- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Harbor Freight
Posted on 12/15/17 at 7:38 am
Posted on 12/15/17 at 7:38 am
OK I know most of you guys have bought stuff from HF and I'm "rediscovering"; bought a 15A chop saw recently and it works pretty damn good. Anyway are there any particular tools, etc. I probably should stay clear of? I need another torque wrench (a bigger one); anyone bought one from HF & how'd it work out for you?
TIA
TIA
Posted on 12/15/17 at 7:48 am to Wtodd
the clamps that are like the trigger style suck dick hammer drill is not a hilti but you cannot beat it for the price any angle grinder great
Posted on 12/15/17 at 7:51 am to Wtodd
quote:
how'd it work out for you?
Worked ok until I started in building several deer stands. If you think the HF is good wait until you get ahold of a Milwaukee. You will see just how weak the HF version is.
For a hobby guy they are serviceable, but when the going gets tough the smoke will come out.
Posted on 12/15/17 at 8:02 am to Wtodd
Bought a torque wrench from them once. Did not work no matter what I set it on. Returned it and the manager insisted I take an exchange. I tried the second one, same thing. Brought it back and the manager didn't believe me. I set it on the lowest setting, we went out to the parking lot and attached it on a lug nut on my truck. The truck was bouncing and the wrench would not slip.
Bought a cheap corded drill once and the thing wobbled so bad I could only drill slotted holes.
Tarps are good. I've got a dirty water pump that is a beast. I think it would pump dry sand if I tried. The more expensive version of sockets are ok, but the cheap line is crap.
Bought a cheap corded drill once and the thing wobbled so bad I could only drill slotted holes.
Tarps are good. I've got a dirty water pump that is a beast. I think it would pump dry sand if I tried. The more expensive version of sockets are ok, but the cheap line is crap.
Posted on 12/15/17 at 8:05 am to Wtodd
IMO Harbor Freight tools are one use tools. If you need a particular tool for a one time special project then HF is the way to go. If you are looking to buy a tool that you will need for multiple projects or for years of use HF is not the place to look.
Posted on 12/15/17 at 8:56 am to Wtodd
Take a scale in and test the torque wrenches. Most are with in 5%. Some are dead on perfect
Posted on 12/15/17 at 8:59 am to Wtodd
I have a 1/2" and 1/4" torque wrenches from HF. All work fine.
Posted on 12/15/17 at 10:13 am to Wtodd
quote:
I need another torque wrench (a bigger one); anyone bought one from HF & how'd it work out for you?
Low volume, the click-style torque wrenches are okay. If you just need that size for a handful of things, it's probably fine. You have to do the things like reset it to zero (like you would with a higher dollar wrench), but I haven't found them to be all that far off - again for the click style, which are notoriously hard to keep calibrated anyway - so disposable after a period.
The good and bad from HF:
Compressors - there are some great values there.
Heck, air tools generally, whether you're putting together a coiled hose, fittings, manifolds, kitting out your garage with air all around, etc., they're not bad. I have an air wrench that is good. I haven't tried their pancake compressors, but the smaller oiled are excellent. Their larger oiled get rave reviews.
Hand tools - look close, but some (I had good luck with the Pittsburgh Pro line) are made in Taiwan. Other than the little plastic bits on the socket wrenches, those are excellent values as well.
Tool chests/cabinets: Not as good as "the best" - BUT, another example of extremely high value.
Misc. little shop bits: lights, towels, disposable gloves, magnetic part holders, "grabbers" - I've bought tons of junk from them over the years and nothing leaps out as particularly bad.
What I feel there might be questions:
Electric tools, particularly saws. Now, you've already had good luck with one, so don't let me deter you. Typically, when I'm looking at those, the fences/guides usually have a lot of play/slack in them - even the blades in the saws don't always seem very well seated. They can probably be adjusted/made right, but I don't want to fiddle around with them and they're too dangerous to take chances with (of course I use their air tools which are just as dangerous, with no significant problems/concerns to report). I have heard good things about their little tile saws.
Good luck.
This post was edited on 12/15/17 at 10:14 am
Posted on 12/15/17 at 10:26 am to Wtodd
Bought a 28* framing nailer 4 years ago to repair a 6 foot cedar fence. Wound up rebuilding all 90 feet of it. Also built a small 8 x 10 chicken house plus a few other projects. It's worked perfectly. Like others have said, if I was going to frame houses for a living, I think I would go with a better grade nailer.
Posted on 12/15/17 at 11:12 am to Wtodd
the flux core welders that they have a pretty good. i did have to replace mine though. the wire eventually wouldn't feed. i think that had to do with me leaving it out in the rain though. i bought the extended warranty so i was able to swap it out with no problem.
note, when you replace it with the warranty, you can get a new one warranty with the new welder. i'll be exchanging it again in 2 years to get a "free" welder.![](https://images.tigerdroppings.com/Images/Icons/IconLOL.gif)
note, when you replace it with the warranty, you can get a new one warranty with the new welder. i'll be exchanging it again in 2 years to get a "free" welder.
![](https://images.tigerdroppings.com/Images/Icons/IconLOL.gif)
Posted on 12/15/17 at 11:17 am to Wtodd
HF tools are fine for a the DIY person. If you make a living with your tools, stay clear.
I buy MIG wire there, various tools there and they are what they are. Work pretty well. Have a grinder, belt sander, oscillating sander, etc... from HF. Oscillating sander just went out last week and it was 2 years old. Paid $19.99 for it back then so no complaints.
If you make a living with tools, go buy something with quality. Otherwise, HF tools are okay.
I buy MIG wire there, various tools there and they are what they are. Work pretty well. Have a grinder, belt sander, oscillating sander, etc... from HF. Oscillating sander just went out last week and it was 2 years old. Paid $19.99 for it back then so no complaints.
If you make a living with tools, go buy something with quality. Otherwise, HF tools are okay.
Posted on 12/15/17 at 11:23 am to Wtodd
quote:
OK I know most of you guys have bought stuff from HF and I'm "rediscovering"; bought a 15A chop saw recently and it works pretty damn good.
Whatever you do, stay away from their abrasive/cutting wheels for grinders, chop saws, etc. Several people have been injured by them or had them explode apart during use.
The materials they use are crap for their abrasives. While the saw itself is probably fine, don't use the wheel that comes with it. Buy another brand from a reputable manufacturer. I've had some of their grinding wheels come apart on me during use.
As with Harbor Freight they have a lot of crap tools and a lot of good stuff. I'll commend them for increasing the quality over the last few years on their hand tools. The ratchets, combo wrenches, etc were once all made in the cheapest factories in China and India. Lately a lot of their line has shifted to much better plants in Taiwan and its obvious in the quality.
They recently upgraded their power tool line as well and they look to be quite a step above what they used to sell.
I personally don't have any of their Torque wrenches, but several guys over at Garage Journal do and they pretty much all agree they are decent for the price.
Posted on 12/15/17 at 12:12 pm to Wtodd
Don't buy anything from there that is a support structure. I bought a metal cart table from there that had a supposed 350 pound weight capacity to put a 200 pound industrial margarita machine on. The second I put it on there the whole thing buckled and broke. I was able to get a refund but never again
Posted on 12/15/17 at 2:51 pm to Wtodd
i look at them as a cheap but decent line of tools on par with the old black and decker stuff. the Pittsburgh brand hand tools seem to be decent quality like any other low priced hand tools.
nothing there is high quality but its decent occasional project tools but i wouldnt buy them to use as daily work tools for a tradesman.
so i would buy them before the walmart stuff, but.... when it comes to the point of critical strength such as jack stands, lifts, and jacks, they are very cheap construction and i look elsewhere for better quality.
nothing there is high quality but its decent occasional project tools but i wouldnt buy them to use as daily work tools for a tradesman.
so i would buy them before the walmart stuff, but.... when it comes to the point of critical strength such as jack stands, lifts, and jacks, they are very cheap construction and i look elsewhere for better quality.
Posted on 12/15/17 at 9:12 pm to Wtodd
The air impact that is red in color and is usually on sale for $85.00 works well, and seems to hold up. I use it mostly on lug nuts and removing the nuts on lawn mower blades. A friend of mine buys them for his tire store, he says they last about as long as Snap On or anything else he has tried.
Posted on 12/16/17 at 12:06 am to Wtodd
Mu hf torque wrenches have been great. Over 12 years old now
Posted on 12/16/17 at 6:16 am to Wtodd
Not sure about HF torque wrenches and it appears they are okay.
If I have a concern regarding the accuracy of a tool or its durability under professional use, I won't buy it.
HF has been advertising new tool lines and they are probably trying to capture the lucrative home owner market.
Casual use HF power tools are fine and the cost savings are in the quality of switches, bushings, bearings, cord lengths, machining, etc.
If I have a concern regarding the accuracy of a tool or its durability under professional use, I won't buy it.
HF has been advertising new tool lines and they are probably trying to capture the lucrative home owner market.
Casual use HF power tools are fine and the cost savings are in the quality of switches, bushings, bearings, cord lengths, machining, etc.
Posted on 12/16/17 at 6:54 am to Wtodd
We have bought a LOT of stuff from HF, and use it all heavily. Have not been able to wear out one single thing. They have paid for themselves many times over.
Posted on 12/16/17 at 8:14 am to Wtodd
I've bought tools such as a multitool and sanders there. I've also bought wrenches, screwdrivers, tape measures, etc. Never had any problems with anything.
Posted on 12/16/17 at 8:33 am to Wtodd
My take on HF is that if you are doing a single project and will never need the tool again then by all means save some coin and buy their stuff.
If you plan on using it a lot, just do yourself a favor and buy quality name brand tools. The difference in quality and longevity is always worth the cost.
If you plan on using it a lot, just do yourself a favor and buy quality name brand tools. The difference in quality and longevity is always worth the cost.
Popular
Back to top
![logo](https://images.tigerdroppings.com/images/layout/TDIcon.jpg)