Harbor Freight coming to a location near me

[Jon Danniken]

I have a store a couple of miles from me, and I've gotten a lot of things from there. Metalworking bandsaw, abrasive cut-off saw, and a sliding miter saw. I bought a ground clamp for my welder from them, as well as a few different sets of drill bits, one of which I use for metalworking.

Other things, too, like casters, LED lights for my trailer, pneumatic fittings, safety equipment, a 1lb propane tank filler, a heat gun, abrasive disks, various clamps, and about 10 multimeters of various types and prices.

Mind you, these are things I bought in the store, so I could check the quality, and, for things like the clamps, grade them before they came home with me.

There are a lot of things I wouldn't consider buying at HF, but of the things I have bought from HF, I have been very pleased; they have all suited my (non-commercial) needs well, and saved me a sizeable chunk of money over what is generally the same cheap China crap that a big box sells.

Jon

[Jon Danniken]

Yeah, those are utter crap. I got one free with a purchase, and it failed before it left the store. It's replacement has fared better, but it's no replacement for a Pony or Bessey.

Jon

[homeowner]

Then you just wasted your money and made China richer. If you only need a tool once, borrow or rent it. If you want to use it again, buy a QUALITY tool. You can always sell it later if needed, on ebay.

Everything I bought at HF has been cheap junk. I dont want to be working on my car and smash my hand because a cheap HF tool broke. Then again, I buy tools to use over and over. I might not always get the top of the line tools, but I sure dont want the bottom of the line crap sold at HF. Black&Decker is normally lower quality tools, but they are 100 times better than that no-branded HF garbage.

By the way, I do have one multimeter that I bought at HF for around $7. I've had it for 3 years and it still works..... Miracles do happen..... Then again, it normally only gets used on 12v auto voltage and an occasional 120vac. Plus, I always make sure to set the proper settings and not abuse it.... That's the ONLY HF tool that has lasted for me. All the others are now in some landfill.

[DerbyDad03]

HF sells more than tools. They sell zip ties, dollies, sand paper, gloves, rope, moving blankets, and hundreds of other non-powered items.

They sell many of these items much cheaper than a lot of other places and the quality is as good as it needs to be for these type of items.

And let's not forget our favorite HF item, the $2.50 electronic fly swatter.

[krw]

Just drove over to one today (20mi, or so). I walked out with zip ties. They do have some stuff worth owning but not much. I was looking at one of their tool cabinets. It wasn't too bad for the price.

Some other stuff is good. I have their 10" SCMS, which is good enough for framing and I don't care if it gets wet. ;-) I also have one of their wet saws that is perfectly adequate and about 1/4 the price of anything the box stores sell.

[DerbyDad03]

I've bought a few of their plastic tool boxes to store some of my power tools that didn't come with a case, like my DeWalt angle grinder. Keeps everything together for a pretty decent price.

I will admit to owning a HF 1/2" hammer drill. I was resurfacing my garage floor and wanted to make sure I didn't burn out my "good" corded drill mid-job while mixing the resurfacing material. I spent something like $35 on the drill and not only did it make it through the concrete mixing, but I used it to drill about a gazillion holes in the block wall to fasten the wire mesh for parging.

I also have a 10? benchtop disc sander, something that doesn't get a lot of work, but does what I need it to do when I use it.

And of course, there's the ever faithful multifunction tool.

[krw]

Clamps are one place not to scrimp. It's a RPITA when you have glue all over everything and the clamp breaks, sending glue all over everything. Yes, I've had many HF clamps break. No more. They've been replaced by Besseys and Irwins.

[HeyBub]

Yep. And at $16.99 it makes a dandy Christmas gift.

For yourself, if necessary.

[Benedict Arnold]

The US has a record-high trade deficit with China. We are in serious trouble. You can blame the Republicans or Democrats if you like but the real blame goes to the consumer.

Anyone that continues to contribute to the China trade deficit when they have other purchasing options, should be convicted of treason and then executed.

And no, I'm not trolling! I'm serious as a heart attack!

[Smitty Two]

There's light at the end of the tunnel. Manufacturing is beginning to move back to U.S. soil.

[Jim Elbrecht]

Damn- I paid $20 for the two I bought for gifts. They will come with the caveat that there are more expensive, better balanced ones out there-- but if you want to see how handy they are, this is the best *I'm* going to do. And if you're doing a disgustingly gritty and dusty job-- leave your Fein in the box and let your HF Twitchin' tool take the abuse.

Jim

[dennisgauge]

Yup, and there ain't a damn thing we can do about it. Ever tried to herd ca= ts? American consumers are looking for ONE thing: Cheapest price.

Even if the Made in USA product is only $1 more, they will buy the China pr= oduct because it is cheaper. Gotta save money. Bad economy, you know...

What we're doing over there is turning the Chinese people into a bunch of f= at, lazy, greedy capitalists just like us. They're getting a little walkin'= around money, and they're going to want more. They're gonna get wind that = they're being paid jack for slave labor, and they're going to want more.=20

We've already seen indications in the iPhone factory riot. We're already se= eing manufacturing moving back here due to incessant quality issues.

Right-wing wacko nutjobs think the only way to stop Communism is to march i= n there with guns blazing. We beat the USSR by simply out-spending them. We= will beat China by buying them with their own money.

[gonjah]

American consumers are looking for ONE thing: Cheapest price.

product because it is cheaper. Gotta save money. Bad economy, you know...

lazy, greedy capitalists just like us. They're getting a little walkin' around money, and they're going to want more. They're gonna get wind that they're being paid jack for slave labor, and they're going to want more.

seeing manufacturing moving back here due to incessant quality issues.

there with guns blazing. We beat the USSR by simply out-spending them. We will beat China by buying them with their own money.

After the Apocalypses on Saturday it won't matter anyway.

[DerbyDad03]

SWMBO is buying me an upgrade for Christmas. The variable speed model is on sale for $33.99. With the 20% off coupon, that's $27.19.

My son is getting a used single speed model for Christmas. I win twice

- A free upgrade for me and I don't have to spend anything on a gift for my son. ;-)

[Ed Pawlowski]

You are sort of right about the consumer. Unfortunately, there are few options at times. Have you tried to buy a toaster not made in China? You can't. I'm not sure if even the $250 Dualit is still made in England. I spent nearly $300 for a coffee maker made in Norway, everything else is China.

[gregz]

It all started when us companies didn't want to deal with exporting, and making stuff to others specs.

Couple years ago I bought a harbor freight axe. German blade, American handle, and I don't think it was assembled in china.

Greg

[HeyBub]

1. And China has a trade deficit with India and India has a trade deficit with the U.S. It averages out.
2. Now you tell me, which of these products would you rather have:

A. 33-Piece Security Bit Set, $5.99, from Harbor Freight

or

B. 33-Piece Security Bit Set, $9.79, from Parts Express

or, maybe

C. Titan/33 Piece Security Bit Set, $7.99, from Autozone

[Ike]

I find the HF clamps are more than capable of enough pressure to secure a wood joint without squeezing all the glue out of the joint while it dries. The rubber pads and light weight bars should be your first clue they are not meant to squeeze the crap out of something. That's what cast iron pipe clamps and C-clamps are for. Learn to choose the right tool for the job.

Everyone appreciates a quality tool. If you have unlimited cash to buy the tool that gives you bragging rights then by all means buy the very best, expense be damned.

I find HF tools more than adequate for the jobs I do around my house. The cost difference between the bragging rights brand and the HF brand is enough to make the difference between having the right tool for the job or not and knowing the difference.