Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Wakey]

even the batteries for Rigid power tools can be submitted under warranty for replacement when they start getting weak.

Wakey, that sounds too good to be true. They are providing perpetual batteries for one low price?

thankfully my Makita batteries last a long time and the clones out there aren't bad. I just never charge a clone battery without
keeping an eye on it.

they would really have to build in some extra product cost to pay for that battery replacement. Doesn't seem feasible.

I'll agree.. the employee that told me is in his mid to late fifties and was a retired business owner, I think a machine shop. Next time I'm in that store and it's not very often, I'll ask him because he did tell me that the batteries are covered just like everything else in the rigid line. Going back to the mid-90s, this was the way everything was handled in Home Depot. I've pulled a right angle drill by Milwaukee off of a trash pile on a construction site and brought it back and they said make sure you get a box too!

 

[Midniteoyl]

I think Rigid has a lifetime warranty. I was picking up some DeWalt impact drivers the other day and the associate was telling me about rigid and he used the vacuum as an example. He said he bought one like 15 years ago and has exchanged it since he said even the batteries for Rigid power tools can be submitted under warranty for replacement when they start getting weak.

Just make sure you read up on the problems with Rigid's LSA.

 

[California]

Just make sure you read up on the problems with Rigid's LSA.

???

 

[Diggin It]

New plan.

Found a Porter Cable 12G 6HP wet/dry vacuum at TSC for $99 and I have a coupon for $10 off $50, so I for $89 ordered that one. Yes, I know PC isn't what it used to be.

Then in this morning's emails, I get a 20% off coupon for HF. DRAT! The Bauer would have been about the same price, except Bauer is excluded for those coupons.

But I need chain and HaulMaster is not excluded, so for $39.99 - 20%, plus another % rewards points for the CC I'll use, that should work.

 

[Fallon]

Somebody else will probably jump in and correct me BUT most of your power tool battery packs are composed of individual smaller batteries (almost AA size). quick link
So they CAN tear those apart and replace individual cells.

Ya, usually 18650 batteries.

I looked at re-celling some of my old Ryobi batteries with new decent quality cells. Would have cost me more or less the same as a new battery pack from Home Depot.

I did gut an old Ryobi One+ battery. Put a 18v laptop power brick in there. A corded battery is occasionally handy when you don't have a charged battery around & need to work near an outlet. Not terribly useful, but I had a dead battery & many unused power bricks around.

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

The 20-ton press with an air jack is wonderful. I got their planishing hammer for almost nothing, and it's great. I have a Titanium Unlimited 200 welder, and I rarely touch my Lincoln now. My Vulcan welding cart was truly excellent, but I sold it and made my own. US General tool chests are fantastic. The small wood lathe is pretty much identical to Jet. The 3-shelf red cart is wonderful.

Their impact sockets get tremendous reviews on forums, and they're cheap. Their welding wire costs a fraction of the cost of things from companies like Hobart. Welding consumables are 100% as good as the big brands.

People who knock Harbor Freight are ignorant. You just have to know what to buy and what to pass on.

 

[5030]

That is true with most things in life......

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Hmmm, I have a $25 off $150 coupon from HD. I was thinking about getting more than one Vac anyways, one for inside and one for the yard/shop.

I could do the 14 and 16 from HD that would put me over the $150 mark and get $25 off, plus the other 10% account discount ... IF they'll stack ....

The Rigid shop vacs are awesome! I have the 16 gal one, came with a car care kit too! The great thing about them is that they have the lifetime warranty, as long as you register them when you get it.

 

[bcp]

My Ridgid battery experience.

I bought a tool set with two tools and two batteries, filled out the warranty form with all information requested and mailed it. Some time later received mail saying it was denied because incomplete. I needed to send part of the box label. That wasn't mentioned on the form. Luckily I still had the box, so cut out the label and mailed it.

I think they are expecting customers to throw away the box so they can deny the warranty.

Bruce

 

[weldingisfun]

My Ridgid battery experience.

I bought a tool set with two tools and two batteries, filled out the warranty form with all information requested and mailed it. Some time later received mail saying it was denied because incomplete. I needed to send part of the box label. That wasn't mentioned on the form. Luckily I still had the box, so cut out the label and mailed it.

I think they are expecting customers to throw away the box so they can deny the warranty.

Bruce

Interesting. I have registered all of my RIDGID tools and batteries on line. Never had a problem.