Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Iplayfarmer]

Whether from HF or from these traveling tool sales, I buy a lot of cheap Chinese tools.

HF does seem to be a little better, though.

-I'm on my second hammer drill, and when the one I have burns out I'll buy another from HF.
-I have a 6 gallon air compressor that has lasted me 6 years of regular use. I thought it died once, but after it cooled down it started right back to running again. Dad has it now and still uses it.
-I bought the cheapo router and built a few dressers, tables, and stools with it. I finally replaced it with a Porter cable, but I got every penny out of it three times over before I replaced it.
-I really like their 14 volt series of cordless tools. It seems like the best price/performance ratio. Anytime I buy one I buy at least one extra battery. They're cheap enough that I keep one drill with a drill bit in a keyed chuck and another with a screwdriver bit in a keyless chuck. That really speeds up assembly.
-I bought the HF wood lathe. It's definately nothing like what "Norm" has, but I have no plans to replace it in the near future.
-The tiedown straps work pretty well if you buy one level up from what you need. (I.e. if your hauling 500 lbs, get the 1000 lb. straps, etc.)
-Their blue tarps last at least as long as anyone else's blue tarp.
-I just got their self retracting hose reel with 25' of 3/8" hose, and that has been really nice to have. It actually seems pretty smooth and well built.
-I've cut a lot of holes in walls, etc. with the reciprocating saw.

-The best Purchase I've made by far to date has been the auto darkening welding helmet. I bought the cheapest one, and it has been

 

[Bird]

Whether from HF or from these traveling tool sales, I buy a lot of cheap Chinese tools.

HF does seem to be a little better, though.

My experience has been that Harbor Freight isn't a "little" better; it's a whole lot better. At least I've gotten a good bit of use from everything from Harbor Freight, while some of the stuff I got from the Homier traveling side show broke the first time they were used, but I did get a few things that also lasted from Homier.

 

[firemanpat2910]

and you dont have to wait 3 months for HF to come back to town. Those traveling gypsies might not ever be back!! As for things I buy there, Gloves, knee pads, ear pluge, safety glasses, cheap wrench sets, Allen wrenches( Nobody makes a decent allen wrench) I laugh evertime I look at the pin punch sets, you can actualy take the 2 or 3 smallest ones and bend them like rubber with your fingers. welding supplies sandstones, and such. chains, binders, ratchet straps, but to be fair the last 3 and the safety glasses I buy everywhere with no reason, I must have an addiction.

 

[patrick_g]

I did the same thing, it is a 70# hammer that i use out of the bucket. does get heavy after a while

I been thinking of building a funnel entry for the cup so I can put the breaker/post driver onto a started T-post without getting out of the cab of the tractor. Then with a remote switch in the electric supply I can turn it off and on from the cab and lower it with the FEL. The idea would be to start a bunch of posts enough so they don't fall over and then use the breaker and tractor to drive them.

Pat

 

[okie350]

I been thinking of building a funnel entry for the cup so I can put the breaker/post driver onto a started T-post without getting out of the cab of the tractor. Then with a remote switch in the electric supply I can turn it off and on from the cab and lower it with the FEL. The idea would be to start a bunch of posts enough so they don't fall over and then use the breaker and tractor to drive them.

Pat

Most of the time I push them in with the loader, but when i hit rock it is usally in the ground far enough to hold it up while it hammers the post through the rock, works pretty good MOSTof the time. I just got done putting in about 440 posts, time for a break from fencing for awhile. besides its been colder than a dead eskimo around here lately

 

[patrick_g]

Most of the time I push them in with the loader, but when i hit rock it is usally in the ground far enough to hold it up while it hammers the post through the rock, works pretty good MOSTof the time. I just got done putting in about 440 posts, time for a break from fencing for awhile. besides its been colder than a dead eskimo around here lately

Right again! My favorite T-post driver is the FEL followed by a spring loaded manual driver... B U T...when it is dry and the ground is hard I can raise the front of the tractor up and NOT drive the post enough (even if by some miracle I don't bend the post). In these conditions the manual driver will sort of work if you don't kill yourself using it as progress is sooooooo sloooooow. Hence my HF breaker hammer purchase/modification. Sure wouldn't want to use that puppy for every post as it starts out heavy and gets lots heavier real fast!

I just got it recently (on sale, been waiting) and have only used it as a test but expect to get some use out of it real soon as well as using it for its intended purpose (imagine that!)

Oh, about HF tools in general. They are rarely top of the line in fit, finish, or function but if they meet your needs they can be a terrific economic bargain. Caveat emptor applies and you do need to exercise some judgment as they do have items that are not suitable for much of anything and would not be a good buy if they paid you to take them.

As far as some die hard buy American feelings go, few tool lines are actually fully American built. The cash flow we are pouring into China is driving them toward free enterprise capitalism if not democracy.

If enough of their economy is built on exporting to the western nations then it is unlikely that it would be in their best interests to go to war with the west/US and they will actually expend political capital in order to protect monetary capital so they will become a stabilizing force of influence on the likes of Iran and other third world powers who unchecked are a destabilizing force.

Meanwhile, I can afford lots more toys if I don't have to buy the top of the line all the time but can pick and choose what level of perfection I need for my purposes. I know the difference and I have some Milwaukee power tools, DeWalts, Craftsmans, Black and Decker, and so forth but find HF a great budget stretcher for those things I think are going to deliver a good performance for their price.

Pat

 

[TimC]

I bought a tubing notcher there, it was as good as the name brand one I have used at a friend's shop. Do NOT however buy the bi-metal hole saw bits for said Tube notcher there. Buy good hole saws elsewhere. Trust me.

I also buy things like 5lb sledge hammers there. How can you screw up a hunk of steel on the end of a stick?

I also have the manual tire changer. It has mounted 4 sets of 35-37" offroad tires for me and my friends.

Overall, I try and stick to things without moving parts.

The WORST thing I ever bought there was the Garden Tractor Cart/Trailer. We filled it up with dirt to level with the top of the box and it self destructed in the middle of our patio... And we had to clean up/finish the job with the old fasioned wheel barrow. I have since gotten a FEL, and I will build my next garden trailer to be MUCH more robust than that one. Still, it wasn't nearly worth the $75 it cost on Sale.

 

[California]

I went looking for the 'Garden Way' replica carts HF used to sell, and they said they no longer sell them because they all came back on warranty.
So I bought one mail order from Homier. View attachment 94379 How can you go wrong for $29.99 + shipping?

Well lots of ways. The turkey weighs 61 lbs and the first one had busted all out of its flimsy cardboard wrapper. There were no fasteners to assemble it, no wheel bearings, and all the corners were banged so bad nothing would have aligned anyway. I asked Homier for a small-parts kit and they sent a whole new order (Thanks Homier!) which went together ok but the dog is so heavy I can hardly drag it around on the disced, sloping ground in the orchard. I bought it to deliver long runs of garden hose down to newly planted trees but that's no easier than just dragging the hoses on the ground. Not Recommended.

 

[john_bud]

Does anyone who depends on tools everyday all day long shop at Harbor Freight?

jmf

Sure do! You see there are "MY TOOLS!" and then there are the tools that I lend out. Guess which is which?

jb

 

[kossetx]

I bought a 4.5 angle grinder from homier. I figured if I used it once it would pay for itself. It caught on fire the first time I used it. Not smoking, flames.

HF on the other hand isn't bad. The 3/4 socket sets are well worth the money.

 

[IMCA38]

Here is my list of good HF tools.

Metal band saw- I'm not saying its as good as a high dollar commercial unit, but for the money t does a nice job. I much prefer using it to my chop saw. One day though, I do hope to make a decent stand for it.

1/4 3/8 1/2 SAE socket set package- I got this probably over 20 years ago. Has worked great. My only real gripe was that the metal box for the 1/4 set was too small and was impossible to get everything back into it. I did eventually buy a nice Craftsman set, but these sets went in the race car trailer and served us well at the track every week.

Air riveter- What a great tool this is! Having a race car, these things pay for themselves just in the time and fatigue they save.

Step drill bits- In some regards, nicer than the Irwins since they have a hex shaft.

4 ton porta power- I'm on my second one. I killed the first, but the miracle is that I didn't kill it sooner. I totally tortured that thing and it performed well beyond my expectations. Finally blew a seal, so I got a new one.

C clamp locking pliers- I have some of the Vise Grip ones, but I hate to use them for welding in case I get too close and weld them to my work or something like that. These are cheap enough that I don't care if that happens.

Car dollys- I use these on my race car, work great.

3 pack detail brushes, tape measures, halogen bulbs, welding magnets etc.- I buy these any time they're on sale, just like supplies, can never have too many.

 

[Ken_CT]

I went to a woodworking show a couple of weeks ago in Springfield MA, and drove past a HF store. Stopped in on the way back and was like a kid in a candy shop. I have purchased a number of their tool in the past by catalog, with full knowledge of what to expect. I usually will order things that are a couple of bucks, but I bought the abrasive chop saw, which I am happy with. Not a Milwaukee, but not the price either. If there is a tool I have an occasional use for, I have no problem buying HF. I feel if I wear it out, then I use it enough to justify buying the best I can get to replace it. I bought a few of the neon 6 in 1 screwdrivers for $1 each so there will be one anywhere needed, and they are pretty good. One item I was very impressed with is the mig welding cart. It looked just as well built as the name brand ones, and for $39. I found you can get some real bargains there as well as some real junk.

 

[twigpig]

I really like my orange HF battery grease gun. I had to use a pump grease gun when I was a kid way more than any person should in a lifetime so anything that can help greasing is good. So far it is holding up well with good pressure. I think the batteries for these are better than their 12 volt cordless drills HF sells. I put a Lincoln tip on it after I ruined the stock one on a broken zerk. I bought the HF pneumatic grease gun several years ago but it wasn't worth a crap so I returned it.

I used the 4 1/2 inch grinder with a diamond blade to help cut the granite I installed in the kitchen and bathrooms and fireplace hearth on the house I built. Still going strong. I am proud of the way the granite turned out.

I also used the 7 inch polisher to shape and polish bullnose and top polish joints on the granite. It is also still going strong. I used diamond polishing pads from a stone working supply store.

The 10 inch "Industrial" tile saw impressed me. I put a lot of tile in the new house on the diagonal which means a lot of tile cutting. It worked great for me and is still in good shape. I don't think it would hold up for a professional tiler since the pivot points do not have bushings or bearings but there is no slop in them on mine yet. I also notice the price keeps coming down on them.

I liked the two sets of impact sockets and plier set.

The thumb ratchets were a waste of metal. The battery charger I bought 5 or so years ago didn't do very well either. The bench chainsaw sharpener/grinder is marginal. If they had spent another dollar or two on the clamping system to hold the chain in better it would have been great.

 

[Travelover]

10 Things I Wouldn't Buy from Harbor Freight:

1) Parachutes
2) Fire Extinguishers
3) Pacemakers
4) Vaccines
5) Birth control devices
6) Elevators
7) Bullet proof vests
8) Trigger locks
9) Pitons
10) Scuba Gear

I'm sure there are more - these just off the top of my head in a light hearted moment.

 

[dfkrug]

I just bought and tried the HF top-of-the-line auto-dark welding helmet.
Great tool! On sale for $70 and SOOO much better than the generic
auto-dark helmet I bought years ago, before they were commonly
available. I got the skull and not the eagle I wanted, but oh well....
It is comfortable and has a huge window.

 

[wedge40]

I just took a trip up to Harbor Freight cause I wanted to get a couple of the HVPL spayers they have on sale. As usually I picked up a few other things and managed to get out the door for around $100.00. Didn't pay much attention to the bill and really didn't do much calculating in my head. But when I got home I looked that bill and he had charged me $39.99 (the original price for one) for three sprayers. Unless they are using some sort of new math the price should have been $44.97.
People here have been saying how great these things are.. I can't wait for the warm weather so I can give it shot.

Wedge

 

[plastikosmd]

harbor freight liftgate 200 bucks..lifting 600lb oven..came in handy, house jack is just to stabalize when i drag it onto the truck

 

[dfkrug]

PLASTI:
How does that lift work? Prob not hydraulic, yes?
You are the first I have heard from who bought one of those. Glad it
worked out.

 

[plastikosmd]

nope, there is a winch built in, works via cable. controlled with a cord/hand control. dont have to remove the tailgate to use it, folds up after you fold the tailgate. handy for the right situation.

 

[wedge40]

harbor freight liftgate 200 bucks..lifting 600lb oven..came in handy, house jack is just to stabalize when i drag it onto the truck

I'd like a large pepperoni and mushroom please.
Sorry couldn't resist.

How is that attached to the truck. I'm thinking it hooks the hitch?

Wedge