HF tools that suck

[davygp38]

A few of my friends, and I go to harbor freight once a year, to stock up on cheap consumables, and whatever else we feel like. It is an outing for us, and no one is buying tools they make their living off of. As was posted previously, people buy tools they might only use once a year, like a gear puller, or like myself, I like to have as many clamps around as possible. I know some of the stuff is outright junk, but after looking a tool over, I might take a gamble. I do not gamble on parts for my Machines, or the fluids, but a working man has to save a dollar where he can.

 

[Dargo]

Oh post all you want. It's fun to read.

Am I not in charge of that?

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Hey, a while back my local Horrible Freight place carried a "high line" of their impact sockets that their manager got me after he tired of me bringing in exploded "impact sockets" from them. They cost about half again more than the normal HF 6 pt. impact sockets but, honestly, I've not had any issue with those sockets and none have failed. Of course they were still made in China, but were clearly made with a higher quality metal rather than the regular pot metal used in their sockets.

Since 3/4" and 1" sockets are rather expensive, I'd be game in buying me a SAE and metric set in at least 3/4" size. Anybody know what I'm talking about? My local store has a different manager and I even brought in one of the higher quality sockets to him and all he had to say was "we don't carry those no more".

Thanks for the positive review of those sockets. You've earned a place, Dargo, where a positive review from you really carries a lot of weight. Now I just have to see if I can find the sockets you mentioned.

 

[California]

Here's another HF dog. The $3 bottle opener. The base was curved so bad it could have been mounted on a basketball. Only the extreme top and bottom touched the wall.

I tried to straighten it with a rubber hammer (the usual 'Some assembly required') before putting it on the wall. Broke off the top tab.



Update, this evening:
I bought a replacement. Every other one on the display was flat. Moral: Check everything before you leave the store! I had forgotten this cardinal rule for shopping at HF.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

If I buy a shopvac there, I sure hope it does.

I've not had any bad luck with HF stuff, so far it has all worked well.

 

[Dargo]

Thanks for the positive review of those sockets. You've earned a place, Dargo, where a positive review from you really carries a lot of weight. Now I just have to see if I can find the sockets you mentioned.

Yeah, as much as I hate to admit it, I'm impressed with them and they are a 'good' value. They are NOT the cheapo sockets that you normally see that you just know are made of pot metal. However, for a higher quality socket, their higher price still makes them a bargain. And to think, I'm bragging about one of their products and I'm putting it in the "it sucks" thread. Oh well, I've listed plenty of their items that are totally junk in the "doesn't suck" thread.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

I've not had any bad luck with HF stuff, so far it has all worked well.

 

[Markcuda]

I know, lets put up a poll.
How many people bought cheep Chinese stuff/tools from Harbor Freight, knowing full well that it may not last one use and then complained about it:laughing::laughing:

 

[Skyco]

I've not had any bad luck with HF stuff, so far it has all worked well.

My experience is pretty much the same. I own lots of tools from there that I'd otherwise not have if I had to pay Snap-On prices.
I've had very very few that I had to return....in fact I used to buy the extended warranties but quit since I never needed one.
My biggest purchase was a 30 ton wood splitter, it has split literally tons and tons of wood, for hundreds less than the other choices.
Next biggest was a plasma cutter, bought the extended warranty which has now expired, have had NO problems with it.
My welders didn't come from there, one is a Lincoln bought before there ever was a HF, the other 2 are Hobarts, one bigger than anything they sell, the other I probably also bought before there was an HF around here...
The one thing I like is since lots of their small stuff is one third of the price so I buy 3, leave one at home, one in the truck and one at my camp. That way I can't forget to take one and am always prepared:thumbsup:
And ya know I leave their $3 digital multimeters in my truck and my camp instead of my $300 Fluke, never had one quit and if it gets stolen..oh well only $3.

 

[k0ua]

And ya know I leave their $3 digital multimeters in my truck and my camp instead of my $300 Fluke, never had one quit and if it gets stolen..oh well only $3.

Same here, if I want to measure voltage precisely on the bench I grab the expensive digital, if I want to see if the alternator is charging, and I have 14.5 volts instead of 11.9 I grab one of about 4 Harbor Freight cheap chintzy Chinese digital meters. If I leave it setting on the tire and run over it.. so what?
I have lost 3 or 5 bucks depending on if I had the coupon that day for it. Their junk works well enough for most things, and some things are exceptional bargains. Some HF tools work as well as anything you are going to find anywhere. Some is just junk. Choose carefully, I do.:thumbsup:
James K0UA

 

[dex3361]

Yeah, as much as I hate to admit it, I'm impressed with them and they are a 'good' value. They are NOT the cheapo sockets that you normally see that you just know are made of pot metal. However, for a higher quality socket, their higher price still makes them a bargain. And to think, I'm bragging about one of their products and I'm putting it in the "it sucks" thread. Oh well, I've listed plenty of their items that are totally junk in the "doesn't suck" thread.

Look if Dargo says they are tolerable then they must be on Snap On level. Could you post the Model # or a link to this golden find. I am in the market for a 3/4 socket set myself.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I got a set of the 3/4 drive in both metric and SAE for Christmas. Cant say as to what quality they are, but they claim to have a lifetime warranty.

 

[crazyal]

I use to be jealous of you guys with a local store but not so much now. I usually pick out things that I feel pretty safe about before ordering. Of course I err on the side of caution as who wants to deal with shipping back junk that cost a few bucks. I think if a store was close by I may be more tempted to place a bet on the HF wheel of chance.

 

[logdog]

I think if a store was close by I may be more tempted to place a bet on the HF wheel of chance.

I bought the Harbor Freight Wheel of Chance when it was on sale and could not be happier with it. It even came with batteries!

 

[buckeyefarmer]

My biggest gripe with HF is when I go to get something and it isn't on the shelf.

 

[sixdogs]

OK, I like a lot of their limited-use stuff like 3" sockets and such. I'd never buy an electric anything and have been generally pleased IF I buy on "sale" and it's a somewhat primitive tool. However, I bought a dead blow plastic hammer, probably filled with lead? or who knows what. Maybe depleted uranium. Anyway, it sucks.

It worked fine for a while and still works but the plastic coating has powdered over like a real old chocolate bar that was frozen and was deteriorating.
It's not that it's deteriorating as such, and I can't really figure it out but it looks like it's growing a fungus. It's not but I don't know what it is. It still works but now I wear rubber gloves when I use it. I'm thinking Sears for a real one the next time.

 

[Markcuda]

It's not that it's deteriorating as such, and I can't really figure it out but it looks like it's growing a fungus.

I will be sending you the doctor bill for making me fall out of my chair laughing:laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[bullbreaker]

Don't buy the HF athletic support, its suppose to hold 2 nuts and only held 1 of mine !

Boone

 

[PapaPerk]

The whole freaking company!

Buy American made and quit selling out our country buying cheap Chinese garbage.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

The whole freaking company!

Buy American made and quit selling out our country buying cheap Chinese garbage.

Pretty hard to do this day in age...