HF Icon vs. Pittsburgh line

[California]

OK twenty years ago? ...Not what I'd call great warranty service.

As I recall I got a ratchet, then an entire set with case, when that $9.95 set proved unsuitable for my application.

No point in repeating that nonsense again and again.

The sockets and a case that keep everything together are fair value for what I paid. Some things I would never get there. Such as cordless tools, they have a multitude of present and prior incompatible battery types.

Back then it was well known that shopping at HF was a gamble, and this particular transaction seemed to be resolved as a draw. Overall, particularly since they've improved quality, buying some things there is worthwhile.

I drive past HF frequently (its on the freeway frontage road by Travis AFB) so that isn't an extra trip.

 

[Sid Post]

Icon tool remind me a lot of Snap and Proto "professional" tools of years past.

Pittsburg pliers, screwdriver, and crescent wrenches aren't very good but, the other stuff in generally pretty good for homeowner use or limited farm needs. Fine tools like hex wrenches will work but, they aren't that good and an upgrade to Icon on sale is money well spent IMHO.

 

[5030]

The lack of 'sales associates' at Big Box Outlets is likely a function of the leveraged financing employed when Venture Capitalists bought a going venture (like Home Depot) and then began implementing cost cutting measures (e.g. DOGE for the private sector) that reduced staff (if not shrinkage), service and customer satisfaction generally.

We presently have such VCs deployed across our nations government implementing similar measures in order to justify extending 45's tax cuts that cost us billions in added debt as part of an attempt to restore us from the financial debacle that culminated in the Great Recession that began when George Jr. and company last managed "our" economy.

If these tariffs hit - Lowes and Home Depot and YOUNAMEIT will be reeling like we've seen the market do.

But, you may not notice if your SSI checks stop coming or The Medical costs increase or you lose your disability, or those kids in Texas bring their measles to your town.

Talk about doom and gloom, you need to take a swig of Malox.

One, I don't live in 'town', 2 I'm not concerned at all with hospital costs as I have and have had high end Obamacare for years. My only put of pocket costs are my 5 dollar prescription costs and finally, SS is going bankrupt from the House and Senate using the fund as their private piggy bank and I don't see any issue with it for the immediate future anyway. If SS became insolvent our wonderful idiots in DC would resupply the fund with dollars anyway. Letting SS go bankrupt is the sure fire way to cause civil unrest because most all seniors I know of including myself are gun nuts.

Your doom and gloom scenario falls on deaf ears here and yes, I 100 % on board with the 'Promises made, Promises kept' guy and always have been. Additionally, I'm a successful small business man and I employ others as well.

Back to regular programming...

 

[5030]

As I recall I got a ratchet, then an entire set with case, when that $9.95 set proved unsuitable for my application.

No point in repeating that nonsense again and again.

The sockets and a case that keep everything together are fair value for what I paid. Some things I would never get there. Such as cordless tools, they have a multitude of present and prior incompatible battery types.

Back then it was well known that shopping at HF was a gamble, and this particular transaction seemed to be resolved as a draw. Overall, particularly since they've improved quality, buying some things there is worthwhile.

I drive past HF frequently (its on the freeway frontage road by Travis AFB) so that isn't an extra trip.

As with anything, buy cheap and you get cheap.

Far as cordless tools are concerned, I believe HF was maturing in the market segment and they have now settled down to Bauer and Hercules on cordless stuff with Herc being a bit better quality than Bauer actually. Bauer, however fills my requirements for cordless tools nicely and not my go to on portable tools anyway. I much prefer air operated for shop use. HF has come a long way in not only quality but in variety as well. Northern, on the other hand seems to be stuck with lower quality stuff selling for higher prices. IOW I don't buy anything from them. Their 'Powerhorse' brand is nothing but rebadged Chinese junk with a nice name on it. Kind of like Grizzly's made over there stuff that I won't buy either. I have a feeling that when Grizz's warehouse runs out of stuff, they will be in a world of hurt. Old Balola is gonna have to find another line of work. My BIL bought one of their supposedly high end commercial table saws that wasn't.

What really lit me up was when Balola acquired the rights and Trade Name for South Bend Lathe and then slapped the South Bend name on his offshore made stuff. What a pig.

 

[California]

I don't live in 'town', 2 I'm not concerned at all with hospital costs as I have and have had high end Obamacare for years. My only put of pocket costs are my 5 dollar prescription costs

But we can't all be Hay Farmers and live in beautiful country. Some people have to be bartenders etc and are just getting by. Not paying the maximum into SS - or even working for cash - so their SS future isn't as bright as yours. This isn't a one solution fits every American situation. SS was to prevent extreme poverty for the elderly (and orphans etc) so for some folks, that is still important.

and finally, SS is going bankrupt from the House and Senate using the fund as their private piggy bank and I don't see any issue with it for the immediate future anyway. If SS became insolvent our wonderful idiots in DC would resupply the fund with dollars anyway. Letting SS go bankrupt is the sure fire way to cause civil unrest because most all seniors I know of including myself are gun nuts.

You haven't been keeping up with the news. Or perhaps your news source isn't complete. One proposal under consideration by this administration is for X and Visa to take over administering the distribution of SS, and many other funds disbursement processes. Seems likely to me that this opens up the possibility of your information being sold to marketers, same as how Facebook, Google, X, tax preparers etc do presently which is a major source of their income. SS is presently reducing phone support, so going through this new provider interface will require non-computer-literate elderly to deal with the X/Visa maze online, or visit in person, to resolve a change of address etc. Meanwhile the SS clerks are complaining that some of the web pages they look at to advise customers, are no longer available. Change is underway at SS. Distant funding is the least of their problems now.

 

[charlessenf]

Agree with your points. I don't understand why the dire consequences aren't obvious to everyone. But on here, I think politics outside that one political sub-forum will get a thread shut down.

Yeah, that f'ing Cancel Culture

 

[jyoutz]

As I recall I got a ratchet, then an entire set with case, when that $9.95 set proved unsuitable for my application.

No point in repeating that nonsense again and again.

The sockets and a case that keep everything together are fair value for what I paid. Some things I would never get there. Such as cordless tools, they have a multitude of present and prior incompatible battery types.

Back then it was well known that shopping at HF was a gamble, and this particular transaction seemed to be resolved as a draw. Overall, particularly since they've improved quality, buying some things there is worthwhile.

I drive past HF frequently (its on the freeway frontage road by Travis AFB) so that isn't an extra trip.

The quality of the current HF tools compared to 10 or 20 years ago is night and day difference. Their older stuff was junky compared to current products.

 

[coast40]

HF tools made in Taiwan are the sweet spot for me. There are nearly identical tool truck tools made there, as there are Craftsman and Carlyle (NAPA)...

 

[5030]

But we can't all be Hay Farmers and live in beautiful country. Some people have to be bartenders etc and are just getting by. Not paying the maximum into SS - or even working for cash - so their SS future isn't as bright as yours. This isn't a one solution fits every American situation. SS was to prevent extreme poverty for the elderly (and orphans etc) so for some folks, that is still important.


You haven't been keeping up with the news. Or perhaps your news source isn't complete. One proposal under consideration by this administration is for X and Visa to take over administering the distribution of SS, and many other funds disbursement processes. Seems likely to me that this opens up the possibility of your information being sold to marketers, same as how Facebook, Google, X, tax preparers etc do presently which is a major source of their income. SS is presently reducing phone support, so going through this new provider interface will require non-computer-literate elderly to deal with the X/Visa maze online, or visit in person, to resolve a change of address etc. Meanwhile the SS clerks are complaining that some of the web pages they look at to advise customers, are no longer available. Change is underway at SS. Distant funding is the least of their problems now.

I imagine my 'information' has been sold many time in the past and probably the future. Far as SS is concerned, I don't know where you are getting that info from but mine is the polar opposite, but then I'm an R and not a D. I keep forgetting where you live as well...

 

[California]

I keep forgetting where you live as well...

Well not everybody can afford to live in a donor state.

 

[jyoutz]

I imagine my 'information' has been sold many time in the past and probably the future. Far as SS is concerned, I don't know where you are getting that info from but mine is the polar opposite, but then I'm an R and not a D. I keep forgetting where you live as well...

There are fixes to keep SS from going bankrupt. The most obvious is removing the earnings cap on contributions.

 

[QRTRHRS]

The quality of the current HF tools compared to 10 or 20 years ago is night and day difference. Their older stuff was junky compared to current products.

I bought a set of HF 3/4" sockets mail order around the late 90's. While the ratchet was "clunky", I did not break it. I used the set on my Case tractor to adjust the single rear wheels out as far as possible on the wide axle. I recall the torque spec to be around 600 ftlb's or so? Anyway, I used a six foot piece of pipe to break the nuts loose and retighten them without breaking a socket.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I bought a set of the Pittsburgh wobble extentions. When I got home, I was missing one. Went back to the store and lo and behold, the missing extention was on the clearense bench. Another fell off on the counter while I was speaking to the manager. The extentions work great, the plastic tree just does not grip them very well so watch for that.

 

[JeepHead]

My brother who is a 30 year master mechanic and has a massive tool box full of tool truck tools worth as much as a house, loves the Ikon wrenches and ratchets. He won't even buy the tool truck ones anymore. A few weeks back I texted him saying Harbor Freight winches were on sale. He read the text quickly and left work over lunch and drove straight to the store to buy him some "wrenches". When he called, I had to tell him to read the text again - winches, not wrenches.

 

[ultrarunner]

My harbor freight chains for the farm purchased cheap and a great value.

Many years ago I bought a large 1” socket set that I use several times a year and also a great value because it does what I need and we’re also very inexpensive.

Tarps are also a bargain prices and their welding gloves are cheap enough I use them for firewood work.

Bought dozens of their 4 wheel dollies… cheap enough so when they don’t come back not a big deal.

The $7.95 heat gun made great stocking stuffers.

 

[jyoutz]

Every time they have a sale on the disposable neoprene gloves I pick up a box of 50. Very handy for dirty jobs.

 

[LightningCamaroGuy]

Rarely do I buy HF anymore. HF has become too proud of their products. Your reputation is built on being budget, cheap tools. You better stop pricing yourself in the same league as other name brand tools that are now made in the PRC or Taiwan. Why would I buy a set of Icon wrenches for the same price as Craftsman, SK, Gearwrench, etc? Even if it's as good, it certainly isn't as sexy. Look my 1/2 Earthquake has been great for probably 20 years that I've had it, but I'd rather spend similar money on an AirCat, or open box IR, NAPA Carlyle, etc. Why switch to HF couplers and fittings, when budget V-Style or HF European (high flow, not Harbor Freight) ones are plentiful on Amazon. My HF spot welder and 20 ton press do the job of building AK's and they're cheap, but they sure aren't fancy, and way rough around the edges. The Bauer cordless tools I own work well, but so do Caftsman V20, Dewalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Rigid, Ryobi, Kobalt, etc, and I won't spend similar money on Bauer or Hercules tools as I would on one of these brands. My cheap central pneumatic compressor sucks compared to the Kobalt ones, which are way smoother, and quieter. If I want a good, budget welder or plasma cutter I'll buy an ARCCaptain, otherwise I'd rather pony up for a Miller/Lincoln/Hobart/ESAB. Understanding your value is important, as is staying true to your roots and the market that you wrote the book on. No one's wanting to buy a Porsche 911 that is made to compete with a Nissan 400Z or a Mustang GT. No Toyota fanboy wants to buy a Toyota that doesn't at least give the impression of prioritizing reliability. My HF tool box works fine, but if money ain't a thing then give me a Snap On, Craftsman, Kennedy, Waterloo, etc over a U.S. General any day.

JMHO, but HF has been moving from their lane into other tool OEM's lane for the last few years, and while many of their tools work really well, I've become less than impressed as their costs have gone up, as their value goes down as a result. Yes their store is convenient, and fun to browse, but Amazon is plenty as convenient, and your selection is bigger, and you save on gas and time.

 

[jyoutz]

Rarely do I buy HF anymore. HF has become too proud of their products. Your reputation is built on being budget, cheap tools. You better stop pricing yourself in the same league as other name brand tools that are now made in the PRC or Taiwan. Why would I buy a set of Icon wrenches for the same price as Craftsman, SK, Gearwrench, etc? Even if it's as good, it certainly isn't as sexy. Look my 1/2 Earthquake has been great for probably 20 years that I've had it, but I'd rather spend similar money on an AirCat, or open box IR, NAPA Carlyle, etc. Why switch to HF couplers and fittings, when budget V-Style or HF European (high flow, not Harbor Freight) ones are plentiful on Amazon. My HF spot welder and 20 ton press do the job of building AK's and they're cheap, but they sure aren't fancy, and way rough around the edges. The Bauer cordless tools I own work well, but so do Caftsman V20, Dewalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Rigid, Ryobi, Kobalt, etc, and I won't spend similar money on Bauer or Hercules tools as I would on one of these brands. My cheap central pneumatic compressor sucks compared to the Kobalt ones, which are way smoother, and quieter. If I want a good, budget welder or plasma cutter I'll buy an ARCCaptain, otherwise I'd rather pony up for a Miller/Lincoln/Hobart/ESAB. Understanding your value is important, as is staying true to your roots and the market that you wrote the book on. No one's wanting to buy a Porsche 911 that is made to compete with a Nissan 400Z or a Mustang GT. No Toyota fanboy wants to buy a Toyota that doesn't at least give the impression of prioritizing reliability. My HF tool box works fine, but if money ain't a thing then give me a Snap On, Craftsman, Kennedy, Waterloo, etc over a U.S. General any day.

JMHO, but HF has been moving from their lane into other tool OEM's lane for the last few years, and while many of their tools work really well, I've become less than impressed as their costs have gone up, as their value goes down as a result. Yes their store is convenient, and fun to browse, but Amazon is plenty as convenient, and your selection is bigger, and you save on gas and time.

The key thing to shopping HF is to wait for sales. They have them going continuously and sometimes they offer 20-40% off prices. If I see an item that I like, but don’t need immediately, I’ll just monitor their website for the item to go on sale or one of those 20% off anything ads.

 

[homedad]

Thanks all. That pic of the tools in the drawer reminds me that I probably need to buy another rolling tool box. My tools have outgrown my 13 drawer cabinet years ago.

 

[homedad]

I almost bought a Vulcan multi purpose welder for around $1k as opposed to the Miller for more than 2x and just couldn’t unsee the reviews where theirs suddenly failed after a year or 2. I’m still using a reeeeeaaaalllly old Forney arc welder that never stops. It’s about as convenient to transport as a giant tombstone but I also inherited it. Some day I’ll get that Miller.