First time in a harbor freight.

[jake00]

Harbor freight opened up in the next own over. I've never been in one, only been ordering online for the last 12 years.


First impression

Smells bad, then holy **** they have a ton of ****.

Walked the whole store

 

[kiatech]

if you have a northern tools its better.

 

[Tribalvision]

you're hooked now.. I know whats in the store and I still walk the whole store...buy the $1.79 #2 phillips screwdriver. It will be the best one you own..

 

[Mickey O]

I drive by Harbor Freight all the time.

 

[RalphInCA]

You will never be the same. Your tool standards have just gone down two notches.

 

[hifi_hokie]

I've never seen one around here.

There is a Northern Tool locally - I bought a set of Rhino ramps there, so they're not all bad

 

[CAOS]

I just saved a ton on car insurance by reading this wonderful thread!

 

[goodysgotacuda]

if you have a northern tools its better.

To me, half of the stuff at Northern is rebadged China/HF stuff for more money.

 

[RedFordTruck]

if you have a northern tools its better.

X2. Ive never bought anything from HF but I like NT. They have a store brand thats decent for a few things, but in general is crappy.

But then they also have national brands, work clothes, and honda and husqvarna power equipment.

I drive by Harbor Freight all the time.

 

[firebox40dash5]

then holy **** they have a ton of ****.

That's sure 100% accurate.

 

[dlc]

I made three trips today. Took the wife with me. Bought six items, all with coupons. Sent her to another register and we switched registers/cashiers on the next two trips. The one coupon per person per day thing *****.

 

[CRXPilot]

http://www.flutterby.com/images/2012/10/01/hf_tool_sale.pdf

 

[jtbinvalrico]

Check out the two and three jaw pullers.....I use them all the time to change bearings in motors, saving me quite a bit of coin.

 

[48Classic]

I like both stores. It depends on the items you need as to with store to spend the money... To me if it is truely tools then Northern, Supplies ie. Tarps rags and others I go for HF, The only other store I wish I had around me was Tractor Supplies... Oh can't for get the beer store...

 

[oldtools]

At least you will be saving yourself alot of money.

 

[ckadams00]

Harbor freight opened up in the next own over. I've never been in one, only been ordering online for the last 12 years.


First impression

Smells bad, then holy **** they have a ton of ****.

Walked the whole store

Its about 6 blocks from my house. Damn them. The closes prior was all the ay down in Lombard and I only went there once in a while.

I now a lot of people ***** about HF but if you need an inexpensive tool you are only going to use once or twice a year I think it's a great place to go. . . .and yes I prefer to buy US whenever possible but when I go across the street (literally) to Sears I always have a hard time finding anyone interested enough in waking up from their naps to take my money.

 

[RCRGarage]

you're hooked now.. I know whats in the store and I still walk the whole store...buy the $1.79 #2 phillips screwdriver. It will be the best one you own..

LOL. Noooooot!

 

[bcradio]

Stay away from that 5 drawer red service cart... Terrible quality.

 

[Exceller8]

About 10-20% of the stuff is worth buying, the rest is pretty much junk! I still shop there for certain things.

 

[mudflap]

you're hooked now.. I know whats in the store and I still walk the whole store...buy the $1.79 #2 phillips screwdriver. It will be the best one you own..

Those are good screwdrivers for the money, good grip, and tip holds up for a good while.

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

To me, half of the stuff at Northern is rebadged China/HF stuff for more money.

+1 I've been to Northern several times and have not been impressed.

HF isn't the best, but it's cheap and more and more of their items are a good value for the money.

 

[peterbilr98]

i have no problem what so ever going in to harbor freight i have 96% snap on i go there for sertine things and have no problems whith the tools i get there just got a 20 ton air jack the other day with coupon very nice jack for the money

 

[Jawn]

The only other store I wish I had around me was Tractor Supplies... Oh can't for get the beer store...

Really? They're all over the area... got one just up the road from me.

 

[balane]

I'm very happy with the 1/2" Goodyear air hose I bought there at a good price. I also got a link-belt for my bandsaw that was made in the USA at a fair price. If you look hard enough it's possible to walk out with a solid item or two.

 

[HaroRider]

If you are a DIYer SOME tools from HF are not bad. Read the reviews they are brutally honest.
Professionally you may want to shop elsewhere.

Me being a weekend mechanic I would say I own:
90% Craftsman (USA)
8% USA Brand name stuff (Matco, Snapon, Mac, Channel lock etc)
2% China (HF)

Pretty much the stuff I own from HF is just stuff I couldnt justify spending for top end stuff since I wouldnt use it enough.

I am considering their rad pressure tester but have yet to pull the trigger.

 

[Burtonrider10022]

My HF theory is this: If you need something that will do 50 "works" buy a HF tool rated for 100 "works". I.E. If you need a 2 ton jack, buy the HF 4 ton jack - now you own a 1.5 ton jack, congrats! If you need a socket set (let's imagine it's rated at 100 ft/lbs) then buy the HF "Impact" Socket set (pretend rating of 200 ft/lbs).


Get it? I bought the Pittsburgh Pro 37 pc. Impact Socket Set for $24. I am blown away at the quality of it. Will it hold up to an impact gun? IDK, at the end of the day it's still a HF tool, but it is holding up damn well against my hand ratchets! So IMO, I could not have bought an equivalent set of new CMan, Snap-On, or other nice brand for less money.

 

[therealwormey]

I drive by Harbor Freight all the time.

i drive by mcdonalds all the time

 

[RCStocker]

To me, half of the stuff at Northern is rebadged China/HF stuff for more money.

I purschased a 2 stage ingersal rand air compressor a few years ago form Northern Tool. I got a great price, free shipping, no tax and a great brand compressor. I got an automatic tank bleader and some other things. I orderd a ton of zip ties for a job. They send me the master catalog every year and all the quartly catalogs. I have requested they stop sending them but the still come.

You are right that much of the stuff is repackaged HF tools but they have a lot of other things that HF does not carry.

HF smells so damn bad that I think the pople that work there will have lung problmes in years to come. I have been in our HF store 20 in the past year. I picked up some of their new tools boxes and service carts. Their large service cart wias $149.99 when it first came out and the 2 piece tool box/chest was $299.99 at the time. I picked up several of each for presents then went back and got a couple more. The tool boxes are great. Craftsman is pure over pirced ****. Both companies do have very good items but 99% of it is pure ****.

That is all I have bought in HF other than impact sockets for the construction truck. They are cheap and do just as good a job as the truck brands. We drive a lot of bolts and lag screws and they have held up well.

I did buy a too that takes the back off watches so the wife can replace the batteries on her watch collection. I don't ware one.

 

[FriendOfYours]

My HF theory is this: If you need something that will do 50 "works" buy a HF tool rated for 100 "works". I.E. If you need a 2 ton jack, buy the HF 4 ton jack - now you own a 1.5 ton jack, congrats! If you need a socket set (let's imagine it's rated at 100 ft/lbs) then buy the HF "Impact" Socket set (pretend rating of 200 ft/lbs).


Get it? I bought the Pittsburgh Pro 37 pc. Impact Socket Set for $24. I am blown away at the quality of it. Will it hold up to an impact gun? IDK, at the end of the day it's still a HF tool, but it is holding up damn well against my hand ratchets! So IMO, I could not have bought an equivalent set of new CMan, Snap-On, or other nice brand for less money.

I use the HF impacts everyday with my Matco 700ft gun. Haven't broken a socket all year

 

[O_M_Jeep]

Used everyday. 90% HF tools used professionaly in a real shop, in 4 years I have broken a HF allen head socket, thats it. (oh, and some of my wrenches are Tekton and gearwrench).

 

[oilslick]

Anybody that says the earthquake line isn't as good of Taiwan **** as blue point Taiwan **** hasnt tried it! I save my snap air tools for special jobs now and use the HF stuff to earn a damn good living daily. It seems like using some common sense goes a long ways when buying stuff though. I get the screwdriver sets for the oil change guys. You simply cannot beat the prices of the tool storage either, a couple other guys use the service carts daily with no issues or snap on payments! Just telling my story.

 

[metaldad]

The place stinks.
I have one nearby. I only go there when I need something in a hurry. Easier to park near the door, instead of 1/2 block away at Sears.

 

[carterbeauford]

Smells bad, then holy **** they have a ton of ****.

pretty much.

 

[oilfieldtrash4]

Used everyday. 90% HF tools used professionaly in a real shop, in 4 years I have broken a HF allen head socket, thats it. (oh, and some of my wrenches are Tekton and gearwrench).

This guy is the weekend warriors hero. A pro that pimps cheap tools and makes the small guy feel better since we can't all spend $600 on socket sets.

 

[NWphotog]

This guy is the weekend warriors hero. A pro that pimps cheap tools and makes the small guy feel better since we can't all spend $600 on socket sets.

What?! Gold plated sockets aren't a requirement?! That's just crazy talk!!!!

 

[bcradio]

I am considering their rad pressure tester but have yet to pull the trigger.

It actually works pretty good. I was hesitant to pull the trigger as well being a home wrench since I may never use it again. You will like it though.

 

[bcradio]

Used everyday. 90% HF tools used professionaly in a real shop, in 4 years I have broken a HF allen head socket, thats it. (oh, and some of my wrenches are Tekton and gearwrench).

Hey Jeep, What is that pry bar holder on the side of your box? Where did you get it?

 

[Burtonrider10022]

I use the HF impacts everyday with my Matco 700ft gun. Haven't broken a socket all year

That's awesome to hear. First impressions were impressive with these, good to know they'll actually hold up long term.

 

[losabio]

Check out the HF Pass/Fail thread for GJ member reviews, and you'll have a good idea of some of their very good and/or very bad items. Also, if there's a tool there that strikes your fancy, I would pull the trigger on it sooner than later. This is not like a Sears which still sells the same stuff from previous decades. HF will redesign/discontinue items from year to year and it's possible to miss out on some goodies by hesitating (e.g. 1/4 EQ air ratchet, old style impact swivels, indexing pry bars, HF sure shot clone, magnetic paper towel holder things, etc.).

 

[balane]

Anybody that says the earthquake line isn't as good of Taiwan **** as blue point Taiwan **** hasnt tried it!

I haven't tried Earthquake air tools but I must say that I don't hear any owners complaining about them. In fact, quite the opposite, they all seem to praise that line. Provided they aren't ridiculously heavy or loud I definitely wouldn't be against buying one at some point in the future.