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Posted: 3/29/2009 1:46:34 PM EDT
[#1]
disposable stuff. everything there is disposable.
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Posted: 3/29/2009 1:47:19 PM EDT
[#2]
Junk from China.
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Posted: 3/29/2009 1:47:44 PM EDT
[#3]
HB is for cheap and now when you want to get it done and you're not looking very far into the future.
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Posted: 3/29/2009 1:48:04 PM EDT
[#4]
Stuff I will only need to use once and can't justify buying a $100 item to do the job and I can't find someone with one to borrow either.
Good starter stuff for kids too since the will lose most of it before they are old enough to have good tools. |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 1:48:13 PM EDT
[#5]
I buy lots of stuff from there. Hammers, wrenches, etc. I've never had a problem. I used to shop at Northern Tool, but Harbor Freight has much better deals on stuff.
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Posted: 3/29/2009 1:48:23 PM EDT
[#6]
The small high speed cut off saw is great for making your own carbon arrow saw. Everything else there you can expect to use one time. Any use after that consider it a blessing.
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Posted: 3/29/2009 1:48:28 PM EDT
[#7]
Quoted:
disposable stuff. everything there is disposable. This. |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 1:48:36 PM EDT
[#8]
I think they had a halfway decent shop press that was cheap and good enough to build AKs from kits.
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Posted: 3/29/2009 1:49:08 PM EDT
[#9]
Their for people to buy stuff and resale for profit at the fleamarkets.
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Posted: 3/29/2009 1:49:41 PM EDT
[#10]
Quoted:
disposable stuff. everything there is disposable. Exactly. The stuff they sell isn't exactly what you'd be handing down to your kids. When I wanted to DuraCoat a rifle stock last year and knew the chemicals would be hard on the airbrush, I went to HF and bought a $7 single action airbrush for that usage alone. Worked great, chucked it when I was done. |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 1:49:51 PM EDT
[#11]
I bought a set of small screwdrivers from there recently.
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Posted: 3/29/2009 1:52:07 PM EDT
[#12]
Quoted: disposable stuff. everything there is disposable. +1. I was doing a brick paver project, and it was going to cost me $35 per day to rent a wet saw from the local rental center. I sure as heck wasn't going to drop $600+ on a quality unit, so I ordered up a Harbor Freight (Chicago Electric brand, I think) for ~$200 or $250. I have used the shit out of that thing for brick pavers, tile, lending it to relatives... Probably more things that I can't remember now. It's paid for itself a dozen times, and I didn't have to put myself under time pressure for any projects I was doing. It could have died after the first project and it wouldn't have been any skin off my nose. But, it's still going strong, so... |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 1:53:57 PM EDT
[#13]
Quoted:
Stuff I will only need to use once and can't justify buying a $100 item to do the job and I can't find someone with one to borrow either. Good starter stuff for kids too since the will lose most of it before they are old enough to have good tools. yep. tools that I will only need a few times and can replace if needed. |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 1:55:52 PM EDT
[#14]
you can't beat a $20 sawsall for cutting out a tree stump in town. Still ran after finishing too - bonus
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Posted: 3/29/2009 1:56:22 PM EDT
[#15]
I bought my MityVac there. Still works. Made in USA.
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Posted: 3/29/2009 1:58:46 PM EDT
[#16]
When I was making considerably less money I bought a surface grinder a small drill press and a 7x10 mini lathe from Harbor Freight. All needed minor tuning but they have served me well for over 10 years. I tend to stay away from their hand tools though.
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:02:04 PM EDT
[#17]
I shop there alot and most of the things I got are still in use of lived a long rough life.
The few times I had stuff break they stood behind it 100% which is something Sears will not do. I know someone who only buys tools there, he works in the ghetto and around alot of mexicans so his tools always seem to walk off. Better to have someone steal a $5 item then a $20 one |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:03:20 PM EDT
[#18]
I usually buy their shit when I need a huge wrench and don't want to spend $100 on it, so I buy an entire set for $40. If it gets me through on job, it paid for itself. If I get two, bonus!
I have one of their mill/drills and its a hell of a nice piece of equipment. It has served me well for over 15 years. My buddy has the 7x10 lathe and its been beat to shit for over 14 years without a complaint. We plumb wore it out and will be rebuilding it in the next couple of months. I like their hammers and cheap crap I don't need to last long. |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:03:47 PM EDT
[#19]
I have the small arbor press.
I needed it to press the bearings on my new cams. It was either spend $40 to have someone do it and hope they did it right or spemd $110, do it myself and have a tool for something else later. |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:03:51 PM EDT
[#20]
i used to do spray in bed liners and we had a harbor freight angle grinder fitted with a plastic cup wheel brush that we used to scuff up the bed. i used that thing 2-3 times a day in a really dusty nasty environment. i thought for sure that thing would crap out after a few weeks but it lasted 5 months of my hard abuse. the trigger broke and thats why it took a shit.
the boss took it back and replaced it under the lifetime warranty he purchased with it. i own a few random power tools from HF that i purchased to do a single job. it was cheaper for me to do that than go out and buy the more expensive tool. other than that all my other tools are craftsman, snapon, matco etc. |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:04:56 PM EDT
[#21]
Air tools which get complaints from everybody else in the shop?
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:05:46 PM EDT
[#22]
I have used the crap out of some of their tools. Angle grinders, belt sanders, hand tools, etc.
Not everything needs to be a $200 tool to get the job done. Hell even built my house with HF air nailers. |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:07:23 PM EDT
[#23]
I bought a sandblast cabinet there about six years ago. still standing after an ungodly number of uses. Not the place to buy tools you would want to make a career with though.
Chain, tarps, drop cloths, grinder wheels, and other consumables can be had a a good price there. |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:08:06 PM EDT
[#24]
I actually had a stocked HF toolbox when I worked on cars. There was no way in hell I was leaving my Snap-On stuff at work.
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:08:45 PM EDT
[#25]
I have been a tool snob for years, and only buy HF stuff for "once a year use". If you are not a full time mechanic, the $6 ring compressor beats a $60 Snap on. The occasional use impact wrench, odd ball sockets, etc.
If you are making a living with your tools... spend the $ For hobbies, HF is fine. |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:08:45 PM EDT
[#26]
Quoted:
Stuff I will only need to use once and can't justify buying a $100 item to do the job and I can't find someone with one to borrow either. Good starter stuff for kids too since the will lose most of it before they are old enough to have good tools. Exactly. |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:09:33 PM EDT
[#27]
I bought one of thier leaf vac/mulchers, I used it like a $2 whore. Cleared the entire 1 acre yard for 2 years, it sucked up sticks, hickorynuts and all kinds of other stuff, finally it died when it sucked up saftey glass, I had the $10 replacement plan so I took it in, since they stopped making it I got back my purchase price and replacement plan money.
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:11:15 PM EDT
[#28]
single use or seldom used tools.
Pipe wrenches, extra "pliers with a vise like grip", faucet wrench ––- I am not a plumber Wire strippers and ratch crimpers –– I am not an electronic tech Cheap assortments of parts like hose clamps, O-rings, terminals, –– I am not a radiator mechanic tools that maybe be lost or stolen, or extra tools that are inconvient to get to and use –– In the trunk of the car tools –– I have a box of good tools depending on what you are doing, power tool consumables (sawsall blades, hack saw blades, cut off wheels, grinder wheels, abrasives) –– for my uses, I cant tell the different in performance or how long they last - one job is what I probably all I need They actually do have a good selection of tarp rigging gear (some cheap some name brand) and the cheap tarps to go with them Utility trailers to build a tear drop trailer on –– damn I want one of those Cheap Chinese Junk has it's place at least for me |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:12:03 PM EDT
[#29]
mechanix gloves 9$...
sides that basic odd's and end,, lil hand tools here or there. I stay away from tehir power tools etc. They have deals if you look, but power tools and air tools aint them... |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:12:33 PM EDT
[#30]
Quoted:
disposable stuff. everything there is disposable. I get 36 2in brushes there for fiber glassing for only 10 dollars. I also get gloves, and and cheap hvlp gun for gel coating molds. so yeah disposable stuff at very low prices. You can also get cheap tools that you'll probably only use once. |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:12:43 PM EDT
[#31]
franken tools that I wont need that often. and I am a poorfessional tech. that uses mostly snapon.
yes I did spell professional correctly. |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:12:55 PM EDT
[#32]
There is some cool shit in HF, like cheap solar panels...
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:19:36 PM EDT
[#33]
Handtools, wrenches, screwdrivers, punches, tape measures and stuff like that. I have some of their digital and dial calipers. Their OK for reloading and other measuring around the house. I check them against a standard once in a while. They're still accurate and repeatable. I wouldn't use them at a real machine shop though. For real important measuring, I use my Mitutoyo dial calipers. I have one of their big honkin' bench vises for working on AR's. Just as good as anything out there. I wouldn't trust their power tools though. |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:20:55 PM EDT
[#34]
Their big US General toolboxes are VERY well built for the money. They get high reviews over on the Garage Forum where most guys praise Snap-On and other top shelf brands. I got one when the pieces were on sale and used a 20% OFF coupon I found on the web - got the top and bottom both for $522 OTD. I have been 100% happy with them. ........... which reminds me........ I still need to sell the Craftsman top box that I had bought before these.
HF US General toolbox ...... |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:22:04 PM EDT
[#35]
I have bought quite a bit of stuff at Harbor Freight. Most of it works pretty well.
The "disposable" angle grinders. I bought several of them, each has a specific wheel on it (cut off, flap, grinding). I have beat these things like rented mules. None have failed so far. Inexpensive giant jackstands for lifted trucks work well, have held up better then my craftsman ones. Spot welder hasn't failed yet (the slide hammer fell apart). Single use specialty tools (oddball vice grips, large gauge wire crimpers). Disposable latex gloves, foam brushes, wire brushes. The stuff that has sucked. Solar shed light lasted a month. Driveway alert thing is garbage, the cross slide vice for my drill press is sloppy as hell. Any of the abrasives that they sell. I refuse to use their cut off wheels after one flew apart for no apparent reason and almost took my head off. The assortment of coil springs seem to be nothing more then solder twisted into a coil. Oddly, the Craftsman drill press that I have looks IDENTICAL to a Harbor Freight model, but is about $75 cheaper. Probably made in the same factory. Sadly, almost everything is cheap chinese junk these days, even the big $ stuff sold at name brand stores. I have a Onan/Cummins genset that is $100% built in China  (didn't know that when I bought it).
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:22:44 PM EDT
[#36]
Was buying waste water pumps from there for 200 bucks a pop, they ran great, still running, and they were used for vegetable oil, not water. The chigago electic winches they sell there finished 3rd in the "winches in hell" contest, only 3 winches finished the contest, warn, superwinch, and the cheap Chicago electric
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:23:03 PM EDT
[#37]
For us here on ARFcom, they are one of the few places I can find WD-40 in gallon cans!
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:23:22 PM EDT
[#38]
I have their 4 1/2" angle grinder. I've been beating the shit out of it for three years now.
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:23:24 PM EDT
[#39]
As people said, tools. I have there cheap wrench set I keep in my my truck for "just in case" if something happens to them, no biggy
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:25:18 PM EDT
[#40]
I bought a "disposable" pneumatic finish brad nailer for a project five years ago. That fucker is still humming right along. It was $24 with 5,000 nails and a replacement striker.
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:27:50 PM EDT
[#41]
My arbor press from there has served me well. The drill press has been so-so. But it was cheap.
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:28:12 PM EDT
[#42]
Quoted:
I buy lots of stuff from there. Hammers, wrenches, etc. I've never had a problem. I used to shop at Northern Tool, but Harbor Freight has much better deals on stuff. this |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:28:25 PM EDT
[#43]
I have one of their flux core Mig welders that I've been real happy with.
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:33:29 PM EDT
[#44]
Wait for the cheap hvlp paint guns to go on sale for $10 so when I do some painting and get done I canthrow the whole thing away.
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:34:06 PM EDT
[#45]
Sorry to say it but Crftsman tools are all made in China now anyways sooo...
If I can buy something of similar quality, with a lifetime warranty, for half the price. I will buy it from HF. Of all the stuff that I bought from there, the only thing to crap out on me so far was my heat gun after using it for almost 8 hours straight. Took it back and walked out with a new one. I will also say that a few things have been nearly identical to stuff sold at Lowes and Home Depot AND SEARS. FOR A LOT MORE. A few things I have bought; Heavy duty drill press and X-Y Vise 20 ton Shop press Spot Welder Sand Blasting Cabinet and spot blaster Ratchet wrenches Welding triangles Sawz All Rt. Algle Grinder C Clamps Spring Clamps Heat Guns Drill Bits Tap and Die sets Digital Calipers File Sets Socket Allen and Torx Bits Allen Wrenches Dozens of air hose fittings, filters Several $5 Air Brushes I could go on but why bother. Point is, If I had bought all of that at Sears or Lowes it would have cost 2-3 times as much and everything has worked and in the one instance it didn't, it was replaced, no questions asked. AND the Best part, the money I saved allowed me to buy other things, like guns and ammo. |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:37:41 PM EDT
[#46]
I buy them for throw away tools.
After I finish a job and do not want anyone to find out about it. I toss the tools in the river. |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:39:14 PM EDT
[#47]
ive been looking at one of thier winches hor a while..
they are cheap compared to the others .. cheap enough that even if it sucks.. its still ok . |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:40:14 PM EDT
[#48]
Quoted: I buy them for throw away tools. After I finish a job and do not want anyone to find out about it. I toss the tools in the river. I don't have to go to HF. I just go down to the river.  |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:41:58 PM EDT
[#49]
Quoted:
I wonder who actually buys their power tools and stuff? Most of it looks highly suspect. The only thing I've ever bought there is some canvas drop clothes and some obscure hand tools for one-off jobs around the house. Good for a bad example. Air gun - used it like 3 x - trash can. |
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Posted: 3/29/2009 2:45:18 PM EDT
[#50]
I like my HF spotwelder, boltcutters, press for AK building, they work fine. I also have a cherry picker, portapower, floorjack, and drill press that have never given me any problems
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