Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[prichard]

Just a hunch but I think Ridgid power tools from Home Depot may have the same internals as Home Depot's house brand, Ryobi.

I have all Ryobi tools. Bought years ago when I didn't have much money and the were cheap. Slowly upgraded to lithium. To me they are the best bang for the buck. Years of use and abuse and still going strong. Only thing I got that didn't work well was the circular saw from the original kit but my FIL has a newer one that he says is great.

If I were to go a different route id go with the rigid for the warranty. All my corded Rigid tools have held up well.

 

[tjkubota93]

Just a hunch but I think Ridgid power tools from Home Depot may have the same internals as Home Depot's house brand, Ryobi.

Ridgid power tool are made by emerson

 

[California]

Re pole saws, I had the first critical need for one yesterday. A guest pointed out I had oak limbs chafing on the power drop cable to the ranch house, same as what started the disastrous Camp fire.

I got out the $10 thrift store Remington electric pole saw, put its cobbled-together battery pack (adapted from my Ryobi gear) in my carpenter nailbag, and went up an 11 ft orchard ladder.

This got me high enough to cut the oak branches, first beyond the electric cable so all the fluffy stuff fell away, then another cut nearer the trunk so the conflicting limb fell free of the cable. I cut four different conflicting limbs in this manner. Photo of my jury-rigged pole saw and my post describing it.

After using this I'm half tempted to go buy the Lynx version to have a competent tool.

 

[bcp]

For the Ridgid power tool and battery warranty, you have to submit paperwork. When I sent in the paperwork for the warranty, they rejected it, unless I resubmitted it with a part of the original box. This wasn't mentioned in the instructions. I suspect many people will have thrown away the box, and HD knows this.

Bruce

 

[tjkubota93]

For the Ridgid power tool and battery warranty, you have to submit paperwork. When I sent in the paperwork for the warranty, they rejected it, unless I resubmitted it with a part of the original box. This wasn't mentioned in the instructions. I suspect many people will have thrown away the box, and HD knows this.

Bruce

I think alot of things from HD end up getting stolen and sold on ebay somehow. They probably dont like warranty claims on stolen stuff.

 

[Hiptfarms]

I had problems with them accepting my Ridgid warranty info too. Frankly I'm a bit fed up with Home Depot anyway. I'd rather give my money to Lowes or the local, slightly higher priced lumber yard.

For lithium ion tools I use Bosch and Makita. IMO, Bosch is far superior to the others on the market. I've put hours upon hours on my Bosch tools and they keep on ticking. Plus I like having a slim battery pack option for extended overhead installations. I always tell my Dewalt loving friends - quit running yellow - go big blue!

I haven't bought any other battery operated tools from HF besides a dremel type tool. I used it to slowly cut a groove into my pot bellied pig's tusks so i could trim them off. He wouldn't stand for me to use the tool for more than about 20 seconds at a time. I think the vibration aggravated him.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I have the dewalt 20v drill and impact set. I am a bit leery of ridgid tools. I had a ridgid shop vac, it died very early, I was never able to get it repaired. I would rather have the replacement warranty that hf has.

I've got several of the Ridgid 18V tools;

3/8" Drill
3/8" Impact Driver
Reciprocating saw
Compact router
Portable radio
Shop blower

I'm probably forgetting 1 or 2.

Some were purchased with batteries / chargers some were bare tool. I found a great price a couple of years ago and got two of the 4.0 aH batteries for $60. So I've got two x 4.0 aH and three x 2.0 aH batteries and three chargers.

I'm totally happy with all my Rigid tools, especially with their lifetime warranties.

I've also got a Ridgid oscillating belt / spindle sander that is used often for woodworking.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-Oscillating-Edge-Belt-Spindle-Sander-EB4424/100061671

I think my very first Ridgid tool was their 15" Drill press.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-15-in-Drill-Press-with-LED-R1500/205653862

I built a woodworking table for it similar to this.

 

[PhysAssist]

I don't know about you but I've switched to the mayo in the squeeze bottles. The days of sticking a knife into a jar are over for me. :laughing:

We buy it cheap at Aldi's, and we use spatulas/spreaders to dispense it, nothing so plebeian as a knife- although I do love my plastic "Mayo-knife".

 

[PhysAssist]

My problems run deep.View attachment 576554View attachment 576555View attachment 576556

I frankly don't see any problems there, what I see are solutions waiting for the problems they're needed to fix.

 

[PhysAssist]

But honestly, i have a mental problem that tells me that i must stock many of everything. I can't buy less than 3 of an item that is a consumable. Sometimes 6. I can't control it. I'd the stores run out of what you need during the zombie apocalypse, it's okay. I've likely got 10.View attachment 576559View attachment 576560View attachment 576561View attachment 576562View attachment 576563View attachment 576564

One question, did your parents grow up during the depression like mine did?

'Cause if so, we have a lot of other things in common.