Technical Harbor Freight December deals

Sorry about your experience. HF tools were sketchy for sure 15 years ago but over time, they have found the Chinese suppliers with much higher quality stuff. I would put the current Warrior/Bauer/Hercules tools against any big-name tool company's Chinese tools. I have been abusing a Grizzley Chinese drill press from that era and it is still going strong. Only problem over the years is the thread wallered out on one of the 3 spindle handles. Easy fix, just epoxied it back in. My guess it was made by the same factory as the Central Pneumatic one you bought. If you are around them and need a tool, give HF another chance.

 

I am right there with you. Can't justify a good one, no time to build.

 

There's also the advantage of them being made by an American company, in America.

Snap-on wrenches were made by the JH Williams company. Until Snap-on bought them in the mid 90's iirc. You can often find the (same) Williams branded wrenches (tools) cheaper than the Snap-on branded ones.

 

I have the bench top HF drill press, I am guessing it is close to 20 years old now. It was a gift from a neighbor. Anyhow, before I got it, I had looked at a bench top model from Craftsman. I don’t remember the price, but a visit to HF told me I could save some money. After having looked at the Craftsman, and the HF press, they were one and the same,China. Big difference, Craftsman had nicely applied red and black paint, rather than communist grey. Other difference, the Craftsman had big foam Pom-poms on the handles, the HF had small,’hard knobs. Fancy paint and Pom-poms weren’t worth an extra $20-30,

 

For members who haul cars,
these ratcheting cable straps
and axle straps are on sale



If you have etrac, these snap in rings
are on sale too



Supplies may be limited at you HF
so call ahead and have them check stock.


Jim

 

About thirty years ago I grabbed a cheap Taiwan import drill press out of the s**** bin at work because the table support was broken (the company was good at buying cheap ****). 5/8" drill chuck, 1/4 hp, four speeds with a low of 700 rpm. I cast a new heavy duty table support out of aluminum and kept upgrading it whenever it fell short of what I needed to do. Now it has twelve speeds with a low of 40 rpm, 3/4 hp forward/reverse motor, a milling attachment, and a concrete-filled column for extra rigidity.

 

Never got a set with a skipped size!! Haven't gotten Quinn tools but do have several 'modern' HF socket sets and am very happy with them. I think they have gotten the message and are offering upgraded Chinese tools comparable in quality to the name brand ones.

 

I just watched a very interesting video about H/F's business model.. People (meaning "me" ! ) buy tools there with the thought process that it's a cheap tool that'll get me thru my current project. If it breaks , its so cheap ,I'll toss it and go right back to H/F and get another.. They have built a billion (or billions of ) dollar on that business model..1500 stores and growing .
That said , in my shop I have a 4 1/2 " angle grinder for every size wirebrush , flap disc , cutoff disc , etc. . Saves me time fiddling with changing them ...Bought all of them when they went on sale there.. Have at least 4 in reserve .. I'd bet my total cash outlay for all of them would not exceed what one top of the line grinder from a major brand would cost...
You just have to train yourself to resist all the other cheapo stuff that seems to mysteriously jump into the shopping cart when you go there... I still haven' t learned to do that..
Thats why their business continues to flourish...

 

Plus, HF hired some honcho from Snap-On who is pretty much copying Snap-On's products just Asian made. Not saying it's right, but their Icon tools are really decent for the price.

That said, not sure I would buy them being they are blatant Snap-On rip offs, but they certainly have a market.

I was fortunate to have a best friend who was a Snap On dealer, so I got a lot of their tools at a killer price.

 

Maybe their Icon end wrenches, but the Pittsburgh wrenches are total **** “use as a last resort” compared to either my forty year old Craftsman or the two sets I bought last year.

I do have one of the old orange grinders that still works, except for the handle that exploded while sitting in the toolbox in my unheated garage. It’s rough as a cob, but I still use it once in a while.

 

The very first tool I bought there, had exactly that mindset: if it works once it'll be worth that price. It didn't. And the store smelled bad, it just reeked. Don't know if it still does.

 

Smells like raw rubber!!

 

Yes the old Pittsburg, Chicago Pneumatic, Central, etc., tools were sketchy. But in the past several years they have upgraded. I would put their Warrior, Bauer, Hercules, Icon tools up against ant of the name brands. I think HF is now getting their tools from the same Chinese suppliers the name brands use.

 

I was just there today!

Yes I have bought a couple of the cheap angle grinders, because I also hate changing discs, etc. For that price how can you go wrong.

I NEVER forget that their stuff is mostly junk though.....I would never use any of the **** they sell to hold down a transport customers car in my trailer. For that I only use MACS Stuff (top of the line). There are times you can get along with a cheaper alternative, but when my reputation is on the line...That is not the time!

In the last year or so I have been hooked on their 20V battery stuff (Bauer & Hercules). Just today bought the Bauer Caulk Gun, I love the Bauer Lube Gun & the Hercules 3/4 impact will out power my older pneumatic stuff with ease.

God Bless
Bill
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ar-transport-hauling-open-or-enclosed.614419/

 

I went out to HF and bought one of their cheap battery powered 4-1/2" disc grinders to go along with my corded HF disc grinders so i could go outside or under the car and not drag a extension cord behind me and I really like it too. Only had it about 8 months the but it's worked good so far.

I wish they'd come out with a battery powered DA. Got to play with one of the high dollar ones a guy at work uses all day and I loved it. No air hose to pull around with you and when it's nice outside he'll DA the fenders, doors, hoods etc outside to enjoy the weather...


...

 

I love Harbor Freight.
My neighbor shops there a lot. The other day he walks over with 7 corded Makita and Milwaukee grinders and drills. Giving them away as he went all battery operated that he got at HF. No problem,I'll take them.
Have a stack of 16 and 18V sanders grinders drills that didn't cost a dime as the owners wanted the higher amps and mostly bought at HF.
Air powered tools have been getting to the point the pro mechanics I know are asking if I want to buy their Snap On Matco Mac Cornwell air tools for cheap as they don't use them and could use the space. They do not shop at HF much.
I'm fine with hand me down tools and HF has been good to me even though I don't shop there.

 

A while ago I bought a Snap On 3/8" stubby ratchet at a yard sale for 50 cents. The internal gears were stripped. I had a mechanic friend have his local Snap On guy fix it. He was told that Snap On will repair their tools EXCEPT for the ones sold to the government. WTF?

 

I remember when Craftsman meant quality. Some of my stuff is 45+ years old and still going strong. I've looked at what's available now; looks nice, but doubtful it's made to last. I have bought a few cheap tools in the past, but only because they were going to be sacrificed (cut/welded/modified/hammered) to get the job done.

 

I would buy cheap broken Mac trade-in tools from snap-on then have the Mac guy warranty them. Then do the same from Mac guy, buy broken snap-on trade ins and then have snap-on warranty those.

Both caught on after awhile but I bought and had so many tools they just kinda lived with it...

...

 

Government tools have a letter added to the number on them. The warranty may have to do with the price the government paid, or it was done that way so there are fewer tools sent home. I have been told of guys shipping their toolbox home when they were discharged. I know my neighbor did that in 1972

 

Woodward Fab or Eastwood are good options. Baileigh is more expensive.

 

Quinn sets are Taiwanese and are literally the same exact sockets as Kobalt, except cost less. I bought a few sets of them a few years ago and abused the hell out of them building my 61 Olds. They have performed flawlessly. I think they represent the best value in the HF socket family.

 

I was in HF yesterday, everything just looked better and more of it!

 

On those skipped sockets, aside from a 'hole' in the rack, it also is annoying when you want to use them in non standard ways, like press work. Sure, you aren't supposed to do that, but how many use a socket to drive in a seal?
I would prefer to buy American, but I am now a hobbyist so they aren't subjected to 40+ hours use a week and I'm not trying to beat the book. Also, I worked for a company that got bought out by SnapOn, and know they aren't the same company it was 50 years ago. Some of the SO stuff I bought while wrenching are broken and it's like pulling teeth to get warranty or they will refuse (timing light).

 

I too am frustrated by missing socket sizes. Bought a set of metric sockets, went to the junk yard to get a late model Mustang rear end, Found U-joint bolts are 13mm. Only socket in the set was 13mm. The thing that surprised me is they sell sets with empty socket holes!

Of course sockets are intended for press work. One of their prime uses.

The thing that soured me on buying 'name brand only' and made me a HF for life customer was when I wanted to get a really good die grinder. Shelled out $$$ for a Mikita. First use was opening holes in a 16ga sheet of stainless steel with a carbide bit. 10 minutes into it, the motor on the grinder flamed. Took it back to the tool store and they said I misused it so they wouldn't stand behind it. Wanting the best, I shelled out $$$ more for another one. Half hour into the same project that motor went up in flames too. Went to HF and got a $20 grinder have been using and abusing it for 15 years, still going strong.

 

I use a rack like this but longer (One for 3/8" only and another for 1/2") so no missing holes.
Handles picking up and moving around easily without losing any. Great for junkyard runs.

 

Those work great but I am such a sloppy worker, I leave them on the floor and step on the lugs and ruin them. I tried the plastic ones but they eventually break too. I bought these 1/2", 3/8" premium racks form HF and these are bullet proof. They have strong magnets on the back too.

 

I see an opportunity for an creative entrepreneur!

 

That’s funny….
I bought a Bauer cordless angle grinder and it’s been great so far. It’s a little awkward due to the heavy battery in the handle but you get used to it. I put a Dewalt brand cup wire brush on it to de-rust some areas to be welded and it started flinging wires everywhere. I think the cordless HF grinder spins a little faster than my corded one.
I also bought the little Bauer 3” cutoff tool and it’s pretty useless, no power. I’ll use it for cutting tack welds, maybe put a diamond blade on it for cutting little oddball stuff. If I lived closer, I’d return it.
I also have found that the HF two gallon sprayer is a great value. Compared to similar sprayers available at the local stores, it’s way better - more spraying with less pumping. I added my own nozzle because I like the pattern but the one it comes with is ok. Besides weed spraying, I fill one with water to use as a fire extinguisher when welding or grinding behind my shop.
HF is the only place that I have found tire irons or “s****s” as my old boss used to call them. Long smooth bars with a tongue on each end. They are so useful. I have an old manual tire machine and these s****s have made mounting tires on magnesium wheels much less stressful.

 

@ekimneirbo first, because ask 10 techs and get 10 answers and second, the more expensive ones do!
One example
https://newageproducts.com/products/pro-series-3-0-socket-set-tray-53980/?variant=01tOG000008zaKcYAI