Hey, DETROIT, good post. It is easier to complain about HF, but I
am a happy customer of theirs, for the most part.
I have bought lots of stuff from HF, mostly quite serviceable and
mostly very inexpensive. I am not hard on my tools, however....no
"production work", no leaving them out in the rain, no lending them
out, etc.
I have also bought a refurb DeWalt 7" angle grinder and Makita screw
gun for great deals, so it is not ALL Chinese stuff at HF.
If you get a chance, see the warehouse in Camarillo....that is impressive.
I have also purchased repair parts several times...they are cheap and come
in just a few days.
Biggest things I bought were:
gas engine-powered winch
20T press ($170)....about equal to the cost of materials to make one myself
20" large (350#) drill press. came in only one box, if you can imagine
880# 120V hoist ($72) and beam trolley...excellent!
440# hoist, only $50....so cheap, it is dedicated to my camper shell storage
manual tire changer ($34)
18V NiCad battery packs, $9....buy these for the cells
several very cheap Chinese battery drills....all still work
small angle grinder
many many cobalt drill bits, bimetal bandsaw blades
air/hyd 20T jack ($50)
1300 psi 120V press washer ($79) sold when I got gas PW
1800 psi 120V press washer ($110) I have not tried this yet...it replaces gas PW
biscuit joiner ($55) cheap tool, but wks fine for limited use
15A 120V gear redux D-handled electric drill ($40) very nice!
and tons of other stuff.....