mickster

OH NO!!!!
There goes my $$$$$

And if we move-there is another one within 20 miles...

Imo000

Yeah but you get twice as much (questinable quality) tools than anywhere else!

auzivision

95% of all my HF purchases have exceeded my expectations. It took me a couple years, but eventually I can't find anything I 'might be able to use'. If you think you might, you porbably will. Follow this thread to help ease the pain:

http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthr...ghlight=harbor

Mark SF

I went to a Harbor Freight store once - never ever again. It was like feeding time in the shark tank at the aquarium. A thousand people running around stuffing carts with cheap tools, and a few harrassed staff struggling to keep up.

I wanted a hydraulic press, I'd seen it in the catalogue. So I asked a staff member to help me find one. Took ten minutes, then he told me it would appear at the side door, and in the meantime to go to the counter and pay for it. Well I got to the counter, and they wanted the bar code. I explained why I could not provide a barcode. Stalemate. Couldn't find the staff member, couldn't pay for it, at that point I got in my car and left.

GlenL

I'm enjoying my new HF pneumatic nail gun.

Just needs to last through one garage re-siding. If it does, it'll have exceeded my expectations!

My HF impact driver lasted through an attempt to use it. Jammed in unusability without getting the screw loose.

And that's the way it goes...

brad@tirerack.com

Have one close to us and I have several of the hand tools. When I go in that place its bad news. I use one of their $14 polishers to get some pretty good results polishing. The nice thing about the stuff is not caring if it breaks. I used to but all Craftsman, but it isn't US made anymore either, so may as well buy the cheap stuff and throw it out.

86'928S MeteorGrey

If you're on a budget, you can't beat HF. Sure, I've got a roll away full of Snap-On and Mac tools... And some things (like GearWrenches) need to be high quality. But lets say ya need some deep impact sockets.... (27mm in particular for the crank bolt) The price is AMAZING, and so far they have far exceeded my expectations. No breakage, and no problems. Plus they carry a lifetime warrantee. Need 3/8" extensions? Tell me how the "cheap" HF are going to do any less of a job than a Snap-On counterpart... I even purchased two sets of 3/8" drive metric allen sockets in long "ball end" form and some standard length that actually have outlasted some Mac allen sockets I have used. I suppose if you have money to burn, go ahead and buy the expensive stuff. It feels great opening a drawer to beautiful, expensive tools... But it's poor economics unless you wrench for a living and have a truck pull up to your shop once a week to replace stuff and entice you with new, shiny goodness. It's no wonder I didn't go bankrupt with the revolving account offered by the Snap-On guy....

F18Rep

We're sure to get bashed but I'm an HF fan too. There have been a few disappointments and I hate going in there on Saturdays - what a bunch of grumpy old white guys (???). Some of their stuff is too cheap even for me but here are a few of my favorites:
The little bandsaw that could - has been through at least a hundred blades.
The orange 4.5 in grinders - I have at least 6, just buy one for every different disk (flapwheel, grinder, flat disk, etc).
14 in drill press, again a thousand hours and have only replaced the belt and a chuck.
Propane heaters - I don't really trust any heater but no power for 4 days due to an ice storm (temp below 10*f), a couple of these can save you or your neighbor's life.
Rotozip like grinder - have only used it twice - paid for easily.
11 hp generator - almost never use it but one tornado and its paid for. I think I've loaned it more times than I've used it.
Small arbor press - best $12 I ever spent.
I've also bought from Grizzley, which is imported and had even better luck there.
PS...American made tools is something that will vanish on OUR lifetimes....sad, now we specialize movies and hamburgers... Bruce

BC

Which arbor press F18?

Landseer

Factories in China are typically contract manufacturers making multiple brands to brand-specific specifications.

I use a heavy electric impact wrench, twelve ton press and a lot of handtools from HF.

I only wish the 12 ton press were square. Fortunately it never sees max force.

F18Rep

BC... 1/2 ton - Now $32 - I frequently suffer/benefit from a disease known as CRS (can't remember shinola)...;] Bruce

Speedtoys

After a year, most things purchased from HF make a pretty good hammer.

danglerb

HF is half a book right instead of left from my normal fwy offramp, actually a better way to go during peak traffic times. I print out 4x/page coupons for 20% off and free flashlights.

The have three basic types of tools, OK, OK for very limited use, and almost doa junk. Quality not only varies from product to product, but over time with good or bad batches. Prices are constantly changing, sales, coupons, and about half of the "sale" flyers are mostly items at regular prices. Wait for a real sale, and use a 20% off coupon (can't be used with any other coupon).

Use common sense, examine the tool, and consider the consequences if it fails. An oring for 14 cents isn't a bargain vs one for $3 if it takes an hour to replace it. A cheap fuse isn't a bargain if it frys your wiring.

This is a GREAT thread, use the search button, but beware getting hooked on buy expensive tools.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=27192