ok guys around a year ago i asked the question "Do i really wanna buy HF stuff?"

well if ya follow the thread, i did, after i got a job at harbor freight...

and the stuff is actually really good....

I use these tools at least twice a week working on my own stuff and others doing repair work on the side to make extra money.

only item i've broken is the big channellock type pliers.

love all the stuff, except the cordless recipicating saw.. its weak, battery gets drained fast, and the shaft in the saw wears out QUICK!!! on my 2nd one.. only cut a couple of exhausts...

 

I've had some good lucky with HF tools and some bad also. However with the bad I've never had a problem with them giving me a refund. Is it professional grade? No but you are paying far less than SO price thoug also. The impact sockets are a little bulky but have held up good, and for the most part I like the fit of the wrenches over some more expensive ones.

 

Man you keep your Box in tip-top shape mine looks like crap Hard to keep organized
Ty for update on tools.

 

Don't put too much faith in that HF puller you got there. I bought one to pull a snowmobile flywheel and the SOB stripped right out, and that's not even a hard pull!

Also I had a HF 4" grinder that took a crap after not that much use.

Things like wrenchs and sockets I'll chance cause I usually lose some anyways. But if all that stuff is working for you that's all that matters.

 

I also have the bolt puller set and mine's been working great. I've pulled two snowmobile flywheels (a Kawi 440 and a Yamaha 340), and a Briggs flywheel without any issues.

 

actually the puller set is another brand.. i think i got it from northern tool.. pulled a many harmonic balancers, steering wheels and a couple of small flywheels..

 

I've got an 8 year old HF low profile jack and it works like a new one. My chopsaw, bench grinder, and impact wrench get alot of use too and so far are flawless.

 

I had a failure on my HF porta-band. The wheels are plastic, and the drive is via an internal ring gear on the rear wheel. It bound, and chewed a couple teeth off. Luckily, both wheels are the same so I just swapped them and continued cutting, but it's something that will need to be addressed quite soon.

 

I have the corded sawzall and have had great luck with it. chopped many exhaust, mild steel, only took about 5 min to chop through a set of frame rails (80's f250) with decent blades.

 

I had an 18 volt drill driver for something like 10 years. Then I dropped it, so I had to replace it.
I bought the new version of the drill driver so that I could use my old batteries in it.
The new drill driver came with a charger and 2 batteries, yet the new charger wouldn't charge any of the batteries, so I had to use my old charger.
Then the new batteries were so weak after being fully charged , that they wouldn't last long and just didn't have the oomph of the old batteries.
The new drill driver even feels like it less solidly built and I can hear something rattleing around in it when I shake it.

 

air tools are worth the price. I got several die grinders so I don't waste time changing bits I use most often. They used to sell a US General composite 3/8 impact for around $70. it was slightly longer than a IR 2115 but had very good power, much more than my IR. The problem was I dropped it too much and the cheap plastic housing broke caused it to leak air. Northern Tool and supply sells it under their own name for alot more. So whats up with these new line of Earthquake tools, 90 day warranty? Really? the CP Pro tools used to have 2 year warranty and the regular ones had a year, I won't risk my money on those.

 

I'm glad all that HF stuff worked out for you, As for me, I use my tools to make money so I can live and I will never buy they're chinese junk. I'll give 3 examples even. 1. The 3 gallon air compressor made by CP, (The elongated one, not the "pancake" version.) Although it still works, its slow, weak, and just inadaquite for anything. I'm afraid to run any air tools on it. 2. The 5 in 1 jump box. They had them on sale here for $100, So I bit. Also had 3 of them. First one was falling apart out of the box, second and third ones, Couldn't hold a charge for ****. 48 hours later and only at 14 volts, turn the work lights on or anything and that 14 quickly drops. Left the third one in my service truck over the weekend, It only had 9 volts with nothing on when it had 14 when I left it in there. Just couldn't or wouldn't hold a charge. Not to mention, when I shook it, the battery was loose in all 3 units. 3. Wire wheels. Bought one for $9. Tried to use it, 5 minutes later all I had was the base that secures to the grinder. On flat steel. I took it back and had to argue the point with them about it. Now, I'm trying to find another jump box with the same functions as the one above and maybe a new air compressor that fits like this one does. I wish, I could find a tool store that has what they do for the same prices but much better quality. But I will give them one thing, the one near me has some real cute girls working there that actually know something. Sorry, rant off.

 

I can honestly say it's been hit and miss with my HF tools. Bought a pipe expander and it got the job done. I bought the tap and die sets in both metric and standard and have yet to have one of the taps or dies work as they should. Not one of them metric or standard would work the few stripped threads I've had to deal with. they've all been minor things that I was actually able to fix by using a couple of nuts and one time a grade 8 bolt instead but the taps and dies did more harm than good on all of them. I did have to use my Dad's old Craftsman set once to fix a bad tap so I'm pretty sure it is the tools and not the user. Bought a timing light for a quick check on my Bronco and never could get it to work right. Hand tools have been OK but I really don't use them a lot or abuse them hard and they hold up pretty well.

 

some stuff from HF is crap, and some stuff is good..

 

That about sums it up. If i was making a living with those tools they would be quality brands i know and trust, not HF stuff. Glad to hear you've had good luck with your stuff so far. It's great until you are in the middle of working on something important and that great priced HF tool breaks before your job is complete. And it's after hours so all the stores are closed and yer just outta luck.

I only buy consumables from HF; wire brushes, sand paper, cutoff discs, wire wheels, etc.

I've had their tin snip set; one blade tip shattered. Luckily away from my face. I tossed the two unused and one broken snip in the trash; too dangerous. I've had the bench grinder; it only ran for about 20min at a time before the motor would heat up, bearings would scream and then it would quit until waiting 40min for it to cool off. Then i could get another 20 min of use out of it. I've also got the tap/die set. The tap and dies are holding up ok, but the handles and holders are made of some very soft metal. I've resorted to using other brand handles/holders with these taps/dies.