Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[stuckmotor]

Thanks. That confirms my experience. There were two near-identical HF90's at the time and I chose the one where its two heat choices were near identical. That was a mistake. With .030 wire I characterized the two settings as Too Hot and Way Too Hot. Like you, I found it worked best with .035.

Come to think of it, this was the welder that came with unusable flux core wire. It would only spit globs and there was a flood of customer return 'near new in box' HF90's on Ebay at the time from a single resale vendor, until they cleared that batch of wire. I replaced the wire immediately, after reading about the wire issue. Big improvement, now it would weld beads. 'Some Assembly Required' to make a HF tool work per its specs was the norm back then.

I suspect that was the wire that spawned the famous customer recommendation to throw out the wire that came with the welder and replace it with Lincoln wire.

 

[thepumpguysc]

I got antsie & CALLED HF about my tool carts.. Told him who I was & my carts shoulda been in by now.. He said, HHM, I'm not seeing anything w/ your name on it ..BUT we have 8 in stock..
I say, GREAT.. how about flagging 2 for ME & I'll be there tomorrow.. He said, They should already be flagged in the back.. WTF!!??
U just told me u didn't see anything w/ MY NAME ON IT.!! He says, OH, THAT doesn't mean anything.. I said, Thanks..& hung up..
What a d!ck..
So I'm on my way to get my 2 carts & abunch of other "stuff" I have on my list..

 

[crazyal]

I got antsie & CALLED HF about my tool carts.. Told him who I was & my carts shoulda been in by now.. He said, HHM, I'm not seeing anything w/ your name on it ..BUT we have 8 in stock..
I say, GREAT.. how about flagging 2 for ME & I'll be there tomorrow.. He said, They should already be flagged in the back.. WTF!!??
U just told me u didn't see anything w/ MY NAME ON IT.!! He says, OH, THAT doesn't mean anything.. I said, Thanks..& hung up..
What a d!ck..
So I'm on my way to get my 2 carts & abunch of other "stuff" I have on my list..

Some of the people who work there are nice. Others I think couldn't get hired anywhere else. When I bought my bandsaw from them I called to make sure they had it in stock and asked how big the box was so I would know what vehicle I needed. One of the people I talked with was super helpful and even told me how they could load it into the back of a small SUV. When I got there the guy who went out back to get the box acted like me buying it was a personal insult to him. He brought it out on a dolly and started to walk away. When I asked about loading it he said "we don't do that". The guy (I assume I talked to on the phone) was walking out to help. He just looked at the other guy and laughed. He said if needed he would get the forklift but it wasn't that heavy. In fact I could have loaded it myself. I guess it's luck of the draw. When I got my 5 drawer cart and work bench (different store) they were great (2 guys and a woman). They spent extra time moving it around to make sure nothing got damaged when I removed it.

 

[Alan W.]

The HF store I go to has a lift cart that they use to load stuff for ya. They raised it up level with your bed or hatch and push it in. They have always been helpful. But I know that's not the way it is everywhere.

 

[stuckmotor]

Some of the people who work there are nice. Others I think couldn't get hired anywhere else. When I bought my bandsaw from them I called to make sure they had it in stock and asked how big the box was so I would know what vehicle I needed. One of the people I talked with was super helpful and even told me how they could load it into the back of a small SUV. When I got there the guy who went out back to get the box acted like me buying it was a personal insult to him. He brought it out on a dolly and started to walk away. When I asked about loading it he said "we don't do that". The guy (I assume I talked to on the phone) was walking out to help. He just looked at the other guy and laughed. He said if needed he would get the forklift but it wasn't that heavy. In fact I could have loaded it myself. I guess it's luck of the draw. When I got my 5 drawer cart and work bench (different store) they were great (2 guys and a woman). They spent extra time moving it around to make sure nothing got damaged when I removed it.

There are nice people and a holes all over.

 

[thepumpguysc]

Well I got my carts & the fella in the back was more than helpful..& YES they did have my name on them..& he helped load them..
I had to go to the register so they could "play" w/ the receipt.. I figured as long as I have to go stand in lime, I might as well pick-up afew things, right.??
"My" cart totaled 108.. & the wifes was 85.00 Lol So much for getting "a few things".
THEN she put a new flyer in the bag about the HUGE sale they have on the 11,12 13th.. along w/ a "parking lot sale"..up to 93% off on Sunday.
Looks like I'm going back.?? I want 4 saw horses{8.00ech} & a 3 ton jack at 65.-69.00 & some jack stands..
MY LOCAL sale paper coupons had a free head lamp, micro fiber cloths & a moving blanket.. BUT I looked online & found a coupon for a free magnet bar.. so I took pic w/ my phone & they scanned it.. BAM.. free magnet bar.!!

 

[Oaktree]

Some of the people who work there are nice. Others I think couldn't get hired anywhere else.

I presume the store you went to was the one in Littleton? Keep in mind that N.H. has one of, if not the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Good help is almost impossible to find, even finding mediocre help is a challenge. Every business is in the same boat...you take who you can get.
That having been said, I don't think I've run into a rude or unhelpful employee there, though turnover seems high...don't often see the same person twice.

 

[dragoneggs]

At HF today. Picked up a caster w/20% off, free microfiber cloths (love them for cleaning glass), and some magnet hooks. For some reason, the cashier gave me 20% off on that too. I got out of there cheap for once! They are always so helpful and nice at the Tacoma, WA store that I frequent.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

At HF today. Picked up a caster w/20% off, free microfiber cloths (love them for cleaning glass), and some magnet hooks. For some reason, the cashier gave me 20% off on that too. I got out of there cheap for once! They are always so helpful and nice at the Tacoma, WA store that I frequent.

I go there also. The managers all know by sight. I have found the newer help is more by the book at the register. Those that have been there awhile end to be more liberal and will search for another coupons and always give the lowest price point. Several times I have discussed things with a manager and have gotten special dispensation. Not a good idea to d that around the other help. Arguing at the register probably is not productive.

Ron

 

[crazyal]

I presume the store you went to was the one in Littleton? Keep in mind that N.H. has one of, if not the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Good help is almost impossible to find, even finding mediocre help is a challenge. Every business is in the same boat...you take who you can get.
That having been said, I don't think I've run into a rude or unhelpful employee there, though turnover seems high...don't often see the same person twice.

I've been to both the Littleton and the store south of Bedford in NH. There's a store in Plattsburgh NY that I occasionally go to and now a store opened up in Burlington (that I haven't gone to yet). None are just down the road from me so if I'm going for something specific I like to call ahead if it's something that may not be in stock. I'm sure wages they pay play a role and usually having a body is better than being short handed.

 

[PJSprog]

Some of the people who work there are nice. Others I think couldn't get hired anywhere else.

The one I go to in Fairview Heights IL generally has pretty good people. However, there is one guy who works there who I mostly try to avoid. He's a perpetual complainer, and is almost always complaining about the way his manager treats him. I try to go through a different checkout line when I see him. He was there again last week when I stopped in one evening on my way home from work, and I honestly thought about leaving and going back another day when I saw him through the window from the parking lot. He was the only checkout open, too, so I had to endure him. He wasn't quite as bad that day, only complaining about his recently broken phone. When my transaction was finished, I walked away, even though he was still mid-sentence. On my way out, I made eye contact with the manager and shook my head as I rolled my eyes. I've asked him before why he continues to put up with that guy. He offered no answer to me then. I'm guessing there's some reason he can't fire him.

I bought the 12-piece file and rasp set for $12 (and got a free mini flashlight to replace the old one with the failing switch). I wanted it mostly for the longer half-round rasp, which works quite well. However, it didn't fit into the handle, as the tang was bent and had large burrs along the edges. A bit of hammering fixed that.

 

[KubotainNH]

MY LOCAL sale paper coupons had a free head lamp, micro fiber cloths & a moving blanket.. BUT I looked online & found a coupon for a free magnet bar.. so I took pic w/ my phone & they scanned it.. BAM.. free magnet bar.!!

That is my favorite free item.

 

[KubotainNH]

I was asked to report on this Northern Tool Angle Grinder Holder after I got it set up:

I like it. It's solid, precise, just what I need. It's a valuable addition to my tools.

I mounted an old $10 HF DrillMaster angle grinder (4.2 amps) in it. That has plenty of power for driving the thin cutoff blade. It continues to cut precisely when weight is applied to work the grinder harder. It simply works. It's better than I expected.

If you buy one: Setting it up precisely is like the many adjustments you do to make a table saw cut true - adjust, measure, adjust some more, repeat. After considerable tinkering, it makes cuts that are as true as I can evaluate by comparing a finished item to a carpenter's square.

My cheap DrillMaster angle grinder isn't as fat as this was designed for. So that meant more tinkering to get the cut moved over, to not nick the vise and baseplate. I notched the washers that mount the superstructure to the base, to get the Allen screws even closer to the upright part. See the photo below.

The manual says it's for 4.5" and 5" angle grinders. My grinder is 4.5" but I have a 10-pack of 4 inch cutting discs. They are too small. After their diameter is ground down 1/8" smaller they wont reach the bottom of a cut. This needs 4.5" cutting discs.

I can't think of anything else. In summary -just buy it.

I ended up getting one of these as it was on my Christmas list. It works pretty well and was easy enough to setup but I think I will bolt it to a piece of 3/4" plywood as it slides around a bit. This may also allow me to hang it somewhere as it is not too heavy. I stuck a $10 HF grinder in there which does the job. This particular grinder's switch is a bit of a nuisance to switch on with this setup though. All in all well worth the $15 for a precise cut. Not sure how long that plastic guard will last, I already have a hole melted in it after it flopped over from a loose screw.

 

[Diggin It]

Went to get a few things, one in particular. Shelf hook was empty. Found a guy, pointed to the coupon with the picture and item number, said 'normal hook is empty, are there more somewhere?'.

Nope, we're out, be in Wednesday.

Rats, this is the main thing I came for.

We ain't got 'em, we ain't got 'em, can't help that.

As I'm getting in the checkout line, I look back at one of the front end cap displays. Yup, you got it, they got 'em. Grabbed me one.

The whole reason i asked is because I know that they often have multiple displays of coupon items. Dude cudda just said .... 'hhhmmmmm try up front, might be some there.'

 

[Tomtint]

I. Ads a trip to my local HF today. Picked up a few oddsand ends that if I need them..they are there and certainly not every day type tools. I bought a few large pry bars, a set of jack stands, a floor jack, a set of small metal picks and punches, as well as a grease gun....basically tools that have little chance of failure... the price was right and should one of them chit the bed..I won't feel bad throwing it away.

 

[thepumpguysc]

Diggin-it.. I had the exact same thing happen to me..
& like u.. I found it.. I was a happy camper..
It was the 19.00{20oz} hand held sand blaster.. I found it on the BOTTOM shelf w/ the air fittings..
...instead of with the sandblaster "stuff".. at the other end of the store.
I also got a box of the FINE walnut shell medium..{20% coupon} They BOTH WORK GREAT together..

 

[lostcreekranch]

The ladies and gentlemen at the Katy HF Store, I go to, are always very helpful. That store is closest to the Ranch but .... still almost 70 miles each way. Since I live so far away they've always been extremely accommodating with discount coupon use.

I always try to show up when the Store isn't busy. The cashiers have let me use a 20% coupon for 2-3 items by just doing separate transactions.

I have to go to west Houston, this Friday, to meet with my financial guy, so planning on using my coupon for the Braun LED worklight. It looks pretty handy and I like half price.



I'm sure I'll find a few other items I can't live without too.

 

[Rock Crawler]

The ladies and gentlemen at the Katy HF Store, I go to, are always very helpful. That store is closest to the Ranch but .... still almost 70 miles each way. Since I live so far away they've always been extremely accommodating with discount coupon use.

I always try to show up when the Store isn't busy. The cashiers have let me use a 20% coupon for 2-3 items by just doing separate transactions.

I have to go to west Houston, this Friday, to meet with my financial guy, so planning on using my coupon for the Braun LED worklight. It looks pretty handy and I like half price.

View attachment 586327

I'm sure I'll find a few other items I can't live without too.

I really like these lights.... So much that I stock opened one for use and sealed ones for if the price goes up and I break one.... The three I just bought are for hanging on the wall... Spares. At $20 I like these a whole lot!

 

[M5farms]

Purchased a pipe bender yesterday to build a grill guard for a tractor. I played around with some schedule 20 last night and it did a decent job on that so i figure the schedule 40 will be just right . 91.00 after the 20% off

 

[downsizingnow48]

Harbor Freight bearing separator kit (Pittsburgh). I used it this morning to take a pulley off a shaft. It works fine and is well made.