Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Rock Crawler]

Oops. Forgot the screen shot.

All Gen5X.

 

[stuckmotor]

I have a saw that my dad got back in the mid 80's (back when they paid the shipping on all orders over $50, even if the motor freight bill was more than the tool) and it's still working fine. Granted, this is at least 20 years older than yours, and there have probably been several rounds of "cost streamlining" in the interim which affected quality.

Thanks for the response. You and your dad have really gotten his money out of that saw. When I put the replacement motor on my saw I got one with thermal overload protection. I think it cost over half of what I paid for the saw. So far so good.

 

[BoneStock]

I would not put Kobalt above HF.

A buddy of mine had a slew of their hand tools, and I have a couple air impacts, they aren’t too bad. I can’t speak for their cordless tools or tool quality today.
Is Lowe’s ´ even going to carry Kobalt anymore?

The last two Lowe’s I’ve been to, have been Craftsman everything once the Sears collapse.

 

[Diggin It]

^^ Dunno. I don't really buy tools there at all. I bought one Kobalt item I won't even mention. It was dismal. I later mentioned it to an employee there. They agreed, saying they didn't even buy them they were so bad.

But this is an HF thread, right?

 

[4570Man]

I’ve had some Kobalt stuff that wasn’t awful but I didn’t think it was any better and definitely more expensive than HF. I don’t usually buy cheap tools but I find the HF sockets and ratchets to be pretty good. The carrying case for the wrenches and sockets are awful and that’s my biggest complaint. I’m not a huge fan of the wrenches but I think they’re decent quality. I’ve been really impressed with the Doyle brand HF pliers. They’re far better the the new Channel lock brand which has went to garbage. I personally believe the Doyle brand to be Klein seconds. If I want quality pliers I’m buying Klein or Knipex. If I want budget priced it’s Doyle brand. It would take a lot to change my opinion on that. I’ll never buy a new pair of Channel-lock brand again. I’ve been burned twice in a row by them.

 

[Kernopelli]

I致e had some Kobalt stuff that wasn稚 awful but I didn稚 think it was any better and definitely more expensive than HF. I don稚 usually buy cheap tools but I find the HF sockets and ratchets to be pretty good. The carrying case for the wrenches and sockets are awful and that痴 my biggest complaint. I知 not a huge fan of the wrenches but I think they?*e decent quality. I致e been really impressed with the Doyle brand HF pliers. They?*e far better the the new Channel lock brand which has went to garbage. I personally believe the Doyle brand to be Klein seconds. If I want quality pliers I知 buying Klein or Knipex. If I want budget priced it痴 Doyle brand. It would take a lot to change my opinion on that. I値l never buy a new pair of Channel-lock brand again. I致e been burned twice in a row by them.

I have a couple of Kobalt socket/ratchet sets and while they are OK, I have to say it seems to me that the "new" Craftsman, Kobalt, and HF are about the same quality. What is NOW a defining concern is (for me ) , who is the easiest supplier to exchange broken tools.....Craftsman has become difficult, Lowes ( on Kobalt) has been much better but my local HF is completely hassle free.

I will second this opinion on Klein and Knipex. I first learned about Klein 35 yrs ago from my FIL, and later we used Klein tools at work- they are exceptional. On the advice from my son, the last few pairs of "good" pliers I've bought have been Knipex. I feel they are close in quality and a little less expensive than Klein.

For "cheap" pliers, I have been buying Irwin/Vice-Grip. The last tap/die sets, drill bits, pliers and hand saws ("Irwin/ Marples") I've bought have been Irwin brands. With the exception of the saws, they seem to still be decent quality. I have seen the Doyles at HF and will check them out!

As far as Channel Lock, when you feel you need to start including a bottle opener in your tool sets to sell them..... well it speaks for itself. https://www.lowes.com/pd/CHANNELLOC...y4Mcd0KEZIZiM-ROH3V-THnwhKhvOHQxoCcjMQAvD_BwE

 

[Diggin It]

The worst #2 Phillips I ever had was/is a Klein. I got a couple of free ones included with flat packed furniture that were/are better than the Klein.

 

[aczlan]

The worst #2 Phillips I ever had was/is a Klein. I got a couple of free ones included with flat packed furniture that were/are better than the Klein.

Not really Harbor Freight related, but the only Phillips bits I will buy are the DeWalt "Tough Grip" bits. They seem to strip out Phillips head screws much less than any other bit that I have tried: https://www.amazon.com/DeWalt-15-Pack-Phillips-Screwdriver-DWA1PH2-15L/dp/B07JPJMLTG/

Aaron Z

 

[Rock Crawler]

They look like they might be copying the Snap On design that started back in the late 80's where the drive faces have raised ridges that bite into the screw and prevent the bit from being shoved out of the screw under pressure.

 

[rbstern]

Well.... I'll be dipped in spit.

According to the Q and A section each and every tool is the newest Gen5X series brushless. Seems to cheap to be possible. Black Friday is amazing. For a couple hundred bucks I'm getting just about all I want and need in cordless stuff. I'll order a battery kit with 2 or 4 4 amp hour batteries and a charger later on if I decide that the 2 that come with kit are not sufficient. I should be good to go until I die I suppose.

Techtronic, the parent company for Ryobi and Milwaukee and contract mfr for Ridgid brand, sell Ryobi and Ridgid refurbs and blems here:

Direct Tools | Factory Blemished and Reconditioned Ryobi Power Tools, RIDGID Power Tools, STOK Grills, ... |

I've ordered a few items from the web site. Generally good. Sometimes the items are in poorer condition than expected, but the customer service is responsive and they quickly make it right.