Harbor Freight: Made in the UK !

[yeldogt]

Looking around on the internet for the best way to drill five 3/8 holes into a granite wall ... need to hang a cabinet. Found you can get diamond tip bits for around $20+ ... had no idea so cheap.

Quick search found the local to my office HF had them for $10! ... Impressive little things. When I looked at the label again after the job was finished. Made in the UK ... is that allowed at HF?

Anyway -- they look the same as the ones going for 2x the price. I was not sure about using a simple carbide bit that you use on tile... the ones that look like an arrowhead.

 

[nadogail]

If it is sold at Harbor Freight, it could come from any place on the planet.

The good part of your story was that the low priced tool got the job done to your satisfaction.

 

[yeldogt]

If it is sold at Harbor Freight, it could come from any place on the planet.

The good part of your story was that the low priced tool got the job done to your satisfaction.

I was making joke ...... mostly everything comes from China. I have seen a few others .....

The UK was a surprise .... especially at $10

 

[theoldwizard1]

Brass drifts come from India.

 

[Mike Folks]

To slightly change the subject,has anyone shopped at Northern Tools? There's a newly open store in Springfield Mo with nice online ads.

 

[joey1320]

Was it the Bauer?

Nice!

 

[Gunfixr]

To slightly change the subject,has anyone shopped at Northern Tools? There's a newly open store in Springfield Mo with nice online ads.

I have shopped there. They have a pretty similar tool selection to hf, just their own brand, of course. A lot from China, some from Taiwan, like hf.
Haven't bought much in the way of tools, some tire spoons and a changer mount thing, made for riding mower, atv, and small tractor tires. Bought a few other small tool odds and ends. It's been ok so far.
They have some things hf does not, and vice versa.
They do more "outdoor" stuff, chainsaws, wood splitters, a lot of trailer stuff, fuel tanks, truck stuff.

 

[BearsFan315]

nice.. and our HF is across the street from northern... northern is between a hf and a tsc (tractor Supply) from what i see

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

To slightly change the subject,has anyone shopped at Northern Tools? There's a newly open store in Springfield Mo with nice online ads.

Did you guys see that Northern Tool just acquired Jack's Small Engines ?

jim

 

[southalabama]

Ordered from northern for years.

Ordered lots of parts online from jacks.

Lots of new stores. Must be Wall Street money.

 

[NoMoreGreen]

To slightly change the subject,has anyone shopped at Northern Tools? There's a newly open store in Springfield Mo with nice online ads.

Northern tool has their own brand called Northstar. I have one of their pressure washers and have been impressed with it. It is a Honda engine and cat pump. It’s basically their frame. It’s assembled here in the USA.

I’ve been looking hard at one of their air compressors though.

NMG


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[Jacko264]

Looking around on the internet for the best way to drill five 3/8 holes into a granite wall ... need to hang a cabinet. Found you can get diamond tip bits for around $20+ ... had no idea so cheap.

Quick search found the local to my office HF had them for $10! ... Impressive little things. When I looked at the label again after the job was finished. Made in the UK ... is that allowed at HF?

Anyway -- they look the same as the ones going for 2x the price. I was not sure about using a simple carbide bit that you use on tile... the ones that look like an arrowhead.

So what’s wrong with the UK we have good stuff too like mmmmmm
Graham

 

[southalabama]

I don’t think he meant anything wrong with UK.

Us yanks view UK stuff as a premium quality item. Harbor Freight has a lot of slang names. Horrible freight being one. It traditionally hasn’t been known for quality merchandise hence the HF pass/fail thread. Some stuff is acceptable some is ****.

 

[jnovak01]

You should be fine with that item. Use lots of water and place in a drill with 2K rpm. You will be surprised how much life you can get. If you have not drilled in granite before practice if you can on a piece of tile angling the edge of the bit from 45 degrees to start the kerf like a smiley face then slowly walk the drill to perpendicular.
As this is a vertical wall a helper with a water bottle will help. Otherwise you could burn out the bit. Use moderate pressure as the bits are diamond coated and dont need a lot of force.
Good Luck

 

[yeldogt]

I don’t think he meant anything wrong with UK.

Us yanks view UK stuff as a premium quality item. Harbor Freight has a lot of slang names. Horrible freight being one. It traditionally hasn’t been known for quality merchandise hence the HF pass/fail thread. Some stuff is acceptable some is ****.

Exactly .... do view UK as premium.

Same with Germany ... Lots of MB electrical parts come from France.

HF is mostly all China .... or another country that can beat them on labor.

 

[Gunfixr]

nice.. and our HF is across the street from northern... northern is between a hf and a tsc (tractor Supply) from what i see

From having shopped all three (hf, Northern, tsc), you're pretty much spot on.
Hf caters more to the mechanic, and likely city crowd, while northern moves a bit towards the suburban crowd, some mechanic, some rural equipment, and tsc caters most to the rural crowd, a bit mechanic, but geared to farm implements and animal husbandry.
So, all three are useful, depending on what you're looking for.

Then, there's agri-supply..........

 

[bazzateer]

UK made stuff is still pretty good in general. Costs a bit more but you pay for quality.
There's an urban legend about during the war an American engineering firm sent over a sample of their tiniest drill bit to a UK firm to demonstrate how advanced they were. The UK firm sent it back with a neat hole drilled through the centre.

 

[Gunfixr]

UK made stuff is still pretty good in general. Costs a bit more but you pay for quality.
There's an urban legend about during the war an American engineering firm sent over a sample of their tiniest drill bit to a UK firm to demonstrate how advanced they were. The UK firm sent it back with a neat hole drilled through the centre.

I heard that, but I thought it was Switzerland....

 

[rawen2]

I heard that, but I thought it was Switzerland....

I heard it too but it was Germany and had lots of little holes drilled in it.

 

[John in OH]

From having shopped all three (hf, Northern, tsc), you're pretty much spot on.
Hf caters more to the mechanic, and likely city crowd, while northern moves a bit towards the suburban crowd, some mechanic, some rural equipment, and tsc caters most to the rural crowd, a bit mechanic, but geared to farm implements and animal husbandry.
So, all three are useful, depending on what you're looking for.

Then, there's agri-supply..........

Good comparison ... pretty much spot on.

 

[John in OH]

UK made stuff is still pretty good in general. Costs a bit more but you pay for quality.
There's an urban legend about during the war an American engineering firm sent over a sample of their tiniest drill bit to a UK firm to demonstrate how advanced they were. The UK firm sent it back with a neat hole drilled through the centre.

That's a good story! I could believe either Switzerland or Germany ... great mechanical technology served with a subtle hint of arrogance!!

 

[Gunfixr]

I could see it being Germany also.

 

[The Cobbler]

I bought a 4 pack of diamond bits (like $10) to drill porcelain tile from Princess Auto. they work better, and lasted longer than a Milwaukee at $30 ever did

 

[yeldogt]

That's a good story! I could believe either Switzerland or Germany ... great mechanical technology served with a subtle hint of arrogance!!

Just don't ask them to design a cup holder

 

[f121]

I don’t think he meant anything wrong with UK.

Us yanks view UK stuff as a premium quality item. Harbor Freight has a lot of slang names. Horrible freight being one. It traditionally hasn’t been known for quality merchandise hence the HF pass/fail thread. Some stuff is acceptable some is ****.

There's a running joke in the UK about how badly made stuff is here.

Its a little unfair really, stems from the late British car industry in the 80s and 90s. Generally British stuff is seen as beautifully engineered, terribly manufactured, unless it's super small volume niche expensive stuff.

 

[John in OH]

There's a running joke in the UK about how badly made stuff is here.

Its a little unfair really, stems from the late British car industry in the 80s and 90s. Generally British stuff is seen as beautifully engineered, terribly manufactured, unless it's super small volume niche expensive stuff.

There is a line in the movie IQ where Tim Robbins is inspecting a MG TF Roadster with Meg Ryan and he says, "The British would rather glue wood onto a dashboard than get the electrical system right."

And, of course, the countless jokes regarding Lucas electric!! A few of my favorites:

-- Lucas is an acronym for Loose Unsoldered Connections and Splices.
-- The Lucas motto: "Get home before dark."
-- Lucas--inventor of the first intermittent wiper.
-- Lucas--inventor of the self-dimming headlamp.
-- The three-position Lucas switch--DIM, FLICKER and OFF.
-- The original anti-theft devices--Lucas Electric products.
-- To owner of a Land Rover: "How can you tell one switch from another at night, since they all look the same?" Owner: "Doesn't matter - none of them work!"
-- Lucas systems actually use AC current; it just has a random frequency.
-- How to make AIDS disappear? Give it a Lucas part number.

 

[Norcal]

There is a line in the movie IQ where Tim Robbins is inspecting a MG TF Roadster with Meg Ryan and he says, "The British would rather glue wood onto a dashboard than get the electrical system right."

And, of course, the countless jokes regarding Lucas electric!! A few of my favorites:

-- Lucas is an acronym for Loose Unsoldered Connections and Splices.
-- The Lucas motto: "Get home before dark."
-- Lucas--inventor of the first intermittent wiper.
-- Lucas--inventor of the self-dimming headlamp.
-- The three-position Lucas switch--DIM, FLICKER and OFF.
-- The original anti-theft devices--Lucas Electric products.
-- To owner of a Land Rover: "How can you tell one switch from another at night, since they all look the same?" Owner: "Doesn't matter - none of them work!"
-- Lucas systems actually use AC current; it just has a random frequency.
-- How to make AIDS disappear? Give it a Lucas part number.

And the reason the Brits drink warm beer is because they have Lucas refrigerators.

Lucas, the Prince of Darkness.

 

[f121]

And the reason the Brits drink warm beer is because they have Lucas refrigerators.

Lucas, the Prince of Darkness

It tastes better that way! British ales are not exactly served warm, they should be 'cellar temperature', around 50-55f, serve them cold and you don't get any taste. They are very different to American style craft beers.

 

[slow]

Northern tool has their own brand called Northstar. I have one of their pressure washers and have been impressed with it. It is a Honda engine and cat pump. It’s basically their frame. It’s assembled here in the USA.

I’ve been looking hard at one of their air compressors though.

NMG


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

I've had one since 2008, been very happy with it. I also have a cheap air compressor from them as well, it works for my needs, but it is just a fancy inflator, too small for airtools

 

[oldmachinenut]

How can you identify a WW2 veteran RAF pilot without asking?
His fingertips are flat from tapping on the Lucas instruments in his Spitfire

 

[ZRX61]

And the reason the Brits drink warm beer is because they have Lucas refrigerators.

Lucas, the Prince of Darkness.

& the reason Americans drink cold beer is so they can tell the difference between Budweiser & fresh horse piss.

 

[ZRX61]

I don’t think he meant anything wrong with UK.

Us yanks view UK stuff as a premium quality item. Harbor Freight has a lot of slang names. Horrible freight being one. It traditionally hasn’t been known for quality merchandise hence the HF pass/fail thread. Some stuff is acceptable some is ****.

The same cheap **** from Horrible Fright is sold in the UK under different names, Sealey is one, Clarke is another.

 

[ZRX61]

Looking around on the internet for the best way to drill five 3/8 holes into a granite wall ... need to hang a cabinet. Found you can get diamond tip bits for around $20+ ... had no idea so cheap.

Quick search found the local to my office HF had them for $10! ... Impressive little things. When I looked at the label again after the job was finished. Made in the UK ... is that allowed at HF?

Anyway -- they look the same as the ones going for 2x the price. I was not sure about using a simple carbide bit that you use on tile... the ones that look like an arrowhead.

You can buy a fairly decent set of diamond hole saws on Amazon for making holes in rock/glass etc:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0778NND9D/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[nadogail]

There is a line in the movie IQ where Tim Robbins is inspecting a MG TF Roadster with Meg Ryan and he says, "The British would rather glue wood onto a dashboard than get the electrical system right."

And, of course, the countless jokes regarding Lucas electric!! A few of my favorites:

-- Lucas is an acronym for Loose Unsoldered Connections and Splices.
-- The Lucas motto: "Get home before dark."
-- Lucas--inventor of the first intermittent wiper.
-- Lucas--inventor of the self-dimming headlamp.
-- The three-position Lucas switch--DIM, FLICKER and OFF.
-- The original anti-theft devices--Lucas Electric products.
-- To owner of a Land Rover: "How can you tell one switch from another at night, since they all look the same?" Owner: "Doesn't matter - none of them work!"
-- Lucas systems actually use AC current; it just has a random frequency.
-- How to make AIDS disappear? Give it a Lucas part number.

Is it true that Lucas is the Prince of Darkness?

 

[nadogail]

I bought my Hobart Welder from Northern Tool, and am very pleased with boh the product and service.

 

[Norcal]

It tastes better that way! British ales are not exactly served warm, they should be 'cellar temperature', around 50-55f, serve them cold and you don't get any taste. They are very different to American style craft beers.

I can't stand the taste or smell of any beer, so does not really matter to me, others can drink my share. Enjoy!

 

[yeldogt]

You can buy a fairly decent set of diamond hole saws on Amazon for making holes in rock/glass etc:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0778NND9D/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Boy -- that's cheap !! Some of the pictures look to show some weak amount of coating .... but, I was not looking for production work. I wanted to drill 5 holes in a wet bed tile wall. Good enough rules in some situations

 

[stevet47]

I bought some steel vehicle ramps from Harbor Freight a handful of years ago. I was surprised when I got home and saw "Made in USA".