Harbor Freight

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They sell some crap. But for the occasional user it's pretty good and really affordable to try something to see if you want to get something better.

This weekend I picked up a A/C vaccum unit for 16 dollars.

A dial indicator and magnetic base for 30 dollars

A digital caliper for 15 dollars


God I love that place.
 
a buddy picked up a dial a while back,, it consistantly showed a different reading than my good dial. i tried all 12 of the calipers in the store one day and only 3 showed the same reading,,,, i just dont know about that.

like you said, they sell some crap, but i guess its better than eyeballing.
 
All six of our digital calipers are consistent with each other. I actually did this the other day for s***s and giggles. I'm happy with them.
 
I did play once with some inexpensive calipers (not from HF) and some standard shop calibration blocks. There were some differences, don't remember how much but something like a systematic 2 or 3 thous, maybe 5? OTOH, my Mitu was right on it, down to the thou...

I have had mixed experiences with HF. Some stuff was very good for the price, some was crap and unusable.

one issue with HF is replacement parts. If you need a part and can't do a straight replacement in a store (they are pretty good with those but there is a time limit IIRC), you may need to wait 6 to 8 weeks for the part to come from China...
 
one friend had a 4 1/2" grinder that i could stop with a gloved hand,,,, it became a party trick but the motor burned out after a while.
i bought some heat shrink tube that doesnt shrink near as much as the "good" tube,, and some electrical tape that is not very elastic or sticky. and on and on,,, never got anything of real value like power tools or precision tools but i kept giving HF a chance for all that little stuff, i have all but stopped shopping there.
 
I have 4 4.5" angle grinders. After 2 years one finally died. the wrenches are handy.
 
RHINO said:
one friend had a 4 1/2" grinder that i could stop with a gloved hand,,,, it became a party trick but the motor burned out after a while.
i bought some heat shrink tube that doesnt shrink near as much as the "good" tube,, and some electrical tape that is not very elastic or sticky. and on and on,,, never got anything of real value like power tools or precision tools but i kept giving HF a chance for all that little stuff, i have all but stopped shopping there.
Click to expand...



Now thats an awsome HF story. LOL
 
If it makes you feel better... They came screaming into my job after their $40M+ corporate business jet (Gulfstream) had an issue up at altitude with their fiberglass belly skin peeling back into the a/c. It was a nasty hole/ tear, about 2' by 3'. That will make your day go bad real quick. On a side note, who would have thought all that small stuff could buy something like that.
 
RLMS said:
Now thats an awsome HF story. LOL
Click to expand...

I think I have that same grinder, bench mount? Was like $15.
OK for putting an edge on an axe, but it will stop if you press into it.
 
Their parts washers are pretty good. Punches, clamps, mallets, etc are a great bargain. I keep a set of HF wrenches in the cruiser. If they get stolen or rusty I'm only out 10 bucks and they work great for trail repairs.

For the most part you get what you pay for, but for items where you don't need really high quality they're hard to beat.
 
MOfj40 said:
Their parts washers are pretty good. Punches, clamps, mallets, etc are a great bargain.
Click to expand...

i agree with that 100% i have that stuff and its just fine,,, well except the c-clamp that snapped right under the threaded part, and the dead blow hammer that the metal thing with the BB's punched through the rubber face, the punches mushroom too fast but they seem good, well except the cold chisel, it wont hold a good edge past the first blow. the parts washer though i havent had trouble with,,, and thats the only thing i didnt buy as it was a freebee from a friend.


ive gone back to my old haunts, pre HF,,,, the pawn shops. they have gotten a bit more pricey over the years, but still some good deals.
 
Things made of metal that are big and heavy and not precise are about the only things I buy from HF. Basically things like my 20-ton press, my 36" sheet metal brake, and my 2-ton engine hoist.

The only other things they sell there that I really love and have had good luck with are their deadblow hammers and their 3-pack of unibits for $8(best thing they sell IMO).
 
I don't think you can go wrong with the disposable stuff at HF. I found paint brushes, tape, cotter pins, and various other things really cheap and basically effective. I would never buy anything electronic there...just not worth it. Calipers...forget it.

Also...here is a tip. I have on two occasions purchased some sandblast media that is opened in the store. Go up to the manager and say you would buy what they have at a discount. They are usually happy to get rid of it, at half off. Who cares if 2 ounces of a 20 lb bag of walnut shells has spilled.
 
and, as was discussed before surely, you look at some of their stuff, and it's basically the same as on some brand name items. For example, a HF compressor I just looked at that was identical to a Coleman and Craftsman units I saw.
Of course, there could be internal quality differences.
(could be they are *both* crap, of course :D)
 
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I agree that Harbor Freight sells a lot of junk, disposable tools. But some of their stuff is usable and allows the hobbyist to have equipment that he couldn't otherwise afford/justify.

I have a Central multipurpose machine, lathe/mill. It's not precision, accurate or a high quality tool, but has made some nice stuff. I use it mainly for polishing parts and have been using it almost daily for 10 years, use it more often than my Clausing 12x36 lathe.

Also have a Central 4x5 bandsaw, great tool, sure beats cutting metal with a hacksaw! Got it a couple of years ago, at the time I couldn't justify the $$$ for a better quality cutter, now that I see how much that I use it, may upgrade it, if it ever takes a dump.

The machine shop next door has a Central 12x36 lathe, it's ~5yrs old, used often and works well. My Clausing smokes it in just about every way, a much more solid machine. But his was a pull it out of the crate, change the lubes, adjust it and start making chips, deal. Mine was more of a "labor of love" deal, have owned 3 of them, the best parts are on mine, I have less $$$ in it, but have a lot of sweat equity/time in rebuilding it. Probably why it such a pleasure to make chips with that hunk of American iron!:cool:
 
Sporttrucker said:
If it makes you feel better... They came screaming into my job after their $40M+ corporate business jet (Gulfstream) had an issue up at altitude with their fiberglass belly skin peeling back into the a/c. It was a nasty hole/ tear, about 2' by 3'. That will make your day go bad real quick. On a side note, who would have thought all that small stuff could buy something like that.
Click to expand...
That is irony. Do you think they shook their heads and looked at the hole making comments about crappy quality of goods!
 
I bought a pneumatic die grinder from HF about 10 years ago for $12. The thing won't stop. Most everything else I buy there is crap though. I guess the same could be said for most of the Sears tools I have ever bought. -Great warranty on Craftsman stuff, too bad you have to use it all the time.
 
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