HF tools that suck

[czechsonofagun]

That one is quite a surprise.

I get lucky sometimes - got three kids too

As far as I recollect, the saw stopped working in a middle of an project and I took it apart and decided to change brushes. I was able to find in a box of treasures brushes from who knows what that actually worked in the saw (after some file shaping). That fix gave me time to finish the project (tire carrier for my jeep) and the saw worked for some time after. When it died it was the classic burned field smell and I didn't bother to mess with it.

 

[EddieWalker]

I second the Makita, the beating my 4 1/2" grinder took is hard to believe. Bosch is a great name overseas and I trust it completely - but don't have any yet.

I heard Hitachi is on the level with Makita.

I have two Hitachi tools. My 1 9/16" Rotary Hammer is the most impressive thing that I've seen for going through concrete. It litterly just melts through it without any effort on my part. The SDS Max bits are a little pricey, but not too bad when compared to cement bits and how quickly they were out.

The other is my small, portable air compressor. I've had it a year now and it's a power house. So far, so good.

I'm very impressed with Hitachi, and I'm thinking about a new chop saw. My Delta is on it's last leg and I'm starting to think about what to get to replace it. It's between Makita, Bosch and Hitachi.

Eddie

 

[jinman]

The last time I was in HF, I bought a dozen of these on sale for $2.99 to give as stocking stuffers at Christmas. With the flashfloods we have here in Texas, you would be well served to have one in every car you own to shatter windows if you get caught in/under rising water. This particular model has a very strong spring and heavy punch. I guess the tool doesn't suck, but the situation where you'd need to use it sure would.

 

[patrick_g]

The last time I was in HF, I bought a dozen of these on sale for $2.99 to give as stocking stuffers at Christmas. With the flashfloods we have here in Texas, you would be well served to have one in every car you own to shatter windows if you get caught in/under rising water. This particular model has a very strong spring and heavy punch. I guess the tool doesn't suck, but the situation where you'd need to use it sure would.

I have a couple of those and an American one too. The HF sort of work. Well, one works pretty good but not as good as the American one and the other HF one rapidly got way soft in its trip action. I hope the folks carrying them around as life saving equipment aren't being given false hope.

There are inexpensive little multitools with hammers made for smashing glass and a seatbelt cutter on the side. Might be a better choice.

I have given practical gifts too. I gave some friends of ours a substantial size fire extinguisher for Christmas one year. Before New Years they had to put out a fire in their bedroom between them and the exit. They used to joke about being afraid of what I might give them next that they might suddenly need to use.

Pat

 

[2manyrocks]

They should change their name to Disposable Tools (DT).

My Dewalt miter saw says "Made in USA." I've been using it for over ten years. Some of the el cheapo saws didn't last out the week long build on the playground. The cheap drills used to drive screws didn't last long, either.

 

[Ryan03]

I got a great deal on a pack of 4 inch cut off wheels, until the first time I used one it exploded and went all over my shop. I should have known better, seeing as they were 10 for 2 dollars. I am realy starting to regret asking my wife to buy me that HF cigaret lighter powered difibulator for $29.95 for xmas, as I am not sure whether or not I can depend on it. Oh well, I 'm pretty sure its built in flourecent light and pencil sharpener features will give me adequate service for the money, and I will just continue to eat healthy for now. Just kidding........ I love reeses cups and doughnuts.

 

[gemini5362]

I think a common problem that I see is people buying stuff from HF then being upset when it does not work well or is built poorly. If a premium brand (ridgid, makita, dewalt etc) drill sells for 200.00 and I buy one at HF for 20.00 I am going to expect it to be built cheaply. If it burns out the first time I used it then I should expect that since it was 1/10th the price of a premium brand and that difference in value has to be made up somewhere. . The 28.00 chainsaw chain sharpener I bought is built very cheaply and barely does the job. I made a decision to try it rather than spend the 200. or more for a premium one. I am happy that it sharpens my chains and if it blows up the next time I use it I wont buy another one. But I made the decision to buy cheap. Sometimes I buy something cheap from Hf and am pleasantly suprised at how well it works. But for the most part I buy cheap stuff that I am going to just use once every few years or use once and throw it away. Sometimes I buy something and I find that once I have it I use it a lot. If it burns up I use that as a learning experience and know more what to look for in my next premium brand purchase

 

[ninefinger]

I have a couple of those and an American one too. The HF sort of work. Well, one works pretty good but not as good as the American one and the other HF one rapidly got way soft in its trip action. I hope the folks carrying them around as life saving equipment aren't being given false hope.
Pat

Like jinman, I gave some out last year to my family last year as stocking stuffers for the same purpose. The one I use in my shop has gotten to the point it does not work properly but when new it was flawless. All I ask for the ones I gave out is to work the second time they are tried (I watched each family member try their's out.) The one in the shop has been used a lot, I guess it was time for it to wear out.

 

[mrutkaus]

Boy, you rich guys and your Harbor Freight tools.

Homier is all I can afford (although I did get the HF 6x8 greenhouse, not bad)!!

Homier's $13 18volt 3/8" drill kit is super, no kidding. Always works, had it for three years.

And I steered my neighbor to a drywall lift for $100 at a local Homier sale a couple years ago, same as the $250/$300 ones other places, he likes it.

Got to wait for them to come around, though. There is a schedule on their website. I think they are mostly Eastern US.

Mike

 

[jinman]

The one I use in my shop has gotten to the point it does not work properly but when new it was flawless. All I ask for the ones I gave out is to work the second time they are tried (I watched each family member try their's out.) The one in the shop has been used a lot, I guess it was time for it to wear out.

You know, that's exactly what I was thinking. Most of these tools I give out will only be used a couple of times. If one of those is in an emergency, then they are worth the money. I'm just worried that some family member won't believe how well they work and decide to give them a try. Oops!
Can you imagine how much damage one of these could do in the hands of a teenager determined to vandalize all the cars in his neighborhood?

HF carries several of thiese punches. The brass colored one is thier most expensive and it has much more power that the other ones they sell. I'll use it on sheetmetal I'm putting on my barn to make a screw dimple and see how it holds up.

 

[Workstead]

Welding related.

I've been doing a little stick welding lately and my slag hammer with point and chisel tips do an OK job getting the slag off of the weld. I tried the needle scaler air tool from HF last night and it works great. Since I am a new welder my joints aren't real pretty yet. I leave some holes and my hammer doesn't get down into the holes to get the slag out. This needle scaler works great. I picked it up at a yard sale a few years ago for $5 and remembered it last night so I gave it a try. Well worth the money

Clem

HF Needle Scaler
Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

 

[Travelover]

No fair posting GOOD reviews of HF stuff here. They belong in this parallel thread.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/114176-harbor-freight-tools-dont-suck.html

 

[Iplayfarmer]

...Sometimes I buy something cheap from Hf and am pleasantly suprised at how well it works...

That's my theory. It all fun and exciting, like buying a lottery ticket. Sometimes after the metalic looking plastic gets scraped off the surface I find that it isn't worth the stuff it's made out of. Sometimes I hit the jackpot and get a great tool for a rediculously low price.

To date I've gotten a lot more out of purchases at HF Tools than I've ever gotten out of the lottery.

 

[schmism]

No fair posting GOOD reviews of HF stuff here. They belong in this parallel thread.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/114176-harbor-freight-tools-dont-suck.html

ya... wanted this one to be a who's who of tools to stay away from.... we have all had stuff we were happy with... as i said.. 90% of the stuff ive bought from them im happy with...

i want to know what everyone elses 10% is!

 

[Workstead]

No fair posting GOOD reviews of HF stuff here. They belong in this parallel thread.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/114176-harbor-freight-tools-dont-suck.html

Hey Travelover,

I stand corrected. I should have paid better attention to the title

Thanks for the diplomatic post.

Clem

 

[patrick_g]

They should change their name to Disposable Tools (DT).

My Dewalt miter saw says "Made in USA." I've been using it for over ten years. Some of the el cheapo saws didn't last out the week long build on the playground. The cheap drills used to drive screws didn't last long, either.

Over ten years. That is the key. My, much newer) DeWart 12 inch compound sliding miter saw (under the plastic cover) says MADE IN CHINA. My less fully featured Milwaukee miter saw is USA and built much more robustly than the DeWart.

Note: DeWart is a reference to the Chinese connection (the R-L reversal thing) not because I can't spell DeWalt.

Pat

 

[patrick_g]

If a premium brand (ridgid, makita, dewalt etc)e

Sorry buddy but... Is DeWart deserving of being in the list of premium tools. (Maybe on price because you pay a premium but not on function or quality)

Within a period of 2 weeks I had the following DeWart tools fail:
1. 4 1/2 angle grinder
2. 4 1/2 angle grinder
3. 14 inch chop saw

Saw was repaired for nearly the cost of a new one. Angle grinder minimum repair cost at factory warranty station was in excess of sale price making them throw away.

Now for the HF tool that sucks. Plastic woodworking clamps that you tighten by repetitive hand squeezing. I broke one and got it replaced under the warranty. Yesterday it broke. Sure they will give me another but... In the mean time I don't have a tool and cost of travel requires me mto wait till I'm going near an HF to do the swap.

Pat

 

[EddieWalker]

...Within a period of 2 weeks I had the following DeWart tools fail:
1. 4 1/2 angle grinder
2. 4 1/2 angle grinder
3. 14 inch chop saw

Pat,

I had a Dewalt 4 1/2 inch grinder that was about two years old, but only had a few hours on it. I bought it before moving to Texas, and most of the time, I just didn't have a need for it. Then the first real welding project that I needed it, it failed on me after just a few hours of use. It just got so hot that it melted down on me is the best way to describe it. I think something wore out inside, like a bearing, and the friction built up with use, but that's just a guess. With less then ten hours of use, there's no excuse.

I replaced it with a knockoff by a company called Nakita. Yes, it's spelled with an N. It worked fine and lasted for years, but at less then $40, it was never ment to last long term and when it dies, I looked for another as I felt I got my moneys worth out of it. No luck, the discount tool store closed up and nobody else that I know of sells that brand.

That's when I bought my first Makita tool. The diffrence is like night and day. It has an amazing amount of power, but what's most striking aobut it is the way it feels when using it. Call it balance or precision, I don't know, but it just feels very smooth. I've had it for about three years now and have beat it up pretty good. It's just awesome at how well it works and there's no sign of wear on it, or parts falling off of it.

I always look for Makita tools first when I need something, but I still sometimes buy other brands if the price is significant on something that is only used rarely.

Eddie

 

[klm]

They sell a great looking hatchet, fiberglass handle and all, works good unless you attempt to use it, especially on something like wood. The steel is dead soft and will look like you were trying to cut rocks with it.

 

[Dargo]

Sorry buddy but... Is DeWart deserving of being in the list of premium tools. (Maybe on price because you pay a premium but not on function or quality)

Within a period of 2 weeks I had the following DeWart tools fail:
1. 4 1/2 angle grinder
2. 4 1/2 angle grinder
3. 14 inch chop saw

Saw was repaired for nearly the cost of a new one. Angle grinder minimum repair cost at factory warranty station was in excess of sale price making them throw away.

Now for the HF tool that sucks. Plastic woodworking clamps that you tighten by repetitive hand squeezing. I broke one and got it replaced under the warranty. Yesterday it broke. Sure they will give me another but... In the mean time I don't have a tool and cost of travel requires me mto wait till I'm going near an HF to do the swap.

Pat

I've had one complete dud from DeWalt, but in my metal shop I have a DeWalt chop saw that has worked for years with zero problems. We've finished the box of 100 abrasive wheels with the chop saw and have started on the next box. That's quite a few hours. I have 2 Makita 4 1/2" angle grinders, 2 DeWalt 4 1/2" angle grinders, 1 7" DeWalt grinder and 1 9" Milwaukee grinder. None have failed. The DeWalt grinders get used the most and literally have hundreds of hours on each. They are no longer yellow because of all the crud on them. Not one single failure, zip, none, nada. The 36v DeWalt angle grinder is quickly becoming a favorite. Their 18v angle grinder is okay for using a slapper wheel to take off spatter, but the battery won't last more than a couple of minutes of real use.

These tools are expensive and that is why I've tried using some Horrible Fright cheapo grinders and chop saws. Out of about 8 or 10 total from Horrible Fright not one single grinder or chop saw has made it past 2 uses. As I've mentioned before, my time is far more valuable than spending it running back and forth to HF to exchange their trash while not being able to finish a project. I don't have any of their cordless tools, but my larger drills are all either Bosch or Hitachi. My large digital sliding compound miter saw is a Hitachi and it is extremely smooth to operate. Still, it's hard for me to say that DeWalt is anything but quality being that I've only had one failure and that was right out of the box. Maybe DeWalt sells some price leader junk now and that's what you bought. Their equipment I own is used frequently and used hard. As I said earlier, I don't have the time nor patience to deal with junk tools or equipment. That is likely why I have an extreme dislike of Horrible Fright's powered tools.