Harbor Freight Tools?
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 142
Likes: 0
The tools I use to make my living and support my family are all SnapOn,SK,MatCo etc etc. Yes You pay for but I can count on them never failing. And if it does fail I can allways call my tools guy and he will be there the same day to replace it.
I have had good luck with some Harbor Frieght stuff... I have there orange angle grinder and it is going on 6 six years of hard abuse. Another product I got that I am very pleased with is there Chainsaw Chain sharpener. It works good as long as you set it up properly.
So If you take the time to look at what you are going to buy and how you will use it they are not a bad place to shop. All my grinding wheels cut off discs usually come from harbor frieght. Allthough I dont buy my welding wire there! I have had bad luck with their wire.
I have had good luck with some Harbor Frieght stuff... I have there orange angle grinder and it is going on 6 six years of hard abuse. Another product I got that I am very pleased with is there Chainsaw Chain sharpener. It works good as long as you set it up properly.
So If you take the time to look at what you are going to buy and how you will use it they are not a bad place to shop. All my grinding wheels cut off discs usually come from harbor frieght. Allthough I dont buy my welding wire there! I have had bad luck with their wire.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,647
Likes: 3
From: Halifx Pa
However, I was not depending on these tools every day to make a living at. Being around him and using his more quality stuff, you could easily see the difference in quality.
As I said before, on a budget, and look at what your buying, and for the amount of time you will be using it, over a period of years those cheaper tools will suffice.
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 703
Likes: 3
From: Western Washington
Honestly...one of the best tools I bought from them was a black 2 pound sand filled rubber mallet and a tire inflator that attaches to my air commpressor. Also, when I was doing my engine swap and had to strip old paint off I used a small air die grinder with a wire wheel in it. That little grinder got the job done. I also have an air powered calking gun that I haven't tried yet.
OJ
OJ
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,940
Likes: 8
From: Southern Oregon Coast
I have one of their orange nibbler's but I haven't had a chance to use it yet... I bought a wire-feed welder from them but I haven't had the chance to patch it into my electrical panel yet to see if it works... I have an el-cheapo multimeter from there that I use on the job (if it breaks/explodes/gets stolen/whatever, no biggie)... I bought a 9" inner-tube from there for one of our carts and it has a slow leak in it...
I have a variety of tools ranging from Craftsman, to Proto, to Blackhawk, to some oddballs - I don't depend on them to put food on my table so, they work well enough for what I need them for...
I have a variety of tools ranging from Craftsman, to Proto, to Blackhawk, to some oddballs - I don't depend on them to put food on my table so, they work well enough for what I need them for...
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 550
Likes: 0
From: N. IL
you get what you pay for....as long as you know that going in, you should be good. there are some good deals and some not-so-good deals.
I buy some things there. Ball joint press was as good as any. I bought a 1/2 drill for 29.00...the first time I used it the handle broke off, it was connected by 2 small screws.
I buy some things there. Ball joint press was as good as any. I bought a 1/2 drill for 29.00...the first time I used it the handle broke off, it was connected by 2 small screws.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,647
Likes: 3
From: Halifx Pa
Another thing I realized, when you go, if you see something you WILL need, get it. SO many times I went back later, and they were all gone, and when you ask the help, they look at you like you got three eyes.
I try to stop and grab an item or two I know I will need when it is on sale, rather then buy when I HAVE to buy it. But then this applies to anything, not just tools.
It just seems you will never have enough tools in the box.
I try to stop and grab an item or two I know I will need when it is on sale, rather then buy when I HAVE to buy it. But then this applies to anything, not just tools.
It just seems you will never have enough tools in the box.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 206
Likes: 0
Have to agree with everyone else, you get what you pay for. I've got a couple of 3ton jackstands that are great. I also have the monster long floorjack that has been a godsend for building my 78 F250 with a 4 inch lift. I have gone through a couple of the orange hand grinders, they will exchange things with a reciept with few questions. Also they tell me that their Pittsburg wrenches have a lifetime replacement guarantee, I've exchanged a bent Pittsburg 1/2 inch drive breaker bar with no questions asked.
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Tuned
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 269
Likes: 1
From: Paradise, CA
I agree with everyone else....you get what you pay for.
Just remember almost everything is from china.
I try to buy American. Sad to say I wouldn't be able to afford any projects if I bought only American. The crappy chinese stuff gets me through my projects.
Here's a short list of the things I purchased there:
Jack Stands: good
Blast cabinet: good
wire strippers: junk
cherry picker: good
gravity fed bead blaster: good
Compressor auto-drain: junk
pneumatic stapler: junk
air ratchets and impact wrenches: work fine but use lots of air.
abrasives: (3m type scuff pads, wet/dry sand paper, blast media): great
abrasive disks for drills/die grinders: great deal!
5lb polishing tumbler: good
blue tarps: junk
silver tarps: good
impact sockets: good
paint gun set: only used it for primer. good enough if you aren't looking for show quality.
DA sanding pads: good
Just remember almost everything is from china.
I try to buy American. Sad to say I wouldn't be able to afford any projects if I bought only American. The crappy chinese stuff gets me through my projects.
Here's a short list of the things I purchased there:
Jack Stands: good
Blast cabinet: good
wire strippers: junk
cherry picker: good
gravity fed bead blaster: good
Compressor auto-drain: junk
pneumatic stapler: junk
air ratchets and impact wrenches: work fine but use lots of air.
abrasives: (3m type scuff pads, wet/dry sand paper, blast media): great
abrasive disks for drills/die grinders: great deal!
5lb polishing tumbler: good
blue tarps: junk
silver tarps: good
impact sockets: good
paint gun set: only used it for primer. good enough if you aren't looking for show quality.
DA sanding pads: good
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
HF Grinders.. an opinion
I've had relatively good luck with my HF grinder... just have to make sure that you don't use the lock button to tighten the wheel. I learned that the hardway but I cashed in my replacement warranty. I've used my replacement for over a year now and it works fine.
I have a DeWalt grinder for grinding/finishing and use the HF grinder for cutting because most of the load is borne by the cut-off wheel and not the grinder itself. My DeWalt runs like a champ.. Two grinders is great for fab work cuz it is time consuming to keep switching wheels. Perhaps the only downside is keeping track of two sets of removal/installation wrenches. Other than that, I'm okay with it.
HIO Silver
73 F100 4x4 "The F-Bomb", 390FE-4V, NP435, NP203, +4 on 35s
01 SuperCrew 4x4 Lariat 5.4L
68 Mustang 200-1V
65 Mustang 289-4V
I have a DeWalt grinder for grinding/finishing and use the HF grinder for cutting because most of the load is borne by the cut-off wheel and not the grinder itself. My DeWalt runs like a champ.. Two grinders is great for fab work cuz it is time consuming to keep switching wheels. Perhaps the only downside is keeping track of two sets of removal/installation wrenches. Other than that, I'm okay with it.
HIO Silver
73 F100 4x4 "The F-Bomb", 390FE-4V, NP435, NP203, +4 on 35s
01 SuperCrew 4x4 Lariat 5.4L
68 Mustang 200-1V
65 Mustang 289-4V
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