First Time To Harbor Freight.

[kenmyfam]

Mrs Ken and I were over in Michigan yesterday looking at some travel trailers as we are thinking of getting one for next season and wanted to see how the prices compare to buying one in Canada. Anyway I have never been to Harbor Freight before so I convinced Mrs Ken that it would be a good idea to go check one of them out. Got a new spark tester and an infra red thermometer to replace the ones that my neighbor borrowed some time back from one of the children and then moved house before I realised he had them. Seems like a good store although the quality of some of the items I looked at was at the lower end of the scale.
This will not be my last visit. I made my Christmas list while I was there and handed it to Mrs Ken. I will let you know in late December how that worked out
Of course I had to give in return as by doing that I had opened the flood gates for shopping !!! Mrs Ken then ended up at JC Penny's Super K Mart, Wal-Mart and numerous other stores At least I got something out of the deal this time

 

['96 Charger]

Re: First Time To Harbor Freight.

It's great for tools you'll only use once or for hand tools that are going to get ruined anyway. I do try to stay away from their stuff that looks like it won't make it through one use. At least my chicago heat gun is solid!

 

[i386]

Re: First Time To Harbor Freight.

^^^ What he said.

I went to the one in Montgomery, AL last weekend which is at least 1.5 hours away. With the coupon I found in a magazine, I got a little 3 gal. pancake compressor for $40. I needed one to fill my "air pig" and various tires around the house. It looks to be of better quality than I expected. If it lasts a year, I guess I got my money's worth. Maybe I'll get one of their cheap finish nailers and see how that works out. I wish there was one a little closer by.

 

[LongLine]

Re: First Time To Harbor Freight.

They have a website. Just google the name. I wouldn't recomend them for the serious mechanic but for things that will get used only once or once in a while, they're fine. I've bought wire ties/nuts/tape, sandpaper, paint brushes, battery terminal brush, wire brushes, clamps, gloves, etc there. No problems.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: First Time To Harbor Freight.

Some of the tools they sell or good.
I bought a set of large impact sockets that i have beat to death and not one has failed.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: First Time To Harbor Freight.

I haven't been either. I get the idea it is similiar to Princess Auto. Is there a PA in Windsor? Is it the same as Harbor Freight?

 

[royal0014]

Re: First Time To Harbor Freight.

Yep, gotta be picky with what you buy there. Some good, some not worth the effort, most all Made In China.

i386, there is a store in Birmingham, also, if that's any closer for you.


*

 

[DennisM]

Re: First Time To Harbor Freight.

Harbor Freight is great for what it is, as long as you know that going in.

They have a great return policy on everything as well, so if it breaks bring it in and they give you a new one.

For anything major, that you want to last, I wouldnt trust them, but for gloves, sandpaper, just about any consumable used in a workshop they can not be beat.

They do have some gems mixed in too, like the 34706 model wood lathe, one of the DP are great as well, the dust collector is a great deal especially if you get a 20% off coupon or a coupon when they run it at 179.00, add a 1micron bag to it and you have a amazing DC at a 1/3 of the cost of a Jet or Grizzly.

Just do your research on the item and you will be fine.. also remember this ...

Harbor Freight sells tools and tool shaped objects, figuring out which is which is the hard part

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: First Time To Harbor Freight.

I haven't been either. I get the idea it is similiar to Princess Auto. Is there a PA in Windsor? Is it the same as Harbor Freight?

There is a Princess auto in Windsor. I have visited a few times and found a lot of their items very similar to what I looked at when I was in Harbor Freight, however they were at least twice the price on most things. Then we have the glorious HST to add on as well

 

[scipper77]

Re: First Time To Harbor Freight.

I like the electric fly swatter personally. I also have a multimeter from them.

A guy I used to work with was addicted to that place. He always said. "just don't buy the blue tools". I believe this was referring to any tool with a motor. We have the 18v cordless blue drill at work and that thing is as useless as a child's toy!! Seriously me Black and Decker electric screwdriver has more torque.

 

['96 Charger]

Re: First Time To Harbor Freight.

I bought the blue dremel knockoff. Definately wanted to trash it after about 10 seconds of use.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: First Time To Harbor Freight.

As has been said, Harbor Frieght is "hit & miss." I've bought a few things there and have been very happy with them. Their tarps are inexpensive and of reasonable quality. Also bought a furniture dolly there for about 15 bucks, so I could move a cast iron tub. I thought about buying a vertical shaft motor to replace one on a lawn mower, but it costs as much as a completely new mower at Wally World, so I passed on that item.



???

 

[j_martin]

Re: First Time To Harbor Freight.

I just bought a 120 amp mig and flux core welder there for $139. Pretty simple machine, but it works very well. I got (or is it gots) a 2 year walk in replacement warranty for another 35 bucks.

I ran a whole spool of .023 through it in 3 days fixing on the conversion van.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: First Time To Harbor Freight.

I bought the blue dremel knockoff. Definately wanted to trash it after about 10 seconds of use.

I did too. Mine was a cordless Chicago brand. Completely worthless.........

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: First Time To Harbor Freight.

I too bought the little dremel tool and it had NO power but for the 5 or 6 bucks it cost I knew it was most likely junk. However I do have a bunch of stuff I got there and no complaints except I can not get my sandblaster to work more than a minute without it cloggin up. I have taken it apart and blew it out but it still don't work. HF has good prices on sandpaper. The wet and dry auto sand paper cost about half of what you would pay any place else.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: First Time To Harbor Freight.

I've had good luck outta their air tools. I also have had good luck outta their torque wrenches....I was skeptical about them until I called a calibration lab and talked to a tech. He said from what he had seen the HF tq wrenches are as good or better than ones sold at big box stores like Sears. The good thing is the HF ones come with a lifetime warranty unlike the Craftsman models. Plus you can catch 'em on sale for a fraction of the cost of a Craftsman.

 

[mscher]

Re: First Time To Harbor Freight.

I purchased their 3 ton floor jack for $60. The thing works great and is built like a tank.

When I built my pond aerator, I used two 100' HF neoprene air hoses, $20 each.

Their 4" "professional" paint brushes, get the job done, for 99 cents or less.

The $40 auto-darkening welding helmets are well built and work great.

 

[j_martin]

Re: First Time To Harbor Freight.

I bought the blue dremel knockoff. Definately wanted to trash it after about 10 seconds of use.

I did too. Mine was a cordless Chicago brand. Completely worthless.........

It's an accurate knockoff. I bought the dremel cordless for about 30 bucks........ and it's worthless as t%ts on a boar.

BTW, I bought the 40 dollar auto-darken helmet when it was 50 bucks. It works well.

I'd rather drop a 3 dollar throw-away DVM off a ladder than my $50 analog meter.

Compression gauge is right on.

Cheap centering punches are fine.

The 1/16" 7014 matchstick welding rods can't even be found anywhere else. Work great when the wire feed won't reach, or for quick tack work.

Timing light is useless unless you're in the dark (literally)

 

[i386]

Re: First Time To Harbor Freight.

I just bought a 120 amp mig and flux core welder there for $139. Pretty simple machine, but it works very well. I got (or is it gots) a 2 year walk in replacement warranty for another 35 bucks.

I ran a whole spool of .023 through it in 3 days fixing on the conversion van.

Hmm, I've been eyeballing the 90AMP 120V one for use around the house. I need to tack on a couple trailer fenders and fix a piece that's knocked loose from my lawnmower deck.

It's less than $90 with the 20% off coupon.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: First Time To Harbor Freight.

I bought a couple of things from them.. I bought the 18v Cordless drill/driver and while failry basic, it has served me well for the past few years. For $39 it was a great deal.

A stellar deal to me was the 6.5 hp horizonal shaft motor I bought from them to upgrade my kids mini bike... that thing popped on the second pull and runs beautifully. You can get that engine on sale for $99 - 20% with a coupon.. That is almost cheap enough where you have to buy it even though you don't need one. Northern Tool sells the exact same engine for $170

AS was said before shop csrefully.