Harbor Freight

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well, they actually came through nicely on a warranty replacement. Called it in in, told them the busted parts, they warned me it could take up to 2 months to come from China :eek: :mad:, but I found the parts delivered free to my house within a couple of weeks. I think they may even have cannibalized some new items at the warehouse maybe cuz I had tried to impress upon them the fact that I didn't think 2 months was very reasonable. Parts were not exactly identical (had to make a small mod) but functional.

Still all in all, it's cheap stuff and you get what you pay for...
 
I had a HF 1/2" drill I won in an raffle I drilled TWO holes with it and it was TOAST. I do use my HF 3 lbs. sledge quite a bit and hit has held up OK. Your DO get what you pay for.

Dynosoar:zilla:
 
Most of the stuff on the shelves, I wouldn't buy, but here are a few of my experiences: Airsaw and 3/8 air drill have been going strong for nearly 20 years. Step bit set for about $9 is the best money you'll spend ( I've been using the same set for over 3 years now). Deadblow hammers are great for the price ( sure they suck compared to my Snap-On's but they're probably less than 1/10 the price)
 
I think it's probably fair to say that quality would be unpredictable in a place like that. Clearly, they must shop for the cheapest stuff in China, but then again just about everything is made in China now, including good stuff. Often it seems like the same factory there will make cheap and good stuff, based on customer specs, by derating, using thinner stuff, bushings instead of bearings, etc. So I guess it may well happen that they would hit on a run of decent tools at a good price for whatever reason and buy them.
Of course, the simpler stuff the higher the likelihood it's OK. Hard to screw up a hammer...
2x of course, watch out for safety issues (like relief and auto valves on compressors etc... :eek: :rolleyes:)
 
I bought a portable air compressor at Harbor and it sh*t the bed before I was finished using it for the first time. I was even taking breaks to let the thing cool. JUNK. I have a similar unit I got at CostCo 8 YEARS ago and the thing still plugs away. I am shopping for air tools and I think I would take my chances at the local pawn shop over HArbor Freight.

I must say this: They took the compressor back - no questions asked. Still a huge waste of time.
 
i have found one thing that is decent to buy at HF screwdrivers! they are cheep and occationally break but your only out 50 cents.
but do not buy a socket set from them they dont work worth ****.
kind of an interesting store. ;p
 
Oh dear. That could get ugly. I guess it's just larger amounts of the same things found in the stores?
 
Yeah plus a little more selection. Or at least it felt that way. The store we have in town is about a 1/4 of the size of the store attached to the distribution warehouse. Plus they have a lot of stuff that was second hand.
 
The HF mother ship is out here on the left coast in Calabassas CA, They got their start selling those cheap, inferior quality Japanese tools like Hitachi, Mitutoyo and Makita back in the early 70s. Some things never change.
 
Holy crap. Apparently there's a lot of money in selling crappy tools:

In 2007, when Harbor Freight borrowed $500 million from Credit Suisse First Boston, Allan Smidt accused his son of using some of the money as "dividends" to pay for a $46 million estate in Beverly Hills, Calif., a $100 million addition to his art collection and a $20 million apartment in Manhattan.
Click to expand...
 
heard of three stories of auto shops buying harbor freight tools. Tools in two shops broke soon after purchaced. Tools purchased by third shop broke/snapped put the mechanic in the hospital.
 
Lots of "pro" shops use harbor freight tools, I have repaired lots of them for industrial companies.

As for tools putting users in the hospital, my bet is; all tool companies have been to court about it. The warnings on tools/packaging aren't there for decoration, most are the result of lawsuits. I know of lots of examples. The warning on gasket scraper handles; "Do not use as a pry bar" is from "pro techs" attempting to pry heads off with them, broke, part landed in the eye, off we go to court. I know of two cases involving big American tool companies of just this example and that is just the tip of the iceberg of stupidity.:o:rolleyes: A huge part of the purchase price of tools is liability, mostly from stupidity.:frown:
 
Even my wife loves going to HF. :eek:

I've been buying their furniture pads whenever they go on sale. The small ones are great to keep in the car, nice if you have to haul plants home or change a tire. Th larger ones get used to cover the seats when the dog goes for a ride with us.

Once in a while I even use them as furniture pads.:lol:

I also love their brass drifts, I keep one in each cruiser.
 
rusty_tlc said:
Even my wife loves going to HF. :eek:
Click to expand...

My ol lady goes there all the time. I have to put an end to it soon.

I can get anything done cuz she always has something she needs assembled or built out of HF parts.

I have recently put a large greenhouse together for her and welded up a garden cart with HF wheels/tires.

HF is what you make it. If it look like poo it most likely is. I evaluate every HF purchase differently. There is no good/bad at HF, just good decisions and bad decisions.
 
Heres the HF greenhouse and her garden cart.

Just in the greenhouse is lots of HF stuff. Look at the pics.

HF products in the GH pics...

thermometer
auto vent openers
tube of clamps
black automotive plastic tub/tray (full of dirt)
little counter broom
irrigation tubing and drippers etc.
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IMG_2377.JPG
IMG_2374.JPG
 
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