Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[theboman]

I have a few things...

On CHEAP tools.

By brother used to frequent auto salvage yards often for parts. He's got a shop of Snap On, Craftsman, MAC, etc tools. To the junk yard it was really cheap tools...he has a box of them too. He said if he loses one, big deal he grabs another... they are disposable.

Big ol' chain for about $20. It's a chain... Works like a chain should.
6 ton hydraulic jack, works great.
$20 paint gun painted about 14 window shutters in record time!
A few other odd ball things too have worked great too.

[Skyco]

I own many Craftsman hand tools also, always been pleased. I also own many HF hand tools and really have been rarely disappointed in them.
I'm a little disorganised and keep tools in about 5 different places. My truck, my garage, my shop, my toy hauler and my distant property.
Rather than trying to haul everything all over the place I simply leave common tools in each place. I wouldn't want to spend the money to buy high end stuff 5 times.

[bprice0011]

support china some more, but i will stick to american made tools myself

[IslandTractor]

Originally Posted by bprice0011

support china some more, but i will stick to american made tools myself

Good luck finding any that are appropriate for home use. Snap on and its competitors produce fine tools but unless you make your living with them they fit into the category of garage jewelry. Too rich for my taste and wallet. I wish there were an intermediate priced product made in the USA and maybe someday there will be again but for now I am stuck buying reasonably priced tools made overseas.

[carpenter383]

I have mostly craftsman tools, I have had good luck with them, they are more expensive than china stuff, but cheaper than mac or snap-on. The thing I like is if I do happen to break one it's no big deal I just take it to sears or k-mart and they give me a new one. Other cheaper brand tools with a lifetime warrany make you mail the broken tool in and you wait forever to get the new one back.

[radioman]

I bought the electric metal engraver. at first I thought it was a dud - the metal plunger part wouldn't vibrate like it should and i could hear a hum from motor. I played with the adjustment knob several times in al the way an dout all the way and pulled and pushed on the plunger. I finally got it to work like it should.

[Travelover]

Originally Posted by radioman

I bought the electric metal engraver. at first I thought it was a dud - the metal plunger part wouldn't vibrate like it should and i could hear a hum from motor. I played with the adjustment knob several times in al the way an dout all the way and pulled and pushed on the plunger. I finally got it to work like it should.

That's the fun of HF merchandise, it is mostly done. The buyer gets to complete the last few details.

[Bedlam]

So right Travelover,

I got one of those supports for under cabinets when you put them up and the threaded part had no threads. Had to weld a nut onto it to make it work.

[Skyco]

Originally Posted by carpenter383

I have mostly craftsman tools, I have had good luck with them, they are more expensive than china stuff, but cheaper than mac or snap-on. The thing I like is if I do happen to break one it's no big deal I just take it to sears or k-mart and they give me a new one. Other cheaper brand tools with a lifetime warrany make you mail the broken tool in and you wait forever to get the new one back.

HF will also replace any hand tool on the spot in the store...

[Dargo]

Originally Posted by Skyco

HF will also replace any hand tool on the spot in the store...

My issue with that is that most are not worth the trouble to take back to replace with another defective or inferior tool. To me, if it breaks the very first time I use it, I really don't want another to just break again. I couldn't tell you how many "Pittsburgh" hand tools I've broken the first time I've used them and just pitched. I figure for an 'emergency' tool kit to carry on a Jet Ski or something where it may get dropped in the river or lost, they'd be better than nothing but I can't see stocking my took kit with them.