All my HF freebies or fool-me-oncers are stored in a card board box outside the main tool cabinet. Most are destined to be repurposed, borrowed or donated. Only a few HF "gems" make it to the main tool cabinet and they won't be powered.
hf saved the day...
- Thread starter chris142
- Start date
I agree with that statement! the OP is clearly talking about how he has used cheaper tools at home to get the job done, but has quality tools at work...Sounds exactly like me...and some of us others here. I cant predict what I will need for a job at home, and dont want to spend time running back and forth to the shop..so brands like pittsburgh fit in nicely for home tool sets.Well said!
MagnumForce
Well-known member
If I like the tool and it is quality I don't care where it is made. I love my Chinese Low Profile Craftsman Rats and my Craftsman Reversible Ratcheting Combos, so sue me. It's a world economy, pull your heads out of the sand already.
Cato
Well-known member
I've come to two conclusions:
1) No one needs Snap On durability. I bet full time mechanics can get by just fine on Harbor Freight tools.
2) Snap On is over rated. Because they put a $150 price tag on a ratchet does not mean that it performs ten times better than a $15 Craftsman/Husky/Harbor Freight/Lowes ratchet.
at the risk of severe flamage, I will for the most part agree with the points made by Cato and Magnum Force also. I have to give props to the Craftsman low profile ratchets,,they really are comfortable workhorses. I had a USA 3/8 drive that I abused the heck out of for years AT WORK. I ended up breaking it, traded it in and got a chinese replacement..I am NOT disappointed with the replacement! I use the 1/4" and 3/8" daily on the job, I'm thinking I need the 1/2" as well.
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I rate a ratchet on daily use for years without failures, like never even needing a warranty policy backing it up.
I found those ratchets under a German brand and beat on them for years. They were opened, cleaned and lubed about every half year. Work 6 days a week and carry only one ratchet in each size without ever having to worry about a backup unit or when the truck rolls back in next week.
I still have those ratchets and they still work great 8 years later. And they cost a ****** fortune, worth every cent of it.
Sockets I use low end stuff and they have never failed either. So the mix of one great gem and then whatever else works has been my plan for years.
I've no need to try a D80 ratchet, nor the funds to get one. I read all the time that they need changing or fixing but I'm sure some is abuse and some is material defects. Too hard to tell the %s but it is a mix.
That does not appeal to me.
I like old faithful even if it is a bit worse for the wear and getting ugly. She'll work without fail at anything the next time I need to use it, I have no doubts.
I found those ratchets under a German brand and beat on them for years. They were opened, cleaned and lubed about every half year. Work 6 days a week and carry only one ratchet in each size without ever having to worry about a backup unit or when the truck rolls back in next week.
I still have those ratchets and they still work great 8 years later. And they cost a ****** fortune, worth every cent of it.
Sockets I use low end stuff and they have never failed either. So the mix of one great gem and then whatever else works has been my plan for years.
I've no need to try a D80 ratchet, nor the funds to get one. I read all the time that they need changing or fixing but I'm sure some is abuse and some is material defects. Too hard to tell the %s but it is a mix.
That does not appeal to me.
I like old faithful even if it is a bit worse for the wear and getting ugly. She'll work without fail at anything the next time I need to use it, I have no doubts.
^ good point. I always take new ratchets apart just to check out the guts,and lube them. Depending on usage, I clean and lube them every six months or so..and I use them everyday..all day. it is worth the time to maintain them!
nicksnothereman
Well-known member
Bigplum
Well-known member
Occasional jobs ( that go alright) Isn't that what cheap *** tools are made for ?
Daily wrenching or when things go pear shaped is when you need quality
The hard bit is guessing when the job is going to be straight forward
The post could have read , broke my impact cos the wheel nuts were done up by a Ape in a tyre shop , eventually got wheel off by borrowing my neighbours 10ft breaker bar , then found the caliper bolts had been rounded off by a prat with a windy gun , got them off by whacking a old socket on with a lump hammer , then after all that I was prising the pistons back in and the screwdriver broke and I ended up in A&E ,
Oh and wife ran off with the ambulance driver
Daily wrenching or when things go pear shaped is when you need quality
The hard bit is guessing when the job is going to be straight forward
The post could have read , broke my impact cos the wheel nuts were done up by a Ape in a tyre shop , eventually got wheel off by borrowing my neighbours 10ft breaker bar , then found the caliper bolts had been rounded off by a prat with a windy gun , got them off by whacking a old socket on with a lump hammer , then after all that I was prising the pistons back in and the screwdriver broke and I ended up in A&E ,
Oh and wife ran off with the ambulance driver
MN4x4
Well-known member
The OP didn't ASK what he should have bought or not bought. He reported that something he had purchased that others amy or may not like did the job for him.
Good for you, OP. Good job!
Please ignore the trolls - HF and SO alike. Hopefully you are still happy that you posted, even with all the detritus that ended up in your thread.
Good for you, OP. Good job!
Please ignore the trolls - HF and SO alike. Hopefully you are still happy that you posted, even with all the detritus that ended up in your thread.
MagnumForce
Well-known member
He said Harbor Freight, the only other words here more divisive are Sears and Craftsman
Now imagine if HF bought the Sears and Craftsman names. The forum would explode right through our monitors, killing us all.
MartyO
Well-known member
Look Ma I got a free post!
bczygan
Well-known member
Just had to respond to this.
Here is Detroit, we have the biggest racial divide of any American city. The HF on my end of the city is well out into the suburbs, yet whenever I go there, I see city folks there, buying the tools they need for their shade tree work. They know the price/performance ratio.
Go to the dealerships and shops in the suburbs and you will see lots of SO. Fits the needs of the techs for convenience and hard production use and easy warranty.
To each his own.
Not to say they are the nee plus ultra of tools. But they do the job for a price.
devoncoolman
Well-known member
I know how this works. Ive been a mechanic for a long time. And i work in the philly/allentown suburbs and walk in to any sucessfull auto shop around here and all you will see is quality tools and tool boxes. We work on everything from small cars all the way up to class 8 trucks and tractors. Working on this stuff takes its abuse on tools. Some times you gotta do what u gotta do to get the job done. You ever do ball joints on a 3500 dodge. You're not getting them out with a hf balljoint press and a hf air hammer.
kythri
Well-known member
Seems to work fine for a plethora of folks on YouTube.
Yeah, he chose a strange couple of tools to pick on. That ball joint press isn't too bad if you know how to use one. I don't know anyone who uses it at work, but I have one at home and I've certainly done a hell of a lot with it. The Earthquake gun is beyond proven in pro settings.
Speaking as someone in a suburban dealership with higher-end makes, the better stuff from Harbor Freight is well-represented. Pro Screwdrivers, composite ratchets, impact sockets, 25" breaker bar, US General boxes, die grinders...plenty of that stuff around my shop.
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bcradio
Well-known member
Which die grinders do you guys like? I am in the market and don't want to get the wrong one.
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
Zeke,,, what the heck, no respect for those poor old dumb cluck chickens?
I like eggs for breakfast, please don't screw up my program
Dust Devil
Well-known member
That would be awesome.
MagnumForce
Well-known member
Ingersoll Rand, definitely not Harbor Freight.
sberry
Banned
I got a lot of stuff, the other day changed out some parts, even with everything handy it was about as easy to do it with a pair of vise grips and an adjustable. ha
chicane
Well-known member
I have heard very good things about the Earthquake. I was thinking about getting one myself. A real monster. If Snap-On were selling thing thing they would charge a $1000.
http://www.harborfreight.com/34-in-professional-air-impact-wrench-68423.html
chicane
Well-known member
I have had my HF grinder for going on 20 years and never had any issues.
mrjaw14
Well-known member
Just stay away from the wrenches made in India!
Why? Then he could call in for support!
" hello my name is bob how can I help you today?
You can walk to the next town over and get me a new wrench!"
Imagine HF buy Snap On. There would be a thermonuclear explosion.
Wakefield
Well-known member
I am disappointed-I thought they used Duralast!
XxToolAholicxX
Well-known member
As a consumer we all want to save money and buy cheap no matter what it is. Harbor Freight delivers to those consumers. I have tools of all different manufacturers including Harbor Freight and yes they are of good quality. It doesn't matter where the tool is made its the quality. To all the Harbor Freight haters the next time a tool truck comes to the shop ask the vendor why their are not marked MADE IN THE USA. mmmm
The money you guys save could put your kids through college not the vendors.
I am a Toolaholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the Toolman won't give me no credit
I am a Toolaholic
The money you guys save could put your kids through college not the vendors.
I am a Toolaholic,Sometimes I regret it,Especially when the Toolman won't give me no credit
I am a Toolaholic
WhiffySpark
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2009
- Messages
- 6,252
Slight difference between a weekend warrior and a professional technician
chicane
Well-known member
Yeah the weekend warrior actually checks his oil filter to make sure he screwed it on properly....
MagnumForce
Well-known member
Best comment on here ever.
I have gotten two new engines on two different cars for this very reason. One was at the dealer and one was at a private, very well thought of shop. Neither was a jiffy lube or wal mart place...
I change my own oil now.
MagnumForce
Well-known member
Yeah, maybe I should rethink that...
chicane
Well-known member
Even the pro mechanics tell the young guys to stay away from the tool trucks because they are too expensive:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=231511&highlight=davefr
devoncoolman
Well-known member
Don't even know why i bother posting on here anymore. All everyone does is beat the HF drum. Its on the internet it must be true.
kiatech
Well-known member
I see my post set the mood of the thread
emeraldcoupe
Well-known member
these threads are great fun to read 
Nick.Watson
Active member
Some HF stuff isnt bad especially for the price!