Acceptable and Unacceptable Harbor Freight Tools

[slammin.e28]

I got all my tools from lowes kept everything kobalt for the most part. It a good brand and I've never broken a kobalt tool yet.... My impact set was like 60 bucks for like 15 deep sockets.

I had a Kobalt torque wrench literally fall apart in my hands. It was old, lol, one of the plastic handled ones.

Dad actually took it back and got a new one. New, metal handle one, looks and works great.

I bought a Craftsman one. lol.

[lambo]

I got all my tools from lowes kept everything kobalt for the most part. It a good brand and I've never broken a kobalt tool yet.... My impact set was like 60 bucks for like 15 deep sockets.

Yeah I have a mix of Craftsman and HF. My HF impact set was $20 for like 12mm-32mm or something weird like that. I really only use the 17, 19, 21 or 22 (I don't remember), 30 and 32 though.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

I had a Kobalt torque wrench literally fall apart in my hands. It was old, lol, one of the plastic handled ones.



Dad actually took it back and got a new one. New, metal handle one, looks and works great.



I bought a Craftsman one. lol.

I believe the torque wrench I've been using is a snap on or craftsman

Yeah I have a mix of Craftsman and HF. My HF impact set was $20 for like 12mm-32mm or something weird like that. I really only use the 17, 19, 21 or 22 (I don't remember), 30 and 32 though.

My set started at 10mm and went to like 25 I think not. Idk why but I just prefer name brand tools. But when it comes to stuff like jacks and engine hoist/stand harbor freight is the place to go.

[itskingsteelo]

aaahhh I been wondering about harbor freight tools, glad I found the thread. very helpful

[BobombETA]

Thinking about getting this table top band saw. Anyone have any experience with it?

[ThatOneEuroE30]

Got a 20 ton press thing is amazing. Used the 20% coupon and got it for 160

[Eric]

This guy worked quite well removing the front tie rods from the M3. I'll give it a try on the control arms tomorrow.

[rcsoundn1]

It has been said in this thread somewhere that those top teeth may "pop" off at any time under load.

[Herr Faust Schinken]

It has been said in this thread somewhere that those top teeth may "pop" off at any time under load.

i used it to pop a couple of joints honestly its a bit crude but it seems well built

[mrsleeve]

^

Yes but its still made of Chinese cast "metal" could be pot metal, could cast iron, could be steel who really knows its Chinese casting so thats kinda scary . Still I would have spent the extra 12 bucks and bought the OTC equivalent

[varg]

^

Yes but its still made of Chinese cast "metal" could be pot metal, could cast iron, could be steel who really knows its Chinese casting so thats kinda scary . Still I would have spent the extra 12 bucks and bought the OTC equivalent

Oh, please. It's not like it's going to explode, and you're not likely to use it more than a couple of times unless you work other people's cars, in which case the higher end tool is a business expense.

[AndrewBird]

Drill it out and heli-coil it. Then no worries.

[pandaboo911]

I've gone through 3 of the aluminum jacks and the 4th I have now is on it's way out.

I also have the low profile jack which has held up great but it's heavy as fuck. Not good for taking to the racetrack..

I have the bottle jack too but I don't trust it at all.

[mrsleeve]

Oh, please. It's not like it's going to explode, and you're not likely to use it more than a couple of times unless you work other people's cars, in which case the higher end tool is a business expense.

Oh you must never have had a tool that is designed like this to take high stress loads fail in glorious fashion while your hands or face are near by ehhh. Because thats almost exactly whats its doing at that point is exploding when all that stored energy is released when it fails under that load, I suppose you like Chinese built strut spring compressors too huh

The H/F separator is 24 bucks and the OTC equivalent can be found almost anywhere for 35-40...... Sorry I will spend the extra 11-16 bucks on the higher quality tool thank you very much, even if I only use it 1 time a year. I like to keep my hands and fingers like they are.


Edit: from earlier in this very thread

Be Careful:

First time I used it, it worked great. The second time, a 1in section of the lower clamp part broke off. Sounded like a shot gun blast. I was lucky the chunk didn't hit me anywhere.

[Kevinl]

I went into harbor freight for the first time in a long time and I was shocked by the prices since when is "cheap shit" expensive. I have never seen the fuss about harbor freight

Would never buy anything like power tools,generators, air tools from them