Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[rbstern]

Going to buy a wood stove from Northern Tools. No hydraulic experience with NT. Do they do coupons like HF?

If you get on their mailing list, they occasionally send a mailer with discounts cards. I've got a $50 off $250 card here on my desk, valid until 11/14. They only accept the original (thin plastic card with a barcode), so a digital copy doesn't work. If you want to PM me your mailing address, I'll mail it to you.

 

[sixdogs]

Found an old photo. As I mentioned above, the HF 24" aluminum pipe wrench's handle snapped when I used a cheater pipe over it.
But the next one I bought to replace it is noticeably beefier.

View attachment 574920

Earlier in this thread I posted a pic of a steel adjustable wrench handle I bent with my bare hands by pulling hard.

 

[California]

Earlier in this thread I posted a pic of a steel adjustable wrench handle I bent with my bare hands by pulling hard.

Wow.

Actually I'm not surprised. I bought the HF $7.99 cheap socket set to leave out unsecured in a barn stall. (while my real tools stay locked up between uses). I stripped the ratchet in the HF set - twice. First time they exchanged the whole set, then after the second time I substituted in the ratchet from an old similar cheap Taiwan socket set. That ratchet has stood up well for several years now.

The second HF ratchet in that set broke when I was down on my hands and knees under the tractor pushing on the ratchet handle. No way could the force in that position be greater than what a normal 1/2" ratchet is designed to survive. That cheap socket set must be intended for assembling office furniture or maintaining bicycles or something.

 

[rbstern]

Wow.

Actually I'm not surprised. I bought the HF $7.99 cheap socket set to leave out unsecured in a barn stall. (while my real tools stay locked up between uses). I stripped the ratchet in the HF set - twice. First time they exchanged the whole set, then after the second time I substituted in the ratchet from an old similar cheap Taiwan socket set. That ratchet has stood up well for several years now.

The second HF ratchet in that set broke when I was down on my hands and knees under the tractor pushing on the ratchet handle. No way could the force in that position be greater than what a normal 1/2" ratchet is designed to survive. That cheap socket set must be intended for assembling office furniture or maintaining bicycles or something.

Those cheap sets are pretty much limited to light duty. If you step up to the sets with the oblong heads, the durability is much better.

 

[California]

Those cheap sets are pretty much limited to light duty. If you step up to the sets with the oblong heads, the durability is much better.

Yes. The tools I keep locked up include a couple of Craftsman ratchets I bought years ago and HF's Pro series 1/2 in. Drive Extendable Ratchet that I reach for when I need more force. (And of course breaker bars, an old Thorsen and HF's 25"). I like the HF extendable ratchet, I reach for it first most of the time now. I have the previous green one. I assume the present red one is the same.

 

[def38]

When it come to tools, I prefer Craftsman and other name brands.

I recall about 50 years ago, my brother and I were acquiring tools for motorcycle and lawnmower fixing. We bought a set of screwdrivers from the Sears store in Waukegan, IL. About a week later, we lost one of the screwdrivers. We went to the Sears store with our receipt and told the sales clerk of the loss. He promptly apologized and provided us with a new set of screwdrivers. I still have several of them.

And now, Sears has filed for bankruptcy...I feel really guilty.

 

[Rock Crawler]

When it come to tools, I prefer Craftsman and other name brands.

Pittsburgh pro is definitely a name brand. Much like Hyundai or Kia is a main brand.

All of the name brands that I mention happen to be very cheap and extremely low quality yet they are all name brands.

Just as a small amount of people will buy a Hyundai or a kia and be very happy with the vehicles performance, there are many many people that are happy with the performance versus the price of the Harbor freight Pittsburgh pro line of tools and even some people that like the base Pittsburgh line of tools.

Shockingly I'm one that actually finds many of the Harbor freight tools that do not have moving parts to be very satisfying.

I started life as an aircraft mechanic buying snap on tools then I was an auto mechanic for a while buying snap on and Matt CO tools, and then I moved to a different career and started buying Craftsman tools. Now I primarily by Harbor freight tools and I don't find my tool breakage history to be changing much compared to what it was while I was spending 20 times more for my tools.

 

[dragoneggs]

Pittsburgh pro is definitely a name brand. Much like Hyundai or Kia is a main brand.

All of the name brands that I mention happen to be very cheap and extremely low quality yet they are all name brands.

Just as a small amount of people will buy a Hyundai or a kia and be very happy with the vehicles performance, there are many many people that are happy with the performance versus the price of the Harbor freight Pittsburgh pro line of tools and even some people that like the base Pittsburgh line of tools.

Shockingly I'm one that actually finds many of the Harbor freight tools that do not have moving parts to be very satisfying.

I started life as an aircraft mechanic buying snap on tools then I was an auto mechanic for a while buying snap on and Matt CO tools, and then I moved to a different career and started buying Craftsman tools. Now I primarily by Harbor freight tools and I don't find my tool breakage history to be changing much compared to what it was while I was spending 20 times more for my tools.

The reality is that there are far more choices now and while quality has generally gone down, the price has dropped even more so. Even for those that use tools daily, it can now easily make economic sense to buy cheaper lower quality tools all things considered. Theft, the need for specialty tools for infrequent jobs, wanting multiple sets for different locations, etc.

I enjoy evaluating tools for their value. While I enjoy quality brands, I am also a HF fan... for some things.

 

[TomIre]

If you get on their mailing list, they occasionally send a mailer with discounts cards. I've got a $50 off $250 card here on my desk, valid until 11/14. If you want to PM me your mailing address, I'll mail it to you.

Thanks! PM sent. I'm on their email list but so far nothing. I'll see if I'm on snail mail too.

 

[Norm W]

The composite ratchets seem to hold up well. I've over torqued them a few times and they survived. The impact sockets have held up under extreme conditions. I've used the 3/4 drive sockets on a 1" impact. Even the adapter held the torque. The motto seems to be, buy nothing with batteries and cords, although the newer LED flash lights seem to work well. For the money and if you don't REALLY abuse them, HF tools do the job.

 

[tjkubota93]

Thanks! PM sent. I'm on their email list but so far nothing. I'll see if I'm on snail mail too.

You can Google those codes and buy online to pickup at NT store. Done it a few times.

 

[newbury]

That is exactly what I did, I wanted and bought the pole saw last fall and then a month or so back I grabbed the regular chain saw. I'm very impressed with both, and getting that regular saw with battery and charger means that I pretty much have unlimited power. You just can't kill these things unless your doing hard core work.

I'm about in the same boat, got the pole saw looking REAL hard at the chain saw. (since my 40V B&D saw seems to be on permanent loan to my daughter ) Any other advocates for the 40V chain saw?
On hfqpdb there are two coupons for it, one (19970434) expires 11/3/2018, lists the retail price for $169.99, item numbers 64478 & 63287, price $149.99. The other (73245121) expires 2/5/2019, lists the retail price for $179.99, item numbers 64715, 64478 & 63287, price $159.99.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I'm about in the same boat, got the pole saw looking REAL hard at the chain saw. (since my 40V B&D saw seems to be on permanent loan to my daughter ) Any other advocates for the 40V chain saw?
On hfqpdb there are two coupons for it, one (19970434) expires 11/3/2018, lists the retail price for $169.99, item numbers 64478 & 63287, price $149.99. The other (73245121) expires 2/5/2019, lists the retail price for $179.99, item numbers 64715, 64478 & 63287, price $159.99.

Don't worry about the item numbers. If the product is the same but they have added additional manufacturing sources/item numbers than the coupon applies to all until that expiration date.

 

[Handloader109]

Got the cheap $36 corded hammer drill the other day to drill some holes into concrete. Worked great. Can twist your arm off..

 

[def38]

My Porter Cable pancake compressor blew up after about 12 years of light duty in the garage for filling tires and the occasional air ratchet power. I now have a HF 8 gallon, 125PSI oil type compressor that will last for many years longer than the oilless type.

 

[newbury]

Don't worry about the item numbers. If the product is the same but they have added additional manufacturing sources/item numbers than the coupon applies to all until that expiration date.

I just found it interesting the different prices quoted for the HF retail price.

Got the cheap $36 corded hammer drill the other day to drill some holes into concrete. Worked great. Can twist your arm off..

I've got that, but I also have a lot of concrete work to do. Bought my son (in Virginia) a refurb Bosch 1 9/16 SDS max and used it for a small job in Virginia. Down in Mississippi I've a 40' long concrete patio next to the brick faced house. The concrete-brick joint had been cement and had broken off with large gaps. I felt I needed to clean ALL the cement off and the corded hammer drill didn't do much.
So I bought the Bauer 1- 1/8 hammer drill ($80 w/ coupon) and a few bits, that made short work of the 40' joint. It really helped that I had the HF Pneumatic Roller Seat so I could just slide along. That drill did REAL well and is a lot lighter than the Bosch. And less power also. But now we've a range of hammer drills.

 

[California]

... HF 8 gallon, 125PSI oil type compressor that will last for many years longer than the oilless type.

... Until the pressure switch quits. I had to replace mine after a few years because it wouldn't shut off.

I found HF's 125 psi pressure switch is generic and widely sold on Ebay, so it was simple to get the compressor repaired and back in use.

 

[dragoneggs]

Anyone seen the new 'Quinn' brand sockets? 10 piece, 1/4in and 3/8in drive SAE and metric for $5.99 and $8.99 per set w/coupon. Wow! Might have to grab some of these for xmas presents and extra tool boxes.

1 Pc 1/4 in. Drive Metric Chrome Socket Set

1 Pc 3/8 in. Drive SAE Chrome Deep Socket

 

[Rock Crawler]

Anyone seen the new 'Quinn' brand sockets? 10 piece, 1/4in and 3/8in drive SAE and metric for $5.99 and $8.99 per set w/coupon. Wow! Might have to grab some of these for xmas presents and extra tool boxes.

1 Pc 1/4 in. Drive Metric Chrome Socket Set

1 Pc 3/8 in. Drive SAE Chrome Deep Socket

It looks like Quinn is sort of a mid level line? If you go back where they have the pliers and rivet guns you'll see Pittsburgh is cheapest, Quinn is middle priced and then they have a more expensive line (I can't recall the name).

So it looks like they are heading down a path similar to their power tools where they have an ultra cheap option, a cheap option and a moderately priced version.

 

[ronjhall]

I'm about in the same boat, got the pole saw looking REAL hard at the chain saw. (since my 40V B&D saw seems to be on permanent loan to my daughter ) Any other advocates for the 40V chain saw?
On hfqpdb there are two coupons for it, one (19970434) expires 11/3/2018, lists the retail price for $169.99, item numbers 64478 & 63287, price $149.99. The other (73245121) expires 2/5/2019, lists the retail price for $179.99, item numbers 64715, 64478 & 63287, price $159.99.

I have all the HF 40volt items. Have used them all except the chain saw. Did watch a video review of it. Wife asked what that noise was. While the HF are not in the same category as my Stihl tools. They will do what I have to do around my place.