Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[94BULLITT]

I tend to not buy anything battery or electric powered from HF. I love that place, but there are just some of their products that I do not buy. I have bought some smaller electric stuff from them and they just do not stand up to any kind of daily use. One thing that surprised me was a demolition hammer from them. It was cheaper than the one week rental for a big bosch and it did everything I wanted it to. Over the years I have abused it, loaned it out to be abused and it still works. I have had to put different cords on it. But other than that it had broke a lot of concrete and peeled a lot of tile off floors.

All of my cordless stuff is either Rigid, Milwaukee or Snapon, I might have a Makita still around here or there but for the most part stopped buying them when they had that long stagnation period of no new development. Any of them can only be rebrushed a few times, if even that nowdays.

I keep wanting to get on the Snapon truck when it comes around to get a 3/8 and or 1/2 cordless impact but I have to stay off that truck. I no longer make my living with my tools and just cannot justify that kind of money going out the door for intermittent weekend use.

There are better impacts than the Snap on. I've had my eye on the Milwaukee for a while. It about half the price of a SO and torques more. Check out some of Real tool reviews videos on youtube.

 

[California]

re 18 volt tools from HF, forget it. Ryobi is what you want instead. Those are the cheapest that actually work as expected.

Ryobi keeps advancing and expanding their Li-Ion 18 volt line while as someone noted, HF never advanced beyond last-century NiCad. HF's selection of tools sharing any particular battery is limited. (and I've seen several incompatible battery types at HF).

Ryobi has chainsaws, string trimmers, all kinds of stuff you can run from the same batteries. I no longer keep 2-cycle fuel here, my Ryobi gear is sufficient.

 

[California]

Air hose - who has a recommendation for inexpensive, better hose than HF's selections?

I blew out three of them today starting a larger project than usual. Each one burst where flexes at the connector. The 'rubber' ones show weathering cracks and they've never been used outdoors.

Pressure isn't the problem, 115psi is the limit on this compressor.

Any advice?

 

[IslandTractor]

re 18 volt tools from HF, forget it. Ryobi is what you want instead. Those are the cheapest that actually work as expected. Ryobi keeps advancing and expanding their Li-Ion 18 volt line while as someone noted, HF never advanced beyond last-century NiCad. HF's selection of tools sharing any particular battery is limited. (and I've seen several incompatible battery types at HF). Ryobi has chainsaws, string trimmers, all kinds of stuff you can run from the same batteries. I no longer keep 2-cycle fuel here, my Ryobi gear is sufficient.

I also own a set of Ryobi cordless tools and agree they are OK. Not nearly as strong as the equivalent Makita tools but adequate for most household tasks.

 

[CreekyB]

There are better impacts than the Snap on. I've had my eye on the Milwaukee for a while. It about half the price of a SO and torques more. Check out some of Real tool reviews videos on youtube.

I will do that, it seems there are only a few places I go to anymore. Work, the businesses in the parking lot with the north HF in Ausin, Home Depot and the Kubota Dealership.

re 18 volt tools from HF, forget it. Ryobi is what you want instead. Those are the cheapest that actually work as expected.

Ryobi keeps advancing and expanding their Li-Ion 18 volt line while as someone noted, HF never advanced beyond last-century NiCad. HF's selection of tools sharing any particular battery is limited. (and I've seen several incompatible battery types at HF).

Ryobi has chainsaws, string trimmers, all kinds of stuff you can run from the same batteries. I no longer keep 2-cycle fuel here, my Ryobi gear is sufficient.

Dewalt went through a period in the early 2000s when their batteries were complete crap. I took a plumbers advice when I needed to replace the dewalt stuff making me mad on a run of cabinet installs. The Ryobi stuff at the time was worse. Battery packs died with a few weeks of all day use. I have not tried them since, not that I wont ever, they just made me mad once.

Air hose - who has a recommendation for inexpensive, better hose than HF's selections?

I blew out three of them today starting a larger project than usual. Each one burst where flexes at the connector. The 'rubber' ones show weathering cracks and they've never been used outdoors.

Pressure isn't the problem, 115psi is the limit on this compressor.

Any advice?

I just buy decent Goodyear hoses, they tend to last. I do have a few of the thin ones that have lasted. Not sure of the brand it was what ever Home Depot was selling at the time. I just take my rubber hoses by the hydraulics place I use for work when the ends get wonky. Does not cost much to have them cut and crimp on decent QDs and the hose is good again for a long while.

 

[DFB]

There are better impacts than the Snap on. I've had my eye on the Milwaukee for a while. It about half the price of a SO and torques more. Check out some of Real tool reviews videos on youtube.

Just as an FYI COP Tool has 20% percent off sale going on many different -22 Fuel kits...plus free S&H. Sale ends 7/13


Ohio Power Tool - FUEL Day Products

 

[farmer2009]

Air hose - who has a recommendation for inexpensive, better hose than HF's selections?

I blew out three of them today starting a larger project than usual. Each one burst where flexes at the connector. The 'rubber' ones show weathering cracks and they've never been used outdoors.

Pressure isn't the problem, 115psi is the limit on this compressor.

Any advice?

I've got some of these. Only in a neon yellowish green. Tool Shed Xtreme Flex Air Hose 3/8 in. x 5 ft. by Retail Factory Direct for $19.99 in Air Compressors & Accessories - Shop Equipment - Tools : Rural King They are good hoses and seam to hold up well but like to twist and coil while in use. Also has a decent memory when it is new. But after some use it seams to get better. Think I paid $12-13 on sale.

Also have this one. Grip Tools Air Hose Goodyear 3/8" X 5' 12674 by Grip On Tools for $24.99 in Air Compressors & Accessories - Shop Equipment - Tools : Rural King Much better hose but not as cheap.

 

[California]

Dewalt went through a period in the early 2000s when their batteries were complete crap. The Ryobi stuff at the time was worse. Battery packs died with a few weeks of all day use.

Agree, The nicads from Ryobi 10 years ago were HF-level junk. In infrequent use the Nicads were always dead, slow to charge, then didn't have much run time. BTDT. The present Ryobi Li-Ion batteries and lemon-yellow chargers are a whole new world of quality. And these new batteries fit all the older 18V tools, making them more powerful as well as lighter. Not Makita quality re torque etc but its fair to say they perform as you would hope they would. Good shelf life charged, good torque or time until discharged, etc. Recommended - at least for non-pro applications.

Pro tip: Homelite 18v tools are the same thing as Ryobi. I've bought two thrift-store hedge trimmers @ $5 and seen other stuff on Ebay cheap because nobody knows what Homelite is. (was?)

Photo: Clearing a downed Eucalyptus with the Ryobi 18V 10 inch chainsaw last week.

 

[CreekyB]

Agree, The nicads from Ryobi 10 years ago were HF-level junk. In infrequent use the Nicads were always dead, slow to charge, then didn't have much run time. BTDT. The present Ryobi Li-Ion batteries and lemon-yellow chargers are a whole new world of quality. And these new batteries fit all the older 18V tools, making them more powerful as well as lighter. Not Makita quality re torque etc but its fair to say they perform as you would hope they would. Good shelf life charged, good torque or time until discharged, etc. Recommended - at least for non-pro applications.

Pro tip: Homelite 18v tools are the same thing as Ryobi. I've bought two thrift-store hedge trimmers @ $5 and seen other stuff on Ebay cheap because nobody knows what Homelite is. (was?)

Photo: Clearing a downed Eucalyptus with the Ryobi 18V 10 inch chainsaw last week.

View attachment 474385

A good bit of Craftsman stuff is also Ryobi, what isn't is Toro Called an authorized sears service center and asked about warranty repairs on a small portable craftsman table saw I had purchased. The guys said yes, we service and handle warranty claims on everything that Ryobi and Toro make. I said no, I said Craftsman, he replied, like I said sir.....

Not sure how true that is

 

[CreekyB]

OK so, how many of you are happy with your 99$ or less 3pt Cat 1 Quick Attach?