Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[California]

Klein adjustable wrenches are the best I've found and somewhat affordable. Has anyone found something better?

I can tell you the worst one I've found so far: the adjustable wrench in the $29 briefcase homeowner toolkit. Sloppy loose jaw, jaws not parallel, doesn't hold adjustment for the moment between adjusting it and putting it on the bolt. Didn't fit its slot molded in the plastic 'briefcase' so yanking it out showered the other tools out of their slots.

HF makes some decent tools, but this is among those that make 'HF quality' a joke.


I bought a '4 in. Adjustable Wrench TEKTON 23001' off ebay a while back. I've heard good things about Tekton. This one seems excellent.

 

[reb]

Ever notice that many crescent wrenches are metric on one side and standard on the other. Seriously.

Years ago a guy I once worked with had his wife running all over town looking for a metric crescent wrench. She needed to find one of those.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

And a Skill Saw that may have been a different brand of circular saw.

Again terminology purification "circular power hand saw".

Ron

 

[stuckmotor]

Has anyone here ever needed to replace the original brushes with the ones that were included with their electric tool. I think I did it one time and confirmed that bad brushes weren't the problem.

 

[stuckmotor]

My green 4X6 metal cutting bandsaw was manufactured in 2004. It still cuts great with a new motor. I left it unattended while cutting stacked metal and smoked the first motor after owning the saw for maybe 7 years. Has anyone ever had their original motor last over 10 years?

 

[California]

Again terminology purification "circular power hand saw".

Ron

Nah. "Worm Drive Saw" is more specific.

in 1972 I bought a worm drive saw made by Black & Decker, 6.5 inch. It's every bit as good as a Skilsaw 77. I don't know if B&D's quality is still this good nowadays.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Nah. "Worm Drive Saw" is more specific.

in 1972 I bought a worm drive saw made by Black & Decker, 6.5 inch. It's every bit as good as a Skilsaw 77. I don't know if B&D's quality is still this good nowadays.

Black and Decker today is complete and utter trash. Harbor Freight is like 126.7 steps up the quality level. It's your low budget, seldom used, throw away cheaply made and cheaply performing trash.

 

[stuckmotor]

If the new lines of tools cost the same as the ones at Lowes, I might as well shop at Lowes.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Okay, looking at the sales going on at Lowe's and Home Depot, I came across this package again.... And I just can't pass it up. So it's ordered.

I'm going to take back the HF 1/4" Impact and the Hammer Drill that I have $240 invested in with the 2 $18 warrantees. So for around $40 more I'll gain the 1/2" impact and grinder as well as a 4 MaH battery. I think that it's better money spent, and at this price they truly are throw away tools. 5 tools for $280. I'm betting that they are similar in quality as the HF Hercules, but they are actually brushless I believe.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-...Ah-Battery-Charger-and-Bag-R9633SBN/305658534

 

[BoneStock]

I’m a field technician and use my tools daily, and will say that HF’s basic wrench sets are fine. Punches, hammers, and most basic tools will last as good as a Snap On. The air tools are good for intermittent use (not 3-4 hours everyday). I cannot claim anything on HF’s reliability, if it has a power cord though. I’ve had a grinder last for years, and a fan die in months.

Someone above mentioned Black and Decker.
My dad has ancient B&D wood working tools, those were bulletproof, the new stuff, however; is entry level basic.
Their is a significant jump these days with power tools.
B&D, HF, ....then Kobalt, Craftsman....then Dewalt, Milwaukee....etc
None what they use to be unfortunately.