Harbor Freight Tools

[jcwit]

Originally Posted By: Vikas


Last year, I purchased 1/4 torque wrench and I paid non-sale price of $19.95. Now it is listed at $29.95.



- Vikas


Oh ya! My latest "today" E-Flyer from H/F has the 1/4 inch torque wrench for $12.99. Not a bad price at all.

 

[gizzsdad]

I got the 1/2" drive Pittsburgh torque wrench on sale for $24-25 last month, now I notice in my latest C&D mag there's a coupon in the back for $9.99!!

 

[Vikas]

The current crop of the torque wrenches are still made in taiwan and come with a decent plastic case. I was able verify the calibration of 1/4 using electronic hanging scale and it was quite accurate. Unfortunately, these wrenches do NOT seem to have any adjustment set screw. They can not be re-calibrated as far as I know.

Anybody know why clicker type torque wrenches come with a ratcheting lever? The 3/8 one even clicks in both direction! I have been told over and over again not to use a torque wrench for removing a fastener. If only it did not click in the opposite direction, I could use it as a breaker bar

- Vikas

 

[Vikas]

HF also short shipped me on my order. I had two freebies in that $55 order. I picked up the Multi-tool, 3/8 torque wrench, battery minder and 13 piece screwdriver set. They only shipped one freebie. The second one was completely missing from the order manifesto. When I called to complain, he could not see the second freebie in my order although when I go to the website, I see it. Eventually he told me that I can use only one freebie per order. I am sure that restriction is not listed anywhere but I was not in a mood to fight for a cheap freebie, so I let it go.

- Vikas

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: Vikas


Anybody know why clicker type torque wrenches come with a ratcheting lever? The 3/8 one even clicks in both direction! I have been told over and over again not to use a torque wrench for removing a fastener. If only it did not click in the opposite direction, I could use it as a breaker bar

- Vikas


If you're torquing lug nuts on an old dodge dart, the drivers side lugs are backwards thread.

 

[jim302]

They have a great selection and are a good place to find some things you can't find elsewhere.

I just picked up a set of plastic prying tools for removing interior trim pieces without scratching it for $7. Several local auto parts stores didn't have anything close, yet I was in and out of HF in less than 5 minutes with the tools in hand. I'm glad we have one locally. I seem to recall finding one or two other things there that nobody else had in stock locally.

Regarding quality, it depends on the individual tool and what you're going to use it for. For tools that you only need to use a few times, Harbor Freight is ideal. Hammers, screw drivers, and other hand tools are generally OK. If it is something you are going to use every day, spending some more money may be advisable (assuming that you're actually going to get better quality).

There's a market for cheap tools, just like there is a market for expensive tools.

 

[SIXSPEED]

I bought the HF budget Model 98568 OBD-II Code Reader after my Odyssey threw a MIL (a.k.a. Check Engine) light. It worked great for determining the cause as a P0325 DTC code - Antiknock Sensor Malfunction. This was caused by a rodent chewing the wire off the Antiknock sensor. Replaced the wire assembly and used the Reader to clear the code.

 

[SIXSPEED]

I meant "knock sensor" in my previous post. Here is a photo of the OBD-II code reader I bought from HF.

 

[sciphi]

The new green and white packaging looks much nicer than the cartoony old packaging. But the price increases aren't that nice, even if it is a few dollars.

Got a set of 3/8" impact extensions for $7.50. Beats Wal-Mart and Sears all silly. For that price they're disposable tools.

Now the Craftsman sockets and raised-panel ratchets I got from Sears today, that's one step above disposable. Well, maybe not the ratchets.

 

[jcwit]

First we complain because the prices are cheap and the tools aren't worth carring out of the store.

Now we complain because the've raised their prices a few percentage points "more than likely from shipping costs".

Harbor Freight can't win for loosing. Wonder why I shop there? Oh ya, its to save money so I don't go into dept.

 

[pottymouth]

Picked this up over the weekend:

Made in Meadville, PA. I paid something like $25 for it. No doubt I could have had 5 of the Harbor Freight version for that price, maybe more.

The Channel Lock wrench is a quality piece, the jaw moves smoothly with one finger and stays put. Feels good in the hand. Worth every penny. $25 is cheap for a high-quality tool made in my own country that one of my grand kids will probably use one day.

I can't say I have no cheapo HF toos, but most of the time they end up offering false economy. When a tool breaks in the middle of a job, the inconvenience usually erases any initial purchase savings.

If Harbor Freight continues to increase prices, they will lose their advantage. Quality encourages loyalty, low prices only hold a customer until something cheaper comes along.

 

[tig1]

pottymouth,
I have added several HF tools to my tool boxes and have yet seen where performance has been sacrificed.

 

[demarpaint]

I like the idea of them having a store in my area now. They have some real lousy tools, and some pretty good ones for the money. Being able to actually look at and handle the tool is great in the decision making process.

I think their 25" 1/2" drive breaker bar is worth every penny and more. Their 1/2" deep impact sockets were very well worth the price too. I have a set of gear pullers from them that I ordered from the catalogue a few years back that are garbage, and had I seen then first I would have never bought them.

I like to see what I'm buying first and I'm a good judge of quality, to say all their tools suck would be wrong. But if they continue to raise prices it makes buying first rate tools much more affordable. JMO

 

[Vikas]

I went to new HF store and this is my one day haul. The Digital Multimeter was my freebie. Compared to usual freebie LED light, DMM is lot better deal. The regular price on it was $10. I paid full $10 coupon price for the digital vernier caliper (what kind of lube should I use to make it feel like $100 caliper?). Everything else I was able to use 20% off coupon. The cashier worked with me to do multiple transactions. I am really impressed at the quality of the locking extension set. I had tried one from Sears but it was so bad that I had to return it. The HF one is extremely good. The composite ratchet 72 teeth is very smooth and feels great in the hand. Now I hate my raised panel Craftsman ratchets even more :-( I need to get the 1/4 and 1/2 composite from HF on my next visit. The impact extension quality is quite good. It was non-sale item and usually I *never* buy anything at HF unless it is on sale but this one looked too good to pass up. Even the hanging packaging is first class. It has re-useable plastic locking mechanism. The impact sockets were ridiculously cheap, the deep one for $3.xx and the standard for $7.xx plus 20% off. Both come with a metal box for storage and they include that as a "PC" so the set contains 8 sockets and 10 sockets respectively. I put stickers on the deep sockets.

Caliper and Multimeter were MIC rest of them are MIT.

 

[Errtt]

Usually when HF has sale items, they can go cheap.
Today I checked into a steam cleaner (on line) and they have only one model available, on sale, but only $5 off. Not much off if you ask me. Seems out of line for HF. But I would like to get me a little steam cleaner and not have to go across town to get one.

No I won't touch the wife's steamer thing for garage use... not worth the risk.

 

[SIXSPEED]

Originally Posted By: Errtt
Usually when HF has sale items, they can go cheap.
Today I checked into a steam cleaner (on line) and they have only one model available, on sale, but only $5 off. Not much off if you ask me. Seems out of line for HF. But I would like to get me a little steam cleaner and not have to go across town to get one.

No I won't touch the wife's steamer thing for garage use... not worth the risk.

The key is to use a 20% coupon on one item that's on sale.

 

[pottymouth]

Originally Posted By: tig1
pottymouth,
I have added several HF tools to my tool boxes and have yet seen where performance has been sacrificed.


Wish I could say the same. I've been given quite a few HF tools as gifts or bought one myself if it was something unique that I only expected to use once or twice. I have had sockets split with moderate force applied, I had a stubby ratchet actually fall apart while using it and the adjustable wrenches have always required way too much force (as well as two fingers) to adjust. Ironically, as hard as it is to move the jaw when I want to, it would never stay where I set it very long. I bought their transmission jack and the wheels crumbled on the first use. I was given a set of combination wrenches about 5 years ago and found that when using the open portion, the jaws would actually spread when much force was applied and the wrench would subsequently slip. There have been others, but for the most part I don't expect much from them so I am rarely dissapointed. OTOH, the HF OBDII scanner I received has been excellent.

Some of their stuff is decent, and I like to take cheap tools like this with me to the junk yard in case I leave something behind or drop a tool where it is not easy to get it. They are also my preferred loaner tool since some people borrow things and are less than honorable about returning or taking care of them.

HF has it's place, but I have never heard a single person tell me that they shop there because they are getting a superior quality tool. Some of their stuff is plain junk, some is marginal and some is surprisingly good for the price. If the prices start to go up, why would I or anyone else keep buying from them? There are a lot more Sears and Home Depot stores around and with sales and the occasional coupon the prices are not outrageously higher than HF.

Harbor Freight has a very clear identity. Cheap tools of varying quality. Once you take cheap out of the equation, they have to compete with brands that have a longer established name for quality. Not to mention the fact that most of the time I will gladly pay more for something made in the USA. I know this is somewhat unfashionable these days, but I gotta be me.

 

[Vikas]

Often, if you are in the store, you can rule out the real junk easily just on the look alone. If you find something which looks decent, then you can research them little more (e.g. garagejournal.com) and decide if that tool has adequate quality. Even user reviews on HF site are reasonably honest and are not rigged with fake testimonials.

 

[sciphi]

I've had some steals from HF, and some ripoffs. The 2-ton long-frame jack I got from there was a steal. Much better made than anything else even for $100 more, and it works very well. Plus I got it with a 3 year protection plan for $95 on sale and with a 20% off coupon. A ripoff was the red hand pump for $8. I went through 3 in 5 months. Not worth the $8 I spent on it.