Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[sixdogs]

I had one female fitting on the end of an air hose that wouldn't seal after I took of an air chuck that had been on it for months. Aside from that, no leaks, no problems.

Oh one other issue - it is nearly impossible to engage them under pressure. You can do it, but its a lot easier if you bleed off the air pressure first.

As for more air - the $20 HF impact wrench used air like crazy. My 10 gallon compressor would start after a couple of lug nuts. I felt the larger fittings delivered more air and improved that tool's torque. Later I tossed that and got the $75 Earthquake that needs a lot less air. I'm not sure the big fittings do anything for it.

I've had several Earthquakes from the very beginning over 10 years ago and get the best results from higher air pressure. I know they say 90psi but I have a 100 ft hose the air has to go through plus the small connectors. I use whatever pressure is in the tank and it's often 150psi ---at the tank--- .

After the100 ft hose and connections figure in, it may drop to 125 or so but I have never had a problem and I have used air tools a lot and under bad conditions. I do oil before the start of each use, however. Presently, I have an Earthquake XL and run with the same pressure as always. No problems and great results.

 

[PhysAssist]

Well, I just had a garage fire. All is OK, none one hurt, house OK, but all my tools destroyed.

The funny thing is, my tools are either Craftsman, S&K or Pittsburgh.

The chrome burned off my Craftsman and S&K stuff, and they are rusted and shot. My Pittsburgh stuff fared much better and some look like you could wipe them off and use them.

The temper is gone in everything, so kind of irrelevant, but I thought it noteworthy that the HF tools held up to 1400+ (I know it got this hot because a bunch of large aluminum items melted) degree temps and two name brands didn't.

Well, God bless, and thanks for the information re: the durability of my primary/predominant source of tools [not that I don't have a bunch of Craftsman and even Snap-On tools too- just not as many as the HF and TSC brands.]

I thought that the name of your town was familiar, and when I checked its wiki, I found out why.

I used to drive through/past there every weekend while I was doing my surgical rotation in Bethlehem, PA at St. Luke's Hospital when I was in PA school at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PA. I would have to drive to W-B every other w/e, and would come home to the Rochester, NY area on the other w/e's.

Best of luck to you in your rebuilding of both your garage, and tool inventory.

 

[California]

This silver tarp 11' x '19' is junk. I put it up in May, replacing one that had lasted a reasonable time. It seemed lighter than the HF tarp I took down.

By year end it had frayed and tore in half. I thought it was abrasion but when I took it down I see the material simply rotted from the sun. I went to cut it up with scissors to make painting tarps and it was so rotten the scissors slid along with no resistance. It cut easier than newsprint and tore with even less force. About a quarter was so rotten it would break when folded over.

Avoid.

I've used similar tarps from Ebay that lasted two+ years, and read good reviews for tarps from Grizzly. Maybe HF's green HD tarps are better.

 

[weldingisfun]

This silver tarp 11' x '19' is junk. I put it up in May, replacing one that had lasted a reasonable time. It seemed lighter than the HF tarp I took down.

By year end it had frayed and tore in half. I thought it was abrasion but when I took it down I see the material simply rotted from the sun. I went to cut it up with scissors to make painting tarps and it was so rotten the scissors slid along with no resistance. It cut easier than newsprint and tore with even less force. About a quarter was so rotten it would break when folded over.

Avoid.

I've used similar tarps from Ebay that lasted two+ years, and read good reviews for tarps from Grizzly. Maybe HF's green HD tarps are better.

This is one of those posts that belongs in the original "Harbor Freight Tools That Suck" thread. Can't seem to find it though. Hmmm, maybe that's why he didn't post it there. Have to agree with California about the silver tarps. Same goes for the silver ones from TSC.

 

[BigE_]

This silver tarp 11' x '19' is junk. I put it up in May, replacing one that had lasted a reasonable time. It seemed lighter than the HF tarp I took down.

I like the large tarps from Costco. They're about $20 for two tarps, but they seem to last between 3-5 years before needing replacement. (I know, getting way off topic).

 

[PhysAssist]

I like the large tarps from Costco. They're about $20 for two tarps, but they seem to last between 3-5 years before needing replacement. (I know, getting way off topic).

Naw, not that far- if you can't digress occasionally what's the point, and a recommendation for something better is pretty much always welcome.

 

[California]

Recommending a better alternative to a deficient HF product is right on target, in my opinion!

 

[dragoneggs]

Recommending a better alternative to a deficient HF product is right on target, in my opinion!

Agreed, as long as it is fairly price competitive. The point of buying HF stuff IMO is mostly cost.

 

[PhysAssist]

Agreed, as long as it is fairly price competitive. The point of buying HF stuff IMO is mostly cost.

2+ for that- Although I think you could also argue that it's obvious we are all here because we're on a constant search for the best available value [that slippery multi-factoral ratio between the best possible, the lowest price, and exigent need- either immediate or future] than just lowest cost PERIOD.

 

[sixdogs]

I like the large tarps from Costco. They're about $20 for two tarps, but they seem to last between 3-5 years before needing replacement. (I know, getting way off topic).

I've seen those at Costco but just presumed all blue tarps were the same. Are these better than HF? How much better?

Agreed, as long as it is fairly price competitive. The point of buying HF stuff IMO is mostly cost.

Well, yes and no. The smell of evaporating rubber and the hunt for some object we have yet to evaluate brings it's own chase.

2+ for that- Although I think you could also argue that it's obvious we are all here because we're on a constant search for the best available value [that slippery multi-factoral ratio between the best possible, the lowest price, and exigent need- either immediate or future] than just lowest cost PERIOD.

That's why I go.

 

[JRobyn]

Sixdogs, the Costco tarps are probably 3 times the thickness of anything from HF. And have UV stabilizers too, I believe.

 

[KubotainNH]

The smell of evaporating rubber and the hunt for some object we have yet to evaluate brings it's own chase.

LOL, exactly. I dunno what this tool is but it's cool looking and cheap so I need to buy it.

 

[sixdogs]

LOL, exactly. I dunno what this tool is but it's cool looking and cheap so I need to buy it.

Many of my now favorite and useful tools and whatever started out on a lark with "it doesn't cost that much so what do I have to lose"? That's how I discovered the super quality of their paint guns, paint cups, large vibratory cleaner, 55 lb anvil, hammers, pry bars, chip brushes and even blue tarps. I've steered clear of the electrical items so that has saved some angst, but overall it's worked.

HF is now almost a leader in hand tools for other than the Snap-On type market. I bought the recent high polish ones for field and extreme use situations and I hate to say they are my go-to wrenches at the moment. I would have never guessed that. The good old days of the Craftsman tool for cheap and a lifetime warranty is gone.

When this thread was started 10 or more years ago, HF was kind of a red headed stepchild. Now they are driving some parts of the market. Just my two cents.

 

[sixdogs]

Sixdogs, the Costco tarps are probably 3 times the thickness of anything from HF. And have UV stabilizers too, I believe.

And to think it was probably HF that introduced the blue tarp to America and got them in every corner of every city and every town or rural area, no matter how remote. I'll bet in some cases you can see blue tarps from the orbiting space station.

 

[KubotainNH]

Many of my now favorite and useful tools and whatever started out on a lark with "it doesn't cost that much so what do I have to lose"? That's how I discovered the super quality of their paint guns, paint cups, large vibratory cleaner, 55 lb anvil, hammers, pry bars, chip brushes and even blue tarps. I've steered clear of the electrical items so that has saved some angst, but overall it's worked.

HF is now almost a leader in hand tools for other than the Snap-On type market. I bought the recent high polish ones for field and extreme use situations and I hate to say they are my go-to wrenches at the moment. I would have never guessed that. The good old days of the Craftsman tool for cheap and a lifetime warranty is gone.

When this thread was started 10 or more years ago, HF was kind of a red headed stepchild. Now they are driving some parts of the market. Just my two cents.

I stay away from the battery powered tools (FIL had issues with them) but have had decent luck with the ones with power cords. The yellow hammer drill is a beast. I do eat up angle grinders but at $10 a pop with a coupon I can live with that. I have a set of their stubby wrenches that are prettier and more comfy than my Craftsman. Pry bars are great, impact sockets too as is the 24" breaker bar. They've come a long ways but not sure I'd want my car sitting on their jack stands with me under it.

 

[thepumpguysc]

You guys hit the nail on the head..
MY last trip was for a 20.00 hand-held media blaster.. walked out 400.00 later, w/ 2 carts full of "STUFF"..
I felt like Steve Martin in the movie "The Jerk".. "I need this.. I need this.. I need this & that's all I need.. OH, I need this".. Lol

 

[fried1765]

Many of my now favorite and useful tools and whatever started out on a lark with "it doesn't cost that much so what do I have to lose"? That's how I discovered the super quality of their paint guns, paint cups, large vibratory cleaner, 55 lb anvil, hammers, pry bars, chip brushes and even blue tarps. I've steered clear of the electrical items so that has saved some angst, but overall it's worked.

HF is now almost a leader in hand tools for other than the Snap-On type market. I bought the recent high polish ones for field and extreme use situations and I hate to say they are my go-to wrenches at the moment. I would have never guessed that. The good old days of the Craftsman tool for cheap and a lifetime warranty is gone.

When this thread was started 10 or more years ago, HF was kind of a red headed stepchild. Now they are driving some parts of the market. Just my two cents.

As I suggested in an earlier post, I was seriously considering the new design HF Vulcan MigMax 215 welder.
I just did not have the guts to buy it, even with their fantastic one year money back guarantee!
What happens when it fails at 14 months?
It is all electronic (inverter - nice light weight).
Who will fix it? Who will provide the necessary parts?
Oh....I do know that I could buy a one, or a two year, extended warranty, but that ain't cheap.
So then, at the end of 3 years, a broken (out of extended warranty) HF Vulcan welder will be worth what?
Probably,.... nearly zero!
Bought a Hobart Handler 190 (240V) instead. I don't need the dual voltage capability of the Vulcan 215.
I am absolutely certain that Miller/Hobart will ALWAYS be there for me, should I ever need them.

 

[Oaktree]

And to think it was probably HF that introduced the blue tarp to America and got them in every corner of every city and every town or rural area, no matter how remote.

I dunno about that. HF is a relative newcomer to the northeast, it's only been the last couple years or so that they've had much of a presence here. Ocean State Job Lots has long been my "go to" place for cheap tarps (and still has better prices on them).

HF is now almost a leader in hand tools for other than the Snap-On type market. I bought the recent high polish ones for field and extreme use situations and I hate to say they are my go-to wrenches at the moment. I would have never guessed that. The good old days of the Craftsman tool for cheap and a lifetime warranty is gone.

When this thread was started 10 or more years ago, HF was kind of a red headed stepchild. Now they are driving some parts of the market. Just my two cents.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that. Until a few years ago I was only vaguely aware of their existence (and even that was as a mail order outfit). I still wouldn't say they're in the league Craftsman was in their heyday, but they do seem to have better quality than I'd previously associated with them...at this point in my life good enough for 'most anything I need.

I will say I'm very happy they opened a store near me about a year ago. I've picked up any number of tools that are handy to have but couldn't justify the price of a name brand one (framing nailer immediately comes to mind). Yes, they definitely have their place.

Sixdogs, the Costco tarps are probably 3 times the thickness of anything from HF. And have UV stabilizers too, I believe.

Another chain that doesn't have much presence in this part of the country. Not that I have enough need for 5 gallon buckets of ketchup to make the membership fee worthwhile.

 

[jgriffin1720]

not so true in ma, where I'm at I have three hf stores within 20 min and two costco's. And that's in western ma.

 

[4get gto]

I remember the "gypsy" tool guys that used to come around with the tractor trailers. Their tools reminded me a lot of the quality HF had. One of the names that comes to mind is " Cummins".?