The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...

[jeepnut24]

2 temp Heat Gun - FAIL on quality PASS on price.

I needed a heat gun to shrink some wrap around some wiring. Got the gun on sale for like $7.99 + tax. It DID in fact work for the 2 days I needed it to work. Smoked and smelled when I turned it from 700* to 1500*, though. So I used the 700* setting.

When I went to use it again about 2 months later, the second I turned it on the fan broke. BRRaaapp-BAP-BAP-BAP-BAP. Took it apart and it's this tiny little clear plastic POS. They didn't even spring for pigment in the plastic. But hey, 8 bucks and it got my job done. I didn't feel bad about tossing it out.

I must have gotten a different one as I have used mine hundreds of times for the same purpose, heat shrink. Mine is the orange gun with the 3 way toggle trigger. No knob to turn. Enough heat that I melted the bondo under a decal I removed from my car.

 

[porphyre]

Different gun, then. Mine was black. If I recall correctly, it had a 3 position sliding switch like a woman's hair dryer, not a trigger. No knobs. It made plenty of heat for those 2 days, though!

 

[mkdive]

I have the same orange HF heat gun, used it maybe 10-15 times so far. First time I used it, it smelled of burnt plastic.....but nothing melted on or inside the gun?? Since the "burn in" of cheap virgin plastic it has worked great each time. Picked it up for $12 on clearance. PASS for the price.

 

[tj90]

Interesting, I remember someone commenting before that it seemed like their replacement abrasives were markedly inferior to the "original" ones supplied with a given machine.

Thats exactly my experience. The buffing wheel with the unit is awesome. The 2nd one I bought off the shelf for $10 was terrible...

 

[thelews]

Different gun, then. Mine was black. If I recall correctly, it had a 3 position sliding switch like a woman's hair dryer, not a trigger. No knobs. It made plenty of heat for those 2 days, though!

I believe I have this one. Used it last night on high for heat shrink, no issues. Used it dozens of times.

 

[sanddrag]

94119 Strap Wrenches - FAIL!

I quickly learned why these are sealed-packed and not on a card. As soon as I opened it it smelled like I had dumped a quart of industrial solvents on my desk. I've smelled plenty of Chinese rubber tires, hoses, etc, but this was nothing like anything I've smelled before. I fail it right on the smell alone, it is so bad. Also, the zip ties holding the strap were so tight they left permanent indentations in it. I guess for the $4 I paid for both though it's better than no strap wrenches at all. But boy do they smell!

 

[r0meyrome]

Has anyone tried the Pittsburh Pro Pliers? and Locking extension drives?

 

[Bo Heck]

Has anyone tried the Pittsburh Pro Pliers? and Locking extension drives?

Don't recall if anyone has mentioned the Pitt Pro pliers but several people have said the locking extensions are a pass.

 

[Scooterfish]

If a zip tie leaves an indentation in the wrench it`s gonna get ugly when that wrench comes in contact with a steel bolt I may pick up some HF zip ties though

 

[slacktide]

94119 Strap Wrenches - FAIL!

I quickly learned why these are sealed-packed and not on a card. As soon as I opened it it smelled like I had dumped a quart of industrial solvents on my desk. I've smelled plenty of Chinese rubber tires, hoses, etc, but this was nothing like anything I've smelled before. I fail it right on the smell alone, it is so bad. Also, the zip ties holding the strap were so tight they left permanent indentations in it. I guess for the $4 I paid for both though it's better than no strap wrenches at all. But boy do they smell!

Oh my lord yes, I remember buying those. Those VOCs have GOT to be cancer causing... Also, first time I tried to use it the strap tore.

 

[txz28]

Has anyone tried the Pittsburh Pro Pliers? and Locking extension drives?

I have the 3/8" locking extensions, 99882, for the price they are good. PASS

94119 Strap Wrenches - FAIL!

I quickly learned why these are sealed-packed and not on a card. As soon as I opened it it smelled like I had dumped a quart of industrial solvents on my desk. I've smelled plenty of Chinese rubber tires, hoses, etc, but this was nothing like anything I've smelled before. I fail it right on the smell alone, it is so bad. Also, the zip ties holding the strap were so tight they left permanent indentations in it. I guess for the $4 I paid for both though it's better than no strap wrenches at all. But boy do they smell!

I have the strap wrenches also. I bought a new package after my 5 year old harbor freight one died (strap broke at the attaching point). The old one looked EXACTLY like the craftsman ones. So I got five years of service out of the new one.

So on the new ones that I think I paid less than $4 with a coupon, I have the same issues as sanddrag. They are a different handle than the old one. They smelled for like two weeks like some noxious industrial solvent. Breathing air pumped through a brand new tire fresh out of the goodyear factory might smell better. They are getting better over time. They also had the zip ties on way too tight as noted above. However they do the job. Since my old one lasted for five years and they are cheap. I would say - PASS w/ reservations

 

[RAYJAY]

Fail... but all I can afford because people keep outbidding me at auctions. Good bandsaws go for big money and when you need one, I guess you use what you can get. Hard to keep tensioned and on track, motor wont even turn over on a new blade. No way it makes 1/4 hp, let alone 1 HP.

I give mine a BIG pass have it for 2 years now and its great they do need a little fine tuning and a better blade but for the sale price +20% off its a great saw

Jeff

 

[gunner3773]

5469 Slide Hammer Set--FAIL

The hammer would be better replaced by a rock with a hole in the center of it...very poor casting.

 

[Danglerb]

94119 Strap Wrenches - FAIL!

I quickly learned why these are sealed-packed and not on a card. As soon as I opened it it smelled like I had dumped a quart of industrial solvents on my desk. I've smelled plenty of Chinese rubber tires, hoses, etc, but this was nothing like anything I've smelled before. I fail it right on the smell alone, it is so bad. Also, the zip ties holding the strap were so tight they left permanent indentations in it. I guess for the $4 I paid for both though it's better than no strap wrenches at all. But boy do they smell!

They do stink, and it LASTS, but they seem to work ok, and I think fall under the lifetime handtool warranty. Way I look at it, its bonehead easy to replace the strap with whatever suits you.

 

[reznunt]

2 temp Heat Gun - FAIL on quality PASS on price.

I needed a heat gun to shrink some wrap around some wiring. Got the gun on sale for like $7.99 + tax. It DID in fact work for the 2 days I needed it to work. Smoked and smelled when I turned it from 700* to 1500*, though. So I used the 700* setting.

When I went to use it again about 2 months later, the second I turned it on the fan broke. BRRaaapp-BAP-BAP-BAP-BAP. Took it apart and it's this tiny little clear plastic POS. They didn't even spring for pigment in the plastic. But hey, 8 bucks and it got my job done. I didn't feel bad about tossing it out.

I must have gotten a different one as I have used mine hundreds of times for the same purpose, heat shrink. Mine is the orange gun with the 3 way toggle trigger. No knob to turn. Enough heat that I melted the bondo under a decal I removed from my car.

Different gun, then. Mine was black. If I recall correctly, it had a 3 position sliding switch like a woman's hair dryer, not a trigger. No knobs. It made plenty of heat for those 2 days, though!

I have the same orange HF heat gun, used it maybe 10-15 times so far. First time I used it, it smelled of burnt plastic.....but nothing melted on or inside the gun?? Since the "burn in" of cheap virgin plastic it has worked great each time. Picked it up for $12 on clearance. PASS for the price.

i have the orange heat gun as well. i've used it about twenty times up to 30 minutes constant run time. i haven't had a single problem with it. i never even smelled anything like burning plastic. best $7.99 i have ever spent.

 

[Chris Adams]

I have two of the orange ones and one of the black ones.
The first orange one got dropped about two feet onto concrete.

Only low blower works, and I had to pour some broken ceramic bits out of it...
However, after three years it still works on low blower.

The other two still work but have only been used a dozen or two times.

I will have to give them a pass, when you think how I abused the one and it still works. I think the most expensive one cost me about ten bucks on sale.

 

[bmxr4life87]

I have the locking 3/8 extension set and I love it. I like the collar type lock very much and the collar is aluminum not plastic like the craftsman type. They also feel very stiff with no felt flex at all even the longest one I've used them a few times on my ir2115 ti to get out of a jam and they don't show any signs of damage at all. If they made a 1/4 set I'd be in heaven a deffinate PASS

 

[r0meyrome]

Sweet. Yeah I give the locking extension a pass also! But how about the professional pliers?!

 

[svrdrabbit]

I purchased there planetary ring roller to aid in building my sheet metal dash in my truck. I was rolling 1/4 round stock. I used the hell out of it. It made it through the project. The rollers are a bit worn so it doesn't make a perfect circle any more. Still makes great curves though. I plan on machining new rollers someday.

I give it a PASS. For regular use.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=36790

welding blanket- PASS
air body saw-FAIL- Kept locking up.
jig saw- FAIL- didn't last a year with light use
goodyear rubber air hose- PASS


Blow gun-PASS-
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=97090
Got this to use at work. Real comfortable. I did weld some 1/4 brake line to the end for a longer extension.

 

[stovall]

I work in a machine shop & we have found that a 1/8"-27 pipe ****** fits almost all of the blowguns, so we simply screw in a 1/8" X 1/4" flare adapter (or compression, but compression fittings tend to have to be tightened occasionaly & over time it reduces the id of the tubing), then cut & bend a piece of 1/4" brake line to your liking, flare it on the end & hook it up to your blowgun & you are set. I have a set of tips that I bought years ago (can't remember where) that are made from hypodermic tubing. They are extremely handy when working on small stuff such as a small carb for your mower. A word of caution though, if you are in a shop that is big enough that OSHA checks you out ocasionally, hide your "Custom" tips until they leave, because they are not considered safe by them.

 

[ATTappman]

12 Piece Industrial Punch and Chisel Set, the orange ones - FAIL.

Too soft, ends mushroom easily. The orange "paint" turned to a sticky goo after a while, started rubbing off on everything. Each piece has an annoying safety label on it, which also becomes sticky after a while. Every one I used started to rust on the unpainted surfaces. I threw them away.

 

[myridge]

The

Air nibler a PASS, Its well worth the $16 bucks I paid for it. It is an air hog and really needs 90psi to work well. But it cut out all my patch panels for my CJ-7 project with no problem.

Also

has been nice. It works great and uses very little air at all. PASS for $25 bucks its beats the $70-90 from other tool sites.

The

3" cutoff tool is a PASS, It cuts well but uses alot of air. Worth the $9 bucks I paid for it.

MARGINAL/FAIL the 2" sander is a Marginal fail. It just loads up quickly and bogs down. For light duty sanding it works well but I wanted it for smoothing welds and tight body work and its ***** for that. Also its hard to get consumibles for it. They carry hardly any replacement discs for it in store.

PASS - I instead use a die grinder with 2" 80-120grit discs. (which the disc's **** but they are cheap so I replace them often.)

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

The

Air nibler a PASS, Its well worth the $16 bucks I paid for it. It is an air hog and really needs 90psi to work well. But it cut out all my patch panels for my CJ-7 project with no problem.

Also

has been nice. It works great and uses very little air at all. PASS for $25 bucks its beats the $70-90 from other tool sites.



MARGINAL/FAIL the 2" sander is a Marginal fail. It just loads up quickly and bogs down. For light duty sanding it works well but I wanted it for smoothing welds and tight body work and its ***** for that. Also its hard to get consumibles for it. They carry hardly any replacement discs for it in store.

PASS - I instead use a die grinder with 2" 80-120grit discs. (which the disc's **** but they are cheap so I replace them often.)

The

3" cutoff tool is a PASS, It cuts well but uses alot of air. Worth the $9 bucks I paid for it.



This 3 in cutoff saw works and I have used it for years BUT this is one of the tools I would like to upgrade to a super heavy duty one that would real cut without stalling through autobody work any suggestions ED

 

[myridge]

12volt 150Psi compressor - PASS - This has been super handy tool to leave in my jeep. Its puts out lots of air for such a small compressor. I'd compare it to a VIAR or similiar for much less $$$. on sale for $49 reg price is $79 and its worth it. major pass for the money.

Flex head ratchet wrench set -PASS- I was looking at Craftsmen flex heads at sears for $99 a set and ended up buying these both Metric and SAE for less than $70 combined. For the price they cannot be beat. I broke a craftsmen ratchet wrench which is why I was going to sears to replace it and after seeing the price of a new flex head set I changed my mind and ended up puting the old craftsmen set in the Jeep tool bag and put the Pittsburg tools in my home box they are tougher than the craftsmens

Colored Gear wrench's, -PASS- the coloring wears off fast but overall quality of the wrench itself is nice. The ratchet mechanism is strong and I have put allot of force on them and so far no breakage. For the $29 I have to pass them.

110amp MIG welder Dual MIG 151 - MAJOR PASS - I know I was shocked. I bought it refurb online for $125 bucks and had pretty low expecations and I was very pleased with it. I have burned 1 roll of flux through it (*****) then about 3 rolls of solid core (with GAS) this thing works great on 25/75 gas. Its smooth consistant and works better than my SNAP-ON YA217. It doesn't slip or bind it just works great. The ground clamp ***** but works, The torch lead could be longer its only 6 or 8' and I replaced the short power lead for a 25' cord but for $125 bucks major PASS

MAJOR FAIL - 4 3/4 Welding Magnet they just ****. I bought a dozen of them thinking how cool they would be to hold my junk while welding and they just don't have much power. They typically fall off or cannot support the metal they are trying to hold together while welding and they end up falling on the floor then collect a **** load of grinding dust to them. Not worth the $1 each I paid for them.

 

[myridge]

Oh I forgot one but I think its been said before on here.

Blue Flame Autodarkening helmet. I say Major PASS for $49 bucks.
It always works, charges itself, is clear to see through, I can compare it to a hobart/miller hood that I had that used batteries and I like this one better. Mainly because its solar and I don't worry about picking up the helmet with dead batteries.

Anyone try there Plasma Cutter???? I am tempted on sale and with 20% off coupon it gets affordable but still its over $500-600 bucks for a tool I don't know much about. But it beats over a $1000 bucks for a big name Miller or Thermal Dynamics for a backyard shadetree gear head like myself that will use it once a year but really wants one.

 

[jeepnut24]

MAJOR FAIL - 4 3/4 Welding Magnet they just ****. I bought a dozen of them thinking how cool they would be to hold my junk while welding and they just don't have much power. They typically fall off or cannot support the metal they are trying to hold together while welding and they end up falling on the floor then collect a **** load of grinding dust to them. Not worth the $1 each I paid for them.

Truth... FAIL from me too. They pick up grinding dust, but thats about all they will hold. I about chucked one the other day when it fell off when I was spotting a panel in and it took the panel with it when it fell.

 

[sasquach]

The

3" cutoff tool is a PASS, It cuts well but uses alot of air. Worth the $9 bucks I paid for it.



This 3 in cutoff saw works and I have used it for years BUT this is one of the tools I would like to upgrade to a super heavy duty one that would real cut without stalling through autobody work any suggestions ED

Lube up the wheel with wax . That is what I have been doing for years and it works great . My Blue Point also stalls cutting through some bodywork also

 

[2many projects]

I've bought many things in the 2 Massachusetts stores nearest me this fall and summer.
I've ordered an engine run in test stand that's currently on back-order.
Jury is still out on that one. It's priced way under the competition although I'm sure it's very light duty and will probably need numerous modifications.
I'll let you know about it next month when it arrives.
Other stuff I've purchased......
Cobalt drill bits... pass
12V plug in car heater....fail, blew fuses only 2 minutes into operation.
$20. dial back timing light ... pass
Boxes of blue nitrate glove... pass
Orbital sander... pass
Alumn. jack stands..... pass
Hard wood furniture moving dollies...barely pass, the bearings inside the casters were rusty.
Hook and loop sand paper... pass
$49 auto darkening welding helmet... pass
Welding blanket... pass
Urethane floor jack and jack stand pads... pass
Other cheap one or two times use consumable tools. Use them 'till they die, throw them out or get some new ones under their warranty exchange program.
If you still got the sales slip, they'll help you out.
What's wrong with that?
I'm not a professional mechanic, only a weekend hobbyist doing my hot rod and muscle car thing.
Imported, low cost tools last me a long time.
All my air tools are from H.Freight.
Only my whizzer died prematurely. I used the wrong oil in it and gooped it up, my own fault.
All the other H.F. pneumatics are 15 years old and still perform flawlessly.
My sockets, wrenches, breaker-bars ratchets, torque wrench, screw drivers and major duty stuff come from Sears and Snap-on.
They last a life time with my type of use.

 

[metal1313]

hmm they must have changed the magnets some how, becuase the ones i have are actually pretty good, they are quite strong. im also pleased that people have had good luck with the panel flanger, i do think it is the same as many other venders offer for much much more

 

[lodemia]

I thought this was funny. When I think shock and welder at the same time...

110amp MIG welder Dual MIG 151 - MAJOR PASS - I know I was shocked.

 

[stovall]

Heavy Duty 2.5 Ton Long Frame Floor Jack - #42820
This thing is amazing!!!!!! If for no other reason you can jack a vehicle up to the point you don't have to bend over to work on it! It has almost 3' of travel which also gets a car up enough that you can almost sit under it. I wish I had bought one of these a long time ago; it sure would have made my life easier! Don't forget the jack stands, I highly recommend the 6 ton ones. Never rely soley on the jack!!!

 

[tcianci]

I was just there the other day and bought a carpet cutter for a rug removal job at home. I got about 3 feet down the room when the thing jammed with carpet yarns and even after cleaning it out, it wouldn't cut worth a darn. FAIL

 

[Kail]

Throatless sheer: pass (have to tighten it up once in a while)

Small cheap planishing hammer: pass (great for the way cheap price, i polished the heads though)

Mini sheet metal brake: fail (pos)

90 grinder: fail (real chattery gets hot after a minute of use)

air drill: fail (wont turn off)

C Clamps: Pass

Portable sand blaster: ehh (doesnt have a cover to recover and keep the sand from blasting back at you..)

 

[Chris Adams]

I was just there the other day and bought a carpet cutter for a rug removal job at home. I got about 3 feet down the room when the thing jammed with carpet yarns and even after cleaning it out, it wouldn't cut worth a darn. FAIL

Did you have a part number on that? Just curious, my carpet (what there is of it,) is new, but you never know.

 

[Mickey O]

$49 auto darkening welding helmet... pass

I'd rethink that one, you won't really know until it's too late. If ever you're going to spend good money on a decent product this is one of them.

 

[norry]

This 3 in cutoff saw works and I have used it for years BUT this is one of the tools I would like to upgrade to a super heavy duty one that would real cut without stalling through autobody work any suggestions ED

I have an old Dynabrade that I bought from some guy who was selling off old NOS Dynabrade stuff on Ebay, paid $50 if I remember right. I think it was made in Taiwan (d'oh! thought it would be US or Japan) but it blasts through stuff with a Sait wheel and a strong compressor. Uses plenty of air, but I think any decent cutoff wheel will do that.

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

Just thought I would mention that the air powered 1/2in belt sander on what looks like a angle grinder never worked out of the box. BAD BAD BAD and I am one to have a few good things to say about HF

 

[Chris Adams]

I'd rethink that one, you won't really know until it's too late. If ever you're going to spend good money on a decent product this is one of them.

Dunno what you mean? I bought a three year old used HF autodarking for 5 bucks and it works perfectly. That was 14 months ago. Been sitting for a few months, grabbed it to tack some wrought iron together and it still works perfectly.


For that I should have bought a 150 dollar helmet?

If you buy a new one, and it gives you trouble, you can take it back.
Seems like a pretty simple purchase to me.

 

[Hiball]

Dunno what you mean? I bought a three year old used HF autodarking for 5 bucks and it works perfectly. That was 14 months ago. Been sitting for a few months, grabbed it to tack some wrought iron together and it still works perfectly.


For that I should have bought a 150 dollar helmet?

If you buy a new one, and it gives you trouble, you can take it back.
Seems like a pretty simple purchase to me.

Id say if your using your helmet once or twice every 3 years they will be fine, Maybe... I think what he was getting at was someone who is gonna use there helmet daily should invest in a more reliable brand. There is some things i will cheap out on but when it comes to me or my families safety im not buying the cheapest thing on the market. I would rather use a flip down mask than take a chance on doing any possible damage to the 1 set of eyes i have. Its obvious by reading this thread that items that work for 1 person generally show up a couple pages later with a big FAIL from another user.

 

[RAYJAY]

I'd rethink that one, you won't really know until it's too late. If ever you're going to spend good money on a decent product this is one of them.

how is this helmet .......


Kobalt
Autodarkening Helmet

Item #: 190724 Model: SGY-A2
$138.00







same helmet as the HF one ...............

price does not tell all