Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[prichard]

It's been a couple years but I got a Husky torque wrench in inch lbs fro Lowes on a sale for $40 or so $$. Works great. Remember to adjust back to zero before storing since it helps keep accuracy.

I checked, neither Lowes nor HD had any in stock. online order only and I wanted to get the car back together.

 

[hutchman]

Good strategy. I might get one of the old fashion dial type for that purpose.

I'm around a bunch of tool snobs but I'm cheap and don't have many high $$$ tools. Like California said, it is HF after all so I also 'trust but verify'. But in my experience, and I may be fortunate, the torque wrenches I have from HF have been in spec. and I have quite a few. From the little inch pound ones all the way up to the massive one they sell that does 300ft. lbs. (need that one for axle bolts). Still have several engines that I've had the head off of that are running fine that were done with HF torque wrenches.

 

[DFB]

Wel I got me one of them Harbor Frieght 1/2 torque wrenches today to use on a job at work. $9.99 with coupon

Any how I used it to final tighten to 80ft lbs each 96 9/16" UNF bolts and nut combos to mount up 48 new rototiller blades

Worked great and clicked off every time. How accurate obviously I really cant say but I initially set the bolts all tight with my Milwaukee right angle impact driver its supposed to make 60lbs and pretty much only took 3 to 4 partial swings with the wrench to reach the release point.

I'm cool with it! :confused2:





Oh and used the HF branded threadlocker too. (bought 2 of each )

 

[woodlandfarms]

So maybe I should have this in a different heading but Harbor Freight is now mastering Walmart Math. See, Walmart prices are not actually much better than other companies, and usually a bit higher. But they are genius at marketing. THe specialize in end caps, items so cheap that you end up in that aisle. And then you walk down the aisle and you see the next step up and you realize the cheap thing on the end that attracted you will never work but the object in the middle of the aisle does. Saddly you did not comparison shop and you probably could have found it cheaper somewhere else.

Anyway, what I am getting at is that I have been waiting for a sale on Welding Storage Cabinet. $169 is the low price right now, but the parking lot sale is coming up in two weeks and I am holding out. I check to see if I can use a 20% coupon and they clearly state anything in the 3 Day Sale list cannot be had with the 20% as well (I know, some of you guys get lucky on this but I have to hedge my bet and say I am not lucky, though I will try). So anyway, It will be 139 at the parking lot sale. $30 off, not bad. But then I have a curse where I can do math in my head and something isn't feeling right. So, 20% of $169 is $34. Huh? The "big" parking lot sale is actually more expensive than just buying the stupid thing with the 20% off coupon.

I am looking at all the math and there are some deals at the parking lot sale but just onf the fron page there is a 4K generator, and with a 20% coupong its only 271 not 289....

 

[Travelover]

So maybe I should have this in a different heading but Harbor Freight is now mastering Walmart Math. ..........

True on some items but the 20% coupons are not good on generators, tool cabinets, jacks and a laundry list of other items, these days.

 

[Mendonsy]

H-F has been doing "Walmart Math" for a long time.
Most of their "sale" prices are the same as their everyday prices. They just change the "list" prices to make the discount appear larger.
Some of their coupons are OK, but they are usually very limited.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Home Depot does something similar. They put a bright yellow tag on something with 'CLEARANCE' in all caps and put it somewhere else in the store. It's the same regular price on a regularly stocked item 5 isles down.

Really irks me. Just dishonest.

 

[dragoneggs]

chuckE2009 just posted this review of his HF tools that don't suck...

Harbor Freight Tools That Dont Suck! ChuckE29's Metalworking Top Choices! - YouTube

I have always enjoyed his videos.

 

[sixdogs]

H-F has been doing "Walmart Math" for a long time.
Most of their "sale" prices are the same as their everyday prices. They just change the "list" prices to make the discount appear larger.
Some of their coupons are OK, but they are usually very limited.

I've seen the same item with three different prices from three different sale or coupon approaches on the same day. The best price was using a 20% off coupon and buying off the shelf. You have to be careful at HF and while I'm not looking to nickel and dime to the lowest price I'm not looking to have my chain yanked either.

Every "sale" or sidewalk thing has at least something that is a good deal; you just have to store up desire until you see the item at an attractive price and know what that price should be. You have to be price educated these days. HF does have some great deals, you just have to patient and savvy.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Havent looked in awhile, but, it use to be those sales books you got in the mail would have one price for an item on the front cover, or at least close to the front, and another cheaper price for the same item closer to the back of the book but with a different item number. Exact same thing. As it is, most of their items still have multiple item numbers.