Harbor Freight: the good, the bad, and the ugly

[Arky-X]

You know you've done it. Bought something from the Wal-Mart of tools.
Share your experience here.........

[Arky-X]

I bought a Chicago Electric 6 amp reciprocating saw because I didn't think I would need it beyond my one project. I've definitely found other uses for it and so far, so good.

Then I bought a Chicago Electric jig saw and it was a piece of p o o p. It would barely move like the motor was froze. I sprayed it and got it working but definitely not like it should. It sat in the box for months before I opened it to use it or I would have taken it back.

[Scootertrash]

I have some of their Pittsburgh hand tools. They have a lifetime warranty, the couple of sockets that I broke and I think one extension that I broke took them in and they gave me a brand new one. No hassles. The tools don't really seem to be that bad. I put my tools through pretty rigorous work.

[jb2wheels]

I bought one of their orange "Earthquake" 1/2 air impact guns used from a pawn shop for $15.
I really like it.

[3 Wheel Drive]

I also bought a pneumatic 1/2” impact gun & it works good enough for me. Also bought a big toolbox for the garage, it has ball bearings on the drawers.....pretty good imo.

Was considering buying their ultra sonic cleaner for small carbs.

[fabiodriven]

Best place for impact sockets, especially big ones. You can get an entire kit for the price of just the one stupid socket you'd need.

[86125m]

As others have said harbor freight is great for certain things. especially tools that you may only ever once in awhile. That being said the 8 hp motor we bought for our go kart from them has been nothing but great starts first pull every time and has lots of power.

[knappyfeet]

I've always liked their tools.

I purchased their big drain snake/cleaner/router/unplugger for half of what HD wanted for something similar and far better.

[El Camexican]

I know the guy that makes their combination wrenches and have been in the factory. The only difference between the ones sold at Harbor freight and the higher end ones you may see in auto parts stores that look better and cost more is the finishing process. The cheap sets Harbor Freight, Princess Auto and others sell skip a lot of polishing stations, but the base steel and tooling that determines the strength and fit is the same as the premium brands out of India. But if you want the best import wrenches and sockets look for “”Made in Taiwan” and not India.

[83ATC185]

had the red chicago electric oscillating saw that was junk out of the box and burned up, went back and got the blue "pro" model of chicago electric oscillating saw and have been using it for years, at 1/3 of the cost of the dremel...their wrenches are great, I've never had one break on me, and they're cheap enough that i don't mind making "specialty" wrenches out of them if i need to...if only they made rappelling gear it would be a one stop shop for me :lol:

[Shawn Powell]

I bought the inverted predator 3500w generator. Works fine so far. For 700$ vs 3000 for the Honda.


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[ironchop]

I love Harbor Freight. Ours is always packed with lines so I guess everyone else here does too.

My nephews and son lost alot of my good stuff over the years but I have a few Pittsburgh ratchets and socket sets that I abuse and they held up fine. All my impact sets came from HF. Half of my impact guns are from HF. I lube them alot and they've lasted for a decade. I also have Brad nailers and my seat recovering stapler is from HF. All my DA, jitterbug, and longjohn air sanders came from there. Good quality for the price.

Their electric power tools like saws, drills, grinders, etc. are junk in my experience so I stay away from those.

Best part about HF in my town is that they have the best inventory over any other local store. If you need an obscure tool or size, harbor freight has one in stock probably. And even if it's a cheap tool, as long as it works the once or twice I need it, I'm happy.

The counter workers are always up on what's on sale, remind you of it, and have coupons at the register in case you left yours at home. Great staff too.

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[big specht]

[QUOTE=Shawn Powell;1466911]I bought the inverted predator 3500w generator. Works fine so far. For 700$ vs 3000 for the Honda.


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Have you ever loaded it real good? We've been looking at those too

[Shawn Powell]

[QUOTE=Shawn Powell;1466911]I bought the inverted predator 3500w generator. Works fine so far. For 700$ vs 3000 for the Honda.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro[/QUOTE

Have you ever loaded it real good? We've been looking at those too

I have a 28 ft toy hauler , with the ac and the microwave running it was about 2800 Watts, (ac is about 1800 microwave is 900 plus lights battery etc) in 90 degree heat it worked flawless. And quieter than my old 200w Honda. Not by much but still quieter. So far so good. I did buy the extra warranty 140$ covers it for 2 years anything goes wrong they replace or refund. From the reviews I’ve read you either get a good one or a junk one straight out of the box. Apparently I got a good one. Typically with there tools I only buy them if it’s something I’m only going to use once. If it doesn’t break immediately then great. If I only get one use that’s fine also.


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[BOB MARLIN]

They have 2 product lines on the wrenches and sockets. If you step up to the pitsburg "PRO" line up, they aren't bad at all.

[kiser]

I bought one of the drive on motorcycle lifts from there in July and so far so good with it. A friend of mine told me they are kind of flimsy for a Harley though. The heaviest thing I have had on it is my Big Red and it lifted it fine. It should last me for a long time as much as I will use it.

[sledcrazyinCT]

They have 2 product lines on the wrenches and sockets. If you step up to the pitsburg "PRO" line up, they aren't bad at all.

I am glad I have two stores to choose from I never saw their polished wrenches until a new store opened up. I bought the metric long polished combos for under 20 bucks and they appear to me as pretty decent.
I bought an engine camera used it once it had crappy resolution and the on/off switch was faulty - used it once and sent it back for a refund.
They sell a decent plastic welder I have had good luck with too.

[El Camexican]

Cheap Chinese electric tool story about a guy that at one time supplied them to HF and others...

So I’m in this guys office visiting about some products he was building for us and I noticed all the tools in his display room including a grinder that was identical to the one that I had just bought a couple months earlier which died out about 15 minutes after I started using it.

I said to the guy, you export those to the United States? He responds yes I have been selling those to the United States for years, why? So I tell him my story of how this thing burnt out almost immediately after I started using it. He starts laughing at me hysterically and pointing at me and after he regained his composure he says in his thick Chinese a sent, you actually try to use that grinder for working??!!

I’m like, yeah and he starts laughing again and says that grinder not for use, only show for American to paint picture on wall in house and hang for show.

So there you have it, they don’t even expect anyone to use that cr•p.

[fabiodriven]

Cheap Chinese electric tool story about a guy that at one time supplied them to HF and others...

So I’m in this guys office visiting about some products he was building for us and I noticed all the tools in his display room including a grinder that was identical to the one that I had just bought a couple months earlier which died out about 15 minutes after I started using it.

I said to the guy, you export those to the United States? He responds yes I have been selling those to the United States for years, why? So I tell him my story of how this thing burnt out almost immediately after I started using it. He starts laughing at me hysterically and pointing at me and after he regained his composure he says in his thick Chinese a sent, you actually try to use that grinder for working??!!

I’m like, yeah and he starts laughing again and says that grinder not for use, only show for American to paint picture on wall in house and hang for show.

So there you have it, they don’t even expect anyone to use that cr•p.

I never forgot that story after the first time I'd heard it years ago from you. I've actually told it to a couple of people as well.

[Scootertrash]

I suppose next you're going to tell us that Santa isn't real ?

[Scootertrash]

Cheap Chinese electric tool story about a guy that at one time supplied them to HF and others...

So I’m in this guys office visiting about some products he was building for us and I noticed all the tools in his display room including a grinder that was identical to the one that I had just bought a couple months earlier which died out about 15 minutes after I started using it.

I said to the guy, you export those to the United States? He responds yes I have been selling those to the United States for years, why? So I tell him my story of how this thing burnt out almost immediately after I started using it. He starts laughing at me hysterically and pointing at me and after he regained his composure he says in his thick Chinese a sent, you actually try to use that grinder for working??!!

I’m like, yeah and he starts laughing again and says that grinder not for use, only show for American to paint picture on wall in house and hang for show.

So there you have it, they don’t even expect anyone to use that cr•p.

Was the name of the company Sum Ting Wong?

[sledcrazyinCT]

Cheap Chinese electric tool story about a guy that at one time supplied them to HF and others...

So I’m in this guys office visiting about some products he was building for us and I noticed all the tools in his display room including a grinder that was identical to the one that I had just bought a couple months earlier which died out about 15 minutes after I started using it.

I said to the guy, you export those to the United States? He responds yes I have been selling those to the United States for years, why? So I tell him my story of how this thing burnt out almost immediately after I started using it. He starts laughing at me hysterically and pointing at me and after he regained his composure he says in his thick Chinese a sent, you actually try to use that grinder for working??!!

I’m like, yeah and he starts laughing again and says that grinder not for use, only show for American to paint picture on wall in house and hang for show.

So there you have it, they don’t even expect anyone to use that cr•p.

That is their strategy. When dewalt wanted tools made in China they needed fill time American staff overseeing the assembly line. Buggers would continually attempt to put defective drills back on the line hoping they would get past inspectors the second time around.


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[El Camexican]

That is their strategy. When dewalt wanted tools made in China they needed fill time American staff overseeing the assembly line. Buggers would continually attempt to put defective drills back on the line hoping they would get past inspectors the second time around.


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You should hear some of the quality control stories that go around at English friendly bars in China :lol: The Chinese are starting to get it, but it’s taken a generation. I figure in 20 years they will be as good as the Japanese if you want to pay for it, but cheap stuff will always be cheap stuff. The low cost stuff is already shifting out of China, the workforce is becoming more sofisticated and pollution is no longer tolerated. Take a look at the “Made in _____” label on stuff, over the next few months, it’s changing.

[ebaccm26]

I like their floor jacks, never had any issues with mine and never heard of anyone else having issues with them. Also have their 20 ton shop press which seems to work well for me, but to be fair it's not something I use very often so who knows how it really holds up.

Like ironchop mentioned I've found that it's a good place to grab some obscure tools when you need them quick.

No doubt they have some products that are actually decent but I have gotten my fair share of junk there as well. And by junk I don't mean one time use type tools, you expect that with a lot of them for the price, I mean tools that won't even get you through that one time use.

[AMK]

248408

This is my only HF tool but so, so precious.
I havent attempted any auto tires but atv, motorcycle, garden tractor and trailer tires it works well on.
It's paid for itself many times over.

[jb2wheels]

248408

This is my only HF tool but so, so precious.
I havent attempted any auto tires but atv, motorcycle, garden tractor and trailer tires it works well on.
It's paid for itself many times over.

I have one too! I've used it on car tires and it's great.
I did make 2 mods - I replaced one end of the bare with a No-Mar tip and I boxed in the bead breaking shoe.

[sledcrazyinCT]

248408

This is my only HF tool but so, so precious.
I havent attempted any auto tires but atv, motorcycle, garden tractor and trailer tires it works well on.
It's paid for itself many times over.


What is the model number of that bead breaker? I haven't seen that style on display at either of my local HF.

[AMK]

What is the model number of that bead breaker? I haven't seen that style on display at either of my local HF.

It's item #92961.

[AMK]

I have one too! I've used it on car tires and it's great.
I did make 2 mods - I replaced one end of the bare with a No-Mar tip and I boxed in the bead breaking shoe.

The only mod i did was to bend a tighter radius for the smaller rims and bend the lip up for more grip on the bead.

[125Mmadness]

Ive bought two of the older style earthquake 1/2" impacts. The first one, i got mad at something i was working on and threw it down with the airhose still attached and broke the fitting off inside of it and wasnt able to get it off because it broke flush with the insert in the bottem. I then bought another because they are so cheap, and after it fell on the concrete a few times the selecter in the back wouldn't move so I swapped the insert into the other one and I'm still using it to this day. Ive also bought the 3 ton floor jack a few years ago and it still works great. I've bought miscellaneous hand tools and they've been good.

[redsox]

Tri-fold-ramps are the nuts!! $80 on the 20% off day.

[fabiodriven]

Tri-fold-ramps are the nuts!! $80 on the 20% off day.

I forgot about that. I've been using my Harbor Freight tri-fold ramp for probably five years at least with zero issues whatsoever. The only problem with that unit is its a bit short, it could be longer.

[tripledog]

The only problem with that unit is its a bit short, it could be longer.

If I only had a nickle for every time I heard that.

[El Camexican]

The only problem with that unit is its a bit short, it could be longer.

Sounds like something my wife would say.

[fabiodriven]

How did I not notice that, lmfao.

[tripledog]

How did I not notice that, lmfao.


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It could happen to anyone. The mindset of certain site members is gutterly ridiculous.

[Scootertrash]

It could happen to anyone. The mindset of certain site members is gutterly ridiculous.

Keeping up can be draining. ;)

[MRSOUND]

I have an angle grinder, reciprocating saw, tire changer, and a travel plastic tool box full of their hand tools, 8 gal air compressor all which I can't complain about. Tools not worth the packaging they are in that purchased: hole saw set, easy outs, pancake compressor that leaked from the beginning ( unfortunately I didn't open for 2 months and lost receipt), small air nozzles, 18 volt drill w/light. I do have the free flashlights everywhere though:D

[bkm]

I had to use my buddy's 20 ton shop press twice for the crank and bearings in my kx250 lower end. If I have to use someone elses press more than once, I probably need one myself.

[Red Rider]

I'm guilty too, as I've bought a few tools there as well. I try to only buy non-power tools there, as I prefer quality brand name power tools over their stuff.

Harbor Freight Tools that I've purchased:
Comically gigantic crescent wrench (for removing axle lock nuts on the 250R)(worked awesome)
Pipe wrench set (works well)
Nail punch set (works awesome)
Digital caliper (works awesome)
C-clamps (works awesome)
Wood handscrew clamps (works awesome)
Pin punch set (works awesome)
Digital multi-meter (works awesome)
Hole punch set (works awesome)
Impact socket set (works awesome)
Hole saw set (strictly light duty, cutting only! I wouldn't try on anything thicker than 3/4" plywood)
Drill bit set (works awesome)
Steering wheel puller set (works awesome)
Shop brush (works awesome)
Digital scale (works awesome)

Harbor Freight Power Tools that I've purchased:
Angle grinder (vibrated itself until cracking plastic grinder body. Vibrations mostly due to out of balance grinding wheel that came with it)(replaced with a Makita)
Heat gun (works awesome)
3/8" reversible pneumatic drill (first one kept running while hooked up to air source, returned it, 2nd one works awesome)
3/8" cordless drill (had to try it for $20, lasted about a year until battery wouldn't hold a charge, and smoke came out of motor)(replaced with a Bosch)

[fabiodriven]

Just watched this video on torque sticks. Apparently they get the nod and they're a good buy.

https://youtu.be/6ccxHCwnQPY

[BOB MARLIN]

I also bought the giant crescent wrench for my axle nuts. Works perfect.
A friend of mine bought the giant rollaway toolbox when it was on sale for $600. Its built way better than my $1200 Kennedy box.

Their sand paper is useless. As well as their batteries.
Air fittings leak.
20 ton hydraulic press works well.
Tire changer works OK if you bolt it to the floor. But I've had to weld it back together a few times.
Tie downs are crap.
Bucket of bungee cords is good.
Mechanics gloves are as good as any I've had for 1/4 of the price.
Oxy/ Accetaline guages, hose and torch work well.

[jeswinehart]

I have had great experiences with all the products I have purchased at Harbor freight in so far as knowing what to expect for what I was paying,,,, with 1 recent exception. Now with that said, there was absolutely NO problem in returning for full refund and several heartfelt apologies for my inconvenience.
I redo Kawasaki Tecate, KDX, (and even KX once in awhile) flywheels. Magnets inside quite often.
I purchased my bench top sand blaster at a local TSC store (Tractor Supply Company). Paid about 110.00 + tax. Bought their alu oxide media big pail for 70+ dollars and work(s) like a champ.
Media breaks down over repeated use,,, that's a given. Harbor freight had alu oxide media for just under 50 dollars,,,, great !
Not so great,,,, it contains iron,,,, LOTS of iron. Made for one heck of a mess on a flywheel I was working on that did not require the magnets to be removed. Nothing noted on the box it contains ferrous material,,,, dam.
Back to normal again after a complete cleaning of my sand blaster + purchasing TSC's alu oxide blasting media.
At harbor freight every one was amazed their alu oxide stuck to a magnet I brought along. Manager got too looking in some web file and discovered there was mention of ferrous material and said "why the HECK don't they put that on the box ! "

[Arky-X]

I also bought the giant crescent wrench for my axle nuts. Works perfect.


I bought one of those too for my X axle nut.....that and I thought it was so cool. I showed my wife and said, "see how big it is!" She was, "like I haven't heard that before."
I've had good luck out of all the Pittsburgh tools but haven't tried their screwdrivers yet.

[BOB MARLIN]

The "PRO" impact sockets and the extensions are good. (they are the black ones not the chrome).
Table top blasting cabinet is useable if you hook a shop vac up to it. But you need to keep it full of media and have LOTS of air.
The angle grinder I bought scares me every time I use it.
20 ton press is great.

They have a new product line of trays, screw driver holders, cup holders, towel hangers that are made of metal and are magnetic so you can stick them on your tool box, lift, fender well or whatever. I really like them and cant get enough of them. On sale they are $9.

The battery trickle chargers are junk, buy a "battery tender" instead. A friend of mine has caught his garage on fire twice using Chinese battery chargers.
You can't beat the free tape measure or flash light.
Zip ties are crap.
Electrical tape is crap.
Crimp on wire connectors are crap.

I bought the big and medium size bolt cutters when they were on sale real cheap 10 years ago and have used the crap out of them, they work well and held up much better than I was expecting.

[Arky-X]

Bringing this one back to the top as a Public Service Announcement........

Recall on Harbor Freight jack stands
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/buying-maintenance/a32600586/harbor-freight-jack-stands-recalled-for-risk-of-collapsing/

These jack stands were sold under the Pittsburg brand name, and can be identified by item numbers 56371 or 61196 on 3-ton models, and 61197 on 6-ton models.

I need to go check mine now. I always use a back-up when I crawl under a vehicle.......of course most of the time the back up is a floor jack.....from Harbor Freight :wondering

[El Camexican]

This happened a while back too.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/10/04/harbor-freight-recall-1-1-million-gordon-folding-knives-recalled/3870578002/

I was shocked to learn that those knives could cut human flesh.

[Dirtcrasher]

They mentioned the bad stands were made in JING SEN YONG or something. I thought, of course they were!! :lol:

[ATC King]

I've also had the tri fold ramp for several years and for the price, it's unbeatable. It is a little on the short side, but It's never been a problem for me, because my truck sits at a reasonable height.

I just bought one of their tire bead breakers and should have done it sooner. I've worked in tire shops multiple times, so I have used shop level tire and balancing machines. Even using professional level machines requires a skillset and there's always stubborn and difficult tires that take experience to know how to deal with.

The bead breakers on shop machines still have trouble with some tires and it takes tricks learned from experience to make them work on stubborn tires. I'm stating that because after reading some of the negative reviews on Harbor Freights website, it's clear many of those people didn't have prior experience and thought it shouldn't take any skill to use a tool. Something like simply expecting to have to rotate the tire and press on different sections of the bead to slowly work it loose is something even required with shops machines on difficult beads. Can't get them all with one bite.

All that said, I put this thing straight to use. For the first go, I got an old tire that had been sitting on the wheel, in the elements for years. I had to remove the black widows and webs.
263133
263134
263135

Broke the bead like buttah!

ATV tire that's been on for years. Not a problem.

263136

Next was some trailer tires that I needed to replace. I also bought their static balancer, just for things like trailer tires. No point in paying a shop stupid high amounts to change trailer tires. All this stuff is going to pay for itself with about eight tire changes, even faster for flat repairs or motorcycle tire changes (which cost more than car tire changes). I'm already two tire changes, a couple removals, and one ATV flat repair in on the bead breaker, so it's already paid for itself. The balancer is two tires in.

Many of the negative reviews on the balancer are also unfounded. One review mentioning the springs wouldn't' hold up their wheel. Duh, they're not supposed to, otherwise the wheel wouldn't sit on the centering cone. Other people must not have realized they may to adjust the bubble before using and anytime they move it to another location. Sitting the balancer on the pin is also not a problem for anyone used to using their hands. Just grip the shaft with one hand and guide the cone over the top with the other. Seems like something intuitive.

After using the bead breaker and mounting new trailer tires, I had a go with the balancer. I repeated putting each wheel on the balancer at different rotations and got the same result every time. First tire took very little weight and the second was a winner, spot on. I've had zero weight balances on spin balancers, but it's not often. These are small tires, so that's more likely.

How durable the balancer is going to be will take a while, but I expect it and the bead breaker to pay for themselves multiple times over. That keeps me from having to drop off wheels or wait in a lobby, and save me the current high cost of tire changes. The county landfill here also takes tires, so when I have enough, I load them up and take them. No disposable fee for me, my taxes have already taken care of that.

I've been wanting to buy a regular tire machine and balancer, but I think with this pair, I can put that off a while longer. I been getting extremely annoyed at how poor many shops are at balancing tires. Watching tire changers wrestle with my wheels when they don't know how to properly operate the machines is beyond getting old too. Got to thank Harbor Freight for lowering my blood pressure!

263137263138263139263140

[big specht]

The bead breaker is a good deal and we have used it a lot. Just don’t try and force big red oem tires off You will bend and stretch the back bone of the bead breaker. Even after doing that it still work pretty good for the money

[BarnBoy]

Recently purchased a Yukon 46" tool chest with wood top...pretty happy with it so far and its not a bad price. Their light bars and pod lights are decent. Press works good....grinders are junk, same with any of their cutting wheels.

I picked up a set of jack stands a year ago and they sketched me out. Returned em and bought a set from Atwoods, much better qc and welds.

[BOB MARLIN]

I have 2 of those Yukon tool chests. I think they're a great value.

Another thing I picked up that I'm real happy with is the socket kit for lug nuts. It has double sided sockets and an extension that fits various size lug nuts. Really handy.

[TSpencer]

Thanks for the post about the jack stand recall. They are in my garage and I never would have known. I'll be returning them this weekend. I think my best buy has been the ratcheting wrenches. Those things have saved me hours of turning and I use them all the time. Close second is the ball joint separator. https://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-quarter-inch-forged-ball-joint-separator-99849.html I broke one, went back with the receipt and went home with a new one. That thing beats the pickle fork hands down. Great little tool. Popped the tie rod ends off my 98 F150 with 150k miles with little effort. Haven't found a ball joint yet it can't separate with a little patience, PB Blaster and a hammer. well worth the $20.

[ironchop]

I got those jackstands too. Just used them a couple weekends ago while I was under a VW Beetle. Just now saw the post and will be returning them ASAP

[Arky-X]

I've got a set of the recalled jackstands but haven't taken them back yet. I've used them to hold up my project X but it won't go back under a vehicle for sure.

I'm skeptical on any Harbor Freight jackstand now. What other brand would you guys/gals trust? Don't mind paying more for peace of mind.

[ATC King]

Get something with a pin. There's the ratchet type that also use a pin and there are the ones that use a pin alone, for full support.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Torin-T46002A-Big-Red-Steel-Jack-Stands-Double-Locking-6-Ton-Capacity/48580191
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Torin-Big-Red-T43002A-3-Ton-Capacity-Double-Locking-Steel-Jack-Stands-1-Pair/48580189
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200610848_200610848
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200756194_200756194

The pin and the screw style supports have been around probably before automobiles. There's always the trusty ramp too. If the car won't drive onto a ramp (too low), lift it, then set it on.

If I have a wheel off, I always set it under the vehicle, that way if the vehicle does fall, it can't go to the ground. Got to layer the safety. I'm used to working in shops with vehicle lifts. Imagine if a brand of those has failures...splat. I prefer a four post lift with center jacks, opposed to the two post. Can't stand having to lie down on the dirty floor, just to get a car on a lift. Can't get in a clean car with a greasy back. Also, a four post with rolling center jacks makes transmission removable/installation a breeze.