Harbor Freight tool reports from customers..........

[Dirtcrasher]

Some of their stuff is garbage, yet some of it does the job and as well as tools 2X,3X the cost. My blast cabinet, jack stands, pry bars etc have all served me well. Wish I new the 3" cutoff blades were junk, I'll spend the money from here on for quality ones.......

I'll just add that my mig welding "auto-darkening " helmet lasted less than a year at 59.99$ a good Miller ot other is about 3X that cost and they no longer offer "lifetime warranty" these for life; You can only pay extra for a year or 2.

Long read, but you can do a little at a time.

The results posted are very close to spot on from the tools I've purchased........

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=27192

Feel free to add your own if you believe it's helpful!

[rdlsz24]

I have their 12 ton shop press. It does the job. Can't really go wrong with a press. It's iron and a hydraulic jack. I have some other of their specialty tools that I needed to use once and they did the trick as well. I didn't care for their atv tire changer

Rob

[300rman]

I agree. some stuff is awesome, some stuff is total garbage.

[SYKO]

hey dirtface what size blast cabinet did you get? is it the floor model or the table model? im looking at the floor model. Oh and for the body shop guys here harbour freight sells the exact same EXACT same spor weld cutter that snap on sells... HF= $5 snapon= $115..... do the math! Stay away from there electric tools there all junk Ive bought alot of air tools there air nibbler is one of the best working ones Ive ever had over mac/snapon and even ingersolrand! only problem it has a weak inner arbor and they break, but only after makor abuse, my mac's and snapones turned to junk way before the HF model did and I had a better warrenty with the HF one then the high brands! and there are some other good deals if your not a complete dumbasz then you can navigate one of those stores and know whats good and what isnt.

[NINJA]

I've used the same air rivet gun from HF for 7 years with no issues whatsoever. It sees plenty of use with Rhino floorboards, and snowmobiles every winter. I don't even remember how much I paid for it, but it was cheap. My Snap-Off prior to it only lasted through one snowmobile season at the Yamaha dealer.
I can also vouch for the effectiveness of their shop presses. They have a decent brass also. Those are the only things I have from HF.
Now for some of you Northwoods folks, FleetFarm sells some pretty awesome tools. I used to buy Allen brand (invented the allen wrench) sockets and wrenches when I lived in WI. I'll tell you, nobody makes a better hex wrench then Allen.

[Dirtcrasher]

^^ It's Dirtcrasher, Skamo.........


Mine is the one on wheels (floor model), the lower legs are so weak that they need to be braced... Does the trick though.

[SWIGIN]

I use a HF digital claiper and it always checks out to my $100 unit. I also use a HF dial indicator and stand....works well.

[Twilight]

Use a HF atv ramps, motorcycle electric lift and jack stands. All have lasted 2 years now.

Only the safety chains on the ramps failed, cheap things broke off the mounts!

[goump1995]

Not to be picky but the only brands I will use are Snap-on, Starret, Armstrong, Williams, Proto, and Craftsman.

[blue27]

Not to be picky but the only brands I will use are Snap-on, Starret, Armstrong, Williams, Proto, and Craftsman.

I said that also and still use and buy snap on, but a air powerd grinder for 6.99 that last a year or two is way cheaper then snap on and craftsman that last three years, so I buy two or threem and keep them on hand. Hand tools I will use the better stuff due to the tolerances are better but if I am going to abuse it then its HF for me. The Ball joint C clampis only 39.99 on sale and lasted 10 years fo rme Snap on was 500.00 and I did not feel bad when I had to modify it to fit GM torsion bars (which OTC wants 150 for the torsion bar tool) and I only need to use it twice so far. BUT if Iwas doing ball joints everyday I would buy a better one,you need to look at it from a profit side befor you spout off what is junk, ex: if you do a ball joint job and make 100.00 on it but had to buy a500.00 tool then you need to do alot of ball joint work before you ever make a profit, I buy most of my tool for myself or for some side work, I do not work in a garage full time anymore so spending money for something that is going to get used once is not a cost effective option. This hread is about what HF tools work so

unibits drill bits work good, regular drill bits are not so good.
Air powered grinders
funnels for a doller (cant go wrong)
Dark Blue Nitrile gloves, great for cleaning carbs

[Tommy2]

I post a lot in the garage journal thread. Very good information in it.

Basically - if you want something of good quality that will last your lifetime - I'd stay pretty far away from the hand tools. Just ends up costing more and lots of aggrevation when you have to buy things over and over again. Some great deals though. Definitely a mixed bag.

[SWIGIN]

I said that also and still use and buy snap on, but a air powerd grinder for 6.99 that last a year or two is way cheaper then snap on and craftsman that last three years, so I buy two or threem and keep them on hand. Hand tools I will use the better stuff due to the tolerances are better but if I am going to abuse it then its HF for me. The Ball joint C clampis only 39.99 on sale and lasted 10 years fo rme Snap on was 500.00 and I did not feel bad when I had to modify it to fit GM torsion bars (which OTC wants 150 for the torsion bar tool) and I only need to use it twice so far. BUT if Iwas doing ball joints everyday I would buy a better one,you need to look at it from a profit side befor you spout off what is junk, ex: if you do a ball joint job and make 100.00 on it but had to buy a500.00 tool then you need to do alot of ball joint work before you ever make a profit, I buy most of my tool for myself or for some side work, I do not work in a garage full time anymore so spending money for something that is going to get used once is not a cost effective option. This hread is about what HF tools work so

unibits drill bits work good, regular drill bits are not so good.
Air powered grinders
funnels for a doller (cant go wrong)
Dark Blue Nitrile gloves, great for cleaning carbs

Well said, I have a few other things I bought at HF that have been great to me for the few times a year I'll use them. Buying top dollar stuff is not always needed. My lathe came with HF digital calipers and I have to admit, I would of never bought them thinking they would suck, but they are really nice and hold true.

[Dirtcrasher]

Depending on how you work, some mechanical calipers can be throw-a-ways, trapped with chips. Calipers get you close, Micrometers get you spot on.

Many things like the blast cabinet and jack stands seem to work very well. The cutoff wheels are crap and the drill bits are hit or miss. I have some that are excellent and others that snap very easy.

The angle Iron chuck backing plate, the iron mounting square 9x9 works excellent for me on my BP mill, as well as the 1/2/3 and 2/4/6 blocks and the clamping set.

I'm not gonna buy that stuff from Snap On, it just isn't necessary........

I believe I put it in the 1st post, but the Auto-Darkening helmet lasted me less than a year and there isn't a lifetime warranty any longer. 11.99 for a year so they'll be getting my old one back in the new ones box

[SWIGIN]

I'll even post a pic of my 3 top things I bpught at HF. 2 of these i have talked about, the 3rd is the crapy little grinder. This crapy little grinder is perfect for grinding HSS bits for my lathe. It has a very fine grinding wheel and a 3M/scotchbrite type wheel, both make my bits as fine as the $500 tool grinder we had in metal shop.

Hammer is for scale


I added the side table to my crapy little grinder to grind on the side of the wheel. This little gem even is ajustable from 0rpm to 10,000 rpm and it is a year old and working great. When it burns up I'll toss it and buy another, just dont get one and try to use it for your main grinder.

FWIW, those calipers are about 5 years old ( might of been $15) and work like new still. The dial indicator I just bought last year (on sale $7) but it seems as nice as my luffkin.

[dksix]

This has proven to be a great vise, it's seen plenty of abuse and I think I got it on sale for about 39.99.
http://www.harborfreight.com/5-inch-...ise-67415.html
I've had all the HF blasting cabinets. The cheaper ones I've worn through all the blasting guns and eventually replaced the gun with one from TP tools. I currently have to big bottom pick up cabinet. It's been flawless once I understood the pickup system (bottom mixing valve) http://www.harborfreight.com/industr...ors-94274.html . I got it on sale last year for 599.99. I tried a couple of the HF MIG welders, didn't like them at all. The wire is always hot and the button on the wire feed only controls the wire feed motor, not the power. I ended up going with a MillerMatic 135 MIG and I see the reason the Millers cost so much.