HF tools that suck

[czechsonofagun]

That one is quite a surprise.

I get lucky sometimes - got three kids too

As far as I recollect, the saw stopped working in a middle of an project and I took it apart and decided to change brushes. I was able to find in a box of treasures brushes from who knows what that actually worked in the saw (after some file shaping). That fix gave me time to finish the project (tire carrier for my jeep) and the saw worked for some time after. When it died it was the classic burned field smell and I didn't bother to mess with it.

 

[EddieWalker]

I second the Makita, the beating my 4 1/2" grinder took is hard to believe. Bosch is a great name overseas and I trust it completely - but don't have any yet.

I heard Hitachi is on the level with Makita.

I have two Hitachi tools. My 1 9/16" Rotary Hammer is the most impressive thing that I've seen for going through concrete. It litterly just melts through it without any effort on my part. The SDS Max bits are a little pricey, but not too bad when compared to cement bits and how quickly they were out.

The other is my small, portable air compressor. I've had it a year now and it's a power house. So far, so good.

I'm very impressed with Hitachi, and I'm thinking about a new chop saw. My Delta is on it's last leg and I'm starting to think about what to get to replace it. It's between Makita, Bosch and Hitachi.

Eddie

 

[jinman]

The last time I was in HF, I bought a dozen of these on sale for $2.99 to give as stocking stuffers at Christmas. With the flashfloods we have here in Texas, you would be well served to have one in every car you own to shatter windows if you get caught in/under rising water. This particular model has a very strong spring and heavy punch. I guess the tool doesn't suck, but the situation where you'd need to use it sure would.

 

[patrick_g]

The last time I was in HF, I bought a dozen of these on sale for $2.99 to give as stocking stuffers at Christmas. With the flashfloods we have here in Texas, you would be well served to have one in every car you own to shatter windows if you get caught in/under rising water. This particular model has a very strong spring and heavy punch. I guess the tool doesn't suck, but the situation where you'd need to use it sure would.

I have a couple of those and an American one too. The HF sort of work. Well, one works pretty good but not as good as the American one and the other HF one rapidly got way soft in its trip action. I hope the folks carrying them around as life saving equipment aren't being given false hope.

There are inexpensive little multitools with hammers made for smashing glass and a seatbelt cutter on the side. Might be a better choice.

I have given practical gifts too. I gave some friends of ours a substantial size fire extinguisher for Christmas one year. Before New Years they had to put out a fire in their bedroom between them and the exit. They used to joke about being afraid of what I might give them next that they might suddenly need to use.

Pat

 

[2manyrocks]

They should change their name to Disposable Tools (DT).

My Dewalt miter saw says "Made in USA." I've been using it for over ten years. Some of the el cheapo saws didn't last out the week long build on the playground. The cheap drills used to drive screws didn't last long, either.

 

[Ryan03]

I got a great deal on a pack of 4 inch cut off wheels, until the first time I used one it exploded and went all over my shop. I should have known better, seeing as they were 10 for 2 dollars. I am realy starting to regret asking my wife to buy me that HF cigaret lighter powered difibulator for $29.95 for xmas, as I am not sure whether or not I can depend on it. Oh well, I 'm pretty sure its built in flourecent light and pencil sharpener features will give me adequate service for the money, and I will just continue to eat healthy for now. Just kidding........ I love reeses cups and doughnuts.

 

[gemini5362]

I think a common problem that I see is people buying stuff from HF then being upset when it does not work well or is built poorly. If a premium brand (ridgid, makita, dewalt etc) drill sells for 200.00 and I buy one at HF for 20.00 I am going to expect it to be built cheaply. If it burns out the first time I used it then I should expect that since it was 1/10th the price of a premium brand and that difference in value has to be made up somewhere. . The 28.00 chainsaw chain sharpener I bought is built very cheaply and barely does the job. I made a decision to try it rather than spend the 200. or more for a premium one. I am happy that it sharpens my chains and if it blows up the next time I use it I wont buy another one. But I made the decision to buy cheap. Sometimes I buy something cheap from Hf and am pleasantly suprised at how well it works. But for the most part I buy cheap stuff that I am going to just use once every few years or use once and throw it away. Sometimes I buy something and I find that once I have it I use it a lot. If it burns up I use that as a learning experience and know more what to look for in my next premium brand purchase

 

[ninefinger]

I have a couple of those and an American one too. The HF sort of work. Well, one works pretty good but not as good as the American one and the other HF one rapidly got way soft in its trip action. I hope the folks carrying them around as life saving equipment aren't being given false hope.
Pat

Like jinman, I gave some out last year to my family last year as stocking stuffers for the same purpose. The one I use in my shop has gotten to the point it does not work properly but when new it was flawless. All I ask for the ones I gave out is to work the second time they are tried (I watched each family member try their's out.) The one in the shop has been used a lot, I guess it was time for it to wear out.

 

[mrutkaus]

Boy, you rich guys and your Harbor Freight tools.

Homier is all I can afford (although I did get the HF 6x8 greenhouse, not bad)!!

Homier's $13 18volt 3/8" drill kit is super, no kidding. Always works, had it for three years.

And I steered my neighbor to a drywall lift for $100 at a local Homier sale a couple years ago, same as the $250/$300 ones other places, he likes it.

Got to wait for them to come around, though. There is a schedule on their website. I think they are mostly Eastern US.

Mike

 

[jinman]

The one I use in my shop has gotten to the point it does not work properly but when new it was flawless. All I ask for the ones I gave out is to work the second time they are tried (I watched each family member try their's out.) The one in the shop has been used a lot, I guess it was time for it to wear out.

You know, that's exactly what I was thinking. Most of these tools I give out will only be used a couple of times. If one of those is in an emergency, then they are worth the money. I'm just worried that some family member won't believe how well they work and decide to give them a try. Oops!
Can you imagine how much damage one of these could do in the hands of a teenager determined to vandalize all the cars in his neighborhood?

HF carries several of thiese punches. The brass colored one is thier most expensive and it has much more power that the other ones they sell. I'll use it on sheetmetal I'm putting on my barn to make a screw dimple and see how it holds up.