Tools and accessories to buy from HF

nailshooter41 · 2013-02-15T10:06:58+00:00

There are certain circumstances that I have found HF to be quite handy. For years I sneered at their quality, the origin of their tools, and the lack of support for their products. What a difference a few years make. Now nearly every tool I see anywhere is made in China, or from sourced parts from there so I am buying Chinese whether I like it or not. I thought it would be fun to see what TO buy, and what NOT to buy from everyone based on personal experience. Not a Googled experience, but hands on. So, here's few from me on the "buy list". Their multitool kicks ass. I have absolutely used the snot out of mine for about three years now, and it is still a very stout machine that works as well as it did when I bought it. I have found the blades to be >nearly< the quality of the Fein blades, which was a shocker. I have bought them and given them away as gifts and all the owners have had the same experience as mine. Their 4 1/2" grinder. This tool was bought as an emergency to replace a Bosch grind that crapped out on the job. This one can't be killed. I have had it for about 6-8 years now, and use it to grind metal for finishing, grind off bolts and screws on burglar bars when painting, and use the masonry blades on it to cut bricks, pavers, stone, and to inlet flashings into masonry chimneys. Paid $13 for this tool. Halogen light bulbs for my stand lights. Everywhere else, these bulbs are 6 - 10 bucks each. When they have a door buster, I buy them for 99 cents. Last better in the lamps than the more expensive offerings. Foam sanding blocks. These are $6 for ten, not one for $6. They have worked every bit as well as the 3M offerings for me, and now I only use them when I need a foam block to conform to an irregular shape. I used these by the bucket when I was doing a lot of refinishing. Nitrile gloves. You can get 100 5 mil gloves for what you pay for a set or two from the paint store. I use 3 mil, 5 mil, and for using caustic materials (like MEK,...

Feb 15, 2013 84 Replies

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Bruce 13 years ago

On Sun, 17 Feb 2013 16:34:53 -0700, woodchucker wrote (in article ):

I bought the $49 (sale price) unit from Northern. Thin, flimsy plastic body but it's nice and light weight (and ooh so comfy and secure head band). Tint control covers a wide range and it has an adjustable return-to-clear timer so the afterglow won't zorch you. After years of using the heavy, narrow slit standard helmet, I'll never go back.

Nothing is more frustrating than trying to mig weld some steel. I can't count how many times I've placed the torch, dropped the helmet down, made a nice clean bead, only to then lift the helmet and see that I missed the seam by

1/4".

Looking at the various auto-dark helmets in the sub $100 range, they all seem to use the same lens/electronics. What varies is the thickness of the plastic. If you are not going to be pelted by falling bricks while welding, the cheap sets are ideal.

-Bruce

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Leon 13 years ago

I have one of those. What's the problem?

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woodchucker 13 years ago

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-MIKE- 13 years ago

They offer a 100% satisfaction guaranty. That's very subjective and leaves a lot of room for interpretation. I have returned my fare share of things to HF. Some where simply crap and no one would ever question it. Others fell somewhere under that 100% satisfaction cap.

I have a conscience and my integrity is worth more than many people's, which I bet is the same for most in this group. There have been times when I've had to wrestle a bit with returning something that I used and it accomplished the job, but for which I wasn't 100% satisfied. One parameter I use when deciding, is will I likely buy this tool again, somewhere, to use again. Meaning, was this really just a "free rental plan" for me or was this I tool I actually intend to keep and use? Even if not in the near future.

One such instance was with their bridge tile saw. I bought it and used it for our bathroom(s) remodel. It workd and did the job, but I wasn't

100% satisfied with it, by any stretch. Its miter fence is plastic and very difficult to adjust. Its table leaks water too easily and should have a better gutter system. According to their rules, not mine, it would've been completely and ethically fine for me to return that saw. But not according to my rules and my conscience.

In those cases and in cases where I know I'm using a tool for a specific job that I'm likely not wanting to keep, I will buy the tool, use it for the job, and sell the thing on craigslist.

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Mike M 13 years ago

Thanks, I just happen to have to pass in the area of a HF today so I will pick one up. That one seems to be the one with the best reviews and at that price I don't have much to loose.

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