ThePhranc wrote: Any one else have a collection of free flash lights? I'm up to 34.
I use the extra freebies for stocking stuffers. Every kid loves a flashlight, most adults need a screwdriver set. The red leather gloves go over well with some folks, too.
I just wish they still had the EMT-style scissors for really cheap or free.
The power went out for a few hours the other day and I was ready - I armed my minions from a truck door pocket loaded with free LED flashlights.
They have free coupons on their circulars in the sunday paper too. The ones I've seen are "free with purchase" or "free with purchase over $10"
Bringing this up for this rather funny HF rant: http://jalopnik.com/5959822/i-love-you-harbor-freight-but-you-smell-like-plastic-hell
Sample:
Harbor Freight's tools are so cheap, they've changed the whole dynamic of tool ownership. In the old days, if you needed a tool you didn't have, you'd call a friend and say something like, "Hey man, can I borrow your impact wrench?" And he'd say, "shiny happy person, you still have my impact wrench from the last time you borrowed it." Now, you'd just go to Harbor Freight and buy six or seven impact wrenches, then go home and build an impact-wrench-powered go-kart.
I'm kinda torn on the whole HF issue. When it comes to the economy, my own wallet comes first, so it's tough to not buy more stuff there. But I don't like to support Chinese imports any more than I have too. I try to find good deals elsewhere first and don't browse the store just looking for "stuff" to buy like I used to.
Apparently I need to stockpile some free flashlights though
Cone_Junky wrote: I'm kinda torn on the whole HF issue. When it comes to the economy, my own wallet comes first, so it's tough to not buy more stuff there. But I don't like to support Chinese imports any more than I have too. I try to find good deals elsewhere first and don't browse the store just looking for "stuff" to buy like I used to. Apparently I need to stockpile some free flashlights though
I look at it as "Can it be used as a hammer later?" kind of thinking. The durable goods, like a shop press or a tool cart/box, something that is a one use item, or just doesn't seem prudent to purchase at an "inflated" cost somewhere else, I have no problem getting at HF.
donalson wrote: ... tractor supply company just opened across the street from our harbor freight... the next time I goto HF will hit TSC... going to be trouble... lol
TSC is heaven on earth for nuts and bolts.
Finally a good Jalopnik article.
It was like I wrote it, because that's exactly how I think. I even insulted (is that possible?) a HF employee when I bought an item (can't remember because any given trip I end up with 16 things I didn't need for less than the price of the one Craftsman equivalent I needed), they asked me if I wanted the warranty and I burst out laughing (ok that was a dick move) saying something on the order of, if it breaks it doesn't matter, I'll come get another for less than the cost of your warranty...
The one near me has the "precise" tools like calipers and micrometers in the same isle as the hammers and chisels.... Hmmmmm....
foxtrapper wrote:donalson wrote: ... tractor supply company just opened across the street from our harbor freight... the next time I goto HF will hit TSC... going to be trouble... lolTSC is heaven on earth for nuts and bolts.
h'ware by the pound FTW 
Woody wrote:92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: Tractor Supply Company is almost worse for me.... i'm always buying lights or tons of bulk hardware. Just.... because.Tractor Supply smells better than Harbor Freight.
It could hardly smell any worse.
djsilver wrote: This is where you'll end up; "Hey, that looks handy! I probably won't use it more than once every 5 years but it's so cheap I'll get it anyway" Then you go home and try to decide where to put it. You pick a spot and open the drawer....., only to find the same item you bought last time you were there! For the same reason!
Yep! Mark me down for that!
ThePhranc wrote: Any one else have a collection of free flash lights? I'm up to 34.
Oh man, I have to be close to that. Only issue is 75% are out of juice.
I am trying not to buy any more stuff from HF. The closest one is 25 miles away and for the time and trouble I feel buying quality used tools is a better buy and they are repairable. I'm sure some HF tools work fine but I'm not real keen on the fit and finish of the tools. Frankly I've boughten stuff that doesn't works, wasn't made correctly, etc. I can't be elbow deep into a project and go grab the HF allen drivers and find that the factory forgot to machine the 6mm allen and it is .045 too big to fit, true story.
Their hitch mounted dirtbike carrier has been awesome for me. I've been using it for over two years now and this is the initial review I posted here:
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/sprockets/cheap-dirtbike-carrier-review/26800/page1/
Other items I've bought that have been awesome:
aluminum jack: http://www.harborfreight.com/Racing-Jack-with-Rapid-Pump-Compact-15-Ton-Aluminum-69252.html?ccdenc=eyJjb2RlIjoiNjg0ODc1NDQiLCJza3UiOiI2OTI1MiIsImlzIjoiNTkuOTkiLCJwcm9kdWN0X2lk%0D%0AIjoiODY1NiJ9%0D%0A
dirtbike stand: http://www.harborfreight.com/350-lb-motocross-dirt-bike-stand-66552.html
Gantry crane(mine is not exactly like this because they changed it but similar): http://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-telescoping-gantry-crane-41188.html
winch mount: http://www.harborfreight.com/hitch-receiver-mount-for-winches-69106.html
tons of other hand tools, paint sprayers, etc etc. I love HF!
If you think Harbor Freight is awesome, try walking onto a Snap-On truck some time. Its the same experience, except the wallet-draining will hit you a bit in the pit of the stomach. The fact that you are holding the same tools that the worlds best mechanics use is worth it though.
Hal wrote: Every time I get near a HF store I come home with some new air tool. I'm sure that I have at least 2 or 3 that I have never used. But at that time I thought I had the need for it.
that's ok ... you never know when you need a new hammer 
Good luck on the trailer, I bought the folding one and am pretty happy with it so far. My only advice is to:
1) replace the hubs with ones from Red Trailer or Tractor Supply. The OEM ones are an odd size and bearings can only be found at HF and are pretty weak. I upgraded and now I can grab bearings almost anywhere and they are much more robust.
2) Forget the metal clips provided for the wiring harness and secure them with something else. I drilled holes and used the metal loops with rubber grommets.
Garage Journal has a HF "pass/fail" thread with tool reviews here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27192
I want to get the cheap trailer for a 5 sheet(of plywood) modified teardrop camper.
donalson wrote: ... tractor supply company just opened across the street from our harbor freight... the next time I goto HF will hit TSC... going to be trouble... lol
One can buy all sorts of things at TSC no questions asked that you should not be able to just buy. 5 gallons of veterinary lubricant? No problem.
We are getting our very own tractor supply company. I'm thrilled, needless to say.
motomoron wrote: Agreed. Much garbage, some OK stuff. I needed a cheap 7-1/2" angle grinder + segmented diamond blade to demolish the tile-over-mortar-on-lath 1948 bathroom in our old house. Harbor Fright was out of those but the 9" monster was on sale so I went for it. I mercilessly abused that thing for that whole job, and proceeded to leave the diamond blade in it and only ever use it for masonry. after a couple years I disassembled it, blew it out, cleaned and lubricated it, and it runs like new. The used to sell black oxide coated combination wrenches that were pretty good. The air tools, compared with good air tools are pretty poor. I did buy their needle scaler as it's not going to see a lot of use. I bough the warranty, so I returned it for a new one when the needles got dull. Warranty was cheaper than a set of needles... The 20 ton arbor press won't do anything like 20 tons, but it's pretty solid and much, much better than no press at all. It's definitely paid it's way. I recommend it.
agree....mine has more than paid for itself. Actually, my dad has the same one at the marina he owns, where it gets constant/daily work. He's had it for a good 8 or 9 years and it looks terrible but still works great..
93gsxturbo wrote: The fact that you are holding the same tools that the worlds best mechanics use is worth it though.
Thank-you! It's good to be recognised!
Seriously though, some of the stuff on the snap-on truck is downright reasonable.
The rep came by on Monday and I bought a set of folding allen keys to stuff under the seat on my motorcycle. $14.00 for the set, they're blue-point but they still carrry the lifetime warranty.
I'll be buying their new multi-bit driver with the diamond point bits on his next visit. They're even more awesome than the standard snap-on phillips drivers. You can stick the screwdriver into a #2 phillips screw that is horizontal and the driver will hang from it.
Shawn
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