If it's a TOOL, that is going to get used and possibly abused, and you need it to LAST, then it's an automatic fail.
If it just an item that doesn't really see hard work, and/or it lasting isn't important, then it's a pass, I guess.
And... If you need it RIGHT THE SECOND for a job you are doing, and do not have anywhere else that would have a quality tool, then it's a pass for the immediate "pinch", but not long term.
Well, it wasn't exactly a tool, but I bought one of the harbor freight red trailer frames and it abused it a lot and It never failed me. It was destroyed when loaded it with over twice it's capacity in scrap metaI, hitched it up behind a 73 International Harvester pickup truck and the wheel of the trailer got stuck in a very deep hole. The whole A frame on the front just trusted like a wet noodle. But I can't blame the trailer. I don't think there's a 1700lb capacity trailer from anyone that could have survived that.
I also have the harbor freight load balancing hitch with a sway damper that appears to be the exact same one you buy for a fortune from the RV dealers. I've never had a problem with it and Ive towed a 10000 pound trailer around with it.
The magnetic parts dishes are good. Its one of those things where you have to ask, how could you screw it up. I guess you could use too weak of magnet it something.
The bearing and seal driver kits are good. It's a bunch of pieces of aluminum with a handle. You shouldn't be pounding on it so hard you'd destroy it anyway.
The Centech 11 fuction multimeters are really good. The first one I bought was the same Meyer but sold by a local electronics shop. I had it for 10 years. The second I had was from harbor freight. The second one lasted a couple of years I til a starter was dropped on it. The third one I've had for about 4 or 5 years and it still works fine. I have a nice Agilent one now, but I end grabbing whichever one is handy most of the time.
The snap off blade box cutters are good as well. It's the same thing that's sold pretty much everywhere. It's just a box cutter. It cuts boxes. Maybe some stay sharper longer, maybe not. If it cuts boxes and it doesn't fall apart in my hand, I call it a good one.
The harbor freight clear epoxy is total garbage. It never really hardens past a rubbery consistency and bubbles for in it when it cures so it becomes cloudy.
Almost any sort of abrasive is junk. The one exception is the set of small (maybe 3/4 or 1") diamond wheels for dremel tools. They work very well. I use them to sharpen carbide cutting tools.
The strikers (like to light a torch) are as good as any other. What can I say, it's a striker. It lights the torch. Not fancy but it works.
The oxyfuel welding tips and rosebud tips are good. They fit certain models of Victor torches and work as well as any other.
The welding goggles for oxyfuel are good. They are just those standard green rubber goggles with shade 5 green lenses. Hard to screw up.
Their welding gloves are fine. They do t fall apart and are sufficiently thick that you don't get burned.
Their "split leather work gloves with cotton back" in the 5 pack are good. They are the same ones you see every where from walmart to tractor supply. Just for a lower price.
Their nitrile gloves are good. I've never had an issue with them. I probably wouldn't order them for a lab working with highly toxic substances. (And by highly toxic I mean things where a very small amount will kill you). I have no evidence they are not the same as any other nitrile glove, but I'd just order Ansel because I know I can trust them to be exactly what they are supposed to. Some cheap brands claim to be thicker than they really are.
That being said, the harbor freight ones work fine for anything else. Like keeping paint thinner or paint or grease off your hands. Buy whatever glove feels thick enough for your application. I particularly like the 9mil ones. They are a bit inconsistent on thickness varying between 7 and 9 mild, but work well and are more durable than the thin ones.
The small 2" C clamps are good. Ive never broken one. I do t think a clamp that size really generates enough force to break itself unless you use a pair of vice grips to overt tighten it. Even after I've overheated then with a torch.
Their exactly style knives are junk. The blades so t hold an edge and the handles won't hold a blade.
Hope the store made it.
www.harborfreight.com
