New HF store opening in my town. Rarely shopped there before as closest stores were 30 plus miles. Super coupons in the paper but I don't really need anything right now but I'd hate to pass up screamin' deals... if they really are.
Anything recommended to go for or stay away from?
The 1.5T aluminum race jack and 3/8" x 50' retractable air hose reel both caught my eye for $59.95, any good?
I could surely drop some coin there but pretty good where I'm at for now.
I find that HF is a good way to test out tools that I might want to buy a better version of eventually. If I find I use the tool and like it, when I dies I'll buy a reputable brand to replace it. Some stuff has worked out great, like their 110vac impact gun and cooling system pressure test kit, 1/4" sockets and 1/2" impact socket kits. Other stuff has been returned within hours of buying it. I'm not shy about returning stuff that is a flat out disappointment, like the tube double flaring kit, or a spring compressor that was just plain dangerous.
The jacks are decent enough. Should last many years. I like it because it's lightweight and can fit under a lowered car.
I have a retractable hose reel and it has been working fine for 10+ years now.
If you ever need to do wood flooring, their florin nailer has served me and my family well, it's done about 3 houses worth for a little more than it would have been to rent one for a weekend. And I have a lot of their hand tools in my work truck so that way if they get lost or loaned out I don't really care.
+1 on both the jack and the hose reel. Have have for years and work well.
Their 42 inch Rolling toolbox is pro quality for just under $400. The aluminum racing jacks are good, but they seem to run really close to their rated capacities, so make sure you overbuy.
In reply to nepa03focus:
That's a good point about HF tools as road tools. I am a professional mechanic, and I work on the road, a much different game than working in a shop. I've lost enough premium tools over the years to make me cry. I've found that HF's professional sockets really aren't bad, and when I loose or break them, I don't cry. Some of the more recent ratchets aren't half bad either, much better than recent craftsman quality. (I know that's not saying much
)
As long as it doesn't have a HF supplied rechargeable battery or is a consumable (cut-off disks, sand paper, etc) you're probably fine.
I like their hydraulics stuff. I have a 1.5 ton aluminum racing jack that lives in my trailer and the 2.5 ton low profile steel jack for the garage (I believe a 3 ton model has since replaced it). Both have been great for the years I've had them. The 1 ton shop crane has been a great as has the 12 ton shop press.
Their hand tools used to be pure garbage but in the past year or two they've really stepped up their game. I've bought a few socket sets and they're pretty close to Craftsman in terms of quality. Plus they also have a lifetime warranty. I haven't put many miles on the 1/4" drive ratchet but after going through 4 or 5 Craftsman ones in the past few years, it can't possibly be worse.
Their bigger tool boxes are actually really nice - decent gauge steel, good construction, locking handles, and ball bearing sliders are standard. They're also always on sale.
In 2008 I bought a $12 angle grinder just to have. Figured if I cut two things and it died then it paid for its self. Ignoring smaller projects, so far it has built a Locost, Sprite racecar, and is in the process of helping with the Mini restoration. I bought a second one for $14 (thanks inflation) because I was sick of changing from cut-off disks to flap disks.
I also like their utility trailers. You can tow them at a reasonable speed behind a regular car and they get the job done. If I didn't upgrade from a street legal autocross car to a track-only car, I never would have sold mine.
HF is the butt of many jokes but they do have some pretty decent stuff. Enjoy.
I'm not doing so well on my purchases. Everything electric has gone back at least once. I can't picture a scenario where their electric consumer grade paint sprayer would be a viable tool. Bought two because they were cheaper than renting. Returned them both when they jammed up in five minutes, and tech support couldn't over a fix, and lost a day on the project. Probably fine, as I'd grossly over-thinned the paint to make it meet the requirements of the gun.
Their breaker bar is cheap and goes great with a socket in the trunk of your car. I love their torque wrenches (accurate and cheap). While you're there, look for the rare earth magnets. $2 for ten magnets which are tiny, but great for holding things on the fridge (or all around my lab) = score! I like their aluminum jack stands; I'm indifferent to their racing jack (it's light, works at autocrosses and I haven't had to rebuild it, but it is a cheap POS). Avoid most of their hand wrenches (or check them carefully for tolerances). Sockets are...okay. Extensions are great, though! Their body panel suction cups are awful. Their trailers require new bearings before you even think of driving them and might need some careful grounding, but are otherwise good.
Their T-Handle Tap Ratchet Wrench is nice! Great for Helicoil's, extractors and taps.
The last time I was in a Harbor Freight, I noticed that they've started selling wheelchairs.
They positioned the wheelchairs right next to the ladder section…hmmm.
I've had bad luck with the following:
Fake dremel, hydraulic tubing bender, angle grinders, sandpaper.
The following were worth about what I paid for them:
Sanding discs, cutting discs(if you wear a face shield, and don't mind shrapnel-I buy good ones now), spring compressor, tubing notcher, roll around parts cart($50), parts washer, welding gloves, hammers and dollies,
And I have had excellent service from the following:
20 ton press, chip brushes, disposable gloves,scrapers, bondo knives, safety glasses, hvlp paint gun($14 lifetime warranty!), furniture dollies, castors, pulleys, ropes, tarps, jacks and jackstands, impact sockets, basically, you are very safe with things with no moving parts(shovel, rake, broom, squeegee, etc), engine stands can't be beat
I am pleased to hear the floor nailer is good-I spent 4 bills on a Bostitch, but would have gone this direction had I been smarter.
I would like feedback on the following:
HF powder coating systems, English wheels, brakes, nibbler shears,
And, finally, I have heard very good things about, yet have no first hand experience with the following:
Ball bearing toolboxes, bead roller( needs reinforcement)
Whew!
On a long enough timeline, everything becomes a hammer. That said, I've had good luck with hand tools.
I've been beating the everloving heck out of a couple sets of their impact sockets for a decade now and haven't had one fail on me or get out of shape. I had a non-impact 1/2" deep-well socket that I cut down pretty far to fit a recessed nut (too much bolt for a regular-depth socket, and not enough space for a deep-well) and have continued to use it in its current state with no additional cracking or deforming. I know I "shouldn't", but I usually wind up using it with air or electric impact too, but it's been fine so far. In fact, the only socket I ever cracked was a Craftsman and I still haven't replaced it because I've gone back a couple times to swap it and they've been out of that size.
I've got one of the aluminum racing jacks and I'm not thrilled with it because it's fairly leaky and doesn't stay up.
Their heat guns are good if you want to vinyl wrap a car and then throw the supplies away. I've gone through two of those. I tried an electric palm sander and it died after sanding the roof of a 1gn CRX. Overall, anything with a motor in it has been touch-and-go. The air fittings tend to distort, warp, and/or leak, but they're cheap enough to afford to replace.
I love HF for shop supplies - When they go on sale, I buy a bunch of their mechanic's gloves and hang them on a peg in the garage; the nitrile gloves are good; I always have a few pair of 99-cent safety glasses; you can get a bag-o-rags cheap.
For road tools, they've got a giant blow-mold case full of sockets and wrenches and pliers and such for something like $40 which is pretty sweet to have in the car. It's complete enough to be able to get you out of a jam on the side of the road or if you're at the in-laws house and they want you to fix their dishwasher or something but cheap enough to be able to put one in each car and sort of forget about it.
what is that smell that is in every Harbor Freight store? i can never quite place it.
I have a lot of regular items that I go through like hot cakes. Their 7mil nitrile gloves are a must. Free screw driver coupons are to be had and I have a ton of sets sitting in the package.
I have faith in their products, maybe too much. Recently I realized their tin snips and needle nose pliers are garbage. Garbage. Went to Sears and bought quality items for around $20 each. They are so much better in quality and ease of use that it really made me start comparing $/value.
Tl;dr: decide if the cheap cost out ways quality. This isn't true for all of their items, but definitely true on a good bit of them.
novaderrik wrote: what is that smell that is in every Harbor Freight store? i can never quite place it.
It's the rubber tires. Head back to the corner with the casters. Grab one of the pneumatic tires. You won't be able to wash that smell off your hand. Not sure if it is the release agent from the mold or the rubber itself outgassing.
novaderrik wrote: what is that smell that is in every Harbor Freight store? i can never quite place it.
I worked for HF years ago.
I remember our vendor agreements for leather goods (utility belts, welding gloves, etc.) specifically stated “do not cure with urine”.
I bought their redesigned 6.5 HP chipper/shredder. Got it on sale for $450, but couldn't use the 20% coupon. (Not valid for any item with the Predator gas engine). So far I'm happy with it.
I like their corded electric drill. I have two, one for the garage and one for the basement shop. Paid $12.99 with the sale coupon.
Bought their 16-speed floor mount drill press on sale a few years ago and used one of the old 25% off coupons. Final price was around $180. Probably not adequate for a commercial machine shop, but it works just fine in my garage for my use. I also have their small table top drill press in my basement shop. Works fine. Paid $39.95 a few years ago.
I'm frugal but won't tolerate junk. So far I've been satisfied with what I've bought at HF. But I frequently get sniffs and snickers from condescending tool snobs who brag about paying top dollar for pro grade equipment (but then rarely use it).
Some people say to buy the absolute best tools you can afford. What works for me is to buy what works for my use, and I usually save a lot of money. In that respect, HF products have been adequate.
I like my heat gun and sawzall from HF. Although their blades for the sawzall are junk. I stopped at lowes and picked up some quality Irwin blades that cost more than the sawzall itself. The corded drill has been good, as well as my bench vice. Another handy one is the A/C vacuum pump that you use with an air compressor.
People have had issues with the angle grinders. Not me, but maybe my uses/expectations are low.
The best part is that you can catch them for under $10 when they go on sale. I bought 3 - cutoff wheel, grinder, and wire cup brush. At those prices, it beats having to change wheels all the time!
novaderrik wrote: what is that smell that is in every Harbor Freight store? i can never quite place it.
China 
So far I have the corded drill, a floor jack, and a trifold tailgate ramp. I'm likely to pick up some cheap wrench/socket sets to keep in the trunks. I'm also considering the small aluminium tool case for my new camera, but it has no foam or dividers.
Do:
Do (but it took 2 tried to get a good one. Pretty sure the first was a return as it was missing parts):
Do:
Do:
Do not:
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