HF almost killed me today

[Mr_fixit]

Chinese ****. I would never use chinese brass... probably laced with lead.

 

[oilslick]

I normally hate HF air fittings, but I am able to recognize what is worth buying and what is not as I have learned a few thing by accident over the years. Your thread title is **** and you should be embarassed to have written it in my opinion.

 

[demoman]

I've had my HF fittings on my air hoses for well over 20 years and they're still fine.....I bought steel rather than brass tho.

Do you suppose it's just that they've been buying from cheaper suppliers? A lot of the stuff I've bought from them is still serving me well after a whole lot of years and a lot of use.

I think condemming everything they sell as "Chinese ****" is unfair and unecessary. Most of us have bought from them and some of us are completely satisfied with what we've gotten....

I also don't think it's reasonable to assume everything ever made in the US is better, I've seen some US made junk over the years too - and driven some of it as well. Over they years I've also had cracked fittings I bought from the local hydraulic and plumbing stores, and all their stuff is US made.

My point is maybe we could drop the name calling and act like adults?

I have bought tools from HF for our demolition business and scrap yard. When they get lost it is not so painful. I consider them a one or two time use at best for most things they sell. Example; we get in a lot of HF hand grinders that come into the scrap yard. One particular customer brings in 10-15 every 6 months to sell for salvage. He runs a fab shop and says they last about a month wouldn't it be better to buy one good grinder that lasted a couple years? I took one apart to discover that they used brass bushings instead of a bearing on the armature. When it overheats from use it dies and melts the housing. It would be fine to put on a shelf and tell your friends you have a grinder but if you ever want to use it for real DON"t waste your time.
Most of their tools are cheap and poorly made so if you use something all the time or need it to work when you really need it then this is not the place for you. I find it is a better idea to pawn shop for used USA tools than buy at HF anyway

 

[Zeppe807]

I normally hate HF air fittings, but I am able to recognize what is worth buying and what is not as I have learned a few thing by accident over the years. Your thread title is **** and you should be embarassed to have written it in my opinion.

Really?


First Line:

Well maybe a little over dramatic.

So, I actually have drawer with a bunch of different fittings, and brands. I took out a few different ones.

I do remember where I got the Lasco, but not the Lincoln. Funny thing is I did not see the Lincoln brand fitting (that would have worked for the replacement), and used the CH one.

Whats odd is the CH one looks like it is crimped in the middle, so I am going to guess it is made of steel. (I will check later)


I hope no-one from the "I LOVE HF" cult does not get to bent from me posting this thread, but I do think there is lesson to be learned here.

My rule with Cheap "STUFF" : Do not buy from them anything that your life or your income depend on.

That being said, glad you found it before things got worse

(^^Had to edit it, since I recently had to go to a class for making sure I don't make anyone feel upset in any manner)

I worked in a machine shop that built custom machinery, and I worked as assembler for a few years, and all of the machines we built were primarily air cylinders and pneumatic actuators. After that I worked as a pump mechanic, where I had many years assembling pipe fittings, so I do feel confident in my abilities and knowledge.

I am sitting here laughing how so many people have gotten upset over the claim of HF fittings being cheap.


I laugh a lot though,
Joe Zeppe

 

[E.T.Privott]

i use HF tools & stuff just because it is cheap, if it breaks from someone useing or abuseing it then nothing lost. if the tool works out and is needed on a daily base then i spring for a top line item and never let it out of my personal tool box. if you let your buddy use a tool every now and then the HF stuff is a great way to go, if you need something and only use it now and then HF is the way to go, tools cost way to much to just buy something and not need it ! buy cheap at frist and then make up your mind to spend the $ for the good stuff - some tools walk off some how ????

 

[HemiRambler]

Funny story....me and a buddy were at Horrible Fright a while back - we both needed air fittings and each grabbed a dozen or so. I couldn't do it and tossed mine back in the bin. When asked why I told my buddy that I couldn't stand paying money for something that I just KNEW would annoy me everytime I used them. My buddy laughs and says dude they're only a buck apiece!!!

So later he calls me to tell me how wrong I was - they didn't leak a bit - matter of fact they wouldn't even fit his milton couplers!!!

So I went on McMaster Carr's website - they had US made fittings meeting a bunch of standards for the price of (wait for it!!) 67 cents EACH!


Yes the US ones were cheaper (minus shipping) than the chinese POS that HF sells.


And yes you exaggerated - the most that would likely do is take an eye out! Heck you got a spare - what's the big deal?????? ;-0