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The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...

6PTsocket

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FAIL!! Ibought one and the bottle jack did not work out of the box. You have to put it together so I had to take it apart and figure out how to get it all back in the box. I walked into HF and the first words out of the lady's mouth were "bad pump?" If the pump works to start with, it doesn't work for long. When it works, it is only rated for 300 lbs. It is put together with grade 4 bolts which is as low as you are likely to find and not for something you crawl under. I finally bought a Mojack with the Cub Cadet name on it that is rated 550 lbs, has 26" of lift vs the HF 24. I got it from TSC. Both jacks were bought on sale and the Mojak was twice the price but it is twice the jack in every way. It also has a 2 yr warranty vs 90 days. Also The Mojack has a less modified bottle jack. It is just a stock bottle jack with a couple of mounting holes drilled through the base. When the HF pump goes, you need a welder to make a stock jack work. Forget about HF for parts. You, of course, could buy the extended warranty from HF. FAIL!!

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crucible

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Just a quick glance at that failure point, who designed that ?.
Looks like the weld failed but the plate bent first , stressing the weld.

I'd weld in and thru bolt some bed frame gussets, if you return yours the replacement has the same time bomb... ticking, waiting to fail. Scary.

I purchase HF stuff when needed (and have posted in this thread too), knowing that some of it *****, some of it is okay to good, some of it can be good but needs tweaking, and a few gems such as the toolboxes are quite good as-is.

This here however has done nothing to my personal rule not to buy anything there that if it fails, will kill or seriously hurt me or someone else.:(
 

6PTsocket

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I purchase HF stuff when needed (and have posted in this thread too), knowing that some of it *****, some of it is okay to good, some of it can be good but needs tweaking, and a few gems such as the toolboxes are quite good as-is.

This here however has done nothing to my personal rule not to buy anything there that if it fails, will kill or seriously hurt me or someone else.:(
Good point. I meant to say the tractor lift was assembled with CLASS 4 hardware, the metric designation. Regular car stuff uses class 7 and high strength is class 9 or better. This lift was put together with the grade hardware suitible for a kid's sand box. I like the design. Too bad it is made like garbage with a worthless bottle jack, weak hardware and sloppy welds. One of the pieces was also bent, out of the box, and I had to straighten it. There are videos of other HF bottle jack devices being modified to accept a better, off the shelf jack. I try to stick to HF stuff with no more than one part;socket, wrench,etc.

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Noland

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Crazyjake8493

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3pc socket tray/organizers - PASS
whole set for price of one Hansen, etc. organizer

5pc flex-head ratcheting wrench set - PASS
works well so far, no problems
 

HomeTheaterMan

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Apr 3, 2016
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Yes I have used one, used to install wheel liners on a Chrysler. Worked well I would say pass. I have used a mason brand counterpart I believe and I couldn't tell the difference.

Thanks, I ended up buying it and so far it's worked perfect for the job I needed it to. I put some mud flaps on with it and use it in place of a missing clip for the wheel liner. I will say that with the bigger rivets it comes with, mine will tighten it up, but has a hard time cutting the excess rivet off. I just pulled it off and cut it with some side cutters. The smaller rivets in the kit didn't have this issue.

I'd give it a pass. I wish I'd known about this tool a long time ago as I can see it coming in handy quite a bit.
 

greasyfingers01

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Apr 6, 2015
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Are the Pittsburgh Pro fully polished combination wrenches any good? I need a budget level set of wrenches and looking at these or Tekton. I did a search but didn't come up with anything

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DFB

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Might help to know what size sets you may be comparing. In general HF pricing is cheaper but watch the sizes, especially in metric they skip a lot.

I have both of those brands of wrenches out on my flea mkt tool table in the 9 pc sets. IMO not whole lot of difference between the two brands there that I can say.

And you can decide if COO matters any. HF are made in India, the Tekton is China.

HF has an in store warranty exchange and may need the receipt too but I dunno.

Tekton warranty if needed is most often done direct unless you know a stocking retail seller

Though is pretty much a no questions asked policy
 

Coach James

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Are the Pittsburgh Pro fully polished combination wrenches any good? I need a budget level set of wrenches and looking at these or Tekton. I did a search but didn't come up with anything

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I have the HF long pattern combos in metric sand SAE. They have held up fine including being hit on with a rubber mallet. For suspension work, if where I used them the most.

Coach
 

Tallpilot

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I have both of those brands of wrenches out on my flea mkt tool table in the 9 pc sets. IMO not whole lot of difference between the two brands there that I can say.

And you can decide if COO matters any. HF are made in India, the Tekton is China

How old are the sets you have for sale? Tekton is now made in Taiwan and the fit and finish is markedly superior to the Indian Harbor Freight. I really haven't analyzed the Pittsburgh Pro wrenches because I don't like sets that skip sizes but I am sure they are better than the old stuff.
 

FarFire70

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Nov 24, 2013
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Anyone ever bought a reverse torx set from HF?
Yes, own a set and used them to remove a Jeep transmission. Worked fine. Not a high torque situation. Striped an inverse torx bolt before with a buddy so ensured this set was locked in before trying to remove. Worked fine and would recommend for typically use cases.

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Cobradriver

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Port Charlotte,Fl
Are the Pittsburgh Pro fully polished combination wrenches any good? I need a budget level set of wrenches and looking at these or Tekton. I did a search but didn't come up with anything

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I'd put the Pro quality a little better than Craftsman but not quite as nice as SK.

I have a couple of sets of each for garage use. I also tossed a set of each in my box at work for when you just need that "extra" wrench(or you lose/misplace your nice ****...LOL).

I like the thicker handles versus some of the thinner handles on other wrenches...

Chris
 
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dwasifar

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I have the same one. It's hard to go wrong with a hammer that has a hickory handle.

I think those hickory-handled tools are how Harbor Freight got its name.

It goes back to one day when a shipment of hickory-handled tools arrived at a freight pier in San Francisco harbor, and the shipping company found out that the recipient had gone out of business while the ship was in transit. So they were stuck with this shipment of hickory tools, and they offered the whole lot for sale right there on the dock. After a lot of bargaining and dickering, a local man bought them to start his own tool store with.

And that's also why that pier is now called the hickory dicker-y dock.
 

Loose Ctrl

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I think those hickory-handled tools are how Harbor Freight got its name.

It goes back to one day when a shipment of hickory-handled tools arrived at a freight pier in San Francisco harbor, and the shipping company found out that the recipient had gone out of business while the ship was in transit. So they were stuck with this shipment of hickory tools, and they offered the whole lot for sale right there on the dock. After a lot of bargaining and dickering, a local man bought them to start his own tool store with.

And that's also why that pier is now called the hickory dicker-y dock.
That's kind of funny but sounds plausible to me.
 

TBoiNasty

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Jun 14, 2017
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Yes, own a set and used them to remove a Jeep transmission. Worked fine. Not a high torque situation. Striped an inverse torx bolt before with a buddy so ensured this set was locked in before trying to remove. Worked fine and would recommend for typically use cases.

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Nice, I need them for transmission removal as well. Going to snag a set tomorrow, thanks.
 

Duallydondon

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Feb 22, 2008
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11
Location
Baytown , Texas
Punch set FAIL ,,bent on first use
Stapler PASS though it will not work upside down
Sockets Pass have used them alot no issues
Torque wrench FAIL super inaccurate
Paint spray gun PASS really a good deal,,,just clean well after every use
Red half inch pipe clamps FAIL slip under moderate strain
Bench Top drill press FAIL chuck drops out!
 

Farmall 1066

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Jul 21, 2012
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Suburban Rockford, NE
62863 Bandfile major pass.
Bought it for a single purpose sharpening job and ended up using the piss out of it!
Noisy, and I wish it was variable speed, but I can live with it for the price!
 

dwasifar

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May 28, 2017
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100' steel fish tape: Pass, but just barely.

The store had four in stock and two were already broken, so the case is fragile; and the brake barely works. But the steel tape itself is fine, I fished a 70' run through 1/2" EMT with no trouble. I don't know how long it would last under constant use, but for occasional use it seems okay.
 

TractorMechanic

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Apr 22, 2017
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Location
Texas
The four ton floor jack item# 68056 gets a PASS/ good review. FedEx damaged it during shipping. It got banged up pretty bad when whoever had it upside down. The brass, metric grease zerk on the lift arm was snapped off upon arrival. There were three holes on the top of the box and one side was cut in two from being shipped upside down on the floor of a truck. The paint was also rubbed off where it had rubbed holes through the box, probably from road bumps. If they hadn't shipped it upside down it probably wouldn't have been damaged.

The super wide aluminum dust pan has been great. Have had it over 17 years. You can bend it back into shape if it ever gets crumpled.

The large, Pittsburg, yellow handled, end nippers are also a great buy. Can't tell you how many nails, wire, or other hard to cut or bend items I've used it on.

The miter saw work stand with wheels was worth buying. Used it on too many projects to count, including a couple house remodels.

There are many other good HF items I'll have to report back on when time allows.
 

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mfewtrail

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Apr 14, 2011
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675
I have quite a few things I've accumulated from harbor freight over the years.


1/2'' drive 18'' long breaker bar: Pass. I've had this at least 5 or more years and it's held up fine. I don't know the part number for it, but believe it was the made in Taiwan bar.

3/8'' 17'' long breaker bar Item #67931 - Pass. It's 3/8'' drive, so you can break it, but most stuff I do with it doesn't require much torque. It's thinner than some of my other tools, so I use it in tight spaces sometimes with shallow sockets. It has saved me from having to remove a lot of other stuff using it that way.


Oil filter pliers Item #36778 - Pass. These work fine for cheap oil filter pliers. I would honestly opt for something better if you're using them all the time though.

3 piece pry bar set - Item #68339 - Pass. I use these only for aligning parts on occasion and they work perfectly for that.

Torx bit set in a blue case - part number unknown: Pass - I don't see these listed on the site anymore, but recall seeing them in them in the stores not too long ago. These have security torx in bit form, and e-torx in socket form. The torx bits come in handy for getting into spaces where torx sockets will not fit. I keep them in my junkyard bag.

2lb rubber mallet #69082 - Pass I have worn some of these down to nubs. At some point, I do add a nail going through the rubber into the handle to keep these from falling apart.

CR-MO 3 piece lugnut flip socket set #62491, PASS - These hold up well. For someone occasionally using them, they'll probably last a lifetime.

Non-contact infrared thermometer - PASS. It has to be close to ten years old, but is still going strong. No idea on part number since it isn't like the current models made. It's accurate enough for most stuff around the house or automotive related. I have another thermometer I use, so this one stays in my road tool bag. I have used it to diagnose plugged heater cores, radiators, bad t-stats, etc.

Electric tape 10pk - Fail. What I have just has HF on it, the new site shows something branded Stiktek. While it "will work" it doesn't adhere nearly as well as any decent electric tape. Save yourself some hassle and get something better.

Mechanic's Stethoscope 69913 - PASS. This is one of my favorite cheap HF items. They work well for pinpointing noises. Inspect the packages, some are made better than others.

7 Function Free Multimeter - PASS - I've used these several times on 12v dc and they've been great for that. Only used them a few times on 110v ac to check wall sockets.

6/12v test light w/ 5ft lead - PASS. Not sure which part number mine is. I keep it in a road bag and have only used it a time or two so far. It's the incandescent one and draws about 250ma.


Zip ties - various part numbers. PASS. I've used them for a lot of different stuff and they've all performed fine. The smallest ones I use are the ones rated around 45-50lbs.

13 pc 1/2'' metric pro impact sockets - PASS - Unsure of which of the two part numbers I have, but my set is older and I believe the COO is Taiwan. These have all held up great. I have used them exclusively for a few years just to put them through their paces. Zero failures and they're wearing just fine.

1'' pocket thermometer -46586 - PASS - I have a few of these and use them to check vent outlet temperatures in cars. They work well for this purpose.

3 piece long reach hose plier set 37909 - PASS. These come in handy the few times I actually need them to wiggle hoses off.

Radiator hose pick - Unknown part # PASS. I don't see this on the website when searching for "pick" but I assume they still sell it.

3lb drilling hammer - 67817. PASS Mine is an older version. The head loosened up after a short time. I secured the head much better than it was from the start and it's been rock solid. I like it because it's compact.

3lb orange dead blow hammer 41799 - PASS No complaints. It works fine as a dead blow hammer.

1/2''dr 25'' long Profesional Breaker bar - 62729 - PASS. I received it as a gift and have only used it a few times. It has held up fine to my use. The other cheaper 25'' bar they offer should be stronger by design.

26'' Black 4 drawer tool cart - PASS. No idea on part number, I've had it since about 2008 I think. Excellent cart for the money. I paid $99 with a coupon all those years ago.

1/4'' high flow fittings - PASS. These are discontinued, but the actual hose fittings themselves are great. Not sure about the couplers that came with them as I have used them so infrequently I can't really say how those hold up. I have milton couplers on my hoses.

Manual Hose reel - 46342 - Works fine. Have used it about once a week for about 1.5 years now with no issues. I have the 50ft rubber HF hose on it and it's held up fine as well. I don't mind the manual reel at home since I'm not using it all day every day.

I have more stuff I might add later...
 
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Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread... mite saw stand

Any information good or bad on the Portable Miter Saw Table. Looked ok in the store and I have seen a few youtube video on them. On sale for 99 till July 2nd.
What's the good or bad or the pass fail
 

Loose Ctrl

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Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread... mite saw stand

Any information good or bad on the Portable Miter Saw Table. Looked ok in the store and I have seen a few youtube video on them. On sale for 99 till July 2nd.
What's the good or bad or the pass fail
If you search, you'll find the info faster instead of waiting for a response.

I have the one pictured below. It is excellent for a homeowner doing a few jobs around the house every year. It wouldn't hold up to daily construction work. Mine has been used throughout the building of my shop, that I started back in September of last year. It's starting to show signs of wear in the legs. It's starting to get a bit wiggly. I have not abused it and treat it fairly gently.

62750_zzz_alt1_500.jpg
 
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Thanks for the reply. For some reson I can't do a search on my tablet when I try the screen opens the keyboard and closes it. Happens on a few sites.
Is that the hf model you posted.
 

DFB

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Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread... mite saw stand

If you search, you'll find the info faster instead of waiting for a response.

I have the one pictured below. It is excellent for a homeowner doing a few jobs around the house every year. It wouldn't hold up to daily construction work. Mine has been used throughout the building of my shop, that I started back in September of last year. It's starting to show signs of wear in the legs. It's starting to get a bit wiggly. I have not abused it and treat it fairly gently.


Thks for that feedback There was few questions posted about that same portable miter saw table over in the Milwaukee tool thread not too long ago trying to get a comparison with that one and some of the major tool brand offerings
 

Loose Ctrl

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Upstate SC
Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread... mite saw stand

Thanks for the reply. For some reson I can't do a search on my tablet when I try the screen opens the keyboard and closes it. Happens on a few sites.
Is that the hf model you posted.

You're welcome. I didn't know there was an issue with the search function on tabs. Yes, that is the HF model. They usually go on sale for $99.99. I am one of there inside track club members. I got a 25% off coupon. I think I paid $79.99 plus tax.

Thks for that feedback There was few questions posted about that same portable miter saw table over in the Milwaukee tool thread not too long ago trying to get a comparison with that one and some of the major tool brand offerings

You're welcome. When I talk to people in HF, I tell them it's great for around the house jobs, but it's not contractor quality. If a contractor, or employee could set it up, and leave it set up during the job, it would probably have no issues at all for a long time. Unfortunately, I was having to take mine down every day, sometimes multiple times a day. I'm still not 100% done with my building yet. I still have siding and exterior trim to do.
 
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I just need something sturdy to hold the saw and easy to store. HF stuff is what it is. I have been extra lucky there and love the stuff I bought.
 
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