Garage Shop: Tools

this part makes sense

 

True statement however I do not recommend anything from HF.

 

based on what? There’s been pretty extensive reviews and feedback that they are just as good if not better than the average box. Have you had an issue with one?

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=153445

 

where in sparks are ya? i used to be near the raleys up near redhawk lol

 

Thats the very reason I love Costco, milk is $1 cheaper per gallon then at the normal grocery store. I buy at least 1 gallon a week which pays for the yearly $60 membership.

 

Nice, rigid thinking.

I like that I’m beyond names and labels and don’t give a fuck what the Jones’s are doing.

 

I bought a table saw like that from a garage sale that works for basic wood working but the fence is not secure for precision cuts and the table top isn't big enough for projects over 1 foot and the motor bogs down even on pressure treated 2x6.

I will buy a stationary table saw when I have the room for one even though I dont use mine much.
Ive used a Ridgid like this and have made quite a few very nice detailed boxes using it.
If you wait for a sale HD had this one on sale for like $400-$500 for some holiday recently and I seriously thought about buying it and keeping it at a friends garage till I had the room for it.

 

Wut?

I don’t know what names, labels and what the Jones’s are doing have to do with the topic of if Harbor Freight products are or are not good...

 

Jealous of you guys with 2 car garages and or detached work spaces. My one car garage is slowly but surely becoming a spillover for storage, baby on the way items and basically anything else my wife doesn't want the house cluttered with.

 

https://i.imgur.com/r1LswcI.gif

Total post fail. I'm a idiot.
Zim

 

And that's not even mentioning that their milk is usually fresher and the expiration date is usually more than a week longer than other's.

 

LOL, I am sorry my preference offends you. Not sure I am trying to keep up with anyone. My preference is to make investments in quality not to throw money at trash but you do you. I prefer to get a little value for what I spend I guess. You do understand that you could recommend whatever you like all on your own. It could even be completely contrary to my thoughts and that is completely fine. Does not mean either of us is wrong just that we have a difference of opinion. It’s a thing.

 

For clarity I once broke my hand when a tool from HF failed. Due to that I do not recommend products from HF or shop at that store. Not knocking anyone who does, I just don’t recommend them.

 

In saddlebrook, half a mile from Raleys.

 

I’ve also had numerous tools from HF fail, including a 4lb sledge, after about 2 minutes of use, flinging it’s head across the yard recently.


Lots not forget multiple recalls for jack stands, which I unwitting owned.

I’m over cheap shitty tools made to be cheap. I’d rather pay more for something of higher quality.

 

out of curiosity, what tool and how were you using it that caused you to break your hand? Maybe a future learning here for everyone, not specific to a HF tool but a tool failure in general. I've had plenty of knuckle smashers in my day, and almost a broke wrist I'm sure more than once from a drill catching at a bad time.

Their Icon brand is pretty decent, but they are approaching border line "brand name" prices at that point. I am selective from what I buy from there but some of their shit is decent whereas others is just junk, just have to filter through the trash to find a tool they make that is half decent. I don't own any other HF tools other than their toolboxes, the Icon 3/4" breaker bar, and a ratcheting 3/8" breaker bar.

 

I will admit that the US General boxes are a lot of bang for the buck. My issue is that I expect they offer little value for the investment. You would be hard pressed to get equal to what you paid back if you decide to sell or upgrade. Whereas if you shop around and look for a quality used box you can normally find some really good deals that offer great value compared to the investment. I am not a tool truck snob by any means. It took me 15 years to finally get a Snap On box but I got it for pennies on the dollar used, same with my Matco box. But I also have a Husky box I use as a garage TV stand. Before the snap on I had a Torin box from Costco and it was great. You just have to shop around. Some people do not like HF, others do and that’s is fine but for some reason on this forum if you dare to call a spade a spade people take exception to it on this topic. I view tools as an investment. I will take the small quality box full of quality tools over the garage full of HF stuff. Just my opinion.

The majority of my tools are the Carlyle line from Napa. I get good deals from them and like the tools/warranty. If you like the stuff from HF that is fine also. Whatever works for you.

 

I hear you, issue I had was that I was running out of space to store tools and wasn't having any luck finding a Matco/Snap On box at a decent price. I'm not willing to pay more than $2k for a box I use a few times a month at most. I agree on the re-sale, nobody is going to buy your $1k HF box for $800 a few years down the road. They simply do not hold their resale value like some of the brand name boxes. Is that value worth it to some? Maybe. I bought my HF box knowing damn well I'd probably throw it in the trash or scrap it when it's time to upgrade before I give it away at a lowball price. In fact, I'm in that same boat with my original 44" series 1 box now that I bought the 72" series 2 box. Was going to sell it but got no decent offers close to what I paid for it, so I am going to keep it for now and move it to my attached garage.

 

But you're buying a brand new box for cheaper than a used strapon box. If you get a few years out of it, you can afford to sell it for pennies on the dollar because you've gotten your money's worth out of it. Add to that the reviews that tear them down and show they're actually one of the best things HF sells. They're a hard deal to beat unless you're using it for a profession and even that's debatable. I rocked a HF box at work for nearly a decade without issue, now it's in my garage and still no issues.

 

I get it. I looked for years and found this box for $1,500 and drove 6 hours round trip to get it. Found the little Mac side box on CL about a year later for $100. The guy I got the snap on box from was a carpenter and traded a guy it for $1,300 worth of work so he thought he was doing good. Even with that I called 20 min after he posted it and said I was the 3rd person who called. I told him I would pay what he was asking and would be at his place in 3 hours. He agreed to hold it for 4 hours in case I hit traffic. Even then I had to help him unload some other stuff that was too heavy for him to do alone. Every once in a while a deal pops up.

Even then this is not a top end Snap On box. This is a great home box and I am a NASCAR fan so it fits my theme. And I can continue being a tool snob! LOL...