine folding box cutter that will last three generations, and the next guy may buy the same thing and it breaks the first time he uses it.

 

[Travelover]

I agree that China's ability to make better quality stuff is improving. Practice makes perfect, you know; and no country is getting as much manufacturing practice as China nowadays. I think the biggest flaw right now in Chinese manufacture is not the lack of quality so much as the lack of consistency. That is evidenced here on this thread as well as anywhere else. One guy may get a perfectly fine folding box cutter that will last three generations, and the next guy may buy the same thing and it breaks the first time he uses it.

Good points made.

I've found that HF stuff fails for different reasons. Like the box cutter was designed wrong and will never be any good. However for a decent tool like the 4 1/2 inch grinder, if you get sand stuck in the casting and it wipes out the gears right away, it is a variability / quality problem.

Telling why the product failed helps anyone reading the review make a better decision.

 

[Dargo]

Telling why the product failed helps anyone reading the review make a better decision.

This is a good point as well as the points by Iplayfarmer. Most defects and failures I've had are just aggravating but the exploding chop saw wheels and the coil spring compressor catastrophic failure both could be extremely dangerous if not fatal. If not for the complete face shield and leather apron I would have been injured when the cheap chop saw wheels came apart when I was using them (yes, I tried two before I pitched the rest) and pure luck is all that kept me from a serious if not fatal injury when the coil spring compressor came apart as I was bringing a coil spring out from under the front fender well. The all-thread they are made of is made from cheap quality steel and should never be used for making a coil spring compressor. When I looked at the break in the pieces of all-thread it looked like they were made from pot metal and not high quality strong steel as you'd expect when used in this application.

 

[kmax]

The all-thread they are made of is made from cheap quality steel and should never be used for making a coil spring compressor. When I looked at the break in the pieces of all-thread it looked like they were made from pot metal and not high quality strong steel as you'd expect when used in this application.

A spring compressor breaking ranks up there in the sphincter contraction scale. Experienced it happening a year ago when replacing a couple struts. The potential energy stored by those things is crazy. A couple threaded rods and a couple hooks is not something to bet your life with.

 

[Bedlam]

kmax maybe explain this a bit more on this thread
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/114375-hf-tools-suck.html

Ive used tose before and was very careful but didnt realize that they ciould be so bad

 

[patrick_g]

Then there is the clever discount pricing policy at HF (Inside Track Club, on-line)

ITC Member Price $9.95
Regular Price: $9.97
You Save: $0.0199999999999996

Better stock up before the price goes up!!!

Pat

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Then there is the clever discount pricing policy at HF (Inside Track Club, on-line)

ITC Member Price $9.95
Regular Price: $9.97
You Save: $0.0199999999999996

Better stock up before the price goes up!!!

Pat

I've been wondering how that inside track club works.

 

[charlz]

I just used the 'death sticks' strut spring compressors the other day. Worked like a champ to change out the struts on my wife's Honda. I even used an impact on them to compress the springs. For $12 and probably never use them again it was worth it. I doubt I could even find a 'quality' pair anywhere... Sears looks like they sell the exact same set for more money.

While this is a HF thread I have to say that if anyone is looking for a general wrench/socket tool kit to chuck in the back of the truck or whatever the Crescent sets they sell at Sam's are pretty good. I bought one to use on the dirt bikes and then be able to have it in the truck while out riding. It is at least on par with my 20 year old Craftsman set. I will have to look the next time I am there to see where it is made.

 

[patrick_g]

I removed a hose nozzle from a hose today so I could put multiple hoses together to use as a siphon. It was labeled clearly, "GOODYEAR" and had the sandal in their copywrited trademark. The ultra fine print said made in China.

We are awash in Chinese goods for which there IS NO American alternative.

Pat

 

[Dargo]

Don't anybody have a heart attack or anything, but I changed the oil in my daughter's SUV last night in my big barn (the one where I mostly just store equipment, not work on it) and used all HF tools, except for the BendPak lift. I actually liked the pliers type of oil filter wrench with the red handles and a Pittsburgh 1/2" ratchet set with 6 pt. sockets. I actually not only used them but, for this use, thought they had a good feel to them! Here's the socket set I liked http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93574 The little plastic holders for the sockets are breaking off, so I need to get a better holder for the sockets, but they seemed to work fine and the little ratchet has a good feel to it.

Since walking from one barn to the other to get tools to work on things gets old fast, I'm thinking about getting more of the cheapo HF hand tools for this sort of light duty jobs. I've seen a lot of links to HF coupons, so I hope this link isn't against the rules. What I found is a website that has a thread just for current coupons and special coupons at HF. You don't have to sign up at the site to get the coupons. Here's the link Harbor Freight Coupon Thread - SlickDeals.net Forums It's called the "Harbor Freight Coupon Thread". Maybe somebody can print out a coupon whenever they need one and can save some money.

 

[IslandTractor]

Here's the link Harbor Freight Coupon Thread - SlickDeals.net Forums It's called the "Harbor Freight Coupon Thread". Maybe somebody can print out a coupon whenever they need one and can save some money.

I've printed those 20% coupons out and used them with no problem at several HF stores. Good deal.

 

[studor]

Since I only go to the states occasionally, I always use the slickdeals site for HF coupons and so far has saved me quite a bit of money (course I had to spend a bunch to save it but I am using a womans shopping logic which is if the item is 50% off buy two and you will save 100%

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Since I only go to the states occasionally, I always use the slickdeals site for HF coupons and so far has saved me quite a bit of money (course I had to spend a bunch to save it but I am using a womans shopping logic which is if the item is 50% off buy two and you will save 100%

LOL. I just wish I could teach my wife to shop the way I fish. You go. You have a lot of fun. You don't come home with anything.

I've had mixed results with the coupons. I think the trick is to make sure you have the most recent one.

 

[Travelover]

Today was the first day that I've really put my HF chop saw to work ( Item 1624). Whoever said that the HF 14" metal cut off wheels sucked was right! At first I couldn't understand what was wrong, as it just seemed to quit cutting, though the motor never bogged down. I swapped out the blade for a Norton brand (also made in China) and it was off to the races. Plus, I believe I read here that the HF blades have the nasty habit of exploding without warning.

 

[BigE_]

I've been wondering how that inside track club works.

You pay the $10, you get extra discount coupons. I did it once, and to be honest I got my money back, but never renewed. With the inside track club, when I bought it, I did a fairly good sized order. Got the order, and it came with the first inside track flyer. It turned out that something I ordered was like 80% off, so I called them up and they gave it to me at the lower price, thus paying for the club right there.

I used to buy out of the catalogs they'd send. It used to be the prices never expired, so I'd go through and pick out the stuff I wanted, then search through a stack of 10-12 catalogs, finding the best price on the item I wanted. This saved a bunch of money back in the day (free shipping and no service charge - long gone now). Inside track prices were rarely better, unless it was a closeout, which you didn't want to buy anyway -- there's a reason HF closes out items!

 

[fast1]

I've printed those 20% coupons out and used them with no problem at several HF stores. Good deal.

really? then i better go grab those coupons!

 

[patrick_g]

Both of the closest HF stores around here accept printed out internet discount prices. They will match the internet HF price. Can be way cheaper at times.

Pat

 

[BrentD]

I can't remember if I posted this in this thread already or not, but about 2 years ago I purchased the O/A welding kit with the red plastic holder and two bottles. Took me a while to figure out why it wouldn't behave properly, but the conclusion is that it had a crack in the valve body that let the oxygen and acetylene mix in the lines. Very dangerous. The oxygen would actually feed back and cause the Acetylene pressure gauge to spike. Unfortunately I didn't get the extended warranty and I had it too long before I figured out the problem.

I did notice the last time I was in the store that they have changed the design. The valves are now between the lines and the handle rather than at the top of the handle just before the tip connection as they are on my set.

 

[valley]

Got a barrel pump so far works good and the 3/4" drive sockets and ratchet good also.
Buttt I have a bubble wheel balancer from HF[ I've used American made that work great] that I have a problem with: After I centering the bubble I put the wheel on the balancer, the bubble goes off to the side, if I mark the tire and lift the wheel off, rotate it and set it on the balancer again the bubble goes to the same spot that is different than the mark on the tire that has been rotated. Has anyone used the bubble balancer with good results? Can you tell me how? Thanks Richard