Archived from the Tools In Action forum (Hand Tools). This thread is read-only.
Lets try to keep this limited to tools that are cheap and available through retail regularly.
For example: Amazon warehouse, pawn shops, no.
HF/Sears’ regular price reductions, okay.
Let share our gems that are reasonably priced, good quality and just do the job we ask them to do. HF items welcomed if they do the job well.
HF gem here, the micro flush cutter. $4 regular price, $2 sale price and the only cutting tool I’d recommend from HF. This is meant for small wires or cutting leads off of electrical components. Blades are very sharp. http://www.harborfreight.com/micro-flush-cutter-90708.html
As an alternative to the HF micro flush cutter you have the Hakko cutter for the same price. It’s made in Italy and the grip is MUCH nicer but the blades aren’t quite as sharp: $4 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FZPDG1K
Tekton 30-piece hex key set. All the hex wrenches are beveled nicely and they have proven to be strong, I like these more than my made in the USA Eklind hex keys, which aren’t finished as nicely as the Tektons. $15: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I5TH074
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Extech electronic test lead kit, very nice leads and a nicely complete kit. These are also made under the Craftsman name and available from Sears. Either set is available for $18 or less: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0012VWUI6
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Tekton made in the USA slip joint pliers. I believe they are made by Wilde, available in 6.5″ 8″ 10″
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KLY1FAY
Tekton groove joint pliers(Channel lock) made in the USA, I believe they are made by Wilde, available in 5″ 7″ 10″ 12.75″ 16″ http://www.amazon.com/TEKTON-37524-10-Inch-Groove-Capacity/dp/B00KLY1IC4
Thanks for doing this. It’s the first thing I thought when I saw the other thread. Somehow I never seem to be the one who finds cheap tools that work unfortunately.
jeffmcmillan wrote:
5 minutes ago, jeffmcmillan said:Thanks for doing this. It’s the first thing I thought when I saw the other thread. Somehow I never seem to be the one who finds cheap tools that work unfortunately.
No problem, it’s mostly stuff I found based on recommendations or me just rolling the dice. I’m sure you’ve found some but they tend to slip to the back of your mind. I found a bunch just sifting through my Amazon past orders.
Nice write up BMack, I’m hitting up Harbor Freight tomorrow morning, i believe they are having their Parking Lot sale., I need to pick up some Welding gear…
Since you’re going to HF tomorrow let me add some more:
HF Warrior 100-piece security bit set, sale price is $10, normal price around $14. Decent bits, very extensive collection of bits. There is one annoying issue, the hex bits are no the proper size, you have to use the security hex bits. I simply bought other hex bits because I use the set more than most but for limited use when you need to fix a tool or xbox controller or whatever, it’s a must have at $10. Tekton has a set that is closer to $40 which is better quality but isn’t packaged as small. http://www.harborfreight.com/100-pc-security-bit-set-with-case-68457.html
HF Pittsburgh ratchet and PRO sockets and PRO impact sockets. These are very highly regarded by all who own them. The ratchets annoyingly have the reversing switch opposite than normal, which may annoy you. The ratchets are strong and of high quality, the pro sockets and the pro impacts are also very highly regarded. The regular impact sockets are considered junk.
HF Pittsburgh dead blow hammers, I personally don’t care for the handle but they do what they’re supposed to and they hold up well: http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/hammers/4-lb-neon-orange-dead-blow-hammer-41800.html
HF Pittsburgh ratcheting bar clamp/spreaders are very comparable to the name brand versions: http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/clamps/12-in-ratcheting-bar-clampspreader-62123.html
HF Pittsburgh quick release bar clamps are held in a high regard also: http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/clamps/12-in-quick-release-bar-clamp-62237.html
HF 1/2″ pipe clamp, I have no experience with these but I recently heard a great review somewhere. You will need to supply your own pipe: http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/clamps/1-2-half-inch-pipe-clamp-3813.html
HF Pittsburgh magnetic parts holder, often given away free with purchase via a coupon: http://www.harborfreight.com/4-inch-magnetic-parts-tray-90566.html
HF Chicago Electric Multipurpose/welders magnet: http://www.harborfreight.com/7-1-2-half-inch-multipurpose-magnet-holder-41629.html
HF 27 LED portable worklight. This thing is kind of junk but it works and it’s often sold under other name brands for more, including Sears. It’s often free with purchase via a coupon, it has a magnet and a hood and produces a fair amount of light. Great for a throwaway cheap light: http://www.harborfreight.com/27-led-portable-worklightflashlight-62532.html
HF Central pneumatic brass quick coupler set. Cheap and they work without leakage, can’t complain: http://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/fittings/brass-industrial-quick-coupler-set-5-pc-68237.html
HF Central Pneumatic Professional air tool accessory kit. The only complaint is the blow gun feels cheap(but it works) but the rest of the fittings and accessories are decent. I replaced the blow gun with another better one(http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0037QFFXG) at Amazon. http://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/air-accessory-kits/12-pc-professional-air-tool-accessory-kit-61388.html
At one point I got that security but set for 7.99
Jimbo
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I have had great luck with my 10″ sliding miter saw. Hundreds of cuts and it still works great. For $90 you can’t beat it. A friend has the 12″ double bevel and he likes it so far.
The ratcheting wrenches have held up well for me for the price.
I really like their Hardy gloves. Mesh with rubber coating for $1.99.
Their trim router with a coupon is only $19.99 and it works very well.
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Tekton makes some great tools I hear their USA pliers are pretty good.
Jimbo
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Dano123 wrote:
31 minutes ago, Dano123 said:I have had great luck with my 10″ sliding miter saw. Hundreds of cuts and it still works great. For $90 you can’t beat it. A friend has the 12″ double bevel and he likes it so far.
The ratcheting wrenches have held up well for me for the price.
I really like their Hardy gloves. Mesh with rubber coating for $1.99.
Their trim router with a coupon is only $19.99 and it works very well.
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Their gloves are pretty nice for the price.
JimboS1ice wrote:
8 minutes ago, JimboS1ice said:Tekton makes some great tools I hear their USA pliers are pretty good.
Jimbo
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I have the slip joints, they are nice. If I were to guess if someone handed me them, I would have guessed they cost 50 to 100% more than retail.
BMack37 wrote:
16 hours ago, BMack37 said:HF Pittsburgh ratchet and PRO sockets and PRO impact sockets. These are very highly regarded by all who own them. The ratchets annoyingly have the reversing switch opposite than normal, which may annoy you. The ratchets are strong and of high quality, the pro sockets and the pro impacts are also very highly regarded. The regular impact sockets are considered junk.
Far and away my favorite HF product. Though I’m still making up my mind on the flex versions. The new composite rats are good as well, though my simple mind cant get used to the quick release, but you can’t blame the tool for my stupidity…
I have the standard 3 ton floor jack, seems to be pretty good.
BK13 wrote:
5 hours ago, BK13 said:Far and away my favorite HF product. Though I’m still making up my mind on the flex versions. The new composite rats are good as well, though my simple mind cant get used to the quick release, but you can’t blame the tool for my stupidity…
I have the standard 3 ton floor jack, seems to be pretty good.
I’ve heard the floor jack and jack stands are good, same with the cheap Sears stands and jacks. Right now the jack stands are on sale at Sears for like $12, hard to imagine they can price them that low.
I’ve also read good reviews with the plastic creeper, though some complain about the casters and recommend upgrading them. I personally have no experience with any of the products I’ve mentioned in this post, just repeating what I’ve read.
I’m not a fan of the plastic creeper. It drags on the concrete and the caster’s catch. This experience is from fabricating a hitch for a truck at the company shop that buys almost exclusively from HF. Last I weighed myself I weighed less than 180 lbs so it isn’t an issue of weight.
I bought some of the newer poly air hose. So much easier to roll up compared to the old rubber stuff.
http://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-x-25-ft-polyurethane-air-hose-60353.html
I’ve been using the detail brush set quite a bit recently, they’re holding up really well considering it’s 2 steel, 2 brass and 2 nylon brushes for $2: http://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-detail-brush-set-93610.html
I’ve also been impressed by the brass industrial quick couplers: http://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/fittings/brass-industrial-quick-coupler-set-5-pc-68237.html
BMack37 wrote:
I’ve been using the detail brush set quite a bit recently, they’re holding up really well considering it’s 2 steel, 2 brass and 2 nylon brushes for $2: http://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-detail-brush-set-93610.html
I’ve also been impressed by the brass industrial quick couplers: http://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/fittings/brass-industrial-quick-coupler-set-5-pc-68237.html
I had that detail brush set it wasn’t bad they had them 99 cents last year
JimboS1ice wrote:
3 hours ago, JimboS1ice said:I had that detail brush set it wasn’t bad they had them 99 cents last year
That’s crazy they can sell them that cheap.
BMack37 wrote:
That’s crazy they can sell them that cheap.
I know right? Makes you think of what their profit margin is, but when you pick it up your like oh I guess it really does feel like 99 cents lol
JimboS1ice wrote:
6 hours ago, JimboS1ice said:I know right? Makes you think of what their profit margin is, but when you pick it up your like oh I guess it really does feel like 99 cents lol
Some of the Chinese stuff on eBay is just as crazy. How can I buy working items from China for $1-3 shipped? It costs $6 for me to ship something to Ohio.
I bought a kobalt 10-in miter saw cuts crazy size almost 12 in I believe. I know I can cut through a 2×12 with ease so atleast 11.5in lol. And has a lot of nice features I haven’t seen except on like 300 dollar saws. it was only 179.99. Definatly worth a look for someone that doesn’t have a lot of funds and needs a good miter saw
http://www.harborfreight.com/36-pc-12-in-horsehair-bristle-acid-shop-brushes-61880.html
Good and disposable for gluing
Well i just bought a m12 kit from ebay shipping from china for 38$
heres to hoping its the real deal. but yeah on a side note, lowe’s has a bottle ratchet thats really nice for 5 bucks i can’t find the link to it though.
pancing wrote:
21 hours ago, pancing said:Well i just bought a m12 kit from ebay shipping from china for 38$
heres to hoping its the real deal. but yeah on a side note, lowe’s has a bottle ratchet thats really nice for 5 bucks i can’t find the link to it though.
Huh wow straight from the factory huh? Lol!!
Kobalt 24v Max 3/8 Impact wrench.
Almost any Wilde brand tools.
KnarlyCarl wrote:
On 8/16/2016 at 11:22 PM, KnarlyCarl said:Huh wow straight from the factory huh? Lol!!
lottery of tools or lottery of shit, its a toss up \o/
BUMP because we all like new toys that work well.
Was reading Stuart’s latest blog post and was reminded of these Gorilla Grip type gloves that I bought on eBay that turned out to be really good. 12 gloves for $13.28 shipped. http://www.ebay.com/itm/291428848327
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Here’s an article I did awhile back. I have every one of these with the exception of the 20 Ton Press and they’ve all worked out well.
http://professional-power-tool-guide.com/2014/06/10-best-tools-you-can-buy-at-harbor-freight/
QuoteWhen you’re walking through the isles at HF, you see certain items like hammers and sandpaper and you say to yourself “they can’t possibly screw that up”……but they can. If there’s a way to cheapen an item to the point of complete uselessness, HF probably holds a patent on the process. But amidst the crap that serves no logical purpose whatsoever and the striking tools with the tinsel strength of cheese, there are some real gems to be had.
LOL love it
I have had excellent luck with the Pittsburgh 9pc hex socket set. I believe I paid like $12 for them on sale and I have abused them. I have torqued bolts down to 325ftlbs and not had an issue. Plus I have been know to use them on an impact even though they are not impact sockets and have yet to have one break.
I’ve only just bought these but very impressed with the light output.
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Husky gloves. Was something like 3 pair medium duty gloves for $10-$15. Also got 2 small impact socket sets from Makita for impact drivers in both metric and imperial. They were around $14 per set.
On Garage Journal, also on tap a talk there is a HF pass/fail thread. It has been going for years and there are thousands of posts. The problem with HF is poor quality control. One guy’s great find might not work out for the guy who takes his recommendation. Better QC costs money. They would rather refund or exchange the bad ones. Forget about most spare parts. I buy there but after 90 days it is a throw away if I can’t fix it. Some stuff is not too bad if you find a work around for some bad design problems. I am having fun with a band file I just bought there but I always expect to see smoke every time I use it. LOL.
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