What specific tools are GOOD to buy at Harbor Freight?

While there are lots of tools that are bad to buy at HF, this thread only asks for the GOOD tools to buy.

The reason I ask is that whenever I go to Harbor Freight nowadays, I already have all of what I consider to be the good tools.

Hence I'm only asking from you what tools you think are GOOD. (Please don't list bad tools since I want to look only at GOOD ones). (Also, if you feel like saying "none", please don't - as it's not funny even if you might think that's a hilarious joke. It's childish.)

What specific tools are GOOD to buy at Harbor Freight?

Reply to
Arlen Holder
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The ones you actually need for occasional, light duty use, almost everything they have is good for at least that. Some of it, eg socket extensions, breaker bar, are perfectly fine and perform just like Craftsman would. Other things, like a reciprocating saw, most electrical things with motors, are probably OK for light, occasional use, but are flimsy and I would not expect to last as long as DeWalt, but then they cost a third of the price. It's the perfect place to buy something that you need for a special job but probably won't need again for 5 years, if ever. The only thing I bought there that was totally unusable were a pair of snap ring pliers. The tips were such soft metal that instead of expanding the snap ring, they just bent. I took them back and got my money back.

Reply to
trader_4

So, why are you going to HF at all, then???

...

They aren't tools, per se, but the tool cabinets are quite a good buy when on special coupon price.

Other than that as Trader says, use 'em for the specialty tool for a specific job that need the precise tool for that otherwise don't have and _probably_ will be satisfied other than, the specific example that if it needs to be of primo quality to meet that function, likely "not so much". The example of snap ring pliers is a perfect one that they only work for anything other than the most minimal of applications if they are of high quality steel and that's where most HF stuff cuts corners to get the cost down -- if they're hard, likely they're so brittle they'll snap or chip (many drill bits suffer from this defect); if they aren't hard enough they'll bend. It's a crap shoot...

Another that seem to do pretty well for homeowner use are the compressors; they seem about as reliable as the box store low-end Campbell-Hausfeld class and the like.

Reply to
dpb

Depends on your use. If you are a tradesman using tools every day, there are few good ones. If you are a homeowner using a tool one for a specific job, most of their tools will get the job done at reasonable cost.

I use their air fittings, ceramic knives, a multi-tool. I have a set of very long socket extensions that did the job at hand and have not been used since.

Reply to
Ed Pawlowski

On Wed, 12 Sep 2018 07:45:48 -0700 (PDT), trader_4 wrote

Agree.

Any tool that you need sporadically is good to buy at Harbor Freight.

An example is their bench grinder. Their drill press. Their water pumps. Their socket extensions. Their jack stands. Maybe their floor jacks. Tire changing tools like patch kits and tire irons are also good. ATV stand is good. Rubber gloves are good. Long power strips are good.

The toolbox sets are especially good for car trunk emergency kits.

Reply to
George P

If they offer more than one price/grade, never buy the cheapest. I bought the cheap 18 ga brad nailer, thinking I would only use it a few times. I couldn't even use it once. It constantly jammed. I took it back and traded up to the "better" one and it has been OK but it is still not a Bostitch. I had the same experience with the reciprocating saw Trader mentioned. OTOH the 2 pound hammer has worked flawlessly.

Reply to
gfretwell

The best policy is this.

NEVER ENTER A HARBOR FREIGHT STORE!!!!

Reply to
Bud

Probably best advice. If you want a cheap tool that might only need a single use where it could pay for itself you could do that but if it needs to be reliable, stay away. Not all junk but definitely a crap shoot.

Reply to
Frank

Go to their website and read the customer feedback for that specific tool. For bigger items you can usually find Youtube reviews.

Reply to
Davej

My son is a heavy truck suspension mechanic. He buys a lot HF tools. Their Pittsburgh sockets, wrenches are good. And a HF $20 prybar when a Snap-On cost $130 is a no-brainer. I've got a few HF tools. The tip of that center punch dpb mentioned is too soft or the spring too weak, but I've got my money's worth from it. The only electric tool I've bought there is a multitool. It's paid for itself. Meaning to buy a cheap angle grinder and wire wheel to go after the old paint on my iron porch rails.

Reply to
Vic Smith

   Blanket statements are usually wrong ... I bought a welding helmet there a few years ago , it worked well for everything but some low-amperage TIG welding - and it isn't really rated for TIG - until the day it wouldn't darken . So I bought a better one there , a Vulcan branded unit that IS rated for TIG , and cost about triple the original one . Flawless , and it compares favorably with offerings from Miller, Lincoln , etc but at about half the price . That helmet gets used at least 3-5 times a month - not much for a "real weldor" but a good bit more than the usual hobbyist . BTW , I left the old one out in the sun for a few days and it started working again , so I've been using it for MIG/stick welding and reserving the "good one" for TIG .
Reply to
Terry Coombs

I have 9 of their angle grinders. 9 of them cost less than 1 name brand version. I keep a different disc on each one. Yes, they are noisier and more vibration. But for sharpening lawn mower blades, e.g , twice a year, who cares.

Reply to
Ivan Vegvary

I have pool pumps which are actually pond pumps, which work well. Also I have the bench grinder, which, for $40 on sale, was a good deal.

Reply to
Arlen Holder

I have the HF jack stands. What do you think is wrong with them?

Reply to
Arlen Holder

That's the kind of childishly stupid advice I was not looking for.

If you never work on your car or home or land, then, sure, you don't need anything at HF.

But if you actually do stuff, then you need tools.

For example, if you change a clutch, you'll need a transmission jack. If you rotate wheels, you'll need jack stands. If you change and balance tires, you'll need the tools. If you drain your pool, you'll need pumps.

Where does " snipped-for-privacy@Weiser.com" buy the tools to do that?

HINT: From his childish response, it's easy to tell he doesn't actually do anything like that - so he can only say stupid things because he doesn't actually do anything. And he thinks his jokes are funny, even though every fifth grader already beat him to his jokes long ago.

Reply to
Arlen Holder

The fewer moving parts, the better... I've had good luck with their wrenches. I have a lot of redundancy since I like to have a tool kit in each vehicle. Particularly for the bikes, I can put together a comprehensive kit for about $50. If it gets ripped off, I won't cry myself to sleep.

electric impact wrench: I bought it for a specific job but it's come in handy several times and hasn't failed yet.

floor jack: on its maiden voyage the rivet holding the saddle let go. I replaced it with a bolt and it works.

pancake oiless compressor: The pot-metal regulator blew out and the threads were so crappy I couldn't salvage it. I didn't need regulator so I replumbed it. It's small enough to carry around when I'm checking tire pressures on the fleet. (3 bikes, pickup, and a car)

accessories for above: the air chuck sucked and couldn't be salvaged. The hose and the quick release fittings were okay.

small machinists vice: that was the only thing I've returned as being completely useless.

hot air plastic welder: it blows hot air. I'm not going to say it works, but that's on me. The supplied filler material isn't compatible with any plastic I've tried to weld.

8 hole hook and loop 150 grit disks: they worked. Not particularly cheap.

tarps, bungees, and so forth: I don't expect forever but they seem to hold up as well as most.

chain breaker: it works

magnetic parts tray: that would be hard to screw up

There probably are some things I'm forgetting. There is a brick and mortar store that I can walk to during lunch. Being able to fondle the stuff rather than winging it from the catalog helps.

Reply to
rbowman

An easy one is their work gloves. They cost about a fifth of what you'd pay at HD or Lowes, and they have a wider variety to choose from. You basically get 5 pair for the price of one pair. Their "blue nitrile" gloves are handy too. I bought one of their tool carts for $99 that was at least $20 less than what looked like exactly the same thing at HD. I like one style of their bar clamps (for woodworking). I also bought one of their reciprocating saws, as I never had one before. I've only given it light use, but it still works after going through about 20 blades. If it dies I'll probably upgrade to a heavier duty version at surely more money, as I learned I like the tool.

Bill

Reply to
Bill

I've had mixed success with the nitrile gloves. They are okay for light jobs like wiping on polyurethane.

Reply to
rbowman

I like the white tig welders gloves for yard work.

I don't like the brown gas welders gloves as the leather is too thin.

The black "nitrile?" gloves are also nice.

Reply to
Arlen Holder

Probably nothing but I might be reluctant to crawl under a car supported by something from Harbor Freight.

Reply to
Frank

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