Projects Shout out for HF sanding discs

For better or for worse, Harbor Freight (or any of the cheap importers) has had a tremendous impact on the car hobby. One big plus is they put the cost of many formerly expensive tools into the price range of the hobbyist; 'back in the day' buying any sort of air tool would be a weeks wages when your choices were Ingersoll Rand or Chicago Pneumatic. Were those top quality tools? Absolutely, but if you couldn't afford them, how good they were was moot. Same thing can be said for machine tools and shop equipment. When the cost of even used 'US built' equipment exceeds what the same piece can be had brand new from HF, if your budget was low, HF could prove to be your only choice.

The downside is HF and other similar importers put severe price pressure on the 'quality' manufacturers, and particularly for the ones that mostly catered to the 'consumer' market (as opposed to the industrial/professional market) like Sears, they reduced quality to compete. And HF quality has improved over the years, so the disparity isn't so great anymore, in some cases there's no difference. Putting a 'Craftsman' sticker on the identical item available at HF doesn't make it worth 20% more.

It would be great if I could write the big check for all 'name brand' stuff, but the reality is I can't, so HF and the other importers allow me to own tools I'd otherwise have to do without.

 

One more comment. Making blanket statements that this or that manufacturer makes junk or quality doesn't tell the whole story in many cases. Even some quality manufacturers make tools that are poor choices as it's not a tool they specialize in (usually being a copy of someone else's tool that they offer to have a 'full line').

Case in point: I worked as an inside wireman (electrician to most people) for 35 years. Over the years I would get brand-new apprentices pretty regularly, and it was always amusing when one showed up with a full set of Craftsman hand tools/tool pouch on the first day. First thing, I would point out to them that these aren't 'professional' quality tools and that's what you need as you're doing a professionals job. The answer was almost always 'But they're guaranteed for life!'. That's fine I would say, but are you going to leave work and go get a replacement when one breaks? First, I'm not going to be happy when you can't do your job because you don't have tools and have to leave; the work I need done to stay on schedule isn't getting done. Second, you aren't going to be happy when I dock your hours while you're gone, and that 'free replacement' isn't so free now. Next thing, I'd stop at the wholesale house after work and buy a pair of Channelock brand pliers. Next morning, I'd throw away their Craftsman 'adjustable pliers' then gift them the Channelocks. The Sears pliers produced more barked knuckles and blood blisters than you can count... terrible pieces of ****. By the end of their first year of work, usually the only things left of that Sears tool kit was the pouch and the hammer. Even worse was the kids that showed up with swap meet/hardware store/raided Dad's tool box kits. I bought a lot of hand tools for these kids over the years... The Apprenticeship Board finally put out a 'required' tool list (specifying brands in many cases) about the time I retired.

With that said, the shop I worked for did buy from HF or similar 'cheap' imported tool sellers on occasion. Almost always, it was for a specific tool needed on a specific job and by and large, their tools performed well enough.

 

You are correct about Channel Locks. Nobody makes anything that compares to them. The same with Vice Grips. They are the only locking pliers that work.

 

The old saying "you get what you pay for" has the gone the way of "made in the USA". HF offers the hobbiest builder an option to buy tools that were previously out of reach to the home builder. I bought their larger "A" frame style hydraulic press and it has worked very well the last several years and was 1/2 the price of a name USA press. To be honest, that press spends more time collecting dust in the shop than actual usage, but when you need one, you gotta have one. Same for slip rolls, sheet metal brakes, etc.

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I bought my 4 foot finger brake from ENCO, they were having a 30?% off sale with free shipping, think it ran me 260 bucks to my door about 6 years ago, works fine for me and as often as I use it.

 

I love Enco, they carry all the accessories for machine tools that HF doesn't. That's HFs worst failing for their shop tools IMO; lack of post-sale service, and an extremely limited selection of accessories. Enco also sells imported stuff (many are the same or very similar to HF) and their stuff isn't junk. I'd never heard of them until I was doing some work at an military aircraft machine shop and one of the machinists turned me on to them. No stores though, so shipping can be an issue...

 

What ever happened to Buffalo Tools ? To me they were what HF is now only years ago, as a traveling road show.

 

To the OP, 3M DA disks have the plastic peel away film on the back side if you buy the little individual 5 packs but the big rolls do not. I generally just buy a couple of the small packs when I need them, I don't want them getting dusty, like you said.

As was said, I like the cutting wheels and flap disks from HF, they seem to be top quality and very affordable. I have gone through a few 4.5" grinders too although the last one I got, doesn't have the screw in side covers to replace the brushes, which is something I really liked about the old kind.

Otherwise, it pays to read the reviews. Some great stuff, some not, some that can be great with some work put into it. It's definitely not all bad.

 

Got me Buffaloed. The last time I saw any buffalo tools was in gross mans lumber.




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Yes, when buying 5 packs at AP stores, they have the peel away pads, thing is at 6 bucks or so for 5, pays to get the HF rolls, can't recall if it was a 50 or 100 roll, but the HF rolls have the peel away pads as well.

 

My dad said if you need a tool buy a good one. He had a few cheap tools that he said looked to good to throw away but were not quite good enough to use. For some reason every time I go into a Harbor Freight I remember those words.

 

Generally I agree with your Dad, but some of us are on a thin budget, say you need a 3 foot sheetmetal brake, do you save up for a year or so to get a Pexto, or opt for the $100.00 one at HF, and get that project out of the way this weekend?

 

This argument kills me. Sure, there's a lot of stuff at HF that is ****, there is a lot that will work.

If you can't afford an expensive tool for your "hobby" what are you supposed to do, take up crocheting toilet paper roll poodles?
I also love to imagine the cold chill on you "made in 'Merica only, f-your Chinese ****" people when you've made your last payment on your Miller Welder, you finally put your reading gl***es on, bend down to tie your shoe and see this
Lastly, I have been a carpenter for 32 years. Every single day, I use tools. Tools, tools and more tools. They put food on my family's table. I work with different people all of the time. A lot of them are douche bags who call me out for using cheap tools. I hold my arm out directly in front of me and drop my ****py Ryobi impact driver 5 feet to the ground, pick it up, pull the trigger and it always works perfectly, then I say "I've used this gun every single day for ten years. Now let's see you do that with your new $349 Bosch, creampuff. No? Didn't think so."

If you can't make it work with what you've got, you 'aint got the right stuff. You talk like you've got softballs in your shorts when you're sportin' marbles.


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Im with you clunker!!!! Who gives a f*** what kind of tools you use if you are getting **** done. Life is too short for this school age bantering.

 

Budget36.I have to watch what I buy at H.F.{some stuff is junk}but the purple paint gun with the gage works fine for me.I use them a couple of times and just throw them out and get a new one. I got to get 1 of their good in pacts wrenches.Bruce.

 

Dirty Old Man, I have had a H. F. small grinder and works good .I have had it for about 4 years .Thants a long time for H.F. stuff.LOL. Bruce.

 

Hell, ain't nobody sayin' HF is professional grade. Point is, there's some usable stuff there. Those that chose to dis it straight across the board are missing the point. It never was intended as a "go to" store for the discriminating professional, never will be. Hell yea, pro tools are pro tools. Pros pay the price, and rightfully so. I would too if my livelihood depended on it. We ain't all pros though...

 

Look for "Made in Taiwan" on the HF stuff and you almost always get a better tool. Taiwan is the new Germany.

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I blew an air line in my shop and burned up my campble hausfeld compressor I needed it bad so I bought a HF 2 cyl compressor pump. Long story short I used it for two years repaired my old one. THEN I mounted it on a board used my table saw motor on it pumped air down my old water well to fill my catfish pond!!! Ran three weeks straight. Still pumps air.

 

I like the way people bag on Harbor Freight and still go in to shop around. I have been using HF tools for many years and have had very little trouble with any of it. I laugh at the ones who spend top dollar on Snap On and have it break or run down faster the Harbor Freight stuff. I see it a lot.

Not all of Harbor Freight stuff is Chinese.

 

Enco is no more, Taken over by MSC. Manhattan supply co.

 

Yup, and a while back, too.

 

Thank you harbor freight for your 3 year old generator that ran non stop during IRMA to power my house and the house across the street. Now I will change the oil put some sta-bil in the tank and run the non ethanol gas out . I only use non ethanol gas . sorry corn farmers but your **** ****s. It will ready for next time. Sat for over 1 year . Poured gas in it , pulled the rope twice and it was running. Damn imported ****.

 

I buy those 4 1/2" grinders for $9.99. Usually have a couple around.I set one up with a cutoff wheel,one with grinding wheel,another with sanding disc.That way I don't have to stop & change for different jobs,just grab the appropriate grinder.When they wear out(and they will) I just throw them away & buy another.We live in a throw away society today,this is as cheap as it gets.

 

Some HF stuff is a good value for my home renovations and automotive hobby.
I have had good luck with 4 1/2 grinders, mutipurpose cutting tool, step drills, SDS hammer drill(for concrete), cut off wheels, 10K trailer winch, etc.
Love the close quarter electric drill but it is fragile so I bought the warranty for it after the first one broke the gear drive.
Not so good luck with the portable band saw and belt grinders.
I agree that the Ryobi impact driver is great.

 

Agree their quality is all over the place. But, considering the price and the fact that almost all the brands that were good in the past now sell junk, I'm pretty happy with HF tools. Let's say I spend $20 for a tool that would cost me $199 from one of the very few remaining 'quality' tool brands. Since I am not a production shop I only do one car every couple years. So, I may have to replace that tool once or twice in my lifetime. But, I'll still be hundreds of dollars ahead of buying the 'good' stuff. You have got to consider also that any warranty on the 'good' tools will most likely get you a Chinese replacement sooner or later. If you had told me 25 years ago that my Craftsman tools would all be foreign made **** now, I wouldn't have believed you. Heck, I even had some Mac tools that needed warranted and they made me exchange the whole set instead of just the broken piece because the new stuff was made in China. Most of my air tools are HF. The newest one is 7 years old and I haven't had to replace any of the tools yet.

 

Channel Locks are good. No question. But, the best pair of pliers I ever laid my hands on were actually Knipex.
https://www.amazon.com/88-01-300-SBA-Alligator/dp/B000UX0QUQ

 

I have yet to make more money using a Snap-On over a Craftsman tool doing a job. I think you just have to watch what it is your buying now-a-days. I have an Earthquake impact from HF that I've beat the **** out of for the last 7 years and it's still going strong. Also, there are lots of comparison video's on YouTube between all the major brands and HF tools. Some tools are really good, some not.

 

Very little of the Harbor Freight "Chinese junk" is made out of the U.S.A.
Snap-On is made in America and also Spain, China, etc.

There are a ton of tools that are made better then Snap-On tools. Snap-On tools are no better then Craftsman, MAC, Harbor Freight, Bull Dog, Pittsburg, General or Genesis.

Snap-On tools also *****'s out their name for marketing and most importantly, money. The next time you are looking at Snap-On tools at the store, yes I said store because they are not only sold on trucks and vans, look at the retail box and you will see where it is made. Snap-On tools might have their name on the tool but flip the tool over or read the label and it will show that it is made in the U.S.A., China, Spain, etc.

I'll stick with my Harbor Freight "junk".

 

Well . . . if it weren't for HF I wouldn't have half the tools I have in my ****nal. And if you check, a lot if not most tools you can afford from other dealers are all Chinese and look a whole lot like thy came from the same molds as the HF stuff. Some of their stiff is junk right out of the box, no argument there. But a lot of it is really good. I have a suite of air tools I bought maybe 30 years ago that I oil once a year whether they need it or not, abuse the **** out of them and they a re still going strong. I defy anyone to show me better bang for the buck than their $14, 4 1/2" electric grinders. Here are 4 of the purple gun paint jobs I have done over the years. People can bad mouth them, that's their right; I will keep using them and have the satisfaction of a whole stack of fun tools I could never afford otherwise.