Harbor Freight - what sucks and what doesn't list

arceeguy

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Since we all like to tinker with mechanical things like our motorized bikes, and do it on a "low budget" - I thought it would be helpful to post which tools sold at HFT are good, and which ones are not.

I have found that most of the tools are OK if you are not a professional contractor/mechanic that depends on them every day - but there are some items that aren't worth the shipping from China. There's a reason why some have nicknamed them "horror freight". When I placed my first catalog order from them several years ago, they were "Harbor Freight Salvage". Where did the "salvage" go? I can risk $25 on a 4.5" grinder, but I wouldn't trust a HFT pacemaker!

Post your experiences both good and bad!

Also - let's not get into China bashing. It's all about getting cool tools cheap. For example, a HFT auto feed wire welder for 90 bucks can get a fellow MB enthusiast making custom frames where they wouldn't be able to afford the $500 Miller or Lincoln.


The Good-

Central Pneumatics 2HP pancake compressor. - I've had mine for several years now. It is oil lubricated with cast iron cylinder. Great for dusting things off with compressed air, and to run small air tools. I even run my IR 230C impact gun with it. (in short bursts, enough to knock off lug nuts with ease!) Can be had for $89 on sale.

4.5" Grinder - Had mine for about 5 years. It hasn't failed me yet! Gearbox is noisy, but my buddies Home Depot Ryobi is worse.

Bench Grinder w/flex shaft - I use this one a lot. I had to replace the brushes already! (it is about 3 years old)

3/8" butterfly impact wrench - Great for automotive work. Knocking off oil drain plugs, caliper bolts, etc. Small enough to fit in most spots, powerful enough to break small fasteners (less than 15mm bolt head) loose.

Electronic Fly Swatter - yep, this one is silly, but they had a pile of them on sale for $2.99. Kills flies and yellow jackets with a hearty "SNAP" and a bright blue spark.

Engine cleaning gun - add compressed air with some detergent mix and end up with a sparkling clean engine. (cars, lawn mowers, etc.) Works great on alloy rims blasting away brake dust with ease. I do have to crank up my 220V compressor to run it continuously, as the little HFT compressor cannot keep up.

6.5 HP Horizontal Shaft Engine - we beat the living carp out of these Honda GX clones and they keep coming back for more. Disable the governor, and keep it under 5000RPM! The ones I've purchased had the "Central Machinery" brand and were made by Lifan in China - a large motorcycle/scooter manufacturer. "Greyhound" is a new trade name for HFT. I have one of their new 2.5HP engines, but haven't powered anything with it yet. (it is going on a rack mount motorized bike project)

The Bad -

1/2" drive impact extension set - The metal is too soft and considerable energy is lost in the extension and not applied to the nut or bolt you are trying to hammer off. My Craftsman impact extensions are hard enough to transfer the power, yet not shatter like a standard extension would. The HFT set is the one I will loan out. :devil2: (Golden Rule #1 - Never loan out tools you actually want back!)

Anything cordless. (and less than say $35) The chargers are most likely overnight trickle chargers, the batteries self discharge in a week, the motors are not too powerful.

1/2" Drive Electric Impact Wrench - Rated at 240 lb/ft, I doubt it exceeds 120 lb/ft. Very disappointed. Another one to loan out. :)

1/2" Drive Impact Wrench - This one is kind of a toss up. For 20 bucks did I really expect it to deliver 250 lb/ft of torque? It doesn't, but I do use it quite a bit. I'll pull out the Ingersoll Rand impact if this one doesn't have the balls to do the job.
 
I have this welder and use it with flux-core wire so that I don't have to worry about running out og gas. Flux-core is very much more dirty that regular Gas shield welding and you have to remember this when you have to make a second pass. Always make sure that you get in there and clean the first pass REAL well, if you leave **** in there to be covered up and mixed into the weld, that is what you will end up with, a **** weld.
I use mine as a method to tack things into place, where I can permanitly weld the joint later, with a better system like my Lincoln stick or one of the Miller MIGs at work. I gusee that I will have to figure out another MIG system now as I have just been laied off until the trucking thing gets better.
As for HFT and others like them, (Tractor Supply, Notrhern Tools), for the most part they are good tools for the price and light home use. I have a shop with a ton of tools, many of them from HFT. These are the tools that I may only use a few times a year and would not have them if I had to pay the Snap-on or Chraftsman price. That is just the fact of the matter and take that into consideration when I use them. Also, remember on many of the tools that HFT sells, they offer 100% replacement, Sears dosen't even do that anymore.
 
fh tools i have used and abused beyond any notice! they work for my crew when i was drilling waterwell they have been in the mud etc.
 
Well, the Gods have smiled upon me (for a freaking change)
I went to HF for my welder, 20% coupon in hand, and LO, that welder was on special for $89!!!!!! NOT the $99 advertised! I even considered the $12 ext. warranty...but, NAH!
If it Fails...I'll eat the cost...I guess...if I have to. (Hmmmm. sounds almost like some kind of pledge/prayer)
SO, Anyway, 20% off that and I'm a happy scooter!
The rest of this week will be adding a 20amp outlet in the G'rage and playing with my new toy.
WC
 
I bought the 24 inch aluminum caliper the other day... Seems to be well built. measures up to 24 inches, at 1/128th inch precision. I got a chuckle with their description though - "...measuring bumper heights..."

WHY would you need to measure a bumper height to the nearest 128th of an inch? :geek:
 
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......WHY would you need to measure a bumper height to the nearest 128th of an inch? :geek:

You sir, obviously have NOT been pulled over by the New Jersey State Police in a (slightly) lifted truck! :giggle:

Did it come with some yak fat (chinese vasoline) for those encounters with the police? :pinch:
 
My 2 pennies: Harbor Freight sells many marginal quality items, but they sell them so **** cheap who cares? Also HFT is a boon for the beginner DIY'er, or someone looking to try something new. Why buy the top of the line stuff for something you may only do once, or occasionally?

Furthermore, at HFT you can buy a 3/4" drive socket wrench set for half what you would pay for a 3/8" Craftsman socket wrench set. So you can afford to buy a massive breaker bar just to bust loose one bolt. Who cares if you never use it again?

In short, I love Harbor Freight Tools.
 
Obviously a China man did somewhere along the line!
"been pulled over by the New Jersey State Police in a (slightly) lifted truck?"
LOL!

Not throwing a dark shadow on this thread at all because I own some HF tools.

Has anybody ever checked for radioactivity?
 
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