Harbor Freight Hand tools

[ntwrkguru]

I used to be very picky and brand loyal to hand tools. But, the cost is so much less for the ones at Harbor Freight that I am very tempted. Has anyone had any experience with their hand tools? Sockets, torque wrench, etc.

[JoshCrane1]

I used to be very picky and brand loyal to hand tools. But, the cost is so much less for the ones at Harbor Freight that I am very tempted. Has anyone had any experience with their hand tools? Sockets, torque wrench, etc.
their descent for the price, i would buy em. everytime i ask my mechanic friend how much he paid for that latest snap-on tool, i cringe.

[ntwrkguru]

No doubt!

[dzxa06]

I usually only buy their tools if its something I need, but am not going to use a lot, or if the price is low enough that I consider it almost disposable.

[geomindspin]

Im all for Harbor Freight tools...

:DanseurRouge:

[THansenite]

I usually only buy their tools if its something I need, but am not going to use a lot, or if the price is low enough that I consider it almost disposable.

x 2

I got a torque wrench there for $12, a huge breaker bar for $14ish, spring compressors for $7 and more zip ties than you could ever use. Yea, their stuff isn't the greatest quality, but if being a mechanic isn't your job, this is a great place to pick up tools without going in debt.

[ntwrkguru]

That's what I was thinking. Even though a $12 torque wrench probably isn't terribly accurate, it's gotta be more accurate than the "that feels tight enough" method.

[ntwrkguru]

Broke down and got an 18" breaker bar for $8 and spring compressors for $13.

[Silvertoast]

harbor freight is great, i think i would stay away from the torq wrench though. i used to mount/balance tires right out of high school, and have broken many cheaper torq wrenches, it was walmart tire and lube and the always tried to take the cheap way out. if you get one buy a name brand torq, trust me it can hurt when they break.

[black box]

I love Mac tools but it seems every time I work on my cars I leave tools laying on something in the engine bay only to have it fall out on the road at 70 mph , so I love Harbor tools besides its fun to shop there .

[trinben]

i have a harbour freight 2 minutes from the house so i'm there everytime i start a new project :up:

[orangecrush]

I think they rock, it's my toys r us!!!!!!!

[Go4shoped]

Theyre good for the price. Just dont buy something that youre going to put a lot of pressure on. Their tools break pretty easily if you put enough force on them.

Also, dont mix your expensive tools with your cheap ones. The cheap ones can take out an expensive one when they break.

[ntwrkguru]

Also, dont mix your expensive tools with your cheap ones. The cheap ones can take out an expensive one when they break.

huh? You mean like a cheap ratchet with good sockets?

[tCfrk86]

Craftsman tools all the way, lifetime warranty and the Sears usually has a sale every once and a while, the one in tulsa at woodland hills has the 190 piece set for 99.99, normally 140 or so.

[ntwrkguru]

I like Craftsman and have many of their tools. I like the fact that they stock individual tools as well (albeit at a much higher cost!). It's also worth noting that Husky tools (from Home Depot) also carry a lifetime warranty and you can swap them in the store just like at Sears.

[SalvageTC]

harbor freights got some good stuff, but i agree with them when it comes to everyday use you might wanna go a lil deeper in the pockets for it. although my dad bought a jack from there for like $20 and we have used it for atleast 3 years now. all my handtools and air tools i get through through work from snap-on or cornwell. (expensive but i can pay a lil per week, i use these tools everyday though)

[Showsol2211]

I am not sure about these, but i have about 70% craftsman and 30% snap-on/mac tools.

[Saint]

At my job at the Gold mine i used all Snap on or Husky Pro.... There great tools, but when i left i couldnt sell em for ish.... now i use mostly all harbor freight.. yeah i broke a few things, but i dont even get mad (unless my knuckles get included).. for the price i just go get more!!! I support big time for most tools, but i will always spend the money on air compressors and impact ends, not to worried about impact guns though...

[ShadowBox]

I've bought a few tools from there, but usually just spares like an extra set of screwdrivers to keep in the house or a set of pliers to keep in the car. All the tools in my shop are craftsman, SK, Proto, etc. I know one thing not to buy from Harbor Freight is a vise. I broke mine within 15 minutes of ownership. It didn't even make it through one U joint. Needless to say, I got a refund instead of a replacement. I went and bought a craftsman and it has held up okay (I'd rather have a Wilton but can't afford the high $).

[Vanniek71]

I have a garage full of stuff from harbor freight the cordless drill ($9.99) has outlasted a Ryobi, Black and decker, and a Makita!

I also have the ratchet end wrenches and they are awesome


other things include

Wire welder
Air compressor
Other wrenches, pry bars etc
air nail guns

I figure for what I need them for they work just fine

[Aljay]

I bought there big open end box end wrench set ( 1" 3/8-2") and well they are great but the chrome chips very easily and well lets say chipped chrome can cut the sh!t out of you. Other than that I buy disposable 1 use stuff when I get in a bind or stuff that will not be used much.

[ShadowBox]

Where are you using wrenches that big?

[THansenite]

Where are you using wrenches that big?

I have a 2 1/8" socket. That thing was spendy. I need one that size for the flywheel nut on my RX-7. My dad has some even bigger wrenches for his tractors though.

[vettereddie]

If it doesn't have moving parts, Harbor Freight can be a good deal. I don't know how many crappy ratchets I've had though where the catch ends up breaking or coming loose and they just spin. Also, I got a sand blasting cabinet w/ gun from there and can't find replacement tips anywhere because they are non-standard. I'm going to end up having to buy another gun to go in it just so I can change tips.

For Craftsman, I have a large assortment of wrenches I got from flea markets, swap meets and from people leaving them on cars at junk yards. The best part is you can still take them in for exchange if they break. I wouldn't trust a car jack or stand to something cheap. Basically, if it may injure or kill me if it fails, I prefer quality.

[mmmgawa]

When I wreched for a living there were many things worth the extra dough. My snap-on Ratchet I wouldn't give up for anything. I also found that craftsman tools didn't fit bolts and such near as tight as my snap-on ones did. I love harbor freight for certain things mainly as someone mensioned before something that I would consider disposeable.

[NurSpec]

I used a set of open end wrenches this weekend for a off trail dirtbike fix.

They worked:)

[ntwrkguru]

When I wreched for a living there were many things worth the extra dough. My snap-on Ratchet I wouldn't give up for anything. I also found that craftsman tools didn't fit bolts and such near as tight as my snap-on ones did. I love harbor freight for certain things mainly as someone mensioned before something that I would consider disposeable.

I absolutely LOVE my flex-head Snap-On ratchet...