Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[hutchman]

I just bought an 8K window unit from Staples for $110, exactly for that purpose, should have got 3. An 8k mini-split would be better but they go for a lot more $$.

But for those of you worried about running well pumps, think like dragoneggs wrote - Swimming pool. I've used my pool for "flushing" water when the city water was turned off. I also store about 20 gallons of "drinking water" in 4 glass carboys originally bought for brewing beer.


I used to have so many of their little black flashlights my adult children thought I bought them by the case. Now I'm trying to stock up on their blue, oval LED lights and 25' tape measures.

and did you all see the "Lowest Price Ever" on their 56" 11 drawer cabinet at $698, usually on sale for $800 (it's in a coupon)? If I hadn't just bought the 26" for $298 I'd have one of those in my truck. But I can't justify with either myself or SWMBO that massive increase in tool storage.

8K for $110! That's smoking hot deal! I think that's about what I paid for the 5K units I bought 3-4 years ago.

 

[daugen]

You waste your money your way and I will waste my money my way..

I haven't read this thread in a long time but came back today since I had bought a few things at HF recently that worked ok.
But the best thing I read was above.
On July 4th it's all about independence and freedom. :thumbsup:

if I can add something from a non specific standpoint.
for me it's all about the price point and getting what you pay for.
It's like buying steak for four dollars a pound. How reasonable are your expectations?
We all know we can buy nothing but Dewalt or even our own private CNC machine for perfectionist work.
But most of us can't afford it. Or want to spend those extra dollars in other places.
So we look for bargains. And if you love tools, as many of us do, and there's always room for another one,
that exactly right tool you need for that next job, then reaching in that drawer and pulling it out is almost priceless.

I bought a Quincy air compressor for my barn work area and it has worked flawlessly. Entry level to US made over a thousand dollars.
I went with the one model lower but got my 13cfm in what looks like a quality unit. Comparable I guess to Ingersoll Rand in that market.
And the compressor was not built in the US...but the company is in the Heartland.

Not all of us need, or know how to use, the finest quality tools.
HF to me is like toyland. Local store is large, well organized and has almost everything. Heavily patronized by local Mexican population who likely can only afford
this price point. Hopefully a shoe for every foot.

I have a lot of high quality tools. Most are US made, I'm old school and still search for it, but frankly my older Craftsman band saw and my ancient BD hand power saw work just fine. No laser lights needed. Though my Bosch sabre saw is flat out amazing. And my old Makita tools still flawless. I am not tool limited; I am skill limited. So sometimes I think it makes sense not to over do it. Just had to buy tires for my car and they had to be rated for 155mph. Ok...but I can assure you there will never be three digits on my speedometer. Any more...
The tires are simply higher performance than I need, and likely ride a little stiffer due to it. But yeah I can now go 155mph safely.
I'll drive a little slower to HF.

list of latest tools to follow shortly, want to take some pics first.

 

[IslandTractor]

And the case doesn't latch well. I confess, I've dropped them in the basement and stuff flies and rolls everywhere ... then I just go buy another kit when it's on sale.

Mine has a metal case with two latches. Seems OK though I've never subjected it to a drop test.

 

[arkydog]

i just put a thin piece a foam or cardboard on top of my tap and dies and a cut inner tube around it. big rubber band!

 

[hutchman]

Mine has a metal case with two latches. Seems OK though I've never subjected it to a drop test.

Wow! Haven't seen a metal case one there that I can remember ... all mine are plastic. You must of gotten a kit from long ago?

 

[hutchman]

i just put a thin piece a foam or cardboard on top of my tap and dies and a cut inner tube around it. big rubber band!

I like it!

 

[Ford850]

The only thing that I don't like about that tap and die set is every time I open it, pretty much everything has fallen out of its place. Even with the plastic sheet and foam pad over it, all the small stuff moves around. Grrr!!! :laughing:

Mine did that too. I solved most of the problem by cutting up an old sweatshirt so it fit inside on top before I closed the lid. I think it is folded in half, so a double layer of fleece material. That also doubles as a wipe down cloth before I put them away and it's covered with a film of oil.

 

[IslandTractor]

Wow! Haven't seen a metal case one there that I can remember ... all mine are plastic. You must of gotten a kit from long ago?

Maybe six or seven years ago IIRC.

 

[man00]

I had good luck with HF stuff for the most part, just don't go in expecting $200.00 results from a $10.00 tool.

 

[rbstern]

Best thing I've ever bought at Harbor Freight: The Truck Bed Cargo Unloader.

Truck Bed Cargo Unloader

I had to trim the width of the dragsheet to fit my Sport Trac pickup bed. Hauled three loads of mulch Friday and Saturday, easily a half ton each, maybe closer to 3/4 ton. Heavily decomposed and damp, so it was dense. Dumped the mulch out of the bed in two minutes or less by cranking the handle. Another few minutes to rake out the remnants behind the wheel wells. Shocking how well this works. The same chore with a shovel used to take me 30 to 40 minutes, and it was heavy lifting that usually tuckered me out.

Very well made item, and at $32 after coupon, it's an amazing amount of value for the bucks.