Harbor Freight

[Hubb]

Anyone have any hand tools from them? I have bought a few things like a drill, nail gun an some other stuff but never any hand tools. I see they have a lifetime warranty, so that tells me that they cant be to bad?

Im just looking for tools to use around the house/garage. Tune ups an any other repairs a car my need from time to time.

Thanks

 

[NJHandyGuy]

some are good some **** prybars are garbage for one the pittsburg pliers need better forging and there vise grips work 1 time then never close straight again

 

[Buxfan]

85% trash - 15% good stuff.

 

[zer01]

Try the search feature on this website. This topic is beat to death. The harbor freight pass/fail thread is always helpful.

 

[Hiball]

Welcome to GJ.. Please utilize the search function, There are NUMEROUS Hf threads here at GJ.

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27192

 

[Hubb]

Welcome to GJ.. Please utilize the search function, There are NUMEROUS Hf threads here at GJ.

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27192

I did a search but found threads on what looked to be just about an item from there. I did another one an found the thread you linked, thanks

 

[thesilverone]

.......................

 

[mikebramel]

theyll do you well for what you listed. get the things made in taiwan not china or idnia. big difference

 

[Hubb]

.......................

I did a search but found threads on what looked to be just about an item from there. I did another one an found the thread you linked, thanks

But thank you for reminding me where its at

 

[Indy_500]

some are good some **** prybars are garbage for one the pittsburg pliers need better forging and there vise grips work 1 time then never close straight again

are you on something? their 4 pc. pry bar set is amazing for the price.

 

[bursty]

I've got some of their long handle combo wrenches. Cant go wrong for that price.

 

[Red Green]

The HF warranty isn't worth spit. They won't warranty a single tool and you need the receipt to warranty the whole set.

are you on something? their 4 pc. pry bar set is amazing for the price.

I had a set I was less than impressed I bent the big one in the set by hand it wasn't like I was standing on it or anything.

 

[Hiball]

are you on something? their 4 pc. pry bar set is amazing for the price.

I would think after all the discussions we have had concerning HF tools that we as a community could agree that there are QC issues across the board that could relate to one person having luck with a tool and another having complete failure. The truth of the Matter is that Any Tool from any Company can Fail Prematurely but the QC issues seem to run rampant in the Lower priced, Mass produced Sector with Greater frequency. Just because someone's Opinion on a particular Tool doesnt Jive with yours doesnt mean there "On something" or your Right or Wrong.

 

[SCscoutguy]

The HF warranty isn't worth spit. They won't warranty a single tool and you need the receipt to warranty the whole set.



I had a set I was less than impressed I bent the big one in the set by hand it wasn't like I was standing on it or anything.

None of this is true. You don't need a receipt to warranty anything and they will gladly open up a set to replace your broken single tool.

 

[Red Green]

None of this is true. You don't need a receipt to warranty anything and they will gladly open up a set to replace your broken single tool.

All I can say is that this either varies by location or HF has updated their warranty policy since the last time I was there.

When I was there they wouldn't open a set and give me the single tool I needed. I had lost a couple so I didn't have a complete set to return either.

 

[american lockpicker]

Your better off buying the best tools money can buy.

 

[Boost Creep]

Your better off buying the best tools money can buy.

not everyone has the money or desire to be able to go do that.

 

[mds33200]

american lockpicker : Your better off buying the best tools money can buy.

I disagree on that. For example Craftsman is a very well known brand, I decided to buy myself a nice set of micro screwdrivers, figuring I mise well get the top name brand tools, plus it has a lifetime warranty. So I picked out all the screwdrivers I wanted, paid about 30 bucks and went home happy. Well after using them several times I found out they flat out ****, they have a HUGE design flaw in them. They snap in half VERY easy. I am not talking about the metal bit snapping, I mean the plastic handle has a narrow area and I cant tell you how many times I have used one and had it snap. Sears is right next door basically so it isnt like its a long drive to bring over there and have them warranty it yet I have atleast 3 snapped tools right now. Why? Because its too much of a hassle and with the small bits they snap so easy that it drives me mad.

Yet that 10 pack of micro screwdrivers I paid a dollar for in the dollar store still has not failed me even once. I use them as "pry tools" quite often (I have a few sets- I bend the smallest flat head bit in a vice- I put a 45 digree bend in the tip and it acts as a nice pry tool). They dont have the nice rubber finish like the sears tools have, but to this day I have NEVER had even one of them snap. 10 pack @ $1.00 = $0.10 each. Craftsman screwdriver- $2.99 each. In the past year I would estimate I had them warranty atleast 10 different micro screwdrivers and like I said- I got atleast 3 hanging arround that are shot.

MOST of the time you get what you pay for, but quite often that is not the case. My general rule- if its cheap and it looks like it may do the job, try it out. If I plan on buying something expensive from harbor freight I always make sure I research it first. ONE THING I NOTICED- most airtools they sell are not very good in quality, for example on the filters I got one and had a leak. Exchanged it and that one had a leak. Exchanged it again and the third one had a leak. Exchanged it for a more expensive one, that one had a leak (no joke). I dont know why but I figured I would try the quick disconnect switch they sell- you guessed it- that also had a leak. Airtools **** from that store.

 

[Hubb]

Your better off buying the best tools money can buy.

That makes no sence to me at all. Your answer will be diffirent for everyone that reads it. I just bought my first house, Im broke as hell now. The next guy may have 50k to spend on tools, so tell us both, whats the best tool money can buy?

 

[Hubb]

Thank you to everyone else. I have been happy with the few things I have bought so far. Im mostly looking to buy sockets an wrenchs.

 

[mds33200]

I think "american lockpicker" means if the store sells a $5 hammer and a $30 hammer, buy the $30 hammer.

Obviously (to me atleast) just because it costs more money doesnt mean its better quality, allthough USUALLY thats the case.

For example tap a nail into a piece of wood (one single tap) with the $5 hammer, then tap a nail in with the $30 hammer (one single tap). With the $30 hammer it may go into the wood a little deeper (assuming it weighs more) but ultimate question is if its worth the upgrade. Personally I would rather buy the $5 hammer and just give the nail an extra tap. Unless I was planning on hammering nails in all day- then I may consitter the $30 hammer. But then again if it was heavier and I was using it all day I would probably rather use a lighter weight hammer so my arm doesnt cramp up- so just because it is the most expensive doesnt mean its the best tool for the job.

 

[mds33200]

PS- all tools from harbor freight do not have a lifetime warranty. Thats only for the hand tools.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Your better off buying the best tools money can buy.

I would modify that a little. One thing the old man taught me that has stuck over the years is to buy the best tool you can afford. Sometimes that will be the best, sometimes not but you also need to look at how often the tool will be used and how bad you can get hurt if it breaks.

The more it get used, the more you want a tool of a better quality. The more you can get hurt, the better the quality you will need. As noted above, all tool companies will have a bad one get by every now and then but the lower the price point, the better the odds will be that you will have a problem.

 

[Hubb]

I think "american lockpicker" means if the store sells a $5 hammer and a $30 hammer, buy the $30 hammer.

Yeah I got that, just was saying that the best tool will be different for everyone. I was trying to make a point

 

[dankicksass]

I bought a jack and a brake bleeder there once when one of my jacks failed. They work fine. I wouldn't buy most general-use hand tools there. I know there's that one guy who says he works in his garage all day and night with exclusively HF tools, but I'm not going to be that guy. I just don't have the time to deal with HF.

 

[Danglerb]

Your better off buying the best tools money can buy.

If I had that kind of money why would I have tools? Playmate of the month would be working on my car not me.

I buy HF so I can at least afford the magazine.

 

[iagsxr]

Thank you to everyone else. I have been happy with the few things I have bought so far. Im mostly looking to buy sockets an wrenchs.

I have three sets of Pittsburg wrenches that are 15+ yrs old. In that time I've broken two. Both times they had the 1 1/4" hooked on for leverage.

Got some socket sets at the same time. Don't think I've ever broken a socket, have killed a couple ratchets.

Originally they were in my race box to take to the track(figiuring they'd get lost), are now at my carwash. They get well used/abused.

They do not fit as tight as a good wrench/socket. I keep SO sets that are specifically and only for working on my bikes. I'm **** about marring fasteners.

For homeowner type stuff, HF'd be fine.

 

[mrholeshot]

There are a few treasures among the trash. The warranty is no questions asked. As far as the pry bars go i have a set and They have been great. My wife bought them for me when she went down to pick up a trolly for me. 7.99 on sale.

 

[american lockpicker]

Someone playing around with my posts???????

 

[gnx547]

I bought a Pittsburgh socket set a few years ago for junk yard use. A lot of the sockets I used cracked. The sockets are garbage.

 

[trebomb]

Also don't forget hfreviews.com. They don't have reviews on everything, but it's a good first stop.

 

[Randy_che]

So many replies on this thread that have never posted on the HF review thread. Interesting. One would think that if they had actually tried and used so many of the tools, they would be willing to share their experiences, successes, and failures. With specific model numbers.

I'm guessing most of it is water cooler talk, or the guy that bought the cheapest set of something and had one break, so everything in the store must be junk.

Go read through the review thread and see that there are people who have tried and are happy with a lot of stuff from there. Some stuff is bad too. Pick the wheat from the chaff and you'll be just fine.

 

[Abbott]

I own a lot of Harbor Freight tools and a few of their machines and a few power tools. Overall its a great place to frequent. They are even starting to stock some decent hardware and my shop would not be stocked nearly as well as it is without Harbor Freight. I still buy name brand tools when I need to such as Ridgid, Makita and Hitachi but don't let some of the tools snobs here fool you...Harbor Freight will give you much more buying power and help you get things done.

 

[wafrederick]

I have one of their 1/4 air ratchets,using it at work and has held up great so far.For $50.00 I am not complaining about it.Have rad on DIY network's message board the power tools are junk,a PITA to set up and burn up.I have a couple sets of their deep impact sockets,in SAE and Metric which have held up.I even got a set of the metric deepwells for my father for Christmas one year,was looking for a set with an 18mm and made his day.

 

[Danglerb]

Why is it with these guys that when they break a socket its ALWAYS a bad socket?

I've never broken a socket, and I doubt it because they have all been good.

 

[RLRRLRLL]

for the original posters needs, harbor freight tools will work just fine. Just dont get the super cheap socket sets or wrenches, and you will be fine.

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

I bought a jack and a brake bleeder there once when one of my jacks failed. They work fine. I wouldn't buy most general-use hand tools there. I know there's that one guy who says he works in his garage all day and night with exclusively HF tools, but I'm not going to be that guy. I just don't have the time to deal with HF.

What do you mean by the time to deal with HF? Is there not a local store near you?

I'm there often, so if I have to warranty something it's no big deal. But, if you have travel far or warranty through the mail, I wouldn't bother either.

 

[48548]

Why is it with these guys that when they break a socket its ALWAYS a bad socket?

I've never broken a socket, and I doubt it because they have all been good.

That made me laugh, I guess all of my sockets have been really good as well, hahahaha.

 

[mdbeck1]

Years ago when I bought my first car with metric fasteners my wife bought a tool kit with SAE and Metric sockets and wrenches (from WalMart). Not having any metric sockets I actually tried to USE them. I broke several of the sockets before I decided that I would start expanding my S&K SAE set to include Metrics. That was a LONG time ago. Now I have S&Ks to work on ALL of my vehicles. ...and once in a while I find one of those cheap sockets that I throw in the trash (with a smile).

 

[Chadro]

some are good some **** prybars are garbage for one the pittsburg pliers need better forging and there vise grips work 1 time then never close straight again

I agree about the junky *** pliers. I bought a set for extras and they were rusted to hell in about two months. Crappy things.