sharknoob

Mighty Vac --- Pass then a fail after I went for beers and drove over it on the way back in the garage

Gtaebr

Pass...Metric tap and die set....... 7" portable wet tile saw


We are blessed with a retail store here in town and the "sidewalk sales" are great.

Always get the online price first and print it out to have with you... Often cheaper online and they will adjust the price down.

hacker-pschorr

Noid Light Set - PASS. Even comes with a fiber optic extension so you can see the light from inside the car. Only $20

Spark plug tester - PASS - goes between spark plug and wire, flashes really bright if there is a spark.

$3 Multi-Meters - PASS considering the price - they seam to be off by about .3 - .5 ohms (that's what they read at zero ohms).

1,000lb furniture dollies - PASS - Work great for 928 engines, transmissions etc...

Megaphone - PASS - I gave one to Tim Murphy's daughter during a 928 GTG. Needless to say Rachel (his wife) didn't like it very much.

12" compound miter saw - PASS - It was only $180, needed one this size for a new floor I was putting in. I figured if it lasted this one project I was ahead since rental was about $200 for a week. I purchased the best blade I could buy (not wanting to chance a cheep blade that came with it). Four years now I've loaned it out countless times, still going strong.

heinrich

FAIL:
air tools (weak)
Tap and die handles from set
Fuses. FIRE HAZARD!!! And recalled
zip-ties
Carpenter's Hammer
Battery charger/maintainer (red metal one the size of a fist)
compressor line fittings

PASS:
tap and die set (not the handles)
multitesters (volt/amp/ohm etc)
ac power tester (size of a small kitchen knife)
wrenches
side cutters
pliers
***-along
ratchet straps
engine stand
ramps
jack stands
bottle jack

m73m95

I have actually had great luck with their power tools. I own a 4 1/2 grinder, 1/2" drill, right angle drill, and Heat gun.

All 4 work just as good as the sears/craftsman counterpart.... which is scary because the HB electric tools sometimes cost less than 1/3rd of the other stuff.... so even if it does break, you'd have to go through 3 of them before you can justify the cost of a craftsman tool, which may break just as easily.

Their screwdrivers all fail as screwdrivers, but as a prybar, they are great .... and they are soft enough to bend into whatever "custom" shape I need to pry on something.

Same for the wrenches. If you need a custom bent wrench to reach around something, they are soft enough to bend and not brake, like an expensive wrench.

tveltman

+1 on the crappy air fittings. Metric taps are also great in my experience, and I didn't have problems with the handles either

Pass:
leakdown tester
vacuum pump
engine hoist (although if I had it to do over again I would find one with folding legs, the footprint on mine is larger than I'd like)
ratchets and sockets especially the ratcheting box end wrenches
industrial water trap (huge pass)

Flybry07

BIG PASS:
3 HP, 21 Gallon, 125 PSI Cast Iron Vertical Air Compressor
Central Pneumatic
94667-0VGA
I don't know how I lived without it! I've had it for 6 months and it runs all my air tools including my 1/2 inch impact gun (BTW their cheap die grinders and cut off
tools work FINE)

PASS:
-Engine pulley holding tool
-Leak down tester
-Assorted special use pliers (orange handle Chicago maybe)
-Front wheel drive axle impact sockets (large sizes and very strong)
-Prybar set
- Orange dead blow hammers

FAIL:
-Impact screw driver
-Strut spring compressors


I have worked as a professional tech for a few years and since they opened in my area my tool box is now half SNAP-ON half harbor freight!
Most of the stuff is pretty decent and so cheap even compared to craftsman the higher prices can't be justified especially the once in a while tools like long reach pliers and right angle die grinders.

Just use your best judgment and open the box right in the store if it looks real chintzy, sloppy casting, etc.(like the spring compressors) then it is junk.

If it dosn't look half bad ( pliers , pulley holders, etc.) then it will probably hold up just fine!!

Warren928

One thing with HF is:

If there are two grades of similar tool available, one should be listed as drop forged or a higher grade of metal, always get the better one in that case. Don't get wowed by the super cheap one's price.



Most of their stuff works satisfactory.

Mongo

Central Pneumatic die-grinders, all models - PASS!

They work even better when you oil them often and maintain them like a snap-on!

BBX

Any body seen any good coupons right now? I need at 20% off, 30% would be great!

danglerb

Here ya go, single item 20% is in several magazines.

http://www.harborfreight22.com/r2/r4...&keycode=0000&

Mongo

I highly recommend their R134 AC gauges. Helped me diagnose the Fiancee's A/C problem on her Jetta.

tveltman

I thought of a really big fail:

Venturi vacuum pump for vehicle A/C systems. I tried it, it wasn't very good, and went out and bought the actual vacuum pump. The venturi tube unit was about $12, the pump was more like $150, but the pump met my expectations far and away, and is an extremely impressive pump. I know for a fact that it is stronger than some of the pumps we have in chem labs (although not as strong as the REALLY strong ones). I suspect for most applications, the HF pump will do the trick.

WallyP

While the fuses have been mentioned, it is worth saying again - DO NOT USE the Harbor Freight auto fuses! They do not break the circuit when overloaded, and have caused fires.

The 16-gage air nailer from them failed from the most common cause, a failed piston bumper. When I called, the answer was that there were no service parts available for that unit. The lack of a two-dollar piece of plastic meant that the gun was worthless.

M. Requin

Big PASS - 4 ton porta-power hydraulic set- great quality, only the case is cheap but who cares.
Conditional pass (because I haven't used it enough) 3/16 hydraulic riveter. If it keeps working as well as it has so far I couldn't get along without it. Riveting is a PITA, this makes it really easy.