Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

I agree with your "good" list, but on the Unibits, there was discussion (rumor? speculation?) a while back that HF changed out the supplier and that the Unibits stocked now (or a while ago? Who knows) were not the same quality as when we first got the word that their Unibits were good.

I got a set while people were posting positives, and I like mine just fine, but haven't purchased any of the recent ones, so can't comment. Buyer beware.

Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

Mine are about 4-5 years old. I have used them "A LoT" Shame that they changed suppliers. After I used them for a month or so I was going to go back and get a few more sets (9.99 for a pair) but never did. Wish I had now

Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

That Torque Limiting Extension Bar Set I have never seen it in the store would it be in the section where the wrenches are?

Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

In the HF store I went to, they weren't near the wrench section. I'm drawing a blank on what they were next to but they were in the same aisle as the wheel chocks.

I've used the 80lb and 100lb limiting extensions and they both torqued the lugs just a hair under their ratings. I checked the lugs with an old beam-type torque wrench and the HF click type.

Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

I my local store, they are in the automotive dept, near the suspension and brake tools.

Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

Torque sticks are in the socket section of my store.

Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

Ah geeez I will check.. are they in it's own box or is the case showing? I don't think I will be to HF until next month or last week of this month.

Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

Well for 9.99, by a new set and try 'em out, see if the quality has indeed gone down or not? Again, the "changed suppliers" was conjecture from someone here on GJ. I don't want to spread a false rumor if it's not true.

This is what drives me crazy about HarF....inconsistency, or potential inconsistency. I guess you gotta buy, use it immediately, and return it quickly if it fails. So another "rule" I have for HarF swag, is that it gets immediate hard use. No buying for a project that starts in a month.

Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

They were in a clear or open packaging, color coded as I recall for the torque setting and looking kind of like 8 inch extensions, hanging on the wall pegs.

If you don't see them right off, just ask one of the wandering store employee's they are there to serve.

Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

Sometimes it's not easy to track one down.. I noticed most spend time in the stock room.

Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

These are a big pass, I have not used every size but have used them with an impact driver. The chrome and overall finish is great, made in Taiwan, cost like $8 each. The sizes are all over the place but I have not run into a situation yet where I needed another size allen wrench.

http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/r...a/DSC00725.jpg

Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_4208.jpg

the quick change screwdriver bits that look like these but they're all black and come in a small black plastic case are a FAIL. i used the #2 phillips bit in my snap-on ct561 for the first time to drive a drywall screw into a predrilled 2x4 (the hole was just a bit too small) and it stripped the teeth on the bit instead of stripping the screw head!

Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

lipadj46, did u use the phillips with the impact driver or the hexs?

Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

I used the phillips 3rd from right (#4) on a rotor and the hex 3rd from left on a seat bolt with an impact driver (the kind you hit with a hammer).

Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

just a follow up on the 115 piece cobalt drill set. I was asked where they were made from, since older hf bits sometimes came from Russia. they are made in china according to the package.

However, they are doing just fine.

Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

Is that a 9mm hex? I cant seem to find one anywhere.

Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

Nope, in grand HF style it skips 9, 11, 13, 15 and 16

Sizes are: 3/8" drive: 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm, 8mm and 10mm
1/2" drive: 12mm, 14mm and 17mm

Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

First post here after reading this thread the whole day.
I've been pleasantly surprised with the majority of HF purchases over the past 10 years or so. I've been getting bolder with my purchases, moving up to power tools and electronics lately. I mean why not? I walked the power tool isle at OSH and Home depot last week and checked the origin of various Bosch, Makita, Dewalt, Milwaukee and others on display, 98% made in China, the other 2% in Mexico. HF tools probably come from the same vendors that are supplying parts for the other guys.

I've noticed some negative reviews of the HF stuff comes from people expecting way more quality for next to nothing, while better reviews come from ones who don't expect anything but a throw-away after a few uses but end up with a tool that last years after being used on a weekly basis.

EPIC PASS:
US General 700lb capacity 5 drawer red tool cart $120 at parking lot sale w/20 % off coupon. Solid, solid, solid, big casters, once my buddies saw it they ran out an got themselves one. Building tip: DON'T TIGHTEN THE BOLTS AS YOU PUT EACH ONE ON. when its all assembled and all the bolts are finger tight make sure the cart is on a level surface and all the sides are square to the floor, then tighten everything up

PASS:
-Blue cart for mig welder
-auto darkening helmet w/ shade adjustment (preferred over speedglas which I had to manually turn on and got me a few times)
-Pittsburgh 3/8 impact sockets deep and shallow, sae/metric
-3/8 impact extensions
-brass handled center punch
-single speed multi tool, few uses but great every time
-pittsburgh long nose pliers, a little soft for heavy gripping but great for spring clips in odd spots, random clips, etc.
-magnetic trays
-1/4 and 3/8 drive torx bits
-multi angle finder w/mag base
-metal socket rails, for 1 dollar ea on sale how can you go wrong
-Goodyear air hose
-sta-lube moly grease gun refill tubes
-air drill w/ 1/2" chuck
-air chisel, tips are a bit soft, but you can buy quality replacements when they are worn
-micrometers, not much use but verified against calibrated starretts at different openings

FAIL:
-plastic and brass tipped dead blow hammer, still collecting lead shot off the floor years later
-6" screw C-clamps, will sorta hold stuff but not really clamp stuff
-90 or 100A flux core welder (EPIC FAIL), just a POS I got on craigslist as a package deal with the helmet and cart above for $40. the wire was live the moment the switch was on and the trigger only activated the wire feed...WTF?
-3" air cut off wheel, no power from day one, on its way back to China via the recycle dumpster
-multi size hole saw kit in gray box
-newest batch of nitrile gloves, tear like paper
-cut off wheels, they dont last, chip easily and have a real funny smell
-Air fittings

THINGS I WILL NOT BUY AT HF:
-drill bits, except the unibits I will try based on decent reviews
-wrenches, any of them
-non impact sockets, any of them, plus I have all the CM sockets I need
-screwdrivers, used too often to warrant a trip to the store
-anything edible
-consumables like abrasives, blades, etc unless it's a known brand
-torque wrenches, I can't risk a 10-15K engine build to an improperly torqued fastener
-Impact guns, I want to have the power to break stuff

I'm sure there's more, but that's it for now

Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

You might want to give this another try. The one I got was fine. I bought it specifically to remove a transmission mount nut when a series of sockets, extractors and nut splitters wouldn't work. I do think of its as a big Dremel with a cut-off wheel, rather than as a small angle grinder, so perhaps it is a matter of expectations.

A few of the H-F chrome socket sets are quite nice. Not the cheap kits with ratchets, but the metric-only or SAE-only sockets. They are made in Taiwan, have a high polish with great chrome inside and out, and are strong enough that I haven't broken one yet.

I agree that their $10-on-sale 1/2" impact wrench is a throw-away (I gave mine away in like-new condition), but you should try the Earthquake ones before deciding that they are all weak.

Re: The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...
 

I'm fairly new here, but I'll post a few of my Fails and Passes. I went on a HF spree a few months back when they had 25 and 30% off coupons in the car magazines. Here are a few of the things I purchased:

Punch/Flange air tool: FAIL, leaks hydraulic fluid every 4 or 5 punches. Chucked it in the trash.
Air 3/8 drill: PASS, barely. Has no guts at all, but I only use it for 1/8" holes for pop-rivets.
10 Ton C-Frame hydraulic shop press: PASS, big time. They don't sell these anymore (I'm not sure why, it's great) so I bought it on clearance with a coupon, total cost: $70. I would have paid the $199 it originally sold for. It is well made and works great. Doesn't take up as much room as an H frame shop press.
Air angle die grinder: PASS/FAIL. It works OK, but it is loud. Compared to my IR, there is no comparison. I think I paid $20 for the HF and $50 for the IR. I would by the IR again.
Air Body Saw: FAIL. Tossed that in the recycle bin after about 30 minutes use. The clamping fixture stripped the threads on the air motor connection.
English Wheel: PASS. I got this on sale and with a coupon for $160. Can't beat that price even though I will probably never put it to a real test. Same for their plannishing hammer setup. Got that for $80 on sale with a coupon. It works for what I need, but again, I won't really be testing it.
Digital dial calipers: PASS. Work great for a quick check of rotor thickness or rough sizing on the lathe.
Ball joint press kit: PASS for the occasional user. Not up to the quality of an OTC kit, but it does do what it is supposed to do. Make sure you grease the screw every use.
Power steering pulley puller set: PASS, again not for professional use, but does what it is intended to do. No comparison to the OTC tool I bought afterwards but it does work.

That's all for now. I've kinda given up on HF for now. I had too many of the tools I purchased on that shopping spree go bad within a few uses. I'm tired of buying junk and having to replace it a few uses later. I've resigned myself to buying the best quality I can afford at the time I need the tool.