Harbor Freight tools that DON'T suck

[carsick]

The last ratchet I brought to Sears I WANTED a rebuild kit. They discontinued it, I had to get a whole different ratchet (free though). I liked my old ratchet, it still lurks in the back of my box decades later.

Sears is starting to slide into Chinese shit, now even on Craftsman brand hand tools.

[RandyO]

So, what do you use now instead? Has it ever worn out in the last 40 years of use? Was it resolved to your satisfaction?

if it was resolved to my satisfaction, I'd still shop there

my #1 3/8 drive ratchet is actually probably chinese, Popular Mechanics brand purchased at Walmart, had it for nearly 20 years, I have an assorted mix of tools, Stanley and Popular Mechanics from Walmart, Kobalt from Lowes, SK Wayne from NAPA, Husky from Home Depot, and Cal Hawk from the local discount store

[Stromper]

For all you snapping ratchets I say

Breaker Bar and piece of pipe

[golden chicken]

That's how I snap breaker bars. Haha.

[carsick]

Snapped my Snap-On 24" breaker bar without a pipe. Left it in my truck in below zero weather, went to tighten up a trailer ball and busted it.

[tsorfas]

I have never heard of a snap on tool brake. My boy is a car mechanic he used ONLY snap on

[golden chicken]

Oh, they break too.

[breakdirt916]

Vice grips, deadblow hammer, safety wire pliers, etc. I buy zip ties, safety wire, heat shrink, lots of consumables there. All work. I'm setting up a small tool box for track days; most of it is HF.

yuppp...I also use HF for these - including the blue vinyl gloves: I figure they're going to be disposable anyways, why spend $4 on 5 pairs @ autozone when you can get 100 for $5 @ hf?

I also bought their hydraulic pump to bleed motorcycle brakes:

http://www.harborfreight.com/brake-b...kit-69328.html



worked great!

I've since bought a name-brand cordless that works 50x better.

which one??

I want to buy one!!

[Pigman]

I Got a HF motorcycle lift and very happy with it for the $$$$......

[nhbubba]

which one??

I want to buy one!!

Craftsman. I have a bunch of their C3 system tools and batteries. I saw a review a while back that rated it middle of the road. I probably would buy a different one if I wasn't so invested in their system.

[Rambunctous]

Breaking ratchets and breaker bars??? You need to go up sizes. Using a 1/4 inch drive when you needed a 3/8 drive? Using a 3/8 drive when you needed a 1/2 inch drive? Gonna wreck your 1/2 drive cause it is not the correct sized tool foor the job? Buy my 3/4 inch drive set complete in a carrying case for cheap money. $125.00 firm. Be aware that its very heavy.

[RandyO]

I have to replace my 10mm ratcheting box end, it is my most common used tool, its a cheap Stanley from Walmart, still works pretty good if I put pressure on the ratcheting mechanism with a finger, but occasionally slips otherwise, I've had it about 12-15 years, can't complain, set of 4 was $12.99,

although, I'd like to get a stubby 10mm ratcheting box end, when I'm running my snowblower, its a toss up, do I use my 5" long ratcheting box end or my stubby 10mm, racheting action is nice, but stubby fits in my pocket better and easier to manuver my hand and wrench into the augers to tighten the shear pin

[nhbubba]

Ratcheting combination wrenches are the best things since.. ever.

[Tricky Mike]

One thing that gets used ALL the time is this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-...per-47257.html

For under $20 they take a pretty good beating, do inch/metric and seem pretty damn accurate/repeatable (tested against gage blocks).

I use them for the shit work and leave the Mitutoyo stuff in the drawer. I treat them horribly and give 0 fucks when I drop a hunk of billet on one, plop it in the parts washer (oops), break the a tip using it to scribe lines on scale covered steel, etc...

[gregp]

HF's $20 pneumatic stapler works great for installing seat covers. A mechanical, or an electric stapler just will not do the job.

[The Snowman]

One thing that gets used ALL the time is this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-...per-47257.html

For under $20 they take a pretty good beating, do inch/metric and seem pretty damn accurate/repeatable (tested against gage blocks).

I use them for the shit work and leave the Mitutoyo stuff in the drawer. I treat them horribly and give 0 fucks when I drop a hunk of billet on one, plop it in the parts washer (oops), break the a tip using it to scribe lines on scale covered steel, etc...

I have the same one. The only difference between this one and one that cost 5 times the price is a piece of paper stating its calibration.

[gamorg02]

interesting a lot of the same stuff these guys are saying.

the 1/2" electric impact (altho i haven't used it for car lugs yet), metal hand tools (stuff with plastic seems to break easy), bike table lift, digital caliper, i have a 3200/4000 generator that's worked flawlessly and got for under $350 with a 2yr warranty and a tire kit.

[Garandman]

One thing that gets used ALL the time is this: [6" digital calipers]
http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-...per-47257.html

For under $20 they take a pretty good beating, do inch/metric and seem pretty damn accurate/repeatable (tested against gage blocks).

I use them for the shit work and leave the Mitutoyo stuff in the drawer. I treat them horribly and give 0 fucks when I drop a hunk of billet on one, plop it in the parts washer (oops), break the a tip using it to scribe lines on scale covered steel, etc...

That's a great point. We have a 12" Mitutoyo but the inexpensive 6" calipers get used all the time, are much more accurate than rules, and can switch metric/inch at the push of a button.

[Kurlon]

One thing that gets used ALL the time is this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-...per-47257.html

For under $20 they take a pretty good beating, do inch/metric and seem pretty damn accurate/repeatable (tested against gage blocks).

I use them for the shit work and leave the Mitutoyo stuff in the drawer. I treat them horribly and give 0 fucks when I drop a hunk of billet on one, plop it in the parts washer (oops), break the a tip using it to scribe lines on scale covered steel, etc...

My only complaint with those is they insist on auto-powering up if they detect slide movement. They're sensitive enough that even locked, in their case they drain their batts in short order in my toolbox. I've since started using a dial caliper I got from my grandfather. Only drawback is it's SAE only so I have to convert manually to metric when needed.

[Tricky Mike]

My only complaint with those is they insist on auto-powering up if they detect slide movement. They're sensitive enough that even locked, in their case they drain their batts in short order in my toolbox. I've since started using a dial caliper I got from my grandfather. Only drawback is it's SAE only so I have to convert manually to metric when needed.

Interesting. Mine (thankfully) doesn't auto-power on. Wonder if that's a feature they added or if it's one they removed. Hopefully the latter.
Oh, also in the plus column for these is that they come with a spare battery. Hell yeah.

I wish they made an 8" version for $29. Edit: Do they?

[Kurlon]

Ok, I might have to snag one then, I've tried a bunch of different brands all in the $20 to $40 range and they all auto-on.

[Garandman]

My only complaint with those is they insist on auto-powering up if they detect slide movement. They're sensitive enough that even locked, in their case they drain their batts in short order in my toolbox. I've since started using a dial caliper I got from my grandfather. Only drawback is it's SAE only so I have to convert manually to metric when needed.

I bought the replacement batteries there also - $1.99 for a four pack IIRC. Same thing happens with our $60 ones.

[Stromper]

Yes dial for infrequent use as the electronic always is dead when I need it

[whynot]

The dual temp heat gun comes in handy for shrinking heat shrink loom and softening stickers, and so on. $10 or $15 depending on sale or coupon price.

item#96289

[Falko]

I bought the little project cart or tool cart, whatever you want to call it. I needed something to put my son's RC car on and a drawer for spares. Works well for that, and was like 69 on sale (hahaha 69...).