Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[5030]

I just went round and round with HF over their new brushless Bauer 4.5" angle grinder. I have (had) the older brushed version which I gave to a friend who also has Bauer cordless tools (I have quite a few of them and they all work as advertised except the brushless angle grinder.

All the local stores were out of stock so I ordered one online and when it came, I popped on a fully charged 5AH Bauer battery pack, slid the switch and viola, NOTHING. Called HF, they sent me a pre paid Fed Ex return label and it went back. Meanwhile my local store received a few so I trundled down to the local store (with a fully charged battery) in my pocket and grabbed one (it's a tool only deal), took it out of the box and 'road tested' it right in the store. Worked fine so I bought it. meanwhile I get an email from HF that they were on backorder in their California headquarters so I cancelled it and they credited my HF credit card for the charge.

Talk about a hard way to get one...

First time I've had any issue with a Bauer 20 volt cordless tool. Hopefully the last time too.

I've been wanting to get the Bauer 20 volt handheld shop blower (for blowing out the radiators on my tractors) but they are also not in stock which means to me that they are out in the bay off San Diego on a container ship waiting to unload.

Nothing beats supply chain economics today.

 

[5030]

Didn't know it but HF has 2 distribution centers, one in California and one in North Carolina or Georgia, not sure which.

 

[Pixguy]

Didn't know it but HF has 2 distribution centers, one in California and one in North Carolina or Georgia, not sure which.

 

[jjeff]

These Maddox hf test leads have come in very handy, wiring/ troubleshooting a trailer, and diagnosing hard to reach areas when you need to see your multi meter readings.

 

[daugen]

if any of you have rv's this will be interesting
I concur on the wheel chocks, heavy rubber, durable, have three for my utility trailer.

not sure I'd want a propane tank in the back of an open pickup held down only by one blue stretch bungee.
Get into an accident and that tank goes airborne and has a lot of weight to it.

 

[5030]

View attachment 760031

I wonder if HF leased or bought the old, defunct JC Whitney distribution center warehouse in Joliet?

 

[California]

I wonder if HF leased or bought the old, defunct JC Whitney distribution center warehouse in Joliet?

If the fixtures - shelving, chutes, etc - are still there that could be a good fit.

I see Moreno Valley, California mentioned. That must be a new one. Camarillo on the coast north of Los Angeles/Long Beach harbor was their location since forever.

Moreno Valley is 70 miles inland on the principal highway from Los Angeles to the Midwest. Also rail traffic between California and the east goes through there so its a natural shipping crossroad. Sounds like they applied Amazon-level logistics analysis to select these new locations.

 

[BukitCase]

"Camarillo on the coast north of Los Angeles/Long Beach harbor was their location since forever."

Yup, when I bought my first 4x6 bandsaw that was their ONLY store in the entire US -
And, it's still going strong - more than I can say about some of their newer stuff... Steve

 

[5030]

...and Grizzly is shrinking oddly.

 

[o2batsea]

Maybe it's been mentioned but I recently got a Diamondback tile saw which was about, what 350 or so? It works great. Dunno if it'll last a long time or what but it saved me thousands on a recent bathroom project so even if it fails tomorrow it was still a good buy