POS Harbor fright tools

[bosskong]

Their thumbwheel ratchets are pretty useless, their little plastic spring clamps break easily, and their air quick couplers always leak. But most of their tools are well worth the small amount of money they charge for them. I've got way more Harbor Freight tools that I love than ones that I hate.

And a lot of people like to rip on their crappy screwdrivers, and some of them are crappy, but these Harbor Freight screwdrivers are really nice.

My favorite is the longer #2 phillips head and they're only $1.79 or less, so I've bought about 15 of them and I keep them all over the house, in the garage, in the truck, etc...

 

[nanofrog]

StoreHouse sta-con kits. When you've only got enough wire to make a repair once they fail to crimp correctly every time :-(

I've run into this with cheap terminals on more occasions than I care to remember.

 

[E.T.Privott]

i buy things from HF to try them, i put them in the side tool box for two reason 1) if someone needs to barrow a tool then they can use that one, i never let anyone in my big box of tools. 2) i well pick up something and see if i really need and use it, if the tool works out and i do use it over and over again then i well spring for a good (high dollar MAC, SNAPPY, etc...) tool because i fell it is going to make me $. i have found that most things i get from HF are useful and in most cases i can fix or make it work by doing a little tweking or adjusting and in turn i can learn what to look for when i go to get one. all of us can and have broken tools by one way or another so look at the tools for what they are, a two $ tool well not last as good as a 20 $ tool and for damn sure not like a 200 $ tool can.

 

[jtbinvalrico]

Yup, the manual fluid pump thingy is the worst......the electric fly swatter is bar-none the best.

 

[Jason280]

The grommet pliers are absolutely worthless.

 

[Hawk]

I love Harber Freight . Going there tomorrow. Like Wal-Mart ...you go in to spend $10 and end up spending $400. Most of it is well worth what you pay,and when it isn,t , just shitcan it. I enjoy the trip and its the only shopping I can tolerate.
One good thing is you can always lend your H.B. tools instead of your Dewalt or Milwalkee.

C'mon guys this is the Hating on Harbor Freight column. Should be no lovin listed.

lol

 

[maxspeed96ct]

I still love this store. But hate it at the same time...


-their drill bits are worth less
-the wheel on the plastic low pro creap broke off after a few weeks, I fixed it but its not the same.
-gear wrenches dont last , but I know now to take it easy on the other good ones left.
-air hose connectors are worthless, all leak like hell . (no suprised I guess since they are 99c)
-The black square screwdrivers are junk, the handle spins but the rod doesnt spin after a few uses
-Never buy hose clamps from them, they are extra cheap.

 

[hh76]

what is the shittest tool you have had from them?

So fair I have had 3 of the 20 buck 1/2" impact

Friend of mine went through FIVE of their pneumatic DA sanders in less than 10 hours spread over 4 days.

Why would you continue to buy the same tool if it keeps breaking?

How does the old saying go? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me more than twice, Harbor Freight is smarter than me.

 

[rrudd2]

Their clamps.

 

[maxspeed96ct]

Why would you continue to buy the same tool if it keeps breaking?

How does the old saying go? Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me more than twice, Harbor Freight is smarter than me.

I think he returned them under warrenty, I dout he purchased 4 tools back to back after one broke and then another.

 

[hh76]

I think he returned them under warrenty, I dout he purchased 4 tools back to back after one broke and then another.

Understood, but why waste your time dealing with the exchanges when you already know it's a useless tool. Cut your losses, save your time, and buy the right tool.

 

[soob]

Usually there's a bell curve -- if the tool is defective it breaks fast, if not, it works until it wears out (which is a long time from now).

That's why harbor freight's 90-day warranty is a good deal. I haven't been burned on anything big.

 

[DCarr]

When someone shops at HF, the last thing anyone should be complaining about is how poor the quality is, or that they fail when they were needed most. Cheap ChiCom tools are just that.....

You get what you pay for.

This is all that needs to be said.

I cant figure out why so many on here look at HF as the God of Tools, but yet you dont see them for sale in the For Sale or Wanted section. Snap On and other $$$ tools make up the majority

 

[concealer404]

This is all that needs to be said.

I cant figure out why so many on here look at HF as the God of Tools, but yet you dont see them for sale in the For Sale or Wanted section. Snap On and other $$$ tools make up the majority

If that's all that needs to be said, then we're all ignoring the large amounts of tools sold by HF made in Taiwan.


And clearly everyone is selling their SnapOn stuff so they can buy 100x the HF tools.

 

[NUTTSGT]

From the other thread.

3 in 1 Shear, Press Brake, Slip Roller. FAIL

Regular price, $479.99
Sale price $399.99
20% OFF total $342.00

Although the price was good, it wouldn't shear 22 guage sheet metal. Since it didn't shear, I didn't bother trying the roller or press brake. When I took it back, they acted like it was no big deal and clearly weren't surprised that it was coming back.


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I will admit, I do have several of their 4 wheel furniture dolleys, they are kick *** for sitting engine blocks on and rolling them around. While I consider HF and Welfaremart quite close, I rarely visit either one unless I need too. I will stop by HF and pick up a box of chip brushes though. Same thing as everybody else carries but way cheaper to buy by the box.

 

[Super Scout]

I buy tools at Harbor Freight that either A: To basic to screw up, like a rubber mallet. Or B: I don't use hardly ever, I can get the job done without it, but its nice to have so I bought a real cheap one. Or C: I have read really really good reviews and it is actually a decent tool like my US General Box.
I won't buy Pittsburgh Pro tools, I am far to rough on things and at 9 oclock at night when everything is closed elbow deep in grease on a job that has gone horribly wrong the last thing I want to deal with is a tool snapping. Esp when its my knuckles at the other end.
At the same time for home repairs and basic use go for it. But in my garage its strictly USA made tools territory.

 

[signcrafter]

The snap ring pliers are a huge waste of money. The tips bend if you even take them out of the plastic case! Just plain junk.

 

[papabil]

Hi. I have had good luck with almost everything i have bought there. and i have bought a lot in the last 10-15 years. very good luck with the big sissors lift to name one. been using it almost every day for about 10 years. bill

 

[Falcon67]

The $9.99 4 1/2" angle grinder. I have burned two up in a day. It is a DrillMaster. Have had decent luck with the orange Chicago electric ones.

Also not worth buying are the "vise-grip" welding clamps

LOL - I have the same $10 angle grinder and it still works great. Used it daily for a month putting in a roll cage. I have another angle grinder that works good in reserve. I figured why not for $10 and save the "good" one. Still using the cheap one after two years. Only issue was the shroud was a "metric" 4 1/2". I put a real Norton 4 1/2" 60 grit flapwheel on it and the shroud "self adjusted". There's your hit-or-miss QA effect.

Not sure about the "worst" thing from HF - I shop pretty carefully and read all the reviews. After puting an eye on them, probably the worst-almost buy was the small mover dollies. I had a coupon, went in to buy 4 to put under the race car so I could move it around. Reviews were mixed, so I had to go see. They only had one, but it was obvious that it wasn't going to work worth a ****. I would not have used it for an empty engine block.

 

[Steevo]

"20 buck 1/2 inch impact" should tell you all you need to know about what you are getting.

I buy from HF, but I examine what I am going to buy and do my best to determine whether that low-cost tool is going to suffice for what I need it to do. Sometimes, it is a one-time use situation and I have very low expectations, but end up surprised, such as the $9.99 heat gun. I bought it four or five years ago to remove decals from a garden tractor hood. That heat gun just keeps working every time I pull it out to use it.
I have several of their 3/8" Goodyear rubber air hoses, and all are air tight and work as expected. I bought a set of their snap ring pliers one weekend when I had a job to do that required an odd angle to access the snap-ring. I bent the noses of the pliers in a weird shape, filed the tips a little to assure a good grip on the snap-ring, and completed the job. I tossed the set in a bottom drawer, where they will sit until I need to bastardize another one for a special purpose. My good ones I don't heat or bend, or file on.
It is all in what your expectations are. If you are buying HF power or air tools for a full time professional job need, you may be expecting too much in many cases.

 

[ms fowler]

Good thread.

Guess I won't buy HF snap ring pliers!

My Blue 4 1/4 angle grinder has worker well for 2+ years
My DA has likewise worked long and hard.

Agree on the cheap 1/2" drive air impacts. I can generate more torque with a standard breaker bar, but once the nut will move, the impact will spin it off with less effort than a ratchet.

It was Earl Scheib. I had one of their paint jobs back in 1966. I did the prep, and it looked good, real good. So good that someone keyed the car 2 weeks after it was painted.

 

[soob]

We're talking about the snap ring pliers they (sometimes) sell for $2, right?

I have them and they're very light duty, but that's what I expected. Have gad no trouble disassembling things like ratchets with them.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Not sure about the "worst" thing from HF - I shop pretty carefully and read all the reviews. After puting an eye on them, probably the worst-almost buy was the small mover dollies. I had a coupon, went in to buy 4 to put under the race car so I could move it around. Reviews were mixed, so I had to go see. They only had one, but it was obvious that it wasn't going to work worth a ****. I would not have used it for an empty engine block.

We talking the smaller ones Chris ? I know they are rated for 1000 lbs, but there's no way I would try it. I have several SBFs sitting on them and they are fine. A buddy has put some BBF on them and to this day are still sitting on them. I do however put a piece of OSB or plywood in the center to make them a solid platform.

The four trashbags to the left of my tool box are either 302 or 351 (short or bare) sitting on the dolleys. The ones under the blast cabinet are for sand containers.

 

[csp]

The pipe wrenches are ****. The teeth won't bite down on the pipe whatsoever. Since buying one I've stuck to finding used Rigid pipe wrenches at garage sales and auctions.

 

[BD1]

Why do you go and buy a cheap too...then complain here?

About par to geting a Earl Shive paint job and then complaining about the over spray.

Hey, you are telling some of us your age ! $19.95 ! Right ?

 

[Wes Tex]

The air hose fittings must be designed to leak. The air compressor filter/regulator assembly (blue) must also be designed to leak. The orange electric grinder mentioned by several others refuses to not work. I have overheated it; dropped it; and used it for several years with no problems. It is truly "hit or miss" at HF.

 

[ms fowler]

Wes,

That would indicate that the consumer is Quality Control.

 

[Big Gus]

This thread is hilarious.

You go to a cheap, import, tool store that charges next to nothing for its goods, then complain that what you bought is ****.

Priceless!

 

[Nickmm]

I managed to make the pipe wrenches better by wire wheeling the threads and making new teeth with a file. I have 12 pipe wrenches now, mainly rigid though. Long since past using my hf ones except as loaners.

I hated these stupid vise grip wannabees, that had straight out jaws, red or yellow cushioned handles, a plastic adjuster screw, and supposed quick release. They just never work right and the teeth flattened on the first use. Can't have tools softer than the steel you work with..

Rock polisher also failed while running one day. Ran for about 4 days before dying on me. Oh well.

Good luck with the chicago electric variable speed buffer with digital redout. DO NOT use their pads. Use good 3m pads with it. It will get a car quite nice with easy operation and fairly light weight.

And I like the pitts pro combo wrenches with the v groove. Wonderfull for the money.

 

[Falcon67]

>We talking the smaller ones Chris ?
Yes, the small one. Maybe the left over one was really bad LOL, it just looked so pitiful. Spindly comes to mind. Car only weighs 3000. Probably make my own from some steel ball bearing units and plywood.

BTW - It's Earl Scheib - Paint ANY Car, $39.95, no ups, no extras! AND $10 FREE BODY WORK! Yep, showing my age.

 

[Zeke]

You guys have hit the marks on this one. Lots of fairly good tools for a low price. I've had my failures, but I don't have a ton of their stuff.

+1 on the stud welder, but I took it apart and fixed the dinky leads.

and I had one of those high speed air powered body saws that lasted about as long it it took to attach it to the air hose. In situations like that I revel in taking a 6 lb sledge to the thing just to see its guts fly. Well worth the 14 bucks paid in fun.

But, I've done that to Makita as well.

That gets kinda expensive.

 

[shannonw]

I generally only buy consumables there or tools I know i'm going to trash, I always buy screw drivers when I'm in. No electrics...not had much luck there. I buy the air tools onsale for one off projects...and generally had good luck there as light as I use them. I don't think I save money there...problem is I walk in expecting to spend 20 bucks and i walk out with nick nacks, infrared temp guages, doodads, you name it. They seem cheap but add up.

i have no idea wth i'm going to do with the magnesium fire starter, I haven't been camping in a long time, I just figured hey if the zombie apoloclyse occurs maybe this will come in handy.

 

[rslaback]

We're talking about the snap ring pliers they (sometimes) sell for $2, right?

I have them and they're very light duty, but that's what I expected. Have gad no trouble disassembling things like ratchets with them.

I was talking about this set: http://www.harborfreight.com/5-piece-retaining-ring-pliers-set-610.html

However, I did find an actual use for them yesterday. I used the largest pair to turn the retaining washer on the brake shoes on my trailer brakes.

 

[therealwormey]

This thread is hilarious.

You go to a cheap, import, tool store that charges next to nothing for its goods, then complain that what you bought is ****.

Priceless!

there is a difference in comparing and complaining,the same could be done with snapon or mac,,,whats the worst pos you got from snapon,,etc....
i know its harder to find **** from the big $$$ tools but all have something i like less than another maker. example would be i dont like the newer snapon crowfeet as the size is not stamped in the tool. it is etched,,,kinda like the easy read sockets from craftsman. i like my old sae macs better than my new SO metrics. i didnt even look at new macs cause last time i was on a mac truck it was so full of tiawan it made me sad.

my **** tools from HF are the prybar sets, they bend before they pry, the handle of one is mucked up the first time i used it. i prefer the s-k big prybar set and the ladyfoot style just aint made right, after using SO i just dont like the way HF ones wont fit where i want them to go and they bend easily if used as a line up tool, aint got much in em so i aint comlaining,just think theyre ****, however HF does make my fav go to ratchet, the pitts roto head gets grabbed more than any of my SO wratchets, its the green handled one but i saw some newer ones that are red. hope theyr as good as the green.

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[maxspeed96ct]

there is a difference in comparing and complaining,the same could be done with snapon or mac,,,whats the worst pos you got from snapon,,etc....
i know its harder to find **** from the big $$$ tools but all have something i like less than another maker. example would be i dont like the newer snapon crowfeet as the size is not stamped in the tool. it is etched,,,kinda like the easy read sockets from craftsman. i like my old sae macs better than my new SO metrics. i didnt even look at new macs cause last time i was on a mac truck it was so full of tiawan it made me sad.

my **** tools from HF are the prybar sets, they bend before they pry, the handle of one is mucked up the first time i used it. i prefer the s-k big prybar set and the ladyfoot style just aint made right, after using SO i just dont like the way HF ones wont fit where i wont then to go and they bend easily if used as a line up tool, aint got much in em so i aint comlaining,just think theyre ****, however HF does make my fav go to ratchet, the pitts roto head gets grabbed more than any of my SO wratchets, its the green handled one but i saw some newer ones that are red. hope theyr as good as the green.

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I have some HF pry bars aswell, But im extra cautious and make sure my safty glasses are on when I have them in hand.

and the vice grips are worthless, not sure what I was thinking buying them . . .


On a positive note, after checking out thier tool boxes last night . Im realy kicking myself in the *** for buying the craftsman ones I got just a year and half ago... I paid double for half the box !

 

[Skin]

i havent purchased much but my worst item was definetly the locking pliers (vise grip). They were built so cheaply when you squeezed them on anything the jaws would slip sideways becoming offset from eachother by about 1/4 of an inch which in turn jammed the plier AND the things wouldnt grip anything. I tried to use them two or three times before i tossed them in the junk metal bin.

The long needle nose i purchased were also impressively bad, although still useable. They were joined off center so when you open them they'd bind and become stuck.

 

[Pynikal]

soldering iron was BAD, so bad that it started on fire in my freaking hand!!

 

[DFW-LSX]

On a positive note, after checking out thier tool boxes last night . Im realy kicking myself in the *** for buying the craftsman ones I got just a year and half ago... I paid double for half the box !

Their toolboxes are Legend...wait for it...DARY!

 

[BIG Eric]

Their garbage bags are pretty good you know you are going to throw them away when you buy them.

 

[RAYJAY]

Their thumbwheel ratchets are pretty useless, their little plastic spring clamps break easily, and their air quick couplers always leak. But most of their tools are well worth the small amount of money they charge for them. I've got way more Harbor Freight tools that I love than ones that I hate.

And a lot of people like to rip on their crappy screwdrivers, and some of them are crappy, but these Harbor Freight screwdrivers are really nice.

My favorite is the longer #2 phillips head and they're only $1.79 or less, so I've bought about 15 of them and I keep them all over the house, in the garage, in the truck, etc...

X2 on the screw drivers
got a couple of set of them also there great and cheap