Whats your best buy at Harbor Freight?

[Rich Johnson]

Ok, so what did you buy at Harbor Freight and relaized it was the best deal you ever had.....

[John Shaffner]

To date, the HF 2HP DC. Got it a couple yrs ago when on sale for $119, less a 20% coupon, $100 out the door. Deal?...or No Deal? DEAL!!
John

[Andrew Clayton]

6" digital caliper is very good. Watch for $9.99 coupon.

[Alan Schwabacher]

They have what they call a cycle tree (#2628). It's a rack on wheels that can hold several bicycles hanging by their rear wheels in only about 2 ft square. I noticed them at $50, but once I saw them in the catalog for $30 so I went down to look, and the store price was $17. It works well, saves a lot of garage space, and appears to be an original design.

That can't beat the 2 HP DC for $100 though.

[scott spencer]

The 38142 13" DP for $144 has been a good purchase for me.

Those Pittsburg bar clamps for $2, $3, and $4 are a good bargain too.

[John Coloccia]

Ratcheting tie downs when they're on sale for $1.99.

[Michael MacDonald]

6" digital caliper with coupon. belt sander with coupon. 16' small measuring tape with coupon.

I basically look for coupons anywhere in the woodworking space, and conisder stocking up even if I don't need it. Then often I have second thoughts or just can't get there that week... I thought about the pin nailer, but I read some posts saying that it missed the pin when firing. I am looking for the next coupon on clams.

Note to HF: stop it with the 1-ton chain hoist and the collapsible animal trap... no one wants that! (now if they had a beekeepers suit, I know someone who might bite on that.)

[Dan Hahr]

Well, it's not cheap, but they actually have it there and for smaller stuff, I've found nothing that beats it.
Dan

[brian watts]

i have got a small lathe , 2hp DC,4"belt 6"disc sander. all 3 has been really good for the money. right now in WOOD mag. they have a coupon for the sander for 49.99 .

[Richard M. Wolfe]

The old style Pittsburgh bar clamps (chromed bar) for 2, 3 or 4 dollars. The new ones with the black bars are ----. I haven't bought one, but other than the switch that goes out everyone I know likes the dust collector.

[Clarence Miller]

The trim routers that you can pick up for $20 on sale have lasted for me. The collet wrenches are poor steel but for $20 you can afford a couple wrenches. I have 4 that are dedicated to the bits they have in them 1 keyhole for hanging clocks, 1 with a 1/8 rounder for an ease, one with a 45 degree chamfer, and one with a flush trimmer. I have a PC for the rest oif the bits that I switch in and out of.

[Brian D Anderson]

You didn't really specify woodworking . . . so I'm going to say the 4 1/2" angle grinder for $9.99. I cut slate for a sidewalk with it and sanded my whole house with a flap disc when I painted it a few years ago.

Their nail guns have performed well for me too. The framing nailer when I redid my basement and the pin nailer that I use here and there in woodworking projects.

I'm also a fan of the $4.99 set of screwdrivers that I can put on every floor of the house and in the garage. When you're lazy like me, you don't want to have to go down to the shop to get a screwdriver. :-)

-Brian

[Matt Hafner]

I have been pretty impressed with the chainsaw sharpener. Picked it up for $32 with a coupon.

I have bought a few power and hand tools there over the years, and have been disappointed in most.

I have gotten some great deals on tarps, gloves, moving blankets, etc. The clamps mentioned about are a good deal, and quite serviceable.

[Van Huskey]

The 50' 3/8" retractable air hose/reel about $60 with a coupon.

[Clayton West]

The pocket hole jig is great I like it better than the Kreg.Also I love my dovetail jig.Though the jig doesn't come with instructions.

[Lee Bidwell]

That's easy. The free flashlight.:)

Seriously, though. The dust collector is great. I'm just breaking in the air compressor I bought with the Creek's blessing (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=135298) (and you guys weren't lying when you said that this thing is LOUD). Unfortunately, I haven't had the good luck some have had with the pin nailer. It shot about 20 or 30 pins, then stopped firing. Not jammed, just misfiring, so back to the store it went. The retractable hose reel also seems to work pretty well, and at a fraction of the cost of similar offerings at the Borgs.

[Brian Runau]

Got the $149 spindle sander on sale and with the 20% coupon for about $80.

Thanks

Brian

[Myk Rian]

I got the 3hp 21gal 240v compressor for $129. Great deal that was.

[Johnnyy Johnson]

The Pocket Hole Jig...My Kreg is for sale.

[Curt Harms]

Ratcheting tie downs when they're on sale for $1.99.

Agree on the tie downs. A local store had digital multimeters for $2.99. I checked one against a better VOM and it was within a couple %. Accuracy probably wouldn't work for an tech type but works great for determining whether there's power through a switch or not.

[Don Orr]

3/8" right angle drill for bowl sanding. I have been trying to kill the first one for a few years and it won't die ! I got 2 and one is still in the box.

[Troy Turner]

Cross between the wet saw ($60) and cherry picker ($139). We retiled the entire house and it was about $35 a day to rent. Well, it took more than 2 days, so it was a no brainer. Cherry picker was good even though I only used it once. Could probably sell it though, but it looks like I know what I'm doing when you see it :)

[Montgomery Scott]

workbench dust broom for $6

[Chris Harry]

HVLP gun, former item # 43430, I believe item # 66222 is the same thing but havent bought another to confirm.

-Chris

[Jim O'Dell]

The heavy duty tile saw is great for about 200.00 on sale. (not the bridge saw) Glue brushes and nitrile gloves on sale. Brad nailers and air staplers work pretty well. The multifunction tool did what I needed, but man is it noisy!!! Jim.

[Dave Anthony]

6" dial caliper - $1.00

[Kyle Iwamoto]

The lathe turning set for 30 bucks shipped. I still use most of them. You can regrind the ones you don't use into something useful.

[Adam Moore]

I'm skeptical of most of their stuff, but I'd have to say my best buy are the "F" bar clamps I just bought. $3 for the 12" ones.

And the $3 multimeter is another one.




The Pocket Hole Jig...My Kreg is for sale.

Which one and how much?

[Jim German]

The biscuit Jointer sucked.
Brad Nailer for $20 works great though.
$5 for a big ole framing hammer was nice too.

[Chris Tsutsui]

I can't gloat that I got the 2HP DC for 20% off, or got it on super sale.. But what I can say is that it has served me well and in 2 years I didn't have to use the extended warranty.

I also have the 1 ton shop crane that works like a charm.

I like to think that it's the people like me that miss good deals and pay standard costs that keep the business's going. :D

[Bryan Morgan]

A big floor standing drill press. Its sturdy, powerful, no runout.... I use it almost daily. I think it was right around 150 bucks on sale. My only "issue" is that the quill stroke is only 3.5"

[Bryan Morgan]

3/8" right angle drill for bowl sanding. I have been trying to kill the first one for a few years and it won't die ! I got 2 and one is still in the box.

I got one of those too, and for the same reason! Works great! A little on the heavy side, but not too bad. Their sanding pads aren't good for this though... they melt apart almost instantly.

[Louie Ballis]

I've had good luck with all their clamps (from f-clamps to paralle, wood screws, to pipe clamps).

Not to mention the 2 hp dc.

Oh wait, I really thought the lathe tools for around 30 bucks was good.

Did I mention the HF version of the fein multimaster. 24 dollars with coupon.

But I think the very best deal was the $179 12 inch sliding compound miter saw (get a better blade-the one it comes with is a real pos).

[Jim McFarland]

Transfer punch set -- great for disassembling kit pens.

[Tony Shea]

I'm shocked that no one in the woodworking trade has said anything about their Toggle Clamps. 200lb toggle clamps for $3.99 and the 500lb ones for $4.99. You will never find them that cheap and they are all of great quality. They are almost identical in construction as the more expensive ones that cost a min of $8 and usually closer to $20. I just can't say enough about these. I can't even make a wooden hold down for less than that.

[David Nelson1]

Hydraulic lift cart. I got the larger one I think it claims 1000 lbs lift to 35 inches. Has saved me quite a bit of lifting. It also casters extremely well. Brakes are hard to set and release but thats not that much of a biggie. !00.00 out the door with an inhouse coupon as well as an advertised reduced price.

[Dave MacArthur]

3 ton engine cherry picker, for $99, use it all the time to lift my PM66 or other equipment up and move it around, you can throw it in your truck bed when going to buy CL items and just lift them up to pickup bed height, roll them around on it's casters, lower into the pickup. Great thing for the woodshop!

[Pete Hay]

Not woodworking, but the Category 1 Quick-Hitch for tractor-pulled implements has been exactly what I needed. 20% of what John Deere wanted and is the same thing

[Joe Shinall]

Oh where do I start?!?!?:D

Best deal are the pittsburgh clamps to me. Not the greatest but when you can buy a ton of em for cheap that makes them great.

HF DC for 139 was awesome. Works for what I need it for. Small shop so not much room for big cyclone unit anyways.

Before I could afford my new Makita 10" SCMS I had a Chicago Electric 10" SCMS that I paid 89 bucks for and lasted 3.5 years. I still have it and use it for rough cutting so I dont have to change my good blade on my Makita.

I could keep going but I will end with my pneumatic tools. I have a bunch of them which allowed me to expand my shop for a lot less than I could have paid for just a couple of em from a borg.

[Derrell W Sloan]

23 gauge pin nailer for ~ 16 bucks

The big red toolbox top & bottom on sale - these things are great

clamps clamps clamps

[Kevin Gregoire]

about a dozen free LED flashlights

i have them placed all over the house and shop in case
the lights ever go out, also one in each car. super light
weight and very powerful.

http://images.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/97000-97099/97036.gif

[Jeff Mohr]

The old style Pittsburgh bar clamps (chromed bar) for 2, 3 or 4 dollars. The new ones with the black bars are ----.

What makes the black bar ones so bad? Anyone else with this problem? All I have is the chrome and I think they are just fine.

[glenn bradley]

I bought their recip saw to demolish the previous owner's garage fixtures when I bought the house. I figured for $19 it wouldn't make it through the project. Been trying to kill it for almost 5 years.

[Bill White]

The DC, although I did trash the bags that came with it. Replaced 'em with felted bags that REALLY stop the small stuff. Its on sale for $139.00 now (with the chunk filter bags).
Bill

[Mike Harrison]

I first posted this list on another forum about 7 or 8 years ago, modified and reposted a few times, then, it was picked up by some WW folk, again significantly expanded, and posted on their websites. So newer expanded versions of this old list are around, just do a search for HF Gems list.

Most everything on "this" list, except for supply items, I've purchased, and still have. I've been buying from these guys since the 70's and returned very, very few items. They have very good parts support, and never quibble, either replacing the item or returning your money. For the most part, definitely not pretty, but very serviceable, course they sell junk too. Caveat emptor.

No not a Hawk, just a very satisfied customer.


#00623 1" Dial Indicator
#05645 Magnetic Base For Dial Indicator
#36221 9" Drill Press Lock Clamp
6" thru 36" Bar Clamps, have a hundred plus. Only one failure in 7 years.
#31255 ¾" HD Pipe Clamp Set
#03629 7 Piece Forstner Bit Set (Good starter set)
#35837 29 Piece Brad Point Wood Drill Bit Set
#30756 7-Function Multitester
#41558 Magnetic Light
#47257 6" Digital Caliper (A true bargin)
#44566 Stacked Dado Set (A good first set)
#37861 10 Piece T-Handle Hex Key Set
#41796 1LB. Dead Blow Hammer
#42304 9 Piece SAE Wrench Set
#42305 9 Piece Metric Wrench Set
#00621 Spring Loaded Pumch
#42288 Magnetic Pick-Up Tool


#93656 23ga pinner
#42253 18ga brad nailer
#44667 18ga brad/stapler I've put on a couple of shake roofs with this.
#46320 50' auto return hose reel, $80. As good as any over $200.
#46104 25' auto return reel, $40.
#00406 Jitterbug. Used it n used it n used it ......
#43430 great gravity feed gun
#46719 the little brother to the 43430
#00086 Conventional hi pressure touch up gun
#30224 Standard hi pressure 1qt gun
#00282 Die grinder. Had it for 12 yrs or so still works fine.
#52845 Mini die grinder with 1/8" collet
#46524 rev 3/8" drill
#07528 rev 1/2" drill
#00113 Body saw. cut up a whole pickup with this little gem.
#36567 sheet metal shear
#34945 3/8" impact
#53176 1/2" impact

Elect. tools;
#41831 12-1/2" planer. Certainly no equal, but similar to woodmaster planer.
#35570 Mortise machine. Put XY vise on, its just a piece of cake to use.
#42203 4" angle grinder. Just won't die.
#32222 Hand planer. used it for several doors now, works fine.
#44914 1/4" plastic flush trim router. Similar to Ryobi, lots cheaper.
#42596 recip saw. Been beat up some and comes back for more.
#02957 SDS hammer drill. These R cool!! lots better than hammer and chisel
#34706 wood lathe Great tool.
#30289 6" jointer. Used the heck outta this thing.

Misc;
#44768 solar panel. use to keep batteries in mowers up, over the winter.
#35841 Propane torch, quartz elect igniter.
#42396 Clamp on ammeter.
#04486 3 jaw 2" mini lathe chuck.
#37041 Corner chisel for hinge mortises
#37052 Nitril gloves.
#03577 Transfer punches.

Of course there are acid brushes, chip brushes, wrenches, dozuki saws, flush saws turning tools......

[Larry Fox]

So far ... a ticket off their mailing list. Cost: $0.00 Value: Priceless.

Compare that to the one item that I have bought from them: Cost: $~20.00 Value: $0.00

[David Epperson]

One item that I haven't seen anyone mention is the drywall lift. If you ever have to put up a drywall ceiling, it's well worth it. I forget the price, but it saved a LOT of chiropractor bills. LOL.
And the full sized (54" tall ?) "Office Safe" has done real well too.

[Rich Capizzano]

Is there pocket hole jig really that good? Was going to buy the KREG but I saw their jig yesterday, seems put together VERY well, much more solid than the KREG.....

[Rich Capizzano]

I picked up theor metal punch set to make a hole in a stainless steel sink for a soap dispenser.....worked great!

[Bryan Morgan]

I'm shocked that no one in the woodworking trade has said anything about their Toggle Clamps. 200lb toggle clamps for $3.99 and the 500lb ones for $4.99. You will never find them that cheap and they are all of great quality. They are almost identical in construction as the more expensive ones that cost a min of $8 and usually closer to $20. I just can't say enough about these. I can't even make a wooden hold down for less than that.


I bought a handful of those but my batch wasn't too great. A few worked fine but a couple others somehow locked up (bent or something).

[Bryan Morgan]

I forgot about my HF lathe! I bought the smallest one they have so my wife could make pens. It has a nice variable speed setup. Made of iron and heavy for its size. The old black version of HF part 25607-2vga. Worked awesome for many pens. Of course pens led to bigger things like bowls and whatnot. So we got a bigger variable speed Excelsior from Rockler (same as the PSI lathe except black instead of red). Worked fine for a little while... then the speed control fried. I'm handy with electronics so I pulled out the speed control from my neglected little HF lathe and put it in the Excelsior... works like a champ! In fact, has a wider speed range now as well!

[Josiah Bartlett]

I bought their recip saw to demolish the previous owner's garage fixtures when I bought the house. I figured for $19 it wouldn't make it through the project. Been trying to kill it for almost 5 years.

Same here. I've gotten it so bound up with drywall dust that it ground to a halt and made a horrible grinding sound. Once freeing it up, it is none the worse for wear. I paid a little more and got the variable speed one. I've dropped it off a ladder numerous times and left it out in the rain.

[Greg Portland]

Is there pocket hole jig really that good? Was going to buy the KREG but I saw their jig yesterday, seems put together VERY well, much more solid than the KREG.How is the height adjusted (i.e. where the drill hits the wood)? On my Kreg I like that all the measurements are on the jig (drill depth stop setting, jig height settings, etc. Also, the more expensive Kreg jigs have the clamp lever in the front which helps a lot if you are drilling holes in larger sheet goods (no need to reach around and try to find the clamp lever). Again, I have not seen the HF version but these are some things that I like about the Kreg.

[Neil Brooks]

The pocket hole jig is great I like it better than the Kreg.Also I love my dovetail jig.Though the jig doesn't come with instructions.

Clayton:

We never had this conversation, but ....

Pocket Hole Jig instructions (http://www.harborfreight.com/manuals/96000-96999/96264.pdf)

Dovetail jig instructions (http://www.harborfreight.com/manuals/34000-34999/34102.PDF)

You owe me a beer ;)

[Neil Brooks]

I've been THOROUGHLY satisfied with EVERY "universal tool stand" that I've bought from Harbor Freight.

Every time I buy one (I'm up to about six or seven, by now), either:


It's missing *a fair bit* of the required assembly hardware,
A *staggering number* of the bolts have mangled threads
Some combination of the above


So ... each of these purchases has resulted in

A trip to the hardware store -- always fun :-)
A lengthy and frustrating conversation with HF Customer Service -- usually in India
An even more frustrating attempt to get in touch with Domestic HF Customer Service
A lengthy conversation with Domestic HF customer service who promises that they, eventually, will mail me a full SET of the necessary hardware, but
A recommendation FROM HF Customer Service that I'm REALLY better off going to the hardware store, getting the needed parts, and then sending the bill TO HF for reimbursement (the latter bit is something I've just never bothered doing)


So ... like many HF products ... you get to pay for them AT LEAST twice, but ... then ... they work just fine.

And WHO can ask for anything more than THAT ? :rolleyes:

[Bruce Page]

About the only thing I buy at HF is their Nitrile gloves.

[Kevin Gregoire]

i picked up two more free flashlights today when i stopped in for some stuff,
and my aunt got one too with a coupon i gave her.

[Neil Brooks]

About the only thing I buy at HF is their Nitrile gloves.

Those ARE fairly nice.

I presume you have six fingers, then?
:D

[Richard Dooling]

+1 on the #34706 wood lathe.

It's a knock off of the Jet 1236 and lacks some features but at $200 on sale I'm very, very pleased. Mine actually is off a tad with the vertical alignment of the centers but I found such an easy fix that I don't know that I'll bother getting HF to fix it for me.

Note that I probably would not have bought this without many positive reviews of this as a HF "gem."

.

[Bruce Page]

Those ARE fairly nice.

I presume you have six fingers, then?
:D

No, I just tie the extra one off. :D

[Marty Paulus]

Well so far the 12" ratcheting bar clamps that I caught on sale for $1.99 ea. The 7" variable speed polisher for the boats. The nitrile gloves (even with the extra finger :D). An air filter/regulator for my small compressor. 60 tooth 10" table saw blades for $5 ea. 8" dado stack. If I walk out into the garage I am sure I would find more.

[Lee Koepke]

12.99 1/2" hammer drill ... to drill 8 bolts into cmu for a couple of fence gates.

that was 6 years ago, and its still going stong :D

[Noah Levy]

+1 on the #34706 wood lathe.

It's a knock off of the Jet 1236 and lacks some features but at $200 on sale I'm very, very pleased. Mine actually is off a tad with the vertical alignment of the centers but I found such an easy fix that I don't know that I'll bother getting HF to fix it for me.

Note that I probably would not have bought this without many positive reviews of this as a HF "gem."

.

Richard,
Just curious how you corrected the alignment problem? I have the same HF lathe and am about to fire it up for the first time.

[Floyd Mah]

I thought I would put in a vote for the 1.5 cu. ft. cement mixer which I used to mix about a hundred bags of concrete to create new workspace for my tools. Turned a dirt floor into a second workshop. Another best buy is the multi-function tool that costs less than a single Fein blade. Just used that to remove a section of plaster from a lath and plaster wall that developed a pregnant bulge.

[Erik Stol]

Well, I do have a lot of pipe clamps that work very well, right angle drill attachment for my cordless drill, air nailer/stapler for only $19,99, T handle hex set, wooden hand screw clamps. All stuff that I can carry in my suitcases back from holidays. The bigger stuff is not to handle for me unfortunately. But I do have to say, its big fun shopping at HF. Great deals for a small price. We don't have that over here. Way to expensive.

[Richard Dooling]

Hi Noah,

In my case the drive spur was a little low.

There is a small gap along the front edge of the headstock. Just trying different thickness shims, I found that the ruler from a combination square was very nearly the perfect thickness. I am wondering about other fixes but I really don't want to haul that thing back to the store - too heavy.


Richard,
Just curious how you corrected the alignment problem? I have the same HF lathe and am about to fire it up for the first time.

[Noah Levy]

Thanks for the tip Richard. Hopefully mine's ready to go when I get to it.