Harbor Freight tools thread.

Mostly what I pay for at HF is all I need, as I'm not a professional mechanic and don't rely on these tools to make a living. My neighbor even knows a mechanic that uses HF tools and if and when they break, he just returns them and buys another.

 

Lifetime warranty on hand tools.

 

I think my neighbor said his mechanic friend just throws them away and buys another, unless they have a lifetime warranty like the hand tools do.

 

Bought a cheap saw-zall there around 10 years ago. After 4 years of use I bought a better model to replace it... figured it's only a matter of time before it goes tits up. The new one's still in the box and never been opened. The original cheap pos won't die!!

 

Ah yes, manufactured with the finest Chineseium.

 

No experience with the silver one but mine was the large blue one I got maybe 4 months ago

 

I wouldn't trust their angle grinders, power saws, cut-off discs (basically anything that can break apart and launch at you). Otherwise everything is great. I've met professional mechanics who use HF tools at home and SnapOn at work. I've never broken a tool from them, besides a 50 cent plastic wire brush. Their breaker bar is one of the best purchases I've ever made. I refinished a whole truck tool-box with their orbital sander. I bought a pneumatic DA sander for the job, but returned it when my dinky little 12 gallon compressor would run it for 5 seconds. Even my neighbor's huge 60 gal air compressor didn't run it very well. It's like you need air stronger than a category 5 hurricane to power the damn thing.

I ended up paying more in tools and paint than a what new toolbox costs.
PRO TIP: Don't buy actual Toyota #204 professional automotive paint and clear coat from a paint shop to refinish a damn toolbox. I could have achieved the same results with a $2 rattle can from Wal-Mart.

 

I bought their 3-gallon oilless pancake air compressor for $29.99, with a super coupon and it's still amazes me the different uses I find for it. What I enjoy the most about it is it's compact take it anywhere design and the handy compartment on top to store thing in too. Here:

 

Yeah, my neighbor ended up buying me one because how hard I was using his old Milwaukee Sawzall that I borrowed and it's nice to have an inexpensive tool that performs like the more expensive ones.

 

I had one of their angle grinders, first time I went to change the disc, the lock snapped off. Got pissed and used a sledge I got from there to dismantle it. Recip saw has been going strong for 5 years, caught fire a couple times, but keeps working.

 

Another item I use all the time and have gone through many pairs is their neoprene gloves and most of the time they are 40% off here: I have almost used up a box of 100 nitrile gloves and always seem to be reaching in to grab a pair when I'm working on most things and they are so inexpensive that it's one use then discarded. here:

 

I've been wanting a parts washer for a while. The reviews on the HF parts washer pumps are kinda bad, but buying a better pump somewhere else might still make it a good value. I would not trust anything in an engine to a HF torque wrench.

 

I wont buy anything pneumatic or electric from HF. They break in a day. I only buy hand tools and thats rare.

 

I use their metal cutting circular saw & blades for cutting 1/8" steel. Works great. Much better cuts than trying to use a jig saw.

 

Their aluminum racing style jacks are pretty good to have around the garage. I have the smaller 1.5 ton and the 2 ton. Catch them on sale and add the 20% off coupon.

 

I have bought quite a few tools and odds and ends from HF. Mostly have been worthwhile. A couple of days ago I bought a sawdust bag to hang under my table saw. For the price, it was an ok deal, but the snaps on the bag are attached randomly, so care is needed in measurements for installing the mating parts on the saw stand. The male snaps screw into the stand--one of them twisted off in the hole I drilled. edit--updated in another post 12/15

A 7-function voltmeter, a freebie, did not work when I got it home. Would not recommend that.

They sell a torque multiplier. Got one for SWMBO so she could remove the lug nuts on her car. Works great--just gotta remember to turn it the wrong direction.

 

Has anyone ever tried their winches?

 

I bought this automatic 12v battery charger and seems to work fine and the price was only $4.99, so how can you beat that. Here: I was told this is the one I should of bought. Here: Does anyone have any experience with the deluxe battery maintainer and float charger and would it be worth the extra money?

 

The moving blankets are pretty much a one time use, or at least some of them are. I had one I was keeping in the plastic for future use and it was falling apart before I got it out. I've got another in my backyard getting rained on and blasted with the sun all day and it's still useable.

The tube notcher is badass.
The brake bleeder works good, but mine leaks.
The Chicago welding cart is awesome(not the el cheapo $30 one)
The electric fly swatter is by far the best deal.

I won't use their bits anymore after an impact got stuck in my gun. The metal is a mixture of bubble gum, rice and Ching Chong metallic substances.

 

I have had good luck with these meters, but did learn not to wrap the meter leads around the body, as they tend to snap off, but what do you want quality wise when they are free.

I guess the saying, "you get what you pay for" applies here.