Visited the new Harbor Freight store today!

[bonneyman]

An old Walgreens drug store that closed got renovated into a HF fairly close to me. Swung by today. Prices were pretty darn good, lots of stuff, even had the Pittsburg composite ratchets that I like. Plus I got to see up close the super-long ratchets they have of the ICON brand. Don't know how the skinny handles handle such high torque situations.
Good selection of cordless drills, impacts, and ratchets. (Don't know if I'd risk one but I might for occasional DIY use.)
But they had this section of bits and bobs in snap cover plastic containers. Screws, internal and external snap rings, black and green rubber O-rings, and about 30 other "kits" of assorted pieces. $5-$11. Next time I need some little bits I'll be going back instead of Ace Hardware.
I hate to admit it but I kinda felt like I used to when I went to the Craftsman section of Sears.

 

[1982fxr]

Beware of anything with threads in those little kits. I've had them where the heads are not standard size to the rest of the Screw. Thinking the black machine screw kit was for sure one.

 

[dscheidt]

But they had this section of bits and bobs in snap cover plastic containers. Screws, internal and external snap rings, black and green rubber O-rings, and about 30 other "kits" of assorted pieces. $5-$11. Next time I need some little bits I'll be going back instead of Ace Hardware.

the quality of that stuff is variable, and often not good. Some of the stuff is fine (I had good luck with the grease fitting assortment, and the hitch pins), some is probably okay for non-critical use, some is awful (most of the threaded hardware), and some is okay but isn't what it says on the label (the orings are all undersized, but decent enough quality.) I have a couple kits from them, and similar kits from elsewhere. They can be a godsend if you suddenly discover you need an o-ring or whatever. It can save a trip to the store, a wait for something to ship, or keep a late night plumbing problem from turning into something worse. If I use enough of a particular component, I'll restock, usually with better quality stuff.

I used to work evenings at the only shop open for miles, and having a selection of hardware, fasteners, fittings, and such like let me work out a solution for a lot problems then, instead of tomorrow when the parts store is open, and got us a lot of regular customers (and saved a lot of road trips).

 

[Aaron_W]

Good selection of cordless drills, impacts, and ratchets. (Don't know if I'd risk one but I might for occasional DIY use.)

I've picked up a decent selection of Bauer cordless tools and I'm quite happy with them. I started with a cordless drill and impact driver just as beater tools I didn't have to worry about. Something I could leave in my backyard work area and not worry about. I'm going on 2 or 3 years with them.

They performed well, and since I already had the batteries I just kept adding tools when they had a deal going (almost always have something for sale).

Would they hold up to trades work? I don't know, but for DIY work around the house they have performed well. When you get them on sale they are a great bargain, even cheaper than Ryobi, Kobalt or Rigid.

Don't bother with the 1.5ah batteries, the performance with them is marginal. With the 3ah or better batteries they have decent power.

 

[wjjeep]

I like Harbor Freight especially since there is one within walking distance from my home and on the way to/from work.

 

[Junkman]

I have found that the HF black tarps have held up very well in our New England winters and summers.

 

[seber]

HF sells o-ring and snap ring kits that seem to be just as good as any you can buy. Keeping those in my stash is a lifesaver. Otherwise, I haven't found anything worth buying. If the local store ever gets those Snap-on clone pliers, I'll buy them, but so far, nada.

 

[rust in the eye]

Their O-ring assortments have every worthless size you'll never need. Want mine?

 

[MFortie]

The one closest to me is a dump and in a crappy part of town; I envy your nice, newly renovated store! LOL!

 

[bonneyman]

Their O-ring assortments have every worthless size you'll never need. Want mine?

So, the manufacturer does a run of rings, and pulls out all the common sizes to sell. Then they scoop the remainder and throw them in a box for cheap.

Good to know. The store is like 3 miles from me, and so will keep it in mind for those "gotta have" parts.

 

[zendriver]

Almost all my stuff is from HF (my favorite store) but these stores must be located in parallel universe.

Nearly everything (other than rubber gloves or sandpaper) I have ever purchased works fine and is still in (or available) for use. Used several of the o-rings, including a large one for the mower gas cap gasket (suggested from a Youtuber) Nuts/bolts? They're 6 bucks for a box. They're nuts and bolts. The SS ones are actually pretty nice.

People like to **** on these, but they are my wood/metal go-to's every time ( need the index) Best $10 set of drill bits on the market!



Their lights are top quality IME

 

[no704]

Beware of anything with threads in those little kits. I've had them where the heads are not standard size to the rest of the Screw. Thinking the black machine screw kit was for sure one.

Had some black cap screws from one of those kits Totally strip the threads off in a block of aluminum! Good for mock-up only!

 

[1982fxr]

Had some black cap screws from one of those kits Totally strip the threads off in a block of aluminum! Good for mock-up only!

Shittiest black cap screws I've ever seen. Get what we pay for.

 

[jayemm]

Shittiest black cap screws I've ever seen. Get what we pay for.

Oh, do you mean the black socket head cap screws with the SAE threads but take a metric Allen wrench. Wondered why the expected wrench wouldn't fit until looked closely and saw 8.8 marked on head.

 

[ohhimark]

Oh, do you mean the black socket head cap screws with the SAE threads but take a metric Allen wrench. Wondered why the expected wrench wouldn't fit until looked closely and saw 8.8 marked on head.

I bought that set some years ago, threaded right into 1/4-20 T nuts. Idk if the supplied washers are SAE or Metric, but they don't fit bolts well at all.

 

[Andres26tnt]

Their O-ring assortments have every worthless size you'll never need. Want mine?

I'll also offer mine they have been sitting in a shelf for the past 4 years. Heck same with my assortment of grease fitting and random connectors.

 

[d42jeep]

They replaced a sporting goods store in El Cerrito, CA with a new HF. I finally broke a promise I had made to myself and purchased some toolbox drawer liner. I didn’t see much else of interest to me. I had bought some tools of horrendous quality some years back which put me off but I have a pneumatic right angle die grinder that has proved to be adequate.
-Don

 

[Jgaz]

An old Walgreens drug store that closed got renovated into a HF fairly close to me. Swung by today. Prices were pretty darn good, lots of stuff, even had the Pittsburg composite ratchets that I like. Plus I got to see up close the super-long ratchets they have of the ICON brand. Don't know how the skinny handles handle such high torque situations.
Good selection of cordless drills, impacts, and ratchets. (Don't know if I'd risk one but I might for occasional DIY use.)
But they had this section of bits and bobs in snap cover plastic containers. Screws, internal and external snap rings, black and green rubber O-rings, and about 30 other "kits" of assorted pieces. $5-$11. Next time I need some little bits I'll be going back instead of Ace Hardware.
I hate to admit it but I kinda felt like I used to when I went to the Craftsman section of Sears.

91st and Union Hills?
I really like when they repurpose an empty building instead of building a new store

 

[Shiftless]

They replaced a sporting goods store in El Cerrito, CA with a new HF. I finally broke a promise I had made to myself and purchased some toolbox drawer liner. I didn’t see much else of interest to me. I had bought some tools of horrendous quality some years back which put me off but I have a pneumatic right angle die grinder that has proved to be adequate.
-Don

I shop at that same store every once in a while. Their 5 mil. Nitrile gloves work Ok for quick single use. I bought the small size Hercules demolition hammer with an SDS spade bit to help with digging fence post holes etc. in our clay soil. It works fine and has held up to lots of use. It even came with a set of replacement carbon brushes for that eventuality. Will it break pavement? … Hell No!
About 10 years ago, I bought the GJ recommended 44 inch U.S. General toolbox. It’s heavily loaded and works great in my DIY environment. It hasn’t moved an inch since the first day so I’m sure that has something to do with the lack of trouble.

 

[bonneyman]

91st and Union Hills?
I really like when they repurpose an empty building instead of building a new store

https://www.harborfreight.com/storelocator/8730-e-broadway-blvd-tucson-85710?number=3652

 

[mike93lx]

Blows my mind that a member here is experiencing HF for the first time in 2025

 

[bonneyman]

I have shopped at HF before but only for specific items. The aforementiond nitrile gloves, 2-part epoxy, etc. Bought a pair of the older Pittsburg composite ratchets a few years ago and was surprised at how smooth and nice they were.
But the nearest store to me is in a shady part of town. Being that I no longer buy sets of tools I may just go by this new HF more to pick up little things I do need.

 

[Jgaz]

https://www.harborfreight.com/storelocator/8730-e-broadway-blvd-tucson-85710?number=3652

Ahhhh. Same scenario in Peoria

 

[zendriver]

Blows my mind that a member here is experiencing HF for the first time in 2025

 

[andypress]

An old Walgreens drug store that closed got renovated into a HF fairly close to me. Swung by today. Prices were pretty darn good, lots of stuff, even had the Pittsburg composite ratchets that I like. Plus I got to see up close the super-long ratchets they have of the ICON brand. Don't know how the skinny handles handle such high torque situations.
Good selection of cordless drills, impacts, and ratchets. (Don't know if I'd risk one but I might for occasional DIY use.)
But they had this section of bits and bobs in snap cover plastic containers. Screws, internal and external snap rings, black and green rubber O-rings, and about 30 other "kits" of assorted pieces. $5-$11. Next time I need some little bits I'll be going back instead of Ace Hardware.
I hate to admit it but I kinda felt like I used to when I went to the Craftsman section of Sears.

I don’t suppose it’s located on Spanish Trail? I was thrilled that it's in walking distance.

 

[lolaetype]

But they had this section of bits and bobs in snap cover plastic containers. Screws, internal and external snap rings, black and green rubber O-rings, and about 30 other "kits" of assorted pieces. $5-$11.

One problem I have with those kits is I wind up only using a few common sized pieces and the rest never get used. Another issue is I have no idea about the quality of the pieces. I'll still buy what I need when I need it at the local farm and ranch store or Ace hardware.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I like Harbor Freight. I’m inside track club member. The o-ring kits are fantastic. I’ve used a lot of them out of both sets. My work toolboxes are all Harbor Freight. Most of my hammers are. There are good and bad things there. I personally don’t buy Pittsburgh ratchets because the selector switch is backwards and it drives me insane and makes me freak out thinking I left something loose lol.

 

[dscheidt]

One problem I have with those kits is I wind up only using a few common sized pieces and the rest never get used. Another issue is I have no idea about the quality of the pieces. I'll still buy what I need when I need it at the local farm and ranch store or Ace hardware.

When you use up a size, buy more of that size. The kits aren't for production work, or for somewhere that knows what they need in advance, it's for fixing the thing that broke without having to go get or wait for parts. That gets your machine or whatever going again, right now, not right tomorrow when the store is open. If you know you're going to need a quantity of a particular size, because you have a lot of the same thing, or it's a consumable, then buy those in bulk. The kits are to get you out of a jam, and make your kids think you can fix anything, because you can improvise something with them. They're the equivalent of the coffee can of screws your father or grandfather had, which he could spend an hour picking through to find exactly whatever it was he needed. Except new, and organized, so you don't have to spend an hour looking.

I fixed my kitchen faucet not long ago. It's a unbranded faucet, which I think the previous owner bought directly from China or something. It's a prefectly fine faucet, well built, with some cosmetic bits being plated plastic, but all the important bits are metal. But it doesn't have standard parts, so fixing it when it leaks is a pain. Even the fantastic counter guys at the Faucet Shoppe, who most of the time know the parts someone needs before the customer says anything, just by looking at what they brought in, were flummoxed by the spray head valve. We pieced together something by using parts from two different faucets, and I had to trim a washer to fit. (They insisted I buy two sets...) Anyway, the swivel spout started leaking. It's got a couple rings that do the sealing. They're metric, of course, and my local hardware store doesn't have bins of metric orings. I'd have to measure and order the right thing, and would probably have to buy 50 or 100 of them. But two out of the kit of metric o-rings worked perfectly, and it was a five minute fix, not a two day one. (my kit of o-rings isn't from HF, but it's a cheapo from somewhere else, and probably came out of the same factory. Came with a set of pics that are indistinguishable from the mini picks at HF.) That's worth the price of the kit righ there. Frankly, it's worth the price of most of the rest of the hardware I've been stockpiling for such occasions, too.