Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[scootr]

Just stopped in HF for a screwdriver. Spent $35 on stuff I probably don't need.

 

[jyoutz]

Just stopped in HF for a screwdriver. Spent $35 on stuff I probably don't need.

Yeah, that’s easy to do and I am frequently guilty of doing the same.

 

[jyoutz]

return back to the store in 3-days. Get the broken 3gal pancake with tank for pennies on the dollar. Now you have spare parts.

Maybe not three days, but yes. The store manager at our local store told me they send all broken items back to be refurbished and they are then sold at stores for a substantial discount. But the refurbished items only have a 5 day warranty, not the same as the original warranty.

 

[California]

I bought the 11 amp Hercules corded angle grinder as refurb at half price. Same as new except somebody's initials are engraved on it. This is a near perfect twin to the $100 DeWalt. I love it.

 

[5030]

Now, it Would be nice if they stocked wear parts for there tools

They do actually if you look in the respective tool ad, you'll see 'replacement parts available' I did just that for a pair of swirl rings for the Titanium plasma cutters I purchased as the stores don't carry them so I ordered them direct from HF and they sent me a pair.

On an HF kick today so...

I have to say the Pittsburg black oxide impact sockets (normal and deep well) are ****. I have yet to break one and I abuse them constantly. I've broken Snap-On, SK Wayne, Proto and MAC impact sockets. Never broke the Pittsburg impact sockets, ever. Of course the usual lifetime guarantee applies.

The store I go to, the female manager and I are pretty good friends, in fact I'm teaching her how to TIG weld and she wants me to apply for a job there to which I said no. I'd spend all the money I made there buying HF stuff and I have enough as it is. I like being semi retired and keeping up with 3 rentals, part time farming and managing the machine shop and fabricating custom motorcycle parts is way more than enough for me at 74 years old.

Besides, I don't like working for someone else anyway, even if the boss is a pretty young lass that likes me...lol

 

[jyoutz]

They do actually if you look in the respective tool ad, you'll see 'replacement parts available' I did just that for a pair of swirl rings for the Titanium plasma cutters I purchased as the stores don't carry them so I ordered them direct from HF and they sent me a pair.

On an HF kick today so...

I have to say the Pittsburg black oxide impact sockets (normal and deep well) are ****. I have yet to break one and I abuse them constantly. I've broken Snap-On, SK Wayne, Proto and MAC impact sockets. Never broke the Pittsburg impact sockets, ever. Of course the usual lifetime guarantee applies.

The store I go to, the female manager and I are pretty good friends, in fact I'm teaching her how to TIG weld and she wants me to apply for a job there to which I said no. I'd spend all the money I made there buying HF stuff and I have enough as it is. I like being semi retired and keeping up with 3 rentals, part time farming and managing the machine shop and fabricating custom motorcycle parts is way more than enough for me at 74 years old.

Besides, I don't like working for someone else anyway, even if the boss is a pretty young lass that likes me...lol

I bout a set of those 1/2” Pittsburgh impact sockets, both SAE and metric last month when they were on sale for $13 each. Couldn’t pass that up. Of course I spent considerably more buying the Hercules 1/2” impact driver to go along with the sockets.

 

[Happy in NC]

How do HF lifetime warranty work. Just exchange a wrench or are there more hoops to jump through. Most of my tools are old Craftsman where you could just walk in and exchange them

 

[jyoutz]

How do HF lifetime warranty work. Just exchange a wrench or are there more hoops to jump through. Most of my tools are old Craftsman where you could just walk in and exchange them

It’s the same for HF. (For the tools that are lifetime warranty). I do have a large set of the old craftsman US made hand tools that I bought back in the 1980s. I wonder if they still honor that warranty since craftsman tools are still sold by Lowe’s and Ace Hardware?

 

[5030]

I bout a set of those 1/2” Pittsburgh impact sockets, both SAE and metric last month when they were on sale for $13 each. Couldn’t pass that up. Of course I spent considerably more buying the Hercules 1/2” impact driver to go along with the sockets.

Only non air powered impact I have is the small Bauer 20 volt one that is good for smaller bolts. I run the sockets with either my Astro Pneumatic Thor 1/2" drive air impact or my IR 3/4 drive air impact with a 3/4 to 1/2 impact rated adapter. So I abuse them all the time. The Thor makes 1700 foot pounds break away and the IR makes over 2000 break away.

 

[jyoutz]

Only non air powered impact I have is the small Bauer 20 volt one that is good for smaller bolts. I run the sockets with either my Astro Pneumatic Thor 1/2" drive air impact or my IR 3/4 drive air impact with a 3/4 to 1/2 impact rated adapter. So I abuse them all the time. The Thor makes 1700 foot pounds break away and the IR makes over 2000 break away.

The Hercules 1/2” impact does have a breakaway of 1500 foot pounds so they are pretty good for cordless tools.