Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[sixdogs]

Let me mention some flat files I bought. They were in a box of 5 or 10 and came from India. They actually are pretty good and have held up far longer than I expected. Almost the life of any other file.

Also, I would not buy one of their generators but the food truck at a local auction has one and uses it for 10 hours a day or so and several days a week. They have had it for at least a year that I am aware of and have had no problems.

 

[sixdogs]

I find HF drill bits to be the worst quality of any bits I've ever used. They snap so quickly that I don't recall ever having one that lasted long enough to get dull. Hopeless.

More than five years ago they gave a free pack of drill bits as a promo during a sale and I remember the warning on the packaging said to not use in wood or steel. Huh? What's left?

 

[Baby Grand]

We have a company around these parts (New England) called Ocean State Job Lot. It is quite successful selling basically "all the crap that no one wanted to buy from other retailers". They do sell a lot of HF quality merchandise but they also sell high end foods getting close to their sell by date and simply overstocks. You never know quite what you will find which is one of the attractions. I don't buy tools there but I do stock up on Swiss and Danish made jam and $2/jar for Emeril's Gaaahlic Tomato sauce and similar items. Great place to take advantage of America's absurd "sell by date" obsession on canned goods.

That's so funny - my wife & her sister were talking about buying food at Ocean State. Sis mentioned that if stuff doesn't sell at Ocean State, then off it goes to Dollar Store! Pretty soon we were all getting misty eyed, reminiscing about Rubie Vine and Choo Choo.

We outfitted ourselves with his & her snow shoes, last Winter, at Ocean State, for a total cost of $49 or something rediculous. Had a great time trooping around in the deep snow. Now that we know we like doing it, I'd consider getting some higher quality ones.

Which brings me around to a question:
Is HF a gateway to tool adiction?

"He gives the kids free samples,
because he knows, full well,
that today's young, innocent faces,
will be tomorrow's clientele."

 

[Garandman]

I find HF drill bits to be the worst quality of any bits I've ever used. They snap so quickly that I don't recall ever having one that lasted long enough to get dull. Hopeless.

Should I just go for the $80 DeWalt? I'd prefer to spend $40-50 for a set 1/8" to 1/2".

 

[California]

Is HF a gateway to tool addiction?

"He gives the kids free samples,
because he knows, full well,
that today's young, innocent faces,
will be tomorrow's clientele."

Thought I was the only one here old enough to remember that quote.

 

[Deere Dude]

I haven't read the 469 pages of this thread. But my MIL gave me a gift card so I bought a 1/2 drill from H.F. 1/2 in. Heavy Duty D-Handle Variable Speed Reversible Drill
Is it going to suck?

Yep. My son bought those for stirring mud for tiling. They would last a while then he would just go get another one. Finally after half a dozen of them I told him to get a Milwaukee Magnum where the speed is very controllable and has a ton of power. He did and he stopped buying drills.

I did buy one and used it a couple times but cannot control speed. It is very loud. It is a backup for my other ones now.

 

[IslandTractor]

Should I just go for the $80 DeWalt? I'd prefer to spend $40-50 for a set 1/8" to 1/2".

I buy drill bits now from Amazon. Dewalt, Bosch or Makita, whichever seems the best deal at the time.

 

[Paul Thornton]

More than five years ago they gave a free pack of drill bits as a promo during a sale and I remember the warning on the packaging said to not use in wood or steel. Huh? What's left?

Plastic and water

 

[IslandTractor]

Plastic and water

Only soft plastics.

 

[hutchman]

... I know these have probably already been posted here before but wasn't going to wade through 471 pages looking for them ... and besides ... these never get old!