Harbor freight: tool ratings, pass or fail,

[BHD]

I was searching the net and came across a thread on another site, and the title was Harbor freight pass or fail,

basically they gave a review of the tools they had bought from Harbor Freight,

IF possible list a model number if one knows it, as they carry some times two or three different versions of some tools,

there only criteria was pass or fail, but I would like to see an additional rating of 1 to 10, 10 being best, and if you have had other tools by other manufactures your comparing it to, indicate how it compared,

I personally like to buy High quality tools but of late I have felt that I have needed to reduce the expenditures on tools and that has resulted in buying some lower priced tools, harbor freight included.

one other thing that happened I always tried to buy USA made, a few years ago, I ordered a OTC tool that had been USA made, it showed up MADE IN CHINA, so I kinda said If I have to buy china made why pay made in USA prices.

some of my recent buys, in the past few years,

a one inch impact wrench, with twin hammers, do not know the number, there middle unit,
Pass, I would rate it at about a 5
but I do not not have thing to compare it to, (My son who has used it and Drives trucks says it does the same thing the ones in his boss shop does which are hight dollar units).

the brass punches Pass, rate it at a 8

the jumbo 3/4" sockets, Pass, rate at a 8

there little 3/8" pistol grip impact is not to bad, Pass, rate it at a 5, it seem to do as good as my sons "Snap On" of similar design

 

[Travelover]

We currently have two other long running threads titled: "HF Tools that Don't Suck"and "HF Tools that Suck".

It might be tidier if we kept the HF ratings in those two threads.

 

[beenthere]

So rarely go into HF, that don't read either of the "suck" threads.
Also it's a word I don't like to see used.

 

[Car Doc]

I like HF and other such outlets for having a cheap place to get tools that I can make specialty tools out of like welding on, bending to fit into tight spots, sockets to grind to make gasket hole punches or spacers and generally destroy in my everyday job fixing cars w/o voiding the warranty modifying my good tools. :thumbsup:

 

[BHD]

I apologize I never saw the other posts, apparently,

I did do a search and found them,

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/114375-hf-tools-suck-2.html

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/114176-harbor-freight-tools-dont-suck.html

 

[tigers2007]

This post sums it up:

Click Here

 

[chopped]

I found it intyeresting ,when i place an order, I save the link to a folder and then I have it for reference the next time. Tonight I looked at this item
1" x 15 Ft. Ratcheting Tie Down
Interestingly the price was $2.99 four months ago..Interesting how they have changed their sales strategy.
I now have a store close by. 1 1/2 hours one way. so dont gett eh catalogs anymore. Just the newspaper print sales. With shipping things can sure be overpriced now for me..

 

[Taylortractornut]

My wife bought me a tubing notcher from HF Our first Christmas married. I did have to shim out the cradle that holds the tubing out a bit with washers but its been a good tool. I use Lennox saws in it and a good grade of oil on the bearings. I like the pitsburg tools for back up at work. I have one thats been welded to a pipe to make a motor turning tool for adjusting clutches in our DM Macks at work.

 

[rswyan]

My wife bought me a tubing notcher from HF Our first Christmas married.

Sounds like she's definitely a keeper ..... the wife, I mean

 

[Raindem]

I like HF and other such outlets for having a cheap place to get tools that I can make specialty tools out of like welding on, bending to fit into tight spots, sockets to grind to make gasket hole punches or spacers and generally destroy in my everyday job fixing cars w/o voiding the warranty modifying my good tools. :thumbsup:

Good point. I bought a box wrench and bent the head to a specific angle so I could get to the nuts on the back side of my Jeep bumper. In this case the cheap quality was an advantage because I had to bend it a few times until I found the right angle.

 

[toy]

My wife bought me a tubing notcher from HF Our first Christmas married. I did have to shim out the cradle that holds the tubing out a bit with washers but its been a good tool. I use Lennox saws in it and a good grade of oil on the bearings. I like the pitsburg tools for back up at work. I have one thats been welded to a pipe to make a motor turning tool for adjusting clutches in our DM Macks at work.

I bet you never complained about that tubing notcher, not nairy a bit no sir rebob. I bet it was only good things to say about it.

 

[Taylortractornut]

Yeah I think about that notcher and the time is saved every mood swing she has since she has been pregnant lol.

Its a good tool suprisingly. I made a tubing gate in about 4 hours what took 8 to 10 hours with a saw and grinder.

 

[toy]

Yeah I think about that notcher and the time is saved every mood swing she has since she has been pregnant lol.

Its a good tool suprisingly. I made a tubing gate in about 4 hours what took 8 to 10 hours with a saw and grinder.

Yeah I know about those mood swings, I have them all the time when things isn't going smoothly lol. Joking aside congratulations on the upcoming new addition to your family. I hope it is healthy and all goes well for the mother and the Dad makes it through without panicking.

 

[chopped]

Just wanted to share this link:thumbsup:
Display
Interesting how they ''roll back prices''reminds me her of how the same furniture store has been ''going out of business'' for the last decade..:laughing:
Oh looks like they improved the chai saw sharpener some..

 

[bal0123]

"PASS" Here's my newest purchase from HF. Purchased yesterday item# 39955, 20" production drill press. I went on a spent the extra money for this one because it has the lowest RPM's I've found, "180rpm" still for a resonable buck. Name brand units sell for between $1800 - 4000. I saw this on sale for $549.99, original price is $599.99 and I found in a hobby farmer magazine a 20% off cupon to HF so it made my actual purchase price $440. As you can see in my photos in the back ground what I have been using. Just a little cheapo bench top, it is the third one I have bought in 2 years. Cutting big holes in metal is not what the little cheapo is meant to do. The other picture is what my new toy is capable of. 2" inch hole through 1.5" X 3" X 3/16" thick rectangular tubing. I am very pleased with this purchase! I would deffintley recommend this to anyone who is interested in a large drill press. I like buying top of the line tools, even though this is not anywhere close to the top of the line. It works and that is all that matters. Most of my tools are Snap-on, Matco or Mac for hand tools.