What specific tools are GOOD to buy at Harbor Freight?

[Arlen Holder]

While there are lots of tools that are bad to buy at HF, this thread only
asks for the GOOD tools to buy.

The reason I ask is that whenever I go to Harbor Freight nowadays, I
already have all of what I consider to be the good tools.

Hence I'm only asking from you what tools you think are GOOD.
(Please don't list bad tools since I want to look only at GOOD ones).
(Also, if you feel like saying "none", please don't - as it's not funny
even if you might think that's a hilarious joke. It's childish.)

What specific tools are GOOD to buy at Harbor Freight?

[Oren]

Spring loaded center punch. Not expensive and works very well. No
hammer necessary.

<https://www.harborfreight.com/spring-loaded-center-punch-621.html>

[Ed Pawlowski]

On 9/12/2018 10:07 AM, Arlen Holder wrote:
> While there are lots of tools that are bad to buy at HF, this thread only
> asks for the GOOD tools to buy.
>
> The reason I ask is that whenever I go to Harbor Freight nowadays, I
> already have all of what I consider to be the good tools.
>

Depends on your use. If you are a tradesman using tools every day,
there are few good ones. If you are a homeowner using a tool one for a
specific job, most of their tools will get the job done at reasonable
cost.

I use their air fittings, ceramic knives, a multi-tool. I have a set of
very long socket extensions that did the job at hand and have not been
used since.

[Vic Smith]

On Wed, 12 Sep 2018 14:07:37 -0000 (UTC), Arlen Holder <arlen...@nospam.net> wrote:

My son is a heavy truck suspension mechanic. He buys a lot HF tools. Their Pittsburgh
sockets, wrenches are good. And a HF $20 prybar when a Snap-On cost $130 is a no-brainer.
I've got a few HF tools. The tip of that center punch dpb mentioned is too soft or the
spring too weak, but I've got my money's worth from it.
The only electric tool I've bought there is a multitool. It's paid for itself. Meaning to
buy a cheap angle grinder and wire wheel to go after the old paint on my iron porch rails.

[Arlen Holder]

On 12 Sep 2018 13:08:41 GMT, Vic Smith wrote:

> The only electric tool I've bought there is a multitool.

I have pool pumps which are actually pond pumps, which work well.
Also I have the bench grinder, which, for $40 on sale, was a good deal.

[rbowman]

The fewer moving parts, the better... I've had good luck with their
wrenches. I have a lot of redundancy since I like to have a tool kit in
each vehicle. Particularly for the bikes, I can put together a
comprehensive kit for about $50. If it gets ripped off, I won't cry
myself to sleep.

electric impact wrench: I bought it for a specific job but it's come in
handy several times and hasn't failed yet.

floor jack: on its maiden voyage the rivet holding the saddle let go. I
replaced it with a bolt and it works.

pancake oiless compressor: The pot-metal regulator blew out and the
threads were so crappy I couldn't salvage it. I didn't need regulator
so I replumbed it. It's small enough to carry around when I'm checking
tire pressures on the fleet. (3 bikes, pickup, and a car)

accessories for above: the air chuck sucked and couldn't be salvaged.
The hose and the quick release fittings were okay.

small machinists vice: that was the only thing I've returned as being
completely useless.

hot air plastic welder: it blows hot air. I'm not going to say it works,
but that's on me. The supplied filler material isn't compatible with any
plastic I've tried to weld.

8 hole hook and loop 150 grit disks: they worked. Not particularly cheap.

tarps, bungees, and so forth: I don't expect forever but they seem to
hold up as well as most.

chain breaker: it works

magnetic parts tray: that would be hard to screw up

There probably are some things I'm forgetting. There is a brick and
mortar store that I can walk to during lunch. Being able to fondle the
stuff rather than winging it from the catalog helps.

[Bill]

An easy one is their work gloves. They cost about a fifth of
what you'd pay at HD or Lowes, and they have a wider variety to
choose from. You basically get 5 pair for the price of one pair.
Their "blue nitrile" gloves are handy too. I bought one of their
tool carts for $99 that was at least $20 less than what looked
like exactly the same thing at HD. I like one style of their bar
clamps (for woodworking). I also bought one of their
reciprocating saws, as I never had one before. I've only given it
light use, but it still works after going through about 20
blades. If it dies I'll probably upgrade to a heavier duty
version at surely more money, as I learned I like the tool.

Bill

[rbowman]

On 09/12/2018 11:13 PM, Bill wrote:
> An easy one is their work gloves. They cost about a fifth of what you'd
> pay at HD or Lowes, and they have a wider variety to choose from. You
> basically get 5 pair for the price of one pair. Their "blue nitrile"
> gloves are handy too.

I've had mixed success with the nitrile gloves. They are okay for light
jobs like wiping on polyurethane.

[Arlen Holder]

On 13 Sep 2018 07:11:48 GMT, rbowman wrote:

> I've had mixed success with the nitrile gloves. They are okay for light
> jobs like wiping on polyurethane.

I like the white tig welders gloves for yard work.

I don't like the brown gas welders gloves as the leather is too thin.

The black "nitrile?" gloves are also nice.

[Tekkie®]

Arlen Holder posted for all of us...

Arlen thanks for posting under the same name. I have never been in their
store. I have looked at you tube vids ratings but opinions vary...

--
Tekkie

[Arlen Holder]

On 14 Sep 2018 12:05:58 GMT, TekkieŽ wrote:

> Arlen thanks for posting under the same name

You don't care about your privacy?
HINT:
It's ok if you don't care about privacy ... but it's not OK that I do?

HINT: I never hide who I am in the body of my posts.
If you don't know that by now, then you're just plain stupid.
Because it's obvious. Any idiot fool (even you) can tell.

If you can't answer the *simple* question below - then you're a child.
You prove you're a child every time you post, BTW, Tekkie.

You prove that by the childish things you insinuate (as you did above).

Back on topic... (which is how adults act)...

The net on some stores is that you can't go wrong (e.g., Craftsman, for the
most part, or Husquvarna or Stihl or DeWalt or SnapOn, etc.) but you'll be
paying through the nose.

The net on other stores is that everything is crap (e.g., the dollar store,
for tools anyway, IMHO).

However, the net on Harbor Freight is that it's one of the only brick and
mortar stores where you can buy certain inexpensive tools, some of which
are "just fine".

For example, if you need tire-changing tools, where do you know of a brick
and mortar store that sells them to the general public?

HINT: I'll wager you don't know of a single one.

Being an adult, I *welcome* you *adding adult value* to this conversation,
so, I challenge you to answer that question - which will benefit us all.

Question for Tekkie:
Q: If you're so smart, what other brick-n-mortar store sells those tools
(at a reasonable price)?

[Tekkie®]

Arlen Holder posted for all of us...


>

I have you on the hook you shitheel. I answered you politely and you
attacked me. Sure sign of bi-polar. I have given you many polite and
knowledgeable responses before and you have ignored them. I am the better
man but I have decided your are my new pet project. You are not protecting
your privacy by nym shifting, if anything it means you are a sneak. If it
wasn't for Clare's patience you would have been abandoned a long time ago.

Ace h/w has Crapsman Good mower places have Stihl. DeWalt is like pollen,
all over. NAPA has other tools. Other vendors have tools. What is your
definition of reasonable?

Why do you lie about fixing 'neighbors' stuff? You are as transparent and
stained as the sheets at the $5 a nite motel your boyfriend and you visit.

--
Tekkie