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lowell holmes
03-21-2018, 2:12 PM
I do a lot of wondering, like do you read the back page adds on insertions in the newspaper? In this mornings paper there was 16 page insert and on the back page, there is a Harbor Freight full page add.
I find that page to be entertaining. Also, have you ever bought anything from them. I have purchased a few items. My son-in-law visits them more than I do.
I also frequent and buy from the local borg's, Home Depot and Lowe's. I would rather do there than to a candy store.

Ken Fitzgerald
03-21-2018, 5:23 PM
Locally, we got a Harbor Freight last fall or early this spring. I have been in there twice. Years ago I bought a tile saw from them online. Though it wasn't spectacular, it more than earned it's keep until I retired it a couple years ago. Last week I bought a pair of dollies in the local store. I plan on using them to move the hide-a-bed couch and entertainment center out of the living room to clean the carpets. I would buy stuff there that I don't plan on using heavily or often or both.

Mel Fulks
03-21-2018, 5:40 PM
Oh yeah, I enjoy harbor frate. Some good stuff there. And some stuff that is not as much inferior as just really nutty in concept. They had really terrific soaker hoses. At least one other member here has lamented their absense. The ones they have now are much better than the ones at the BORGS .

James Waldron
03-21-2018, 5:41 PM
What is this "morning paper" of which you speak? If you post a URL, I'll check it out, but I'm not doing a Google search to find it.

My last purchase from HF was a couple of the aluminum bar clamps, which are every bit as frail as Joel's blog this morning reports. https://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/store/blog/1053/title/Clamp%20Vs.%20Clamp And I added some SYP reinforcing inserts as suggested by Paul Sellers a while back (which is when I decided to try it out). https://paulsellers.com/2017/01/screwfix-sash-clamps/ The Dubuque clamps are better in every way, but the adaptation does work and I still use the HF things at times. Without Sellers modification, they are not worth having. The modification is quick and easy and saves a fair amount of money, but not everyone is interested in spending their time modifying tools.

Bruce Wrenn
03-21-2018, 8:29 PM
Search "Harbor Freight Gems." One thing I like is their rechargable batteries. For around six bucks ( less 20%) for a set of four, I use them in my head phones and FM transmitter. They last as long, if not longer than "national brands."

Doug Hepler
03-21-2018, 9:37 PM
I bought their Windsor workbench for temp use and it is still in service as a secondary bench after stiffening. Not a wonderful workbench but serviceable and great value for money. I bought some plastic shelves on impulse ("how could I go wrong" kind of thing). They were flimsy and soon went into the trash.

Doug

Joe Bradshaw
03-21-2018, 9:41 PM
My girlfriend and I both like to shop at HF. Mostly for chip brushes and latex gloves. Also the magnetic trays. I do have a HF right angle drill that I have been using for almost 12 years. I use it for sanding pieces on the lathe. It's afraid to break because I have a backup for it. HF does have some gems. Most items with a cord don't last long, but the handtools work great for the occasional user. Of course your MMAV.
Joe

dennis thompson
03-22-2018, 6:00 AM
I enjoy going there and visit about once a month, always with a 20% coupon. I have their bench top drill press which has worked well for several years, I think I paid about $50 for it. I also buy their chip brushes. I have a corded 3/8 drill which I have dedicated to my Kreg drill bit and it's fine.. I bought some band clamps and they are awful. I bought their trim router, about $20, pretty bad, I gave it away.I buy their small dollies, about $8, just for the casters. I get my latex(?) disposable gloves at Costco, very good quality.
It does seem that their quality is improving over the years although you still have to be careful about what you buy. Some of us older members remember that anything "made in Japan" was junk, now of course they make high quality products, I wonder if Harbor Freight and China products will do the same?

John K Jordan
03-22-2018, 6:46 AM
What is this "morning paper" of which you speak? If you post a URL, I'll check it out, but I'm not doing a Google search to find it.


Ha, if you were serious I'd say check with your local paper. I read it every morning with an app on my iPad. I also get the paper version delivered since my Lovely Bride likes the grocery ads and I use the paper with the bee hives and when starting fires. The comics pages make high class wrapping paper. Getting the paper every day helps support the local economy by giving the delivery guy a job.

I don't watch TV or browse on-line news sites so any news I get is from the paper or from my wife, starting with the words "Did you hear about the...".

Years ago with my hand on a machinist's handbook I took a solemn vow to never buy anything from Harbor Freight that has moving parts.

JKJ

Dan Hulbert
03-22-2018, 8:23 AM
For a long time, the watch words were: "Don't buy anything from Harbor Freight that can kill you." Lately there products seem to be improving. I go there any time i need nitrile gloves, chip brushes, acid brushes, other use and toss items. While I can't speak from experience, there have been positive postings about their link belts.

roger wiegand
03-22-2018, 8:38 AM
I wonder if it is not so much HF improving as the quality of everything else declining to their level, so it only seems as if they are getting better.

I bought a hydraulic jack there for a one time job. No, I didn't get under the jacked up vehicle.

Jim Becker
03-22-2018, 9:08 AM
What's a "newspaper"? ... :) :D Honestly, I haven't read on in many years, but they do indeed sometimes have ads of local relevance. HFT is an interesting place. There are some things that are a great value and others that probably should be avoided. There's been lots of discussion about them over the years. And something else...they actually are not always the best price for something. ;)

Ole Anderson
03-22-2018, 9:26 AM
Recent HF finds for me included a really nice framers tool belt for $25 and an electric chain saw sharpener for $30. And with their ever-present 20% off coupon, those purchases are an even better deal. Next I am going to purchase their $55 carbide saw blade sharpener to try out on a few old blades.
https://www.harborfreight.com/120-volt-circular-saw-blade-sharpener-96687.html
https://www.harborfreight.com/18-pocket-heavy-duty-tool-belt-63294.html
https://www.harborfreight.com/electric-chain-saw-sharpener-61613.html

Alan Rutherford
03-22-2018, 9:52 AM
For the price Harbor Freight products are as good as any and better than some. I save the ads with the coupons and make sure there's one in the car when are going that direction, whether we plan to stop or not. In recent months they seem to be aiming higher in price and quality with some electric tools.

Free Harbor Freight flashlights were the unsung heroes of 2 hurricanes and several more minor power outages over the last few years. I have one on this desk, one in the closet behind me, a few in a basket in the kitchen and one in each car.

Mark Blatter
03-22-2018, 9:58 AM
Recent HF finds for me included a really nice framers tool belt for $25 and an electric chain saw sharpener for $30. And with their ever-present 20% off coupon, those purchases are an even better deal. Next I am going to purchase their $55 carbide saw blade sharpener to try out on a few old blades.
https://www.harborfreight.com/120-volt-circular-saw-blade-sharpener-96687.html
https://www.harborfreight.com/18-pocket-heavy-duty-tool-belt-63294.html
https://www.harborfreight.com/electric-chain-saw-sharpener-61613.html

Based on your rec Ole, I bought a tool belt, leather one actually, from HF. It was $16, less after the coupon, and it has worked great. I didn't actually have a real tool belt until that one. As part of my work, I use a two pocket 'belt' from Ace for holding screws, but that was it. I also bought a grinder from them a couple of years ago. It was not good quality, but it got the job done. Today that grinder sits on a shelf just in case I need a grinder for a two minute job as that is about all it could handle. I used it on aluminum and it still almost couldn't handle the work.

The one thing I have bought from HF in quantity are the moving blankets. I always buy them on sale and they have lasted and provided the protection I needed. They are the same as ones I paid $12 - $15 for in 2007 but I now pay $7.

BOB OLINGER
03-22-2018, 10:23 AM
Lots of pros and cons posted about HF over the years. But, I really like the store and a lot of their products. Over the years, I purchased 3 work benches (screwed them together for a decent work bench), shingle air nailer, air powered hard flooring nailer, orbital air sander, fast connect hose couplers, 1/2" corded drill, nitrile gloves, socket sets & rachets, box end wrenches, tool cart, floor mats, air hose, drill bits, sanding discs, electrical cord ends, just to name a few - and all of these have performed to my expectations. However, I purchased several small bar clamps and they are TERRIBLE as they won't hold.

Michael Weber
03-22-2018, 10:25 AM
Although always thinking of Harbor Freight as "Harbor Fright" I shop there sometimes for disposables, hand tools and even power tools that I need for "one time use" or infrequent applications. Never bought woodworking tools there but own their motorcycle jack and tire changer and bridge tile saw. Enjoy looking around when I'm there.

James Waldron
03-22-2018, 10:47 AM
Ha, if you were serious I'd say check with your local paper. I read it every morning with an app on my iPad. I also get the paper version delivered since my Lovely Bride likes the grocery ads and I use the paper with the bee hives and when starting fires. The comics pages make high class wrapping paper. Getting the paper every day helps support the local economy by giving the delivery guy a job.

I don't watch TV or browse on-line news sites so any news I get is from the paper or from my wife, starting with the words "Did you hear about the...".

Years ago with my hand on a machinist's handbook I took a solemn vow to never buy anything from Harbor Freight that has moving parts.

JKJ

Okay, right. You're talking about the crab wrapper. Got it.

At home we get pretty good lump crab meat from Costco; their price is half or sometimes less than half, the price at the local fish mongers (and has less shell). When we want to pick crabs, we stop at a fish camp where they wrap shells in the butcher paper they use to cover the tables. Got no more use for the crab wrapper. It just can't compete any more. Sad, I suppose, but the world moves on.

Carlos Alvarez
03-22-2018, 12:57 PM
There used to be a few sites dedicated to rating HF stuff. They seem to have stuff that's just fine, sometimes even great, and others that are horrifyingly bad. Then the ones that need a couple mods to make them great. My own rule is to not buy anything that needs to be/stay sharp, or requires high-quality or hardened metals. Because it's all made out of Chinesium and you never know what you will get. But lots of things from HF have served me well for many years. I haven't gone there in a year though, just don't need stuff they have any more. I bought gloves a year ago. They are good. But no longer significantly cheaper than Amazon, so why bother.