Reason 426-a why not to buy at HF

Probably a year ago I bought some razor blades pretty cheap at Harbor Freight.

Here’s why not too… I just find it funny how much garbage they can sell.

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Jimbo

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Yeah. They are a cheapo store for the most part. I will go in there every so often and get some of their .50 cent paint brushes  that I use and throw away. Don’t bother cleaning them. I do have a vice that I got at a good price that has held up pretty well.  

we have the Canadian version of this store called ToolTown same stuff pretty much, low price comes with low quality…..I hardly go there regardless of any sales ect ect I have learnt long ago you are better off paying for better stuff….I don’t want 3000 zip ties of only 3 work…… 

They have a few things that are good values but easily twice as many items that are more hassle than the savings are worth. I was thinking of buying some of those Japanese razors that Dan and Eric made a video about, the price is pretty reasonable and I’ve had good luck with Japanese tools.

A brand new HF opened up by me about 1-2 years ago, and you can eat off the floor in this store. I love taking my boys there to kill some time, I never buy any of their tools, just cheap batteries, drop cloths, and other odds and ends.

Yea I mean some stuff is okay, didn’t realize how bad these razor blades are, that was after about 5 minutes of use.

Jimbo

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I’m not gonna lie b4 I found TIA I was shopping there a lot then found that man I spent my hard Erned money on crap!!! But like some have said not everything is bad we have some floor jacks at the shop from there and there awesome even the aluminum ones they have are sweet my buddy also has a set of there impact sockets that he’s been using for the past year and half that haven’t failed him yet.

Bigmikez wrote:

I’m not gonna lie b4 I found TIA I was shopping there a lot then found that man I spent my hard Erned money on crap!!! But like some have said not everything is bad we have some floor jacks at the shop from there and there awesome even the aluminum ones they have are sweet my buddy also has a set of there impact sockets that he’s been using for the past year and half that haven’t failed him yet.

I have a set of impact reducers and adapters that are pretty good, i have a few other odds and ends, generally i don’t buy anything with a cutting edge, a power tool, or really anything that can wear down, which covers 80 per cent of the store, lol, but their sockets aren’t all that bad.

jimboslice wrote:

I have a set of impact reducers and adapters that are pretty good, i have a few other odds and ends, generally i don’t buy anything with a cutting edge, a power tool, or really anything that can wear down, which covers 80 per cent of the store, lol, but their sockets aren’t all that bad.

When you say impact reducers do you mean these?

http://www.harborfreight.com/10-piece-12-in-torque-limiting-extension-bar-set-69870.html

I have been thinking about them but so far have resisted.

Yes, I haven’t had a whole lot of usage time on them, but I haven’t broken one either. I’m afraid to get to crazy on these that I’ll end up with these sheared off in my socket.

Jimbo

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I’ve heard nothing but good from everything socket at HF, including their ratchets. The professional line is specifically commonly used with good results(I hear).

I have some of their pliers and they’re great for the price. You can tell they’re cheap because of the finishing but the teeth are fine, they close properly…the cutters on them suck but there are better tools to use than needle nose pliers to cut a wire. Their micro flush cutter is the only cutting item from HF I’d recommend, it’s extremely sharp. It’s even sharper than my replacement(after someone tried to cut what I assume was a small nail, UGH) that are made in Italy.

Their screwdrivers are also hard to beat for the price, they’re cheap enough it doesn’t matter if they get lost or damaged.

I’ve also heard their drill bits are pretty good but I only have experience with their left handed drill bits and I’ve only used those once.

I’ve had very good luck with their hand tools (Sockets, Ratchets, Gear Wrench) I’ve purchased some of their power tools as well. Just set your expectations accordingly. If it’s something I’m not going to use that often, I don’t see a reason too spend a ton of money on something that may just sit in the box for years on end.

BMack37 wrote:

 

Their screwdrivers are also hard to beat for the price, they’re cheap enough it doesn’t matter if they get lost or damaged.

 

I agree and disagree.  I bought a set of screwdrivers from them and while most of them have sort of held up ok, alot of the philips have been stripped from the screw heads haha.  Literally turned a screw and twisted the philips head like play dough.  I think the whole set of i think 10 drivers was maybe $8 tho so yeah its so cheap you dont really care if they get damaged. But at the same time, I still feel like I wasted money even if it wasnt much.

for me over years I have grown to want good quality tools, I figure if I am doing the job at hand I want something that is not going to give out at 12:30 AM and I want to finish. I went down that cheap road years ago and it is really not worth it in the end. 

DamianD wrote:

I agree and disagree.  I bought a set of screwdrivers from them and while most of them have sort of held up ok, alot of the philips have been stripped from the screw heads haha.  Literally turned a screw and twisted the philips head like play dough.  I think the whole set of i think 10 drivers was maybe $8 tho so yeah its so cheap you dont really care if they get damaged. But at the same time, I still feel like I wasted money even if it wasnt much.

The tips are definitely softer than a good quality screwdriver but no questions asked lifetime warranty for such a cheap screwdriver is another bonus. My favorite part of having a set of these is I don’t mind loaning them out, I don’t look like an a-hole saying “no” and I don’t care when they abuse it.

Disposables, ancillaries and consumables are all I’ll buy at Harbor Freight.

Got a decent set of leather gloves there once. recently purchased a blowtorch to start my smoker with, it’s been really good and only $19. Haven’t had much luck beyond that.

Scott B wrote:

Got a decent set of leather gloves there once. recently purchased a blowtorch to start my smoker with, it’s been really good and only $19. Haven’t had much luck beyond that.

I have a tool belt from them it’s not bad I don’t use it much I bought a husky that is much nicer

Jimbo

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I bought the new Milwaukee tool belt with suspenders. I have had them for about a year and still havnt broke it in completely. I had a craftsman before and it was almost wore in two years. Milwaukee has made the best tool belt on the market right now.

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I got The tool belt from tool barn. Check um out if you haven’t. They had this belt cheaper than any where else. At the time.

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I’ve never bought from them. I’m not even sure we have one in NC? Sounds like I don’t need to ant how. Lol

It’s all cheap stuff like Walmart of tools

Jimbo

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Scott B wrote:

Got a decent set of leather gloves there once. recently purchased a blowtorch to start my smoker with, it’s been really good and only $19. Haven’t had much luck beyond that.

Their professional mechanic gloves are also nice.

I bought some saw horses from them one of them broke after a couple months I have some magnetic screw trays from them to I love those

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The closest one to me is 45.5 miles away. And is in NC. But I live in the mountains. So that’s like 2 hours. Lol. Is I’m hickory NC. I is the only one in NC.

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If your ever on a tight budget and need some impact sockets there impact sockets hold up very well for a very good price my co worker here at the shop has them and they’ve lasted about almost 2yrs now and try get used pretty much everyday, oh also there floor jacks are very nice especially the aluminum rapid pump jack we use those every single day to tie down and take off cars on the frame rack. Other then that everything else is bluh…

Bigmikez wrote:

If your ever on a tight budget and need some impact sockets there impact sockets hold up very well for a very good price my co worker here at the shop has them and they’ve lasted about almost 2yrs now and try get used pretty much everyday, oh also there floor jacks are very nice especially the aluminum rapid pump jack we use those every single day to tie down and take off cars on the frame rack. Other then that everything else is bluh…

Your right about the Impact Sockets Big Mike (Pittsburgh Brand I think?) a Steamfitter I know used them replacing steam expansion joints on one of our jobs and he loved them.

I’ve had great luck with all of their hand tools. No complaints.

I’ve heard good things about their sockets, but the prices are pretty similar to other lower end sockets.  In my experience most of their tools that aren’t junk also aren’t so cheap.