My Harbor Freight odyssey

[DieselSaves]

This site has been a huge eye opener for me in the last few years. I came here first because of the repository of knowledge of all tools new and antique. Good reviews and comparisons of new tools and history lessons on forgotten makes. I joined because I really like tools and using them but a new family keeps me out of the shop and free of spare time and this was a great outlet.

What I didn't realize was that tools could be so polarizing. I saw HF tools mentioned here and my last experience with their stores and tools was fifteen years or so ago and I remember the atrocious quality, poor packaging, and generally beneath cheap feel of their stores. I figured to each their own. Buy cheap and embrace it. Not my cup of tea.

I went into one of their stores in the past year and was impressed with how they've improved their appearance. The store was more or less professional and the selection was impressive. Really good, I thought. I even walked around the store with a 1/4 roto head ratchet for a while, almost buying it. But it struck me that for about twice the advertised price(four times the sale price) I could buy a new GearWrench (which I did) or a used Snap On. The feel of the GW is worlds better than the Pittsburgh so no regrets here.

I also hear glowing reviews of the service carts and picked up a five drawer cart. It sat in my shop for a few minutes before I decided it was not for me. I've owned Mac, Blue Point, and Craftsman carts and looked very closely at the four drawer Homak carts. It would work in a pinch and if I was forced to work out of one I would but trading up would be priority one. For the record, the afore mentioned carts were purchased used for $150~250.

I briefly wanted to be a HF supporter. I would buy their sockets if I had no access to used SK or Craftsman. I could see owning some of their other tools and maybe one of the tool boxes if I was starting over from scratch. Other than that, when I need a tool for occasional use, I find a used one on CL or at a local pawn shop.

I'm not sure if this is a rant or just a ramble. I don't get much time to browse the GJ right now and I guess my radar has just been picking up more HF static than normal. By all means, talk tools, but for the love of Pete, please have more to offer than HF, HF, HF.

 

[ishiboo]

This site has been a huge eye opener for me in the last few years. I came here first because of the repository of knowledge of all tools new and antique. Good reviews and comparisons of new tools and history lessons on forgotten makes. I joined because I really like tools and using them but a new family keeps me out of the shop and free of spare time and this was a great outlet.

What I didn't realize was that tools could be so polarizing. I saw HF tools mentioned here and my last experience with their stores and tools was fifteen years or so ago and I remember the atrocious quality, poor packaging, and generally beneath cheap feel of their stores. I figured to each their own. Buy cheap and embrace it. Not my cup of tea.

I went into one of their stores in the past year and was impressed with how they've improved their appearance. The store was more or less professional and the selection was impressive. Really good, I thought. I even walked around the store with a 1/4 roto head ratchet for a while, almost buying it. But it struck me that for about twice the advertised price(four times the sale price) I could buy a new GearWrench (which I did) or a used Snap On. The feel of the GW is worlds better than the Pittsburgh so no regrets here.

I also hear glowing reviews of the service carts and picked up a five drawer cart. It sat in my shop for a few minutes before I decided it was not for me. I've owned Mac, Blue Point, and Craftsman carts and looked very closely at the four drawer Homak carts. It would work in a pinch and if I was forced to work out of one I would but trading up would be priority one. For the record, the afore mentioned carts were purchased used for $150~250.

I briefly wanted to be a HF supporter. I would buy their sockets if I had no access to used SK or Craftsman. I could see owning some of their other tools and maybe one of the tool boxes if I was starting over from scratch. Other than that, when I need a tool for occasional use, I find a used one on CL or at a local pawn shop.

I'm not sure if this is a rant or just a ramble. I don't get much time to browse the GJ right now and I guess my radar has just been picking up more HF static than normal. By all means, talk tools, but for the love of Pete, please have more to offer than HF, HF, HF.

The HF debate has been beaten to death, over and over. Like Sears/Craftsman.

I am curious though why you found the HF service cart inferior to ANY of Craftsman's offerings at any price point, or how you find the GW that much better than the Pittsburgh Pro, at least when it comes to ratchets. I have a lot of GW stuff and find the Pittsburgh Pro pretty much on-par, and the feeling is almost the same... especially when both are properly greased.

I wonder how much of what is "holding HF back" is simply the brand name being associated with cheap ****, since to me a lot of it is on-par with GearWrench and today's Made in China Craftsman (and unlike Sears, your local HF will probably be around in 5 years), and better than the last Craftsman Made in USA offering.

 

[bobbycos]

I personally own all manner of brands of tools ranging from the $3.99 socket set to Snap-on stuff.

I know alot of professional mechanics who have bought HF carts and toolboxes and use them with no issues.

Usually it comes down to personal preference

 

[rockinacummins]

Here we go...

 

[dnschmidt]

No, usually it comes down to snob appeal. Not that I have anything against snob appeal, as all of our advertising industry and half of our economy is based upon it, it's just that I recognize something for what it is and snob appeal is about 95% of it.

 

[MN4x4]

OK, we get it - you still don't like HF.

 

[Virgil Cain]

Cool story bro .....

 

[Aquaticbob]

Just posted this, but I think it's worth it. 75% is ****, 20% is good for the money, especially one time uses, 5% is on par with most major offerings, and will save you money. I think their pro line stuff is very good quality, and I use it in my shop, which gets used every day, on all sorts of different projects. It's also saved me a few thousand easily.

Also, HF pitts pro stuff blows current C-man out of the water, and their warranty is really no questions asked, life time warranty. Sears has become more and more difficult to warranty, and you better not mention you are a business as they will REFUSE to warranty it. HF on the other hand, I walk in, say look it's broken, and they tell me to grab another one. I haven't even had to do that all that often either. I think the employees just expect stuff to break and don't even care.

 

[454ragtop]

"please have more to offer than HF, HF, HF" So what do you do, start a HF thread? Weird.

 

[kctyphoon]

id hate to contribute to a thread like this, cause its just a waste of time really - BUT - this is just a case of brand loyalty, and someone that's been programmed into believing buying tools from harbor freight is like hearing someone say "well your mom buys clothes at Kmart" when you were 10 years old.. its not the tools hes judging, its the stigma of owning them.. I mean - to each their own, but its just laughable to read the reasons why you pass items up. im sorry you have such a strong psychological struggle, cause really, in the end, your missing out..

 

[yjWrangler]

Okay

 

[crewchief888]

I personally own all manner of brands of tools ranging from the $3.99 socket set to Snap-on stuff.

I know alot of professional mechanics who have bought HF carts and toolboxes and use them with no issues.

Usually it comes down to personal preference

No, usually it comes down to snob appeal. Not that I have anything against snob appeal, as all of our advertising industry and half of our economy is based upon it, it's just that I recognize something for what it is and snob appeal is about 95% of it.

id hate to contribute to a thread like this, cause its just a waste of time really - BUT - this is just a case of brand loyalty, and someone that's been programmed into believing buying tools from harbor freight is like hearing someone say "well your mom buys clothes at Kmart" when you were 10 years old.. its not the tools hes judging, its the stigma of owning them.. I mean - to each their own, but its just laughable to read the reasons why you pass items up. im sorry you have such a strong psychological struggle, cause really, in the end, your missing out..

the tools and equipment i've bought from HF reside quite nicely snuggeled up against my CM, idustrial and truck branded tools in my SO boxes.
i have a HF cart at work, and a SO at home.

i've been wrenching for 30 years, and been buying tools since '76. i'd like to think i made some good choices from both ends of the tool "spectrum" all those years..

 

[Outlander]

I never shopped at Harbour Freight until I came onto Garage Journal. The lengths folks go to hate HF must mean there is something disturbingly true about the products encroaching on previously held notions.

 

[cheechi]

how you find the GW that much better than the Pittsburgh Pro, at least when it comes to ratchets. I have a lot of GW stuff and find the Pittsburgh Pro pretty much on-par, and the feeling is almost the same... especially when both are properly greased.

I think if you look at his specific example, the roto ratchet, he is 100% correct. Considering I own both I feel qualified to say there is general lack of smoothness, quality, whatever word you want to put there on most of the inexpensive roto ratchets.

Several months ago, HF and Husky roto ratchets went on clearance right around the same time. Then about 4 threads came up about them as they obviously had some new owners. I feel owning a HF in all 3 sizes, Kobalt (not GW/Apex made) and Husky (GW/Apex made) that there is a difference in quality between the 3. For the mechanism the Kobalt is best. For the handle the Husky is best. The HF is usable and the QR would be a nice feature if it were more reliable but it is definitely not among the others from similar price and COO standpoints. I mean really, HF is still HF. A tool that they have to clearance out should tell you something there.

Supposedly the Carlisle is the best of all the asian ones but I have no personal experience with it.

 

[Ryan]

The harbor freight thing has been beat to death. Frankly, the content has no value to me.