If your relying on tools to bring in a paycheck I agree with buying the best (snap-on, mac, etc.) but for the limited income average Joe that cant always afford S-O whats wrong with H-F? All of my wrenches and sockets are Craftsman but I have many of the tools I have because of harbor freight. Yes you have to choose carefuly, but for the hobyist or weekend wrench most of them are fine. I have many airtools from H-F and have yet to kill one. Die grinders, impact wrenches, air ratchets, sanders, all I do is oil them regularly and they run fine. People bash the tool chest from H-F but I think the quality is better then comparable Craftsman boxes. The 4 1/2" angle grinders cant be beat when they go on sale for $10. I havent killed any of my 4 grinders yet. I woulnt buy a welder from H-F, thats why I bought a Miller. Yes, there are items I wont buy there, yes some stuff is **** but if I had to buy Snap On I wouldnt have a fraction of what I have today. Everyone knows you dont join the millitary to get rich so with a limited income I buy what I can, and I'm not a name brand *****. I dont have to have the best or most expensive brand name for everyone to see and say wow you have a (brand name) whatever (Im not saying anyone here is either, just saying those people are out there). Would I buy better tools if I could afford them, sure but until then I will continue to shop at H-F.
My first visit to harbor freight
- Thread starter l_bilyk
- Start date
goodfellow
Well-known member
Absolutley
I have a road box full of HF wrenches (polished stuff), pliers, HF pro screw drivers, impact sockets and a slew of regular hand tools . They get abused like heck -- I loan them out too, and I have yet to see any of them fail. In fact I think the HF impact sockets that are made in Taiwan are the exact same sockets that are sold by Genius and Sunex -- I have all three and I can't tell the difference.fourfeathers
Well-known member
Not bashing anyone, but this seems like the same old discussion at this point.
Seems some say the HF stuff is ok, BUT they go for the polished stuff.
That tells me that there are MANY different reasons why we pick what wrench to use, not just name or price.
I personally dig shiny chrome wrenches, and Snap On has the best chrome, that lasts a lot longer than others I have. I use the older Sk made Craftsman Pro at home, but Snap On for work. If you slide a Non-snappy across the floor, it seems to degrade the chrome. Snappy lasts! I have a set of HF extra long polished in case I need to modify one.
BTW, I buy all mine used, or on Ebay.
Seems some say the HF stuff is ok, BUT they go for the polished stuff.
That tells me that there are MANY different reasons why we pick what wrench to use, not just name or price.
I personally dig shiny chrome wrenches, and Snap On has the best chrome, that lasts a lot longer than others I have. I use the older Sk made Craftsman Pro at home, but Snap On for work. If you slide a Non-snappy across the floor, it seems to degrade the chrome. Snappy lasts! I have a set of HF extra long polished in case I need to modify one.
BTW, I buy all mine used, or on Ebay.
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
No kidding. Nice work!
Thanks. I have to set my garbage can by the mailbox, and the driver isn't smart enough to completely raise the boom before driving off, he wiped out my $200 copper mailbox TWICE. Then, kids knocked it off the post, so I ratchet strapped it to the post so I could get my mail until the weekend. They came back and decided to ram the entire post/fence instead, and sheared the first two posts off in the concrete.
I decided that after fixing it 3 times, and having it broken a fourth, I was just as dumb as them. It was time to fix the little problem.
There's 650#'s of concrete, the post is 3/8" wall 4x4 steel that goes 6' in the ground, and it's filled to the top with concrete. There's about 200#'s of steel in the thing.
I'm on a dead end, had a chick yacking on the phone whip a 20 mph u-turn, slip down my driveway and nail that thing. Her car was pushed in over a foot in the front, totalled it. They had a rollback come in to winch up what was left of her car, and I had the scratches spray painted before they had her car strapped down.
The garbage truck hit the top of it once again, too. I heard it cost them over $2,000 in damage. Ironically, I have a new garbage man now.
Thanks. I have to set my garbage can by the mailbox, and the driver isn't smart enough to completely raise the boom before driving off, he wiped out my $200 copper mailbox TWICE. Then, kids knocked it off the post, so I ratchet strapped it to the post so I could get my mail until the weekend. They came back and decided to ram the entire post/fence instead, and sheared the first two posts off in the concrete.
I decided that after fixing it 3 times, and having it broken a fourth, I was just as dumb as them. It was time to fix the little problem.
There's 650#'s of concrete, the post is 3/8" wall 4x4 steel that goes 6' in the ground, and it's filled to the top with concrete. There's about 200#'s of steel in the thing.
I'm on a dead end, had a chick yacking on the phone whip a 20 mph u-turn, slip down my driveway and nail that thing. Her car was pushed in over a foot in the front, totalled it. They had a rollback come in to winch up what was left of her car, and I had the scratches spray painted before they had her car strapped down.
The garbage truck hit the top of it once again, too. I heard it cost them over $2,000 in damage. Ironically, I have a new garbage man now.
The iron mailbox post might keep the vandals away but you have set yourself up for a lawsuit. If someone hits it and is hurt, you can be in sued. Mailbox post should be designed to breakaway and not contribute to injury. Might want to make sure you have very good property liability insurance.
nissan_crawler
Well-known member
The iron mailbox post might keep the vandals away but you have set yourself up for a lawsuit. If someone hits it and is hurt, you can be in sued. Mailbox post should be designed to breakaway and not contribute to injury. Might want to make sure you have very good property liability insurance.
Wrong, there are ZERO breakaway requirements here. The post office dropped them due to repeat vandalism.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
The iron mailbox post might keep the vandals away but you have set yourself up for a lawsuit. If someone hits it and is hurt, you can be in sued. Mailbox post should be designed to breakaway and not contribute to injury. Might want to make sure you have very good property liability insurance.
I was just thinking that myself - my dad researched this after having our mailbox vandalized for the 100th time... and the prospect of a lawsuit was more costly than replacing a cheap mailbox.
Ger12
Member
Reminds me of the fella that got tired having someone run over his leaf bags sitting by the curb for pick up. He set them around a fire hydrant in his front yard. He found out who was doing it when a car was totalled hitting the hydrant. Never had problems again. Gladly paid the fine for obstructing the hydrant.
Uncle Buck
Banned
While HF is not my favorite brand, I have bought some of their offerings cautiously, and selectively. Personally I would not run from their hydraulic tool line, or their air tool line, a few very select little used hand tools, and a few other odds and ends. Never anything like the crimp electrical connectors or other items that might start a fire in my vehicle or for that matter things like pullers. They never will be my #1 go to brand though!
kenfath
Well-known member
I've never encountered a HF employee that I'd characterize as lazy or unmotivated. In fact I have several positive experiences. One time my list had about 14 items on it. I found a few and one of the stockpersons asked if I needed help. I asked for one item, he saw I had a list and volunteered to retrieve all of them. One time a 5-pack of quick connect fittings had been pilferred with one item missing. I agreed to take it, the cashier said "I'll discount it." I thought great 20% off, instead she rang it up for 50% off without even having to check with the manager. Another time the cashier greets me by first name. I'm thinking she must be psychic; no she had been the server at the local Japanesse restaurant we frequent.
You must be selective in what you buy from them. The only item which has failed was their short swivel end air hoses. The spring clip retainer is ill suited for the application and will pull out. I think they were $1.99 (on sale of course) -- which is a cheap learning lesson!
You must be selective in what you buy from them. The only item which has failed was their short swivel end air hoses. The spring clip retainer is ill suited for the application and will pull out. I think they were $1.99 (on sale of course) -- which is a cheap learning lesson!
I returned a $6 caliper I bought last November, and bought the $10 version (normally $37) yesterday. No muss, no fuss, gave a couple of the Sears coupons to guy on the register for his own use.
Most of the HF wrenches are full polish, they just don't have the space for the polish/no polish scam.
Most of the HF wrenches are full polish, they just don't have the space for the polish/no polish scam.