I'm going to die broke...

Swank Force One wrote: Blah blah blah another thread about why anything not made in america sucks.

Are we reading the same thread? You're the first one to mention that.

Funny side note. I killed my $5 HF unibit in the shop tonight. I got 7 holes in 11gauge steel 3/4" diameter before it gave up. Of course I bought it 7 years ago and used it almost daily repairing signs after I drilled the holes in the hood of my mustang for hood pins. $5 well spent.

JeffHarbert wrote:

Swank Force One wrote: Blah blah blah another thread about why anything not made in america sucks.

Are we reading the same thread? You're the first one to mention that.

Ummmm.....I'm not sure what this thread is turning into, but as the OP, I can assure you that the topic was intended to my lack of impulse control.

I generally go in there with a purpose anymore go right to the tool I need and walk up to pay and try not to look around cause then I will buy stuff. I have about a 90% success rate with Harbor Freight tools.

mad_machine wrote: eh.. HF is overrated. I rarely buy anything there and there is a store less than a mile from my house. I got over cheap tools that break within hours of buying them.

the only problem I've ever had with anything from HF was their battery powered impact wrench ... and I knew going in that it probably wasn't what I needed ... every thing else has lived up to my expectations ... yeah, they're not Cornwell or Snap On quality .. but they've done what I've wanted them to do

Apologies. Seems i overreacted to one post. I'm sure Ranger50 will be in at any moment to chime in like in every other HF thread on this forum, ever.

wbjones wrote: only after you've bought one of everything

Yeah, I have to admit... since I already have a pretty extensive tool collection, when I go into a H-F or Sears store, I don't see much I don't already own.

I will fall prey to small, cheap "trinket" tools that might get me out of jam or could make life easier. I have a set of 1/4" impact drive nut driver bits - in metric sizes. H-F is the ONLY place I've seen them. I also have their 1/4" impact driver to socket-driver bits. Useful to have around.

I absolutely LOVE their oscillating multi-tool. While is stinks for any sort of sanding operation, it's a friggen god-send when you need to saw something in a really tight place. I've jokingly named it "the wonder-saw."

As far as longevity, I have some H-F tools that have been in my collection for over 20 years and still work fine. Reasonable judgment needs to be applied.

Swank Force One wrote: Blah blah blah another thread about why anything not made in america sucks. Give it a berkeleying rest. My entire junkyard bag is made up of HF tools. I beat the E36 M3 out of them and abuse them. And I don't feel bad when I lose them. Haven't broken anything but a pry bar so far, and it just bent. Couldn't say the same about the Craftsman tools the Pittsburgh Pro stuff replaced. Woukd I rely on them if I ran a shop? Nah. But that doesn't mean I'm going to complain about them evrry goddamn time this thread comes up and chastise people that do use them.

I didn't chastise anybody. I just mhave lousy luck with their handtools.. their powertools were more than worth twice the price I paid for them

I've got a fair number of HF tools. Right now the oldest is a 14" metal chop saw that's still working fine. I did have to make a homemade brush holder for the motor...

ultraclyde wrote: Don't listen to the haters Joey. Welcome to the support group. Hi, my name is David S.... Everyone complains about the crappy tools, but most of the stuff I've bought there works fine. They say every HF tool eventually becomes a hammer, but if I were buying expensive tools I could only afford one hammer to start with, so I figure I'm ahead somewhat.

I say if we keep shipping loads of money to China, they will eventually own us.

In reply to bravenrace:

too late

also in reply to bravenrace:

when American manufacturers can/and do make tools that I can afford I'll buy them ... right now I can buy one tool from Cornwell Tools, or I can buy most of what I need from Sears/Lowes/HD/HF etc ....

I also go in there looking for 1 or 2 things and come out with at least 3x that. I am becoming pretty good at justifying the extra items with the wife too.
"Oh, well its ONLY $4."
"Why would I pay $8 for the 150 piece set when the 500 piece set is only $12."
"Hey, uh, look over there!"

I'm that way with Princess Auto and Canadian Tire. I check the ads online to decide if I "need" to go, and drop in.

Canadian Tire often has stuff with orange tags that aren't in the ad. 70% off for an orange tag item is not uncommon - they're almost always over 50% off. It's like a scavenger hunt.

The only complete piece of E36 M3 tool I bought from Princess Auto was a set of "pickle forks" which came with an adapter for an air chisel. The adapter peened over INSIDE my gun first use. Niiiiiice...

Otherwise, fingers crossed.

I went to HF tonight and bought a 5.29 VOM. That's all. Yes, there is something wrong with me.

Harbor Freight. They sell assorted air tools for $20 or less. At that price I can replace them often and still get my money's worth. I've only ever had a problem with one air tool, and all that was wrong was a broken o ring. No, not all of their stuff is good quality, but much of it is worth the price. They also sell very large tool boxes for about $400. I got one and it's pretty decent.

cwh wrote: I went to HF tonight and bought a 5.29 VOM. That's all. Yes, there is something wrong with me.

Those are free with coupon(all over the internet), buy something for a buck, get a free multimeter. I love em because I don't feel bad smashing one in frustration on occasion, which is why I'm becoming a ME not an EE

I used one of those VOMs daily for two plus years fixing half million dollar digital signs. They're a winner.

I don't have the cheese, scratch, skrilla, moolah, etc to buy the high priced name brand stuff anymore. Since I only work on my vehicles and the select vehicles of my friends and family, HF tools have worked just fine for me. Especially oddball tools that I know I'll only use a couple times in my lifetime.

Plus there's a strangely good feeling about going in with $100 and coming out with an entire shopping cart full of crap (pun intended).

What I would like to know is: How come we don't have HF ads in Teh Mag NE More? I used my GRM sourced HF coupons. They didn't get pissed about that hammer thing, did they? You could say "Oh, yeah, we fired that guy. Dork. How about running a full page ad again?"

Now I have to resort to the ones that come in my local electric CoOp free mag, SGN and American Rifleman.

Dr. Hess wrote: What I would like to know is: How come we don't have HF ads in Teh Mag NE More? I used my GRM sourced HF coupons.

^^This. I used my HF coupons from GRM. Now I have to use the ones from Streetrodder.

To the OP: I have one less than a mile from me. At first it was BAD, but you end up figuring out what is what. The single use tools, the pure crap, and the quality tools.

I had an interesting project over the weekend involving a door-knob. I was able to walk in and spend less than $20 for all of the items I needed for the best case easy fix or the "oh crap this is going to suck" fix.

Bottom line: tool collecting will get old and it will become a place of convenience. My own alternatives are a Sears, a Home Depot, and a Lowes all 15 min away with heavy traffic and long lines.

Here, let me enable you all.

http://slickdeals.net/f/1276399-Harbor-Freight-Coupon-Thread

I get the buying itch worst when I'm in a rare buying situation. Put me in a store I don't have at home, and I'll be dying because I don't want to miss the opportunity. I'd spend money at a Harbor Freight if it was next door, but not much.

asoduk wrote: To the OP: I have one less than a mile from me. At first it was BAD, but you end up figuring out what is what. The single use tools, the pure crap, and the quality tools...

This. I bought a trailer some 5 years ago, it has been great. Their eelctric tools have the life expantancy of a beer in my garage, but the single use stuff I dont regret. I also like their prices on consumables; cuttoff wheels, latex gloves, rags etc.

But intially I would go in there and buy stuff just becuase. Eventually you figure out your needs and can prioritize them with wants.