Harbor Freight

[MTboatguy]

Re: Harbor Freight

Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of HF stuff, but the air hoses are junk, I have never had a good one!

 

[1stgenbird]

Re: Harbor Freight

I needed an inch lbs torque wrench to work on my outboard. I went to a local store that sells discount (cheap) tools and the price was $42.99. That may be cheap to some but not me. Went home and looked up Harbor Freight on line and there was one one for $19.99 on sale from $39.99 with a 20% off discount code. With shipping came to $24.98. That's more like it.

I was at Walmart the other day and bought a bucket that was made in the USA. I commented to the checkout guy that this must be the only thing in the store made in USA. He laughed and said he thought there was one other item in the store made in the USA. Next time I went, I bought a couple more buckets.

 

[2 Eagles]

Re: Harbor Freight

I've bought alot of stuff at HF. The air hoses I bought from there are 5 years old and I haven't had one problem with them. HF is a great place to buy cheap tools that you can abuse and not care if it gets broke.

 

[mscher]

Re: Harbor Freight

I did all my own Father's day shopping a HF this year. Family went along to officially pick up the gift and put it in the shopping cart.

Already have most wrenches and sockets, that are name barnd, but now that I have a backhoe, decided to stock up on the large stuff (1-2") and name brand stuff is too expensive, so I decided to try out some of the HF large hand tools. Pretty rough looking, but looks like they should get the job done.

Purchased an "professional" air-powered grease gun, that works great and will come in handy greasing the backhoe.

All of the items purchased were on sale at a considreable discount. Later while searching for reading material, while on the "throne", I found the missing HF "savings book", I get every month, in the mail. Every item I had purchased had a coupon, that would have saved me over $30 more dollars, than the store sale prices.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: Harbor Freight

I wish Harbor Freight and Walmart would merge into one Big Mega Stores.

I would be in Heaven.

 

[mscher]

Re: Harbor Freight

I was in Harbor Freight the other day and got side tracked. I decided to look for something that had the words: "Made in the U.S.A". After much time searching, I found something. Bond-o is made in the USA

-Hostage

That might be where the name "Harbor Freight" came from.

Surprised you found one item.

There was a rave review about a handy twist-in plug, to save an opened tube of caulking, from HF being American made. I looked at one - it was made in China. Purchased one anyway.

Can't really blame HF any more. NAPA, Ford New Holland, John Deere, etc, sells some parts and products made overseas and they are not cheap priced.

 

[DJ]

Re: Harbor Freight

It's "Global Economy" folks. We Americans love our STUFF and we want that stuff CHEAP!

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Harbor Freight

It's "Global Economy" folks. We Americans love our STUFF and we want that stuff CHEAP!

.... and you get what you pay for. I'm still a firm believer in that old saying....... However, nowadays you can by pricey junk too. It's just not as common.....

 

[mscher]

Re: Harbor Freight

I wish Harbor Freight and Walmart would merge into one Big Mega Stores.

I would be in Heaven.

Not me. I like the HF small store feel, the great slection of items and the steep sales discounts.

Besides, HF quality and slection is improving greatly. Walmart is only interested in a bottom line dollar.

 

[2 Eagles]

Re: Harbor Freight

Every item I had purchased had a coupon, that would have saved me over $30 more dollars, than the store sale prices.

Read your coupons. HF has some that you can use after the fact. You may be able to take your reciet and the coupons in and get your money back. But HF has also redone the coupons so if the item is on sale you cann't use them on the sale price.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Harbor Freight

Some of HF stuff is worth the money, I have several of their deadblow hammers they are good, but their rybars are total junk. As far as Sears stuff quit buing Craftsman tools years ago when they started being junk.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Harbor Freight

.....IPurchased an "professional" air-powered grease gun, that works great and will come in handy greasing the backhoe..

Have you fired that thing up yet? If you haven't, I have some tips. Works great once you get it bled.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Harbor Freight

Heck, I went to NAPA the other day to get some new front brake discs for my '97 E150. MADE IN CHINA. There were no options.

That being said, by the time the Chinese get all of their products up to world class standards you won't be able to afford them. Same progression happened with Japanese goods.

My suggestion is to quit complaining and selectively stock up on things you would otherwize not be able to afford. I have tons of things that I would not otherwize have and having selectively chosen them, they serve me well.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Harbor Freight

I don't care if it is has the goodyear name on it, it is not made in the USA, I have gone through so many of those hoses, I was filling a tire last night and had my last one blow bigtime, I will never buy another one of those hoses again! They crack, check and get very brittle very quick!

Chief, the hose on this page has "made in the USA" written on the hose itself. You gonna tell me that's not made in the USA?

http://www.harborfreight.com/100-ft-x-3-8-eighth-inch-heavy-duty-black-rubber-air-hose-30268.html

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Harbor Freight

I think someone is living too far up on the mountain. :facepalm:

 

[i386]

Re: Harbor Freight

This topic pops up from time to time. HF sells a lot of junk but there are also a lot of good values to be found there, especially if you use the coupons.

Some of my favorite items...
http://www.harborfreight.com/five-drawer-service-cart-95272.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-titanium-nitride-coated-high-speed-steel-step-drills-91616.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-gallon-100-psi-oilless-pancake-air-compressor-95275.html (I got it for $30)
http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece-professional-screwdriver-set-94607.html (Really nice handles on these!)

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Harbor Freight

Chief, the hose on this page has "made in the USA" written on the hose itself. You gonna tell me that's not made in the USA?

http://www.harborfreight.com/100-ft-x-3-8-eighth-inch-heavy-duty-black-rubber-air-hose-30268.html

Yes, I am, when I was in the service, we stopped buying goodyear products because they were stamped "Made in USA" and we found out there were not..!

By the way, I have 4 of those hoses that you linked, two of them are still in the original package as I bought them from HF, if you want them, send me your address and I will pay the postage to mail them to you!

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Harbor Freight

I think someone is living too far up on the mountain. :facepalm:

I may be, too far up the mountain, but I paid dearly to live this far up the mountain and quite a few paid with their life because of the crap some of these companies put out that say "Made in the USA" Been there done that, and have no desire to repeat!

Of course, if people make comments like yours, perhaps I am not living far enough up the mountain!

Colonel, US Army 1979-2006, Retired
Silver Star, Purple Heart X 2, Bronze Star
Currently consulting as a urban combat trainer/specialist!

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Harbor Freight

HF does have good and bad things. You have to be able to tell the difference. If you're going to put pressure or torque on it, go with a better brand. I do have their Chicago Electric sliding compund miter saw and it is a champ and the degree increments are spot on. They also carry name brand (Vise Grip comes to mind). I also purchased one of their electric cement mixers for $179.00. Ran 55 bags thru it in a day and it never even whimpered. Still have it. If you need an air hose from them, stay away from the plasticy nylon hoses. As mentioned, they're garbage. Go get the natural rubber hoses. Even in the coldest weather, they are flexible. I use air hoses all year long and the rubber ones came from HF, just a better quality hose.

 

[Philip_G]

Re: Harbor Freight

I don't buy much there, I tend to buy tools I use rarely but are handy to have. Currently I need a 1" belt sander but the HF is out of stock and has poor reviews. When I do buy I tend to buy online, it's a bit of a drive to the one in aurora.