Harbor Freight tool thread

[acheron]

Actually their anvils suck.

<= wife is blacksmith.

I had very good luck with their electric chainsaw. As Alky said, it dpends also on the user. I don't know much at all about chainsaw use but it worked and didn't break.

Good to know, I probably need a chainsaw for occasional use.

 

[Muse]

I've gotten a lot of stuff from Harbor Freight over 10+ years. Unfortunately they don't have a store very near me, there are a few around 15 miles from me, so I only hit them occasionally. I still get mailers from them and I see their ad almost weekly in the Sunday paper. I have stopped combing their mailers and ads except for the coupons because I already have just about everything I'd be interested in. There's a point of diminishing returns in reading the ads.

A lot of stuff I got from them is quite a bit cheaper than what I'd have paid elsewhere, at least at a B&M store. Lots of very good to fantastic deals. Of course, just about every thing they sell, I figure, is made in China.

I haven't bought any power tools from them, I have better quality power tools, which have lasted me OK. I have encountered things there and bought them that I've been very glad I've gotten, many of them things I never encountered elsewhere.

I do get a weird feeling often times when I'm in their stores, like I'm in a domain that's partially haunted by people who are slightly weird, who might be on the fringe somewhat, tool freaks, possibly with survivalist leanings. It's kind of funny, the people working there (at the store I used to go to alot) seemed to be high school kids on their first jobs, possibly. It was a bit of a weird vibe. I used to hit them much more frequently than nowadays, I passed by them several times a year on one of my commutes. All their stores I know of are kind of out in the tullies, thinned-out suburbia, compared to the communities surrounding me. Now, I hit them maybe once a year at most.

 

[Muse]

Good to know, I probably need a chainsaw for occasional use.

I picked up my electric chainsaw, which is also a pole saw, at Costco.

 

[Muse]

Actually their anvils suck.

<= wife is blacksmith.

I had very good luck with their electric chainsaw. As Alky said, it dpends also on the user. I don't know much at all about chainsaw use but it worked and didn't break.

The one I got at Costco has instructions, be careful! You can really hurt yourself with a chainsaw if you aren't heads up. They can kick up, make sure you don't have any body parts where they might get hit if it kicks up, for example your head. You need to keep oiling the chain with chainsaw oil or it will wear out quickly. I keep that stuff handy whenever I use mine.

 

[IronWing]

The one I got at Costco has instructions, be careful! You can really hurt yourself with a chainsaw if you aren't heads up. They can kick up, make sure you don't have any body parts where they might get hit if it kicks up, for example your head. You need to keep oiling the chain with chainsaw oil or it will wear out quickly. I keep that stuff handy whenever I use mine.

I have what will likely be a life time supply of bar oil. I wish they sold that stuff in smaller containers.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I've not heard much good about HF consumables. I think a lot of the HF hate is because their poor quality consumables make the tools apera worse than they actually are

I wanted to quote this because it is really, really true.

A while back I got a Performax router table, and had struggled with it and the Tool Shop brand bits. (Both are Menards house brands).

I finally purchased a pricey name brand bit from elsewhere, and it's like a whole new machine. Cuts like butter, no chatter or bouncing, and I swear it's quieter besides.

If HF blades and bits are similarly crappy then... yeah.

 

[Muse]

I have what will likely be a life time supply of bar oil. I wish they sold that stuff in smaller containers.

True, I picked up a ~16 oz container, I think at Orchard Supply. I use that saw maybe every other year on average. I have a couple of very large plum trees in the yard I have intentions to remove. That saw may get tested severely.

 

[thescreensavers]

Screw that place. They can't even sell a simple liquid transfer pump to do the most simplest thing it was designed to do. I wouldn't buy an ice scraper there.

I have their transfer pump, I used it for power steering fluid works great.

 

[I Saw OJ]

I bought a small electric powered air compressor from HF a few years ago. I have taken poor care of it, no maintenance, left it outside in the weather numerous times. Sucker is still going strong, funny how that works.

 

[Childs]

I've bought hand tools at HF and they hold up well. The only electric tools I bought was a heat gun, and it blew up the one time I used it. It was only like $20, so no biggie. Ended up using a hair dryer. The other was an impact wrench, and it still works to this day. If you buy an electric tool from them, just be sure to use it within the return period. I don't think I'd buy any tool from them that costs over $50.

 

[Muse]

I bought a small electric powered air compressor from HF a few years ago. I have taken poor care of it, no maintenance, left it outside in the weather numerous times. Sucker is still going strong, funny how that works.

I've never had an air compressor. I figure I could use one if I know how, what to use it for.

 

[Muse]

I've bought hand tools at HF and they hold up well. The only electric tools I bought was a heat gun, and it blew up the one time I used it. It was only like $20, so no biggie. Ended up using a hair dryer. The other was an impact wrench, and it still works to this day. If you buy an electric tool from them, just be sure to use it within the return period. I don't think I'd buy any tool from them that costs over $50.

The only electric tool I've bought from them is also a heat gun, which I've used a few times. I also have a hair dryer, which I use at times. The heat gun has a scraper attachment, so you can use it to scrape paint. It works. I know a guy who bought a table saw from them, he waited for a deal, he seemed to know what he was doing.

I scan their ads for the coupons, principally the 20% and occasional 25% off one item coupons and I save them until they expire. I also keep the free-item coupons, but you can only use one/visit. The free multi-LED flashlights are complete shit, they don't give much light and they wear out batteries like nobody's business. I had a few and threw them all out. Most of their freebies are just crap, with rare exceptions.

Some things I've found worth getting are:

The cheap tape measures. They're OK.

I like some of their gloves, decent quality and excellent prices.

The cheap multimeters (e.g. $2.99). Not for prime time but OK for a lot of stuff, and my commonest use is to measure the voltage of batteries, rechargables or alkaline.

I've gotten dremel accessories cheap, but got my dremel at Home Depot. I just don't think I'd buy a drill there or similar. My experience with their drill bits isn't good if you care about them remaining sharp. I'll buy drill bits elsewhere.

I buy tarps, their prices are better than the big box stores, quality varies, I get the best, silver. Some of those have lasted a lot longer than others. The last 19x29' silver I got from them lasted almost 2 years, really really good.

I bought a set of box end wrenches cheap. I use them only rarely, but they have been up to the task. Many of their non-electric hand tools are a bargain compared to what I've seen for sale elsewhere.

I have bought various tape there, including multiple rolls of really cool 2" yellow plastic tape that I use for a lot of stuff.

 

[MongGrel]

Depends on what you're buying for, of course you wouldn't use it as professional grade stuff.

 

[stinkynathan]

I have their big dust collector. It is awesome. My only complaint is that it pulls nearly 20 amps on startup so it will flip a breaker if anything else is running. My new shop will have a dedicated circuit.

I may buy a big compressor there once I'm up and running. I expect it will be loud but otherwise just fine considering how much I'll use it. I'll build a cabinet to keep the noise down.

My rule is to only buy electronic gadgets if they're well reviewed, I won't have to depend on them, and I don't much care how long they last. I try to evaluate non-electrical things and go with my gut, but the "don't care how long they last" rule still applies.

 

[Muse]

I try to evaluate non-electrical things and go with my gut, but the "don't care how long they last" rule still applies.

It's always a case by case basis, you look, feel, read the labels, try to know what you're buying, what might be available elsewhere. For me, lasting matters, I don't use tools daily. I might buy a tool and not use it for years, but when the day comes that I need it, it's there, and that's why I buy it. For example, I bought a very wide chisel at HF that's for knocking cement off of bricks. Didn't use it for a long time, but the day came and it works great. Used it with a small sledge I bought there cheap as well. I've bought a hammer there, adjustable wrenches, they work.

There's a tool lending library (free) 2 blocks from me, but that's a special trip, their hours are limited, you get it for maybe a week, it's a hassle, and you get what you get from them... if they have it. For some stuff, I do go there.

 

[Greenman]

Not exactly Harbor Fright, but I picked up one of these a while back, and it's nothing short of awesome.
http://www.amazon.com/Hitachi-VB16Y-...=rebar+benders

I got one of these to go along with it.
http://www.amazon.com/Rebar-Tying-Tool-Kit-14-4V/dp/B0042TXRHS

 

[twinrider1]

lol, two tools that cost $4500 and aren't sold at HF, that's just what this thread is all about.

 

[Muse]

lol, two tools that cost $4500 and aren't sold at HF, that's just what this thread is all about.

Holy bejezus, I think I could use those two tools. Didn't know they existed, but a guy I was talking to a couple of weeks ago told me about how I can rip out my sinking stemwall under my house and create another... reinforced with rebar. Hell of a job, considering how cramped it is in the crawl space.

 

[Greenman]

Holy bejezus, I think I could use those two tools. Didn't know they existed, but a guy I was talking to a couple of weeks ago told me about how I can rip out my sinking stemwall under my house and create another... reinforced with rebar. Hell of a job, considering how cramped it is in the crawl space.

If you're doing a lot of concrete work, those two tools will change your life.

 

[Greenman]

lol, two tools that cost $4500 and aren't sold at HF, that's just what this thread is all about.

I wanted to show off a little, sorry.

 

[olds]

They just opened a HF less than a mile from my house. I went to check it out. It was filled with old retired guys walking around aimlessly. They were carrying nothing and blocking isles left and right.

I wanted a furniture dolly to mount my generator on but they were all crap. I'll build one. I did buy some $.99 paint brushes that I can just toss out after painting instead of using and cleaning my expensive brushes.

 

[Muse]

I bought packets of their smaller drill bits like 1/16" and 3/32". So cheap, even if they dull or break it's cheaper than buying them individually at Ace Hardware. That size breaks very easily, in my experience doesn't matter if they are good or cheap. But I don't think I'd buy another set of drill bits 1/16" - 1/4" or larger. I have too many junk drill bits around already. I don't know what's junk and what isn't. If it's sharp enough to get the job done, I use it.

I bought a humongous can of Goop there not long ago for $10.

I bought several pairs of gloves cheap that fit me perfect, I love them, can use them for all kinds of things.

Got a cheap but serviceable rubber mallet.

An OK cheap small sledge hammer.

Got one of those rolling pallets for moving furniture. They have two sizes. The larger one's the one you want. I got the smaller one, but adapted it, made it like the large one.

I have bought a lot of large tarps there. They are cheaper than HD, but usually, probably don't last as long. But the last one I got has lasted me almost two years, I can't believe it... they never last more than a year! They must have improved the materials. I bought two, I presume the one I still have will also last a long time. It's a silver tarp.

You can get stuff like those vise-grip knockoffs cheap. They work OK.

I picked up several indoor/outdoor digital thermometers there cheap. They work well. I've had them for years, I've never had trouble with them, the batteries last and last too. They have an inside sensor and one that extends on a cord that's around 6' long. Both temperatures show up on the LCD. I have one of them near my desktop and the extended sensor inside the machine.

 

[andylawcc]

I wanted to show off a little, sorry.

hey, at least you own up to it


I just got this and it's okay so far.
http://www.harborfreight.com/11-dra...iMTU5Ljk5IiwicHJvZHVjdF9p ZCI6IjIxMTIifQ==

probably pick up another tool cart this month.

and all of my handtools are exclusively HF. except a set of flexhead ratcheting wrench... HF didn't make those yet back then.
some tool I did get from Sears when they are on sale though.

 

[SAWYER]

Has anyone here tried their rechargeable batteries? I have some Eneloops and was wondering how they compare