Harbor Freight, Love Them Or Hate Them

[Renegade1LI]

Love em or hate em they do have some cool stuff. I have a couple Pittsburgh 3/8 x 1/4" ratchets that I use allot, keep one in multiple boxes, just easy. I'm sure other brands make them but this was like 6$. It's fine tooth, reversible, and quick release plus it works great. What other hf tools do you use like this?

 

[snickers muncher]

Their 25 inch 1/2 drive breaker bar and their 1/2 extendable ratchet are great.

On my first ratchet it got stuck and would no longer extend or go back. They switched it out quick and easy.

 

[Ton ton]

Try the ICON line of hand tools. I like the ones I have.

 

[zendriver]

I have a older set of polished china made SAE ex mil picked up at a garage sale several years ago

I’ve beat on them pretty hard on some jobs, they still look and work like new

 

[Rinspeed]

I'm not a big fan of HF but their Impact sockets are as good as anything even costing four times as much.

 

[71goldss]

The Harbor Freight of today is not the same Harbor Freight of yesterday. It amazes me to see how many car restoration shops on TV use the yellow Daytona floor jack, US General boxes and tool carts, etc... Those who still feel HF only sells cheap **** are missing the boat. You just need to do your research, and weed through some of the inferior items that they still carry.

 

[Rickster]

I like their Doyle pliers.

 

[mervyn]

I've had a lot of tools from HF over the years. Bought alot from em 20 years ago when I was in the construction / remodeling job. I enjoy just wandering thru the store looking at stuff.
Still have an aluminum floor Jack that I used a whole bunch doing triple a roadside. Most recent tool is a 1/4 ton chain hoist to lift my dead Zrx engine. Works great.

 

[LB-1911]

Love em or hate em they do have some cool stuff. I have a couple Pittsburgh 3/8 x 1/4" ratchets that I use allot, keep one in multiple boxes, just easy. I'm sure other brands make them but this was like 6$. It's fine tooth, reversible, and quick release plus it works great. What other hf tools do you use like this?

There are a few mentioned @

The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...

I'm sure this one has been posted before but the tool creeper is a huge pass for me. At $15 it's well worth it. Has a little steel plate to stick a flashlight to. Was planning to wait till Labor Day sale to get it. But I decided to just pick it up this past Monday. Monday I woke up & had a 30%...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[WWheeler]

[...] It amazes me to see how many car restoration shops on TV use the yellow Daytona floor jack [...]

I see a LOT of the OG yellow Daytona jacks in use at shops around me.

When I was getting a patch put on a tire last year I remarked to a couple of the the guys working there something to the effect of 'I have that exact same jack too' and one of them turned around and snapped at me 'Why does everyone have to tell us that? Seriously dude!? You're like the third guy just this week who has to tell us he has the same jack!'. Lol, it almost pissed me off for a second what a jerk he was being to a customer over something so stupid but I let it slide figuring he must have been having a bad day. I've been going there for years and the same guy and everyone else there has always been very friendly.

Ever since then I've seen a many more of the yeller Daytonas out and about but I've lost the urge to mention I also have one when I do.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I see a LOT of the OG yellow Daytona jacks in use at shops around me.

When I was getting a patch put on a tire last year I remarked to a couple of the the guys working there something to the effect of 'I have that exact same jack too' and one of them turned around and snapped at me 'Why does everyone have to tell us that? Seriously dude!? You're like the third guy just this week who has to tell us he has the same jack!'. Lol, it almost pissed me off for a second what a jerk he was being to a customer over something so stupid but I let it slide figuring he must have been having a bad day. I've been going there for years and the same guy and everyone else there has always been very friendly.

Ever since then I've seen a many more of the yeller Daytonas out and about but I've lost the urge to mention I also have one when I do.

You can;t beat the value, I bought a 2 ton aluminum one & Its my go to, just light & easy.

 

[nadogail]

I have made some good money over the years with tools from Harbor Freight. They have proven themselves to be pretty much decent enough for the majority of the jobs I do.

 

[RivennHewn]

Like everywhere else, it’s buyer-beware.

Some stuff is OK, some is to be considered disposable.

 

[GeoBruin]

I'll go a step further and say that in many ways, Harbor Freight has allowed me to have my hobby. I'm not a pro, and don't make money with my tools, so I can't always justify the best tool out there. Its also challenging for me to order from industrial suppliers, get access to a tool truck, or even walk in to a place that actually sells tools over the counter since many aren't open on weekends when I discover I need something.

And that might be the biggest thing. I can walk in to HF and buy nearly anything from hand tools, power tools, pneumatic tools, tool storage, material handling equipment, abrasive blasting supplies, welding and fabrication equipment, vehicle accessories, plumbing tools, and the list goes on and on. And I can actually handle the stuff before I buy it. I'll often run to HF with a tape measure to see if something fits my needs for a particular project. I just can't think of another brick and mortar store that offers the same breadth of things that so closely overlap with my frequent needs. Home Depot is a close second but they really compliment each other more than compete with one another.

 

[tamaraw]

I don't feel strongly enough about them to "hate" them. A lot of their stuff is garbage when it comes to precision/fit like on wrenches or screwdrivers. Some of their things (deadblow hammers, snap ring pliers, disposable shop supplies, etc.) are actually pretty alright for cheap.

It's fun to walk through the aisles, see the selection, and marvel at prices the few times that I have been in.

 

[pelletman]

They have come a long way. I love the ratchet that the OP posted and use them often. Often I reach for HF ratchets and I have plenty of others SO, SK, Craftsman, etc

 

[Renegade1LI]

I'll go a step further and say that in many ways, Harbor Freight has allowed me to have my hobby. I'm not a pro, and don't make money with my tools, so I can't always justify the best tool out there. Its also challenging for me to order from industrial suppliers, get access to a tool truck, or even walk in to a place that actually sells tools over the counter since many aren't open on weekends when I discover I need something.

And that might be the biggest thing. I can walk in to HF and buy nearly anything from hand tools, power tools, pneumatic tools, tool storage, material handling equipment, abrasive blasting supplies, welding and fabrication equipment, vehicle accessories, plumbing tools, and the list goes on and on. And I can actually handle the stuff before I buy it. I'll often run to HF with a tape measure to see if something fits my needs for a particular project. I just can't think of another brick and mortar store that offers the same breadth of things that so closely overlap with my frequent needs. Home Depot is a close second but they really compliment each other more than compete with one another.

Whats nice is you can get it on a sunday.

 

[kaymccampbell]

Lordy, I've got a ton of HF stuff. Pump jack, sandblast cabinet, little lathe, shear-brake-roll, impact sockets, porta-power, bike jack, welder, plasma cutter, pliers, some large jawed vise grips, a couple big toolboxes, turning tools, iron worker, hydraulic crimper, the heart of the dumbwaiter, the tablesaw motor, dozens of air tools, bead roller, exhaust pipe expander, electrical knockout punch widget. I'm sure there's more. All the shop lighting. There are plenty of things I won't buy from them, too. But even that's changing.

 

[rust in the eye]

Their 25 inch 1/2 drive breaker bar and their 1/2 extendable ratchet are great.

On my first ratchet it got stuck and would no longer extend or go back. They switched it out quick and easy.

I have that same breaker bar and found it to be, um, flexible. It bends quite a bit just removing lug nuts.
I work primarily on BMWs. The crankshaft hub nut is notoriously tight on these, something north of 300 lb./ft.
Typically I will use a strong impact to remove them as when undoing them by hand you need to apply enough force that you risk tipping the engine stand.
Anyway, I have two that I'm currently working on and was unable to use an impact this time. The cylinder heads were already removed making the engine was less top heavy so I decided to try it by hand.
I'd have preferred to use my 3/4" stuff but the hex is only 22mm and my 3/4" drive set's smallest socket is larger. (note to self; Buy adapter) My longest 1/2" breaker bar is this HF one. No way was I going to break it loose without a cheater so I put a pipe over it and began applying pressure. The bar was bending a scary amount and I fully expected to break it, enough so that I put a heavy towel over the business end to catch the flying bits. SHAZAM! The bolt came loose, both engines.
I don't recall what I paid for this bar but It wasn't much and I'm surprised how strong it turned out to be.
That double ended 1/4 & 3/8 ratchet also appealed to me so I bought it but find I don't use it. I've relegated it to one of my breakdown kits that I carry in each car.
What I really like from them is the 9 mil nitrile gloves. Rather pricey since COVID 19 but I expect that will return to normal, someday.
One thing many rave about that I chose to give away was their lightweight "racing" jack. I worked well enough but the tiny wheels would hang up on the smallest thing so when lifting the saddle would move in an arc and slip off the lifting point. After crushing TWO rocker panels on cars when it slipped rather than roll I got rid of it. On a smooth surface it was fine but I didn't always have that luxury.

 

[PoorUB]

I'm not a big fan of HF but their Impact sockets are as good as anything even costing four times as much.

Thirty years ago I Iost a3/8 drive 1/2" and a 9/16" deep impact Snap-On sockets. I was about to buy new ones to replace them , but at the time they were well over $10 each. I wandered over to HF and they happened to have 3/8 drive deep impacts on sale, $5 for the SAE and another $5 for metric. I bought them and have been using them since and they are holding up very well.
I don't know if I wold trust them for every day shop use, but for weekend warrior use they exceeded my expectations.

 

[zendriver]

I have a rule that if I’m doing the work, I’m having the tools.

I’m not made of money so shopping at Harbor freight fits the bill perfectly, from price and convenience standpoint.

$300 seems like a lot of money to spend to get a great electric demo hammer for one job, but it paid for itself just having it and not have to hire someone to do the job.

Certainly, there are “better” demo hammers out there, but likely not for 300 bucks.

 

[jmdirk]

I'll echo a lot of other people's comments here. Harbor Freight (or Princess Auto for us Canadians) definitely has their place. Same can be said for a lot of places. A lot of the Amazon/Ebay stuff is really just the same offshore stuff that HF is selling. Heck, Eastwood sells a whole bunch of the same stuff for double the price sometimes.

Sometimes you need a tool for one job and don't feel like buying a mainstream brand is justified, or you want to just try something out. Use it once and the cost is justified by the savings over having someone else do it. Or you find out that the tool is actually pretty useful and then you can justify going out and buying a better quality one.

 

[Boogerman]

I'm not fan; passed on or scrapped everything got from them except have hydraulic crane and big rolling floor jack still. Even quit buying nitrile gloves there; buy wholesale supplier instead for better quality, same or lower price. Hydraulic crane, on 4th or 5th one. Buy them when traveling and need lift/load something heavy. Use till leak, then sell locally. Hydraulic jack came last summer with other junk, and has worked for changing on vehicles so far okay.

one thing I can say for them; they used to be cheap; that biggest advantage. Long term value; prefer buying things better that last.

 

[Davefr]

This guy. IMHO it's better than Channelock, Knipex and right up there with Klein but for only $15. (Taiwan)

 

[Garcky]

HF is my go-to for tools I don't already have. Normally, if I do not have something, it's not going to be a tool I use frequently. HF is open and not too far away, so that's where I go. Fortunately, I'm able to go in there, find the exact tool I need and go straight to the cash register. I don't have to look around at the other stuff before getting out of the store. That's good, because I'd probably buy lots more stuff.

It's also where I go for unusual needs. Do I need a new tire and wheel for my boat trailer? HF has it. Of course, I also need the LED trailer lights, too. Am I thinking about replacing the engine on my snowblower? HF has one that will work.

Harbor Freight is open and it has lots of tools. It's a good store.

 

[lolaetype]

I've bought a lot of stuff at Harbor Freight and my experiences have been positive with the following exceptions:

Their wet-dry sandpaper doesn't last very long, at least that's my experience.

I bought a vise that I broke while tightening it by hand, the cast iron fractured. HF refunded my money, no questions asked.

I bought a manual tire changer. I know how to use a manual tire changer. The long bar you use to dismount the tire bent on the first use. HF refunded my money, no questions asked.

Best value, IMHO:

Tool chests,
Floor jacks
Sockets and wrenches
The spray gun you often see on sale for around $15

 

[txvwnut]

I always looked at HF as you get what you pay for. Don't go in expecting to buy a $500 whatever for ten bucks and expect it to be the same quality as the higher end stuff. Some of the stuff I've bought has been just that, a cheap copy, and some of it has rather impressed me right out of the box.

 

[DrinkMan]

Over the years I've managed to get more HF tools than others. Sometimes it is price/value and sometimes just availability. I've learned which stuff is junk and which stuff is surprisingly good. The PASS/FAIL thread is helpful. One time I was in the middle of a suspension project and realized that I had to have a shop press. So I studied the different presses here on GJ, looked online and narrowed it down to a few. I wanted a 10 ton press and wanted it that weekend. So off to stores that the websites claimed they had them. No such luck. I had picked out a backup at Northern Tool. Website said it was in stock - nope. So, in desperation, I drive to HF and there is a 20 ton press that upon inspection, looked very good with good weld. Bought it, been very happy. So, sometimes, I end up with HF tools because they have what they say they have.

 

[dnschmidt]

It doesn't matter if you love them or hate them. THEY HAVE BECOME THE BORG. YOU WILL BE ASSIMULATED.

 

[ecotec]

Love em or hate em they do have some cool stuff. I have a couple Pittsburgh 3/8 x 1/4" ratchets that I use allot, keep one in multiple boxes, just easy. I'm sure other brands make them but this was like 6$. It's fine tooth, reversible, and quick release plus it works great. What other hf tools do you use like this?

The super skinny version of that is even better.

There are a lot of threads on “the jewels of Harbor Freight”. The impact sockets and composite ratchets are definitely GJ favorites.

I started with Pittsburgh Pro impact sockets and upgraded most of them over time with NOS SK sets and garage/estate sale truck brands and industrial brands.

My first big honeyhole estate sale yielded 3/4 of a 5 gallon bucket of truck and industrial brand sockets (and at cheaper prices than Harbor Freight), but I would suggest the Pittsburgh Pro to anyone.

I haven’t broken any of the HF impact sockets… but I couldn’t say no to USA at cheaper that HF…

 

[zendriver]

I purchased several the BF $6 sets of PP wrenches for "stocking stuffers" for the grown boys who don't have much tools.

They are now made in India and actually have a much cheesier look than when they came from China. They look almost "old school" HF but hey, they were six bucks.

 

[jessesandy]

HF disappointed with their ratchets in one respect.
I splurged on a 1/4" ICON...... but the forward/reverse lever is opposite to the forward/reverse lever on the other composite ratchets I have !!
Pick a lane and stick to it.
So, I put the ICON in a drawer and got a 1/4" composite.
(It happens to be a dud, I'll just get another one.)

 

[gerlbaum]

Remember when HF used to carry machine tools? And I don't mean the mini mill or lathe.

 

[driftpin]

I have a rule that if I’m doing the work, I’m having the tools.

I’m not made of money so shopping at Harbor freight fits the bill perfectly, from price and convenience standpoint.

$300 seems like a lot of money to spend to get a great electric demo hammer for one job, but it paid for itself just having it and not have to hire someone to do the job.

Certainly, there are “better” demo hammers out there, but likely not for 300 bucks.

My HFT demo hammer/drill I paid <$95 for, it's probably 7 years old, I've demoed three baths with it, and drilled lots of Hilti fastener holes. The adjustable side handle could stand replacement, I dunno about getting one from them, if they're even available. I'll probably look at other tools I have to see if there's one that would work, if not, I'll probably search on the 'net to see if I can find something.

I just bought some 3/8 & 1/2" adapters & extensions for our adult son, along with some Pittsburgh impact sockets, no issues.

I used to shop a lot at Sears for my hand tools and power tools, the closest Ace Hardware doesn't have a Sears store variety but they do have Craftsman stuff. HFT often has what I might need for hand tools, though I probably have nearly anything I need by now, as I've been buying tools for > 50 years.

 

[BTJHP]

It would be nice if they still honored the $5 off ratchet coupon

 

[bonneyman]

I bought a pair (1/4" and 3/8") of their composite ratchets, and gotta say I like 'em. Alot.

And I find myself going in to HF alot more these days. But they're getting really busy these days.

 

[CHI_Tool&Die]

My HF actually has people there working so it’s nice to have someone offer to help with items. My ACE just went through a full staff turnover and it’s been…um rough to say the least. HD and Lowes, yeah good luck. They just opened a Northern Tool by me. I’ve been meaning to check it out. Never been to one.

 

[Big Bad Dad]

I used to buy automotive hand tools at Sears. But the last Craftsman socket set I looked at was total ****. And since Sears is now gone in my area, Harbor Freight is about the best and only choice available. The hand tool stuff sold at places like Advance Auto is about the same chinese quality, but priced higher. And tool trucks only go to garages and business shops. Us home DIY and hobby people are on our own. The really cheap HF electric tools are junky, but I bought a cordless Hercules ratchet a while back and really like it. And their Earthquake air impact guns have done well for me. AND, I too, have a Daytona jack that I love. (But mine is orange, not yeller...)

 

[MushCreek]

I have a mix of stuff; some HF or equivalent, some pro grade. My HF tool chests have a lot of miles on them, and still function perfectly. Like others, I often go to HF for one-time-use tools. I picked up a flooring nailer, laid my floor, and I'm done with it. Between HF moving upscale, and rampant inflation, I find myself going there less often. I can usually find cheap one-use tools cheaper on ebay or Amazon, and they deliver it to my door.

 

[VolvoRyan]

HF is on par with a lot of the import tools you find at the big home-improvement box stores.

-Ryan