Rate the Harbor Freight Tools Thread- Pass or Fail?

If you know quality tools then you'll know what to look out for and what not to buy but sometimes the "sale price" if a little too hard to pass up on.
Seems like anything that is supposed to have a sharp edge on it is either junk or too soft to do any good.
But I do love the store. My boy and I go shopping there like women in a shoes store.
Bought the chain saw sharpener, had to modify it to hold the chain but after that is was a steal at $29.
Got a demo hammer/chisel/drill. It was weak out of the box but as it was use on several jobs it got stronger and now rips right thru concrete.
The air tools are weak.
The screw drivers with the hex on the end for a wrench spin. The hex is not connected to the shaft of the screw driver, just molded into the plastic handle. That ****** me off.
For the most part it's a fun place to go for tools.
 
About two years ago, my son bought 1/2 inch and 3/8 inch impact sockets from HF. None of the sockets have shown any unusual wear, and their fit on fasteners is very good. Beats the Snap On prices.

Oh, he bought the extensions at the same time. All are still alive and happy.
 
I bought the electric chain saw, it is a toy. But, my Stihl chain saw is 4 hours north at the camp where I use it most. The electric saw went through a pile of old pine boards this week that were going to the dump (rot and insect damage). Even though the HF saw is junk, it does what I need for $42.
Larry
 
I never gave much thought to how good or how many HF tools I have until I read this thread. Mine are TNTC (too numerous to count). There is a HF store about 2 miles from my house so I usually get there once or twice a week. Sometimes I only spend a couple of bucks, but I always use a 20% discount and a free gift certificate. I have about 30, 25 x 1 tape measures and as many flash lights as well as scissors and digital test meters. I'd have more tapes but I give them away. Oh, I forgot about the free screw driver sets I have them everywhere.

Anyway the question was about machine tools so yes I do buy them, I have a 6-inch dial indicator, a mechanical digital mic, a digital mic as well as a number of their dial indicators. All are accurate enough for a hobbyist. I also have a number of other USA made indicators and mic's. I just like tools even imports.
 
Just got the black 4 drawer tool cart for $99.99 with the coupon. Really impressed with it. Nice place for tooling and leaves my three shelf cart for chucks, vises and the parts I'm working on.
 
9" benchtop drill press-very handy, been in near constant use for almost 4 yrs., quill could be more stable when extended-PASS.
DrillMaster 4 1/2" grinder-used the snot out of it for close to a year and it still works great-PASS
DrillMaster 3/8" cordless drill-holds a good charge with plenty of power-PASS
5/16 Carbide lathe bits-only used one, but it worked great-PASS
Dual canister rock tumbler (grandson's)-works, but drums push off towards the ends and rub against a plastic stop which will start squealing-JUST OK
String line-handle was broken solely due to spring pressure when it came out of the box-FAIL
Voltmeter (cheap red one)-works as good as any I've used, but leads could be longer. The free ones work even better!-PASS
Dial caliper-very accurate and smooth-PASS
Screw/Nut/Bolt assortments-all good-PASS
Heat Shrink-works fine-PASS
Tarps-PASS
Corded sawzall-works like a champ, but haven't used much-PASS
Hydraulic orange lift table-used daily in a busy trasmission shop for close to 10 yrs without a failure, but is starting to leak a bit-PASS
Hydraulic 20 ton jack-used on press in trans. shop for over a year-PASS
Air hose and fittings-work like they're supposed to-PASS
3lb. hammer-handle broke after 4-5 heavy blows but replacement has worked fine-PASS, but...
Screwdrivers (set with grey handles with orange and green inserts)-stood up well under heavy abuse-Pass

I know there are a ton more, my experience has been mostly positive, but I try to check them out well before I purchase.
 
tripletap3 said:
Best money I have ever spent at HF. I have used this thing heavily for months. MASSIVE PASS.
http://www.harborfreight.com/25-liter-ultrasonic-cleaner-95563.html
This same ultrasonic cleaner sells for 3 times as much when it is marketed toward firearms use.
I mix 50/50 Simple Green but be careful, it is powerful enough to remove most anodizing and some cheap bluing.
Don't forget your 20% off coupon!
Click to expand...

The smaller, cheaper, lighter duty one works well too.
image_18431.jpg

http://www.harborfreight.com/ultrasonic-cleaner-3305.html

I use it for multiple purposes. Everything from the coffee container in my espresso machine, to my spectacles, to the barrels of my Ruger LC9, Glock 26, and the disassembled bolt carrier of my AR15.

Simple Green is a powerful cleaner but as noted in the previous post it can remove blueing, and in addition it will attack aluminium.
For carbon removal I've found that 50/50 hot water and dish soap (Dawn) works well in the machine.

M

image_18431.jpg
 
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Bought the digital calipers. Battery cover broke first use out of the box trying to check the battery compartment. Must be zeroed every measurement.
 
tplankar said:
Bought the digital calipers. Battery cover broke first use out of the box trying to check the battery compartment. Must be zeroed every measurement.
Click to expand...

They have new one out now that is pretty decent. It has a grey body, rather than the black. It turns on automatically when you move slide and it holds the calibration, even if it auto shuts down. It also has imperial fraction mode. I have 2 of them. They're good. I also have the crappy ones that your describing, they do suck but they work in a pinch. I have 5 or 6 of these calipers scattered around the shop because I have a tendency to put things down and forget where I left them. :rolleyes:

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk
 
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