Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Oaktree]

Keep in mind, I bought the Lynxx chainsaw and they have dropped it.
Now I can't even buy another battery for it. NOTHING else fits it.
After the 4th charge today, it made 2 cuts before it quit on me.
Don't expect it to last much longer.

Did you ask someone at the store if they had any "out back"? I'd bought the Lynx chainsaw and polesaw maybe 6 months before they were discontinued...figured it would be a good idea to have an extra battery. Store nearest me had maybe a dozen in the back room. This was maybe 18 mo. ago.

I can't remember if it's been discussed, but their assortments are handy to have on hand. Roll pins, cotter pins, key stock, springs, O-rings, etc.

I'd avoid the hose clamp assortment though. Good to have for an emergency, but they don't stand up very well.

 

[Oaktree]

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.

Same could be said for anyone else's batteries too. They all come from the same place these days.

 

[5030]

Same could be said for anyone else's batteries too. They all come from the same place these days.

Not sure of that. I believe Johnson Controls makes some brands here in the states. Could be wrong however.

 

[Root Cause]

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.

It sounds like an opinion to discredit HF or my comments and not based on facts.

Energizer claims a ten-year shelf life and has manufacturing facilities in the US, Indonesia, Singapore, and China.

If HF's shelf life is 1/2 as good, then paying 75% less is still an excellent deal, and for all I know, both brands are in the same boat. I have no insight into what gets made where and am surprised if others do either.

I can only restate that they seem to last just as long in the same environment and with the same equipment.

 

[5030]

Well, I bought a card of button cells at HF and about half of them were weak. Just speaking from experience and I've always been a HF junkie. Have the ITC card and the HF credit card as well. I'd say about 50% of my tools are HF upper tier brands and my toolbox is US general too. You cannot find PBlaster anywhere less expensive than HF btw.

 

[5030]

Transit times on dry cell batteries is everything, just like flooded cell batteries languishing on the store shelf, waiting for you to purchase them. Once the battery is made, it begins it's useful life so the longer it takes for it to go from manufacture to your hot little hands is all part of it's lifespan. Longer transit times equals shorter lifespan.

 

[Root Cause]

Well, I bought a card of button cells at HF and about half of them were weak. Just speaking from experience and I've always been a HF junkie. Have the ITC card and the HF credit card as well. I'd say about 50% of my tools are HF upper tier brands and my toolbox is US general too. You cannot find PBlaster anywhere less expensive than HF btw.

Good to know. I will avoid those.

Transit times on dry cell batteries is everything, just like flooded cell batteries languishing on the store shelf, waiting for you to purchase them.

Not if it has a shelf life of years when it gets to the store in months. And you are still interjecting opinions without any knowledge, facts, or comparisons.

Please continue discussing other batteries, but I have nothing else to offer. This thread is about HF's good products and I was giving a review on my experience with their high-end AA batteries. Best wishes

 

[PJSprog]

... another set of 3 ton jack stands, ...

Keep an eye on those.

I bought a set of their jack stands a few years ago. One day I noticed that they were on a recall notice for slipping out of the latch. Took them back and swapped for the replacements. About a month later, those were recalled for the same issue.

I no longer own any jack stands from HF.

 

[rehkram]

I shop HF a lot. Some of the top picks for me have been:

Daytona 3 ton jack, in 'sunburst sparkle orange'!
Bauer portable bandsaw, mounted it with the SWAGoffroad table, plate only, in a bench top cutout.
Welding helmet. It's worth paying more for the higher end Vulcans, the difference is night and day. I went for the go-faster flamed one, despite being 'old-school'.
Pittsburgh 225 piece mechanics tool kit, I got it for $99 IIRC, it's $150 at present.
2" semi trash pump and hoses. I set everything up with gator lock couplings.

 

[Wakey]

Keep an eye on those.

I bought a set of their jack stands a few years ago. One day I noticed that they were on a recall notice for slipping out of the latch. Took them back and swapped for the replacements. About a month later, those were recalled for the same issue.

I no longer own any jack stands from HF.

The new version has a triangular key that serves as a safety lock. I'm completely comfortable with them

 

[5030]

Keep an eye on those.

I bought a set of their jack stands a few years ago. One day I noticed that they were on a recall notice for slipping out of the latch. Took them back and swapped for the replacements. About a month later, those were recalled for the same issue.

I no longer own any jack stands from HF.

Took my angle grinder to mine and cleaned up the teeth a bit and called it good.

 

[Oaktree]

Well, I bought a card of button cells at HF and about half of them were weak. Just speaking from experience and I've always been a HF junkie.

That's been my experience too. Not just HF, but most "bargain" button cells. Name brands only for me on those.

 

[daugen]

we had a well loved TBN member in Texas get squished under his bush hog when the hoist failed, hydraulics let loose, something
I always wonder if he had used jack stands, and if so, what size and brand?

I think avoid any of the two ton ones, I'd start at 3 if height is not an issue.
always good to have belt and suspenders, no single point of failure.

the US made jack stands are marvelous. I keep asking myself, should I just spend a hundred bucks on a pair of these and be done with it?
All my farm stuff was sold, now starting over on very small scale. I bought these, but there is a HF equivalent I'm sure.
6 tons for 30 bucks apiece. That seemed like a good deal to me, Torin has been around a while. But all from same area I'm sure HF products like this come from.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00026Z3DQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Good jack stands improperly used probably no better than cheap jack stand improperly used...like using them on dirt or sand or slopes

 

[LouNY]

You don't see many of them now but we used to make many of our stands. They were quite stable on dirt work areas.
Take two old steel car or truck rims, lay one down flat on the ground, take the second one and stand it on edge sitting in the first one.
Weld the rims together were they touched and add a few pieces of scrap to make a brace or two rim to rim. When that upright rim gets put under an axle or frame it will hold better then any "factory" stand.
They worked very well in sand and dirt because of the width of the bottom rim on the ground.

 

[jjeff]

You don't see many of them now but we used to make many of our stands. They were quite stable on dirt work areas.
Take two old steel car or truck rims, lay one down flat on the ground, take the second one and stand it on edge sitting in the first one.
Weld the rims together were they touched and add a few pieces of scrap to make a brace or two rim to rim. When that upright rim gets put under an axle or frame it will hold better then any "factory" stand.
They worked very well in sand and dirt because of the width of the bottom rim on the ground.

I've seen that more recently at a few u-pick salvage yards.

 

[PJSprog]

I've seen that more recently at a few u-pick salvage yards.

Yup, that's what our local u-pick uses.

 

[sd455dan]

edit removed post,
Duracell used to make the coppertop batteries in USA looks like they offshored production like the rest

 

[California]

Last chance!

The excellent 8.5" pruning shears are now Closeout. $12.

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

These are an exact copy of the best pruners ever, Felco #2 (or #4). Felco's patents must have expired.
$91 in this listing or $59 and up, on Amazon.

Felco® #4 Pruning Shear - 8-1/2"

Felco® #4 Pruning Shear - 8-1/2". Model number 4.

www.tractorpartsasap.com

I inherited a Felco #2, 20 years ago. Dad must have bought it at a yard sale because he wouldn't have needed a pro tool like that. I've since bought two of HF's clones and they are just as good as the Felco, I can't tell the difference.

Get one before they're gone! Surely HF's replacement will be double the price.

 

[5030]

No point in me buying them because like you, I have a pair of Felco's actually 2 pair of them so no need for more as I only have 2 hands....lol I inherited mine as well from my wife's dad. Have the Felco bypass pruners too but I bought them on sale at the local Menards. The ones with the TIN coated stationary blade.

 

[Wakey]

Last chance!

The excellent 8.5" pruning shears are now Closeout. $12.

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

These are an exact copy of the best pruners ever, Felco #2 (or #4). Felco's patents must have expired.
$91 in this listing or $59 and up, on Amazon.

Felco® #4 Pruning Shear - 8-1/2"

Felco® #4 Pruning Shear - 8-1/2". Model number 4.

www.tractorpartsasap.com

I inherited a Felco #2, 20 years ago. Dad must have bought it at a yard sale because he wouldn't have needed a pro tool like that. I've since bought two of HF's clones and they are just as good as the Felco, I can't tell the difference.

Get one before they're gone! Surely HF's replacement will be double the price.

Got 'em, thanks for the tip. I got one for each hand.