Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[sixdogs]

Not sure where but I have seen pliers like that for sale recently and they were not cheap junk but pretty well made. I thought it was a General Tool Co display but their website is too difficult to search so I'm not sure where I saw them. I had a pair 20 years ago but they walked off after someone apparently liked them more than I did.

 

[sparc]

Myself, I've had numerous Chinese power tools that I've gotten as gifts go up in smelly smoke... Seems to be SOP for that stuff. You won't find me buying that stuff.

I've always wondered how come all HF stores stink?

I think the stink is from the toxic waste they mix in with their paint. That way they
ship their toxic waste out of the country to us and we pay for it as part of the item.

 

[sparc]

Hole saws are not nearly as bad as augers, forstners, etc. that chip out the entire hole vs. cutting a plug. Still though, a high torque drill that binds, can knock you and injure you so be careful. I don't use them on ladders.

They can do more than injure you, they can and have killed. I was in the 8th month of my apprenticeship (1970s) when I saw a guy using one of these drills get his glove caught and it spun him off the scaffold plank he had laid across two pipes. He banged his head three or more times on pipes and a big steel beam as he fell about 25 feet to the concrete floor. We climbed off our scaffold less than 25 feet away but by the time we got down and over there but he was gone. Called for the on site EMTs and they were there in less than five minutes and had him in the stokes and on the way to the hospital but we were told later that they called it on the way.

 

[Professor Marvel]

AIR COMPRESSOR
looking for an air compressor that I can do just a little sandblasting with.
bought a 60 gal 3hp compressor from Sears. was a POS. did not even run brand new. loads of sparks flew out of Chinese unknown name motor. Took it back and neighbor suggested looking at HF. Now I do not typically even consider HF. After doing a lot of research on line I came to realize that most homeowner compressors in this range are problem units so I thought if I basically only have HF quality available why should I pay more than HF prices.
Well, I took notice of a 2 stage 5hp 60gal compressor for 800 + dollars. I read the reviews (OF THIS SPECIFIC COMPRESSOR-NOT OTHERS) and surprisingly there were very few negatives. Comments said American (century) motor, American tank, and same compressor head used in many more expensive brands.
Think I will give it a try unless anyone here has had negative experience with this particular unit. In general I think HF does suck but plan to give this a shot.
PS have been a Sears purchaser for 50+- years and have watched them go down hill but am finally giving up. They are dead. Put a fork in them.

 

[jack707]

Most stuff there is junk

 

[Travelover]

Most stuff there is junk

I've heard that some of their stuff actually doesn't suck. Maybe someone should start a thread so we can share our experiences and identify the stuff that is actually a good value. If someone has a bad experience, they can share that, too.

Whatcha think?

 

[murphy1244]

I've heard that some of their stuff actually doesn't suck. Maybe someone should start a thread so we can share our experiences and identify the stuff that is actually a good value. If someone has a bad experience, they can share that, too.

Whatcha think?

That was funny!!:laughing: I thought that was this thread was about..

 

[downsizingnow48]

I think travelover is suggesting a Sears "doesn't suck" thread?

 

[murphy1244]

I think travelover is suggesting a Sears "doesn't suck" thread?

In that case the laughs on me. Sears has gone down hill fast.

 

[California]

Most stuff there is junk

Jack tell us what you bought there and your experience using it.