Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Rock Crawler]

Oops. Forgot the screen shot.

All Gen5X.

 

[stuckmotor]

I have a saw that my dad got back in the mid 80's (back when they paid the shipping on all orders over $50, even if the motor freight bill was more than the tool) and it's still working fine. Granted, this is at least 20 years older than yours, and there have probably been several rounds of "cost streamlining" in the interim which affected quality.

Thanks for the response. You and your dad have really gotten his money out of that saw. When I put the replacement motor on my saw I got one with thermal overload protection. I think it cost over half of what I paid for the saw. So far so good.

 

[BoneStock]

I would not put Kobalt above HF.

A buddy of mine had a slew of their hand tools, and I have a couple air impacts, they aren’t too bad. I can’t speak for their cordless tools or tool quality today.
Is Lowe’s ´ even going to carry Kobalt anymore?

The last two Lowe’s I’ve been to, have been Craftsman everything once the Sears collapse.

 

[Diggin It]

^^ Dunno. I don't really buy tools there at all. I bought one Kobalt item I won't even mention. It was dismal. I later mentioned it to an employee there. They agreed, saying they didn't even buy them they were so bad.

But this is an HF thread, right?

 

[4570Man]

I’ve had some Kobalt stuff that wasn’t awful but I didn’t think it was any better and definitely more expensive than HF. I don’t usually buy cheap tools but I find the HF sockets and ratchets to be pretty good. The carrying case for the wrenches and sockets are awful and that’s my biggest complaint. I’m not a huge fan of the wrenches but I think they’re decent quality. I’ve been really impressed with the Doyle brand HF pliers. They’re far better the the new Channel lock brand which has went to garbage. I personally believe the Doyle brand to be Klein seconds. If I want quality pliers I’m buying Klein or Knipex. If I want budget priced it’s Doyle brand. It would take a lot to change my opinion on that. I’ll never buy a new pair of Channel-lock brand again. I’ve been burned twice in a row by them.

 

[Kernopelli]

I致e had some Kobalt stuff that wasn稚 awful but I didn稚 think it was any better and definitely more expensive than HF. I don稚 usually buy cheap tools but I find the HF sockets and ratchets to be pretty good. The carrying case for the wrenches and sockets are awful and that痴 my biggest complaint. I知 not a huge fan of the wrenches but I think they?*e decent quality. I致e been really impressed with the Doyle brand HF pliers. They?*e far better the the new Channel lock brand which has went to garbage. I personally believe the Doyle brand to be Klein seconds. If I want quality pliers I知 buying Klein or Knipex. If I want budget priced it痴 Doyle brand. It would take a lot to change my opinion on that. I値l never buy a new pair of Channel-lock brand again. I致e been burned twice in a row by them.

I have a couple of Kobalt socket/ratchet sets and while they are OK, I have to say it seems to me that the "new" Craftsman, Kobalt, and HF are about the same quality. What is NOW a defining concern is (for me ) , who is the easiest supplier to exchange broken tools.....Craftsman has become difficult, Lowes ( on Kobalt) has been much better but my local HF is completely hassle free.

I will second this opinion on Klein and Knipex. I first learned about Klein 35 yrs ago from my FIL, and later we used Klein tools at work- they are exceptional. On the advice from my son, the last few pairs of "good" pliers I've bought have been Knipex. I feel they are close in quality and a little less expensive than Klein.

For "cheap" pliers, I have been buying Irwin/Vice-Grip. The last tap/die sets, drill bits, pliers and hand saws ("Irwin/ Marples") I've bought have been Irwin brands. With the exception of the saws, they seem to still be decent quality. I have seen the Doyles at HF and will check them out!

As far as Channel Lock, when you feel you need to start including a bottle opener in your tool sets to sell them..... well it speaks for itself. https://www.lowes.com/pd/CHANNELLOC...y4Mcd0KEZIZiM-ROH3V-THnwhKhvOHQxoCcjMQAvD_BwE

 

[Diggin It]

The worst #2 Phillips I ever had was/is a Klein. I got a couple of free ones included with flat packed furniture that were/are better than the Klein.

 

[aczlan]

The worst #2 Phillips I ever had was/is a Klein. I got a couple of free ones included with flat packed furniture that were/are better than the Klein.

Not really Harbor Freight related, but the only Phillips bits I will buy are the DeWalt "Tough Grip" bits. They seem to strip out Phillips head screws much less than any other bit that I have tried: https://www.amazon.com/DeWalt-15-Pack-Phillips-Screwdriver-DWA1PH2-15L/dp/B07JPJMLTG/

Aaron Z

 

[Rock Crawler]

They look like they might be copying the Snap On design that started back in the late 80's where the drive faces have raised ridges that bite into the screw and prevent the bit from being shoved out of the screw under pressure.

 

[rbstern]

Well.... I'll be dipped in spit.

According to the Q and A section each and every tool is the newest Gen5X series brushless. Seems to cheap to be possible. Black Friday is amazing. For a couple hundred bucks I'm getting just about all I want and need in cordless stuff. I'll order a battery kit with 2 or 4 4 amp hour batteries and a charger later on if I decide that the 2 that come with kit are not sufficient. I should be good to go until I die I suppose.

Techtronic, the parent company for Ryobi and Milwaukee and contract mfr for Ridgid brand, sell Ryobi and Ridgid refurbs and blems here:

Direct Tools | Factory Blemished and Reconditioned Ryobi Power Tools, RIDGID Power Tools, STOK Grills, ... |

I've ordered a few items from the web site. Generally good. Sometimes the items are in poorer condition than expected, but the customer service is responsive and they quickly make it right.

 

[ronjhall]

Not really Harbor Freight related, but the only Phillips bits I will buy are the DeWalt "Tough Grip" bits. They seem to strip out Phillips head screws much less than any other bit that I have tried: https://www.amazon.com/DeWalt-15-Pack-Phillips-Screwdriver-DWA1PH2-15L/dp/B07JPJMLTG/

Aaron Z

My go to #2 Phillips bits are Bosch. Found they were the best for SS screws that are used on boats.
I have tools from all manufactures. All have done the job that they were purchased for. Some of them are 30 years and older. Biggest failure are switches and batteries on power tools. Latest failure was a 6" HF polisher. But it held up for 25 waxings of my 35' Motorhome.
Here is a list of who makes/owns who.
Tool Brands: Who Owns What? A Guide to Corporate Affiliations

 

[rbstern]

Not really Harbor Freight related, but the only Phillips bits I will buy are the DeWalt "Tough Grip" bits.

Same here. Like those bits a lot. Long lasting, too.

 

[aczlan]

They look like they might be copying the Snap On design that started back in the late 80's where the drive faces have raised ridges that bite into the screw and prevent the bit from being shoved out of the screw under pressure.

That is part of it, but I think another large part of it is that the wings for the Phillips bit go all the way out to the outside of the shank rather than stopping short like most other bits do.
That means that it will bite all the way to the edge of a Phillips head screw versus only biting on the center 2/3 of the screw like most other bits do. If you put it next to a #3 Phillips bit, the wings stick out as much as #3 Phillips bit, but the center section is smaller.
The upside is that you are less likely to strip out the head of a Phillips screw.
The downside is that if you strip the head of a screw out there is no way to get it out short of drilling it out.

Aaron Z

 

[California]

Techtronic, the parent company for Ryobi and Milwaukee and contract mfr for Ridgid brand, sell Ryobi and Ridgid refurbs and blems here:

Direct Tools | Factory Blemished and Reconditioned Ryobi Power Tools, RIDGID Power Tools, STOK Grills, ... |

I've ordered a few items from the web site. Generally good. Sometimes the items are in poorer condition than expected, but the customer service is responsive and they quickly make it right.

That is a great find!!

I see the Ryobi ZRP825 kit for $45 as a 'Black Friday Special', Home Depot's price is $99. This is a Li-Ion battery, charger, 5.5" circular saw, and 1/2" drill/driver. Another special is four batteries for $80.

Through Sunday 11/25 only.

 

[Code54]

The 4 batteries on the special look like 1.5AH, right now Home Depot has the 4.0 AH 2 packs for $79 which is a little more bank for the buck if you are looking for some.

 

[California]

The 4 [Ryobi] batteries on the special look like 1.5AH, right now Home Depot has the 4.0 AH 2 packs for $79 which is a little more bank for the buck

Each type has its place. I like the lighter batteries for the jigsaw, string trimmer, pole saw, anything where I am continually lifting the tool. Power is fine and that's less tiring. It's simple to swap in another battery if I exhaust one. The heavier double size seem better where the tool will be run hard - chainsaw, circular saw - but in actual use I don't see much difference except longer run time.

Here's the hardest application I have encountered so far, clearing the haul path on this terrace cutting 10" and more Eucalyptus (very tough) with the 10" chainsaw. There were spots where I had to cut from both sides. I thought this would smoke the saw but its fine. As I noted above, I recently found a second saw motor so now I can be a little less cautious about running this saw hard. I might jump up to HF 40 volt gear if I smoke both these saws. Anything is better than maintaining fresh 2-cycle fuel for very intermittent use.

 

[Code54]

Looks like it did a good job! Been thinking of a Battery powered saw for on the SxS when we go riding. Normally I would need it for far less than you used one there and on softer wood!

 

[Oaktree]

Each type has its place. I like the lighter batteries for the jigsaw, string trimmer, pole saw, anything where I am continually lifting the tool. Power is fine and that's less tiring. It's simple to swap in another battery if I exhaust one. The heavier double size seem better where the tool will be run hard - chainsaw, circular saw - but in actual use I don't see much difference except longer run time.

I didn't realize that Ryobi made an 18v string trimmer. How do they stand up? Run time OK? Haven't heard good things about their 40v lineup. Got several other 18v ones, and they've served me well.

Was kicking around the idea of replacing my gas one with the Lynx 40v. As you mentioned, keeping fresh fuel for something I use maybe once a month in the summer is a PITA...most of my 2 stroke tools are relatively forgiving of stale fuel, but this one is very fussy.

 

[rbstern]

I didn't realize that Ryobi made an 18v string trimmer. How do they stand up? Run time OK? Haven't heard good things about their 40v lineup. Got several other 18v ones, and they've served me well.

Was kicking around the idea of replacing my gas one with the Lynx 40v. As you mentioned, keeping fresh fuel for something I use maybe once a month in the summer is a PITA...most of my 2 stroke tools are relatively forgiving of stale fuel, but this one is very fussy.

I say this as a huge ONE+ fan: The performance of the 18v string trimmer is poor. It really only handles very light growth (think minor grass around a garden edge). Anything heavier will bog it down. At least, that was my experience. Run time with 1.5ah battery was perfectly acceptable. I just couldn't cut anything meaningful with it. Makes a handy tool for light work in an already well groomed area.

 

[newbury]

On the subject of battery powered saws -
I bought a Black & Decker 40V 12" chainsaw (10.2 lbs) a few years ago. Very good for $120, I was able to frequently use it one handed for trimming limbs while I was up on a ladder. But I "lent" it to my daughter in Maryland.
So I'm down in Mississippi and needed a chainsaw to use while I was up a ladder. I bought the HF 40V 14" (13.35 lbs). It was like going from my Stihl 021 (35CC) to my JD CS 62 (62CC). Lot more power but also more weight. I really think the HF could easily handle a 16" bar whereas the B&D couldn't handle more than it's 12".

I didn't realize that Ryobi made an 18v string trimmer. How do they stand up? Run time OK? Haven't heard good things about their 40v lineup. Got several other 18v ones, and they've served me well.


Was kicking around the idea of replacing my gas one with the Lynx 40v. As you mentioned, keeping fresh fuel for something I use maybe once a month in the summer is a PITA...most of my 2 stroke tools are relatively forgiving of stale fuel, but this one is very fussy.

The Lynxx pole saw AND chainsaw are great tools, I've read poor reports about their sting trimmer.
I recently bought a DeWalt Flexvolt string trimmer, partially for the battery.