Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Bedlam]

I respect the views and opinions of the members here,I particularly like these two different threads about HF.Always good to have first hand info before making an order.
With that said,i beg of you to stick to the OP's Title.
The forums history is to just close a thread that gets 'political'.And thats the end of the thread.( I wish there was somehow the moderators could delete the political part as it shifted angles, and maybe place a warning on the page.)Then the thread could continue to perform as it was meant to be from the start. I'm not computer savy so I assume that its either delete or close the complete thread.
I sure can realize how someone myself included feel like expressing the views..
thanks.

 

[Travelover]

Good point. The original intent of this thread was to share experiences (good and bad) with HF tools. So far, I think a lot of good information has been exchanged. I especially appreciate comments on a particular tool or item that someone has actually purchased and used, as opposed to generalizations.

If someone wants to start a new thread to discuss the implications of buying stuff from overseas, I say go for it.

 

[Dargo]

I was just looking at photoshopping the HF ad where they proclaim "Ten Million Satisfied Customers" by adding "but then there is Dargo"

And I think most here know that I intentionally poke fun at myself about having some stuff form Horrible Freight (my kids even call it that now ). Just look at my tag line. Like most everyone, I am certainly open for a bargain if I can find one. Depending on the particular item, I think you can find some bargains at HF. It's just the mystery of trying to figure out what stuff isn't worth taking if it were free and what stuff really is of reasonable quality and is useful at a bargain price. I just post my experiences, good or bad, about particular HF items. Some are bargains and some I strongly feel are not only poor quality but are flat out dangerous due to their poor design/quality.

A lot of equipment I work on is larger equipment and/or equipment that may have rusted on or stuck nuts and bolts. I'm not quite completely all the way over the hill (I've clearly crested the top and am heading down that other side though ) and am not a smallish guy. When I pull on something or yank on something I have every expectancy for it to move. On really tight or stuck bolts, I can shatter the pot metal Pittsburgh hand tools rather easily. I can see using them for light duty stuff or stocking a portable tool kit for repairs with them so I have little invested in the tools that may be lost. I just know from experience they won't hold up nearly well enough to be in the main tool boxes in either of my barns. Items like the coil spring compressor tool and cut off saw wheels are just plain dangerous based my experience and should never be sold to anyone. Other items are good buys. I guess it's sort of like a box of chocolates.

 

[Hanifen]

I have been lurking around this thread for a while now and finally decided to join so I could throw in my two cents.

My dad who is a farmer (corn, soybeans, wheat and cattle) has been ordering from HF catelog for years. He will say that most of the stuff he has gotten has been great and has always worked out for him. The one thing he says is terrible are the Vice Grip knocks offs - but he is also a huge fan of Vice Grip brand.

Over the years he has bought me several tools (10 inch miter saw, cordless drill, air compressor, corded hammer drill, sockets - just to name a few) and they all are still working - except one. This is the story I like when people talk bad about HF. He bought me a Chicago Electric 14 volt cordless drill about 12 years ago. As of last month I can no longer use it - but here is the kicker - the drill still works but the battery charger fried. So I have a drill and two batteries that I can not use because I can not charge the batteries. I called HF to see if by any chance they had replacements but it was discontinued years ago. I threw it up in the top of a cabinet and some day hope to stumble across a charger but I just like how a drill that is supposed to be crap lasted 12 years and would still be going if was not for the charger. This drill was also used - now not everyday but anytime I was drill holes, putting in screws or putting a wire brush on it to take rust off it was there for me and worked everytime.

Recently I had a coupon for the Air hammer with 5 bits. So far I am very impressed with it and has more power than I was expecting - not bad for $5.49 if you ask me.

My dad recently bought the air needler/scaler and says he has easily gotten he money out of it so far and is very happy with his purchase.

So there is my story and it is just nice to see others who like HF as much as I do.

 

[Bedlam]

I have used the coil spring compressor several tie without troubles (knock on wood) but I can see that with its cost .9.99 dollars compared to the more expensive ones It would seem to be inferior. I'm not sure also didn't know if people have had troubles with the unit or not.I am always a bit cautious when i use it, but then I dont use it as a business or often.Maybe this makes a difference
I will definitely agree on the vice grips.I have had sears ones also. and after skinned knuckles and more not having them grip right I would spend the extra dollars for the 'real thing'.
I will highly recommend the small needle nose vice grips. I find I'm lost without them, often overusing then when I should have a wrench, but they are formed just right to really grasp,Id rank them right up there with my dry wall screws and duck tape as essentials.

Without any stores close to me years ago i had never heard fo HF.I was some excited when i was given a catalog..

 

[Hanifen]

I am lucky to have a HF store just 3 miles from my home. Last weekend alone I was there everyday picking up odds and ends I needed while out working.

Example - paintbrushes. They had them on sale of $0.49 cents for a 2 inch brush. I was staining and polying some trim so I went and picked some up. I was very happy with them. In the past I have bought the cheap brushes from Home Depot and the hairs are always falling out. I didn't have a single hair come out on the brushes I used this weekend. What more can you ask for.

 

[charlz]

He bought me a Chicago Electric 14 volt cordless drill about 12 years ago. As of last month I can no longer use it - but here is the kicker - the drill still works but the battery charger fried. So I have a drill and two batteries that I can not use because I can not charge the batteries.

If you have, or can buy cheaply, another charger that puts out the correct voltage just take the old one apart, run wires out that you plug into the new one and you are back in business. You are using the old base and the new 'guts'. Just be careful that you pay attention to polarity.

It's also possible your charger fried due to a defective battery. I 'upgraded' to a smart charger that can detect bad batteries when I did the above procedure. I had a whole kit of tools and no charger so it was worth it to me.

 

[Hanifen]

I might have to try that. About two years ago I bought one of the Drill Master drills to have as a second drill. It has worked great. Then about a month ago I bought the cordless combo pack that came with the drill, sander, flashlight and jigsaw. It uses the same charger and batteries I already have and it came with a battery and charger. For fun maybe I will buy another Drill Master drill just to get a third charger and try what you said about rewiring my old charger.

Would I have to watch for the new charger doing 18V batteries and the old batteries being 14V?

I don't have a ton of experience rewiring small electronics.

 

[patrick_g]

Good point. The original intent of this thread was to share experiences (good and bad) with HF tools.

Close but no cigar, not even a tiparillo. This thread is to discuss HF tools that DON'T SUCK. There is another thread for discussing HF tools THAT DO SUCK.

Often folks eager to bash HF don't note the difference in their unbridled enthusiasm to bash HF. Likewise the whole imported tool thing needs a separate thread if for no other reason than to be a lightning rod for the rabid anti-import folk. giving them a place to rant in general about foreign goods and not DUMP here. HF is NOT the only store selling foreign made tools of whatever quality.

Pat

 

[Travelover]

Close but no cigar, not even a tiparillo. This thread is to discuss HF tools that DON'T SUCK. There is another thread for discussing HF tools THAT DO SUCK.

Often folks eager to bash HF don't note the difference in their unbridled enthusiasm to bash HF. Likewise the whole imported tool thing needs a separate thread if for no other reason than to be a lightning rod for the rabid anti-import folk. giving them a place to rant in general about foreign goods and not DUMP here. HF is NOT the only store selling foreign made tools of whatever quality.

Pat

Not to pull rank on you, but I started this thread under the name DetroitTom, before the TBN computer locked me out when I tried to update my file.

My intent at that time was to get people to report out on their experiences with HF tools. Someone else started the HF tools that do suck thread as kind of a protest, to my amusement.

I agree with your statement about it being a magnet for folks eager to rant about foreign goods. Why don't you start a new thread to redirect that "discussion" so we can redirect ranters over to the new thread?