Harbor Freight First Impressions

[BOONEY7750]

I had my first visit to a Harbor Freight store. I had my expectations set pretty low to avoid disappointment. There were some items that were as cheaply made as expected and a small few I thought were worth the price. I have a coupon for the black U.S. General 4 drawer tool cart for $100. The cart felt exactly like the home owner craftsman I have handled. Seemed like a steal at $100. The famous red roller tool boxes that everyone raves about on here were a huge disappointment to me. I will keep saving for a name brand. The 41" red roller felt way worst the Craftsman home owner ball bearing stuff I have. The gloss red 56" roller that matches the discontinued "72 roller seemed much nicer. The box looked and felt closer to the Craftsman "Griplatch" line of boxes. The only thing that kept me from pulling the trigger was the that finger lock mechanism on the drawers was thin plastic and I could see that breaking almost instantly, then the box being dropped and no replacement parts available. I bought a few items I know I will destroy that were cheap. I am re-plumbing my whole house in copper, I bought a few clamps and a drill press vise that I can use close to the torch when I sweat joints and not worry about the heat destroying since I only have a few bucks invested.

Over all I walked away knowing I will go back to get the cheapo stuff I know will get trashed, and to try to catch those few items that are good quality at a cheap price. I will not being getting the red rollers, sorry to disappoint all the fans on here.

 

[fitz11]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

So you like the black cart that is lower quality then the red boxes, but the red boxes are a disappointment? Uhhh ok?

 

[jeffk14]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

I had my first visit to a Harbor Freight store. I had my expectations set pretty low to avoid disappointment. There were some items that were as cheaply made as expected and a small few I thought were worth the price. I have a coupon for the black U.S. General 4 drawer tool cart for $100. The cart felt exactly like the home owner craftsman I have handled. Seemed like a steal at $100. The famous red roller tool boxes that everyone raves about on here were a huge disappointment to me. I will keep saving for a name brand. The 41" red roller felt way worst the Craftsman home owner ball bearing stuff I have. The gloss red 56" roller that matches the discontinued "72 roller seemed much nicer. The box looked and felt closer to the Craftsman "Griplatch" line of boxes. The only thing that kept me from pulling the trigger was the that finger lock mechanism on the drawers was thin plastic and I could see that breaking almost instantly, then the box being dropped and no replacement parts available. I bought a few items I know I will destroy that were cheap. I am re-plumbing my whole house in copper, I bought a few clamps and a drill press vise that I can use close to the torch when I sweat joints and not worry about the heat destroying since I only have a few bucks invested.

Over all I walked away knowing I will go back to get the cheapo stuff I know will get trashed, and to try to catch those few items that are good quality at a cheap price. I will not being getting the red rollers, sorry to disappoint all the fans on here.

 

[Rogue1987]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

I really thought this thread was going to be about something different.

 

[BOONEY7750]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

Yes. The black cart is a deal for $100 It is not some awesome replace a name brand tool box item, but for $100 bucks it is pretty decent, especially if there is enough clearance for a small MIG on the bottom tray. I probably wouldn't have been so disappointed about the 41" red rollers if it wasn't for the fact that everyone on GJ is so in love with them. I do not think they are a terrible deal at $369, but they are nowhere near the level of quality that everyone on here makes them out to be. I would rather save another $100+ and get the 14 drawer 40" Craftsman when it is on sale for $479, which happens about 5 times a year. The 41" roller at the store on Watson Rd in St. Louis at least was very sloppy, maybe it's because they are abused so much as displays and the ones the guys on here have at home are much nicer?

 

[fitz11]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

That makes sense. I have the 5 drawer red service cart, the 42" box and the 7 drawer side cabinet and don't even have $479 into all those. If I was paying full price I might end up with something else if it truly was a better product.
I think that people like them because money is tight and for the $349 coupon price you really can't beat it.

 

[98TJ]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

I really thought this thread was going to be about something different.

You and me both, brother.

You and me both.

 

[fitz11]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

The 41" roller at the store on Watson Rd in St. Louis at least was very sloppy, maybe it's because they are abused so much as displays and the ones the guys on here have at home are much nicer?

That is a possibility. I know my local store will run out of them and sell the display a few times a year. Maybe your store won't sell the display and it has been abused for too long?

 

[Davefr]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

Harbor Freight?? Never heard of them before. Thanks for the first impression!!

 

[Rogue1987]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

The 41" roller at the store on Watson Rd in St. Louis at least was very sloppy, maybe it's because they are abused so much as displays and the ones the guys on here have at home are much nicer?

Hey I go to that Harbor Freight!

 

[DrkMtnDew]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

Call me crazy but those 40'' HF boxes are tight units compared to any craftsman i've seen.

And that 'thin plastic finger lock' will hold up a lot better than 'Griplatch'.

IMHO

 

[oilslick]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

At least the chinese **** is cheap as opposed to the rebadged stuff sold with brand names stuck on it and high prices to go with it example anything IRWIN ,whos making all the money ?

 

[Shipfittin]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

I've got to say that I've bought tools from HF that I expected to be total garbage and last long enough just to get the job done. I have been surprised on quite a few of these items having lasted and endured through tons of jobs.

The one thing with HF tools that I always make sure is to use them as intended. That's where most people have problems with tools period. They will take a ratchet, stick a 4' pipe on the end to break a bolt and curse the ratchet when it breaks. It's not the tools fault that you didn't use it properly.

 

[raley]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

i absolutely LOVE my Pittsburgh pro (HF) composite handle ratchets. 72 tooth, smooth as silk, and the composite handle makes then not stick to my hand in my unheated garage, yet they still have a life time warranty. and only 10 bucks

 

[CHRIS LUCKYMAN]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

The Harbor Freight crowd... always game for ***** bunching.

 

[outcast]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

"Harbor Freight Fist Impressions"

i thought he got into a fight at HF.

 

[kythri]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

The GarageJournal crowd... always game for ***** bunching.

Corrected.

 

[BOONEY7750]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

Rogue1987, would you agree that at least the display red roller is loose, maybe it's just beat to hell?

Raley, are you talking about the black ratchets?

 

[outcast]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

it could be a beat up display. but i am betting those are not all that tight to begin with.
but ya know what. for the price, it is great for a non-working box. i would like to see the results of one put into "service". i would like to check one out that was fairly loaded. and i wouldn't buy a display.

 

[greybeard]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

I live in WV so the closest one is in Charleston 200 mi away. I'm heading down to NC next wk to see my 3 yr old grandson. There is a HF in Ashville about 70 mi away from where he lives. That will be my 1st visit and I'll give everyone my 1st impression too.

 

[Wanna Ride]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

To each his own. I've owned Craftsman boxes, Kennedys, Snap Ons, Waterloos, and the Harbor Freights. No Craftsman I've ever owned was anywhere as durable as my Harbor Freight box.

Craftsman boxes ****, period. Especially for as much as they cost. That black HF cart is less than 1/3rd the price of a similar Craftsman cart, and the Craftsman could wrinkle with just a hard stare-down.

 

[Cryptic1911]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

yeah I don't know what craftsman boxes you've been playing with, but those griplatch ones are the wobbliest pieces of **** I've ever seen. The HF ones are quite sturdy in comparison

 

[thooks]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

You don't like a $370, 41" toolbox, but you are re-plumbing your house in the most expensive metal there is for it....and won't hold up near as long as PEX...

Ok.

 

[TWX]

Heh.

Maybe with the exception of the Homeowners' toolbox, I'll take a Craftsman toolbox over a Harbor Freight box any day. I've had my older stack of dark blue Quiet Glides for about six years now, no problems with it other than the glides getting a little bit stiff when they sit for awhile. My newer stack, a hodge-podge of random colors of clearanced ballbearing units, works fine despite my having drilled into it and storing it outdoors for two years.

When I rearranged the order of the drawers they were easy to remove from the tracks and the tracks easy to remove from the cabinet, but I've never had any trouble with the drawers or the tracks coming out when they shouldn't.

Some of the 26" stacks in the store had half of their drawers out of alignment, and they keep the bigger ones locked around here so one can't even evaluate them. So much for that. The Craftsman ones in the store are never locked, and they've seemingly been in good shape despite being on display.

 

[Bronson]

I have bought a few tools there. Not feelin the love for H-F.
Not really feelin the love for CHINA either. I will continue to buy American.

 

[Danglerb]

Plenty of display stuff in a HF is put together loose.

Not much point in comparing 5 years ago with Sears or HF, both have changed.

 

[Twiggss]

Hey I go to that Harbor Freight!

same here..well I hit up all of them.

 

[rocco]

i visited my first HF while on vacation last month and it was about what i expected to be honest. Overall, i prefer our Princess Auto to HF, same type of tools, similar pricing and much more other products.

 

[Squankum]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

i absolutely LOVE my Pittsburgh pro (HF) composite handle ratchets. 72 tooth, smooth as silk, and the composite handle makes then not stick to my hand in my unheated garage...

Ah... I never understood the appeal of a plastic ratchet handle. Been 20+ years since I've lived up north and dealt with the heat being sucked out of my hands by cold tools.

Bet Chinese factory workers and mechanics deal with unheated workspaces more than we do!

 

[snakedoc257]

I have a Snap-on box my dad gave me years ago, a Craftsmen top and bottom quiet glide set that I got 18 years ago as a graduation present and then two weekends ago I bought my first HF box. I had been looking for a tool cart for a while and was just about to buy the Craftsmen one for $399 until I saw this one. HF was having a "parking lot sale" and this cart was on sale for $159.

I don't know if I would say it's better, but for a car enthusiast/DIYer not a mechanic by trade it was a great buy. The drawers are nice and tight, the latches work well and I assembled it with loc-tite on all the fasteners. I compared it with the Craftsman model and the Homak one sold at our local NAPA. I have to say it's at least even. The only thing it needs are corner guards. I am going to add those this weekend.

I too found the floor model to be scary, but after looking it over I realized that it was assembled by a store employee and over half the fasteners were loose. I've heard the whole argument about made in China, but when you have to get the most bang for your buck it's hard to avoid deals like these. It's very hard being in the car hobby not to buy something made in China/Japan.

 

[snakedoc257]

Sorry forgot to post the picture. Here it is.

 

[volunteers]

I　went to HF several times. I felt most things there are trash. Just like McDonalds, cheap junk foods. Some people may try it once a year for a hurry lunch, some people may love it and rely on the dollar menu for life.

 

[wave180]

^ And yet, you went several times?

 

[Danglerb]

I　went to HF several times. I felt most things there are trash. Just like McDonalds, cheap junk foods. Some people may try it once a year for a hurry lunch, some people may love it and rely on the dollar menu for life.

Zagat Survey put MacDonalds in the top 5 favorite fast food places. My opinion is the place is full of death on bread, but .... every so often my wife wants one of their Filet of Fish, and much more rarely I want a Big Mac, and never turn down a chance to have the frozen stuff they can't call ice cream.

If you don't understand the appeal, thats fine, but its real.

BTW McD is the number one rated place to take kids, try and fight that.

 

[TWX]

I don't know if I would say it's better, but for a car enthusiast/DIYer not a mechanic by trade it was a great buy. The drawers are nice and tight, the latches work well and I assembled it with loc-tite on all the fasteners. I compared it with the Craftsman model and the Homak one sold at our local NAPA. I have to say it's at least even. The only thing it needs are corner guards. I am going to add those this weekend.

I too found the floor model to be scary, but after looking it over I realized that it was assembled by a store employee and over half the fasteners were loose. I've heard the whole argument about made in China, but when you have to get the most bang for your buck it's hard to avoid deals like these. It's very hard being in the car hobby not to buy something made in China/Japan.

There's a qualitative difference between China and Japan. There's no comparison there.

As for fasteners, my Craftsman bottom boxes have exactly seventeen fasteners each, and my top boxes have exactly one fastener. The bottom boxes have sixteen fasteners to secure the wheels to the bottom (four per wheel), and the remaining fastener, as well as the same part on the middle and top boxes, is the nut that retains the lock.

The drawer rails are snap-in, and the drawers are snap-in. They're designed to not need any fasteners to retain them. They can be removed in the same fashion, with a clever little metal tab that one pushes while pulling sideways on the rail.

With nothing to loosen up, they'll always look good right out of the box, and the store employee only has to attach the wheels, for which they have the tools right there to do in a couple of minutes. Same thing for the buyer when they get the box home- no effort to just attach the wheels and start using it immediately.

Don't get me wrong, I do my share of shopping at Harbor Freight, but I certainly do discriminate on what I buy there.

 

[Rogue1987]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

Rogue1987, would you agree that at least the display red roller is loose, maybe it's just beat to hell?

I haven't been in there in about 2 months, if I get a chance I'll swing in. Too damn busy

 

[jon1996]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

i seen one of the harbor freight boxes in service in a heavy truck shop, a friend of mine bought one right outta school, It took a beating its whole life there, It was hit with a forklift, dented, banged against the wall, and the bottom drawer had 100ft of 1/2" chain in it 5 20ft chains we used to pull with, and when I left there after it was there for 2 years it still operated like it was new, it did not look new but it worked great,

 

[outcast]

Re: Harbor Freight Fist Impressions

i seen one of the harbor freight boxes in service in a heavy truck shop, a friend of mine bought one right outta school, It took a beating its whole life there, It was hit with a forklift, dented, banged against the wall, and the bottom drawer had 100ft of 1/2" chain in it 5 20ft chains we used to pull with, and when I left there after it was there for 2 years it still operated like it was new, it did not look new but it worked great,

that would be the perfect place for one of these boxs. who would spend $4-5-6,000 just to see it get hit by a forklift.

 

[greybeard]

Like I said, I'm heading into Harbor Freight for the 1st time next week. Going to the one in Ashville NC. How big of a place is HF is it as big as say a Lowe's or is it more like the size of a Advance Auto? Do they have most of what they show online or just some of the things like Sears?

 

[outcast]

Like I said, I'm heading into Harbor Freight for the 1st time next week. Going to the one in Ashville NC. How big of a place is HF is it as big as say a Lowe's or is it more like the size of a Advance Auto? Do they have most of what they show online or just some of the things like Sears?

they are all different sizes. mine is about the size of a walgreens.

they do not have everything in stock.