The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...

[eschoendorff]

Originally Posted by Bolster

The problem with HF is that some of their stuff is OK, and some of it is horrible. But you never know which is which, till you buy it and try it.

So what if we made a thread where we posted our HF purchases with a PASS or FAIL grade? After awhile we could check this thread and see what's what.

Pre-emptive apologies to all those who hate HF, (particularly Merkava, who will be compelled to wreak havoc in this thread), and to all others who would never shop there, and are offended that this thread even exists.

Oddly enough, there is already a new Yahoo group dedicated to this, although it is relatively new, not many posts yet:


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rate_h...guid=254625666


I prefer a thread like this though. The Yahoo group formats are a lot more of a PITA to use compare to these vBulletin forums. You guys might want to check it out though....


Then there is this thread that has been running on pirate4x4.com forever:

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthrea...harbor+freight

I'm surprised that I beat Nissan Crawler to this one

[Rickster]

Metal socket rails with clips: PASS
Brad Nailer, the purple one: PASS
Angle grinder: Pass - cheap & lightweight, but will break down
Western Safety work gloves: PASS marginably, OK for general work
Dust Mask, get the doctor style: Pass

[Stephenw]

Originally Posted by eschoendorff

Then there is this thread that has been running on pirate4x4.com forever:

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthrea...harbor+freight

I'm surprised that I beat Nissan Crawler to this one

I never noticed you were on pirate4x4 before.

I think this was the original HF good tools thread...

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=434877

and the do not buy...

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=552514

[unclethumbtack]

Originally Posted by Stephenw

I never noticed you were on pirate4x4 before.

I think this was the original HF good tools thread...

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=434877

and the do not buy...

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=552514

Pirate4x4 has consumed more of my time than all the other website combined.

[blue302stang]

Originally Posted by Stanger

My contribution is the right angle die grinder:

PASS- I use this ALOT and it works great.

I would have to go with fail on this one. The head keeps on loosening up on its own or just completely falling apart.


Fail, fills tires with air, but gauge is about 20psi off

Chrome 3/8 12pt sockets: Pass, i was actually really impressed with the
quality.


Can't beat the price, and they actually hold up pretty well.

[gotmud13613]

Ball joint - U-joint press PASS ( mines been used and abused )
3pc hose gripper pliers PASS
Long shaft (orange) Elec die grinder PASS So good I bought 2
Inline spark checker PASS (great for small engines)
Pocket type blow gun PASS
Retaining Ring Pliers FAIL (these things plain suck)
Orange dead blow hammer PASS
Black dead blow hammer FAIL ( breaks off in chunks )
HD cable cutters (orange handle) PASS
Brake cailper kit PASS (so far)
Extra deep 5/8" plug socket PASS fit and finish on these are really good
Bungee Cords in container FAIL ( only good for about 3 uses then stretch out)
4pc 3 jaw pullers PASS

Forgot a couple of things

3 pc steps drills PASS
Pry Bars PASS (if your not tring to move or lift an engine)

[tacoma_2002]

3/8" drive central pneumatic impact wrench - pass (and i've used the crap out of it) only 75ft lbs though

BUT! i bought a 1/2" drive that is supposed to put out 250ft lbs and it was a FAIL! bought one and returned it for another and it was the same way! the 3/8" drive will loosen things that the 1/2" wont!

soon to have a review on a air ratchet and die grinder

-Andrew

[blue302stang]

Forgot one


Was really suprised by the quality, drawers can handle quite a bit of weight and made out of a pretty thick gauge steel. Plus i like the rhino type liner all over the box.

[jay50]

One box of wood screws: Pass........LOL

[kwhitelaw]

PASS:
these or the black ones that can be had for $1.99 a pack sometimes...

As long as you dont overwork them (prying too far, use when extremely cold) they work just as good as the ones you can get from bojo that cost 5 times as much...

and if you break one (like I did when I tried using one one extremely cold night) you are only out pocket change. I ended up filling down the point where it cracked and now can use it again.

Bojo makes a couple different hardnesses for these, so if interior panel removal is a normal thing for you, you may want to pick up a couple sets from there also. can never have too many.

kevin

[JB740i]

Originally Posted by MikeN

[IMG]


BUTANE PENCIL TORCH - PASS / FAIL
Was great while it lasted, but didn't even get a year of use out of it. Cheap enough though.

Maybe we need to identify a level of pass/fail. If something doesn't last a year that isn't specifically designed to be disposable then I'd say it a FAIL.

But maybe you used it everyday or something. I would only use it as a novelty.

[Stephenw]

Originally Posted by blue302stang

I would have to go with fail on this one. The head keeps on loosening up on its own or just completely falling apart.

They all do that. I've owned several over the years, from Ingersoll Rand, to Blue Point, to Campbell Hausfeld, to Harbor Freight.

A friend owns an older one (I don't know the brand) where the angle portion is cast as a solid piece. I wish you could still get them like that.

I've used high strength threadlocker on mine.

[Russell]

I'm usually pretty easy on my tools but a few have been used beyond their usage specs like two guys pushing on the breaker bar to undo the axle nut on a '97 Accord.

Goodyear air compressor hose: PASS
Impact socket set: PASS
Impact gun both 1/2" and 3/8": PASS
Alumimum jack: PASS
Welding helmet: PASS
Welding cart: PASS
Transmission jack (scissor kind): PASS
Breaker bars: PASS
File set: PASS
Angle grinder: PASS
5lb sledge: PASS
Pry bar set: FAIL (bend like noodles)
Universal joint socket adapters: FAIL (pins popped out)

[MarkH]

With HF offering about 3 versions of everything. We need to mention model numbers and when purchased.

The when purchased is important since there may be a hidden change of manufacturer of a key part that changes the quality. They did this with some paint guns from fair to skip it.

[NSXSOON]

Diamond core drill bits-Pass I was really skeptical about buying two sets of two different sizes for about $5 each on sale. I thought they would each drill a couple of holes and be trash, not so, I've used one size to drill 30 plus holes in glass building block and it's still working like new. Can't beat them for the price.

[blue302stang]

Originally Posted by Stephenw

They all do that. I've owned several over the years, from Ingersoll Rand, to Blue Point, to Campbell Hausfeld, to Harbor Freight.

A friend owns an older one (I don't know the brand) where the angle portion is cast as a solid piece. I wish you could still get them like that.

I've used high strength threadlocker on mine.

I have a cornwell that the head is one piece but it's a gearless one. I like it the best out of all the angle grinders I have used

[383astro]

Aviation Snips....Fail Miserably

orange handle Pry Bars..... so so, dont hold up to much

1/2 Deep Impact Sockets....Pass, had for about 10 years and have taken thousands of lugnuts off

5 pc wood handle ball peins....pass

spinning deburr tool with screwdriver handle....fail, never worked, handle was locked up and wont spin freely, took bit out and use it in drill

stepped drill bits...pass, work nicely

1/2 breaker bar....Pass, very nice piece, very strong and has a allen head bolt instead of a press pin, one of my better buys

thats all I can think of right now

[ZRX61]

Harbor Freight shopping carts, the ones you use to carry everything to the check-out: FAIL!

Had one collapse under the weight of a few tools, my comment to the store worker that "maybe you shouldn't source your shopping carts where you get the rest of your crap" raised a smile..

[Kurn]

HF reciprocating saw-PASS. !0 yrs old,can't kill it.
HF portable band saw-FAIL. Burned up after 2 yrs of limited use
3/4 impact sockets-PASS
1/2 impact sockets-PASS

[Danglerb]

Harbor Freight utility cart, seems identical to the rubbermaid version, PASS.

CFL shop light, PASS

Quality is "usually" Pittsburgh Pro, Pittsburgh, something else.