I love harbor freight

[Rick Peek]

Lol, ok,ok let me explain. I have a pretty eclectic tool collection, Festool,Grizzly,Bosch,Ridgid etc. Sometimes you just need a tool that you rarely need, but have a need sometimes. So for me,I rarely need a hammer drill,but I did need one for a job I was doing. I went to Harbor freight and bought a Chicago Electric hammer drill, 32 bucks with the 20% off coupon. To my surprise it seemed pretty well built and worked perfectly. It will probably collect dust for 2 years before I need it again, but have it,and it only cost 32 bucks. I also bought a brick/ tile wet saw a few years back for 200 bucks and let me tell you, it’s a beast and I have run thousands of feet if granite veneer through it. Sometimes they do have good buys.

[Frederick Skelly]

Glad to hear it. Thanks for letting us know.

There are several lists of "Harbor Freight Gems" out there. You ought to search for one and add yours to the list. Heck, there might be one here on SMC that I've forgotten.

Fred

[Rick Peek]

Glad to hear it. Thanks for letting us know.

There are several lists of "Harbor Freight Gems" out there. You ought to search for one and add yours to the list. Heck, there might be one here on SMC that I've forgotten.

Fred
I detect a note of sarcasm Fred. Sorry if I offended you.

[Frederick Skelly]

I detect a note of sarcasm Fred. Sorry if I offended you.

Oh my. No Rick. Not one drop was intended. I'm sorry if I gave you any idea like that at all. Those lists are real. I read them and sometimes buy off them for things like you described.

My apologies.
Fred

[Rick Peek]

Oh my. No Rick. Not one drop was intended. I'm sorry if I gave you any idea like that at all. Those lists are real. I read them and sometimes buy off them for things like you described.

My apologies.
Fred
Thanks Fred, my apologies for misinterpretation of your post. 🙂

[Chris Schoenthal]

Rick, as you said, Harbor Freight has a place in the scheme of things.
They're great for electric tools that you will probably only use once or twice and don't demand a lot of accuracy.
A lot of their hand tools and basic supplies are worth saving money on as well.
You just have to take into consideration what your expectations are and buy accordingly.

And as Fred commented, there are a lot of lists out there of "gems" that HF has to offer.

[Ben Rivel]

Ha! I envy you. I can’t even do it when it’s a tool I’m only going to use a couple times. If it’s a new tool I’m gettin the nicest quality tool I can afford.

[Alex Zeller]

A few months ago I picked up their small dust collector with a 25% off coupon. I think it's a 1hp? The two I have are much bigger and noisy enough so I can't use them when I'm turning in my basement if people are sleeping upstairs. I wasn't expecting much and was fully prepared to return it. But it's super quiet and the only issue is the plastic guards inside the ducts collect anything more than dust and will block it off. Once they were removed it works great. It's super quiet. I use it with my band saw and to clean up dust and shaving on the floor. I usually don't buy much from them but, like you said, sometimes you need a tool for that very rare time.

Another thing I picked up is a 10" tile saw when I built my house. HF replaced with what looks like a circular saw on an arm. It was cheaper to buy it from them than to rent one. That was 15 years ago and I have lent it to almost everyone I can think of and it just keeps working. It was my first violation of my "never buy anything electric from HF" rule.

[Mark Bolton]

My problem is whenever I walk out of that place I am usually sick for a day or so. I know its the stink/chemical/whatever in the air because I have had the same experience at Tractor Supply and was recently at a tool sale where a booth with loads of off-the-boat stuff and literally just walking down the isle that booth was in was nearly unbearable.

My only things from HF at times of desperation are urethane wheeled casters that are a bargain that are hard to turn away from. But even those have to sit in the end bay of the shop or sometimes get wiped down with mineral spirits or lacquer thinner to even be in the shop. Im shocked the chinese are not dropping like flies from some type of cancer or some other malady due to whatever is in the goop/oil/whatever that creates that overwhelming stench.

I was once in a Tractor Supply and literally had to leave feeling like I was going to pass out from that trademark smell. Maybe Im just allergic to it, or maybe Im a canary in the coal mine. I stay as far away as I can from whatever is in those products.

[Rick Peek]

I love it for those times when you really need a power tool but rarely need it. I remember years ago most specialty tools were so expensive that renting one was your only option. You had to call reserve it,go get it and by the time you got home with it,half the day was gone. Then half the time it was incomplete or parts were broken on it and you wound up loosing the whole day. You always underestimated the time you need it and by the time you were done you could have almost bought one.

[Mark Gibney]

Mark, your strong reaction to the chemical stink in HF is interesting, and sorry you are so susceptible to this.
I also think the place stinks and I don't enjoy being there.
It can't be good for the poor Chinese workers in the factories. And their government is so controlling and repressive that I have little faith we'll ever get to know the extent of the toll on the workers' health.

[Mel Fulks]

I agree with Rick's assessment. It's much better than renting something that's been dogged. The few times I rented stuff
it had missing parts. And broken parts.

[Alex Zeller]

Nothing like renting a rototiller only to find out the blades were used to till rocks by the last person. Now you either have to spend hours returning it and hope they have a good one or sharpen them yourself.

[Matt Day]

I bought one of their SDS hammer drills as well, the cheaper Bauer model. It’s been awesome. I’ve drilled a hundred holes probably from small Tapcon sizes to bigger 3/4” holes and it doesn’t break a sweat. I’ll likely buy a wide chisel for it when I rip up my tile floor as well.

HF is a great store. Folks knock it but it’s a great match of price and quality. For instance I bought a beam trolley and hoist from them, cost probably $100 total. I couldn’t have gotten the chain hoist for that from a store like grainier, and it’s the same thing!

[Rick Peek]

I bought one of their SDS hammer drills as well, the cheaper Bauer model. It’s been awesome. I’ve drilled a hundred holes probably from small Tapcon sizes to bigger 3/4” holes and it doesn’t break a sweat. I’ll likely buy a wide chisel for it when I rip up my tile floor as well.

HF is a great store. Folks knock it but it’s a great match of price and quality. For instance I bought a beam trolley and hoist from them, cost probably $100 total. I couldn’t have gotten the chain hoist for that from a store like grainier, and it’s the same thing!.

Fred, I bought the Bauer 15 gauge finish nailer and it’s been great. Have shot thousand of nails through it without a single jamb. Works much better than my Bostich.

[Ole Anderson]

Just in the last week I have used their chain saw sharpener and their circular saw blade sharpener. I also have their 1-1/8” sds hammer drill and pneumatic stapler. All of which I couldn’t justify if buying name brand.

[Jim Dwight]

I bought the 10 amp HF hammer drill a few years ago. It uses the SKS type bits. I've drilled holes with it but have used it more as a demolition hammer. It has a mode where it just hammers, does not rotate. I took down a chimney with it, about 10 feet of brick veneer, a shower that was concrete on metal mesh and another bathroom floor. I leaks grease out around the bit but that is my only complaint. It isn't a terrible leak but it makes your hands black if you handle the bit. It is also heavy. The weight is a good thing if you're making a hole. You can just let it hammer until the hole is as deep as you want it. Most recently I made a 6 inch hole for the exhaust from my HF 2 hp DC (by making lots of smaller holes).

I was using it to break up bricks as a contractor removed them from my garage wall (they were demoing it so they could add another stall for my shop). They commented my HF was more powerful than their Bosch.

I have not used a HF tool I would call really nice but there are a lot of HF tools that get the job done just fine. They do sell some junk but it seems like they are getting better. I like the stores - except I always come out with more than I went there for.

[johnny means]

I just bought their cordless ratchet. I'm happy with it. Their newer lines power tools are a little closer to regular prices, but seem to be fairly well built. I'll remain a snob for my professional gear, but I'll definitely check HF out for my weekend warrior gear.

[Jim Andrew]

When I was getting ready to install the wood floor in my shop, they had the flooring stapler for 90.79. So I bought it, used it, and it still worked when I was finished. A lot of their merchandise has improved over the years. Used to think you had to pay through the nose for air nailers, not so any more.

[Dan Baginski]

I bought one of their electric impacts years ago to do suspension work on an old Porsche. Sold the car and haven’t used the tool since but it worked fine and was only about $40.00

[Rich Engelhardt]

I can't really say "I love Harbor Freight"......but...I do sure as heck appreciate Harbor Freight.
I buy their sale stuff all the time since it's good value. Small stuff like cable ties, chip brushes, acid brushes, single edge razor blades, utility knife blades, 1/8" drill bits, some pneumatic tools,,,,

[Jerome Stanek]

I have to go there today to get some cut off wheels

[Mike Cutler]

Like others have stated, they do have some "gems", along with the stinkers.
I have bought a few tools from them with no apparent issues. Mostly I buy stuff from them to work on cars/trucks.
Some of their air tools are decent, but their air fittings air ,not so good. The NPT threads are cut too deep/long and they don't tighten up correctly.They used to have an inline pneumatic oiler that was pretty slick, but I haven't seen it there for a long time. There pneumatic brake evacuator is worth every bit of what they charged. For a couple of plastic bottles, a plastic vacuum turbine, and some hose, that thing is really slick!!
I bought a low profile aluminum car jack that keeps doing what it's supposed to. I needed it to get under the frame of our Mini Coopers. I also have one of their 1/2 ton chain falls.

I hear you guys about the packing grease smell in their stores. It's pretty strong. Never noticed it at Tractor Supply though.

[Curt Harms]

I just bought their cordless ratchet. I'm happy with it. Their newer lines power tools are a little closer to regular prices, but seem to be fairly well built. I'll remain a snob for my professional gear, but I'll definitely check HF out for my weekend warrior gear.

I think that's the proper way to view Harbor Freight goods. I don't buy Harbor Freight if I need durability or precision but if I need a lot of clamps like for a bent laminate glue-up, HF F style clamps work pretty well and for reasonable $. I did buy a random orbit polisher from Harbor Freight and it works okay but it's loud and kinda crude.

[michael langman]

Has anyone bought their 21* framing nailer. I am up in the air over theirs or the NuMax nailer for 79.95 on Amazon. I am leaning towards the HF nailer though.

[Terry Wawro]

I don't know if it's the 21 framing hammer but my HF frammer had got me through a couple of additions and a remodeling job. Pretty much went through a large box of nails, all without a single jam. It's heavy but it works and works and works.

[michael langman]

Thanks Terry. I know HF sells a couple of different framing nailers. I think the Banks and the Chicago pneumatic. I am looking at the Banks, if I have the name correctly.

[Mike Cutler]

Has anyone bought their 21* framing nailer. I am up in the air over theirs or the NuMax nailer for 79.95 on Amazon. I am leaning towards the HF nailer though.

If you just have that "one job", and maybe some small repairs, I would try the HF nailer.
The online reviews it gets are positive, but the knock is longevity of the seals, even when stored properly. It's also nice to keep the receipt in your pocket and take it back if it fails, and get another one to keep going and finish the project.
If you're looking for an all day, every day, nailer,,, I don't think HF would be my first choice. ;)

[Bill Dufour]

I bought their reciprocating saw to saw two eight foot Al garage doors into three pieces to go out for recycling. It just barely did the job. The gears were striping before the end. I had to twist and bead/break the last six inches or so. They did replace it for me. I found a deal on a Sears(porter cable) one and gave the unused HF one to my brother
Bill D..

[michael langman]

We think alike Mike. I just don't know how lucky I feel sometimes. I will have to drive 45 minutes to replace it if it fails.
I only have a few sheds and an overhang to reinforce, so I think I will just give it a try.

[Peter Kelly]

Im shocked the chinese are not dropping like flies from some type of cancer or some other malady due to whatever is in the goop/oil/whatever that creates that overwhelming stench.Whole villages in China have been dropping dead for years now. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1282132/landmark-medical-study-offers-first-statistical-link-between-pollution

The chemical smell from HF usually makes me nauseous for a good 90 min. I only buy surgical gloves from there.

[Jim Dwight]

I have their framing nailer, the full head one. It works fine. I framed a staircase with it. Not a lot of use but no complaints. I also have the flooring stapler/nailer. I've put down about 800 ft2 and I loaned it out for what I think was a smaller job. It leaks air but still works. I also have the upholstrey stapler, 2 narrow crown staplers, and the 15 gauge finish nailer. They all work. One of the narrow crown staplers wouldn't really drive 1.5 inch staples. It is several years old. The newer one is fine. I don't think any of these are professional quality tools but I think they are pretty nice for the price. I have a couple Bostitch and a Porter Cable. The Bostitch are a little better, the PC isn't. Just costs more.

If you can justify a Senco or even a Bostitch, I think you will be happier with them, especially if you use them a lot. But for me, the HF air nailers are fine. I just need something that works and costs about what the rental of a nicer tool would cost.

[michael langman]

Jim, Thanks for the review. It sounds like I'll be fine with the HF nailer. I'll use a 20% coupon and hpofully get it for 80.00.

[Thomas McCurnin]

I don't buy tools at Harbor Freight that have more than a couple moving parts. Sledge hammers are a perfect example of what I might buy there. I have purchased tools there that are broken right out of the box. The company does have a no hassle return policy, but the QC out of the box is dicey. Their tools cannot be repaired, there is no authorized repair center, so they are use and throw away tools.

Here is an interesting article listing the tools to buy at Harbor Freight and those tools to avoid purchasing:

https://toolcrib.com/blog/2008/08/buyer-beware-a-harbor-freight-buying-guide-the-good-enough-the-bad-and-the-abysmal/

[Alex Zeller]

I don't buy tools at Harbor Freight that have more than a couple moving parts. Sledge hammers are a perfect example of what I might buy there. I have purchased tools there that are broken right out of the box. The company does have a no hassle return policy, but the QC out of the box is dicey. Their tools cannot be repaired, there is no authorized repair center, so they are use and throw away tools.

Here is an interesting article listing the tools to buy at Harbor Freight and those tools to avoid purchasing:

https://toolcrib.com/blog/2008/08/buyer-beware-a-harbor-freight-buying-guide-the-good-enough-the-bad-and-the-abysmal/

You are their QC.