Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[5030]

HF fasteners are mostly second rate grade 2 wannabees. If I want real nuts and bolts, I go to Fastenal.

I've had excellent luck with the Bauer 20 volt cordless stuff but the little 2 amp hour batteries are worthless. I buy the big ones.

I have one of those Braun rechargeable LED lights (recharges via USB) and it's been perfect. Even has a Toshiba Li-Ion battery in the handle, just like the Bauer battery packs do.

 

[daugen]

I wish all hardware was at least grade 5.
except for the bolts you use as shear pins

 

[Popgadget]

Tractor Supply is a good place to get hardware. I keep my bins stocked with grade 8 fasteners they sell by the pound. They have grade 3 and 5 as well.

 

[5030]

Tractor Supply is a good place to get hardware. I keep my bins stocked with grade 8 fasteners they sell by the pound. They have grade 3 and 5 as well.

Sure about that? I bet all their fasteners were cold headed in China so the grade is always questionable?

 

[hugo454]

bought the heavy duty grinder pedestal stand and am pleased with it.
Also have used their full motion T.V. wall hanging brackets on all my T.V's and am very satisfied with them and their price.

 

[sandytrail]

I bought a Pittsburg Automotive ball joint separator. First time I used it the fork opened up and was useless.
Large floor jack (don't recall model) worked well for about a year. Began leaking down so took to get repaired. Was told they couldn't repair a Harbor Freight jack because of the chinese parts.
Bought several sets of sockets. All continue to work well.
I find that 4 1/2" grinding wheels don't last as long as a dewalt or other quality wheels. The cutting wheels do ok.
Blue tarp lasted one use on the road. It tore into shreds in no time.
Tried assorted cotter pins. They are softer metal and I wish I had bought better ones.
Bought assorted lynch pin set. it saved the day many times. Use them on the tractor, the trailer and wherever you need a pin to hold things together.
Bought a 6 inch vise. My brother came over and was tightening something and stripped the gear in it. I bought another from Harbor Frt.
Anvil works fine.
I didn't like the 6 inch grinder. Too weak. The wheel was always stopping. Sold it and bought a better one.
Many more tools. Now I buy most of my stuff at Northern or elsewhere. Buy very little from Harbor.

 

[5030]

You probably didn't secure the tarp properly and the wind got under it and it ripped. Most people don't have a clue about securing a tarp anyway. I do, I hauled steel on a flat bed for a lot of years and never shredded a tarp. The rest I don't know about. I use Milwaukee grinding wheels myself and never HF sockets unless they are the black oxide impact rated ones. I've never broken on and believe me, I've tried.

 

[5030]

I bought a Pittsburg Automotive ball joint separator. First time I used it the fork opened up and was useless.

I use a pickle fork and a 5 pound drilling hammer myself, nothing to spread open or bend.

 

[John0829]

I have always considered Harbor Freight tools to be the Bic's of the tool market, use it once and throw it away. If I manage to get a second use then I have gotten my money's worth.

 

[marhar]

I was ispired by another thread with this link to Weldingweb:

HF tools that don't suck - WeldingWeb - Professional Welding Forum

The Weldingweb site is mostly about metal working tools, so I thought it might be interesting to share which tools / products we have found to be a good value at HF. I don't think anyone seriously thinks they sell good tools, but some are adequate for the need or usage we have in mind.

Some of my experiences:

1000# capacity folding trailer, about $250. Works great for my light duty needs and folds in half to stand on end in my garage, out of the weather.

4 1/2 inch angle grinder, $15. So far, so good for sharpening mower blades, dressing up metal projects

Welding magnets. Inexpensive (with the coupons I get nonstop) and fascinating for the kids to play with.

Diamond blade wet saw, $50. Works great and allowed me to do my whole bath ceramic tile project without renting any tools. Water tray is hard to remove without slopping water.

880# overhead hoist. Paid $80. Mounted to reinforced ceiling joists in barn. Extremely useful for horsing around 3 point attachments, lawn tractor, etc. A real back saver.

Box knives - not worth the $1 on sale - handle breaks on first use.

The floor Creeper for $19 on sale. It is plastic and fits well. I followed advice I read on the HF reviews: I drilled two small holes in the creeper (which is hollow) and filled the creeper with spray foam insulation. The insulation bonds the front and back together to make the creeper rigid.

 

[California]

I have always considered Harbor Freight tools to be the Bic's of the tool market, use it once and throw it away. If I manage to get a second use then I have gotten my money's worth.

Bic pens? Bic lighters?

I have Bic lighters in my camping toolbox from before I quit smoking in 1988. They still work fine, in very infrequent use now. Indestructible.

Two, I think including one I still have, fell out of my shirt pocket (at different times) while we were dredging for gold, stayed underwater for a week or two, then worked fine when I later found them. An hour to dry the flint and they were same as new. (Try that with a Zippo!)

Forget wooden matches for survival gear. A couple of Bic lighters is a better choice. Quality, and simple.

 

[5030]

I have always considered Harbor Freight tools to be the Bic's of the tool market, use it once and throw it away. If I manage to get a second use then I have gotten my money's worth.

That used to hold water but not anymore. I agree the cheap stuff like the Chicago line is single use junk but the higher cost lines like Icon, Bauer and Hercules are quality stuff, come with a lifetime replacement guarantee and hold up very well. Like everything in life, you get what you pay for.

I'll put my Icon stuff up head to head against everything else, Snap-On and MAC included.

 

[5030]

Bic pens? Bic lighters?

I have Bic lighters in my camping toolbox from before I quit smoking in 1988. They still work fine, in very infrequent use now. Indestructible.

Two, I think including one I still have, fell out of my shirt pocket (at different times) while we were dredging for gold, stayed underwater for a week or two, then worked fine when I later found them. An hour to dry the flint and they were same as new. (Try that with a Zippo!)

Forget wooden matches for survival gear. A couple of Bic lighters is a better choice. Quality, and simple.

BIC pens make excellent spit ball blow guns too.... Least they did when I was in high school. Nothing better than getting hit with a wet spitball in the back of your head. Makes for a complete day. SOP in our survival gear, BIC lighters.

 

[TMGT]

BIC also makes a nice durable surf board, better then beginner foam, not as rigid as fiberglass but still rides decent.
As indestructible as their pens/lighters!

Sent from my SM-G715U1 using TractorByNet mobile app

 

[hornett22]

This may have been mentioned before on this thread - too many posts to check back for that. There are a number of HF items that I buy - some because I know I will only use them infrequently, or the price is such that I will get enough use out of them for the price.

But the one thing that pops into my mind as a really good purchase is one of their rechargeable spotlights. I have four of them (house, barn, garage, pickup) and they have proven to be really reliable.

I also had a number of name brand and expensive spotlights that were junk - stopped working and tossed in the trash after I got tired of trying to make them work.

I just hope the quality does not go down hill like some products do after they become popular.
The link: 3 Watt LED Rechargeable Cordless Spotlight

I'll go check them out

 

[Gregster613]

hornett22 & 5030, How do you guys do that? beowulf's post was many pages back yet you show their whole post in a light blue square, in your new post. Is that a quote function? I'd like to know how to do this rather than the way I usually have to state their name, post #, date, etc., etc. Which one of the site function buttons is used to bring a person's entire post into your new one? Thanks, Greg

 

[bearthebruce]

@Gregster613 do you see the +Quote below your post? When I click it, your post is copied. To add it here I simply click Insert Quote:

hornett22 & 5030, How do you guys do that? beowulf's post was many pages back yet you show their whole post in a light blue square, in your new post. Is that a quote function? I'd like to know how to do this rather than the way I usually have to state their name, post #, date, etc., etc. Which one of the site function buttons is used to bring a person's entire post into your new one? Thanks, Greg

 

[Oaktree]

That used to hold water but not anymore. I agree the cheap stuff like the Chicago line is single use junk but the higher cost lines like Icon, Bauer and Hercules are quality stuff, come with a lifetime replacement guarantee and hold up very well. Like everything in life, you get what you pay for.

Whose "lifetime"? Most of their product lines (other than the el cheapo Chicago Electric, etc.) seem to be discontinued after 5 years or so.

 

[5030]

Has not happened with their impact socket sets that I'm aware of.

 

[Midniteoyl]

@Gregster613 do you see the +Quote below your post? When I click it, your post is copied. To add it here I simply click Insert Quote:

Simply hitting 'Reply' will also quote. +Quote is good if you want to quote more than one reply.