[haryv]

I have seen the topic of discussion on this site but have not ordered from them. Cosctco used to sell the stainless steel 41 inch tool box and man, wanted it at the time but was cash short. Now I am interested in it and found what is a replica on harbord freight. Seems to be of the same quality. Anyone care to comment on it?

I was looking at its stud welder

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

And top tool box

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

[-Spike-]

They're all garbage. I buy a lot of tools there, mostly crap I want to try out before I buy a real one. All their merchandise is disappointing, but in some cases the disappointment is worth the low price.

-Spike

[2mbb]

x2. I agree with spike, mostly. I have a store near me so I can look at the stuff up close before I buy. I looked at a small torque wrench last week and it was crap (but cheap). It was not a precision device. However, I did find a box of 100 various screw driver bits for $7, where my local hardware store had the same thing for $20. If you don't need precision or quality and will only be using the tool on an infrequent basis, then it's maybe good value for the price.

However, I have not looked specifically at their tool boxes...

[94cruisercal]

Get your shrink tube, clamps, nonessentials, fuses, etc from them and youll be happy. Do not buy a tool that you WILL NEED to work reliably!!!!. Thats being said I have a grinder I got for 14 bucks that has lasted for years of moderate use at home with nonessential hobby work. If its for a job....I wouldnt buy their stuff.

[Koffer]

If you cant look at it 1st hand at one of HF stores I wouldn't order it . I buy fiberglass handled 5#hammers, gloves,crappy uni drillbits, etc
I have gotten a air muffler cut off tool for under $10 on sale and its outlasted $20 of cut off wheels so far so it was worth it .

[VFRMAN]

My $.02: Don't buy anything from HF that you apply force to. i.e. sockets, ratchets, pry bars, extensions, breaker bars, etc. It's almost comical (except for the anger that ensues at midnight while you're trying to finish a project) how easy that stuff twists, bends, or just plain shears off in your hands.

I second the comments on some non-essential goods though.

[Brentbba]

x whatever on quality of anything precision. Had a cheapo torque wrench the FIL gave me literally come apart in pieces while doing the birfs about a year or so ago.

Agree on the minor items tho. Some great prices there.

[brokenparts]

usually single use only however my grinder, abrasive cut off chop saw and dead blow hammers have done really well.

[Mace]

Originally Posted by VFRMAN

My $.02: Don't buy anything from HF that you apply force to. i.e. sockets, ratchets, pry bars, extensions, breaker bars, etc. It's almost comical (except for the anger that ensues at midnight while you're trying to finish a project) how easy that stuff twists, bends, or just plain shears off in your hands.

I second the comments on some non-essential goods though.

Disagree..


I have used my HF sockets on impact guns and the box ends on almost everything.

The ratchets pretty much suck, but so do SEARS units.

I love HF. The best trail tools ever..

So what if you lose them or someone does not give a tool back, you are out what, $0.25??

[brokenparts]

Originally Posted by Mace

Disagree..


I have used my HF sockets on impact guns and the box ends on almost everything.

The ratchets pretty much suck, but so do SEARS units.

I love HF. The best trail tools ever..

So what if you lose them or someone does not give a tool back, you are out what, $0.25??

True dat... I have my nicer stuff in my garage boxes and keep my HF stuff in my tool bag.

[Isotel]

Ive been happy with some of the stuff that i get from HF.. It depends on the use of the item..

We used the stud welder for one body work project and it worked good for the weekend..

Ive been Extremely happy with the 3 ton Yellow Floor Jack, Works better than my freinds Craftsman!

Breaker bars, impact wrenches, Trail Tool Set, and Pry bars are all just fine!

If your using the tools everyday to make money, you want the good stuff, but for us weekend warriors and part time wrenchers you can get by just fine with cheep china crap!

[Cuerno Largo]

I have been happy for the most part. As mentioned before, I like to use them to find out how much I am going to use an item before I buy an expensive one.

Example. I bought a metal cutting band saw.

I paid 189 on sale. That thing has been awesome. Well worth the money. If it ever wears out, I will go spend 1200 on a higher quality model. You can bet I will use it until then. Maybe it will never wear out.

Engine stand (not the cheapest one which I was unhappy with, the V shaped one)- happy
Engine hoist- happy
20 ton shop press- happy
Screwdrivers- break the tips off occasionally but overall happy
box end wrenches- happy
step bits- happy
Impact sockets- happy
gloves- happy
4" grinders- happy- crappy quality, but at 10 dollars on sale I bought several and they are essentially "throw away"
little remote control boat- awesome

welding wire- not happy
ratchets-not happy
mole chasers- definitely not happy



I don't make my living off these tools so they are good for me. I can see where someone that makes a living with tools would not be happy with them.

[94cruisercal]

also............Check the packages before you hit the register...Half the time some tweaker bastard has taken the one socket you did need........That goes for pep boys and wal mart as well

[VFRMAN]

Originally Posted by Mace

Disagree..


I have used my HF sockets on impact guns and the box ends on almost everything.

The ratchets pretty much suck, but so do SEARS units.

I love HF. The best trail tools ever..

So what if you lose them or someone does not give a tool back, you are out what, $0.25??

I misspoke a bit. The socket that chapped my ass was a Northern Tool unit.

Totally happy with my fish house 2 burner cooktop. That thing rules!

[-Spike-]

Originally Posted by Cuerno Largo

mole chasers- definitely not happy

WTF is that?

-Spike

[AATLAS1X]

Buy a Costco or Home depot Husky box. I have the largest husky they make and love it. My buy had 10 Costco stainless steel boxes and they are nice. Not a Snap-on, but lets be real.

I have a lot of Snap-on stuff, most air and cordless impacts.

HF has the cool swivel head ratchets that I love and cheap!

I have bought all my levels and strait edges there and they have the best tool drawer liners ever!!!

Long and short box end wrenches are great.

[vasellers]

Bought small pancake style air compressor for under 80 bucks, used for wood working and trim. Has worked much longer than I thought it would, no problems in 3 years.

[Cuerno Largo]

Originally Posted by -Spike-

WTF is that?

-Spike

One of those ultrasonic things you put in the ground. I researched and everything I read said they were bullshit, but for 10 bucks on sale I figured "what the hell". Damn moles tunneled right up to it, around it, and over it. They practically lived in it. I'm glad I did not spend 40 bucks at some other store.

I think the key to HF is wait for whatever you want to try out to go on sale. They periodically mark down just about everything in the store, usually pretty substantially.

[tltaylor22]

For the most part I have had great success with HF. Sure there are things that are crap, but 90% of what I have bought there has worked out great. I've only broken one wrench over the years and no sockets. I was wailing on the wrench with a 12lb sledge so I hold no ill feelings for it breaking. The sawzall is crap. The ball joint fork bent. The pinion pullers break, but I bought three and completed the project just fine. then I returned the two borken ones for $ back. I just consider some of the stuff to be like dixie cups...you use it then throw it away. I've had the water cooled metal band saaw for over 10 years and beat the snot out of it for the first 7. The pump just went out this winter, but it still cuts better than my Wilton at work. I bought my full size drill press at the same time and it is still going strong. Last year I bought one of thier electric cement curbing machines and laid 1000 feet of curb in my yard. It cost me $400 for the machine and less than $200 for the cement, sand and colorant. That 1000 feet of colored/stamped curb would have cost me easily $5,000. Pretty sure it paid for itself. I even pocketed $ after putting in some curb for a neighbor one afternoon. My floor jack is still going strong after 6 years of use. When I bought it the lady at the counter told me that the first thing I should do is pull the rubber orings on the pump and replace them with the spares that came in the box. I guess the origionals tend to go bad. I did that ba few weeks after i bought it and it's never had a problem. Thier metal woodworking clamps are great. Wait for them to come on sale for $3-4. I've got 15 of them and use them on welding projects all the time.

[Michael Hanson]

Craftsman,snap-on,rigid,dresser,esp. older tools,I have used Harbor Freight when I expected only one use for it. Their spray equipment is terrible. 2 cents Mike

[likewelders]

All in all, I've had pretty good luck with HF tools.

I have Snap-on, MAC, SK, Craftsman and others. I keep them in the garage tool boxes. The back of my truck is 95% HF and none have failed me (and if stolen, cheap to replace. Maybe the HF name keeps them safe).

I have a 2"x5' pipe I have use on the socket wrenches on many rusted up bolts from golf carts, trailers, atvs, etc. I've never broke one, but I did have one fall apart on me while putting the socket once.

My compressor has to be 6+ years old and used almost everyday (plasma, air tools, painting, filling tires, cleaning up my mess). I have 2, more than 6 years old, 4.5" grinders. At $9.99 I bought two and have a cutoff on one and grinder on the other, to save time. I never figured this stuff would last. And I rough them up at that price as well.

I bought some MIG wire there last week in a pinch (Saturday) and it "is not" the same as the Lincoln wire, but $20 for 10 lbs, I'll maybe keep it. I forgot Home Depot sells it.

I just recently returned a Rockwell Sonicrafter multi-tool (could not afford Klein). It got very hot on small jobs. It was $180, picked up a cheap Chinese clone on a trip to HF for $39 (no variable speed but seems wide open is normal speed for me). I've removed caulk and grout from a shower, installed a door strike, it still runs and saved a lot of time.

As stated, if this is something you put food on the table with, buy name brands.

Also as stated. I bought a cheap hole saw kit a few weeks ago, pick the box under the top box on the pile to avoid missing parts, got home and one saw was missing.

[weez440]

i bought a drillbit set from HF and the first time i used it i tried drilling through 1/8 inch steel with a 3/8 drillbit and it actually twisted the threads backwards so i tried a size smaller and it broke. the only thing i use them for is if i have to drill through wood they are junk. i believe in spending a lil more and having a good quality tool. almost all the tools i have are craftsman and i am extremely happy with them all except my 3/8 ratchet which binds up every now and then.

[likewelders]

Weez440, you got me on that one.

I have never found drill bits from there worth a crap, they are really bad.

Mine have snapped in 1/2 while drilling. But I did learn gouging 1/4" and up holes with the plasma saves a ton of time, after I broke a couple of their bits. And I have Dewalt bits now..

[weez440]

i bought craftsman cobalt drills and they are great i love them. i don't even know where the harbor freight ones went i think i threw them. it was the ones that had about 110 drillbits for 30 dollars so i should have knowen better.

[likewelders]

I will check out the Craftsman cobalt. Price will dictate until 3 boys move out of my house. That will be some time I am sure. Do you use oil with them or they just work?

Once you drill with the plasma cutter, unless it's a very small or a critical hole. You do not need drill bits.

Unless you are on the trails/road. Then a big battery and inverter. I have them in the truck too.

[Mace]

I still use my HF drill bit sets.

Honestly, they have worked VERY well in my drill press...

[likewelders]

In a drill press they are probably OK. A little oil on them will help. But freehand with a drill. Under 1/4" in size, they do not work well. They dull fast and the they are brittle.

But I am in no way unhappy with my other HF purchases.

[Mace]

Originally Posted by likewelders

In a drill press they are probably OK. A little oil on them will help. But freehand with a drill. Under 1/4" in size, they do not work well. They dull fast and the they are brittle.

But I am in no way unhappy with my other HF purchases.

Can't disagree there. All of the drillbits I ahve had were disposable when used in a hand drill.


My drill press was one of the best $50 purchases I have ever made

[marius]

how about the Chicago tools they have ?

[-Spike-]

It's all Chinese crap.