Harbor Freight

HMP

HMP

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Out of curiosity - what do you trust from there?
What will you stay away from?

Im looking at picking up some ratchet clamps from there - they have theirs for 3 bucks vs the cheapest at Lowes/HD being 6+ each

As well as a few other, small items.

ive gotten some random things there before and had no issues, but never anything with moveable parts
 
Their clamps are fine. I have a bench mounted belt sander from them that isn't too bad (I use it for sharpening). Nitrile gloves, masks, a few odds and ends. I'd avoid anything that will require precision or reliability. I'd also avoid most of their woodworking hand tools. Most of their large power tools aren't very good and probably aren't much cheaper than better quality stuff that you can find elsewhere.
 
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Like: Tarps, sandpaper, and some of the zip ties. Rock tumbler and food dehydrator.

Dont trust: Everything else
 
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Chasing the bottom dollar for some things seems to always end badly.

Important things like tools, guns and, um, wives are usually best not bought in the high mileage, low rent, or scratch and dent isle. Although sometimes people get lucky.
 
I only trust things from HF that I intend to use once and only once and even then its a 50/50 chance I should have bought two of whatever it was that just broke.
HFT%2Bpurchase%2Bdecision%2Bflowchart.jpg
 
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the blades for the multi tools work good and are priced decent.

Cheap enough drill bits that I can use them for one job and toss.

The 15 dollar tv wall mount works alright too.
 
I gambled on a $70 scan tool today. Hopefully its years before I can tell if its worth a hoot or not
 
Depends what it is and try to look at it in person when buying if possible. Have used impact sockets from there with good luck depending on set, some are thinner wall just have to watch. Also have a buffer that works pretty well but do not use it everyday. Bought couple 3/8 tow chains so far been ok. Gloves and storage and consumables are usually not to bad depending the items. Bought my share of 1 time use junk from there as well. I usually try to compare the items with other stores and depending how often I will need it make a pick. Power tools or high use items I am a little more hesitant with, the impact sockets are the exception but been burned with name brand sets of those as well so just figured I would much rather pick up a new set every 5-10 years cheap if I break it than one high priced set that doesn't last any longer. Plastic storage bins well its a plastic bin not much to wrong.
 
Certain Pittsburgh hand tools are quite good. The open-ended wrench sets are awesome, for example.
 
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I've bought and am please with their:
Nitrile gloves
Cheap tarps
Moving blankets
Socket adapters
Floor jack
Jack stands
Throw away paint supplies
Steel tool stand (bolted 1" plywood and mounted my miter saw)
Bins the OP linked above
Foam floor tiles

I end up finding such great deals on craftsman, Kobalt, and Irwin tools that I find myself rarely looking at HF tools.
 
HMP said:
What Im looking at are the following:

https://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-ratcheting-bar-clampspreader-62122.html
In 6", 12", and maybe 18"

Also, looking at getting a couple of the stacking bins, ala Akro Mills type of plastic bins

https://www.harborfreight.com/clear-stacking-bin-62806.html
Click to expand...

Mine lasted a decent amount of time but most eventually broke. I used them for holding stuff that's not gluing up easily. Used them briefly as clamps for kydex presses. The one's I had the most problems with were red instead of the grey insert in the link. The grey insert ones seem to be built better and last longer.

I buy my heat guns there. Those things are awesome. And I use them a lot.
 
Since the one by me always has long checkout lines I have plenty of time to notice a pretty consistent stream of contractors buying tools for a job and then returning them. Wonder if they realize they run a tool rental business lol.

I have good tools but hate for them to leave my place, so often I will clone tool sets with HF sockets, wrenches, etc. for the back of the truck or other vehicles. Haven't counted but I probably have 3 or 4 sets, they'll certainly do the job for on road problems and if they rust a bit or get lost I wont cry real tears. I probably have 10 of their cheap/ free multimeters, not as good as my Fluke but disposable and again get you out of a pickle.

That said, their rubber tie down straps are junk. I wouldnt buy their rechargeable power tools. Stuff with a cord like their Fein Multitool replica I've gotten quite a lot of use out of, but with better blades bought elsewhere.

And like Bed Bath and Beyond, dont ferget the coupons.
 
Jerzsubbie said:
I actually use those bins to store my mags, holsters, and other odds and ends. They work great but are smaller than those you mentioned in another thread a couple weeks ago.
Click to expand...

I ended up buying some Akro-Mills bins that are almost the exact size as those listed in the ad...but stupid me bought the 'nesting' and not 'stacking' bins...
So I got the wrong thing and happen to see these in their ad for a low price.

I had originally wanted larger bins, but I think that if I buy enough of these that this size will be perfect for the shirts
 
They're running a 25% off coupon today.
 
Jeppo said:
They're running a 25% off coupon today.
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Yeah, I saw that. But I really dont think Im going to leave the house today ha
Its freaking cold and I need to get some stuff done here, still.
Their usual coupon is 20% So its not like it'll be a huge change in price (that said, savings is savings, I get it)
 
I hear their big impact guns are quite good quality. I think it was the earthquake line or something close to that.
 
I bought a tiny compressor for about $37. The only thing it is good for is blowing off guns while cleaning and an occasional top of of tires. Fortunately, that was the intention.
 
DrDover said:
I hear their big impact guns are quite good quality. I think it was the earthquake line or something close to that.
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I am very happy with the Earthquake 1/2" air impact. Only use it a half a dozen times a year for probably 3 years. It's a beast for the $80 I paid.
 
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I have been happy with one of their wooden work benches, a bench grinder, and a vise, all of which get light-duty homeowner use. A cordless drill I bought sits useless because the battery pack died after a few uses. I tend to stick to small items with few or no moving parts since you can generally judge the quality by looking.

What is anyone's favorite freebie? I have a couple of the small led work lights with magnets, which are stuck on the door of the freezer in the garage (handy for finding things in the freezer, or quickly checking under the hood on the car). The free tarps are okay but small. The measuring tapes are okay for home use. The plastic scissors with stainless blades are good but I haven't seen them for free in a while.
 
For DIY use, I find a number of their tools and other items work fine. Read the product reviews on their site and it usually becomes clear if the item is good or garbage, or if it's good with a particular tweak or has a peculiar quirk.
 
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Their bar clamps will break with the first or second use. The cheap plastic internals break when you try to apply pressure.

I will not buy any more of them.
 
Love them freebies:

  • Have those blue led lights stuck to the breaker panels in the garage and under the house
  • Black led flashlights scattered all over
  • Blue tarp that covers my shooting table. I'm surprised how long it has lasted
  • More multimeters than I can count
  • Three of the magnetic parts holders that are perfect for gun parts and my wife uses one for pins while sewing
  • Microfiber cleaning cloths in the gun cleaning bin
  • The magnetic tool holder bar that got taken apart to yield magnets for holding magazines in the safe
 
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I use one of these to exercise my hand ;)

image_20427.jpg
 
Slosolo2 said:
I would dispute the sandpaper part of this, they don't carry anything worth what you pay for it.
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Agreed. I bought some of their sand paper to try out on my 1/4 sheet sander, and I got less than I paid for. It tears easily and wears through pretty quickly. I stick with the red gator, red diablo, or purple 3M papers. I even found the gator paper at Ollies a few weeks ago for like 1/2 price.
 
Jerzsubbie said:
Agreed. I bought some of their sand paper to try out on my 1/4 sheet sander, and I got less than I paid for. It tears easily and wears through pretty quickly. I stick with the red gator, red diablo, or purple 3M papers. I even found the gator paper at Ollies a few weeks ago for like 1/2 price.
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Some Gator is made by Ali Industries in Fairborn OH but they buy a lot from other makers, it's a family business and they're nice people. Diablo IF it's marked made in Switzerland is produced by sia Abrasives (Bosch) and of course 3M everyone knows. There are other quality producers like VSM and Klingspor (US HQ in Hickory NC) none of them sell at Harbor freight. I have seen Norton (St. Gobain) at Harbor Freight but it wasn't their top level stuff. Korean stuff like Sunmight or DeerFos are much higher quality than the Chinese materials at a very good price but are often not branded or are private label so it's hard to tell who made it if you don't know.
Of all that mess if you're sanding wood and buying from a big box store I'd say the Swiss Diablo is best. up to the P150 then use 3M Silicon Carbide 180 or 220 for a final. Ordering from Klignspor's retail store would probably be better if you are sanding a lot of wood. If you get on their list they have a trade show/ sale every year that their vendors come to in Hickory and they have some pretty good deals there.
 
They have the best selection of wheels. Wheelbarrow/cabinet and such.
My carpenter buddies have one of their big hammer drills. They torture that thing without mercy and it will not die.
Everyone always wants me to fix their extension cord so I'll get a bunch of the HF male and female plug caps. They hold up great at two-fiddy.
We got one of their big-ass channel lock slip pliers. The thing goes to like 5 and a-half inch pipe. We tried to break it that one time by hitting it with a 2 lb baby sledge but it still lives and works.
They gave me a freebie micrometer one time. Yeah a micrometer..digital one..the very thing I would never buy from Harbor Freight. It's worked spot on for years now, but I would still never buy anything like this from HF. Stick to the channel locks. ;)
 
Bottom line is if you are a homeowner doing something only occasionally, Harbor Freight is more than adequate. If you are a pro mostly not. A failed tool will cost more in labor trip than a quality tool that is reliable. Clamps, tarps, hangers, etc... I have no issue running to harbor freight. I bought a small pump for water in my daily job and it lasted 5 minutes and burned up in smoke.
 
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The one thing I bought at hf that surprised me the most was a 1/2 drive ratchet with a collapsing handle. I have had if or almost 8 years and it is still working great. I have used sledge hammers and cheater bars.on it and it is still working well.

HF stuff is what it is. I bought one of the mig welders for 200. I use it about 5 times a year. I could not justify the price ofa name brand for that amount of use. I also got one of the gas engines to replace the 1978 breaks and scatters engine on my tiller. The whole engine cost $30 more than the carb rebuild kit I needed. That engine is on it's 3rd year of tiller duty and it starts on the 2 pull of the rope.
 
Northern Tool gets a lot of my business. I despise the local Lowes. People at most Northern Tools are very helpful and somewhat knowledgable. Lowes- clowns who hate their employer. Lowes got replaced by Amazon at this house.
 
I usually only buy simple and cheap items from HF. I stay away from air and electric driven tools. I only purchase pneumatic tools when they have a table full of them and I can open 10-20 boxes to find the one with a spindle that turns smoothly. Anything with an electric coil or capacitor is likely to fail. That said, twice I bought a vibratory polisher with a 2-year warranty when it was on sale. Cheaper than the ones made for polishing brass, and guaranteed to last for two years.


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26 gallon air compressor. Cheap made but I will use it twice a year maybe. Used for sanding down my truck and a small trailer. Good for occasional use.

Water pump. Was junk. Burned up motor first 15 minutes.

Concrete mixer. Cheap metal. Thin and flimsy. Northern Tools was also cheap and flimsy. Will use about 10 hours a year on jobs. Wobbled like crazy. Has to be RE-enforced right after assembly with more metal. Motor is low end.

Pegboard hanging kits. Low cost and just like everybody else’s.

Allen tools. Work fine.

Socket set for kids to borrow. Heck no they are not taking my good tools out of the garage. Socket set ratchet gears slip right out of the box.

Orbital pneumatic sander. Pure junk. Leaks air everywhere. Only needed for occasional use.

Clamps. No problems but I’m not using them like pros use them. Daily woodworkers beware.

Heat gun. Works fine after two years of limited use.

Tarps. Thin. UV destroys their tarps quickly. Hot brass will burn right thru.

Gloves. Fine.

Sandpaper. Never again. Spreads like notebook paper.
 
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