Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[5030]

The black deep 1/2" impact socket set with metal case is excellent.

Beyond excellent. I've tried really hard to break them even using a 3/4" drive IR impact gun with the 1/2" drive sockets. No break.

 

[John_Mc]

... HF's big push is to get you to join their Inside Track Club, which does offer better prices or coupons still. Maybe that's their plan to get more memberships, by limiting deals to everyone else and forcing you to pay to play. No thanks.

Anyone here belong to that? Do you really save enough to pay for the membership?
I used to have a BJ's membership, but realized I didn't buy enough there to justify the $60 (?)/yr.

My brother used to belong, but dropped out once he stopped buying as much and it was no longer worth it.

I belong to Northern Tool's "Advantage" club. They have no stores in my area, and it gets free shipping a lot of the time, and some decent sales. Most years, I've bought enough for it to pay for itself with enough extra to pay for the occasional year where I don't buy much.

I don't go out of my way to buy NT stuff, since I prefer to support local businesses. I also avoid their "clone" products where they seem be trying to leave the impression that their clones are the real thing (in the past, they've duplicated the add copy of the original product almost word-for-word).

 

[Buggs67]

'In-Store Special Order'

Can't depend on that being accurate. I wanted the 2hp dust collector, on line said "in store special order". I stopped at the store, knowing they had one on display.Said I wanted to buy one. Girl said she'd check to see if they had it. Said they did, but would take a few minutes to dig it out.

X2. I called about the Titanium 125 and they had them in stock, even tho the computer said it was special order only.

It's my first welder and right out of the box I was making welds that were not totally embarrassing. I got a coupon (out of American Rifleman) and got it for $140. It only comes with .o30 tips but it uses a common tip. My BIL gave me a .035 and TSC had .035 Hobart wire for $20.

 

[Buggs67]

Thanks! Are you doing the wrought iron look? I say "look" because you'll want to make the distinction when discussing with wrought iron guys.

Hahaha. I did see one guy go off on someone for saying "Wrought Iron" like it was a big deal.

 

[txhawg]

I am medically exempt from wearing a mask. Thanks to HIPPA I m not required to explain to anyone why I am exempt, and they cannot refuse me service because I am not wearing a mask.

 

[MossRoad]

The black deep 1/2" impact socket set with metal case is excellent.

Beyond excellent. I've tried really hard to break them even using a 3/4" drive IR impact gun with the 1/2" drive sockets. No break.

I'll agree on that. I've had mine for quite a while. Pretty tough.

 

[stuckmotor]

I haven't found straight silver 3/8" extension sets in years, only wabbles. I bought black ones instead. They're a little harder for my old eyes to see and easier to loose.
It also helps to write the socket size on the sides of black ones with a light colored Sharpie.

 

[rangerfredbob]

The deep 1/2" drive sockets haven't come in the metal case in many years, but yes, they are good sockets with extremely thick walls...

The longer loppers I was talking about are the standard ones since we mainly have Himalayan blackberries around that are annoying... If I needed ratcheting pruners for trees I'd just use the battery pole saw...

 

[lostcreekranch]

I had to look up yaupon, I'd never heard of it. I see the range is coastal east Texas to NC. It is the only native plant that makes decent tea! Is it tough to cut?

My use for hand pruners, minor pruning of apple branches, doesn't dull pruners so a touch-up with a tiny file a couple of times a year for these and the long handle loppers (ancient Corona, not HF) has been sufficient.

I'm trying something new, the AccuSharp pair of sharpeners. The one for scissors (bevels one side) seems to work well for shears and loppers, with only a couple of passes. I saw these recommended in a thread here and I'm glad I bought them.

We've got plenty of yaupon here in Colorado County. It grows up around the base of oak trees.





Cutting it out .. is a combination of pruners, loppers, and chain saw. It's slow work because you have to treat each and every cut stem with a mix of 20% Remedy (Tryclopyr) / 80% diesel mix to keep it from re-sprouting and .. for best results you need to treat as you cut.

 

[Travelover]

I've been putting off a brad nailer forever, but recently put in a new floor and had to redo all the base trim so I popped for the Central Pneumatic base model This thing used to be $13 with a coupon all the time, but it is up to $30 regular price /$25 on sale. The good news is that it worked great and saved me a lot of time. It tends to leave a dent in the wood on top of the brad, but I think I need to dial in the pressure. All in, a great tool even at the new higher price.
18 Gauge 2-in-1 Air Nailer/Stapler

 

[stuckmotor]

I've been putting off a brad nailer forever, but recently put in a new floor and had to redo all the base trim so I popped for the Central Pneumatic base model This thing used to be $13 with a coupon all the time, but it is up to $30 regular price /$25 on sale. The good news is that it worked great and saved me a lot of time. It tends to leave a dent in the wood on top of the brad, but I think I need to dial in the pressure. All in, a great tool even at the new higher price.
18 Gauge 2-in-1 Air Nailer/Stapler

I figured the games they're playing with grades of tools, coupons and prices would were to disguise price hikes. Maybe, I was right.

 

[Buggs67]

I bought black ones instead. They're a little harder for my old eyes to see and easier to loose.
It also helps to write the socket size on the sides of black ones with a light colored Sharpie.

Last time I bought adjustable wrenches they were black and I was always misplacing them. SO I sprayed all the dark tools with orange paint. Now they sort of match my tractor.

Funny story; I was putting oil in my tractor and couldn't find the filler cap to replace it afterwards. I looked everywhere. It was in the FEL lift arm. As it's orange it blended in.

 

[5030]

HF's Insider Track Club is running a member price of $79.95 on the Chief 4.5" pneumatic air grinder. That is a killer price for a killer 4.5" grinder. Only one comparable to it is the IR unit and it's almost 300 bucks retail. I have one (Paid $99.95) for it and it's a fantastic air tool.

Interestingly, the IR grinder and the HF grinder could be twins.

 

[Travelover]

I figured the games they're playing with grades of tools, coupons and prices would were to disguise price hikes. Maybe, I was right.

It is hard to know right now because Covid has done some crazy things to supply and demand. I can't believe lumber prices, for example.

 

[Alan W.]

I purchased the mini tire changer to use on my mowers front tires. Made it really easy compared to the way I use to do it. Due to the lack of coupons and no freebies I had not been there in a while. Even my wife ask why Im not going in HF every time we drive by.

 

[rangerfredbob]

I have a pair of those stands for my 2 post lift. I couldn't stand the color so I painted them blue. Other than that they have worked well (not that they shouldn't since they are so simple).

Conveniently the new ones are the new grey instead of orange so they aren't so "sore thumby". My lift on the other hand is orange that has faded in the sun sitting in it's crated form under a barn roof for about a year and a half... I'm thinking the blue tractor paint or some canned Rustoleum will fix it right up...

 

[daugen]

email came today offering 10 percent off everything and 20 percent off if club member, no restrictions.
I'm sure there's some fine print there somewhere

 

[Handloader109]

Nope, there are no exclusions except past purchases, instant coupon (can't double coupon) and inside track memberships and warranties and gift cards. Sounds like all merchandise that doesn't have a coupon already.....

 

[Ford850]

It would be better if they worded these as "10% off any one thing" rather than "everything" since it's only good for one item. It's nice to see a coupon with few limits, but 10% doesn't make it worth my drive. Maybe on a big ticket item, but those items seem to be over priced compared to competitors now.