Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[5030]

I tend to use Walkers Game Ears myself, but then most times I don't use anything. At 76 I have what my wife terms selective hearing anyway.

 

[KubotainNH]

Back when I bought that rivet gun it was the cheapest I could find was so tired of using a hand rivet tool dozens of times per snowmobiles bile I was extending the tunnels on.aftrr long tracking them. This pneumatic rivet gun made my life so much easier. .on the opposite spectrum Unfortunately when a unreliable pos tool will make a easier not so challenging project literally impossible with frustrating 4 letter words.

I'd like to pick up a power rivet gun, using my manual gun for a stainless rivet is brutal on my hands. Just not pain free like it used to be. I can't justify the price yet for how often I rivet things though. Maybe if it pops up on sale. I do have one sucks rant, for the amount of emails they send me you'd think there would be more items I'd buy on sale. Instead they seem to have the same old items repeated to the point it's generally junk mail. Contemplating unsubscribing but maybe I just need an e-mail rule.

 

[thepumpguysc]

Try this “trick”..
Next time u see the tool/gun u want.. add it to your cart.. but don’t check out.. just leave it there..
You’ll probably get a coupon in a couple of days for the tool in your cart..
It doesn’t work every time but more times than not..

 

[Oaktree]

I do, however love the HF hearing protectors and use them all the time.

https://www.harborfreight.com/ear-muffs-70038.html

IMO they are cheap, work great, rugged and a good value.

Do those have a plastic or metal headband on them? At that price, probably plastic. I have a big head (no snide remarks) and I'll get maybe a dozen wearings on plastic ones before the band snaps.

 

[Oaktree]

Try this “trick”..
Next time u see the tool/gun u want.. add it to your cart.. but don’t check out.. just leave it there..
You’ll probably get a coupon in a couple of days for the tool in your cart..
It doesn’t work every time but more times than not..

I've heard of using that trick with Amazon. I tried it a couple times with inconsistent results.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

I got some miniature Doyle pliers that seem just as good as US-made stuff.

The handtrucks seem to be better than the Chinese ones sold at Home Depot and Lowe's. The one I bought recently is considerably sturdier than one I bought at Home Depot in the late 90's.

I picked up some long Icon pliers just so I could see if Icon tools were any good. I can't see any quality difference between them and DeWalt or Channellock.

I got a pretty useful tool last year. Long vise grips. The handle and the jaws are maybe a foot apart. You won't need it often, but when you need it, it's a huge help. Not as sturdy as the excellent Bremen vise grips, but well worth having. I also got a vise grip with a chain like a bicycle chain instead of jaws. A very serious kind of strap wrench.

After converting three US General tool chests into welding carts and a belt grinder cart, I bought a Yukon to hold a 7x14 lathe I never use. Zero issues. I would say it's 90% as good as US General, and my US Generals will be in great shape when I'm 100.

People say the impact sockets are actually better than most big brands. That came as a surprise to me. Whenever I need a new impact attachment now, I go right to Harbor Freight. I'm kind of sorry I bought two Sunex sets.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

Never purchased their drills. In as much as I own and operate a short run machine and fab shop, I only buy high quality drills and taps and dies anyway. Heard bad things about their drills so I would not buy them anyway. Only Cleveland Twist or Chicago Latrobe here.

I love their HSS drills for situations when I fully intend to use them abusively or incorrectly, or when the material I'm drilling isn't demanding. Drywall. Wood. Aluminum. Plastic.

I think buying them and using them as first-string drills in a machine shop would be insane, however.

 

[Runner]

Do those have a plastic or metal headband on them? At that price, probably plastic. I have a big head (no snide remarks) and I'll get maybe a dozen wearings on plastic ones before the band snaps.

They are all plastic. I was concerned they would be delicate, but I've been using the same pair for years and haven't worn them out or broken them. I also haven't had any problems with adjustment, they just seem to fit me without having to fiddle with them.

As mentioned in another post, the over the ear style muffs can pinch your ear between the ear piece and your glasses/safety goggles, but I find just a slight adjustment of the earpiece fixes that for me.

 

[Tinhack]

I've heard of using that trick with Amazon. I tried it a couple times with inconsistent results.

I've done that many times and as you say, the results can be inconsistent. Many times the price will go up. I just delete it from my cart and in less than a week (typically) the item price will be lowered. It works better (sometimes) to just place it in a list. I have eight or nine lists for Home, Shop, Mowers, Hydraulics, etc. I try to add a note for the original price as the prices can change up or down.

Amazon plays the pricing game depending on demand and views.

 

[Tinhack]

Never purchased their drills. In as much as I own and operate a short run machine and fab shop, I only buy high quality drills and taps and dies anyway. Heard bad things about their drills so I would not buy them anyway. Only Cleveland Twist or Chicago Latrobe here.

Well, I know you haven't bought any drills bits in over 30 years then. Cleveland Twist and Chicago Latrobe were bought out in 1995 by Greenfield.