Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

[minuteman62-64]

I'm actually a HF fan, but with qualifications. Without HF I'd be hard pressed to have separate sets of tools in my shop, my truck, my wife's car, my boat and my backhoe. No issue with their hand tools and the testing equipment I have purchased there.

I've also had good luck with their power tools. The HF 16" drill press w/3/4 HP motor is the mainstay of my metal and wood shop. Not a precision tool, but it is a brute for chewing through anything I throw at it. Even had good luck with a couple of 1/2 HP electric motors I've purchased there.

I draw the line at air tools. Bought a finish nailer a few years ago and it crapped out after a couple of uses. Called HF to see about a rebuild kit (ha, ha) and got the response "... I'm sorry, sir, we don't support that tool." Bought a palm nailer just last year. Didn't work right out of the box. Went back three times to exchange and none of them worked. Finally went to Home Depot and bought a Ridgid which is still going strong.

Latest air tool adventure today. Bought a 1/2" air hose about 18 months ago to use as an extension. Used it once. Pulled it out today, hooked it up and it almost disintegrated. In the meantime, my 5 year old Home Depot hose and my 33 year old Craftsman 1/4" hose are still alive and well.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

Yabut, even though you try to be selective, sometimes you just have to try it out to find out its durability. The fact is, you are probably not out much for the few that you missed on.

I have a big HF framing nailer. I haven't used it much but when I have, it worked well. I also have a brad nailer and a staple nailer, none of which I would have if it was not for HF. The little I use them, they always come thru. I also have various other little air tools that rotate and they all work well. I always am sure to drop a few drops of oil in them before I use them.

I, like you, have lots of different duplicate tools (hand, electric and air) that I would not have if it were not for HF.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

My air hose that I bought with my compressor lasted 6+ years, before I had to tape a small leak. My impact wrench and air ratchet both work whenever I used them (about once a year). Sorry for your misfortune.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

Well, being a carpenter by trade... the one thing I won't skimp on is tools. I hate cheap tolls and hate hate hate hate when they fail because it's always in the middle of an important project.

I try to buy lifetime warranty when I can and/or tools you can see the quality in just by looking at them.

I also try to buy American made tools when I can, but that's getting harder to do with a lot of tools.

I'm not knocking HF, for people on a tight budget or the ones that don't use their tools very often I'm sure it's a good place for them shop.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

If you just need something to use once in a while around the house they are great. But for a business? I don't think so.

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

I've been abusing one of their $80 10" sliding compound miter saws for 12 years now, only burnt one set of brushes. Had one of their air compressors seize up tight after 1/2 hour but they took it back with no problems. That compressor appeared identical to the Campbell Hausfeld that's much more expensive elsewhere.

 

[blackhawk180]

Re: Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

Like jigngrub, I'm a carpenter/contractor and buy quality tools every time. Well, about 8 years ago, I had a need for an abrasive cutoff saw for one job so bought one at HF for a tiny fraction of my normal tool brands. I can't kill the darn thing and I've used it several times/year and burned through a full abrasive wheel/year. Sometimes, there are good deals to be had there.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

I think over the years I have bought most everything in the store. My shop looks like a Harbor Freight! While I have found some short comings and minor flaws, their tools have been a sound investment. If your worried about reliability just buy 2 and you will still come out ahead and have a spare!. I have never had to return a defective tool but HF is one of the few retailers that has a hassle-free return policy. HF has made alot of old men like me happy....when I pull up to a HF store it is almost as good as sex!

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

My Framing nailer has worked out fine, I have helped three friends frame their houses up with it.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

....when I pull up to a HF store it is almost as good as sex!....

Just about the unvarnished truth!.. that's only 'cause I hardly remember.:cold:

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

I've got one of their 100 ft air hoses and it is better than the ones I've paid 4 times the money for. Super flexible even when I had it running through the snow from the shop into the house. Maybe you just got a bad one.

 

[FunInDuhSun]

Re: Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

Some of their stuff is OK BUT....
I picked up both the 12v lithium-ion impact driver and drill last winter. The drill has been fine, but I returned the impact gun TWICE because the stupid thing quits under almost no load. After the second one, I spent the 6 bucks for the extended warranty. Good thing, because it's doing the same thing ARRRGGGG!

Those butane micro torches are crap- 2 out of 3 didn't work out of the package, and the 'good' one only lasted a month.

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

I've got one of their 100 ft air hoses and it is better than the ones I've paid 4 times the money for. Super flexible even when I had it running through the snow from the shop into the house. Maybe you just got a bad one.

Should point out that mine was rubber, not one of the PVC ones. Maybe those are more durable.

 

[Grub54891]

Re: Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

I love this hose,stays flexable and wraps up easily.
Flexzilla Air Hose - Lowest Prices & Best Deals on Flexzilla Air Hose - Pronto.com
Grub

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

If I need a tool and I'm not going to use it very often, I'll go to HF. Anything I know I'll use quite a bit, I'll go get something made by a reputable company. I do have a couple of different sanders, a recpricating saw, a hammer drill and few other HF tools I use quite a bit and have never had any problems with them. I did buy an air stapler from HF and after a few uses, the latch on the head of it exploded when I pulled the trigger. I was mad at the time and it was past it's 90 warranty but looking back I only paid about $20 for it and at least got the job done that I had bought it for.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

I was doing a tile removal job and bought one of their air chisels for like 5.99 and it did the job just fine. Also bought a 6.5hp horizontal shaft engine for a mini bike and that thing starts first pull after three years and will put you on your butt. Paid 90 for it. Definitely good deals.

 

[LongLine]

Re: Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

3 years ago I bought a little 'emergency" air pump for about $20. One you plug into you cigarette lighter. I've used it on the trailer tires & kids basketballs, footballs. Been working fine & no complaints. At the time they gave me a 25% off coupon and a free little flashlight, which went in my kid's Christmas stocking.

Though I wouldn't buy tools for work there, for putting around the house, they're fine.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

I was doing a tile removal job and bought one of their air chisels for like 5.99 and it did the job just fine. Also bought a 6.5hp horizontal shaft engine for a mini bike and that thing starts first pull after three years and will put you on your butt. Paid 90 for it. Definitely good deals.

I've looked at those motors and was interested. What worries me is if parts would be needed (carb rebuild & similar stuff). Any idea what the replacement parts situation is with those motors? As I noted in my original post, my experience with air nailer parts was not good.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

I just bought it for a mini bike so I wasn't too concerned. They are cheap enough to buy a second as a parts source. My understanding is that they the Honda knockoffs that you could interchange parts but I have not tried that.

 

[mscher]

Re: Things I Won't Buy at Harbor Freight

Their automotive radiator pressure tester kit, is as well built and functions as well, as any professional model I have used.

I have one of their massive transmission jacks, that works great, but looks like he (she) fell asleep when they were painting it, since it has obvious paint runs. I thought about taking it back, for a replacement, but was too lazy to load that monster back in the truck.

Their black/orange gauntlet leather gloves, are slightly less useless than not having gloves at all. I did get them on sale for .99 cents.

Their abrasive cut-off wheels are a great bargain.

their air-powered grease gun is awesome. for $20