Harbor Freight

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

I'm at the age where sometimes when I need a piece of equipment or gear it's for one job I can foresee.  So, now I sometimes go to Harbor Freight and buy something hoping it will last the one job.  Sometimes the prices difference is enought to make that a decent risk.

Do you buy from cut-rate rool sellers, and if so are you hoping it will be good enough for keep or do you just need something done one time and done?

I need a small drill press for fairly precise work.  I don't know whether Harbor Freight will have acceptable run-out or if I will have to pony up some big bucks for a one-time job.

[BA Deere]

I needed a 3/8" drill extra one I thought so I bought a cheap Magna-Force at Menards and being it was cheap I used and abused it and you know it`s still a good drill, the name brand ones that I babied have all puked on me.

With wrenches the 1/2 9/16 5/8 3/4 15/16 ..gremilins must take them and plant them in the field 🙂 so I don`t spend alot on them since after one use I`ll lose them anyway. 

Couple things I will spend extra on is 3/4 sockets, I`ve split the cheap ones out, pliers nothing more disgusting than loose pliers that can`t cut wire, hacksaw blades and chisels..when I want to cut, I wanna cut.

Harbor Freight has lifetime guarantees on alot of items, I guess look it over good and don`t expect too much and you won`t be disappointed.

[buckfarmer]

When I first started working, maintenance in a factory, I would buy the cheapest harbor freight stuff I could buy. When any of it broke I would make the company i work for replace it with something better. For farm use I have a mix of cheap and good stuff. My dad has a harbor freight drill press. It's not a good machine at all.

[farmer46]

I like good tools. My first set of craftsman tools is still almost all here,  purchased in the 1965.  But I also like a deal.  I purchased 3-   3 ton rolling jacks from Harbor freight and used them for a time, now all are not working, but my 5 ton blackhawk is still good 30 years old. I still went back to HF to purchase  2 air jacks, 20 ton ( much easier to move around.  Because the price was real good. Go figure.

[mike se il]

We buy quite a bit of stuff at Harbor Freight.  Some things have disappointed us, some surprised us.

We have given up buying electronics there.  Battery chargers and VOM meters have not stood up to our use ... any use to be honest.  

Hand tools have surprised us.  We have yet to break any from HF.

I bought a drill press and it is OK for our occasional use, but would not take the duty cycle many people have.

I bought an eletric start 6500 watt generator that has performed well, but again we don't use it every day or week.

Most of my log chains are from Harbor Freight, but they are aways bought with a sale coupon.   And I tend to be a bit "farmer" on chains and buy ones it takes 2 men and a boy to carry to pull a VW out of the ditch 

[Husker-J]

The Pittsburg Pro line of hand tools, has never disappointed, when cost is factored in.   I have never had one fail, and while the ratchets are not Snap-On smooth, they work very well for the price.   In fact, I think that the Pro line is actually about on par with many similar tools in the Craftsman line from Sears.   The USA made Craftsman hand tools are stilll excellent, but some imported ones are creeping into the line, and honestly, the imports are not up to the same quality standards as the USA made ones were.   As the HF tools are getting better,  without getting too much pricier, they are becoming a real bargain.

[sw363535]

It is a dilemma,,,,  My dad loved harbor freight and for farm tools which don't always come back from the field, I guess it is ok....

I got sick of the poor quality...  Lately I had a younger partner who liked hF,  just didn't know any better and he never intended to do any work anyway...........

At the same time we had a hired man or two who could disable an anvil........ 

And there is the dilemma ------- My dad deserved proto but couldn't afford, but most farm workers don't......

So Harbor freight will survive

[Husker-J]

Seriously, though.   The Pittsburg 'Pro' line, is a big step above the normal HF stuff.   In fact, I'd put it about on par with the new, (unimproved) imported Craftsman line of tools you see at Sears now.

[sw363535]

totally agree with that husker