Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[rangerfredbob]

Had to do some looking for this post, been a while!

I haven't been shopping much lately, not enough spare funds...

I picked up one of their 10 piece 10mm socket sets, a decent set for cheap since I used a I think 20% coupon on it? haven't used them but their sockets aren't bad...

I've had one of their knock off Dremel's for a while since I grabbed one when they were $20, used it for the first time the other night, I think California mentioned they are torquier than a Dremel and that statement isn't wrong, and I like having a speed wheel and a power switch, that's one of the annoying things on the Dremel brand is rotating that knob all the time...

I also picked up one of their surface conditioning tools, seems pretty nice, haven't used it yet but will when I get my 3pt disc into the shop to fabricate some brackets and get it working this winter...

 

[MoArk Willy]

Everyone knows what Harbor Freight is all about.
Inexpensive import tools for the home owner / handyman who doesn't need a $200 drill to put holes in his drywall to hang a shelf.
As far as Harbor Freight goes, they have a better reputation than the "professionals" who buy the cheapest tool they can find, beat the hell out of it then blame Harbor Freight.
If they aren't smart enough to buy the tool they need for the job they are doing, that's on them.
I've bought Harbor Freight tools for decades. I have a drill press I bought in the 80's that has never failed me.
I have a couple of 4 1/2" grinders that I use and again, never had an issue.
Many hand tools, tool bags and a few dozen pairs of gloves.
And one of the b

 

[sd455dan]

Picked up a used HF Central Machinery lathe. Apparently back in the 1990's HF imported Taiwan metal lathes similar to some Enco models This one has the induction hardened ways and is pretty short with only about 24 inches between centers but has a Good spindle through hole at 1 9/16".

Pretty happy with it and and it came with a 3 hp treadmill motor and I am in the process of converting it to variable speed.

Has a gap bed so it can turn a 17 inch piece as long as it isn't to long. Otherwise a 12 inch part. With the stands about 1100 lbs

Already used it with the other motor it came with a 5-6hp compressor motor which runs twice as fast as it should @ 3450. but with the gear head can slow the spindle to about 120 RPM.

 

[5030]

Chinese motors ain't much no matter what they come on. That rice paper insulation stinks when it gets hot and they tend to emit a lot of stinky smoke when expiring. I've 'smoked' a few in my day....

 

[5030]

I will say, I'm a Bauer 20 volt cordless fanatic. I have their 4.5 brushless angle grinder, their 3/8" impact wrench, their 1/2" variable speed drill motor, their hex drive driver a couple chargers and a slew of 5 amp hour batteries but the one Bauer cordless tool I like the most is their 20 volt handheld shop blower.

I carry it on the farm tractors and when I'm out in a field chopping or bailing and the radiators get loaded with chaff and they start getting hot, I shut them down, open the hood and blow the rads out with it. It comes with a long tapered removable concentrator snout that directs the quite substantial air flow and cleans the rads right out, right now. My buddy with a square bailer has one and uses it to keep his knotters chaff free.

Fits right behind the seat out of the way and a 5AH battery will run it for hours, I recommend it highly. It's a 'tool only' deal and I believe it's under 50 bucks not on sale.

Haven't 'found the smoke in any of them yet and I use the 20 volt brushless angle grinder pretty hard but they are in reality, occasional use tools and not beat on HD stuff like Milwaukee but then they cost less than 1/4 as much as Milwaukee.

Very satisfied with all of them Real impressed with the Icon 1/2" drive Torque wrench, very accurate and torques in both directions and is about 1/5th the cost of the comparable Snap-On wrench (which I also have). If you lay them side by side, it's hard to tell the difference other than the name etched in the barrel.

 

[Cycledude]

Bought the Harbor Freight 20 volt cordless blower-vac with the 5 AH battery it easily handles any job I have, the reviews have lots of complaints about the hard to access-operate on-off switch while operating, the switch itself works nice but it’s difficult to operate while carrying the vacuum. Would be nice if it came with a couple more attachments but I happen to have another vacuum with the same size hose so already have all the attachments I should ever need. So far I have been very well satisfied with the purchase.

 

[5030]

Bought the Harbor Freight 20 volt cordless blower-vac with the 5 AH battery it easily handles any job I have, the reviews have lots of complaints about the hard to access-operate on-off switch while operating, the switch itself works nice but it’s difficult to operate while carrying the vacuum. Would be nice if it came with a couple more attachments but I happen to have another vacuum with the same size hose so already have all the attachments I should ever need. So far I have been very well satisfied with the purchase.

The one I'm referring to is a blower only, no vacuum. Very compact and easy to manage even with the larger 5AH battery attached.

 

[5030]

It appears that HF is upgrading all the Bauer 20 volt line to brushless motors. The 4.5 angle grinder I have is brushless and I see the Bauer 20 volt drill is now also brushless.

 

[jjeff]

Recently bought the cheaper Pittsburgh hf brake bleeder/ vacuum pump . comes with adapters, hoses, easier to use then trying to find a helper when bleeding brakes, and it works pretty good .

 

[billntdc]

I my self use Mac snap-on maco yes you pay for the name I have a 12 pc wretches I bought when I was 16 I'm now 57. 41 years later the been threw hexx and back. They are like brand new HF if your not going to be full time working on things lol

 

[daugen]

what HF seems to consistently offer is a bright and clean store jam packed full of just about every conceivable hand or power tool.
And they are nearby, and parking is close to the door. Not half a mile in at Lowes or HD. Plus a good warranty and return policy.
I'm glad they simplified their pricing. Always felt like a shell game before, find the lowest coupon.

As I tucked those heavy rubber chocks back under my trailer today, I thought about all the stuff I have bought there.
Including that 79.95 powerwasher that hasn't broken in two years. I do remember to flush it with antifreeze every Fall.
My Admiral mitre saw continues to perform well, way above expectations.
I don't have enough talent for most HF tools to hold me back...
But otherwise I'm a Makita and Bosch guy. Sometimes you just like the feel of a good tool in your hands.
Am glad HF upped their game with Bauer line.

 

[daugen]

Chinese motors ain't much no matter what they come on. That rice paper insulation stinks when it gets hot and they tend to emit a lot of stinky smoke when expiring. I've 'smoked' a few in my day....

5030, did you smoke an inexpensive model or an allegedly good one?
They can build anything they want in China. Huge EV car manufacturing there, these folks can build quality tools.
But US importers brought in their cheap stuff as eternal bargains.
Reminds me of the old line from a crusty Sergeant "smoke 'em if you got 'em"

pretty hard to build credibility when your prior products exported were cheap junk made to barely last past the warranty.
Hardly a life time tool you expect to hand down to your son or grandson.
That aroma, the burned wire smell, melted insulation, just how much engineering do you think went into
that 19.95 cordless drill?

I owned a Radio Shack in the 80's when Chinese cheap stuff started coming in. Taiwan in the beginning if I remember.
Mom would bring in her SUNY walkman, thinking she had bought a Sony someplace..., and would say it was her daughter's and could
I get it to work? Small town stuff, you tried to help. First thing I did was give it the sniff test. Then I opened the battery box to check for corroded batteries and then I made sure
water was not leaking out of it. Remember the feature on cassette decks called Autostop? I guess some of the cheap knockoffs didn't have it.
A few of those came in smelling like burned belts. Wiring was never heavy enough gauge and at some point, it became a toaster.
The era of disposable electronics had arrived.

 

[rangerfredbob]

Since I just cleaned the headlights on my fleet (6 rigs, oof...) this afternoon the cheezy way with 0000 steel wool and soapy water I was reminded what a deal the HFT .5 gallon pump sprayer thing is... I just keep it loaded with soapy water for washing things or finding leaks in tires or whatever. Been about a month since I was looking for leaks on my new to me air compressor and it was still pressurized when I started on the headlights today...

 

[Oaktree]

what HF seems to consistently offer is a bright and clean store jam packed full of just about every conceivable hand or power tool.
And they are nearby, and parking is close to the door. Not half a mile in at Lowes or HD. Plus a good warranty and return policy.
I'm glad they simplified their pricing. Always felt like a shell game before, find the lowest coupon.
.....
I don't have enough talent for most HF tools to hold me back...

Agreed. They also have a lot of "oddball" tools that are hard to find otherwise. Their tools are usually good enough for homeowners, especially if it's something you're only likely to use occasionally.

pretty hard to build credibility when your prior products exported were cheap junk made to barely last past the warranty.
Hardly a life time tool you expect to hand down to your son or grandson.

Realistically, who hands down tools to children or grandchildren (other than maybe something for nostalgia's sake)? I think back to when my father passed on...I grabbed a handful of his tools that I didn't already have, but for example, I have no use for a 1960s vintage corded drill with a 1/4" chuck. Who cares if the case is cast aluminum or the bearings can be replaced...modern drills have more power, variable speeds, built-in clutch and a 1/2" chuck is pretty much standard now.

I know a guy who used to deal in estate sales. His store was always jam packed with "perfectly good" old tools that no one was interested in.

 

[MossRoad]

Agreed. They also have a lot of "oddball" tools that are hard to find otherwise. Their tools are usually good enough for homeowners, especially if it's something you're only likely to use occasionally.

Realistically, who hands down tools to children or grandchildren (other than maybe something for nostalgia's sake)? I think back to when my father passed on...I grabbed a handful of his tools that I didn't already have, but for example, I have no use for a 1960s vintage corded drill with a 1/4" chuck. Who cares if the case is cast aluminum or the bearings can be replaced...modern drills have more power, variable speeds, built-in clutch and a 1/2" chuck is pretty much standard now.

I know a guy who used to deal in estate sales. His store was always jam packed with "perfectly good" old tools that no one was interested in.

Yeah, that's sad. I have two tool boxes that are almost identical(one for home, and one for my last job) and two girls that both say they want my tools when I croak. That's fine. They can have them. If either uses more than a hammer or screwdriver out of them before they croak, I'd be impressed.

I do love them dearly, but that's the reality of it.

 

[jyoutz]

Yeah, that's sad. I have two tool boxes that are almost identical(one for home, and one for my last job) and two girls that both say they want my tools when I croak. That's fine. They can have them. If either uses more than a hammer or screwdriver out of them before they croak, I'd be impressed.

I do love them dearly, but that's the reality of it.

My grandfather was a millwright. I inherited a large wooden box 3’ x 4’ with drawers full of miscellaneous hand tools. Many of those I use regularly, some occasionally, and some not at all. There are some items that I have no idea what they are. My sons will inherit and hopefully use some of them.

 

[sd455dan]

Chinese motors ain't much no matter what they come on. That rice paper insulation stinks when it gets hot and they tend to emit a lot of stinky smoke when expiring. I've 'smoked' a few in my day....

Yeah I think that is what happened with this one, and also the drum switch went T.U.
I never asked the lady selling it- but believe her husband must have passed from her comments.

At least the compressor motor runs really good and is an older GE, If my Marathon on the IR compressor ever dies this one should make a good direct replacement.
Already bought an SCR driver and 100 amp bridge rectifier and tested the 3HP treadmill motor. Started building mounts for it. Used the lathe to bore a new V belt pully out to fit the oddball metric shaft and then cut a flat on the shaft with the HF knee mill. So far it's 2HP motor is holding up OK
Actually have to admit My machining equipment All is HF.
Knee mill, Bauer deep cut band saw with homemade table, Closeout sale 7 x 10 mini lathe and this 12x24 Enco style gear head Taiwan lathe. I waited for almost a year trying to find a metal lathe with at least a 12 inch swing and this one, that was not outrageously priced fit the bill it is actually decent.
But...
I was a little bummed that 2 weeks after buying this machine a 12 inch Clausing with a change box and longer bed showed up on CL, it had a damaged gear in the feed box and Sold in under 24 hours for about $300 more than this lathe but only had minimal tooling and accessories. Everything I read about Clausing is that they are Great quality.

5030, did you smoke an inexpensive model or an allegedly good one?
They can build anything they want in China. Huge EV car manufacturing there, these folks can build quality tools.
But US importers brought in their cheap stuff as eternal bargains.
Reminds me of the old line from a crusty Sergeant "smoke 'em if you got 'em"

pretty hard to build credibility when your prior products exported were cheap junk made to barely last past the warranty.
Hardly a life time tool you expect to hand down to your son or grandson.
That aroma, the burned wire smell, melted insulation, just how much engineering do you think went into
that 19.95 cordless drill?

I owned a Radio Shack in the 80's when Chinese cheap stuff started coming in. Taiwan in the beginning if I remember.
Mom would bring in her SUNY walkman, thinking she had bought a Sony someplace..., and would say it was her daughter's and could
I get it to work? Small town stuff, you tried to help. First thing I did was give it the sniff test. Then I opened the battery box to check for corroded batteries and then I made sure
water was not leaking out of it. Remember the feature on cassette decks called Autostop? I guess some of the cheap knockoffs didn't have it.
A few of those came in smelling like burned belts. Wiring was never heavy enough gauge and at some point, it became a toaster.
The era of disposable electronics had arrived.

I think 5030 may have been referencing my post about the lathe motors. I have heard and read the same thing about the Taiwan and China metal lathes, that there was a long span of time when the motors were very hit or miss and many died very quickly.

Apparently that was the case with the lathe I bought and the PO had sourced a GE 240 volt AC as well as a 3 hp treadmill DC motor to replace the cooked original.

I have cooked a few HF grinder motors. So far as posted above my HF 2 hp Knee Mill motor is working fine.

ps Bought some HF Pittsburg large inch plus wrenches and the short "Service" wrenches for the backhoe.( Recommended by a TBN member) They held up and did break the hydraulic fittings loose with cheater pipes So no complaints there.

 

[5030]

Yeah I think that is what happened with this one, and also the drum switch went T.U.
I never asked the lady selling it- but believe her husband must have passed from her comments.

At least the compressor motor runs really good and is an older GE, If my Marathon on the IR compressor ever dies this one should make a good direct replacement.
Already bought an SCR driver and 100 amp bridge rectifier and tested the 3HP treadmill motor. Started building mounts for it. Used the lathe to bore a new V belt pully out to fit the oddball metric shaft and then cut a flat on the shaft with the HF knee mill. So far it's 2HP motor is holding up OK
Actually have to admit My machining equipment All is HF.
Knee mill, Bauer deep cut band saw with homemade table, Closeout sale 7 x 10 mini lathe and this 12x24 Enco style gear head Taiwan lathe. I waited for almost a year trying to find a metal lathe with at least a 12 inch swing and this one, that was not outrageously priced fit the bill it is actually decent.
But...
I was a little bummed that 2 weeks after buying this machine a 12 inch Clausing with a change box and longer bed showed up on CL, it had a damaged gear in the feed box and Sold in under 24 hours for about $300 more than this lathe but only had minimal tooling and accessories. Everything I read about Clausing is that they are Great quality.

I think 5030 may have been referencing my post about the lathe motors. I have heard and read the same thing about the Taiwan and China metal lathes, that there was a long span of time when the motors were very hit or miss and many died very quickly.

Apparently that was the case with the lathe I bought and the PO had sourced a GE 240 volt AC as well as a 3 hp treadmill DC motor to replace the cooked original.

I have cooked a few HF grinder motors. So far as posted above my HF 2 hp Knee Mill motor is working fine.

ps Bought some HF Pittsburg large inch plus wrenches and the short "Service" wrenches for the backhoe.( Recommended by a TBN member) They held up and did break the hydraulic fittings loose with cheater pipes So no complaints there.

I own a fully restored South Bend 3 foot benchtop lathe with collet closer and quick change gearbox I never use, a SB cabinet shaper that I also never use, A LeBlond Servo Shift tool room lathe with a 6 foot bed and a pristine Kalamazoo Built Atlas floor lathe, completely tooled (even have the taper attachment, quick change gearbox, 4 jaw, 3 jaw, 6 jaw chucks, face plates, dog plates, live centers, all sorts of tooling and I use it as well as the LeBlond all the time. I also have two Bridgeport mills, one a Series 1 and the other a CNC Versa Trak. When I pass, my wife is gonna have one heck of a sale.

 

[5030]

Speaking of quailty HF tools, A while ago I bought the Chief 4.5" air angle grinder (which is identical to the IR grinder except for the price, the Chief was 110 bucks, the IR is 250).

Very nice and powerful air grinder, smooth as glass and you can actually add grease to the gearbox. Has a nice butterfly throttle too.

Very happy with it and I use it a lot, but then I prefer air tools over corded electric ones.

Like anything, you get what you pay for but no point in paying too much either.

 

[jjeff]

Imo one things for sure I noticed as cheaper Chinese tools increase in "quality" it's helping bring down and or stabilize the cost of tools associated with high quality brand name stuff. However no one I know searches Cl or auctions for hf tools and expects to pay top dollar for them.