"Cheap" Things You've Bought That Turned Out To Be Surprisingly Good

[Jack Flash]

The Harbor Freight Thread got me thinking about this. How often have I bought a piece of equipment that turned out to be a real value, even though "experts" do nothing but bad mouth it.

For me, an easy example is my little chainsaw. Every time there is a chainsaw thread, it's inevitable that the comment "buy a Stihl or a Husqvarna, all the rest are junk" comment comes up.

I bought a Craftsman chainsaw on sale at Sears over 20 years ago. I am told it was probably made by Poulan. But despite not being a Stihl/Husqvarna it has always be reliable. It starts and runs even if it's been sitting idle for a couple of years. If I ever did any maintenance to it, I can't remember it, and I have cut an awful lot of wood with it. There may be better chainsaws, but this one has been a dandy.

Here it is. Bonus points if you can find "Camo Cat" in the picture!

 

[Protocall_Design]

It looks like "Camo Cat" is left of the chain bar. I have a couple of Poulan chainsaws and they work as well as anyone else's. Poulan is now owned by Husqvarna, last I heard anyway.

All of the cheap tools, food and anything else we get from Aldi has been first rate. No junk so far, after years of going there.

 

[Marshwheeling]

Opinel, Mora, and Rough Rider knives. To be sure, not everyone badmouths these inexpensive knives. They have their fans, but also plenty of detractors.

 

[6518John]

A contribution to this forum.

 

[Ματθιας]

AR Kits from PSA.

 

[BAM-BAM]

A little $30 electric leaf blower.... it's my "electric broom".... prefect for the second floor deck with no outdoor access and or sweeping out the garage floor..... and getting rid or spider webs.

 

[mtgianni]

The little single AA battery powered zoomable lights from Amazon. I usually get a 5 pack every year and give them away through out the year. High, low and flash out put they work forever for a $5 flashlight.

 

[ron_c]

Here it is. Bonus points if you can find "Camo Cat" in the picture!

Now are we looking for one piece of cat or are we looking for multiple pieces of cat?

 

[oink]

Elcheapo Chinese replacement carbs for weed wackers.

 

[Maddog 521]

Another vote for the Rough Rider folding pocket knives. I loose a few pocket knives from time to time and one day I was in a pawn shop. They had a Rough Rider knife in the case and I looked at it. It went home with me for $10 OTD. It stays sharp and it's made very well for a low priced knife. A couple of weeks later I bought another one. So far so good.

 

[Okie21]

How bout a car? Back in 1998, I bought an 84(?) Chevy Cavalier station wagon for $150. Drove it for 2 years and only had to replace the belts. Just before I sold it, the alternator went, but I got a $10 replacement from the junkyard.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk

 

[M1A]

Went to the Walmart and found a Beeman P17 single shot pellet pistol. Usually about $40.00, but on sale for $22.00. I usually go for higher end, but that is inexpensive, and i thought worth a try. Got to the register and it was $17.00.
I am having a ball basement shooting. Accurate and goes through four American Rifleman magazines.

 

[Tex1001]

Sharp 1100 watt microwave. Purchased for $32 in a pawn shop in 2007 and its STILL going strong.

 

[Mr.Harry]

I have been very impressed with a Buck 119 I bought a couple years ago, and at Around 70.$ I think I paid? I have spent 2 or 3x as much on knives that proved to be no better.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Another vote for the Rough Rider folding pocket knives. I loose a few pocket knives from time to time and one day I was in a pawn shop. They had a Rough Rider knife in the case and I looked at it. It went home with me for $10 OTD. It stays sharp and it's made very well for a low priced knife. A couple of weeks later I bought another one. So far so good.

I got one too. The high carbon canoe knife. Very satisfied with it.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

GSG 1911-22. Cheap. Pot metal or aluminum slide & frame. Have shot it a lot in the last 4 years. Never failed.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I got this for free (well, sort of).

47 years and thousands of cans later it still proves itself:

 

[Sevens]

SOFIRN brand LED flashlights from Amazon. They don't get any more Chinese than these but fantastic lights for chump change.

 

[misswired]

This sight was 40$ on sale...it's proven the concept works.

Time to purchase a real one now!

ETA: Twisted the head off the rear screw installing It today(it's holding zero)...these sights are a must for old eyes. The dot in the window appears three sided without vision correction; slip on the astigmatism correcting prescription glasses and the dot appears circular and clear.... the opposite of blurry concentration on the front sight with prescription glasses.

 

[ldausmc1369]

Still have two or three John Wayne can openers that are C-rat issue and a nasty scar on my chest where the open blade stuck me when I hit the deck. Thought for sure with all the blood I was dead or dying! Alas, still here almost 48 years later with almost all standard issue parts!