Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[dragoneggs]

I have always wondered about people who need to buy rags. I suppose if you've got a machine shop or are a professional mechanic it might be necessary, but I've always generated enough rags myself. And this is coming from someone who, much to the chagrin of my wife, wears clothes until they disintegrate.
Never a shortage of ratty T-shirts, old towels, skivvies, etc.

Agreed. I seem to generate enough rags from old socks, t shirts etc. Mostly well used but I also have the uncanny ability to get a grease stain on first time worn shirts when eating pasta and other grease slinging foods.

 

[tjkubota93]

Now, if you want the "best" bench vice on the market............Wilton | Bench Vises | USA Bullet Vises

Be prepared to shell out big $$.

A good friend gave me a very early wilton bullet vise for free. I offered to pay whatever he wanted and told him it was the best vise money could buy but he insisted I take it. They were cleaning out an inhereted house. It is one of my favorite possessions. I value it because my friend gave it to me and because his great uncle in law ww2 vet bought it for his home workshop.

 

[Oldoak]

A good friend gave me a very early wilton bullet vise for free. I offered to pay whatever he wanted and told him it was the best vise money could buy but he insisted I take it. They were cleaning out an inhereted house. It is one of my favorite possessions. I value it because my friend gave it to me and because his great uncle in law ww2 vet bought it for his home workshop.

You are very fortunate............

Such a good friend, the vice, along the history and memories that go along with it.

 

[thepumpguysc]

Check your local Craigs List for a vise.. My CL has a Wilton 6" for 100.00.. PERFECT for the work I do..
BUT, I bought a HF one the last time I went on a shopping spree..
its still in the box on the floor.. just waiting for my shop to be finished.
In the mean time, I use a Yost.. It came on a heavy duty steel shop table I bought off CL for 50.00 or 100.00..
The vise alone cost THAT.. Lol

 

[Ford850]

The HF I visit has completely rearranged the store to include the new lines of hand tools, power tools, welding supplies, etc. It is much more organized now. Many of the simple, cheap, hand tools are gone. They are replaced by their new lines of 'better' and 'best' quality tools, and these new lines are impressive. Nice quality, but they are at a price similar to the old brand name tools that used to be American made. I noticed their top line of tools is made in Taiwan, and the lower line in China. They appear to be targeting the tradesmen now more than ever with better tools and guarantees.

 

[crazyal]

A local drug store has t shirts always on sale, 5 for $10. For that price I generate lots of rags.

 

[Michael Aos]

I've been thinking about the 44" 13 Drawer Glossy Red Industrial Roller Cabinet for a while. Swung by today with the intent of purchasing it, and / or the companion 44" 8 Drawer Glossy Red Roller Cabinet Top Chest.

They were so large that I wound up purchasing the 26" 16 Drawer Glossy Red Roller Cabinet Combo instead for $299.99 with a coupon.
--

 

[Threepoint]

The March HF catalog has a $20 off coupon for Lynx tools, in the Lynx section.

Bruce

Thanks, Bruce. The March catalog came a couple of days ago. I picked up the string trimmer today. Now have all five of the Lynxx tools, so five chargers with batteries. Should last me for awhile. Hopefully HF will continue to support the line for a few years! They're usually pretty good about that.

 

[sixdogs]

I've been thinking about the 44" 13 Drawer Glossy Red Industrial Roller Cabinet for a while. Swung by today with the intent of purchasing it, and / or the companion 44" 8 Drawer Glossy Red Roller Cabinet Top Chest.

They were so large that I wound up purchasing the 26" 16 Drawer Glossy Red Roller Cabinet Combo instead for $299.99 with a coupon.
--

One of the best there is. That is a great tool chest combo.

 

[jmh1783]

With so much stuff made in China these days you just can't win. I hate buying an expensive US name brand that's made in China. For me I look at HF for tools that I need but won't use constantly. I have a set of impact sockets that have worked fine. I have several socket sets. The little ones are handy and I keep them with my associated hobby stuff. I have several sets of hex wrenches. Much more convenient to just put them with the stuff that needs them. I'm into astronomy. That industry is firmly ensconsed in both metric and standard. For example I have scope rings that are 1/4 inch on one side and M5 on the other.

I have a bunch of their pluck foam cases. The name brand ones I can't even begin to afford. They work great. I've bought a bunch of castors from them for rolling carts and tables in my shop. I made a 4x8 rolling wooden table (knee high) with eight castors from HF. I've also got several of their ammo cans for storage. Nothing wrong with them. Like someone else already mentioned I have one of their heavy chains that I use for my tractor. I use it for pulling posts mostly.

I have one of their red rolling tool chests. No issues with it. I could go on. I do stay away from their power tools mostly. I have two impact hammer drills and a 90 degree drill. All three work fine. I have a couple of their gas powered pumps. Frankly they look very similar to ones you see at Tractor Supply. I have one of those too. You just have to be careful what you buy.

 

[PhysAssist]

Well the TV tables (aka Adjustable Steel Welding Table) are on sale with a historic low - $55.
coupon at Harbor Freight Tools Coupon Database - Free coupons, 25 percent off coupons, toolbox coupons - ADJUSTABLE STEEL WELDING TABLE

I knew immediately what you meant- I oughta get at least 1 more...

 

[thepumpguysc]

A few posts back the subject of rags came up..
DID YOU KNOW, Good Will sells "rags" by the pound??
My company used to buy the snot outta them.. a HUGE "contractors bag" FULL, cost about $5.00!!
They're just shirts that don't sell..
I opened a bag to get some rags for an oil spill & found 5 BRAND NEW POLO shirts still in the package from Belks.. You know the ones.. w/the little horse on it..{Ralph Loren, I think}
It got to the point that the mechanics were going thru the bags for clothes.!! LOL..
They are GREAT for big oil spills & such..

 

[Threepoint]

I've been thinking about the 44" 13 Drawer Glossy Red Industrial Roller Cabinet for a while. Swung by today with the intent of purchasing it, and / or the companion 44" 8 Drawer Glossy Red Roller Cabinet Top Chest.

They were so large that I wound up purchasing the 26" 16 Drawer Glossy Red Roller Cabinet Combo instead for $299.99 with a coupon.
--

Was in the local HF yesterday and saw that the 26" cabinet now comes in royal blue as well as red and black. I'll be curious to see if the blue takes off. My guess is that the "Snap-on"/"Matco" red will far outsell it.

 

[fried1765]

Now, if you want the "best" bench vice on the market............Wilton | Bench Vises | USA Bullet Vises

Be prepared to shell out big $$.

I have two of the Wilton vises.
One 5" and one 6"
They are great.

 

[Michael Aos]

The 56" Roller Cabinet Top Chest has been discontinued.

Rumor is there will be a new 56" released soon in multiple colors.
--

Was in the local HF yesterday and saw that the 26" cabinet now comes in royal blue as well as red and black. I'll be curious to see if the blue takes off. My guess is that the "Snap-on"/"Matco" red will far outsell it.

 

[sixdogs]

The 56" Roller Cabinet Top Chest has been discontinued.

Rumor is there will be a new 56" released soon in multiple colors.
--

I'm not sure which tool chest it was but I got an email yesterday showing the tool case in three different colors. It's deleted now so maybe someone else got it too.

 

[Midniteoyl]

I'm not sure which tool chest it was but I got an email yesterday showing the tool case in three different colors. It's deleted now so maybe someone else got it too.

I saw that too..

 

[buckeyefarmer]

The March HF catalog has a $20 off coupon for Lynx tools, in the Lynx section.

Bruce

like this one.

 

[downsizingnow48]

The HF I visit has completely rearranged the store to include the new lines of hand tools, power tools, welding supplies, etc. It is much more organized now. Many of the simple, cheap, hand tools are gone. They are replaced by their new lines of 'better' and 'best' quality tools, and these new lines are impressive. Nice quality, but they are at a price similar to the old brand name tools that used to be American made. I noticed their top line of tools is made in Taiwan, and the lower line in China. They appear to be targeting the tradesmen now more than ever with better tools and guarantees.

The one I visited yesterday had a special 8-person crew and all the aisles full of large boxes. They were putting new stuff out everywhere.

 

[newbury]

Has anyone recently bought the Lynxx 40V Max batteries and tools?

I'm wondering if HF is maintaining the quality. Originally it seemed most of the stuff - polesaw, chainsaw, blower - got good reviews. But firms have been known to lower quality control on some things after they've made a good name for themselves.

I'm always skittish about buying HF tools that use electricity. They never seem to be packaged with enough smoke.