Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[5030]

Far as I'm concerned their mid to high end welders and plasma cutters are all top shelf. I own multiplies of them and my employees use (and abuse) them daily and so far I've only had to return one unit and that was because the plasma cutter didn't come complete (no torch) and because I always buy their extended no hassle money back or replacement warranty, replacement was as easy as a 10 minute drive to my local HF store. Actually, if you buy their extended warranty, the warranty period is longer than any of the other main brands like ESAB or Miller or Lincoln and warranty return is much easier as well. No dealing with a service center, no waiting for a unit to be repaired either. Take it in and walk out with either a new one or a full refund.

Try that with any other player and report back...

 

[5030]

Project Farm ranked HF's plastic oil change ramps at the top of his list.

I just bought them. I don't have anything as heavy as half the rated capacity.

These should work better than metal ramps, which tended to move when climbed.

Any comments?

I had a set the neighbor borrowed and never returned. Glad you reminded me...

 

[SPYDERLK]

I, for one, don't have any desire to use used ear plugs with ear wax on them, throwaway or not.

OK. - I dont seem to wax mine enough to notice before they are lost naturally somehow.

 

[5030]

When you remove them, roll them between your index finger and thumb and look what is deposites on your fingers...ear wax.

Having said that I use Walker's Game Ears when hunting but I clean them after every use.

If you smoke a pipe (I don't) it's been said that ear wax makes a good pipe bowl dressing...lol

 

[jjeff]

Project Farm ranked HF's plastic oil change ramps at the top of his list.

I just bought them. I don't have anything as heavy as half the rated capacity.

These should work better than metal ramps, which tended to move when climbed.

Any comments?

A few years back bought rhino brand ramps 16k lb capacity. After I noticed my class c RV was slightly bending my old steel ramps.. another point to my post believe the weight capacities of tools and equipment lol. if the hf ramps are like the rhino brand ramps I own they work good.and nest I'n each other for storage 16k rhino ramps aren't much more than the hf 6.5 k either. .

 

[jjeff]

The hf pneumatic rivet gun definitely does not suck and was priced more than fair when I bought it around 15 yrs ago. Anyways rear apron/ deck underpinning was separating on.one of my boats/ pontoon, so I used he rivet tool and my hf cobalt drill index to repair. Over the years used it quite a bit on various projects and it's always performed as I expected it to. Mine came with various sized heads that store in bottom of rivet gun for different sized rivets. The cobalt drill bit index is also pretty decent at least for diy and bringing hair brained projects to life lol. Keeping in mind they aren't for daily professional use like higher end drill bits I've used before. The 12v small ridgid drill definitely in back ground is not good I have to use a a channel lock to tighten the chuck, won't waste my fumbling finger screen time ranting about all the battery problems I've had with it over the years.

 

[5030]

Most everything that HF sells today in the upscale tool lines fails to qualify as suck tools.

Having said that I don't much care for the HF rivet assortments. Much better quality one are available elsewhere.

 

[jjeff]

Most everything that HF sells today in the upscale tool lines fails to qualify as suck tools.

Having said that I don't much care for the HF rivet assortments. Much better quality one are available elsewhere.

I use arrow brand rivets mostly, the 12volt drill is ridgid brand from hd I guess when they took the ridgid line they destroyed its reputation like I've seen on other tools out there. Only keep the small drill and other 12v ridgid tools cuz some times you need something that size to get into close qtrs.

 

[jjeff]

When I bought that rivet gun I think they were in the trial and error transitioning phase of putting somewhat durable tools out there. In any case if one uses rivets for fastening somewhat frequently that gun is a must imo.

 

[jjeff]

One thing noticeable is the hf Tools that don't suck suck has many more posts and is far more active than the opposite thread I remember seeing of hf tools that do suck I definitely contributed to both the sucky other thread definitely not so much anymore. Self proclaimed tool junkies like me need a decent tool store after sears demise.

 

[Oaktree]

Most everything that HF sells today in the upscale tool lines fails to qualify as suck tools.

Having said that I don't much care for the HF rivet assortments. Much better quality one are available elsewhere.

They seemed to be well on their way to distance themselves from their "suck tools" image by the time they started having any physical presence in my area. Or at least had started offering better models.

I will say they have some interesting items not generally found in the tool dept. of Lowes. HD, etc.

Their hose clamp assortments aren't very good, not real impressed with their sawzall blades and drill bits either.

 

[5030]

Never purchased their drills. In as much as I own and operate a short run machine and fab shop, I only buy high quality drills and taps and dies anyway. Heard bad things about their drills so I would not buy them anyway. Only Cleveland Twist or Chicago Latrobe here.

 

[John_Mc]

One thing noticeable is the hf Tools that don't suck suck has many more posts and is far more active than the opposite thread I remember seeing of hf tools that do suck I definitely contributed to both the sucky other thread definitely not so much anymore. Self proclaimed tool junkies like me need a decent tool store after sears demise.

I suspect that a lot of people did not see the need for two threads and just posted here for both good tools and tools that suck. (I count myself in that group.)

Also, when I buy a cheap, disposable tool I pretty much expect it to suck, so am not surprised when it breaks. It's when I'm surprised by how bad a tool is that I'm willing to take the time to report on it.

I'm not really buying the low-end tools anymore if I can avoid them, so don't have a lot of input about them anyway.

 

[nctox]

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Bought this a few months ago. Assembly was straight forward and seems to be as sturdy as advertised. I cobbled together a little support post for when it is fully raised, just because I'm an overly cautious sort. I don't think this one falls into the "Suck" category.
Sorry. I should have described it. ATV lift, 500lb capacity.

 

[jjeff]

I suspect that a lot of people did not see the need for two threads and just posted here for both good tools and tools that suck. (I count myself in that group.)

Also, when I buy a cheap, disposable tool I pretty much expect it to suck, so am not surprised when it breaks. It's when I'm surprised by how bad a tool is that I'm willing to take the time to report on it.

I'm not really buying the low-end tools anymore if I can avoid them, so don't have a lot of input about them anyway.

Back when I bought that rivet gun it was the cheapest I could find was so tired of using a hand rivet tool dozens of times per snowmobiles bile I was extending the tunnels on.aftrr long tracking them. This pneumatic rivet gun made my life so much easier. .on the opposite spectrum Unfortunately when a unreliable pos tool will make a easier not so challenging project literally impossible with frustrating 4 letter words.

 

[Runner]

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Bought this a few months ago. Assembly was straight forward and seems to be as sturdy as advertised. I cobbled together a little support post for when it is fully raised, just because I'm an overly cautious sort. I don't think this one falls into the "Suck" category.
Sorry. I should have described it. ATV lift, 500lb capacity.

X2 I have this lift and like it a lot.

 

[tradosaurus]

I, for one, don't have any desire to use used ear plugs with ear wax on them, throwaway or not.

Dude, just save the wax in a jar and pretty soon you have a candle.

 

[Runner]

Dude, just save the wax in a jar and pretty soon you have a candle.

I had lots of ear problems as a kid and HATE putting anything in my ears. I do, however love the HF hearing protectors and use them all the time.

https://www.harborfreight.com/ear-muffs-70038.html

IMO they are cheap, work great, rugged and a good value.

 

[John_Mc]

I had lots of ear problems as a kid and HATE putting anything in my ears. I do, however love the HF hearing protectors and use them all the time.

https://www.harborfreight.com/ear-muffs-70038.html

IMO they are cheap, work great, rugged and a good value.

Unfortunately, at only a 17 NRR, I'd put that in the "kind of sucks" category. Certainly better than not wearing hearing protection at all.

I generally wear Husqvarna hearing protectors. They make 2 styles, a homeowner version and a pro version. Both have 25 dB NRR. (The pro version just has a better, more comfortable headband.) Stihl and many others sell some with similar ratings.

 

[LouNY]

Unfortunately, at only a 17 NRR, I'd put that in the "kind of sucks" category. Certainly better than not wearing hearing protection at all.

I generally wear Husqvarna hearing protectors. They make 2 styles, a homeowner version and a pro version. Both have 25 dB NRR. (The pro version just has a better, more comfortable headband.) Stihl and many others sell some with similar ratings.

Unless you have to wear glasses then all the over the head muffs loss most of there effectiveness.