So, what's your feelings about Harbor Freight® stores/tools?

[Cooter]

Ain't it funny how we will always try the cheapest damn thing before we always have to buy the more expensive one later?
As American consumers, it's like we can't control ourselves or something. It's like we know it's gotta be crap, but we'll try it anyway just to be sure...

[Troy]

I buy "disposable" tools there all the time! Nearly all my air tools that I use for body work are from there (die grinders, body saw, flanger/punch, pressurized sand blaster, etc.). The straight $9 die grinders have lasted over 6 years so far (I bought a spare "just in case" but I loaded one with a grinding wheel and one with a cutting wheel so I could be more efficient). I also have a couple HVLP guns for primer, grease gun, orbital polisher, spring loaded punch, creeper, 2 sets of the heavy duty jack stands, engine hoist, engine stand, and large floor jack. With any of the Asian made hydraulic jacks you have to worry about the seals blowing so I picked up an O-ring and seal kit for a couple bucks. I got this really awesome electric scraper that kicks butt at removing undercoating. Since it's electric I got the replacement warranty but, even if I didn't, the money and time it saved me so far has paid for it. I buy lots of little things like cutting wheels and driver bits (for #2 Phillips screws mostly). The most expensive thing (other then the engine hoist) is one of their rolling tool boxes. I read lots of reviews and most everyone was really impressed with the quality. I waited for a big sale and got it for about half off. I have a 40 gallon parts washer which turned out to be a really bad idea since the solvent cost 3 times more than what I paid. Should have got the 20 gallon version. I also have one of the larger sandblast cabinets - but I modified the lights so I could actually see what I was blasting! I have two volt meters (one small and one large) that have lasted far longer than my Craftsman that cost double what I paid for both of these. I buy mover's dollies like they are going out of style! You can get the 1,000 pound ones for $7.99 fairly often. There's a post of mine around here somewhere showing how I made engine dollies out of them so I could roll my "spares" under the shelves. I currently have the front and rear suspensions from my Challenger sitting on a pair each. The caster wheels themselves cost more then the whole dolly. I have 3 or 4 sets of ratcheting tie downs. I haul a lot of metal and engines and the sharp edges can fray/cut the straps so I always carry spares. Never had one break. I recently got an air gun to make a DIY soda blaster.

My impact wrench, right angle die grinder, and DA Sander are name brands. I splurged and bought a commercial compressor and water separator. Most of my hand tools are older Craftsman with the lifetime warranty so I haven't purchased anything like that from HF. I'll probably pick up some screwdrivers since I'm always losing or breaking them.

Troy

[ODZKing]

Many many cases it is something that I will only use once or twice. But I will say I bought a 20/25 gal compressor from them and it works great!
Thing is if it does break, I know I didn't pay a fortune for it so it is not so bad.

[Steve P.]

Ain't it funny how we will always try the cheapest damn thing before we always have to buy the more people expensive one later?
As American consumers, it's like we can't control ourselves or something. It's like we know it's gotta be crap, but we'll try it anyway just to be sure...

I think that is due to the money pocket not being too fat to handle.. The worst part of it is that we are not buying everything made in the USA and keeping the money flowing here. I understand it, but like I said, that damned money pocket....

[ODZKing]

Maybe time for these again:

[Steve P.]

 

Too funny!!!!

[AKcharger]

Good one ODZ!

[PlainfieldCharger]

  That is some funny $%#

[dual fours]

Customer: I only got to used the hammer to pound in four and a half nails when the head fell off.
Store clerk: Hammer, that's not a hammer it's a paperweight, does it say anything on the box about pounding nails? NO! And it is not returnable because you abused it in a fashion it was not intended to be used for, sorry! If you want something to pound nails, we have pipe wrenches over there.
If you make your livin with tools the hard way, to put food on the table, and toys in the basement and garage, HF not.
If you need a tool to use only one Saturday a year, HF OK.

[twodko]

Just my opinion here but HF tools, for the most part, are short term use tools.

There are some products you can count on for a long service life i.e. Moving blankets.....clamps.....hand trucks.....receiver hitch items......sockets etc.

[jaak]

Like most here, I have mostly name-brand quality tools. But I have bought a few things from there, a tool that might get very little or one time use.

I will say this, one time I bought an electric angle grinder, just because it was on sale for like 9.99 and mine had just died. Apparently I must have got a rare good one, because it has been great, and I got more than my money worth out of it. It is a tool I use on a regular basis, and it's been used and abused for 6 years now and still works fine.

Jason

[ws23rt]

Like most here, I have mostly name-brand quality tools. But I have bought a few things from there, a tool that might get very little or one time use.

I will say this, one time I bought an electric angle grinder, just because it was on sale for like 9.99 and mine had just died. Apparently I must have got a rare good one, because it has been great, and I got more than my money worth out of it. It is a tool I use on a regular basis, and it's been used and abused for 6 years now and still works fine.

Jason

Sometimes the sun shines.

Another point to make about tools is that a good mechanic can do a good job with the wrong or crappy tools. A part time/ novice can use the help that the good stuff gives.

[Troy]

To expand on that...

I once bought a Body Hammer and Dolly set from HF. After mangling some metal I ordered a set of quality Martin tools. Yeah, each piece cost more than the whole HF set but they make me look like I know what I'm doing! I still use the HF versions when I'm worried about marring the finish of the Martin tools. I don't regret spending the money (for either set).

I was in the garage a couple nights ago and noticed that I have a pile of leather gloves, nitrile gloves, dust masks, ear muffs, and safety glasses/shields from HF. It all works fine and keeps me healthy. My "gas mask" is a 3M though.

Troy

[Lord Warlock]

One thing to say in HF's defense is that for a retail store they do carry a lot of tools that are very hard to come by otherwise, at least without a lot of driving around.  Sears doesn't carry near the volume, and neither does either large home supply store.  When I need a tool quick, HF is a good go to store.  It still sells sub standard hardware though so don't usually buy there if its something I want to last a long time.   

[71green go]

We have Princess auto in Canada......about the same thing as HF

I did buy a HF folding utility trailer 5 years ago....and its been Awesome....was very cheap maybe $200 ....4 x 8 , held up well considering the abuse I put it through

[Steve P.]

We have Princess auto in Canada......about the same thing as HF

I did buy a HF folding utility trailer 5 years ago....and its been Awesome....was very cheap maybe $200 ....4 x 8 , held up well considering the abuse I put it through

I sold a tractor to a guy some 5 years ago that said he had a HF trailer that was not used much and it was not very old, but it spun a bearing. Said he could not find anyone who carried the strange size bearings for it.. He may not have been much of a mechanic or researcher, but that was the story he gave me.. I saw the trailer when I delivered the tractor to him. I told him if he couldn't find the bearings, to go to another local trailer place with the entire axle and buy a new one. This place has really good prices on trailer axles, so it was not only going to put him back on the road, but he'd be able to get parts for it local or pretty much anywhere.

So check and grease your bearings often...

[Musicman]

One Engine Test Stand...

HF Flux/MIG Welder
HF Auto Darkening Welding Helmet
HF Welding Magnets
HF Electric Angle Grinder
HF Grinding & Cutting Wheels
HF Adjustable Face Shield
HF Pneumatic Die Grinder
HF Tap & Die set
HF Casters
HF Adjustable Hole Saw
HF Chop Saw
HF Portable Band Saw
HF 5" Multi Purpose Vice
HF Tail Pipe Expander

[A383Wing]

looks like all you need is a seat & cup holder there and you can drive that thing around....

[Musicman]

looks like all you need is a seat & cup holder there and you can drive that thing around....

 

[Troy]

One Engine Test Stand...

HF Flux/MIG Welder
HF Auto Darkening Welding Helmet
HF Welding Magnets
HF Electric Angle Grinder
HF Grinding & Cutting Wheels
HF Adjustable Face Shield
HF Pneumatic Die Grinder
HF Tap & Die set
HF Casters
HF Adjustable Hole Saw
HF Chop Saw
HF Portable Band Saw
HF 5" Multi Purpose Vice
HF Tail Pipe Expander

Very cool! That's one of my "coming soon" projects that I've been mulling over for years. I never seem to have the time to actually sit down and do it. I did finally get a rotisserie so I'm going to need it soon (body work phase is ending).

Troy

[Musicman]

Here ya go Troy 

One Rotisserie...

HF Flux/MIG Welder
HF Auto Darkening Welding Helmet
HF Welding Magnets
HF Electric Angle Grinder
HF Grinding & Cutting Wheels
HF Adjustable Face Shield
HF Tap & Die set
HF Casters (well greased)
HF Chop Saw
HF 5" Multi Purpose Vice
HF 2000 Lb Manual Worm Gear Winch (cut apart and modified to suite)
HF Long Ram Jacks (Topped off with hyd oil and purged of air)

[Troy]

I got a WhirlyJig. Going to need a test stand! Hadn't thought about getting a chop saw. That would probably be very handy.

Troy

[Musicman]

Hadn't thought about getting a chop saw. That would probably be very handy.

Troy

A little messier than a dedicated horizontal band saw, but a whole lot cheaper too! 

[Troy]

Hadn't thought about getting a chop saw. That would probably be very handy.

Troy

A little messier than a dedicated horizontal band saw, but a whole lot cheaper too! 

I just cut, welded and ground most of the sheet metal on the back half of a car. Can't get any messier!

Troy

[Neal_J]

I consider all their stuff disposable.  I routinely use their nitrile gloves and Chinese single-use paint brushes for small projects around the house. 

I think you get the same end-result with any of their tools - one use and into the trash!~