Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[lostcreekranch]

Thanks,I guess I'll try it.

I think you can get same ....... or better for less money.

https://www.amazon.com/hydraulic-crimper/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=i:aps,k:hydraulic crimper

 

[Jim Nelson]

I think you can get same ....... or better for less money.

https://www.amazon.com/hydraulic-crimper/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=i:aps,k:hydraulic crimper

I ordered that one today. The only reason I was reluctant before is the fact that returns and exchanges are quicker, but you can't beat delivered to the door.

 

[Pixguy]

Went to HF yesterday and got the set of metric ratcheting wrenches, seem to be pretty good quality though I haven't had them on a bolt yet. Also got one of those led rope lights and the 1/4 3/8 and 1/2 drill socket drives. All on digital coupons, and while they wouldn't scan, the counter guy just had me read off the numbers. The Salem store seems to be doing a good business.

They are good for the price but after a couple dozen uses the commonly used 1/2 ratchet is spotty.

 

[sixdogs]

The current email ad I get has their 5/16" X20' GR 70 truckers chain for $28 compared with a regular price of almost $50. That's a pretty good price.

 

[Ford850]

I was in HF last night, and wandered down the tool chest and cart isle. I used to joke with my wife that HF is like a candy store to me. Apparently they were listening because that isle looks more like candy than ever. The 5 drawer tool carts now come in Blue, Black, Red, Orange, Yellow, and Green. Seeing that bright assortment of carts in a line brings a smile to your face. Unfortunately they still don't have the folding side trays in stock for any color other than the original Red.

 

[M5farms]

I have been building a new barn after the hurricane all of this has been done with a Bauer drill and 1/2" impact. I'm impressed with how well they are holding up.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I was in HF last night, and wandered down the tool chest and cart isle. I used to joke with my wife that HF is like a candy store to me. Apparently they were listening because that isle looks more like candy than ever. The 5 drawer tool carts now come in Blue, Black, Red, Orange, Yellow, and Green. Seeing that bright assortment of carts in a line brings a smile to your face. Unfortunately they still don't have the folding side trays in stock for any color other than the original Red.

The SKU for the multi colored side trays has been released, they should be arriving at stores in the near future. All of the US General toolbox accessories (paper towel holder, rubber glove holder, side tray...) Will have all colors once the new SKU list hits the stores. I'd guess early in 2019.

 

[Ford850]

The SKU for the multi colored side trays has been released, they should be arriving at stores in the near future. All of the US General toolbox accessories (paper towel holder, rubber glove holder, side tray...) Will have all colors once the new SKU list hits the stores. I'd guess early in 2019.

Yep, should be soon. HF has listed the trays in catalogs for a couple of months, but they didn't have them in the stores nor were those item numbers available online. Until yesterday. The new item numbers are now listed on the HF website if you search, so I hope they will get inventory in soon.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Yep, should be soon. HF has listed the trays in catalogs for a couple of months, but they didn't have them in the stores nor were those item numbers available online. Until yesterday. The new item numbers are now listed on the HF website if you search, so I hope they will get inventory in soon.

They told me that there are over 1,000 new SKU members to be dropped to the stores during 2019. I'm sure that a lot are Bauer/Hercules/Chief related.

 

[Travelover]

4Days Only

 

[300UGUY]

I should know this, but how does the Bauer,Hercules,Chief thing work? Which is the order of quality? And will Chicago Electric still be around?

 

[dragoneggs]

I should know this, but how does the Bauer,Hercules,Chief thing work? Which is the order of quality? And will Chicago Electric still be around?

Which color do you like?

 

[Rock Crawler]

Which color do you like?

Not exactly. AVE, an engineer in Canada has taken apart a dizzying number of tools and equipment and he explains the designed weaknesses and strength.

Lowest to highest
Chicago, Bauer, Hercules.

Chicago Electric is being phased out and will be entirely replaced by Bauer. This will happen a few part numbers at a time over the next year or so.

Chicago pneumatics is also going to be phased out and will be replaced by Chief.

Pittsburgh (and Pro) Tool will be phased out, I personally disagree with this choice, but I'm nobody and don't have meaning in this world.i find the Pittsburgh (Pro) line of tools to generally be a great value of low cost and acceptable quality. Quinn and Maddox will be seen replacing the Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Pro tools.

My belief is that these changes are sweeping across the stores in hopes to up the quality of the tools with new and better designs. I truly feel that HF wants to transition into being known as a supplier of good and reliable hand, air and power tools that every man, every house and every garage will have and use. Like Craftsman.

 

[Diggin It]

^^ Maybe the Craftsman of old, but I don't care for the new Lowes Craftsman stuff and won't be buying it. I'm also concerned that HF may be pricing themselves into trouble. Inexpensive doesn't always mean 'cheap' and higher prices don't always mean better. Changing names on stuff to raise the prices doesn't always go well. I'd prefer they stay more or less as they have been and not go chasing pots of gold at the end of rainbows.

 

[sixdogs]

Harbor Freight is already the elephant in the room when it comes to hand tools and I believe they are the place where younger people go for quality hand tools at fair prices. HF already is the "Craftsman" tools of today. There may have some nasty tools made the past but take a look at their good stuff today and it's impressive. Yes I like the old Craftsman but yes I like the top line HF. Price weighted, HF wins in hand tools.

 

[rgr33]

I am well satisfied with most of their hand tools. The price is the deal with HF, if they want to raise their prices to be competitive with a mediocre line like the new craftsman, I will find them less attractive.

I haven’t tried many, but pretty much every HF electric power tool I have tried has been awful, if their new lines are competitive with Milwaukee and Dewalt, I will stick with the known brands.

I like the price point that HF is at now, it lures me in now and then looking for a tool I may or may not even need.

 

[dragoneggs]

Not exactly. AVE, an engineer in Canada has taken apart a dizzying number of tools and equipment and he explains the designed weaknesses and strength.

Lowest to highest
Chicago, Bauer, Hercules.

Chicago Electric is being phased out and will be entirely replaced by Bauer. This will happen a few part numbers at a time over the next year or so.

Yeah figured Bauer (weird name) would be better than Chicago but is Hercules actually better than Bauer?

 

[California]

Yeah figured Bauer (weird name) would be better than Chicago but is Hercules actually better than Bauer?

I think they made up 'Bauer' to suggest comparability to Klein and Bosch, which are respected German brands. HF likely paid a brand consultant good money to come up with that. (Anybody remember Packard-Bell PC's?)

I see there is a Germany-based Bauer corporation that makes heavy equipment for foundation drilling etc.

Bauer Equipment

Maybe Bauer Equipment never registered their trademark in the US. Oops.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Hercules is for sure the high line. AVE did tear down on both, the Hercules is absolutely better, yet no match to Milwaukee.

 

[Travelover]

...... AVE, an engineer in Canada ..........

A minor quibble, I really doubt that he is a degreed engineer. He is rather humorous , though.