Harbor Freight shocker!

[autoace]

I helped my neighbor with his snowblower today, he whipped out his new socket set. It was the big boxed HF one, linked below. I looked these Taiwan tools over very carefully and use them to help him change his auger bearings. The fit and finish and ratchet action, were better than Craftsman. They looked just like the Blue Point sets I have seen at by buddy's garage. For you guys on a budget, if they were stamped Blue Point, I would have believed it, they seemed to be of very good quality, with alot of size versatility.

A surprise to me, they didn't look like HF junk at all.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44808

 

[bchee]

That's really surprising to me as well. I doubt I would ever get a big set like that at HF, but it's interesting to hear

Was each socket marked pittsburgh? Otherwise I'm not sure how they would handle the warranty

 

[Joelfke]

I saw a guy in class with me in an auto class that had a very similar set he said he got at costco...looked like decent quality as well

 

[arkangel06]

not sure i would buy one

 

[Mickey O]

I helped my neighbor with his snowblower today, he whipped out his new socket set. It was the big boxed HF one, linked below. I looked these Taiwan tools over very carefully and use them to help him change his auger bearings. The fit and finish and ratchet action, were better than Craftsman. They looked just like the Blue Point sets I have seen at by buddy's garage. For you guys on a budget, if they were stamped Blue Point, I would have believed it, they seemed to be of very good quality, with alot of size versatility.

A surprise to me, they didn't look like HF junk at all.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44808

But yet they are.

 

[autoace]

But yet they are.

Then Blue Point from SO is HF junk also, looks the same, exactly the same. I'm not going to go out and buy these, but guys are paying 5 to 6 times the price for truck tool Taiwan, it is just doesn't make sense.

 

[Joe B.]

I hope they are strong. Just because it looks nice does not mean it will hold up in the long run. I will admit that in most cases nicer looking tools are also better built. I just wonder if Harbor Freight and China have realized there is a lot of value to making cheap tools look expensive.

 

[Mickey O]

Then Blue Point from SO is HF junk also, looks the same, exactly the same. I'm not going to go out and buy these, but guys are paying 5 to 6 times the price for truck tool Taiwan, it is just doesn't make sense.

I agree.




.

 

[lognom]

Autoace,
I purchased that same set from Overstock for a backup set. It was produced by a Taiwanese firm named Ram. For the $, the socket quality is outstanding, though the ratchets are mediocre and the extension tolerances are wide. Someone told me that the set was originally commissioned by the "Cummins" sidewalk tool promoter but he had to sell the inventory off after the legal judgment against him, but I can't say for sure.
In any case, I would highly recommend the set to anyone who wants a portable/loaner/backup set.

 

[rickairmedic]

I havent touched that set but I have had my hands on this set and for the money they are nicer than Crapsman by a long shot 301 pieces for $179 onsale add a 20% off coupon and you got a really good deal . I plan to get this set myself to put on my service truck .

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=45951



Rick

 

[Mickey O]

I havent touched that set but I have had my hands on this set and for the money they are nicer than Crapsman by a long shot 301 pieces for $179 onsale add a 20% off coupon and you got a really good deal . I plan to get this set myself to put on my service truck .

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=45951



Rick

That set you linked to is a scam, it says "Professional 301 Piece Mechanic's Tool Kit". Show me one professional mechanic that is using that set.

 

[rickairmedic]

Mickey I am not a Pro mechanic but I do know one who is using that set and it really is a nice set for the money . I own an HVAC company and dont use sockets and ratchets daily but I have broken my fair share of Crapsman 3/8 drive ratchets over the years " without cheater bars " . I realise the skilled auto technicians here wont be using that set but for a qweekend warrior it is one hell of a deal .

Rick

 

[M900]

I hope they are strong. Just because it looks nice does not mean it will hold up in the long run. I will admit that in most cases nicer looking tools are also better built. I just wonder if Harbor Freight and China have realized there is a lot of value to making cheap tools look expensive.

What exactly makes a tool look expensive?
Diamonds or maybe gold?

 

[arkangel06]

I havent touched that set but I have had my hands on this set and for the money they are nicer than Crapsman by a long shot 301 pieces for $179 onsale add a 20% off coupon and you got a really good deal . I plan to get this set myself to put on my service truck .

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=45951

Rick

I love how that are trying to copy the SO hard handle screwdrivers

 

[Shocker]

I am going to bet there are a lot of professional mechanics in Taiwan using Taiwanese professional tools.

 

[GregJW]

Harbor freight has a lifetime warranty on hand tools. There is one 2 miles from my shop. Sounds good to me!!!

 

[Shadowdog500]

I know someone who bought a small HF set last year and was suprised how good the tools were. I dont think they are pro tools, but they are infinately better than they were 20 to 30 years ago.

Chris

 

[Mickey O]

I am going to bet there are a lot of professional mechanics in Taiwan using Taiwanese professional tools.

I'll bet there are professional mechanics in Taiwan cursing how crappy the tools from their country are and wishing they had top quality USA made tools.

 

[Joe B.]

What exactly makes a tool look expensive?
Diamonds or maybe gold?

Naw, just a very nice finish and shiny chrome.

 

[trailwart]

i picked up this set about 2 years ago for my home box and it has served me well.(at home)http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=93574
picked it up for 19.99

now all my work tools at the shop are 95% matco and the rest snap on. I do occasionally pick up a few things from hf for the house, but am real selective on what i get. i cant vouch for the set shown as i have not used it, but if it functional like the set i linked, then it is good value. i went in for some pliers, they had a deal(lol) on a 5 or 6 piece set, only problem was that with the pliers closed- you could still seee daylight between the teeth. some things are good value, other things is best to keep walking by them.

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

I have this set,Had it for about 4-5 years. I haven't broken a socket. The ratchet can withstand 500ft/lbs of torque.

 

[IDASHO]

I'll bet there are professional mechanics in Taiwan cursing how crappy the tools from their country are and wishing they had top quality USA made tools.

Thats where you are confused....


They dont have mechanics in Taiwan.

When things need fixen' they just buy a new one!

 

[trailwart]

but a new mechanic, or tool?? lol

 

[Stick Figure]

That set you linked to is a scam, it says "Professional 301 Piece Mechanic's Tool Kit". Show me one professional mechanic that is using that set.

I don't have that set, but i do have a 1/4" drive rail of SAE sockets from harbor that i'm trying out. So far i haven't broken one or had a single problem w/ fit.

The other thing i picked up was a set of SAE allen wrenches. i figured for the money when they stripped i would replace them w/ some of the extras i have laying around with out a case, but they haven't stripped yet. I use them pretty regularly at the shop on the machine tools and such, and you can't even see a mark on the sizes i use regularly.

 

[sbarton]

i picked up this set about 2 years ago for my home box and it has served me well.(at home)http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=93574
picked it up for 19.99

now all my work tools at the shop are 95% matco and the rest snap on. I do occasionally pick up a few things from hf for the house, but am real selective on what i get. i cant vouch for the set shown as i have not used it, but if it functional like the set i linked, then it is good value. i went in for some pliers, they had a deal(lol) on a 5 or 6 piece set, only problem was that with the pliers closed- you could still seee daylight between the teeth. some things are good value, other things is best to keep walking by them.

I'm thinking about getting this set to hang on my pegboard. Can you use the supplied plastic holder to hold the sockets or once you remove them, they don't stay on?

-Scott

 

[trailwart]

yes, mine are still on the holder

 

[stock z/28]

I have seen the Blue Point import stuff and I was kinda disappointed that Snap On would sell that line at the pricing they do.

I have been a Snap On customer since about 1970 and I always looked round before I bought a Blue Point tool as most were just another brand with the Blue Point name, at a lot higher price. So if it was available from another source at a lower price (typically it was, and a lot lower) that's where I would buy it.

I have bought some Blue Point wrenches that I thought were very high quality at fair prices. A good value, in my opinion.

On the Blue Point sets that they are selling now that seem the same as HF stuff, it almost seems a bit sad to me.

I hope some one shops around a bit before they start making payments on HF tools from Snap On?

Its OK with me what ever happens.

 

[jeepnut24]

I'll bet there are professional mechanics in Taiwan cursing how crappy the tools from their country are and wishing they had top quality USA made tools.

No, they probably just get the work done without complaining. Something lost here long ago....

 

[Griff93]

Then Blue Point from SO is HF junk also, looks the same, exactly the same. I'm not going to go out and buy these, but guys are paying 5 to 6 times the price for truck tool Taiwan, it is just doesn't make sense.

Your right it doesn't make any sense that guys are paying 5 or 6 times HF prices for the same Taiwanese tools.

 

[TA^Guy]

I have several tools from HF many of them were purchased 14 or 15 years ago when I first started out as a mechanic and didn't have a ton of cash to blow on tools. Scary thing is, I have most of those same tools today. My combination wrenches have even been heated and bent to get to hard to reach places and still haven't failed. Sure I've broken some sockets, or extensions, and that very, very large ratchet that I used as a sledge hammer in the salvage yard one day. But I've broken just as many name brand tools too, tools that were far more expensive. Actually one of my favorite tools if the Pittsburg composite 117 tooth ratchets.

 

[Danglerb]

My swap meet rule, if it looks too shiny, too mirror like, don't bother picking it up to look for a brand.

BTW I think Snapon sockets look pretty, the fine lines of the lettering etc., but that has zero to do with the basic quality, just how Snapon wants them finished.

 

[Shocker]

I'll bet there are professional mechanics in Taiwan cursing how crappy the tools from their country are and wishing they had top quality USA made tools.

Touche' I am sure there are professionals in Taiwan using Chinese made tools wishing they could afford great Taiwanese tools.

 

[mkdive]

My swap meet rule, if it looks too shiny, too mirror like, don't bother picking it up to look for a brand.
.

I am the same way at swap meets. I'm usually looking for the "reddish orange" (really light surface rust) or "matte gray" wrenches, which are usually older USA made wrenches....also at the same time I am giving the quick eye scan for the elusive pebble grain!

 

[Torq'er]

That set you linked to is a scam, it says "Professional 301 Piece Mechanic's Tool Kit". Show me one professional mechanic that is using that set.

I've been using the sockets and drive tools from that set daily (6-7 days a week) for almost a year.
We work on a bit of everything, but the vast majority of my work is on Class 8 trucks and Class A motor homes.

There's plenty of HF tools I wouldn't rely on for the kind of work I do, but I've never had one socket, extension, ratchet, adapter, universal joint, or breaker bar fail on me.
Same goes for the Pittsburgh impact sockets, and the high polish long handle wrench sets.

I know from reading the board that others have not been so lucky, but I can only relay my own personal experience.

 

[Fedwrench]

What exactly makes a tool look expensive?

The letters Snap on stamped into it.

These sets may be bargains for some people. I'm noticing a trend in these Harbor Freight threads though. It appears (at least to me) that the Taiwan made tools sold by Harbor Freight are fairly decent, the Chinese made stuff is not as good as the taiwanese tools, and bring up the rear in quality is the Indian made stuff. I guess you only have to worry if that Taiwanese set starts being made in India.
Perhaps the Taiwan sets are over runs from other orders, closeouts, etc.

 

[allapanoo]

Would anybody really be surprised if we started seeing Toptul quality stuff at Harbor Freight in the near future to compete with Sears etc. ?

 

[jeepnut24]

Would anybody really be surprised if we started seeing Toptul quality stuff at Harbor Freight in the near future to compete with Sears etc. ?

I think you mean Toptul quality at Sears to compete with HF... Because lately the fit and finish in some cases is better at HF than Sears...

 

[sberry]

I have several tools from HF many of them were purchased 14 or 15 years ago when I first started out as a mechanic and didn't have a ton of cash to blow on tools. Scary thing is, I have most of those same tools today. My combination wrenches have even been heated and bent to get to hard to reach places and still haven't failed. Sure I've broken some sockets, or extensions, and that very, very large ratchet that I used as a sledge hammer in the salvage yard one day. But I've broken just as many name brand tools too, tools that were far more expensive. Actually one of my favorite tools if the Pittsburg composite 117 tooth ratchets.

I have broken more quality stuff, mainly cause I use it more.

 

[sberry]

I've been using the sockets and drive tools from that set daily (6-7 days a week) for almost a year.
We work on a bit of everything, but the vast majority of my work is on Class 8 trucks and Class A motor homes.

There's plenty of HF tools I wouldn't rely on for the kind of work I do, but I've never had one socket, extension, ratchet, adapter, universal joint, or breaker bar fail on me.
Same goes for the Pittsburgh impact sockets, and the high polish long handle wrench sets.

I know from reading the board that others have not been so lucky, but I can only relay my own personal experience.

The cost is so low it makes no sense for a business so dependant on hand tools to do without at those prices. It makes purchase/investment decisions almost immaterial if you need the stuff. For 300$ a guy could stuff a place full of wrenches and sockets. If I couldnt afford the good stuff I would use cheap if it worked till I could upgrade if needed.
I seen some HF or Pitts wrenches at an auction, went for as much as you could have bought new for and they look like they earned their keep many times over.

 

[sberry]

I was in a shop a while back where I mention to the operator that the place was desperate for hand tools. He says we got them. He dropped about 10K with the snappy dealer but had them locked in the office, didn't want the men to use or scratch them,, ha. All still in the packaging.