The GREAT...the WONDERFUL...Harbor Freight!

[takza]

If you want to encourage China in it's attempt to pollute the earth to the point of inhabitability...BUY HERE!

But seriously folks...you gotta buy your junk somewhere...so you might as well buy it cheap.

Cough...cough.

So it's made by (almost) slave labor?


http://www.harborfreight.com/


How I buy.....

* I buy something online and then I get a catalog...I will then get a series of these catalogs.

* Usually on the first few pages and on the last few there are 1/2 price bargains

* After I've collected a few catalogs...I then get them out and look at the 1/2 price offerings...circling the ones I might want with a marker. You should be careful though...the same thing can be listed in the same catalog at 2 different prices.

* On the left side of the front page ONLINE is a link titled: Order from Printed Catalog. A window will come up and I can then enter the cat number for what I want. Then I save these in the cart.

* Then I have to pay for the stuff...unfortunately.


Why do I buy stuff here?

The prices are low for the 1/2 price stuff so I tend to try things I normally wouldn't. I espec like the storehouse sets of things.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/C ... Storehouse

..and various seldom used tools.


What about the quality?

I do 99.5 % of any repairs done around the old yurt and all repairs on my yak...and the quality of most of the things I've bought has been adequate. I wouldn't buy a carbon steel tap set or stainless hose clamps though. Bolts might be of a lower quality?

Some current bargains:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=35555

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=46724

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=90899

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=94014

[neonsport]

I never buy any hand tools from them that could be bought in Craftsman instead. Having an end wrench snap or a socket frag on me while I'm working on a car is sure to piss me off. I once bought a digital volt meter from them... It blew out the first time I used it.

That said, I have a tow bar, magnetic tow lights, engine hoist, engine load equalizer, transmission jack, a couple of gear reduction crank winches, shrink tubing, zip ties, rivet tool, and about a hundred of the little toothbrush-sized brass, stainless, and nylon bristle brushes, all bought from Harbor Freight. I try to stop by the closest store a couple of times a month, just to see what's on sale. They sell some great stuff, if you know what you're looking at.

I just wish they still sold Dewalt polishers. They had the best prices on those anywhere.

[ESI-RStarion]

I picked up a 3 1/2inch or maybe 4inch angle grinder from them about a year ago, its taken me through about 20 hours easily of straight grinding time. Glad I bought it and picked it up for like 12 bucks!

[takza]

I picked up a 3 1/2inch or maybe 4inch angle grinder from them about a year ago, its taken me through about 20 hours easily of straight grinding time. Glad I bought it and picked it up for like 12 bucks!

I've got that 4 1/2" grinder...no real power but its good for body work and exhaust work. Just ordered a 10 pack of steel cutoff discs.

Also have a 12V drill that has held together pretty well...have to charge it up before use for maybe 7-8 hours...but it does the job.

Last time I looked these cost about $7-8 at the parts store...work very well for cleaning up rust for body work:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=94014

[Don Jorgensen]

Gotta say my 4AC install was a lot easier with the "cherry Picker" I bought from Harbor Freight. Waited till it was on sale and paid just over $100 with tax and all. My original intent was to use some lumber from removal of a patio roof to make a frame to use a cable winch for lifting. The cherry picker is so handy on the roller wheels and hydraulic lift. I couldn't have bought the hydraulic cylinder hardly for the $100. I can't go to the store often...there is just too much to want.
Don

[shogun]

tig welders were reasonably priced and worked fine in common jobs

[neonsport]

Somebody get a rope!

[Snax]

Even some of the better name brands are now made in China or it's R.O.C.s. You gotta read the label to be sure.

It's funny though, sometimes you can actually get a better tool that is actually made in the US for LESS money if you shop carefully.

[takza]

I once bought a digital volt meter from them... It blew out the first time I used it.

I bought 2 of these...both still work.

I have 2 others that were acquired used...both are flaky...might work...might not.

[tercelwill]

I've bought a lot of stuff from harbor freight.
A digital multimeter still works and is accurate- $3
combo wrench set 4mm-32mm have held up over serious use -$21
battery charger works at least for the time being- $35
star bit set- $10
3/8 in Clicker torque wrench-$15 but only my craftsman beam touches my engine
tie rod end separator $8

I would say the quality is impressive for the price I have never had a Pittsburgh (harbor freight brand) tool fail. most are made of chrome vandillium and have a lifetime warranty.
the only bad experience i had was an 84 cent 1/4 in socket rail complete garbage.

I defiantly use caution though

[splatterdog]

I defiantly use caution though

I like your definitely misspelling!

[ARCHINSTL]

I defiantly use caution though

This was great!
I'm going to add it to the HF page in the Miata Club Tool Talk section (giving proper credit, of course!).
Sounds like it was really ripped from the pages of Sheridan's play!
Tom M.

[takza]

I bought a $12 3/8" drill that worked just fine until the variable speed control failed....now just one speed...FAST. Having good luck with an 18V drill though.

[takza]

Want to recommend this combo LED/laser pocket light.

http://www.harborfreight.com/flexible-p ... 96673.html

This thing has a real bright LED...and the laser works well. Plus a magnet in the base to hold it on a steel surface. The only thing I've found wrong with it is that the clip that holds it in your nerd's pocket protector is not spring steel...so it loses tension real easy. Batteries last a long while....you also get 3 spares.

I bought 2 for $3 each.

Need extra batteries?

http://www.harborfreight.com/24-piece-b ... 97072.html

You can find these on sale too.

[splatterdog]

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ub ... er=2679256