Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[lostcreekranch]

Thanks for the review. What you say is more or less what I was looking for...something quick to use to shorten that occasional piece of firewood I cut too long to fit the stove, or clearing brush, etc. too thick to use loppers but not really worth dragging out the gas saw for. Wouldn't even consider a battery chainsaw to do any "real" work.

I'm a bit hesitant to put too much money into battery HF (or any store brand) tools because as someone else noted finding replacement batteries a few years down the road might be difficult, unlike a name brand.



I've seen the pole saw and blower on sale, but never noticed the chainsaw. Can't think of any reason I'd want/need a blower, and already have a polesaw.



Yeah, I've noticed that with my Ryobi drill and reciprocal saw. Sometimes if you wait a minute or two the battery will recover enough to finish a cut, but just barely. Always keep several charged spares on hand.

My Lynxx 40 Volt chain saw was $149. The pole saw was $139. Blower was $129.

“I'm a bit hesitant to put too much money into battery HF (or any store brand) tools because as someone else noted finding replacement batteries a few years down the road might be difficult, unlike a name brand.”

Don’t kid yourself ... the “Name brands” change their battery configurations too.

 

[Threepoint]

[snip]
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.

As they say, YMMV. I, too, avoid the Drill Master line, although the Drill Master 4.5" $8.85 angle grinder I bought 11 years ago has worked well whenever I reach for it. No smoke. I have several brands of grinders that size. It's been great for metal and masonry flap discs, even a heavy 4" wire cup disc (not HF) and a wire wheel. Also rigid metal grinding discs. I did smoke a Drill Master heat gun. I needed one to keep in a mobile tool bag, then eventually started using it in the shop as well. Never heavy use. So that was a disappointment. I've also smoked a much more expensive brand of heat gun years ago, though.

As for the Chicago Electric tools, they're so inexpensive that I bought several of the 18v nicad cordless several years ago, before the lithium batteries became more common. The reciprocating saw, the 1/4" impact driver and the 5-1/2" "skil-saw". All have been fine, and the recip saw and impact driver have been used heavily!

Then, about four years ago I bought this Chicago Electric 12v lithium drill-driver to install many dozens of fastener clips for BX electric cable when wiring a barn because it's so light: 12V 3/8 in. Lithium-Ion Cordless Variable Speed Drill/Driver It's actually become my favorite drill-driver for light-duty work because it is so streamlined and lightweight compared to my other cordless drills and drivers! Interesting to see that it's still sold today! In fact, my first battery it still recharging fine, and a second battery was only $15 with a coupon a couple of years ago. No complaints about that!

As for the Chicago Electric corded tools, I've had freaky great luck with those, as well. I have 3" cutoff tool and two of the 120v corded rotary tools. Probably some others in cabinets somewhere in the shop that I can't recall right now. For me they've been well worth it even if not so inexpensive. Oh, I just remembered the corded Chicago Electric variable speed detail sander, with sawblade accessories! Great tool, for just a few bucks. And that's coming from a guy who also has one of the original Fein detail sanders that's it's a clone of. I'm a pretty serious woodworker, and my Fein cost me around $200 over 25 years ago, as I recall!

 

[shovelmike]

I've had one for maybe as long as 15 years, and it's been fine for me. I've only had to use it every few months, but I don't see anything about the design that would be particularly prone to wear out. It will also quickly check the alternator or generator output while the battery is in place. Although you can do that with a freebie volt/ohm meter. Also don't know, of course, how the model currently sold may have changed. It looks the same, and generally I think HF quality has improved even on their basic house brands over the years.

The multimeter will show whether the alternator is working, comparing voltage at the battery posts with engine running / not running. The carbon pile allows you to apply a load to the charging system to see if it is capable of putting out its rated amperage or not.

 

[KubotainNH]

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.

Over a year ago I cracked my Craftsman 15mm deep well socket and my 3/8" ratchet is toast. There were no more Sears local so I chatted with someone at Lowe's. At that point they only had Kobalt single sockets and whole Craftsman sets but said they would be switching in the future. I went in just after Christmas and they had all the singles in drawers. I asked the tool guy and he didn't seem to know the scoop on replacing the tools, said talk to the service desk. I didn't have them with me so didn't bother. I happened to be on the Lowe's site a week or 2 ago and the guy I chatted with said just bring in the broken tools and they will repair/replace. I'll get over there in the next few days I hope. As for USA made, the last time I bought wrenches I went with American made NOS from E-bay. The Asian ones look like crap compared to the USA ones but supposedly Stanley is going to have them made in the US.

 

[Threepoint]

The multimeter will show whether the alternator is working, comparing voltage at the battery posts with engine running / not running. The carbon pile allows you to apply a load to the charging system to see if it is capable of putting out its rated amperage or not.

Woops. Shovelmike, my apologies. I didn't actually look up the specific carbon pile tester you referred to, but now see it's not what I've been using. Your post said Chicago Electric, but I think you meant Cen-Tec, which is a much more sophisticated unit. This is the Chicago Electric model I've had for years, although the current unit looks like it has a painted finish, while mine is chrome. $19.99, or $16 with a coupon!
1 Amp 6/12V Battery Load Tester


Your reference to a $54.99 price should have been the giveaway. :laughing:

 

[aczlan]

Woops. Shovelmike, my apologies. I didn't actually look up the specific carbon pile tester you referred to, but now see it's not what I've been using. Your post said Chicago Electric, but I think you meant Cen-Tec, which is a much more sophisticated unit. This is the Chicago Electric model I've had for years, although the current unit looks like it has a painted finish, while mine is chrome. $19.99, or $16 with a coupon!
1 Amp 6/12V Battery Load Tester
View attachment 638917
Your reference to a $54.99 price should have been the giveaway. :laughing:

I have a similar one that I paid $15ish for at Tractor Supply, used it once and it seemed to work.

Aaron Z

 

[Oaktree]

My Lynxx 40 Volt chain saw was $149. The pole saw was $139. Blower was $129.

Don稚 kid yourself ... the 哲ame brands change their battery configurations too.

I realize that. Ryobi, to their credit so far has made their newer 18v batteries backwards compatible with older tools. I have some 10+ years old and they use the same batteries as the newer stuff. My point was that it's gonna be a lot easier to find an obsolete battery for a name tool than it would for a store brand.

As I said, don't think I've ever seen the chainsaw on sale, but for $149 it's not much more than the Ryobi...worth the extra $20 or so for a more powerful saw. I'll watch the sale flyers.

 

[shovelmike]

Woops. Shovelmike, my apologies. I didn't actually look up the specific carbon pile tester you referred to, but now see it's not what I've been using. Your post said Chicago Electric, but I think you meant Cen-Tec, which is a much more sophisticated unit. This is the Chicago Electric model I've had for years, although the current unit looks like it has a painted finish, while mine is chrome. $19.99, or $16 with a coupon!
1 Amp 6/12V Battery Load Tester
View attachment 638917

Your reference to a $54.99 price should have been the giveaway. :laughing:

Hey, I see the cause for the confusion, the item as viewed online is shown as Cen Tec, but the box it was packaged in said Chicago Electric. Just clearing this up for any considering purchase. (Kind of strange marketing these days in which they use names of US cities where many of our goods used to be produced, now made thousands of miles from the locale)

 

[buck12]

Over a year ago I cracked my Craftsman 15mm deep well socket and my 3/8" ratchet is toast. There were no more Sears local so I chatted with someone at Lowe's. At that point they only had Kobalt single sockets and whole Craftsman sets but said they would be switching in the future. I went in just after Christmas and they had all the singles in drawers. I asked the tool guy and he didn't seem to know the scoop on replacing the tools, said talk to the service desk. I didn't have them with me so didn't bother. I happened to be on the Lowe's site a week or 2 ago and the guy I chatted with said just bring in the broken tools and they will repair/replace. I'll get over there in the next few days I hope. As for USA made, the last time I bought wrenches I went with American made NOS from E-bay. The Asian ones look like crap compared to the USA ones but supposedly Stanley is going to have them made in the US.

eBay is a great place to find older American made tools. Even cheaper is pawn shops. I don’t buy whole sets as they want new prices but most pawn shops have a couple of boxes of wrenches and sockets. I have gotten two handful of wrenches for $5 and couple of times even for free. I bought a Montuzuma tool box for my truck and outfitted primarily through eBay and pawn shops with mostly American made tools. Just stay on the topic of the thread I also bought some HF stuff.

 

[LD48750]

I realize that. Ryobi, to their credit so far has made their newer 18v batteries backwards compatible with older tools. I have some 10+ years old and they use the same batteries as the newer stuff. My point was that it's gonna be a lot easier to find an obsolete battery for a name tool than it would for a store brand.

As I said, don't think I've ever seen the chainsaw on sale, but for $149 it's not much more than the Ryobi...worth the extra $20 or so for a more powerful saw. I'll watch the sale flyers.

I got my Lynxx saw about a year ago.
Shortly after I put an 18" bar & chain on it & it is now my go to saw for anything around the house or barn.
It goes with me on the tractor and as the third back up in the woods.

Mine was $149 with the coupon and you can usually get one here. Harbor Freight Tools Coupon Database - Free coupons, 25 percent off coupons, 20 percent off coupons, No Purchase Required coupons, toolbox coupons