Rate the Harbor Freight Tools Thread- Pass or Fail?

[george wilson]

The "L" shaped ones are the ones I meant. I have a set of the long T handle ones,but they are of a good brand,which my old head can't remember right now! Elkind?

 

[Fabrickator]

Some extra hand tools to keep in my trailer, 3- 4 1/2" angle grinders (one each for cut-off disk, wire wheel and sanding), power hacksaw for no particular reason except it comes in handy occasionally, horizontal 14" band saw, shorty angle drill, heat gun, and some other stuff I just use occasionally. Certainly not pro quality to be used daily in your occupation, but good enough for, wait for it: occasional use and the price is right.

 

[Nogoingback]

I am surprised that HF Allen wrenches would be good. I have found that cheap Allen wrenches are too soft,and VERY soon fail,with their corners getting dubbed off till the wrench just rotates in the hole. I ONLY buy good brands,otherwise they are soon useless.

Honestly, I was surprised as well. I had very low expectations when I bought them. The packs I bought are labeled "Pittsburgh", which is, I guess, one of the HF brands. It's interesting to
scan down through this thread: some people have good experiences and some are terrible. In my view, that's the biggest problem with HF or other retailers the deal in a lot of import stuff:
we usually expect a certain minimum level of quality from a retailer. With HF, you never know what you're going to get. Also,
I think that with the Chinese stuff, there is little consistency from factory to factory, and so different suppliers will deliver goods of different quality.

I had a conversation with an employee at Grizzly in Bellingham one time that was instructive. I was considering buying their 11" bench lathe and I asked him a question about parts availability
over the long term. He assured me that Grizzly tries to support their customers with parts, but then told me a story that suggested what the real situation is: Apparently Grizzly has a
representative in China who's responsible for working with suppliers over there. At some point, Grizzly stopped receiving product from one of the factories they did business with. The
rep tried repeatedly to contact them and got no response, so eventually he travelled to the factory itself to find out what the situation was. When he got there, the factory was empty and
abandoned.

Not trying to pick on Grizzly in particular here, but that's what we're dealing with. (I bought a old Logan in the end).

 

[jpfabricator]

The link twist drive belts pass.

Sent from somwhere in east Texas by Jake!

 

[owl]

regarding the 4 1/2" angle grinders, mine started acting up, so I took it apart. The problem seemed to be that the brush holders are almost tinfoil thin, and the brush springs are not very good. I stretched out the spring as best I could, and bent the parts for the brush holder back in shape so that they locked together, re-installed 2 phillips head screws, and it works fine again. I suspect that if I had let it go, that whole assembly could have burned up, but I got to it in time.

 

[Superburban]

I had a conversation with an employee at Grizzly in Bellingham one time that was instructive. I was considering buying their 11" bench lathe and I asked him a question about parts availability
over the long term. He assured me that Grizzly tries to support their customers with parts, but then told me a story that suggested what the real situation is: Apparently Grizzly has a
representative in China who's responsible for working with suppliers over there. At some point, Grizzly stopped receiving product from one of the factories they did business with. The
rep tried repeatedly to contact them and got no response, so eventually he travelled to the factory itself to find out what the situation was. When he got there, the factory was empty and
abandoned.

Not trying to pick on Grizzly in particular here, but that's what we're dealing with. (I bought a old Logan in the end).

The same could be said about many American companies. How long is a good time period for a company having repair parts available? Try finding many of the emissions parts for any car from the 70's. Or any lathe made in the 70's. Yes, many companies will get you parts at an outrageous price, and a six month lead time.

I would think a company like Grizzley would at a minimum have the company provide them with drawings and specs of every part, so Grizzley could have parts made down the line, or give or sell the costumer the drawings, so he could make them, or get them made. Grizzley does have a great system for parts, but I do have a problem with them (And most other companies) not listing older parts, when changes have been made to a product.

I would love to see companies place their parts specs in the public domain, when they go bankrupt, but I know that is only a dream.

 

[george wilson]

I recall that Sears used to guarantee spare parts availability for 10 years. I think that was a reasonable length of time. Years ago I had a LeBlonde Regal 10" x 24" lathe,made for the US Navy in wwII. Leblond Still had SOME spare parts for it even in the 70's. But,the trick was,they wanted ME to pay for STORAGE since WWII ! I thought that was outrageous of them. Let their parts rot on their shelves for all I care!! I sold that lathe.

 

[BGHansen]

Was given a 90A MIG welder; would have to rate it a fail when compared to my Hobart Handler 190. Lots and lots of spatter because it's an AC machine instead of DC. My project today is to convert it to a DC welder with a full-wave rectifier and electrolytic capacitor. Maybe then it'll be OK. If I'd have purchased it new my total investment would be about $150 to make it run DC. Was just at Menards and saw a Campbell Hausfield with comparable ratings for a little over $200, assuming that one is a DC already.

Harbor Freight $80 retail ($60 on sale) welding table, big pass for me. Sure, there are better ones out there for $1000, but it works great for my purposes.

Bruce

 

[alloy]

I've been using these Harbor Frieght extendable ratchets for some time now. I like not having to not have to take a short ratchet, and a long one in my small tool box when I go to the wrecking yard. I use the 3/8" to break transmission mounting bolts lose because I can't get use a 1/2" socket on one of them. I lean on it pretty hard and it just keeps coming back for more.

I give them a 10 out of 10.

http://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-x-38-in-dual-drive-extendable-ratchet-62312.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-drive-extendable-ratchet-62311.html

 

[The Liberal Arts Garage]

I recall that Sears used to guarantee spare parts availability for 10 years. I think that was a reasonable length of time. Years ago I had a LeBlonde Regal 10" x 24" lathe,made for the US Navy in wwII. L Still had SOME spare parts for it even in the 70's. But,the trick was,they wanted ME to pay for STORAGE since WWII ! I thought that was outrageous of them. Let their parts rot on their shelves for all I care!! I sold that lathe.

A good number of years ago ,the Tax People dropped the allowance for parts storageq
Costs--------Into the dumpster!--------BLJHB.
B