HF is finally open

[JimErn]

Harbor Freight is finally open, soft open, I spent quite a while in there today wishing I was just starting out and needed some tools.  Just can not justify replacing what I have, but if'n I was younger that would be my one stop shop.  Even if they broke down after some time, you could replace them and still not pay retail at home depot.  Not sure what the warranty is, but a big sign said lifetime, question is what tools does that apply to.

6" squeeze clamps for $3 and change, and a 20% coupon too.  Grand opening is 1 Feb, I'll be back.

[kmmcrafts]

1 minute ago, JimErn said:

Harbor Freight is finally open, soft open, I spent quite a while in there today wishing I was just starting out and needed some tools.  Just can not justify replacing what I have, but if'n I was younger that would be my one stop shop.  Even if they broke down after some time, you could replace them and still not pay retail at home depot.  Not sure what the warranty is, but a big sign said lifetime, question is what tools does that apply to.

6" squeeze clamps for $3 and change, and a 20% coupon too.  Grand opening is 1 Feb, I'll be back.

My son bought a lot of his mechanics tools there when he first started out in his career... being a mechanic for a living using those tools is great for starting out but he got to a point where he was breaking stuff and having to borrow the real stuff ( snap-on and Mac ) from co-workers.. But a lot of stuff after 5-6 years now.. he still uses.. He was taking stuff back on a monthly or so basis for a while.. he's eventually weeded out the stuff that breaks on a regular basis and has replace with the real stuff... which really has been more of the mechanical things like ratchets and breaker bars... most of the wrenches and sockets are still holding up... that's pretty good quality for a career type usage.. most that stuff should last a home user a lifetime I would think.. and that's the people they aim to get for customers.. 

[teachnlearn]

When we moved to Sioux Falls SD area they opened a HF. They must have been giving everything away. The parking lot was full all the time. I discovered it from flyers and shipping. Bought somethings over the years. Seems the outdoor things I got were heavy as the dickens. Fence post driver, fence post puller, 'We gardened in a community garden so any vine plants had rows of posts and netting. Had to pull each season. Torque bars, car jack. Only tool that died was the car jack.

Going house hunting soon. Those post are getting driven one more time, and those tools aren't getting used for a loooooong time. My wife just had to love all the veg that were vines, green beans, soy beans, snow peas, squash, tomatoes. Could have held a heard of cattle with the number of posts we redrove over the years. RJF

[Chiloquinruss]

This is a two parter reply - first part my fantasy is I'll hit the lotto and buy my own HF.  Part two - I know my skill set regardless of the tool used.  Sooooo if the tool is $20 at HF and not $50 at Rockler, I'll give the $20 thingie a try.  If I ever get good enough to outgrow the tool, then I'll upgrade.    Russ

Edited January 16, 2020 by Chiloquinruss

[new2woodwrk]

I get quite a few things from HF - specially the free stuff

So far there have been a few items that just would not work: Router and table - just wouldn't line up, threading tool  (for making pipe clamps) - I had to break down and buy the Rigid one, works great! 10" drill press - almost fell apart after I put it together

I have a few items that are doing quite well - orbital sander - works great, wrenches - fixed, adjustable etc., socket set (I don't use it as a pro so it's lasting fine), drill sets - really good deal on these $9.95 for a whole set,  wheels for my carts, levels, dollies - these are great since they cost about $7 each.  The kicker is they have $3 each wheels on them. So I buy inexpensive small wheels and replace the ones on the dolly and use those on my rolling carts

But mostly I buy support stuff that's either one use, or is disposable: Nitrite gloves, sand paper drums, buff pads, fingerless work gloves, glue brushes,

[tgiro]

Bought some bar clamps from HF and they bent. Bought some wooden handscrew clamps from HF and within a year the threads were rusting and stripping. Bought some cast C-clamps from HF and they snapped.

I moved to Jorgensen clamps and never went back to HF. I've never broken nor bent a Jorgensen clamp - even after they started to be made in the Orient. It dependsx on the vending company to maintain the quality of the tools they sell.

Edited January 17, 2020 by tgiro

[Puzzleguy]

Harbor freight is not a bad place to buy your Chinese tools from 

but typically you get what you pay for -if its cheap , they don't last .

but allot of the stuff their is the same stuff with other names on them .

stuff like their nitrate gloves , zip ties etc- are about half -

(  I don't hate them , but I'm not in love with them either. )

 

 

Edited January 19, 2020 by Puzzleguy

[kmmcrafts]

We have a local craft seller that lives rght by HF.. he goes to get all the "Free" givaway stuff that he can get his hands on... Then he sells it at the craft fairs for real cheap like a dollar or two.. Uses all the money made off the free stuff to local charities food banks etc etc.. I've also seen people putting the stuff on eBay and the likes and selling to make extra money or for a living... whatever the case... HF gives out a lot of stuff for free... mostly flashlights etc small things but... It's still a marketing ploy to get people into the stores and must work.. because they've been doing it for several years now.. LOL

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

If I hit the lottery Festool will become my best friend. Not HF

Edited January 19, 2020 by JTTHECLOCKMAN

[nrscroller]

HI

In my opinion HF is all junk. Everything I have ever looked at there is made really cheap

Bill

[ChelCass]

Hmmmmmm, we buy a lot of different tools from HF.  I personally have a tool chest filled with Craftsman, Rigid, Kobalt, benchmark etc. This was before HF came along.  However we have never had a problem with any of the HF tools breaking down, I have had Craftsman break and need to be replaced a couple of times.  Just my humble opinion.

 

[Rockytime]

HF tools are great for what they are intended. I bought their 9" band saw about three years ago. I posted it on another group and all I got was post again in a year and tell us how the crap turns out. Well I use it nearly every day and it works great. It is exactly the same as several other brands. Just the name and paint are different. I just used my Bauer orbital sander for the first time yesterday and it works well. For home and hobby use their tools for the most part are OK.

[kmmcrafts]

The thing is... used to sell some real junk.. but this was quite a few years ago.. and even just 5 years ago it was hit or mis with some of the things they sell... They've really improved upon what they're selling.. I wouldn't call any of it a high end.. but a lot of good tools for the beginner hobby or just home use stuff.. Not great tools for using them as a career or for business where they are used and abused on a constant basis.. They really so have some decent tools.. still selling some questionable stuff.. but they are as I said.. improving the quality of a lot of the things over the past few years.. 

[jerrye]

Their Predator generators get high reviews, even on other web sites. I was at a street festival not long ago where a vendor had two Predator 3500 watt gennies running. Very, VERY quiet running units.

As Kevin states, they have upped their game in recent years, especially with their power tool lines. One of their lines (Bauer maybe?) is developing a reputation for decent quality. Not good, or great, but a better choice for the money.

Kinda like what Kia and Hyundai have done in recent years...

[Bill WIlson]

Many years ago, Grizzly was looked at as the bargain basement tool company.  Over the years, they have improved their reputation and are now firmly ensconced within the same pack as many other name brands.  Some of that may be due to those name brands dropping their quality, a bit, but generally Grizzly gets decent reviews.  However, there are still many people out there who refuse to buy from Grizzly, do to problems they had in the past.  That is certainly anyone's right.

I think that Harbor Freight is where Grizzly was, maybe 10-15 years ago.  They got a reputation (largely well deserved) for selling cheap junk and are now trying to improve their quality and image.  It will be interesting to see where it leads.  I'm not buying too many power tools these days.  I have most of what I need and hopefully they last me as long as I need them to.  However, if I were young, poor and starting all over again, I would certainly appreciate having a HF in town.

[crupiea]

There is one by me and the lines are always at least 10 guys deep no matter when you go. God help you if you go n a saturday,.