Quality of stuff at Harbor Freight

[carioca1232001]

Some friends of mine from the US are visiting Brazil next week and have offered to carry stuff that I may need.

As usual I have made some purchases at Defenders.

Harbor Freight has measuring equipment on offer at a very low price. Am thinking of a hand-held RPM meter as well as an Infra Red temperature measurement device.

Will appreciate comments and / or alternative suggestions. Thanks in anticipation.

[JimConlin]

My limited experience with Harbor Freight is that their stuff is of low quality. Sometimes it works as advertised and sometimes it doesn't. I would not buy from them any item whose failure would be more than a minor inconvenience.

[Bob Cleek]

Around here, they are known as "Horror Fright!" HF specializes in bottom-end junk knock-off tools, mainly fabricated in China and India. That said, their selection is HUGE and, if you know what you want and recognize the limitations of their products, you can often score excellet deals there. It's not for the uninitated tool buyer... or the faint of heart, and you definitely want to be able to hold the tool in your hands before you buy it. (Opening the box and inspecting the thing before you leave the store is a "must" to avoid an annoying trip back to get one that is complete and works!)

I believe their catalog is on line. Their prices, however, frequently fluctuate from "brick and mortar" outlet to outlet. Also, they sometimes have "insider" discounts, which are e-mailed to those on their address list. To qualify for these discounts and deals, you have to know the "secret number" and tell it to the sales person at the store. You can often find these discount codes posted on tool websites like "Home Shop Machinist Forum" and "Sawmill Creek Forum."

Their measuring tools are, as far as I've seen, marginally accurate at best, but certainly worth the money and then some if you aren't expecting .0005" accuracy. I have a set of their micrometers, some calipers and such that serve my purposes just fine. (If you want better, and slightly more expensive measuring tools, still made offshore, but to higher standards, I'd say to go with stuff out of the ENCO catalog. http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRHM) I have an Indian made HF rabet plane I bought for a lark, a knock off of the Stanley standard, which, with a bit of fettling, works adequately for the relatively rare occasions I've used it. Stuff like punches and the like are a good deal if you aren't planning on using them daily in a commercial shop. I haven't seen anyone come close to their price for "C" clamps, although they obviously aren't drop forged models. Clamps are one of their better deals.

On the other hand, HF's Chinese machine tools are hopeless. Their 7x12 mini-lathes are a standing joke. (They are more or less identical to the higher priced models, Grizzly's stuff, for instance, but aren't built with the same quality control.) SOME, only some, of their powered handtools are worthwhile, but only because they are so cheap. They won't generally stand up to heavy use. This isn't so much of a consideration if you live near one of their stores. In that case, I know guys that buy HF drill motors and sanders and just "burn 'em up" and then return them for a warranty exchange. Living in Brazil, this isn't an option, and, even for light use, realize that maybe ten to twenty percent of their electrically powered stuff won't run right "out of the box" and you have to take a chance on having to exchange it any case.

I would say that few tool junkies can walk out of "Horror Freight" empty handed. There's always something there so cheap you are willing to chance it turning out to be a piece of crap. However, if you accept the fact that you get what you pay for, more or less, you'd have fun in there. As far as shipping it to Brazil, I can't say. You may get a lot more bang for your buck having your friends bring you something expensive, but of fine quality, which would be highly priced in Brazil, but far less costly here.

[carioca1232001]

Thanks very much for the input, Jim Conlin and Bob Cleek.

You´ve both confirmed my worst suspicions, although I must admit that HF´s
online catalogue is as tempting as original sin for the uninitiated !

True, it is simply not worth buying stuff that has a high risk of turning out to be crap, given the enormous distance between supplier and final end-user !

Using Google I have located a test and measuring instrument warehouse out in Melrose, Mass. that carries both non-contact Infra Red Thermometers as well as non-contact Tachometers, amongst other measuring instruments. Brand names include Fluke and Extech, cream of the crop. Prices are good too.

Once again, much obliged.

[TimH]

harbor freight is pure garbage. Plain and Simple.

[Greg Stoll]

I buy most of my epoxy-spreading products there, notably the chip brushes and plastic spreaders, both of which work well. The funnels are good too. I tried the magnetic trailer lights, but the magnets weren't strong enough. I'm trying their submersible LED trailer lights now, and they seem to be working ok.

Beyond that, the HF stuff is mostly junk. If I need a tool for a specific job I'll usually price out a rental unit versus a Harbor Freight unit and go with the cheapest one; either way I'll get my day's use out of it.

OTOH, I remember purchasing a HF framing hammer, thinking it would be pretty hard for a manufacturer to screw up. I used it to pull a stubborn nail and bent the handle...

Greg

[banjoman]

Harbor Freight is good for some things.

Clamps are at the top of that list. I have many bar, C, and hand screw clamps from HF that perform very well at a fraction of the cost of the more expensive brands. I have a heat gun that has lasted several years of use.

I have a tap/die set that has saved me more than I paid for it but would not buy it if my income was dependent on it.

One of my belt sanders was from them (refurbished Makita) and it burned out soon after buying it. They sent me a refund quick.

[James McMullen]

I have eventually regretted every single thing I ever bought from Horrible Fright. Not up to professional duty, or even enthusiastic amateur duty.

[Jonathan Kabak]

I second the vote in favor of HF non tolerance products. My favorite are their canvas riggers bags with the pockets lining the outside. They're ten bucks a pop and are great for schlepping stuff to and from the car at the job site.

JK

[TimH]

I bought a giant set of adjustable wrenches from them thinking "these are so massive how cuold they break?"

The steel is so soft that after a few uses the jaws are all deformed and no longer flat or square.

pure garbage. I never even consider them anymore. They have brought Chinese junk to a a new level.

while they may have a few products that woud possible function as designed a time ot two I refuse to support the elimination of quality tool companies.

[davebrown]

i bought a boat trailer that has been great, and seen hard use for five yrs. everything else was regrettable. that is lower than hit or miss. that's all miss with one hit.

[AstoriaDave]

Varies enormously from junk to good quality. Caveat emptor. Best bet is to visit an outlet and see the stuff before you invest. Buddy just bought a HF 3 cubic ft cement mixer. It is sturdy and well made. Impossible to evaluate remotely (online). Gotta see it before you buy.

[Bob Adams]

Where's that thumbs down icon when you need it? Junk.

[Arko]

i bought a boat trailer that has been great, and seen hard use for five yrs. everything else was regrettable. that is lower than hit or miss. that's all miss with one hit.

Which trailer did you buy Dave? I have thought from time to time of buying one of thier small boat trailers. I still need one too.
Oh yeah, I've bought things from HF and it is hit and miss. The cheapo router I bought five years ago still works. It's a caveman tool though.

[FiremanJim]

Like almost everyone else, I think most of HF's stuff is junk. I was going to buy some 2" spring clamps from them at $1.19 ea, but then I found some 2" spring clamps at my local Home Depot for $0.99 ea! I bought 24 of these and they work great!

Having said that, I'm considering their trailer; it's cheap and I only have a few miles to go between home and the water. I'll be putting a Rangelely Lakes Boat on it at ~100 lbs, maybe 115# with gear.

Some items like bags, mentioned earlier, are OK but that's about it.

[Bob (oh, THAT Bob)]

I second the vote in favor of HF non tolerance products. My favorite are their canvas riggers bags with the pockets lining the outside. They're ten bucks a pop and are great for schlepping stuff to and from the car at the job site.

JK

I second that. They are 20% the cost of the nearest competitor. Great gifts. First chance I get though, I will bar-tack the handles. Large canvas boat bags for $5. Also a good deal is the folding Riggers Knife at $7; best to inspect it as sometimes the side plates are not riveted flush, but usually OK, and 30% the cost at the local marine store. 5/10/50 amp battery charger has worked fine, pretty good deal at $30. Spools of 1/4" poly line for a penny and a half per foot. Punch sets are a great deal and decent quality. People familiar with tools (and able to view them in person) can usually see right off which are worth the bucks and which are junk. Plastic organizer boxes, when on sale at 2/3 off, those are same quality as elsewhere and much cheaper. Trailer hitch ball dollies, when on sale for $42, are decent deal, just grease the axles well as they don't come with grease. Decent synthetic paint brushes for 79 cents. Dandy little multimeter for $3. Some stuff has failed, they replaced it immediately.

But tradesman or any place where tools are "mission critical" will want higher quality. My multitool is one of the top brands. If I am using it, it means I am out in the boonies, so it better work.

I love quality tools. But I have a limited budget. Those tools from Harbor Freight that are able to meet the bill, at pennies on the dollar, are a blessing. Some of my tools are top dollar, because they need to be.

A final note. Years ago, there was a discount tool seller that came to town, set up in a parking lot for a few days, sold out of the back of trucks. I know they are still around, but can't think of the name. Anyway, they had jumper cables, 20 feet, heavy clamps, 4 gauge copper cable, for ten bucks a pop. Even came in a handy-dandy zippered bag. I couldn't make them for that price, which I used to do to get ones that heavy. Bought 4 sets. Worked great. Should have bought more.

[Big Woody]

Now that we've established that HF sells mostly junk. I'd like to give you a moral reason not to buy from them.
You're supporting the enslavement of Chinese in sweatshops by their communist masters. If slavery was wrong here. Why should it be OK to support the Chinese people's enslavement by communists in China just to save a buck here? We don't need Negro slaves anymore, because we've outsourced the slavery to our Chinese friends and they loan our nation money for not saying anything about their human rights violations. Works for all involved. (unless you're a Chinese serf who is forced to work for food in unsafe conditions)

Next time you buy that piece of junk that resembles a real tool remember somewhere a lady in China who only has a single child is being subjected to a government forced abortion so that she and her husband can focus their time and efforts in the sweatshop that makes that tool for you. :mad:

[Richard Jones]

Big Woody, I agree. It's a time comsuming chore to weed out all the Chinese products from our lifestyle, especially in these hard times when their low price is even more attractive. But reject them we must. We could go on forever on this subject. Best move it over to the Bilge....

[Bob Cleek]

Considerations of slavery aside, I say "Buy Chinese!" It is far, far better to be a debtor who cannot pay his bills than that debtor's creditor who has no hope of collecting!

[pipefitter]

I don't care if some of their stuff is a bargain or that some of their stuff may work ok. The thought of buying something from them that puts me in the category of that 'gotta have it now, trinket crazed, cheapskate American fool' is enough to stop me from ever allowing my good name from ever gracing their consumer target database and I'm nowhere near to being a wealthy man.

I have found that if I want or need something worth having, I can just forgo some of my other foolish habits and save for something of quality and the difference is about 2 weeks time on average.

I'd buy a used quality tool from a pawn shop before I ever bought that crap.

Yes, this is a rant. I would not have much to say about it if not for the fact that my work partner fills up the shop with the stuff in triplicate. I'm sorry if I offend anyone, but buying this crap or even taking a chance on it is foolish.

[Tom Robb]

Cheap tools are expensive in several ways.

[TimH]

It is far, far better to be a debtor who cannot pay his bills than that debtor's creditor who has no hope of collecting!

Isnt that the attitude that brought on this housing crisis and economic meltdown?!? :eek:

There ya have it...the new American attitide.

[AuSable riverboat]

Harbor Freight has been here several times, They have a lot of good bargans but you have to know what you are buying. I have had good luck with a lot of there tools. I will not buy any of there electric tools but have had good luck with there impact sockets and c clamps. You need to know what they have is good or bad.

[TimH]

You need to know what they have is good or bad.

We all have basically agreed...its bad.