Harbor Freight tools thread.

It wasn't the Vulcan brand mask. Just the basic version.

 

What brand was it, there are other exclusions. Or was it already discounted via coupon?

 

Did they fix it?

 

Yeah some stores around here could use better cx service skills.

 

If it was item number 61611, , then the 20% off coupon would not apply--coupons cannot be "stacked"...

 

The person explained it quite rudely to me. They told me how it says that at the bottom of the coupon on the app. It is so small that it's not readable, and when blown up becomes blurry. I have had the give 20% off sale items no problem before so I was confused.
I am fine with not double stacking, it was the super rude employees that pissed me off.

 

Should've punched him in the throat!

 

In their defense, HF does not make it easy for the worker to decipher what coupons can be used or can't be used. These people are not generally the brightest. They mean well. When the machine says not eligible, what can they do?

I'm guessing, after the 50th person tries to stack coupons, they get a little worked up. I know I would.

You had trouble reading the fine print, do you think the average HF worker has every sale item and coupon eligible item memorized?

I figure I'm way ahead with the free SWAG I've grabbed over the years.

I'm not gonna get pissy over one workers attitude. I'll be back next week and most likely that worker won't be there anymore.

Good topic.

 

I have never had a problem with their staff here, in fact just the other day I was buying a 21 mm impact socket ($3.99) and thought I had a 20% off coupon--the cashier said "I've got one" and ran it through. Must be a "southern hospitality" thing...

 

The TQ wrenches are still adjustable. Its been a while since I did it but the knurled locking knob on the end can actually be further unscrewed and release the handle, which in turn can be reset to a known value by twisting it and then resetting with the knurled knob. I got a high end digital calibrator and bought the 1/4", 3/8". and 1/2" drive versions and tested and reset accordingly. Do not fully trust the HF TQ wrenches. To get three decent wrenches of the above sizes I had to go through a number and take those back that were wildly inaccurate. Inside is a spring and the ones I encountered with problems had very rusty to extremely rusty springs.

 

Maybe, its just I'm tired of crappy customer service in most experiences I have in retail environments. This also includes at work. I manage a store, and finding good help is ridiculously hard these days, vs when I was a young guy coming up.....

 

Preachin' to the choir bro, preachin' to the choir.

 

Its amazing how many harbor freight tools I have now. For the hobbyist like most of us are; they're really the best of both worlds......cheap as hell and "good enough".

Off the top my head I have:

12" compound miter
3" cut off tool
their dremel tool knockoff
4-1/2" heavy grinder
heat gun for dirtbike graphics
rolling work stool
chop saw I got yesterday
lots of drill bits because those are pretty disposable no matter what
drill master impact and drill motor that I bought for my GF so I didn't have to leave my tools at home for her to use
her own little mechanic tool set for same reason
dowling jig
pocket hole jig
1/2" chicago corded impact - only 230 ft lbs torque....which is perfect for working on my motos
circular saw....which after 2 years of hard use, just gave up the ghost on me


Granted, all my tools I use a lot or need good stuff....I buy makita or some other top notch company. But everything else is HF

I bought a lincoln welder frome HD recently...but that was because I needed one that very minute and HD is a lot closer. but after doing research on Vulcan, I wish I would have gotten their mig/tig combo...oh well.


Still on my future HF get list:

pressure washer
drill press
predator generator
better impact
tool chest





HF FOR LIFE

 

FYI, if you email corporate with a legit issue, they respond asap! I had an issue with some dust mask filters, they sold the mask at the store. When I went to buy replacement filters at the store, they said you had to order them and pay shipping. I sent email, within 24hrs I got response asking for product number. They sent them with free shipping right away. I know thats not much, but they do respond right away!

 

LOL! I agree HF FOR LIFE! LOL!

I have a shop full of Harbor Freight tools and equipment... but never realized how much until last Christmas.... My employee's gave me a Harbor Freight gift card for Christmas, LOL!

Wow, was it that obvious I shop there alot?

 

Don't know what size/type drill press you are seeking, however IMHO all of HF's bench units are 110% crap. Stamped metal bases and on some model the tables too, sloppy fitting quills and gobs of runout, and noisy and misaligned belt drives. The floor models are a bit better, but are like Forrest Gump's box of chocolates--you never know what you are going to get.

I bought and returned three of their 10" presses; the first for a sloppy quill and excessive runout on the spindle taper, the second for a bent motor pulley, and a third because the picture on the strapped box showed the older cast "iron" base and table but when opened had the newer pressed steel garbage they have changed over to.

In searching for something better I ran across a Wen model 4212 10" variable speed unit from of all places Walmart--$173.72 with free shipping, I had it in less than a week (same price now on Amazon, 2-day shipping if you are a Prime member; Home Depot and others have it as well).

Just $34 more but it shows up the HF presses for the garbage they are:





Nice gray iron base and table, much better fit and finish then the HF stuff. 36" overall height, 20" max from chuck to base, 17" chuck to table. The newer model I received has a 3/4 HP motor--530 to 3100 rpm via a robust CVT belt drive--runout at the spindle taper was < 0.0015" pretty damned good for a cheap drill press. I did replace the cheap chuck with a

South Bend Lathe SB1370 1/2" by JT33 Drill Chuck

South Bend I got from Amazon.

Wen has other tools that are more $$ than HF, but of much better quality and utility. I have their #6502 disc/belt sander and #4280 8" bench grinder--both far superior to similar HF junk. The bench grinder is about 2X the cost of what HF offers ($102 v. $55), but it's 3X+ the tool...

 

Check your local Craigslist for a drill press. You can usually find some that are pretty decent quality that people are selling and they are usually not used very much and in pretty good condition. I bought a bench model and floor model for $75 each and they both work great.

 

Anybody have any experience with HF calipers?

 

"HF"?

Their digital calipers are good, resolution to 0.0005" and quite accurate. Like their other stuff I would not choose them for a daily production environment but for happy homeowner/hobbyist and even advanced hobbyist/enthusiast they are great. Watch the supplied power cells as they tend to leak over time, I replace 'em with name brand almost immediately (as I do with most all "battery included" stuff)...

 

I'm buying this one.