The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...

[loubapache]

Bringing this back up because they are on sale this week...

cant find a pic from harbor freight so ill steal one from the originator..

pretty much identical (maybe a little more pliable) but in black...

$2.79 on sale for 7 pieces. buy a couple sets because you inevitably will break one. I'd rather break one of these then the bojos.

I also have this in black and they are pretty handy for all the car trims. They are a little soft, though.

 

[kwhitelaw]

I also have this in black and they are pretty handy for all the car trims. They are a little soft, though.

if you use them alot, you may want to pick up the other sets from bojo (prepare for a price hike though..) which are harder. i have all 3 sets from bojo but usually go for the harbor freight ones as the sacrificial one.

 

[loubapache]

if you use them alot, you may want to pick up the other sets from bojo (prepare for a price hike though..) which are harder. i have all 3 sets from bojo but usually go for the harbor freight ones as the sacrificial one.

Do you have link to the bojo ones?

I live in the mid-west so corrosion is a huge problem on car trims. Just yesterday, I used the thickest one of the HF set (the second one from the right in your picture) to pry off the window trim so I can get off the B pillar cover. After some POR-15 for the rust, it should be fine.

These plastic wedges are really nice because they do not damage anything, if you are careful.

 

[fordracing200]

1/2" impact friend stupidly bought- complete failure, POS, my 19v drill has more torque

3/8 25' air hose- pass

1/2" deep well impact sockets-pass

trigger style tire filler with dial gauge- pass, best 10 bucks i ever spent

the 5 or 6 piece plier set for 15 dollars- pass I guess, they bend easy, not made very well, but work good for most things

proffesional gravity feed paint gun- pass, works great

air fittings- the coupler leaks, the fittings themselves are good though

ball bearing single drawer toolcart- pass, works awesome, wicked good price, 99.99 was on sale for 69.99, awesome cart. wheels could be ball bearing too..that'd be nice, but no complaints.

3" cut off wheel- works good, no complaints

screwdriver set, 25 on sale for 15, the formed handle ones, work good, comfortable, pass

socket rails- pass

torx bits- pass

impact extensions- they have to be turned one direction for the ball to clip in, sorts irritating, but they work and the snap ring on the impact gun's anvil holds them fine, for the price, pass

mechanics seat- pass, good price, built well

razor blade scraper set- with screwdriver scraper, two small ones, one big folding one- pass, works great, awesome for tint jobs

halogen lights, two lights on a pod, on sale for 29.99- pass, work great, good price

8" impact extension, 1/2" drive with sliding collar to lock the ball on the end, works great, was 8 or 9 bucks, but worth it, real qaulity piece.

 

[chrislehr]

shop crane - PASS

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93840

Lifted my 307 just fine, no issues at all. Folds up to 1.5x1 foot or so floor space.

 

[tpolley]

anyone use this 7 piece axle socket set??

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96342

or item number 96342-3VGA

i'm thinking about buying a set not for axle removal purposes but for other stuff, like trailer hitch balls and such.

 

[r0meyrome]

Anyone used their torque sticks?

 

[Chris Adams]

Anyone used their torque sticks?

Got the half inch ones. They work.

 

[r0meyrome]

Arright cool thank you sir!

 

[jbdunerunner]

Axle socket set works good you will be impressed.

 

[Paladin]

3-piece thumbwheel ratchet set (1/4, 3/8, 1/2) = GARBAGE!!! I bought them for $2.99 so I can't really complain too much but the knurling on them is almost non-existent and the 3/8" skipped brand new. I took it apart and cleaned/greased it. It works half-assed now...

 

[hotro1988]

4X6 band saw pass http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93762 works extremely well after you get a good blade for it.

14" cutoff saw Fail http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44829 would not cut 1 3/4 steel bar that is why I now have the band saw. brushes burned out before I got a piece cut.

3/4" drive socket set pass http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=5494 for the price they can't be beat; got this set four years ago.

folding 2 ton shop crane pass http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=35915 use it more than a person would think, works great at getting 2+ feet of concrete anchored fence post out of the ground have had it for the past 7 years.

1000 Lb capacity engine stand pass http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=32916 been holding different engines on it for the past 5 years.

3 ton and 6 ton jackstands have been working great for the past 7 years

1/2 drive torque wrench pass http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=239 stays withing 2 lb ft of my digital snap-on torque wrench and a whole lot cheaper.

 

[jamesemery728]

HF Oil Filter Wrench. This one looks like a vise grip with curved jaws and adjusts with a knurled knob like a vise grip. It is the only one I use and will not crush a tight oil filter. It is a must have. PASS

 

[JDM5LugHatch]

1/2" impact friend stupidly bought- complete failure, POS, my 19v drill has more torque

3/8 25' air hose- pass

1/2" deep well impact sockets-pass

trigger style tire filler with dial gauge- pass, best 10 bucks i ever spent

the 5 or 6 piece plier set for 15 dollars- pass I guess, they bend easy, not made very well, but work good for most things

proffesional gravity feed paint gun- pass, works great

air fittings- the coupler leaks, the fittings themselves are good though

ball bearing single drawer toolcart- pass, works awesome, wicked good price, 99.99 was on sale for 69.99, awesome cart. wheels could be ball bearing too..that'd be nice, but no complaints.

3" cut off wheel- works good, no complaints

screwdriver set, 25 on sale for 15, the formed handle ones, work good, comfortable, pass

socket rails- pass

torx bits- pass

impact extensions- they have to be turned one direction for the ball to clip in, sorts irritating, but they work and the snap ring on the impact gun's anvil holds them fine, for the price, pass

mechanics seat- pass, good price, built well

razor blade scraper set- with screwdriver scraper, two small ones, one big folding one- pass, works great, awesome for tint jobs

halogen lights, two lights on a pod, on sale for 29.99- pass, work great, good price

8" impact extension, 1/2" drive with sliding collar to lock the ball on the end, works great, was 8 or 9 bucks, but worth it, real qaulity piece.

This was a complete failure for me. The gauge was off by 10psi. I tested it several times. No biggie since it was cheap enough...

 

[U5512]

1/2" drive 25" breaker bar....PASS.....
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=30395

3/8" drive 17" breaker bar....PASS....broke loose the crank bolt with ease
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=37391

2-pc long needle pliers......PASS.....$5.99.... no problems getting the OEM spring clamps off the coolant hoses.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=33202

6-pc wire wheels....PASS....$1.99 for the pack (great value)...AutoZone sells individual one for like $4.99 each!!!
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=1341

13-pc screwdriver set.....PASS....$7.99 excellent quality actually
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=1847

Air Tire Gauge....PASS.....pressure is right on the money
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92955

Heavy duty 1/2" drill....PASS....$27 bucks...yes, it's quite heavy
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=3273

Polisher & Sander.....PASS
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=92623

Socket Rails.....PASS
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=1147

Air Horn......PASS....$9.99...works great and LOUD
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=40134

4-pc Tounge and Groove Joint Pliers Set.....PASS
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=43553

1/2" Torque Wrench.....PASS....
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=239

1/4" Torque Wrench....PASS
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=2696

Pneumatic Adjustable Roller Seat....PASS....
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90825

 

[cortez]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44874

anyone ever seen these? look kinda like knipex, but i couldnt imagine that these are a rebadge. even the knipex rebadged craftsman arent that cheap.

I agree that they are not Knippix re branded. I Have over ten pair of all size of Knippix and their look and feel is unique ( they are also one of the the best pliers made presently).

They are pricey new ( I got mine from the flea market brand new for less than half price) but well worth it as they are super tough and light weight. I use them fanatically for all sorts of unconventional uses. They replace my pipe wrenches for most plumbing uses (1/2 and 3/4 inch pipe and drain pipes ect.).

I have yet to have a failure using them for over 10 years of daily use at work. I do not think the HF ones could handle this tough treatment (for the price one would not expect them to do so. I am sure for many they would still do the job, plus if they break one can return them).

 

[gsport]

thought i'd add my two cents... i purchased the 2800 PSI presure washer awhile back.. it has the 6hp mitsubishi motor on it and works great... so i'll give it a PASS

 

[U5512]

5 Piece Metric Offset Ratchet Wrench Set......FAIL.....I used one of the wrenches a couple of times and the outer edge hard rubber broke exposing the inner spring & switching mechanism.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94495

 

[cortez]

Harbor Freight's Lug nut Torque Multiplier (33 times gear reduction!!!) gets my PASS vote as it saved my wife's **** ( well to tell the truth it was a kind Samaritan that changed her tire during the dangerous rush hour here in Chicago). The lug nuts would not get off using the breaker bar I leave in her car.

Luckily she remembered the new torque lug multiplier I had got for such a situation ( after getting new tires, which were probably machined torqued to 125 foot pounds, which become 200 or so foot pounds due to friction and rusting!!! [ my brother who is an engineer said that a 125 pound machine torqued lug nut would need considerably more to take off as friction and corrosion would factor in the loosening power needed to remove the lug nut and breaking the stud may result]).

He recommended the HF torque multiplier as it had the capability to remove the nut with out breaking the stud as it turned the nut ever so slowly and thus safely. He said that torque multipliers were usually in the cost range of 3 to 7 hundred dollars but if the HF model worked only a few times it was monetarily justified.

It cost only 23 dollars and on sale it is only 19 dollars and change. A tow truck would have charged around 80 dollars in rush hour traffic and of course it would have been much delayed due to traffic.

So the cost to risk benefit was excellent for a "Prima Dona" in distress.

 

[lognom]

92374-6VGA snap ring plier set-pass.

 

[loubapache]

The 3 Piece Flex Head Stubby Ratchets is a fail.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=46742

I bought this years ago but used it the first time last week. The 1/4" slips right away.

I took it back and asked for store credit and got the 25" 1/2" breaker bar and gave them extra $2.12 for the price difference.

 

[tcianci]

The H/F automatic compressor drain kit is a miserable fail!!

A couple of months ago, I posted about my installation of a H/F automatic compressor drain valve. Well a couple of weeks ago it quit! After the compressor reached pressure and shut off, the automatic drain valve would hang open and run the tank down. Once the compressor kicked back in again, the valve would shut off. Today I returned it to H/F and the gave me a replacement valve. The install only took like 5 minutes and I fired up the machine again...SAME PROBLEM. I found a 1/4 inch compression union in my junk, un-plumbed the whole H/F drain valve kit and put my 1/4 turn drain **** back in the tank. Problem solved! H/F is truly a phenomina... we get suckered in on the price every time. Its like the lottery, if we win we are elated, if we end up getting screwed, we tell ourselves "I told you so" and H/F is no worse for the wear. This has to be the finest business model in history... If your customer is satisfied, good, if they are not, they blame themselves. It's priceless!!!!
P.S. I disassembled the valve and found a mangled O ring. Maybe someday when I completely run out of better things to do, I will try to fix it and install it again

 

[Bolster]

Can crusher, spectacular fail.

My petite wife bent it into a pretzel trying to crush an aluminum soda can. The can is fine. The can crusher is totaled.

 

[Hip2u77]

Can crusher, spectacular fail.

My petite wife bent it into a pretzel trying to crush an aluminum soda can. The can is fine. The can crusher is totaled.

I first tried the one that had the plastic handles and basket on top. Snapped the handle on the first can. Bought the pictured one and broke the handle rivet off on the 4 or 5th can. I then realized I needed to dimple the cans a bit before crushing. I stuck it back together and used a couple wire ties to squeeze the handle together and figured I'd be lucky if it stay together through the other 10-15 cans I wanted to crush.

Not sure how long it's been but I've filled about a dozen 30 gallon bags with it and it's still kicking. Though the bottom is bent down a hair so every once in a while it'll spit a can back at me. Keeps me on my toes.

 

[Bull]

This thread should be stickied!

I would like to add to what others have said and report that the flooring nailer/stapler is a major PASS. I just used to to lay some oak flooring in a nursery. The tool is heavy, has a nice finish, and performed flawlessly. For the price I paid, it was a no-brainer. I bought it on sale, with a coupon, and with the extended warranty and it was STILL way below what a Bostitch or similar would have run me.

HF really "nailed" this one

 

[slowtwitch]

This thread should be stickied!

I would like to add to what others have said and report that the flooring nailer/stapler is a major PASS. I just used to to lay some oak flooring in a nursery. The tool is heavy, has a nice finish, and performed flawlessly. For the price I paid, it was a no-brainer. I bought it on sale, with a coupon, and with the extended warranty and it was STILL way below what a Bostitch or similar would have run me.

HF really "nailed" this one

I used the same nailer and it worked great. After I was done with it, I sold it on Ebay for $120

 

[Plombob]

Chicago Electric heat gun was a "pass". Worked OK for stripping paint off of some doors, but when I got to the last door, it conked out. Glad I had a Makita to finish the work.

Paid $10 for the gun and accessories and it lasted for about 3 years, that's why it was a "pass".

A friend once told me his HF philosophy:
If you need a special tool, buy it at HF. If it breaks, you needed a quality tool, not the cheap HF stuff.

 

[mdsn969]

HF electric pressure washer ITEM 99741-2VGA???

I have searched this thread and the forums, no joy, has anyone tried the HF electric pressure washer ITEM 99741-2VGA.

Thanks,

JMS

 

[Lhorn]

Harbor Freight High Speed Air Body Saw.......

Instantly the new worst piece of **** I've ever purchased from HF and will make me think twice about going back.
Ya know how with certain air tools when you pull the trigger, sometimes nothing happens and you hear a slight venting of air....then you pull the trigger again and you're off and running...(I think I have a DA that'll do this occasionally)....Well this piece of **** does it probably about 75% of the time you pull the trigger-literally. That's right...nothing at all happens. When you do start cutting, it suddenly stops on you for no reason. I had literally not been able to cut more than about 3mm before this thing stops on me. I was finally able to cut about 3/4 of an inch. Of course that took me about 1/2 hour, compressor kicked on several times and cost me about $30 for the saw.....so that was a pretty expensive 3/4 inch. I've got a receipt so I'll try again, but this was a total bust.

Anyone know where to get an inexpensive body saw that actually works?

 

[dledinger]

Here's my first post in the thread. While I generally avoid buying cheap tools...I will sometimes when there are substantial savings to be had.

Most of this stuff I have had for at least a few months.

1. Dead Blow hammer: Pass.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=41800

2. Telescoping Gauges: Pass....only because they are $9. They're cheap. The locking rod inside.....I am fairly certain is constructed of a price of hand straightened copper wire with the insulation burnt off. In fact....I am 100% certain in is. Laughable....but they work. I wouldn't use them for engine building...but for typical inside measurements around the shop they compliment a dial caliper perfectly. Other than the recycled rod....they seem fairly well made.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=5649

3. Hollow punch set: Definite pass at $5. These have saved me fortunes in TIME making gaskets. They're cheap....but work just fine. I use these daily....and have only sharpened one punch one signle time. I think I'll pick up another set - love 'em.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=3838

4. 1/4" swivel head ratchet: PASS. This is the type of thing that I would normally steer way clear of at HF, but for some reason I picked it up and decided to tinker with it. Not bad! 72 teeth...maybe a tad stiff....but acceptable. I use 1/4" all the time on motorcycles so I can always stand to have a couple extra ratchets on hand. This one works...I might pick up a 3/8 as well.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=96781

5. Metric hex bit sockets (long): PASS. I have some better short ones in both plain and ball, so I decided to pick these up to supplement. The regular hex wrenches at HF always look like ****...so I expected the same of these. Not so. They seem to be quite well constructed. They use the set screw method of attachment, which may rule them out for some. On these I figured it would be a plus since I could turn the blade around if it gets buggered and double the life. Just to abuse them, I torqued some head bolts the other day...and found no signs of damage to the tips. As a plus....they are size marked on both the shank and the socket. I'm going to pick up some more next time....probably short and long SAE in both regular and ball. $7 here local....I think they're a steal.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=94536

6. Adjustable pin wrench: PASS. I bought this hoping it would work to align some anti-backlash gears I was playing with, but it didn't. For $4....it will work just fine for what it was intended to do. I still plan to make an extra arm for a little extra reach to do the job I wanted it to.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=36554

7. Laser thermometer: PASS. Nothing wrong with this. Bought it on sale for much less than the indicated $59.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96451

8. Three piece pry bar set: FAIL. These are junk....IMO. Not worth the $4 I paid for the set. They are about as stiff a a wet piece of spaghetti.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44912

9. 60 piece SAE and Metric tap and die set: PASS. I researched this before buying it, and found reviews that ranged from garbage - to great. I have a hodgepodge of HSS and carbon steel taps..but I was tired of always digging around in unorganized bins and jars for the ones I needed. This went on sale for $25, so I went to the store and checked it out. I found that the different sets represent a huge variation in quality. Some of them would obviously not cut threads. Not even CLOSE to functioning...and full of boogers and **** threads. On this particular set, both the taps and dies had nice, sharp, uniform threads....so I picked it up. In the end, it was well worth the purchase. I use it quite often, and find that they cut good threads. I haven't managed to break one after a few months of twisting them. I am very pleased with this purchase....and reach for this before the better taps in my cabinet just because it is organized. One flaw I found, is that it was missing one tap, and had two of another. Luckily I had a spare in the missing size and slipped it in the case. I'd buy this again in a minute!

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=35407

Well...hope that helps someone. I've had pretty good luck just by applying common sense to my purchases and taking a good look at the product before walking out the store. Most hardline tools I'd never consider buying there, but I think if you shop carefully and think before you buy you can have a couple good deals.

 

[Lhorn]

http://www.toolcrib.com/blog/2008/0...uide-the-good-enough-the-bad-and-the-abysmal/

Here's a link to a long thread and links to other threads about HF tools. Some interesting reading.

 

[Danglerb]

Cen Tech CAN OBDII code reader, PASS
$40 on sale, and 15 minutes later my MIL light was off. Looks like it knows a few more tricks, but grabbing and erasing the codes worked for me.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94169

 

[bchee]

Here's my first post in the thread. While I generally avoid buying cheap tools...I will sometimes when there are substantial savings to be had.

good reviews

 

[vette-kid]

if you use them alot, you may want to pick up the other sets from bojo (prepare for a price hike though..) which are harder. i have all 3 sets from bojo but usually go for the harbor freight ones as the sacrificial one.

Bringing this back up because they are on sale this week...

cant find a pic from harbor freight so ill steal one from the originator..

pretty much identical (maybe a little more pliable) but in black...

$2.79 on sale for 7 pieces. buy a couple sets because you inevitably will break one. I'd rather break one of these then the bojos.

I have both the blue set and these yellow ones

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95214

I would try the yellow 4 pc set before you go spend a bunch of money on the bojo's. I find the yellow to be stiffer than the blue and a MAJOR PASS. I give the blue one a pass as well, although they are a bit flexy they work pretty well and give you plenty of head options. The flat one is great for removing exterior trim molding. Im glad I saved my money and bought these instead of the bojo set.

 

[Chris Adams]

Bought their little 18 gauge brad gun. First one would fire without pulling the trigger, just push the nose down and after a second it would fire.
They replaced it with one that works fine. Did about 400 brads with it this week.
had one brad wouldn't fire, using the cheap ones from HF. Tossed that brad and the rest worked fine.


Part number 463069, paid about 20 bucks for it.

 

[fordracing200]

air grease gun, 19.99 on sale for 9.99, at first I thought it was the biggest POS this side of the mississippi, but I took it apart, and realize that the seal and rod were meant for bulk grease and even though it says it'll work with a cartridge it was too big and hitting the cartridge, so I gutted my old manual gun, and switched the guts, works flawless now.

3" cut off tool, die grinders, all work good

I bought the 4 piece pry bar set, the Pittsburgh ones, look to be of good qaulity, but we'll see how well they work

Air hammer and quick change chuck, both are a bargain, and work awesome, Split a 2x4 into two pieces with mine yesterday.

 

[beelsr]

the trunk organizer is a major PASS. It's $14 and is virtually the twin of the Thule version that goes for $50 at Target. I bought 3 for the wife's outback.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=65178

Hey, it's $10 now. I paid $12 with the coupon....

 

[gsport]

i thought i'd put in my two cents.... i just bought one of their solid oak wood working benches.... put it together and was totally surprised how well it is built. a definate pass in my mind.... and right now they have a coupon for it for $139.00, regularly (i think) $199.00

 

[mikemolzahn]

About the only things I buy at Harbor Freight are my consumables and if I need to make a special tool, I'll buy a cheap tool to make it instead of destroying a Snap-on or MATCO tool.

Mike

 

[ironroad 9c1]

125 PSI FRL AIR REGULATOR -----FAIL they leak

I got those the other day, Mine work ok so far, Only a Very tiny slight leak out of the oil fill cap, but I have a ball valve between the tank and the regulator so i close that after I turn off the compressor when I leave so its no big deal. I only use the second oiler for a water trap and don't fill it with oil anyway.