Harbor Freight Tools Shopping Spree

[Investorguy]

We don't have HF out here... at least not that I've seen.

But we have Costco.

I love Costco. The stock only the upper mid to high end stuff and price it better than 95% of the places you'll find similar stuff. Then, they let you return it for a full refund for any reason, even 4-5 years later.

They get a lot of my money; for tools and anything else they have. I could shop around and save a few nickles, or I can buy w/ peace of mind at Costco, knowing that even if I buy the wrong thing, I can always return it.

 

[jimy22]

I was recently in a Harbor Freight store for the first time. It was certainly interesting to look around. A week later I found myself staring at a 1 1/8" nut that just wouldn't budge. $68 later I have a full 3/4" drive socket set, plus an additional set of 6 point impact sockets for it. I expect that is a fraction of the price of a quality set.

I won't get the chance to get back to that project for a while, but I do hope they hold up to occasional use. With some luck, maybe they are clunky, but strong.

However, I am quite sure I couldn't stand using their 3/8" and 1/2 sets on a daily basis.

Jim

 

[rambler]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
P.S. Rambler, this post was not aimed at you. You'd just mentioned the junk HD AD hood that nearly caused permanent eye damage. I place the value of my eyesight at a figure over $49. )</font>

I appreciate your comments.

Unfortunately I see that type of disclaimer on most everything, even the highest price, these days. Seems no one is responsible. Ever.

--->Paul

 

[SPIKER]

I agree with many of the posts, each tool is dependant on HOW you intend to USE it, that being said I have a lot of the HF tools, usually all of them work as advertized and last as long as they need to so far, the grinders & any electrical hand tools that use brushes are very susceptable to the brush overheatsing, (usually heats & weakens the srpings prior to melting the brushes) don't over press on the grinder wheel stalling the motor much or it will cook very quick. they last quite well when you let the wheel work slowly on the welds. light pressure and keep RPM up on the motor.

not tried the welding helmits, but are nearly identical to 300 buck ones a feew guys at work bought 3~4 yrs back that mean same quality? not sure I have not tried one...

as for compressors, I have 2 both smaller units, one has a 8 gallon the other is like a 1 gallon, used for air nailer/stapler which I bought there also the bigger one is not HF compressor but from Homier similar products but generally the HF stuff is much better than the homier/farmpro stuff. (not including the jinma tractors that homier sells. but HF don't sell farm impliments & tractors (YET) wish they did.

what I do it save my ads and buy at the stores, usually the stors have bit better pricing than the catalog has. also go to the web site and look under the close out tools, then print out the page and take to the store with you they will honer the prices. I did this with the 12" slide compound miter saw with laser. clearance add aws 179.00 I had a 20% off one item made final price less than 150 out door. did the same with a couple other misc items. not one bit of argument form them. I did have to ask for the slide coumpound saw as none were OUT to find, if you see somethign in the add then call to check if you have along drive...

now they are carrying a lot more items in the store here but still not nearly as much as the catalog & internet, you can have anything shipped home or to the local store for pickup if it has to be loaded using a forktruck onto a trailer so rember to ask questions regarding them.

now anyhow one day I'll get some concrete into my barn and a REAL compressor will be in there to run the air tools I have and be able to start doing body work again...

now remember that some tools need a good inspection to see if they are worth the $, I usually open & inspect the tool at the stores and have even asked to test a few items to make sure they are what I wanted or would do the job...

mark M /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[npaden]

Well, I went ahead and pulled the trigger.

Bought a 2hp air compressor w/ 50' hose and attachment kit (rated at 5.5 cfm @ 90psi), 14" chop saw w/ blade, auto-darkening welding helmet, 4.5" grinder w/ 10 discs, 1/2" hammer drill, 5 pipe wrenches, 4" swivel vise, and a couple odds and ends at harbor freight today for $328!

I'll have to try them all and make sure they work, they only have a 30 day warranty on their power tools!

 

[wafwot]

Get the largest compressor you can afford, based on what you'll be doing with it. I have a Porter Cable portable for running nailers and filling tires but it doesn't have the power needed for impact wrenches, etc. I also have a 5hp, 220v, 20 gallon, 10cfm compressor but that couldn't keep up with sandblasting. I recently found a very nice Speedaire, 18cfm with a refrigerated air dryer on eBay for $750. It is either a 60 or 80 gallon, not sure unless I go out to the shop to look. Since it was a backup compressor in a large factory it saw very little use. Having dry air, and lots of it, is necessary for sandblasting. I'll be doing permanent plumbing for it, including an outside coupler.

 

[TractorLarry]

I have the 33 Gallon Sears Stand-Up model. You're right about the noise of the oil-less compressors.

When that thing lit off it scared the crap out of me the first time. Jeez!

It's 2 years old and has been reliable, however.

I also wanted to mention I bought some of the cheap Impact Sockets from another company (Northern Tool) because they were about 20% of the cost of brand names like SK.

Well, you get what you pay for

While they are sized right, and will get the job done, they are the UGLIEST sockets I've ever seen. The metal is very, very rough, and the size engraving looks like it was done free-hand.

They were, of course, made in China.


-Larry

 

[john_bud]

I bought a set of sockets with ratchets and extensions in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 from HF back when they were Harbor Freight SALVAGE. Those worked pretty good for 49 bucks. Needed them to rebuild a 302 ford. Still have them and use them.

Also bought a HF hammer drill. Did 1/2 of ONE hole and the brushes melted the plastic that held them. Trash can'ed it.

Some stuff is ok to use especially to start a tool set, some is pretty good and a lot is pure china junk. (and I don't mean those boats with square sails!)

I fully expect every piece from HF to be trash can fodder and am thus never disappointed.

jb

 

[VA_Joe]

For the wrenches and sockets up to 3/4 inch or so - I would stick with a good brand. Too easy to round off a head because of poor tolerances or break a socket. Once you get past that - I don't think you can go wrong with Harbor Freight (its tough to screw up a 2 inch wrench - even if tolerances are off by a couple of mm). A complete Harbor Freight set of jumbo wrenches costs the same as a single wrench at Sears or anywhere else. Given the amount of metal in these things - I don't think there is any way I could ever break one.

Even on the 3/4 inch and 1 inch ratchets, the pawls are so big - I can't imagine one slipping or breaking. The 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 inch ratchets are a different story. I go quality on those - too many scraped knuckles and broken wrenches.

On the air compressors - I bought a Sears return on a 5 HP, 60 gallon oil-less several years ago (it was a bargain). Those things are a piece of junk - I now use it as a storage tank for my much older Sears 5HP, 15 gallon oiled compressor (far more output than the oil-less unit). As said earlier - the oil-less compressor also makes far too much noise.

My two cents.

Joe

 

[flusher]

Not 100% sure what forum to put this in but this seemed like the best place.

I've been watching the sales at Harbor Frieght and was checking to see what some of you thought about some of the items I'm thinking about buying.

I have my Dad's old stick welder and with the new barn I'm going to have a place to use it. I'll then be able to build some neat stuff to put on my tractor and other fun projects.

Most of the items will see very limited light useage. It will be nice to just use them instead of having to borrow from someone or just try to make due with the wrong tool.

Here are the items I'm thinking about buying:

21 Gallon Vertical Compressor - 3hp, oil lubricated, 3.5SCFM @ 90PSI - $150 - 25% off

(I currently have zero air tools and am just tired of lugging a 10 gallon air tank to the gas station when I need to fill up a tire. I think it would be nice to have one for a air nozzle too. I may at some point in the future think about a paint spray gun or something along those lines but doubt if I will ever be using many big air tools. Is this a large enough compressor for just limited use?)

14" Industrial Cut-Off Saw - $50 - 50% off

Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet - $50 - 38% off

4 1/2" HD Angle Grinder - $18 - 40% off

1/2" Hammer Drill - $27 - 46% off

5" Swivel Vise - $28 - 30% off

5 Speed 1/2" Drill Press - $40 - 55% off

I know Harbor Frieghts prices vary a lot and I've got a while before I need to buy some of this stuff, but I figured I would start buying some of the stuff that is on sale now instead of waiting until I need it and having to pay regular price.

Any input on if any of the above choices are just complete junk or whether they regularly go on sale at even lower prices would be appreciated.

I've seen posts talking about the cut-off saw and the auto-darkening welding helmet and feel pretty good about those prices being as low as they go and that they are overall reasonable quality at least as far as the price paid.

Thanks in advance.

Nathan

I have an HF autodarkening welding helmet. Works OK.

Don't have one of their vertical compressors, but I do have one of HF's $89 3 gallon pancake compressors that I use mostly with my HF 6-in-1 framing nailer that I bought for $90. I've built three sheds during the past 12 months using that compressor and nailer. Probably driven in 4000 or more 16d nails with no problem. Just keep 'em both lubricated. The compressor sometimes fails to cycle, especially in colder weather. But all you have to do is crack the relief valve a little and it kicks over OK.