Harbor Freight for Canadian Visitors

[MikeF2316]

I'm in a hotel near my company's head office in California. I forgot my deodorant, and in walking across the street, there's no drugstore, but there is a Harbor Freight. What should I buy that I can put in a carry-on sized suitcase? I know that I'll have to check it to fly back, but if there's something good, I'm not adverse to that.

So my question is, what should I grab?

And please no Harbor Freight haters.

 

[Pansy]

The composite ratchets are solid.

 

[unslow1]

Really just about any of their ratchets are are good deal. Wander through there and buy something that Princess Auto doesn't carry. Don't forget to get a free item. Look at the Harbor Freight coupons in the Hot Deals section here and use a 20% off.

 

[oldldh]

Can you fold the 56" Roller Cabinet small enough to get it in your carry-on???

The ratchets will fit without mutilation..

 

[yellowbox]

their ratchet wrenches are pretty good for the $$$$

 

[PCO6]

Something you can't get at Princess Auto.

 

[BK13]

For something to fit in luggage the newer ratchets are really a no brainer. That's about all I can come up with. Nitrile gloves, maybe? That won't look too creepy when TSA searches your luggage....

 

[awdblazer]

the 1/2 inch earthquake impact

 

[Professur]

It's all chinese, so you're gonna get hit for duty crossing the border. Really not worth the time and effort.

 

[BK13]

Mast things recommended are made in Taiwan.

 

[canuckian]

I've been to a couple HF's while on vacations and honestly, I didn't see anything that was worth going through the extra trouble for as the quality and assortment is pretty much on par with PA. The newer ratchets are OK I guess. The chemical/cheap rubber smell does seem stronger in HF than in PA though .

 

[MikeF2316]

It's all chinese, so you're gonna get hit for duty crossing the border. Really not worth the time and effort.

I'm going to be away for more than 48 hours, which allows me $800 duty free. I don't plan on spending that much.

 

[mp23]

locking extensions, pro grade torx and hex bits, disc brake caliper set. swivel impacts. Just make sure you get pro grade.

 

[u118224]

This has come in handy a time or two;

 

[rsanter]

Their mechanics gloves are good for the $4 sale price.
Their long 1/2" breaker bar is a bargain for $10

It all depends on what you can get there that is different than you can get at home for a better deal here

Bob

 

[Kenskip1]

Something that look similar to these will make wonderful gifts.Enjoy your stay, Ken

 

[PCO6]

... Nitrile gloves, maybe? That won't look too creepy when TSA searches your luggage....

Could allways hand them to the border guards and tell them they're your glove of preference ... before they tell you to bend over.

 

[canuckian]

oh and don't forget the 20% or so exchange rate. It's a bit better than it was but I've let a few "bargains" go because of it.

 

[engineer2]

Their digital calipers are pretty good for general use.
Magnetic Digital Angle Gauge if you do any woodworking
Nylon/plastic pry bars for removing automotive interior parts.
Skip the impact sockets. They tend to split.

 

[CatSplat]

I've been to a couple HF's while on vacations and honestly, I didn't see anything that was worth going through the extra trouble for as the quality and assortment is pretty much on par with PA. The newer ratchets are OK I guess. The chemical/cheap rubber smell does seem stronger in HF than in PA though .

Agreed, these days there just isn't much at HF that you can't get the equivalent of from PA or Amazon for about the same price, exchange rate considered. Plus, buying from PA or Amazon still nets you a warranty you can actually use.

 

[knobby]

Something you can't get at Princess Auto.

That don't leave much....hell they even seem to have the same air if ya get what I mean

 

[MikeF2316]

The composite ratchets are solid.

Really just about any of their ratchets are are good deal. Wander through there and buy something that Princess Auto doesn't carry. Don't forget to get a free item. Look at the Harbor Freight coupons in the Hot Deals section here and use a 20% off.

Can you fold the 56" Roller Cabinet small enough to get it in your carry-on???

The ratchets will fit without mutilation..

their ratchet wrenches are pretty good for the $$$$

For something to fit in luggage the newer ratchets are really a no brainer. That's about all I can come up with. Nitrile gloves, maybe? That won't look too creepy when TSA searches your luggage....

I've been to a couple HF's while on vacations and honestly, I didn't see anything that was worth going through the extra trouble for as the quality and assortment is pretty much on par with PA. The newer ratchets are OK I guess. The chemical/cheap rubber smell does seem stronger in HF than in PA though .

Something that look similar to these will make wonderful gifts.Enjoy your stay, Ken

I just got back from my first ever visit to a Harbor Freight. And the smell is definitely worse than that at Princess Auto.

The Princess Auto Pro Point ratchets are the same as the better Harbor Freight ones, near as I can tell. And I agree, they are very good for the money. I have at least half a dozen of them, both all metal flex and composite.

My first time touching the 44" and 56" toolboxes too. I expected a little more from them, maybe I've read too many good things about them here. The drawer latching mechanism on the 56" *****. You have to grab the drawer 3" from the right side to be able to open the drawer! Or am I missing something?

I left the store empty handed, but that was the plan. I'll go back tomorrow evening.

 

[MikeF2316]

Thanks to all that replied. I have a short list to look at tomorrow!

the 1/2 inch earthquake impact

This seems to be a winner. Right now it's on sale for 99.99. Will they take the 20% off coupon too? It seems not.

locking extensions, pro grade torx and hex bits, disc brake caliper set. swivel impacts. Just make sure you get pro grade.

I'll have to have a look at the swivels again tomorrow. I didn't take note of them today. All the other stuff I have already.

This has come in handy a time or two;

I have one of those already, and I've only used it once or twice, and it's saved me a ton of time!

Their mechanics gloves are good for the $4 sale price.
Their long 1/2" breaker bar is a bargain for $10
It all depends on what you can get there that is different than you can get at home for a better deal here

Bob

The bar did look good. And currently my longest 1/2" breaker is only 18". But may carry-on sized suitcase is not big enough.

Their digital calipers are pretty good for general use.
Magnetic Digital Angle Gauge if you do any woodworking
Nylon/plastic pry bars for removing automotive interior parts.
Skip the impact sockets. They tend to split.

I'll have to look at the angle gauge again tomorrow. I didn't notice it today.

 

[Flivver250]

I would think HF would have deodorant they way their products stink.

 

[LordPsychon]

Their digital calipers are pretty good for general use.
Magnetic Digital Angle Gauge if you do any woodworking
Nylon/plastic pry bars for removing automotive interior parts.
Skip the impact sockets. They tend to split.

Their Cr-V impacts tend to split, haven't seen that with their Cr-Mo version.

 

[unslow1]

Most sale items you can also use a coupon on. If you stop and pick up a car magazine before you go there coupons in nearly every one.

 

[jd_1138]

Breaker bars are a pretty good deal at about $10 with coupon for the 25".

 

[JBradley500]

 

[MikeF2316]

Interesting, I looked there for a coupon like that, I didn't see it. Thanks!

Enablers, the lot of ya!

Now I think I need to check my suitcase...

 

[MikeF2316]

And here it is with a little honest grime on it. It popped a few bolts out of the rear suspension of a '99 Volvo with no problem. In fact compared to my buddy's IR gun, the only functional difference was weight. The IR is way lighter. They're the same size and seem to have the same power. And of course the IR has tons of use behind it, there's no way to know if this will be as durable. But for the amount I'm going to use it, it will be great.

 

[wyo george]

Thanks for the follow up, it's rare to see people do that!

 

[MikeF2316]

Truth.

I wasn't going to resurrect this thread with another follow up, but now that it is, I can say the Earthquake is still working well. I don't use it much anymore now that I have a high torque Milwaukee cordless. But this is quite a bit smaller so I occasionally dig it out for suspension or brake work.