Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[paulharvey]

Agree. They are disposable one use devices. Somewhat useful for holding glued objects but only if only moderate pressure is applied. They break if you squeeze hard.

I've got one that I didn't think sucks, but I haven't used it hard. Used it for brakes, and on occasion to hold random stuff in place. I'll avoid trying to use it too hard.

 

[zombie]

I grabbed those squeeze clamps every chance I get. Break the plastic off and throw the steel in the steel rack. They come in surprisingly handy.

 

[Travelover]

I grabbed those squeeze clamps every chance I get. Break the plastic off and throw the steel in the steel rack. They come in surprisingly handy.

You are right. It does have a nice piece of steel in the center. :laughing:

 

[sixdogs]

I probably didn't use them hard enough to break but my clamps have held--so far--for simple woodworking glue up things. The metal does look useful, however.

How can a business make something that seems destined to break and be thrown out? It fails the user, winds up in a landfill and seems counter intuitive to business logic. I'm no tree hugger, but how does this make sense?

 

[sixdogs]

I probably didn't use them hard enough to break but my clamps have held--so far--for simple woodworking glue up things. The metal does look useful, however.

How can a business make something that seems destined to break and be thrown out? It fails the user, winds up in a landfill and seems counter intuitive to business logic. I'm no tree hugger, but how does this make sense?

 

[Baby Grand]

How can a business make something that seems destined to break and be thrown out? It fails the user, winds up in a landfill and seems counter intuitive to business logic. I'm no tree hugger, but how does this make sense?

In a consumer economy, if a consumer leaves the store with the product, then everything the retailer did to sell the product makes sense. At least, that's what they tell the shareholders and maybe what they tell themselves, late at night, when the voices start. To be honest, it really doesn't make sense to me, either. They must know that X% of consumers will bring that "does suck" product back for an exchange, and that (100-X)% of consumers won't bother, and factor that into their profit/loss accounting when they set the price. At some point, I guess they admit that maybe they underestimated the "does suck" multiplyer and just unload the inventory at a loss, so they don't have to deal with it.

 

[IslandTractor]

I probably didn't use them hard enough to break but my clamps have held--so far--for simple woodworking glue up things. The metal does look useful, however.

How can a business make something that seems destined to break and be thrown out? It fails the user, winds up in a landfill and seems counter intuitive to business logic. I'm no tree hugger, but how does this make sense?

The thing with HF is that their tools LOOK like the tools they copied but they clearly are not as rugged or dependable. With this in mind, I can buy an Irwin clamp for $25 that will not break with full grip pressure or I can buy an HF knockoff for $2.50 that will survive limited use. My solution is to have some of each. If I am just clamping a broken piece together while the glue sets then the HF clamp works fine. If I'm clamping together boards for a table and need reliable strong pressure then the HF will likely fail. As a result I own about four Irwin clamps and about fifteen HF versions. Choosing the right tool for the job is the challenge. Crap tools are sometimes better than no tools at all.

 

[IslandTractor]

Duplicate post deleted.
Why can't TBN fix this duplicate issue????? :confused2:

 

[California]

The thing with HF is that their tools LOOK like the tools they copied

...But often aren't usable for the same task as the real tool that HF copied. Those bar clamps are a perfect example.

The belt/disc sander I wrote about up in post #4969 is another case of a bogus unusable pretend tool. One of the latest reviews said he had to push the belt to help it get started, another said too much vibration for his intended precision woodworking. Both comments illustrate 'pretend tool'. Mine had a shipping tag showing 29 lbs (and that's what it felt like) while the website and carton claimed 41 lbs, again showing you aren't receiving what you expected.

HF's reviews can't be relied on to recognize the unusable tools. After writing that post referenced above, I wrote reviews on HF's website. The first I repeated most of the points of that post, then when it didn't appear I wrote another review much more concise. Review title 'NO", best use 'return for credit', then described how the sanding disc didn't protrude out front of its guard plus dragged against the guard - just like HF's photo! - making it impossible to slide material across the face of the disc and certain to self-destruct. They didn't publish that review either. Caveat Emptor (buyer beware).

 

[Travelover]

Ya know, it seems like some HF tools suck, but other are OK. Maybe we should have a thread dedicated to identifying the good ones. :laughing:

 

[IslandTractor]

...But often aren't usable for the same task as the real tool that HF copied. Those bar clamps are a perfect example.

The belt/disc sander I wrote about up in post #4969 is another case of a bogus unusable pretend tool. One of the latest reviews said he had to push the belt to help it get started, another said too much vibration for his intended precision woodworking. Both comments illustrate 'pretend tool'. Mine had a shipping tag showing 29 lbs (and that's what it felt like) while the website and carton claimed 41 lbs, again showing you aren't receiving what you expected.

HF's reviews can't be relied on to recognize the unusable tools. After writing that post referenced above, I wrote reviews on HF's website. The first I repeated most of the points of that post, then when it didn't appear I wrote another review much more concise. Review title 'NO", best use 'return for credit', then described how the sanding disc didn't protrude out front of its guard plus dragged against the guard - just like HF's photo! - making it impossible to slide material across the face of the disc and certain to self-destruct. They didn't publish that review either. Caveat Emptor (buyer beware).

My rule of thumb with HF tools is to pretend I am a 98lb grandmother using the tool and only apply forces that a granny could muster.

 

[California]

My rule of thumb with HF tools is to pretend I am a 98lb grandmother using the tool and only apply forces that a granny could muster.

Yeah. Like you described, I have only used those bar clamps to stabilize something while the glue dried. No problems encountered in that limited application.

I wouldn't try to use them to pull something into alignment. For that, its time to get out the Pony Clamps.

 

[California]

Ya know, it seems like some HF tools suck, but other are OK. Maybe we should have a thread dedicated to identifying the good ones. :laughing:

Ok, point taken. :thumbsup:

But I started my discussion of this belt/disc sander with high hopes, I inquired here about others' experiences before buying this. The replies were favorable so I relied on this 'don't suck' thread and went ahead and bought one.

But those favorable replies must have described the earier 41 lb version, not the 29 lb version with same product number that I received. It seemed reasonable to write my followup here in the same thread as my initial inquiry.

Overall, I agree, they sell enough sucky stuff to deserve a thread dedicated to that.

 

[Travelover]

...........But those favorable replies must have described the earier 41 lb version, not the 29 lb version with same product number that I received.............

Good point, that's why it helps to list the model number, as HF seems to be constantly changing the products. Sometimes they are even selling two of the "same" products concurrently.

 

[California]

One item that must have been improved is the newer black 90A AC 'mig' flux core welder.

The prior blue version of this generated a lot of complaints and discussion - 'how do I make this thing work properly?' - in the HF forum over on Welding Web. There's almost no mention of these after the upgrade to the black model. Hopefully the new owners now are getting the performance they expected, instead of flocking to a welding forum to ask what they are doing wrong.

 

[BigE_]

I have the old blue HF 90A AC flux core welder. I can make good welds with it, but I've gone through several rolls of wire on it and have a lot of practice. My father-in-law, who is a somewhat competent welder, can't lay down a decent bead with it, even after I set it up. I used to think the key was using good welding wire, but I can even use the cheap HF weld wire now.

I have a Hobart 180, and in flux core mode, does better welds, beautiful, in fact. My FIL can lay down a decent bead with that.

Since I got the Hobart, I haven't used the HF model.

 

[BigE_]

I have the old blue HF 90A AC flux core welder. I can make good welds with it, but I've gone through several rolls of wire on it and have a lot of practice. My father-in-law, who is a somewhat competent welder, can't lay down a decent bead with it, even after I set it up. I used to think the key was using good welding wire, but I can even use the cheap HF weld wire now.

I have a Hobart 180, and in flux core mode, does better welds, beautiful, in fact. My FIL can lay down a decent bead with that.

Since I got the Hobart, I haven't used the HF model.

 

[RPW]

I've got the blue flux core welder and can do fairly well with it. I have made one modification and that was to add a fan behind the transformer. Use it primarily for lite stuff on the ranch.

 

[California]

Don't buy this!!!

19-1/2 In x 14-1/2 In 200 lb. Capacity Polypropylene Dolly Presently $9.95 with coupon.

Took it home, looked at the reviews that said it broke easily, stepped onto it ... and split it in two pieces before I reached near my 180 lbs weight. It didn't have any greater resistance than crushing a cardboard shoebox.

Avoid.

 

[MossRoad]

Don't buy this!!!

19-1/2 In x 14-1/2 In 200 lb. Capacity Polypropylene Dolly Presently $9.95 with coupon.

Took it home, looked at the reviews that said it broke easily, stepped onto it ... and split it in two pieces before I reached near my 180 lbs weight. It didn't have any greater resistance than crushing a cardboard shoebox.

Avoid.

Go to the review section for that item.... :laughing:

CONS
Can't handle heavy loads (4)
BEST USES
Moving heavy objects (4)