I'm doomed

[RalphInCA]

They just opened up a HF store a couple of miles from me. I can already feel my tool standards going downhill. All my life I have been a "buy the best tools you can afford" guy. But having a HF so close is very tempting for those times when I need a tool quick.

Like yesterday when I was changing brake pads on my sports car. The wheels were stuck on the wheel flanges and I need a BFH to get them off. So did I wait until I could get a quality tool? Noooooo, I just hopped over the HF and picked up a big rubber mallet for four bucks! Did the trick. (Although I did feel a little guilty.)

 

[bobcatdan]

Stop two tool trucks and call me in the morning.

 

[Conductor562]

I've had a couple of those HF mallets. You won't have to worry about feeling guilty for long, the mallet will come apart in chunks after only a few uses. I have a HF near me as well, every time you walk in you leave your pride at the door and pray none of your buddies see your car in the parking lot. Well, I do anyway

 

[Zeke]

.[bashing]HF[/bashing].

 

[uniballer]

They hale from china!

 

[Carson_13]

similar to our princess auto

 

[countrytech]

There's no shame in going to HF, my only wish is that they would be closer than an hour away. Their "cheap ****" has helped me get tools I couldn't otherwise afford, and let me do tasks I couldn't otherwise do. If a tool breaks and I use it often enough, then I go buy a higher end one that will last and do the job better. It's just ignorant to pay $10-$20 per impact socket if you only use them a couple times a year, and the $20 for a whole set works fine for the task at hand. I don't care if a tool gets scratched or the finish chips, I get a tool to use, not look at, so unless the HF brand won't work, it's good enough for me.

 

[greasemonkey44]

ha, it happens
i buy lots of disposable stuff there
the plastic dead blows are ok but under heavy use they dont last me long
i really like it because i can buy tools to cut build and modify without breaking the bank

 

[Fastback]

Just as good as the new craftsmen from china for a lot less, with the same warranty no less. I think Hft will be here after sears is long gone. :-(

 

[musgofasta]

They just opened one a half-mile from my work. Everything is so nice and new and clean! But I haven't bought a single thing from HF in quite a while, there's just nothing I need at the moment.

 

[Jim C.]

There's a HF store about five miles away from me and I've never been in it. I'm pretty sure I won't be in it any time soon. I've been past it dozens of times and haven't once had the urge to stop. There's no need to feel doomed or guilty, just keep driving.

Jim C.

 

[genevabuck]

Some of their stuff does the trick. The other stuff, if you are going to use it everyday, forget it. It's all in how you want to invest. I've bought junk off of trucks as well and paid big money for it.

 

[Hammell]

imagine how bad it would be if they had opened a Snap On strore!!

 

[CoryZ]

HF works for what it is. I bought a set of wood chisels and a dead blow to cut / expand a few mortises for door lock strike plates. My good tools were packed away in a moving truck and the HF ones did the job just fine. I may never use the chisel again, but for $10 (4 chisels and a hammer) for a single job it worked just fine.

Same deal with those plastic trim removal tools. Installed a MP3 hookup to the car stereo and needed to remove the trim. If I had a pro audio business I'm sure I'd have better tools, but the kit paid for itself with one use.

Don't get me wrong, they still sell some chinesium pot metal specials. Caveat Emptor.

 

[SMKS]

There's a lot of junk there, but there are good bargains, too. Do a little researching before your purchases if you aren't sure.

As far as the hand tools go, their Taiwanese products are usually good quality or better, while the Chinese stuff is a total **** shoot.

 

[bobcatdan]

I always feel dirty going into HF. A year or so ago there was a Fastenal surplus store, I drop serious money there. Wright, willams, armstrong, proto, metabo, USA craftsman and even SO at dirt cheap prices. The said thing is I hate normal fasternal stores almost as much as I do HF.

 

[rharman]

They just opened up a HF store a couple of miles from me. I can already feel my tool standards going downhill. All my life I have been a "buy the best tools you can afford" guy. But having a HF so close is very tempting for those times when I need a tool quick.

Like yesterday when I was changing brake pads on my sports car. The wheels were stuck on the wheel flanges and I need a BFH to get them off. So did I wait until I could get a quality tool? Noooooo, I just hopped over the HF and picked up a big rubber mallet for four bucks! Did the trick. (Although I did feel a little guilty.)

A couple of months ago, they opened one about 1 mile from my house. I've been in a couple of times for misc little things but, like "musgofasta", I really haven't needed anything. Before that I had to go about 7 miles.

I have no problem buying from them if it's going to be little/lightly used. Same attitude as "countrytech" posted.

I needed to cut a lot of light steel some time back and bought the 6" cutoff saw w/ coupon. It did the job great and has also come in really handy several times since. It does the job a lot better than a hacksaw. Buying a name-brand saw would have been just throwing money away.

I'll buy Dewalt, Milwaukee, Porter-Cable, or others for my "real" tools but have no shame in what I've selectively purchased from HF.

 

[oldtools]

They just opened up a HF store a couple of miles from me. I can already feel my tool standards going downhill. All my life I have been a "buy the best tools you can afford" guy. But having a HF so close is very tempting for those times when I need a tool quick.

Like yesterday when I was changing brake pads on my sports car. The wheels were stuck on the wheel flanges and I need a BFH to get them off. So did I wait until I could get a quality tool? Noooooo, I just hopped over the HF and picked up a big rubber mallet for four bucks! Did the trick. (Although I did feel a little guilty.)

There is no shame in that. The money you saved can be used to take better care of your family.

 

[woody 73]

I wonder if we can give you Mickey o's phone number just in case you have that feeling like you need to go to a HF store he can give you some moral support; I am thinking maybe his phone number might be something like 1-800-buy american.

 

[Exceller8]

HF will come in handy when you need something cheap and quick. I buy 95% American made tools but sometimes HF comes in handy. Don't limit yourself because a few people here don't like them.

 

[dodge610]

HF is a decent place to go to save a buck on certain items just got a 6in. polisher there today 6 speed adjustments. Sale price was 59.99 with 20% coupon got it for 47.79. worked great for polishing the three cars I needed to do. It paid for itself in 1 use doing all three cars Item#69924 I was very pleased with it even got a 1 yr warranty for $6.00.

 

[bcradio]

There's a lot of junk there, but there's good bargains, too. Do a little researching before your purchases if you aren't sure.

As far as the hand tools go, their Taiwanese products are usually good quality or better, while the Chinese stuff is a total **** shoot.

This is pretty much spot on

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

For those who say that they are embarrassed by or feel guilty about shopping at HF, here is a novel concept: Don't go there!

It's not rocket science, just a little self control.

I do buy things from them which I believe are a good value. No shame in that at all.

 

[Jawn]

Don't forget you can buy American there too... Goodyear air hoses, their house-brand compressor oil and air tool oil, and some kind of orange hand cleaner.

 

[cammok5]

one just opend close to me. the 1st 2 times there i only got a couple small things i needed but this weekend i went and spent around 450. got a roll cart and trans jack so that was most of it though. im sure il be back again though.
i noticed i was wearing my snapon coat in there though, felt like ***

 

[RalphInCA]

For those who say that they are embarrassed by or feel guilty about shopping at HF, here is a novel concept: Don't go there!

It's not rocket science, just a little self control.

I do buy things from them which I believe are a good value. No shame in that at all.

Yeah, I understand what you are saying, but HF is a few minutes from me using side streets and the nearest place I can get "real" tools is miles away on (arghh) LA highways. Often the LA highways are more annoying and dangerous then I want to venture onto.

 

[Mickey O]

It's okay to buy something from Harbor Freight in a pinch, just make sure to return it for a full refund when your done with it, chances are it will be broken or close to anyhow (last thing I got at HF in a pinch were their snap ring pliers, broke on the first use).

 

[RedFordTruck]

May not be such a bad thing... I hear HF has some nice new Ratcheting hammers

 

[gpalmer77]

There's no shame in going to HF, my only wish is that they would be closer than an hour away. Their "cheap ****" has helped me get tools I couldn't otherwise afford, and let me do tasks I couldn't otherwise do. If a tool breaks and I use it often enough, then I go buy a higher end one that will last and do the job better. It's just ignorant to pay $10-$20 per impact socket if you only use them a couple times a year, and the $20 for a whole set works fine for the task at hand. I don't care if a tool gets scratched or the finish chips, I get a tool to use, not look at, so unless the HF brand won't work, it's good enough for me.

^ This.

 

[bcradio]

It's okay to buy something from Harbor Freight in a pinch, just make sure to return it for a full refund when your done with it, chances are it will be broken or close to anyhow (last thing I got at HF in a pinch were their snap ring pliers, broke on the first use).

Their snap ring pliers are horrible... Still waiting for you to sell some of the goods you got at those sweet yard sales.

 

[greasemonkey44]

It's okay to buy something from Harbor Freight in a pinch, just make sure to return it for a full refund when your done with it, chances are it will be broken or close to anyhow (last thing I got at HF in a pinch were their snap ring pliers, broke on the first use).

i dont know why you go on these HF threads if all they do is rile you up

also i have plenty of HF that is garbage, and lots more that puts up with daily and heavy abuse; its not all ****

 

[Conductor562]

i dont know why you go on these HF threads if all they do is rile you up

also i have plenty of HF that is garbage, and lots more that puts up with daily and heavy abuse; its not all ****

I've got some descent stuff there. My little 8" Drill press has done well and several other things have been ok, but those damn mallets must have been vulcanized with a imitation Zippo lighter.

 

[larryq]

I bought a few of their paint stripper discs for my 4.5" grinder and have been pleased with them. They last longer than the "Diablo" branded ones at Home Depot, which are twice as expensive. As with many things HF however it's not all roses-- the discs are a little _too_ big and just brush against the grinder guard the first moments of use. Nothing too bad but a little annoying.

Oddly, HF 44" and 56" rolling tool boxes are some of the best bargains out there, excellent value for the money. I hear their red tool chests are good too in the ~27" range, but the black one in that size is absolute garbage. So hit or miss really is the case. Heard good things about their composite hand ratchets and their impact sockets-- the higher end ones. But there certainly are items there no one should go near.

 

[camarotoolman]

Does anyone know it you can buy HF stock? The place is packed with customers? they have to be making billions! There .99 socket holders are good, also sell good @ $2 or 3 for $5 !

 

[Davefr]

They just opened up a HF store a couple of miles from me. I can already feel my tool standards going downhill. All my life I have been a "buy the best tools you can afford" guy. But having a HF so close is very tempting for those times when I need a tool quick.

Here are some HF shopping tips:
1. Don't buy anything that cuts
2. Don't buy anything that measures
3. Don't buy anything that has moving parts or is electrical
4. Don't buy anything where failure could result in an injury
5. Don't buy anything that could require repair parts in the future

 

[Exceller8]

It's okay to buy something from Harbor Freight in a pinch, just make sure to return it for a full refund when your done with it, chances are it will be broken or close to anyhow (last thing I got at HF in a pinch were their snap ring pliers, broke on the first use).

Mickey, you can't really believe that every single item at HF is junk, do you? I know that you're pro American tools but sometimes HF fits the bill for whatever reason.

Where do you buy your American made clothes, shoes, etc...?

 

[5mall5nail5]

It's funny that I built an 800HP BMW that's been in magazines with editors wanting to feature it... with 95% of my tools (at the time) having been from HF. Typical haters.

 

[Tarheelgarage]

it's okay to buy something from harbor freight in a pinch, just make sure to return it for a full refund when your done with it, chances are it will be broken or close to anyhow (last thing i got at hf in a pinch were their snap ring pliers, broke on the first use).

 

[ajchien]

It's okay to buy something from Harbor Freight in a pinch, just make sure to return it for a full refund when your done with it, chances are it will be broken or close to anyhow (last thing I got at HF in a pinch were their snap ring pliers, broke on the first use).

I think someone has hacked Mickey O's account. No way would the Real Mickey O ever step into a HF. It's like matter and anti-matter. The world would have exploded and ended.

 

[Skin]

Just as good as the new craftsmen from china for a lot less, with the same warranty no less. I think Hft will be here after sears is long gone. :-(

Its a lower quality Craftsman. And their warranties are not the same.

Craftsman

If this Craftsman hand tool ever fails to provide complete satisfaction, it will be repaired or replaced free of charge. This warranty does not cover expendable parts that can wear out from normal use within the warranty period.

HF

Harbor Freight Tools makes every effort to ensure that our products meet high quality and durability standards and warrants to the original purchaser that eligible products are free from defects in material and workmanship for the life of the product. This warranty does not apply to damage due (directly or indirectly) to misuse, abuse, negligence, accidents, repairs, alterations outside our facilities or to lack of maintenance. We shall in no event be liable for death, injuries to persons or property or for incidental, contingent, special or consequential damages arising from the use of our product. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you.

To take advantage of this warranty, the product or part must be returned to us with transportation charges prepaid. Proof-of-purchase date and an explanation of the complaint must accompany the merchandise. If our inspection verifies the defect, we will either repair or replace the product at our election or we may elect to refund the purchase price if we cannot readily and quickly provide you with a replacement. We will return repaired products at our expense, but if we determine there is no defect, or that the defect resulted from causes not within the scope or our warranty, then you must bear the cost of storing and returning the product. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights, which vary from state to state. Harbor Freight’s lifetime tool warranty is one of the strongest in the business, and one of the main reasons for millions of satisfied customers!

As you can see not nearly as lenient. Plus they cover their asses in the event that their hand tools kill you.