Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[patrick_g]

Originally Posted by Skyco

I was in Lowes yesterday and inspected the DeWalt line..most were labeled as made in Mexico and some said China. Didn't see any that said made in USA.

Sad isn't it? Maybe gemini has THE ANSWER. Pay a little more and get free replacement or service. Some folks think that buying cheap from HF does the equivalent and it could be true in some cases. HF has a low cost extended warranty plan that might be a better bargain than the typical extended warranty which is not a good bargain in most cases.

Being an optimistic realist, I hope for the best and then deal with reality. Lately, reality sucks as regards quality in general.

Pat

[Iplayfarmer]

Originally Posted by Skyco

I was in Lowes yesterday and inspected the DeWalt line..most were labeled as made in Mexico and some said China. Didn't see any that said made in USA.

Even most of the stuff that is "Made in the USA" is made from parts and pieces imported from China, Mexico, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, or some third world sweat shop country.

We truly have a world economy nowadays.

[slaveToHorses]

Originally Posted by Iplayfarmer

Even most of the stuff that is "Made in the USA" is made from parts and pieces imported from China, Mexico, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, or some third world sweat shop country.

We truly have a world economy nowadays.

Oh well...At least there is some assembly and hopefully quality assurance going on locally. Nice to keep some jobs happening here...

The world economy part is just a fact and not necessarily a bad thing, if not abused (which of course it is).

What irks me is seeing names like Pittsburgh and Chicago Electric slapped on Chinese products to try to fool people into thinking they of US origin.

I also don't like the buy cheap and throw it away strategy. We already throw away too much.

[gemini5362]

Wow I am going to get back on the subject of this post again. I dont usually do that. I was in HF today (had time to kill) and saw the split leather gloves on sale. These gloves are nice for protecting your hands in all kinds of work. The gloves were 99 cents a pair.

[DetroitTom]

I bought this drill angle drive converter a few months ago and used it for the first time yesterday to drill between wall studs and drive a couple of screws.. It worked great and has a quality feel to it - HF claims it has ball bearings.

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

At any rate, compared to some of their stuff, this seems like reasonable quality. I think I paid $12 or $13 for it.

[groundcover]

"We are number one! We are China right?" - Homer Simpson.

[slaveToHorses]

Just don't get the HF furniture dollies with the plastic caster wheels.
I had a new wood stove installed this weekend and they started to roll the old one out on one of those dollies. My wife made them stop after she noticed we had 4 grooves cut into our hardwood floor for about 8 feet!!

Those wheels have a raised ridge in the middle. Really bad.

[excelagator]

I think I posted here somewhere about HF, but I will post again.

My background ranges from being a former Toyota and Lexus Technician to being a production engineer for a major underground construction tool manufacturer. I have hand and air tools ranging from Craftsman to Snap-on when I wrenched. I still do 97% of my own work on my equipment.

Recently We got a new Dewalt floor drill press at work The price was $700 and was made in China. The drill was only used for 16 gauge aluminum. Within a week the 2 handles broke and another week the return spring went flying apart. We got new parts in (at our cost, don't ask) I said to myself, "I won't buy Dewalt now" Ironically the same drill press can be bought at HF for almost a 1/3 the cost.

Someone posted about winches on here. The bigger winches sold at HF are Milemarker winches or direct clones. As far as I know they have bushings instead of bearings. I have first hand experience being winched out on offroading trips with Milemarker winches. There are a couple threads of HF winches and first hand accounts.

Chicago Electric 8000 lb Winch Reviews

Winches - TTORA Forum

I have a "smaller" the HF 3000 lb radio controlled winch for dragging out downed trees with our JD 2210. For 69.99 it does quite well dragging and lifting the front of our JD 2210 with FEL attached!

I have HF 4 x 7 Hor/ver bandsaw that I bought on sale at the store for 149.00 less 15% coupon. I did have one problem, the fan shroud was bent and the fan hit it when running. I called the help line and they asked me to return it. I said no since I'm was 150 miles from there closest store. I received a complete new motor in a week on their dime! I can't say that for Dewalt! It cuts Straight from the box. I have cut many many many pieces of metal with it. The only thing I have worn out is the blades. Ironically this is the same bandsaw sold at Menard's for $300 plus under the Jet name brand.

I own many HF grinders, 2 digital calipers, sandblaster. and countless other items for them. HF has treated me nice by honoring internet prices at the store and 30 day return policy. I can't say that many big box store do that at all today.

My time being a production engineer I can say this. The world is a much smaller place and cost can vary very easily with a keen eye and call. Besides guys, there is not a hundred companies building bandsaws, grinders, winches, shocks, tires or anything for that matter. If ya really want to blow the just because it is a name brand go ahead. I....rather save a bit or alot and put it toward something that matters being name brand!

[Skyco]

Originally Posted by excelagator

I have a "smaller" the HF 3000 lb radio controlled winch for dragging out downed trees with our JD 2210. For 69.99 it does quite well dragging and lifting the front of our JD 2210 with FEL attached!

Does yours have the inability to "inch" a load? I bought one and exchanged it, same problem. The radio control system will not let one just bump the winch, a momentary press of the button results in reeling in/out a foot of cable whether one wants that much or not. Potentially dangerous in my view.
Great idea, poor execution.

[excelagator]

Yes mine bumps and I have no need to stop it in a inch or so. If it was a name brand and 3 times the price, yeah I would complain about reeling a foot at a time! If I need that pin point precision I can muscle it manually where I need it. If you can't try a snatch block, very handy item for any winch! My father-inlaw has the same winch and uses it for stocking up wood for his furnace. He has moved countless trees with it this summer.

Remember this is a radio controlled winch. No hard lines, only radio waves controlling it. I spent years racing RC cars and anything that is a properly radio controlled requires constant input to operate. To me it is a safety issue designed in and I can get to a very safe distance with this one. Since I have raced RC cars and yes I have experienced "rogue" frequencies and conflicts. I would still take the RC route over short leads. Most factory control leads even with major winch companies will never get you out of harms way properly and I have worked with alot of them.



I have worked with a commercial 20 ton bursting winch.
http://www.hammerheadmole.com/products/winches.htm