Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Diggin It]

That looks like a decent deal, if you get more than a couple holes per die set. I've never really trusted Harbor Freight for tools that rely on quality heat treating to function well, especially their lower-end brands. (From looking at the reviews, I see others have reported issues with dulling after a couple of uses, threads stripping or dies deforming and jamming.)

As I noted in another thread, the bad reviews I looked at were all from several years ago. The recent ones were all good. They either changed the item (which they often do), or blocked/purged recent bad reviews. If I were doing this as a job, I'd probably buy from a different source, but as a casual/homeowner user, these are fine ... so far. I need a couple of 3/4 holes and one more larger one. If I get those, I'll be all set even if I never open the case again.

Note that harbor freight now has a replacement part program.

They have for quite a while. But it's all order by phone. No parts in stores and you can't even order off the website.

 

[Wasmeneh]

Has anybody heard anything about thw Lynxx tools. My store hasn't had any of them for several months. I've got a pole saw and hedge trimmer which I use frequently and like a lot. Wanted the chain saw but haven't seen any in a while??????

 

[Diggin It]

Has anybody heard anything about thw Lynxx tools. My store hasn't had any of them for several months. I've got a pole saw and hedge trimmer which I use frequently and like a lot. Wanted the chain saw but haven't seen any in a while??????

All marked clearance and 'in store only': Search Results For "Lynxx"



Ending sales of their brands i something I mentioned above as a deterrent to buying some things.

 

[Oaktree]

All marked clearance and 'in store only': Search Results For "Lynxx"

Ending sales of their brands i something I mentioned above as a deterrent to buying some things.

Well that sucks, don't think they even had that line for more than a couple of years. Guess I should buy a spare battery while I still can.

I agree that product lines available for only a couple years is going to make someone think twice about buying any of their "better" tools in the future. It's one thing to do that with cheap-o disposable tools, something else when you charge real money for it.

If I could drive to the local HF and pick up the part it would make me much more likely to jump on board. The funny thing is that there's lots of money to be made on parts. I'm not sure why they wouldn't do it.

Well, even in an ideal world it's not likely individual stores are going to carry much in the way of parts...way too much inventory to keep on hand.
I agree that they should at least make it easy to get replacement parts (or at least know what's available) online. Having to call a parts center on the phone is so 80s.

 

[Diggin It]

I agree that product lines available for only a couple years is going to make someone think twice about buying any of their "better" tools in the future.

I have no intention of buying any of their spendy battery tools. None of the brands have interchangeable batteries and I have no reason to believe batteries or parts will be available in five years. I have several Ryobi 18V tools and they all take the same batteries and chargers. When a battery fails, I call an 800 number and they send me a replacement, free.

 

[KubotainNH]

This link to Den of Tools tells about checking in store availability on the HF web site.
Harbor Freight Adds #1 Requested Feature to their Website! (Check In-Store Availability) - YouTube
I've made it work one time. Not sure whether I don't have the procedure down or they're still working the bugs out.

Interesting, hopefully it is accurate. Last time I needed a certain tool I checked one store and it was out, then called another and they said it was in stock. Got there ans they couldn't find any even though the computer said there was some.

The hole punch set looks decent and has a lifetime warranty like the rest of their hand tools so seems to me if it doesn't dull on the first punch it should do for most DIYers.

 

[Diggin It]

then called another and they said it was in stock. Got there ans they couldn't find any even though the computer said there was some.

That's happened to me so many times with different stores that I now ask them to go look at the item to be sure they have it and can hold it at the counter for me.

 

[buck12]

I have no intention of buying any of their spendy battery tools. None of the brands have interchangeable batteries and I have no reason to believe batteries or parts will be available in five years. I have several Ryobi 18V tools and they all take the same batteries and chargers. When a battery fails, I call an 800 number and they send me a replacement, free.

I have many of Ryobi 18 V tools. Some I have had for at least twenty years and I can still get batteries. I know there are better tools out there but Ryobi works for me at a price that’s not too bad.

 

[stuckmotor]

Interesting, hopefully it is accurate. Last time I needed a certain tool I checked one store and it was out, then called another and they said it was in stock. Got there ans they couldn't find any even though the computer said there was some.

snip

I went in to buy a farm jack the other day. Couldn't find one and asked the girl at the register, she called the stock room and said they had "one". A guy brought it up and I wanted to check at Tractor Supply before buying. When I got back I looked at the shelves in the direction the guy went with the "one" they had. There was more than one on the shelf.

 

[Oaktree]

I have no intention of buying any of their spendy battery tools. None of the brands have interchangeable batteries and I have no reason to believe batteries or parts will be available in five years. I have several Ryobi 18V tools and they all take the same batteries and chargers. When a battery fails, I call an 800 number and they send me a replacement, free.

I have the Lynx 40v 14" chainsaw and the polesaw. Seem to be decent enough tools but if they're gonna discontinue products as quickly as they did the Lynx line that's it for me on HF battery tools.

This is the first I've heard of free battery replacement for Ryobi 18V tools. There's gotta be a catch.