Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Oaktree]

my wife got me the battery chainsaw, lynx 40v model just before Christmas. I haven't had but one opportunity so far to test, but went out and cut 13 slices of walnut that was dry, downed 2 yrs ago. 8 to 9 inch diameter and only 25 percent power down (according to lights) pretty darn good. and so darn quiet....

I needed some of the metal ammo boxes, they had decent coupon and I was trying to beat its expiration back a couple of weeks before Christmas. store totally out, so I ordered on line. got 9 using coupon at same price as store and only $6.99 std shipping. Just got email that they shipped Friday. over 5 weeks.... and I just thought I needed them soon. beware of ordering on line. never again.

I've been on the fence on the chainsaw. It would be handy to have, but I'm not sure I'd get enough use out of it to justify spending $180. Not sure I've ever seen it on sale, and of course coupons don't work on Lynx tools. I may get a Ryobi 18v one instead, since I already have a bunch of that line I've got the batteries & charger.

As far as ordering online, I've only bought one thing online from them...the Predator 212cc engine (this was before we had a nearby store). The order got processed within a day or so, but they used the absolute slowest shipper in the world...it was almost 2 weeks from when it shipped til I got it.

One thing about HF and that is, they are having perpetual sales... Final markdown, liquidation sale, 3 days only, so on and so forth. Creative marketing.....

Meh. It's like the boy who cried wolf. After a while you know if you miss this super spectacular everything-must-go sale whatever you want will be on "sale" in a couple weeks for the same price. And it's always the same items that are on sale.

Not really, Lowes has Cracksman (Chinese) stuff. I'd take HF over that stuff.

Will Lowes honor the "lifetime" warranty on the original tools? I read somewhere you need to bring it back to the store you bought it from to get the replacement, and that's long gone (as well as 100 mi. away).

Are the new Craftsman tools any different than what you'd get at HF, HD, TS, etc?

 

[lostcreekranch]

I've been on the fence on the chainsaw. It would be handy to have, but I'm not sure I'd get enough use out of it to justify spending $180. Not sure I've ever seen it on sale, and of course coupons don't work on Lynx tools. I may get a Ryobi 18v one instead, since I already have a bunch of that line I've got the batteries & charger.

As far as ordering online, I've only bought one thing online from them...the Predator 212cc engine (this was before we had a nearby store). The order got processed within a day or so, but they used the absolute slowest shipper in the world...it was almost 2 weeks from when it shipped til I got it.


Meh. It's like the boy who cried wolf. After a while you know if you miss this super spectacular everything-must-go sale whatever you want will be on "sale" in a couple weeks for the same price. And it's always the same items that are on sale.



Will Lowes honor the "lifetime" warranty on the original tools? I read somewhere you need to bring it back to the store you bought it from to get the replacement, and that's long gone (as well as 100 mi. away).

Are the new Craftsman tools any different than what you'd get at HF, HD, TS, etc?

The Lynxx 40 volts tools are on sale often.

I've got the chainsaw, pole saw, and blower. I use the pole for trimming low tree branches that are too high for the chain saw but, not high enough to need my Echo pole saw.

My chain saw had a bad oil leak so, I took it back for an exchange. The manager told me to just keep the battery and charger from the leaking one ... giving me a spare battery.

Search Results For "Lynxx 4 Volt"

Overall I'm very please with all three tools.

 

[5030]

"Are the new Craftsman tools any different than what you'd get at HF, HD, TS, etc?"

Same as far as I can ascertain. The old made in USA Craftsman tool days are long gone. All the hand tools are offshore stuff now and as far as returning them to Lowe's good luck on that. I'm sure it's nowhere near as painless as returning them to HF.

 

[LD48750]

I've been on the fence on the chainsaw. It would be handy to have, but I'm not sure I'd get enough use out of it to justify spending $180. Not sure I've ever seen it on sale, and of course coupons don't work on Lynx tools. I may get a Ryobi 18v one instead, since I already have a bunch of that line I've got the batteries & charger.

As far as ordering online, I've only bought one thing online from them...the Predator 212cc engine (this was before we had a nearby store). The order got processed within a day or so, but they used the absolute slowest shipper in the world...it was almost 2 weeks from when it shipped til I got it.


Meh. It's like the boy who cried wolf. After a while you know if you miss this super spectacular everything-must-go sale whatever you want will be on "sale" in a couple weeks for the same price. And it's always the same items that are on sale.



Will Lowes honor the "lifetime" warranty on the original tools? I read somewhere you need to bring it back to the store you bought it from to get the replacement, and that's long gone (as well as 100 mi. away).

Are the new Craftsman tools any different than what you'd get at HF, HD, TS, etc?

I had a craftsman manure rake bought at Lowes.
The wooden handle broke.
I took it back to Lowes without a receipt and was told to just go get another one off the rack.
No paperwork no hassle, no nothing.

 

[herm0016]

ace hardware will also exchange craftsman tools as long as they have it in stock.

Husky tools also have the same deal at Home Depot.

some of the new craftsman stuff at lowes says made in USA on it.

 

[5030]

ace hardware will also exchange craftsman tools as long as they have it in stock.

Husky tools also have the same deal at Home Depot.

some of the new craftsman stuff at lowes says made in USA on it.

I haven't seen any personally but then I rarely shop at Lowes. Menards is better priced and has a larger selection of what I want.

 

[California]

I've been on the fence on the chainsaw. It would be handy to have, but I'm not sure I'd get enough use out of it to justify spending $180. Not sure I've ever seen it on sale, and of course coupons don't work on Lynx tools. I may get a Ryobi 18v one instead, since I already have a bunch of that line I've got the batteries & charger..

I have the Ryobi 18v chainsaw. Its great for my application, mostly dismantling trees that rotted and fell down in my apple orchard, and occasionally getting up in a tree to top it, reaching out one-handed. Abandoning use of 2-cycle fuel entirely, has made my life better.

I don't think the Ryobi 18v is anywhere near the power of the Lynx. Its proper use is casual pruning, not firewood prep.

Here's the hardest I've ever worked the Ryobi, cutting green Eucalyptus that fell blocking an orchard terrace. It felt like I was working it pretty hard. I wouldn't recommend one if you have to do projects like this very often. Its mostly a light, easy to handle pruning saw.

 

[5030]

Okay, I have a technical question. When you run down a Li-Ion pack (like a Bauer 20 volt) for instance, I read somewhere that when it runs out of power it's not like a Ni-Cad pack where the tool slows down, looses torque, I read it just quits. Is that true? I don't know because when my Bauer packs show 2 lights on the backside, I put them on the charger and fill them back up.

I'm curious. Anyone run a Li-Ion pack all the way to zip?

 

[5030]

I've been on the fence on the chainsaw. It would be handy to have, but I'm not sure I'd get enough use out of it to justify spending $180. Not sure I've ever seen it on sale, and of course coupons don't work on Lynx tools. I may get a Ryobi 18v one instead, since I already have a bunch of that line I've got the batteries & charger.

As far as ordering online, I've only bought one thing online from them...the Predator 212cc engine (this was before we had a nearby store). The order got processed within a day or so, but they used the absolute slowest shipper in the world...it was almost 2 weeks from when it shipped til I got it.


Meh. It's like the boy who cried wolf. After a while you know if you miss this super spectacular everything-must-go sale whatever you want will be on "sale" in a couple weeks for the same price. And it's always the same items that are on sale.



Will Lowes honor the "lifetime" warranty on the original tools? I read somewhere you need to bring it back to the store you bought it from to get the replacement, and that's long gone (as well as 100 mi. away).

Are the new Craftsman tools any different than what you'd get at HF, HD, TS, etc?

I will say in HF's defense that, unlike Cracksman and Kobalt and the Menards house brand, you know where the HF tools are made (China, Taiwan, Indonesia )so you aren't overly optimistic about quality and when they exceed your expectations (like the Bauer stuff and the impact sockets), you get pretty impressed, or at least I do.

I buy that stuff with low expectations because it's less expensive and usually cheaper means poor quality.

Guess thats why I like to 'gush' about some of the HF stuff. Nice quality multi use tools and a really good price.

It ain't all good by a long shot but so far everything I've bought there has been a worthwhile purchase. Having said that though I don't buy (as a rule) the Chicago Electric or Drill Master line of stuff because I know it's junk.

Ain't no way a $9.99 4.5" angle grinder or a $15.00 Drill Master cordless drill will last more than one or 2 uses and then stink. Common sense will tell you that.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

As far as the warranty returns at Lowe ‘ s, I just took back 11 different screw drivers in all sorts of abused and broken condition. No questions asked, they just exchanged $48 worth of screwdrivers. I have not tried any sockets or ratchets yet.