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So, I was at harbor freight today.....

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eschoendorff

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And i was just looking around... and it's really not the same store that it was a few years ago. Some of the Chicago and Pittsburgh stuff really doesn't look that bad anymore.... as much as it pains me to say that.

I wsa especially impressed with their new line of impact sockets and a couple of their ratchets:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=96092

This one is really nice... in fact, if I was blind folded, I probably wouldn't be able to tell it apart from my Snap On:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=96782

Then I looked at the pliers. The Pittsburgh Professional pliers look every bit as good as any other Asian pliers that I have seen (see my "shame on Snap On/Blue Point thread"):

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15938

The store even has more shop tools - the english wheel thingy (cannot remember what it's called) and even a large gantry crane were actually in stock on display.

It seems that Harbor Freight is coming into its own... I see HF items at more and more professional businesses around here.

I am posting this, not from a judgmental point of view, but rather as a simple observation. Harbor Freight still sells some really cheap and dangerous ****. But for a few dollars more, they offer tools taht are on par with Stanley and Husky (IMHO) taht might otherwise be out of reach for some folks....
 
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Uncle Buck

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eschoendorff said:
And i was just looking around... and it's really not the same store that it was a few years ago. Some of the Chicago and Pittsburgh stuff really doesn't look that bad anymore.... as much as it pains me to say that.

I was especially impressed with their new line of impact sockets and a couple of their ratchets:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=96092

This one is really nice... in fact, if I was blind folded, I probably wouldn't be able to tell it apart from my Snap On:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=96782
Click to expand...


I bought those ratchets you linked to and I have not regretted it a bit, I think they are great! I must admit HF has come a ways with some of their stuff in recent times. :thumbup:
 
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ratchet_gear

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I have not had a chance to use them yet but I bought all three sizes in those swivel head ratchets and just by the feel of them they seem like there pretty durable.
 
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jimvannoy

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I was there today getting a stud welding gun to pull dents. The store got the other half of the building they were in and has now doubled in size.They seem to have much more in stock now and some of it looks to be better quality.
 
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Danglerb

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One thing pretty clear, they are making money, which means they can afford to make improvements and may actually be around to warranty bad items a few years down the line. Average customer seems like around $50 and its often all 4 registers going at my local store.

I don't think many auto shops are sending guys down to HF to outfit the place with tools, but HF is picking off a LOT of non automotive business customers that used to send a guy to Sears or Home Depot for some tools.
 
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Lyaec350

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Yea, HF/Northern are great for the hobbyist--not everyone needs high end tools in every single department. Northern also stocks a lot of American made stuff if you are slightly discriminating...
 
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PoorOwner

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Nice find.. how are the teeth action on those ratchets? I was almost gonna get the Griot one for $33, how much is the snap on?
 
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XJ1100

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I just picked up a couple pairs of their "professional" pliers a couple of months ago and they seem to be holding up pretty well to everyday use. I also have a set of their metric deep impact sockets and they are also holding up very well.

I think that some of their stuff is fairly good quality. Maybe not for a true professional but definitely great for a DIY person.
 
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Bib Overalls

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We have finally made the big time! Harbor Freight is getting ready to open a store here. In the same block with "Tool Central," a regional chain with similar stuff. I have not been in a Harbor Freight in years and I wasn't impressed. But this tread has my interest up and I will be making a walk through when it opens.
 
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Ign

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Yep, HF makes "shop equipment" easier to own and more affordable for the shadetree guy. As you mentioned the gantry crane, english wheel (no idea if this is worth anything), and shop presses, etc. Most of this stuff wouldn't hold up to industrial use, but for your personal shop it's pretty damn good and cheaper than you could build it.

I've had their 50T press for years; they recently added a 35T version which looks very similar for a couple hundred less. Personally, I'm glad they're adding new products.

I kept writing them letters hounding them to open a store close to me. They musta finally got sick of it 'cause a guy from HF actually called my cell phone a couple weeks ago and told me they're looking hard for real estate where I requested. He said soon there will be a store nearby. Saweet IMO.
 
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Ign

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Also forgot that for machinists their carbide grinder is relatively well-regarded for what it is, altho reportedly the supplied green wheels are junk (no surprise). I got mine for around $115 w coupon. I'd love a Baldor but NO WAY I can afford new ($800), and even used on egay they seem to go for minimum $400 PLUS another $100 or so to ship. I have seen some REALLY beat ones that go for less than $400.
 
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epmills

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I use some of their items in professional use with great success. Large pliers, wrenches, wire strippers (same ones matco sells for 25 bucks), cutoff wheels. They work just fine for me with everyday use. Although the deep impacts they sell dont last for me, a 17mm lasted me one tire rotation, and a 22mm broke on the 2nd set of balljoints. Although, the shallow impacts seem significantly better build, albeit thicker. Even the finish nailer I bought for use at home works just fine.
 
OP
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eschoendorff

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epmills said:
I use some of their items in professional use with great success. Large pliers, wrenches, wire strippers (same ones matco sells for 25 bucks), cutoff wheels. They work just fine for me with everyday use. Although the deep impacts they sell dont last for me, a 17mm lasted me one tire rotation, and a 22mm broke on the 2nd set of balljoints. Although, the shallow impacts seem significantly better build, albeit thicker. Even the finish nailer I bought for use at home works just fine.
Click to expand...

This to me is by far the most interesting: hearing from someone who uses HF tools in a professional situation on a daily basis...
 
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PoorOwner

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Just tried the indexable 3/8" ratchet today, well it is kind of sloppy feeling, the lever to switch direction moves when you use it... it does work fine though.

The rotatable head one I will go and buy the other 2 sizes they are a great buy.
 
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autoace

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Interesting how everyone is surprised if you actually get a great tool from Harbor Freight at a great price. I have alot of Snap-on, Cornwell, Proto, Craftsman, MAC, etc.. I also have ALOT of Harbor Freight stuff and with few exceptions they have been great. Alot of guys say tools are junk because they think a 3/8 ratchet is the proper tool to break loose cylinder head bolts with. Of course it will break, so will the Snap-on brand. I am a professional and own my own shop. If you have the right tool for every job you will not break stuff very often. Use the right size tool for the job and you would be surprised how well things last. Why do I have ALOT of Harbor Freight stuff?? See the big tool companies are starting to make tools overseas Snap-on, Cornwell,etc....Why do I want to pay 400 plus for made in Taiwan socket sets etc. with a Cornwell stamp on them, when they look the same as Nothern Tool and Harbor freight stuff and look real close in quality. Don't pry off a brake drum with a screwdriver and use a 1/2 or 3/4 inch drive breaker bar of any brand to break cyl. head bolts loose ,the list could go forever and you will be surprised what a lesser expensive tool will do. I'll end with a great example, look at Harbor's wheel bearing press kit for 69.00 bucks it works as well as Snap-ons 3000.00 buck set, the quality is excellent and works so far on Audi through Volvo. I've had mine for 5yrs. and it performs brand new, my buddy got one and said it was junk, Why???? 1)he didn;t oil the force screw, 2)he used a impact gun and didn't have the adaptor square so the force ate the thread and cracked an adaptor, had he used it right, and oiled it, and maybe used a big ratchet to drive it, it wouldn't have broke, the Snap-on one would have broke also. H.F. is getting alot better, save your receipt and packaging cardboard some where and they will honor their warranty if you do get a lemon. H.F. tools are great when I make road calls, who wants to risk losing high end tools on the road??Beware when you buy "fancy" tools,alot of them are imported now which makes the quality line a big blur, I never feel cheated when a 10 buck breaker bar lasts forever and very disapointed when a 140 buck MAC ratchet strips after 1yr. with acceptable use, you don't always get what you pay for anymore beware, good day
 
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kf4zht

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The biggest thing I have found with their stuff is repeatbility/QC. You can get 1 tool that works great, lasts forever, go get a second that dies in a day. I try not to buy anything there that I cannot take out and play with to make sure it is made right. Check for excess flashing, wobble on moving parts, grinding in motors, the usual.

Their powder coat gun is also good for the price. I much prefer using it to powdercoat projects than painting, they are dry quicker and look better for less prep.
 
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musgofasta

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Corona CA
I picked up the HF 6 ton A-Frame hydraulic press over the weekend. I'm really impressed - thick gauge metal all around. Seems real nice for $65.00.

The only moving parts is the 6 ton bottle-neck jack, so if it craps out I can easily replace it with another brand.
 
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Danglerb

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Harbor Haters aren't too serious, its mostly Ford vs (the inferior in all ways) Chevy.

Sells beer and popcorn though.
 
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Crawlin

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Shop I used to work at had the full Ball Joint/u joint press set with all the extra adapters and what not. I think he got the extra adpaters and the press when it was on sale. Has about 100 bucks in all of it, and they have done lots of balljoints over the last 5 years or so. The MAC, OTC or snap on set would have costed 5 times more. But i agree that their quality control *****, and there are some things I flat out wouldnt buy from them including fuses, hose clamps and cut off wheels etc. They are fairly cheap in the name brands and much better than HF.
 
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Uncle Buck

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wrenchr said:
I want to buy the 3/8 roto ratchet but it is always out of stock.
Click to expand...

They are nice, I have the 1/2" and the 1/4" but I bought an old 3/8" SK rotohead from one of the guys on the board and I do like it a bit better, though I cannot credit my preference to performance cause the HF jobs seem to work just as well as the old SK. :wtf:
 
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nissan_crawler

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You just have to have a little common sense when you walk into HF. You can't expect to buy a Mercedes for the price of a Kia. You have to ask yourself if that Kia will reasonably do what you need. I have had few (if any) issues with any hf product I bought. Why? I think before I buy it.

I bought a grinder fully knowing I would probably be disappointed, but wanted to try it. I was right, no biggie.

I buy their $1.99 hand squeeze clamps. Are they good? No, but that's why I buy them. If I get welding splatter on them, or paint or varnish, or drop them off an 8' ladder and they shatter, who gives a ****?

I buy their c-clamps. Are they strong? Not really. Am I going to use my spendy c-clamps to hold a welding project when I might booger the threads? Hell no, that's what the HF ones are for. If I need a c-clamp to reef on something, I get the good ones, not the HF ones.

I can get a so-so HF press for $180, spend $25 on steel and spray paint reinforcing the horizontal beams, and still be $200 under an equivalent press.

Is my HF sandblaster the cats meow? No, but for $60, and $15 replacing the water separator that blew apart on it, I'm still $50 under the next cheapest one, which is the EXACT same and would need the separator replaced also. Was it good enough to sandblast my mailbox support? Definitely.

I wanted 2" ratchet straps for hauling branches and debris on my car trailer. Am I going to buy 14 2" ratchet straps at $15 each to throw across board, nails, branches and steel, or am I going to buy 14 2" ratchet straps @ $4 each so they can get frayed? Why buy straps that cost $154 more, when they're never going to be CLOSE to their loading rating and are going to shredded to bits before they wear?

I buy their wrench sets when they go on sale for $7-10, and throw them in my toolbox at work. Why? I'm sure as hell not going to cut up my Craftsman Pro's, but when that wrench cost me $.75, who gives a damn?

Also, as autoace pointed out, 98% of tool breakage is sheer stupidity from everything I've seen, including 6 years as a professional mechanic. In fact, I can't think of ONE TIME that I've broken a tool NOT expecting it to happen. When you have a 9/16" socket on a 1/4" ratchet and it's tight, don't keep yanking on the damn thing, get the 3/8" or even 1/2" ratchet. If you have a 1 1/4" socket on the 1/2" ratchet and you ahve both your feet up against a frame rail, perhaps it's time for a breaker bar.

I have a Popular Mechanics (walmart) socket set that I used for years. I broke two ratchets, got the new style ratchet, and never had a problem since. I've never broken one of their sockets.

If you're doing something and think the tool is going to break, it probably is. At that point, there's only one tool to be mad at, and it's not the one made of metal.:lol_hitti
 
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russlaferrera

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Crawlin said:
Shop I used to work at had the full Ball Joint/u joint press set with all the extra adapters and what not. I think he got the extra adpaters and the press when it was on sale.

I bought an OTC ball joint press and the HF adapters to fill out the set. The adapters are steel tubes. What can go wrong?
Click to expand...
 
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rickairmedic

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I have lots of HF tools and I use them professionally . I havent had any problems out of the tools I have picked up from HF when used for the purpose I got them for . I will say though I picked up a new set of wiss snips this summer and they are **** have I abused them no I use them to cut sheet metal thats what they are made for and yet they are already dull nd dont cut worth a damn . I will be returning them to homie depot soon .


Rick
 
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oldtools

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So far, I never have problem with my HF tools. I bought them for light to medium duty (Crafsman for heavy duty work). They are so inexpensive I don't care if I loose them or don't take care of them. I can mistreat them knowing I can easily afford another one. I think SO and other name brands are overrated and overpriced.
 
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wantedabiggergarage

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oldtools said:
They are made from the same manufacturer.
Click to expand...

Back that up with your proof please. Same country of origin, isn't the same as same manufacturer.

My father B&M's about HF quite a bit, as he says it is all China's rejects (they keep the good stuff and send us their crp). I don't buy the same stuff as him, I try to avoid the electrical stuff (most of his) and look at the other stuff and make an informed decission (buy a used American made Bailey plane, instead of a HF POS, for the same or less). They do have some good stuff though, or as said elsewhere, good enough for my needs and expectations. I buy my acid brushes there.

One thing I am low on, that they have a coupon for now, has anyone used their heat shrink tubing?
 
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rebelram

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HF heat shrink tubing works just fine. I have used the assortment box with 2 inch strips and also the longer pieces in the bags, no problems out of either.
 
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dwilliams35

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Pattison, TX
I just started buying a bunch of them for my box at work: have a lot of tool-challenged people there that I always end up loaning stuff to: I'm too busy to run a tool crib and make a list of everything that goes out, so I sometimes lose track of who has what. I'd much rather have a HF tool not come back and I've forgotten who borrowed it than the good stuff I've got at home.
 
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Lookin4'67Galaxieconv

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I bought my first HF tools in 1994, and have bought from them on and off since. For whatever reason, when I moved from Michigan to Georgia several years ago, I could never consistently get them to send me a catalog. Now that I go to one of their stores occasionally and signed up numerous times to receive one, they finally figured it out.

I bought some of the Pittsburgh welding clamps back in '94 and they were pretty cheap. The spotweld broke on one of them and I had to reweld it.

Recently, I bought some more Pittsburgh welding clamps from them and I was amazed at how much better the quality was, how the finish was really nice, and how they were very comparable with visegrip. :thumbup:
 
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