Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[California]

I think I've decided that those blue puck lights are more of a ' do ' than a ' don't '. They don't seem to last very long either in use or in storage.

I don't recall any that failed aside from eventual battery corrosion on the original battery. (several).

 

[5030]

I think I've decided that those blue puck lights are more of a ' do ' than a ' don't '. They don't seem to last very long either in use or in storage.

Most likely the cheapo Chineseum batteries they put inside. We remove them and replace them with something of better quality.

 

[5030]

I will add that we have bought the 'Thunderbolt' batteries in the past and they are basically worthless.

 

[California]

I will add that we have bought the 'Thunderbolt' batteries in the past and they are basically worthless.

The yellow ones? "for low drain devices". I'm just now using up the last of the pre-covid (2019) free ones, in computer mice. They aren't good for anything else.

I had one free batch that was all DOA. Old stock?

 

[Wakey]

They had their parking lot sale this past weekend. I picked up a creeper, a 5 drawer US General tool box, another set of 3 ton jack stands, and not on sale full set of Icon combo wrenches in both versions. I wanted to get the ratcheting type but those sets were missing a few wrenches that the old school sets had.

I was surprised to learn this company is privately held. I guess it shouldn’t be surprising like with Chick-fil-A.

 

[daugen]

the greatest oxymoron is calling cheap batteries Heavy Duty. As soon as you see that term, you know it's exactly
the opposite.

my el cheapo 80 dollar HF pressure washer fired up again, immediately and did great job cleaning my barbecue grates.
Not very powerful, but most stuff doesn't need power, needs cleaner. I don't have big farm machinery any more so no need for 4000 psi.
Those powerful pressure washers are death on decals anyway. I don't mind if they blow off the giant safety ones that no one reads anyway.

 

[Oaktree]

Most likely the cheapo Chineseum batteries they put inside. We remove them and replace them with something of better quality.

Actually, I've been surprised by how long those Chinese batteries last (not just HF, but the ones that come with remotes, etc. in general). I've gotten more life out of them than some name brand batteries.

I will add that we have bought the 'Thunderbolt' batteries in the past and they are basically worthless.

Are you referring to their low-end alkalines or the "heavy duty" batteries? Again, I've had better luck with the Thunderbolt alkalines than some name brand (Rayovac comes to mind). LED flashlights, remotes, etc. they seem to last as long as anything. Not sure I'd want to use them in something higher drain like a camera or a labeler though.
Agree that the "heavy duty" ones aren't good for much.

 

[stuckmotor]

the greatest oxymoron is calling cheap batteries Heavy Duty. As soon as you see that term, you know it's exactly
the opposite.

my el cheapo 80 dollar HF pressure washer fired up again, immediately and did great job cleaning my barbecue grates.
Not very powerful, but most stuff doesn't need power, needs cleaner. I don't have big farm machinery any more so no need for 4000 psi.
Those powerful pressure washers are death on decals anyway. I don't mind if they blow off the giant safety ones that no one reads anyway.

An elcheapo pressure washer is the reason my pickup ony has a decal on one side.

 

[Root Cause]

I ran HD energizer AA batteries and HF (best brand, $5 for 24 when on sale) in my trail cameras and they both lasted about the same amount of time, 6 months. That isn't a perfect experiment as one camera may have taken more pictures. But the price difference is a no-brainer for me. I have never tried their cheap batteries so I can't comment on them.

 

[5030]

Battery life on HF batteries depends entirely on how much time they spend in the overseas container in transit from China to here. Lately, it's been a loooooong time.