harborfreight tools quality?

[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]

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.

 

[Mace]

It's all Chinese crap.

Lots of good quality stuff is coming out of china now a days.

A blanket statement of "It's all crap" is useless and pretty much wrong.

Are HF tools high quality? Heck no!
Do they do the job? Most of the time they do just fine.

The Orange power tools are really spotty. Sometimes they last a very long time. Then, others fail rapidly... Taking them apart and lubing the inside of them helps considerably..

IF I was running a shop I'd buy better tools. But for trail repairs and rare use expensive items, HF is a great solution.

 

[-Spike-]

I don't doubt China is capable of putting out quality merchandise, although I have yet to encounter any. My statement referred to the Chicago stuff, and in fact pretty much all the tools HF sells. The 'Chicago Electric' name used to mean something, sounds like quality 1950's era tools, but the brand is now used on cheap quality Chinese tools. Yes, they'll work for some applications and I have many hundreds of dollars of tools from HF, but I don't kid myself thinking I can count on any of it. If it breaks I don't get pissed 'cause I expect it to break. In my opinion all HF electric tools are 'crap'.

Back to my first statement, I know people who are contracting to have Chinese firms make parts and kits for the hobby industry. The costs are extremely low, but no matter how much explaining and testing and factory touring and whatnot they do, the quality of the product rarely hits the benchmarks. It all comes back to 'you get what you pay for'. There's definitely a market for Chinese stuff, but that market is not the high quality one.

-Spike

 

[Koffer]

Back to my first statement, I know people who are contracting to have Chinese firms make parts and kits for the hobby industry. The costs are extremely low, but no matter how much explaining and testing and factory touring and whatnot they do, the quality of the product rarely hits the benchmarks. It all comes back to 'you get what you pay for'. There's definitely a market for Chinese stuff, but that market is not the high quality one.

-Spike

The 2 post 10K lift I have is made in china and is one hell of a nice unit .
The place I got it from Greg Smith Equipment Sales Inc. - The lift professionals with quality automotive equipment at discount prices. has no problem showing the other turds coming out of china and they have a few videos on their site showing the cheap stuff buckling under reg tests .

 

[lordVader]

Their drillbits are terrible. The powertools are pretty decent the motors from my experience heat up quite a bit after 30-40 minutes of continuous use.

You can't go wrong with buying all your air tools from HF though. Air tools are very easy to make and you really can't go wrong manufacturing an impact wrench...

 

[cronic]

The Chinese will build you any level of quality you want. But the truth is when you are getting them to price out a production run you are usually doing it for one reason, and that is to cut cost. To say all Chinese stuff is crap is just plan wrong, they are more than willing to build you a quality product, just not many are looking for that from them.........

 

[GLTHFJ60]

From my experience, anything hydraulic or mechanical is fine. Their grinders use plastic bushings instead of bearings in the models I've seen opened up.

That said, I use one of their powdercoating machines all the time and I LOVE IT! Don't think I could justify getting a more expensive one.

 

[-Spike-]

The Chinese will build you any level of quality you want. But the truth is when you are getting them to price out a production run you are usually doing it for one reason, and that is to cut cost. To say all Chinese stuff is crap is just plan wrong, they are more than willing to build you a quality product, just not many are looking for that from them.........

I could easily see that. The only reason to bring the stuff to the US is price, so we see the cheap stuff. I have no doubt they're capable of producing quality products.

 

[cruiserhead]

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.

It`s all our cars that were stuffed with Bud cans and sold to China for scrap.

David

 

[marks69cruiser]

I love the new harbor freight add, comparing there tool box to a snap ons! hilarious! I bought a bunch of there tools (floor jack, jack stands, engine stand, cherry picker, c clamps) all work perfect and were great deals.

 

[cruiser88]

Lots of good quality stuff is coming out of china now a days.

A blanket statement of "It's all crap" is useless and pretty much wrong.

Are HF tools high quality? Heck no!
Do they do the job? Most of the time they do just fine.

The Orange power tools are really spotty. Sometimes they last a very long time. Then, others fail rapidly... Taking them apart and lubing the inside of them helps considerably..

IF I was running a shop I'd buy better tools. But for trail repairs and rare use expensive items, HF is a great solution.