What do you think of Harbor Freight Tools?
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I have found most of them to be of low quality but functional. I have bought a few of them as backup tools for down at the cabin or to keep in the wifes trunk.
The Last Standing Knight
Member
I am a somewhat frequent customer of Harbor Frieght...
...all of their tools are cheap and while they are nowhere near the level of Snap-On, Matco, etc...are still perfectly useful.
To me, if it is a job where the possibility of tool loss or breakage is very good, they are excellent. If you break a Harbor Frieght Tool, you're not out a whole lot of $.
I put them on the same level as stuff you'd find at a flea market or swap meet.
Not the best? Yeah...but they serve the purpose in most cases.
...all of their tools are cheap and while they are nowhere near the level of Snap-On, Matco, etc...are still perfectly useful.
To me, if it is a job where the possibility of tool loss or breakage is very good, they are excellent. If you break a Harbor Frieght Tool, you're not out a whole lot of $.
I put them on the same level as stuff you'd find at a flea market or swap meet.
Not the best? Yeah...but they serve the purpose in most cases.
cass
Member
You get what you pay for. If I need a unique tool that I'll probably use one or two times, there's no hesitation on buying from them. They're mostly all china junk, but there are some good products. I bought a chain saw chain sharpener that has lasted longer than I expected - especially considering it was all plastic. A impact wrench self-destructed in the third lug nut I loosened. I would suggest buying with care, and not expect snap-on quality.
mikeypizano
Member
You can get warranty on some of the power tools as well.
Some of their tools are OK but some really are Chinese junk. I buy their rubber gloves you only wear once & the hacksaw blades are used once only. Bought their 5" vice, turned out to be made in India. Came with a bent handle as it weighs 57 Lbs. They made good on the handle.
deralte
US Veteran
Haven't had a problem with anything I bought at Harbor Freight and they sure have saved me some bucks. Nitrile gloves are a bargain and my last purchase was a tile saw - did the kitchen and saved a bundle.
CJ
Member
I like HF for hand tools and gadgets that will only be used occasionally for light duty work. For tools that are used hard and often, I move up the food chain a bit to stuff like Craftsman or better. I’ve never bought any HF power tools as I don’t believe they will last.
Big Fred
SWCA Member
I've got good stuff and I've got Harbor Freight. Never really had many problems with Harbor Freight, broke the occasional impact socket and broke a 3/8 universal joint. If I made my living pulling wrenchs I'd use something better but for what I do most of their hand tools work. Never used any of their electric tools other than a 1/2" drill I bought years ago and it still works good.
smith revolver cop
Member
If you have one of their stores close buy, it's great, because you can see if what you're buying is "basic" or "cheap"! I've bought stuff at the store, and been very happy. I used to get their catalogues, but I'd be a little bit hesitant to spend much money on something I couldn't see first.
Pretty much junk. For a basic hand tool as a one time deal or back up to keep in the car or RV, boat or such they are OK.
They do have a good return policy though, so I guess you can't loose to bad.
I had two electric items, not work at all and will never buy another electric tool.
I move up the food chain ad get "quality" Northern junk.
They do have a good return policy though, so I guess you can't loose to bad.
I had two electric items, not work at all and will never buy another electric tool.
I move up the food chain ad get "quality" Northern junk.
ralph7
Member
i have never had a problem w/their stuff.
the cheap float chargers they sell work as well as a $30 battery tender and mine lasted longer than the *** tender that went south on me in less than a year..
i use their air tools and they work great!
commercial quality? no, but great for the price.
the cheap float chargers they sell work as well as a $30 battery tender and mine lasted longer than the *** tender that went south on me in less than a year..
i use their air tools and they work great!
commercial quality? no, but great for the price.
ChattanoogaPhil
Member
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We've got a HF Tools here in Chattanooga. I think they are great. Never walked in there without buying something. One of my favorite purchases was a $6 dremmel type tool. Had the perfect sanding drums for Pugsters nails. Used to pay $8 at Petco. That tool has paid for itself many times over. Lifetime supply of Zip Ties in a large plastic container, cheap tarps... second set of lawnmower tools for the basement... that kinda stuff. Can't beat em.
turbo38gn
US Veteran
I'm an x Snap-on tool dealer and tech rep, been a mechanic all my life and other than buying a master tool kit when I was a kid from Craftsman when they were actually made right here in Springfield, Ma. at Moore Drop Forge... I have always bought and used Snap on for everything, home, shop my race trailer all fully equiped with Snap on Tools and boxes. Now that I got that out of the way....
A Harbor Freight store opened down the street, I checked it out and found a few things I would buy. Like it's been said, I'm not buying anything I may use alot.. I still want my basic hand tools from Snap-on, all my cordless tools at home are snap-on... But today, as a matter of fact, I bought a nice little roller tool box on sale for 350.00 for my reloading "stuff" and whatever else. Now I would not use this in my shop, but it should work and last for light home use. I've bought a few odds and ends for the shop, but I'm very selective, I don't buy for quality or price, just for value if I feel it will get the job done. I looked at some small files for my tinkering, no way, total junk, I'll get em from my S-O dealer next week.. I could go on and on about what and why... time to eat... and work on organizing the tool box.
A Harbor Freight store opened down the street, I checked it out and found a few things I would buy. Like it's been said, I'm not buying anything I may use alot.. I still want my basic hand tools from Snap-on, all my cordless tools at home are snap-on... But today, as a matter of fact, I bought a nice little roller tool box on sale for 350.00 for my reloading "stuff" and whatever else. Now I would not use this in my shop, but it should work and last for light home use. I've bought a few odds and ends for the shop, but I'm very selective, I don't buy for quality or price, just for value if I feel it will get the job done. I looked at some small files for my tinkering, no way, total junk, I'll get em from my S-O dealer next week.. I could go on and on about what and why... time to eat... and work on organizing the tool box.
truckemup97
Member
I buy lots of stuff at HF. Gloves are a big one. I like the white knit gloves for when I'm handling "special" freight. I wear them until the dirt shows, then throw them away. If you watch the sales, you can get six pair for $3.50. Throw a couple of pair in the trunk of the car, under the seat of the pickup, add a tarp in each place, 'cause you never know when you'll need one. And since I seem to be a little rough on multi-meters, I buy two when they're on sale for $5 or less.
They have some good stuff, and they have some junk. You have to decide which is which....
They have some good stuff, and they have some junk. You have to decide which is which....
Bruce51
Member
value
I have had a HF bench grinder for several years it is still going strong.
Bought a power grinder/handgrinder it lasted far longer than I thought it should. I have their air brad nailer,half inch crown stapler and about four spray guns. The $20 spray gun works as good or better than my $200 Devilbiss. I bought a whole box of carbide router bits for less than a single bit from Sears. They are all still good.
Don't buy the air hoses they fail quickly. The nitrile gloves a bargain.
You can save a lot of money at HF.
Bruce
I have had a HF bench grinder for several years it is still going strong.
Bought a power grinder/handgrinder it lasted far longer than I thought it should. I have their air brad nailer,half inch crown stapler and about four spray guns. The $20 spray gun works as good or better than my $200 Devilbiss. I bought a whole box of carbide router bits for less than a single bit from Sears. They are all still good.
Don't buy the air hoses they fail quickly. The nitrile gloves a bargain.
You can save a lot of money at HF.
Bruce
HF runs some good sales and puts coupons in many popular automobile magazines. I needed a cherry picker to pull an engine last year and found one on sale at HF at something like half-off and used an additional 20%-off coupon and got the thing for less than I would have paid to rent one for an afternoon.
Like others have said, it's a good place for cheap oddball tools you'll only use rarely or occassionally.
Like others have said, it's a good place for cheap oddball tools you'll only use rarely or occassionally.
ChuckS1
US Veteran
Lots of cheap pliers and screwdrivers that I don't mind losing after the wife and kids get their hands on them...
Evil Dog
US Veteran
Anytime I need disposable tools, I'll head for Harbor Freight.
John Ross
Absent Comrade
I've bought a bunch of their air tools and love them. The $35 air belt sander and $30 air screwdriver have been used a LOT and work great at 1/5 the cost of other makes.
Impact sockets, long breaker bars, aluminum racing jacks, small pancake air compressors, magnetized welding clamps, good scissors for 99 cents, the list goes on and on.
BTW they sell a better jump box (1200 amps, $70) than any other I've found under $250 and that's saved many a stranded friend with a dead battery in the winter.
Nothing I've ever bought there has ever broken.
That said, I buy my sockets from Snap-On and my files and hacksaw blades from mfrs. like Starrett...
Impact sockets, long breaker bars, aluminum racing jacks, small pancake air compressors, magnetized welding clamps, good scissors for 99 cents, the list goes on and on.
BTW they sell a better jump box (1200 amps, $70) than any other I've found under $250 and that's saved many a stranded friend with a dead battery in the winter.
Nothing I've ever bought there has ever broken.
That said, I buy my sockets from Snap-On and my files and hacksaw blades from mfrs. like Starrett...
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