tslabaugh
Well-known member
They aren't the most durable...but if you get a coupon and stuff, I'd buy them again. I'd give em a PASS.
The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
- Thread starter Bolster
- Start date
They aren't the most durable...but if you get a coupon and stuff, I'd buy them again. I'd give em a PASS.
subarub4
Well-known member
Hmm I thought they would be better because the gloves I got from the Home Depot are thinner then those and they rip too easy when handling engine parts. Got so fed up I just did the job without the gloves.
I've been pretty happy with the two ply nitrile outside latex inside gloves.
BUT
The Microtouch etc gloves I got as samples from Ansell were MUCH better. I think those will be what I buy once I use up all the cheap HF gloves, but OTOH for light work, they are cheap.
BUT
The Microtouch etc gloves I got as samples from Ansell were MUCH better. I think those will be what I buy once I use up all the cheap HF gloves, but OTOH for light work, they are cheap.
New to the forum but I have to give my HF input.
First off are my GearTech ratcheting wrenches. Double PASS.
These are absolutely indispensable and I don't baby them. I've used hammers on them, stood on them, and even used my floor jack under the 19mm. Almost had the rear end of my Suby off the ground before the bolt broke loose, amazing. They are the first tools I reach for even though I now have a full set of Blue Points.
Lightweight aluminum floor jack-PASS
This thing is nice and has never failed in 5 years. So much could be said about the Crapsman jack I had that was returned and the second one failed within a couple months. The HF is very light and durable, just not a quick pump.
HF motorcycle stand-PASS/FAIL
The cheapo rollerblade wheels ended up flattening from my track bike so I replaced them with a different kind of wheel I found at HF. Cycle Gear sells the same exact stand with Motrax labeling for $100 more.
HF composite Ratchets-PASS
These are actually great and feel nice in my hands. Fine tooth and stand up to abuse. I also use them at work testing hydraulic equipment for aircraft. The rubber grips have held up VERY well against Skydrol which makes brake fluid look like KoolAid. I'm in the process of acquiring Snap On ratchets for the garage, but the HF ones will go in the portable box for trackdays.
HF ball end T-handle allen set-FAIL
Poor construction and the ball ends are way too soft. These will go in the trash once I get a new set from someone better.
21-gal compressor-PASS with mods.
I really like this compressor and it replaced a Husky 30 gallon which had issues with the cooling fan. This holds 65-70 psi with a die grinder going full bore and charges very fast. As was mentioned before, it needs adjustment to make full rated pressure. I also had to replace the tank pressure gauge since the original had a leak inside it. No biggy since I'm quite happy overall.
First off are my GearTech ratcheting wrenches. Double PASS.
These are absolutely indispensable and I don't baby them. I've used hammers on them, stood on them, and even used my floor jack under the 19mm. Almost had the rear end of my Suby off the ground before the bolt broke loose, amazing. They are the first tools I reach for even though I now have a full set of Blue Points.
Lightweight aluminum floor jack-PASS
This thing is nice and has never failed in 5 years. So much could be said about the Crapsman jack I had that was returned and the second one failed within a couple months. The HF is very light and durable, just not a quick pump.
HF motorcycle stand-PASS/FAIL
The cheapo rollerblade wheels ended up flattening from my track bike so I replaced them with a different kind of wheel I found at HF. Cycle Gear sells the same exact stand with Motrax labeling for $100 more.
HF composite Ratchets-PASS
These are actually great and feel nice in my hands. Fine tooth and stand up to abuse. I also use them at work testing hydraulic equipment for aircraft. The rubber grips have held up VERY well against Skydrol which makes brake fluid look like KoolAid. I'm in the process of acquiring Snap On ratchets for the garage, but the HF ones will go in the portable box for trackdays.
HF ball end T-handle allen set-FAIL
Poor construction and the ball ends are way too soft. These will go in the trash once I get a new set from someone better.
21-gal compressor-PASS with mods.
I really like this compressor and it replaced a Husky 30 gallon which had issues with the cooling fan. This holds 65-70 psi with a die grinder going full bore and charges very fast. As was mentioned before, it needs adjustment to make full rated pressure. I also had to replace the tank pressure gauge since the original had a leak inside it. No biggy since I'm quite happy overall.
shocksystems
Well-known member
Those wrenches sound great, thanks for the write-up. I am trying to find them on their website and I am not sure which ones you are referring to. Do any of these match?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=95552
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=91885
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=66286
Cheers!
Jim
Those wrenches sound great, thanks for the write-up. I am trying to find them on their website and I am not sure which ones you are referring to. Do any of these match?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=95552
The ones I have are labeled "GearTech" and the closest thing available now are these, although I do have all three sets that you pictured (the shorty ones for the flex wrenches). IMO they're the perfect starter set, however, for the metric sets available these days, they're kinda useless for me. My set came with 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 17, and 19mm. I can and have worked on almost every component on any of the vehicles I own with those sizes. Now they come with 18mm instead of the 17 and 19mm. I've never even seen an 18mm bolt or nut.
The stubby flex heads have been put to good use here and there, most recently installing an overflow setup I made for my trackbike. The laminated set I have just begs to be thrown away but I always seem to find a job where they've been exactly what I needed and nothing else seemed to work.
Dust
Well-known member
I use that exact same hand pump and have had great success. It doesn't work as well now though, but that's because I used to clean it by running straight acetone through it.+1 REALLY JUNK FAIL
FAIL Multi-Use Transfer Pump- aEpic Fail
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=66418
I personally use two, one for petroleum-based fluids, and one for water-based fluids. They work great for sucking fluid out of transmissions and washer bottles.
The only issue I have is the stock tubing is a bit loose in the pump. Get some 1/2" tubing from Home Depot, which is a bit bigger OD, and it's awesome.
5 HP, 60 Gallon, 165 PSI Two Stage Air Compressor
I just returned this big smoking turd last night . Dont waste your time bringing it home. I made a whip for it and plugged it in ... nada ! Took it back apart and their ground was broken off the terminal . No biggy I fixed it , and plugged it back in . It started up in the off position . I unplugged it and pulled the cover and the plunger on the pressure switch was stuck . Again no biggy , so I cleaned up the piece of plastic that was preventing it from operating correctly .
So all is fixed and I let it run with the drain open for a little bit to break in . After a few minutes I closed off the drain to let it come up to pressure . After closing the drain it was still hissing . I find where the pop off valve is supposed to be and temporarily plug it to make sure everything is now operating correctly .
It comes up to full pressure and I can hear a psssssttttttt noise . So I start chasing down the leak ... after a minute or so I find it . The weld for the bung was leaking . Needless to say I let the air out of it and returned it .
I had read the reviews of this compressor and decided to buy it . I regret wasting my time and I am going to get a Quincy tomorrow . I will approach any harbor freight purchase with caution from this point forward as I value my time more than the potential savings .
5 HP, 60 Gallon, 165 PSI Two Stage Air Compressor
I just returned this big smoking turd last night . Dont waste your time bringing it home. I made a whip for it and plugged it in ... nada ! Took it back apart and their ground was broken off the terminal . No biggy I fixed it , and plugged it back in . It started up in the off position . I unplugged it and pulled the cover and the plunger on the pressure switch was stuck . Again no biggy , so I cleaned up the piece of plastic that was preventing it from operating correctly .
So all is fixed and I let it run with the drain open for a little bit to break in . After a few minutes I closed off the drain to let it come up to pressure . After closing the drain it was still hissing . I find where the pop off valve is supposed to be and temporarily plug it to make sure everything is now operating correctly .
It comes up to full pressure and I can hear a psssssttttttt noise . So I start chasing down the leak ... after a minute or so I find it . The weld for the bung was leaking . Needless to say I let the air out of it and returned it .
I had read the reviews of this compressor and decided to buy it . I regret wasting my time and I am going to get a Quincy tomorrow . I will approach any harbor freight purchase with caution from this point forward as I value my time more than the potential savings .
Should of just got a new one. Unless its changed that compressor has an American made Baldor motor on it [not sure where the tanks are made]. You wont find anything comperable without spending hundreds more. Many similar compressors in that spec and price range have either a chinese or mexican motor on them. Good luck but i'd give that a second chance, not like other companies dont have their share of problems. Just my 2 cents.
They didnt have another one , and truthfully I wouldnt have taken it if they had . The electric motor was an AO Smith made in Mexico , not sure on the tank as I looked for a "made in" tag and there wasnt one .
With the issues I had with a "new" compressor from them its worth more money to me to get one I just plug in and change the oil in .
redsky49
Well-known member
Aren't all pressure vessels required to be ASME labeled?
I don't think I would buy a compressor without testing/compliance proof of the tank construction.
I thought that it would have a welded on tag , but there wasnt one . And the stickers didnt say where it was made .
Art From De Leon
Well-known member
I wonder what OSHA would say, and if one ever did fail, it would be interesting to see how many front companies HF is hiding behind to protect itself from liability lawyers.
In fact, it is interesting, given the junk that HF sells, that they haven't had the pants sued off them already, when someone was injured using their 'tools'.
well that *****. there was a time when it was a baldor motor on that. at least that gave it some sense of reliability and value, now i would trust it about as far as i could throw it.
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Joelfke
Well-known member
Has anyone used/bought this trans jack? Any good? Any coupons?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=33615
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=33615
dlc
Well-known member
I don't have one but a good friend of mine has. He has used it several times and likes it a lot. I used it once at his place taking the TH400 trans from my Toyota truck and it worked really well.
The only coupon I know that is valid for this would be the 20% off coupon available here:
http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/common/displayPage.do?pageFile=magurl1.html
Scout Driver
Well-known member
The 7-piece body hammer/tool set has been great. They have worked great on everything from lite gauge trim to a heavy combine auger to fenders etc. Talked the girl at the counter into selling me mine for 1/2 price! 
So this is a PASS!!
BTW, I may try out the ratcheting wrenches after seeing them posted and hearing positive comments. Thanks.
Scott
So this is a PASS!!BTW, I may try out the ratcheting wrenches after seeing them posted and hearing positive comments. Thanks.
Scott
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someone asked about the pliers, i had a set of channel locks style, slip joint pliers and needle nose. they were good and tight in the beginning but i bent the handle on the chanels with too hard of a squeeze. and all three got sloppy way to fast i have had my craftsman and klien tools way longer used way harder without them getting sloppy. so they get a fail
TireTracks
Well-known member
We have some in metal shop, and they way the channellock styles are made you cant get them "right"
Dagowrench24
Member
I think these are hit or miss. I had 3 misses in a row 2 summers ago grinding tubes. I blew 3 up.
Joe H
Well-known member
Definite pass on this one. Have used them every day at work for 2 years now and not a single issue with them.
bosskong
Well-known member
I'd definitely give these a positive review as well. I got the 66054 metric set a couple of months ago and have used them just about every day since. The color coating has worn off some on the ends of the wrenches, but they're all still 100% functional after quite a bit of abuse.6 Piece SAE Color Combo Wrench Set
Epic PASS!! I have these 66053-0VGA and the metric set 66054-0VGA and honestly probably use them more than any other wrenches in my box. They work great and have held up very well to pretty rough use. Highly recommended.
Around the same time, I also bought the 93260 metric color coded 3/8" sockets and definitely give these a passing grade as well. They've taken a lot of abuse and are still in good condition.
And I didn't realize it until I owned them, but these color coded wrenches and sockets are actually very useful. It's a whole lot easier to quickly tell the difference between a 14mm socket and a 13mm socket in a pile of sockets when you know that 14mm=red and 13mm=green.
Poncho Villa
Well-known member
3-in-1 Ball Joint/U-Joint/C-Frame Press Service Kit
Passed on three ball joints and died on the fourth. I'm certain that operator ineptitude had a little to do with its ultimate demise.
If you must use a cheater to press your ball joints, you may be trying too hard...
Actually, this was the first time I'd pressed ball joints and in retrospect, I abused the tool. It was about $40 after the 20% coupon. I'm not certain whether I'd buy another one or look around for a better one next time. Fortunately, I don't have to change ball joints often.
Passed on three ball joints and died on the fourth. I'm certain that operator ineptitude had a little to do with its ultimate demise.
If you must use a cheater to press your ball joints, you may be trying too hard...
Actually, this was the first time I'd pressed ball joints and in retrospect, I abused the tool. It was about $40 after the 20% coupon. I'm not certain whether I'd buy another one or look around for a better one next time. Fortunately, I don't have to change ball joints often.
sberry
Banned
Anyone have any experience with these? Gonna be on sale for $5.99 before 20% off so I figure they are worth trying out.
At that price its not much to lose but I dont much care for the rounded jaws.
i had those vise grip style. you CAN go wrong for the price. you have to crank the **** out of them to get them to really lock on, it mars up both surfaces and if you bump them wrong they let go and drop a piece of sheet metal that cuts the **** out of your hand. for those i will stick to my craftsmans.
sberry
Banned
15 yrs ago I wouldn't have said this but having seen the stuff proven out I would be hard pressed not to buy the HF stuff anymore. It used to be that the import junk small hand drive sockets were terrible but even those have come up to a usable level.
Quality is a relative term that goes with price, I saw a flier the other day, 25 polished end wrenches for 18$, at 180$ they wouldn't have been a bargain or even at 75 where you could have got a brand like Allen but 18 is insanely low, almost unreal, an hours wages for the avg man in this country. Other brands a days wages and the top truck stuff would be a week. Nearly disposable prices.
Quality is a relative term that goes with price, I saw a flier the other day, 25 polished end wrenches for 18$, at 180$ they wouldn't have been a bargain or even at 75 where you could have got a brand like Allen but 18 is insanely low, almost unreal, an hours wages for the avg man in this country. Other brands a days wages and the top truck stuff would be a week. Nearly disposable prices.
I have noticed that Harbor Freight's quality (or lack of) has improved over the years. I am wondering if their prices will be rising as well. At this point in time I would say that about 25% of my shop tools are from Harbor Freight and owning those tools has been very good for me.
I know that the price of mig wire has doubled in the past couple of years that I have been keeping an eye on it and I wonder how long they will be able to sustain their business model. Their volume of sales has to be incredible. I have been in at least a dozen stores located in three different states and every one of them is busy every time I stop in.
I know that the price of mig wire has doubled in the past couple of years that I have been keeping an eye on it and I wonder how long they will be able to sustain their business model. Their volume of sales has to be incredible. I have been in at least a dozen stores located in three different states and every one of them is busy every time I stop in.
sberry
Banned
I don't know, seems just the raw cost of materials and energy would make prices higher, consider that the 18$ has to be split with the retailer. Prices will likely rise at some point but double or triple would make them lose their market appeal. Its obvious the world can produce more tools than it needs, probably one of the reasons snappy and others are reaching out in to the consumer market, I cant see them sustaining growth from the regular mechanic trade, I for one pretty much got all I need in that class of tool, not a lot of room for them no matter how hard they work at it.
sberry
Banned
Its one of the reasons the car economy got hit so hard, a real glut. Everyone that could afford or wanted a new car pretty much had one, when things turned down people could go a long while before there was an actual need to buy new and with parts being very competitive it made sense to keep old running a while longer. People could just wait it out, car companies couldn't.
subarub4
Well-known member
Has anyone use the ball joint separator? I can't see how I would have any issues with it?
emeraldcoupe
Well-known member
we have the pittsburgh bearing seperator/puller set at work, used it for the first time yesterday( been sitting for a couple of years)- pass so far
ITEM 93980-3VGA http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93980
ITEM 93980-3VGA http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93980
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Other than the effects of currency i should think not. If a factory was producing a tool at X cost and they say they need to increase cost to continue production HF seems to cycle to another factory. Makes the quality very hit/miss on certain tools as time goes by.
Well I am happy to hear that, as I just took a chance and picked one up last week.
I tried using one of these leak down testers on a modular ford engine where the spark plug holes are deep down in the bore of the head, needless to say I screwed the hose into the bore and crimped section that connects the hose to the plug fitting broke leaving the fitting stuck way down the bore maybe if I would have used a solid extension it wouldnt have happened but it still shouldnt have came apart that easily, so im saying it FAILED for me.
maybe if I would have used a solid extension it wouldnt have happened but it still shouldnt have came apart that easily, so im saying it FAILED for me.Attachments
chevy302dz
Well-known member
1/2" drive Torx bits are a complete pass. Bought them as a backup/secondary set and figured I'd use them a little just to see if they were decent. After they lasted through the impact gun (non impact set) that I needed to use on some rusty seatbolt bolts with no damage to the fastener or bit I was impressed.
tcianci
Well-known member
Just spent a few days using the HF nitrile gloves (the blue ones) on a ceramic tile project. The portland cement in the mortar realy makes my hands crack but I hate working with gloves in general. Well, I was impressed...the held up all day and y6ou could really feel what you were doing whle using them. PASS!!!