Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[prichard]

Just a hunch but I think Ridgid power tools from Home Depot may have the same internals as Home Depot's house brand, Ryobi.

I have all Ryobi tools. Bought years ago when I didn't have much money and the were cheap. Slowly upgraded to lithium. To me they are the best bang for the buck. Years of use and abuse and still going strong. Only thing I got that didn't work well was the circular saw from the original kit but my FIL has a newer one that he says is great.

If I were to go a different route id go with the rigid for the warranty. All my corded Rigid tools have held up well.

 

[tjkubota93]

Just a hunch but I think Ridgid power tools from Home Depot may have the same internals as Home Depot's house brand, Ryobi.

Ridgid power tool are made by emerson

 

[California]

Re pole saws, I had the first critical need for one yesterday. A guest pointed out I had oak limbs chafing on the power drop cable to the ranch house, same as what started the disastrous Camp fire.

I got out the $10 thrift store Remington electric pole saw, put its cobbled-together battery pack (adapted from my Ryobi gear) in my carpenter nailbag, and went up an 11 ft orchard ladder.

This got me high enough to cut the oak branches, first beyond the electric cable so all the fluffy stuff fell away, then another cut nearer the trunk so the conflicting limb fell free of the cable. I cut four different conflicting limbs in this manner. Photo of my jury-rigged pole saw and my post describing it.

After using this I'm half tempted to go buy the Lynx version to have a competent tool.

 

[bcp]

For the Ridgid power tool and battery warranty, you have to submit paperwork. When I sent in the paperwork for the warranty, they rejected it, unless I resubmitted it with a part of the original box. This wasn't mentioned in the instructions. I suspect many people will have thrown away the box, and HD knows this.

Bruce

 

[tjkubota93]

For the Ridgid power tool and battery warranty, you have to submit paperwork. When I sent in the paperwork for the warranty, they rejected it, unless I resubmitted it with a part of the original box. This wasn't mentioned in the instructions. I suspect many people will have thrown away the box, and HD knows this.

Bruce

I think alot of things from HD end up getting stolen and sold on ebay somehow. They probably dont like warranty claims on stolen stuff.

 

[Hiptfarms]

I had problems with them accepting my Ridgid warranty info too. Frankly I'm a bit fed up with Home Depot anyway. I'd rather give my money to Lowes or the local, slightly higher priced lumber yard.

For lithium ion tools I use Bosch and Makita. IMO, Bosch is far superior to the others on the market. I've put hours upon hours on my Bosch tools and they keep on ticking. Plus I like having a slim battery pack option for extended overhead installations. I always tell my Dewalt loving friends - quit running yellow - go big blue!

I haven't bought any other battery operated tools from HF besides a dremel type tool. I used it to slowly cut a groove into my pot bellied pig's tusks so i could trim them off. He wouldn't stand for me to use the tool for more than about 20 seconds at a time. I think the vibration aggravated him.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I have the dewalt 20v drill and impact set. I am a bit leery of ridgid tools. I had a ridgid shop vac, it died very early, I was never able to get it repaired. I would rather have the replacement warranty that hf has.

I've got several of the Ridgid 18V tools;

3/8" Drill
3/8" Impact Driver
Reciprocating saw
Compact router
Portable radio
Shop blower

I'm probably forgetting 1 or 2.

Some were purchased with batteries / chargers some were bare tool. I found a great price a couple of years ago and got two of the 4.0 aH batteries for $60. So I've got two x 4.0 aH and three x 2.0 aH batteries and three chargers.

I'm totally happy with all my Rigid tools, especially with their lifetime warranties.

I've also got a Ridgid oscillating belt / spindle sander that is used often for woodworking.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-Oscillating-Edge-Belt-Spindle-Sander-EB4424/100061671

I think my very first Ridgid tool was their 15" Drill press.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-15-in-Drill-Press-with-LED-R1500/205653862

I built a woodworking table for it similar to this.

 

[PhysAssist]

I don't know about you but I've switched to the mayo in the squeeze bottles. The days of sticking a knife into a jar are over for me. :laughing:

We buy it cheap at Aldi's, and we use spatulas/spreaders to dispense it, nothing so plebeian as a knife- although I do love my plastic "Mayo-knife".

 

[PhysAssist]

My problems run deep.View attachment 576554View attachment 576555View attachment 576556

I frankly don't see any problems there, what I see are solutions waiting for the problems they're needed to fix.

 

[PhysAssist]

But honestly, i have a mental problem that tells me that i must stock many of everything. I can't buy less than 3 of an item that is a consumable. Sometimes 6. I can't control it. I'd the stores run out of what you need during the zombie apocalypse, it's okay. I've likely got 10.View attachment 576559View attachment 576560View attachment 576561View attachment 576562View attachment 576563View attachment 576564

One question, did your parents grow up during the depression like mine did?

'Cause if so, we have a lot of other things in common.

 

[PhysAssist]

Something I almost forgot was the HF air chisel, although they call it an air hammer. Whatever, I've only used mine now and then but when I do it solves a problem and works perfectly. It is surprisingly powerful and effective. Everyone should have one. And for $10 on "sale" what a deal.

Air Impact Hammer Kit

Thanks for the reccy, I've been on the fence about whether to get one or not...

Does it come with any chisels, or do you have to buy some separately?

 

[PhysAssist]

I actually did that about 20 years ago. I got a bunch of the free moving blankets - along with a couple I had to buy - and with the grommet installation set made a bunch of hanging sound absorption blankets for my home recording studio. Way cheaper than acoustic foam, and worked great.

Hi Peej,

The new blankets are a major step up in quality from the old ones- heavier/thicker, and better made overall.

 

[PhysAssist]

Umm, valid argument?

It will make many of us jealous. Then we will go buy a 72", our spouses will get angry, divorces will ensue and the economy will collapse.

Hehehehehehehehheehehee

 

[stuckmotor]

I think alot of things from HD end up getting stolen and sold on ebay somehow. They probably dont like warranty claims on stolen stuff.

All this time I thought this was just another way to dodge the warranty.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Thanks for the reccy, I've been on the fence about whether to get one or not...

Does it come with any chisels, or do you have to buy some separately?

I looked at this sometime ago and it comes with a single flat chisel as shown.

Air Impact Hammer Kit

The store didn't have the extra chisels at that time.

4 in. Short Air Chisel Set 4 Pc

I ended up buying one at Lowe's that came with 4 different chisels. I think it was on sale for about $25.

 

[PJSprog]

Hi Peej,

The new blankets are a major step up in quality from the old ones- heavier/thicker, and better made overall.

Agreed, PA. I've bought a couple in the last few years that we actually used as moving blankets. They are definitely much better quality. The old ones would tear if you gave them a stern look. They served their purpose for me, though.

These days, I can afford acoustic foam.

 

[Oaktree]

I think alot of things from HD end up getting stolen and sold on ebay somehow. They probably dont like warranty claims on stolen stuff.

All this time I thought this was just another way to dodge the warranty.

That was my thought as well...make it enough of a hassle that only the most determined will take advantage of it, much like mail-in rebates used to be 20 years ago. I mean, really, who saves the box a tool comes in?

When somebody offers me free money, I take it.

Again, sometimes it's more hassle than it's worth. I don't save every receipt for every sundry item I buy.

 

[California]

Something new! A lefthanded chainsaw !

 

[Rock Crawler]

I returned the Hercules 20 volt drill that I bought the other day and exchanged it for the hammer drill this time. like all items that require electrons and come from Harbor Freight I do the 2-year warranty. The interesting thing about the 2-year warranty is that if you set a reminder in your phone for a few weeks before it's up you can take the item in to Harbor Freight and tell them that there's something wrong with it and replace it and they will and they will offer you the two year warranty again for $18. The other advantage to the harbor freight warranty method is that you walk into the store with said bro control and walk out with said brand new tool. there is no calling for rma's, there is no shipping things and waiting 6 weeks or 6 months for it to come back. you simply walk into the store look at the person at the counter who you know pretty well because you go there often enough, and you walk out with a new item in your hand in your happy. this way I'm a happy customer and I keep spending for $5,000 a year there, and they're happy business because they have a customer that keeps coming back.

 

[Diggin It]

The interesting thing about the 2-year warranty is that if you set a reminder in your phone for a few weeks before it's up you can take the item in to Harbor Freight and tell them that there's something wrong with it and replace it and they will and they will offer you the two year warranty again for $18.

That I would never do. I consider much of their stuff to be throwaway. I get a couple of years use, toss it and go buy another. I would not defraud them. That's why prices are higher than they need to be in so many places.

Not too long ago, I had the third of three Ryobi batteries fail just after the three year warranty expired. I called them to check on options, explained what happened, provided the proof of purchase and they offered to replace it under warranty knowing it was expired.