$2.97

[mrholeshot]

I was so impressed with the HF ratchet that I tested I bought the 3/8 and 1/4 versions this morning when I passed by HF this morning. I was looking up the part numbers for the ratchets (many times cheaper on the website) and I ran across these sockets. I never have any expectaions when it comes to cheap tools so again I was ready to test one as soon as I got home. I grabbed the 13/16 and walked into the garage and hooked it to my IR2135TI (600ftlb forward) I decided to see just how fast I could break the socket. I have some old axles that I have laying around from where I replaced them with stonger units.

The axle used has 1/2 studs (factory) so I grabbed a lug nut and bolted a wheel to the axle. I turned it up, Had the air compressor fully up and put the socket on and turned it loose. 20 seconds of steady pounding later and the lug stud broke. The socket was unhurt outher than some scratches on the inside. This set cost me a whole 2.97 at HF. The Chrome looks like SK, the flank drive like Snap-On,you can actually see the markings and these things are just unreal. I didn't have a Craftsman deep to compare with these but I'll have one tommorow. These are on Clearance so get them while you can. How can you go wrong for 2.97 for 9 nice sockets and the rail? Great for throwing in the travel box. Heres the link and the photos.

http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/sockets-accessories/9-piece-sae-deep-socket-set-4467.html

 

[Bull]

This is seriously getting nuts. $2.97 for that?! They look beautiful and sure sound strong.

 

[warmpancakes]

Dont forget your 20% off coupon and free flashlight

 

[woody 73]

Are they made out of CV material?

 

[Professur]

on behalf of every Canadian who'll never have a HF to shop at, let me be the first to tell you to *removed* yourself.

 

[caper]

Professur the stuff at Princess here in Canada is pretty much the same.

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

Stop showing off HF junk. I'm sick off all these threads about HF's cheap *** tools. What's next is someone going to show off some US General toolbox loaded with HF ****?

 

[Professur]

Professur the stuff at Princess here in Canada is pretty much the same.

Guess what we don't have in MTL.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

Stop showing off HF junk. I'm sick off all these threads about HF's cheap *** tools. What's next is someone going to show off some US General toolbox loaded with HF ****?

that was great!

 

[mojo_13]

Those look amazing!

I would also like to give you a sincere "Thank you" mrholeshot. For taking the time to do the comparisons and tests on these tools others bash. Im a DIY'r and go for bang for buck as opposed to strictly name. All of your info will help me in future purchases.

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

Your tests suggest that the Chinese are really getting their acts together...now if they establish a brand name (or buy SK...), put out a guarantee, and keep selling cheap stuff that does not break, and lot of tool companies are going to need to start worrying.

 

[mixxmstrmike]

Great set of pictures! Thanks for sharing your findings.

-Mike

 

[Boiler]

Your tests suggest that the Chinese are really getting their acts together...now if they establish a brand name (or buy SK...), put out a guarantee, and keep selling cheap stuff that does not break, and lot of tool companies are going to need to start worrying.

Disclaimer: I own no harbor freight tools.

Personally, they don't need a guarantee, or a name brand. If you can buy a rail full of sockets that look even mediocre (these look better than I expected) and hold up to abuse for $2.97!?! then holy ****. USA manufacturing is in big trouble indeed.

 

[csp]

Your tests suggest that the Chinese are really getting their acts together...

Take a closer look at the 15/16" socket shown. Just to the right of the size you can make out where it says "Taiwan". HF seems to be getting rid of all of their Taiwan made tools, which is a shame because they are generally higher quality than the China stuff.

 

[Boiler]

Ah, so soon they'll be from China. Lets do the test again then!

 

[mojo_13]

I looked online and couldn't find a Metric set, did they have one in the stores?

 

[Rando]

not bad for 3 bucks

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

Stop showing off HF junk. I'm sick off all these threads about HF's cheap *** tools. What's next is someone going to show off some US General toolbox loaded with HF ****?

I'm with you on this...

I have to agree though, for $2.97 not a bad set to throw in a trail box. If you lose it or it gets swiped, then who cares? It came from HF and cost less than $3.

 

[shotgunfatcat]

I have problems with cheaper tools, although the price might justify itself, the chrome falls off, they rust out a thousand times faster, I am truly afraid to put my weight into them (I am not so small of a guy). I have split name brand sockets in half, I don't even want to know what I will hurt using Chinese and Taiwany tools.

 

[mrholeshot]

Stop showing off HF junk. I'm sick off all these threads about HF's cheap *** tools. What's next is someone going to show off some US General toolbox loaded with HF ****?

Some stuff is **** and some is pretty good. I saw these on HF's site and looked at them when I was in picking up a few ratchets. The differance is that the first thing I did before I even went in the house was go out in the garage and beat the **** out of one. I knew I was going back past there this afternoon so I tried to break one. It held up so what did I do? when I went back through I bought every set they had. There were 4 out front and 7 in the back. Works out great as I have 9 sons and 2 son-in-laws. make great stocking stuffers

 

[bchee]

The drive end doesn't look like it was on an impact for 20 seconds

 

[mrholeshot]

Dont forget your 20% off coupon and free flashlight

I used a 20% coupon on a ratchet I bought and yes I got my free light.

 

[londonsteve]

Goes to show how much profit the big manafacturers make. It amazes me that you can buy a sophisticated cell phone with every concievable extra and made with the latest technology and assembled in modern laboratories/factories for the same as you would pay for a large breaker bar from SO. It's a mad world.

 

[mrholeshot]

The drive end doesn't look like it was on an impact for 20 seconds

This one wasn't. The one in the photo is 15/16 I beat on the 13/16. I used biggest one so I could get a good photo of the inside

 

[Lump]

Some stuff is **** and some is pretty good.

The sad thing is, that same statement could have been made 25 years ago about some US-made tools. As many of you know, I buy bunches of older tools, focusing only on US-made or Euro-made tools. And mixed in among those high-quality US tools I have found some real ****, marked "Made in USA". I have even found USA-made sockets cast in Zinc, instead of steel! And quite a few tool sets I have found have 25% of the sockets and/or wrenches broken, from company names which are no longer around. Sad. But that kind of **** was the first to be eliminated by "cheaper ****" from Asia. However, these days some of that "cheaper **** from Asia" is no longer quite so bad.

Some of it is much better quality, but still inexpensive. And THAT is the biggest threat to quality USA-made tools.

 

[mrholeshot]

Goes to show how much profit the big manafacturers make. It amazes me that you can buy a sophisticated cell phone with every concievable extra and made with the latest technology and assembled in modern laboratories/factories for the same as you would pay for a large breaker bar from SO. It's a mad world.

I've often thought why iis it you can easily tie up 20K in a toolbox from Snap-On (top, bottom and side) but for the same money you can buy a new truck. How can they justify the cost? I guilty of buying a mega dollar tool box but still can't figure out why they cost so much

 

[reinhardt]

the reason the so cost so much more than the hf is made in usa vs made in taiwan/china. our labor rates are much higher in this country.

 

[mrholeshot]

the reason the so cost so much more than the hf is made in usa vs made in taiwan/china. our labor rates are much higher in this country.

Somebody is really screwing the pooch over at Dahnar. The Craftsman and Kobalt I've purchased recently has nothing on some of the Tiwan and China stuff. The sad thing is if they would go back to the old quality people would buy it at elevated prices. People don't mind paying for good tools. The trouble is that Dahnar is trying every trick in the book to cut corners so they can make the sale. I've come to the conclusion that if Dahnar dosent pull it together soon that riding the Craftsman name will be it's demise and all production will go overseas.

I've been wrenching a long tome and have boxes running over with high end tools. Right now I would have no problem with hauling some of these tools out to make a living with. I wouldn't have said that a year or two ago

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

Stop showing off HF junk. I'm sick off all these threads about HF's cheap *** tools. What's next is someone going to show off some US General toolbox loaded with HF ****?

That was a Mickey D flashback

 

[southernfriedcj]

the reason the so cost so much more than the hf is made in usa vs made in taiwan/china. our labor rates are much higher in this country.

So are ford trucks (made in the USA). You can buy a Ford truck for the same dollars a mega tool box costs. That is CRAZY!

 

[mrholeshot]

After testing them I went back and cleaned them out.lol

 

[mojo_13]

After testing them I went back and cleaned them out.lol

You didn't use a 20% off or get a free flashlight!

 

[loj]

Somebody is really screwing the pooch over at Dahnar. The Craftsman and Kobalt I've purchased recently has nothing on some of the Tiwan and China stuff. The sad thing is if they would go back to the old quality people would buy it at elevated prices. People don't mind paying for good tools. The trouble is that Dahnar is trying every trick in the book to cut corners so they can make the sale. I've come to the conclusion that if Dahnar dosent pull it together soon that riding the Craftsman name will be it's demise and all production will go overseas.

If it were a matter of Danaher just making a shoddy product, Sears would have ditched them as an OEM long ago. The problem is that Danaher can't make a good product at the price point that Sears has set.

And Sears is continuously discounting one product or another in these gimmick sales events, selling every tool* (*excluding tools with handles, tools that are red, and tools that rhyme with "bench") at 50% off. There are few actual bargains to be found, but they're cementing their reputation as the tent-sale bargain brand - which sets the public's expectation that if you wait long enough, one Sunday evening you'll be able to get a 3/4" ratchet for nothing.

If they stressed the value of the product and set a fair "no-nonsense" price, people wouldn't wait until the next crazy sale or expect to pay HF prices. Craftsman has never been marketed as a "cheap" brand.

Don't even get me started on the "Blue Crew" and the Blue Light Special connotation that stems from that...

 

[mrholeshot]

You didn't use a 20% off or get a free flashlight!

Got that this morning

 

[SnowBlaZeR2]

If it were a matter of Danaher just making a shoddy product, Sears would have ditched them as an OEM long ago. The problem is that Danaher can't make a good product at the price point that Sears has set.

And Sears is continuously discounting one product or another in these gimmick sales events, selling every tool* (*excluding tools with handles, tools that are red, and tools that rhyme with "bench") at 50% off. There are few actual bargains to be found, but they're cementing their reputation as the tent-sale bargain brand - which sets the public's expectation that if you wait long enough, one Sunday evening you'll be able to get a 3/4" ratchet for nothing.

If they stressed the value of the product and set a fair "no-nonsense" price, people wouldn't wait until the next crazy sale or expect to pay HF prices. Craftsman has never been marketed as a "cheap" brand.

Don't even get me started on the "Blue Crew" and the Blue Light Special connotation that stems from that...

Have you been in a Sears recently? They have plenty of good deals on quality tools. If you stay away from their low end stuff and gimmick tools that are obviously marketed to people who do no more work around the house/garage than change light bulbs and oil, you'll be fine. Several of their tools are still the best cost vs. quality deals out there.

 

[srupp]

check out the thread my hf investment

 

[jay50]

Got that this morning

What you doing living at MB, SC and hanging out in a stinky HF? You should be at the beach checking out the good lookin' babes.....

 

[mrholeshot]

If it were a matter of Danaher just making a shoddy product, Sears would have ditched them as an OEM long ago. The problem is that Danaher can't make a good product at the price point that Sears has set.

And Sears is continuously discounting one product or another in these gimmick sales events, selling every tool* (*excluding tools with handles, tools that are red, and tools that rhyme with "bench") at 50% off. There are few actual bargains to be found, but they're cementing their reputation as the tent-sale bargain brand - which sets the public's expectation that if you wait long enough, one Sunday evening you'll be able to get a 3/4" ratchet for nothing.

If they stressed the value of the product and set a fair "no-nonsense" price, people wouldn't wait until the next crazy sale or expect to pay HF prices. Craftsman has never been marketed as a "cheap" brand.

Don't even get me started on the "Blue Crew" and the Blue Light Special connotation that stems from that...

I agree with that, Like Wal-Mart Sears tells Danaher what they are willing to pay to build a tool and Danaher has to cut corners in order to build it of risk losing the contract. The problem is that Danaher caves and build an inferior tool. When Craftsman goes totally asian the craftsman line will go down the tubes. I really wish SK would go on an agrressive sales war. People would pay go money for them if access was really good and ease of warranty was better. For me they are only second in quality to Snap-On

 

[mrholeshot]

What you doing living at MB, SC and hanging out in a stinky HF? You should be at the beach checking out the good lookin' babes.....

Been married four times. I can't afford to give away another house. It would cut into my ****** money

 

[mixxmstrmike]

Can you post close up pictures of the socket you "beat on?"

In particular, the drive end & open end?

Thanks,
Mike