Harbor Freight tools...

[Sheldon J]

Had to drop off the wife, so I headed to the closest place to kill about a hour that a guy would enjoy, Harbor Freight tools. They had all kinds of stuff but today I noticed several items that may be of use in our hoby....

Yeah they have solar panels, pumps and all kinds of other things that could be useful but these just caught my eye today....

Ultrasonic cleaners for small metal items...
vibratory cleaners one that could easily hold a 8" diameter object with a drain hole for wet media...
small rock polishers with various grit size media.....
JIC anyone is looking....

 

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[Tank69]

Harbor Freight is worse than going to a casino , you can go broke in there with cool stuff, last time I went in for a $7 auger drill bit walked out the door with a $135 bag lol yep the Red Head dont like the words Harbor Freight

 

[rmptr]

My experience is same as Tank.

Much of the stuff holds up well enough...
Some fail quickly.

I can generally get their stuff to pay for itself.

It's usually some little part of a whole unit that breaks, rendering it useless, and because of price, not worth fixing.

I bought some hammers for my helpers to ruin, once...
The ones that weren't lost right away held up pretty well.
Problem was, the rubber handle grip smelled funny, and got worse with use !
Yukky smell !


Best

 

[Juanmoretime]

Their rock tumbler doesn't last through the night. I breaks the rubber belts and as usual...you get what you pay for. I love looking in Harbor Freight too but you got to really think about what you buy in there!!

 

[jb7487]

The cheap Centech pinpointer is nice and has been described on here many times. I've also heard that the rock tumblers actually hold up pretty well as long as you don't overload them. I've heard that the magic number for volume is 1/2 full. Any more than that and they break easily.

I love harbor freight too. There are so many things in there that you wouldn't expect. Machetes, BB guns, dog supplies, Slingshots, scales, toys, remote control planes, camping utentsils, and much more. It's not just tools.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Their rock tumbler doesn't last through the night. I breaks the rubber belts and as usual...you get what you pay for. I love looking in Harbor Freight too but you got to really think about what you buy in there!!

I have been using the double barrol Chicage rock tumbler from Harbot Freight for close to 2 years now with not a single problem with it.....

 

[godisnum1]

I used a small hand truck that I purchased there for about 4 or so years of college, every Summer, moving ALL of my belongings to & from my storage unit.

Then I also bought a machete from them which I've used on ALOT of camping trips back up in Missouri...

I bought the 250 lb pull magnet from there also, dipped it in rubber coating, and used it to pull things up along a fishing pier down here in Florida.

I just love Harbor Freight.

Bran <><

 

[marinedad]

ditto on the tumbler belts, probably right about only filling 1/2 way.

 

[Tnmountains]

Bottom line is you get what you pay for,,most times. If you are a contractor or use tools for a living its best to shop elsewhere. But its still a fun store and that centec probe is nice.

 

[paratrooper]

A vast majority of their stuff comes with the very same caveat that I used to tell people when Suzuki came out with the Samurai . Yes , it is 4X4 and a short wheelbase AND it looks cool but remember above all "It's NOT a Jeep". Their stuff is cool BUT it's not the high dollar stuff pro's use day in and day out . I have a bunch of their stuff , I treat it well and have never been disappointed .Good luck .

 

[rmptr]

Their rock tumbler doesn't last through the night. I breaks the rubber belts and as usual...you get what you pay for. I love looking in Harbor Freight too but you got to really think about what you buy in there!!

It is well known among rock and gem folks that the little HF tumbler is a bargain, for a newbie...
They also know the belts break immediately, if not faster !
...A number of the supply stores sell a replacement belt for them that will last quite a while.

Best
rmptr

 

[DesertWalker]

I love the smell of Harbor Freight when you first walk through the door.

 

[rmptr]

Ha !

DW, I got a couple cheapo HF claw hammers that function well enough...
Actually, for $3 a piece, they are dandy for helpers.
The major problem with them is the synthetic rubber on the hammer handle. I think it might be 'buna'
It stinks !
I mean, it REALLY smells bad.
The smell does NOT go away with time, and only gets worse when warm... as in when you grip it with your hand, in use.

But if you like it, good for you !
Kinda like the toy aisle at walmart ?

Best
rmptr

 

[boogeyman]

ditto on the tumbler belts, probably right about only filling 1/2 way.

If your belt breaks, pick up a belt for the little red hand vacs at the grocery or dollar store. You may need to file the slots for the motor bolts a 1/4" longer. The belts come two in a bag for right around a dollar. The one I've replaced the original with has been on the tumbler for almost two years. Hopes this helps someone out there. The only Harbor Freight thing I've had that broke was an electric demo hammer. I used(abused?!?) it harder than I think it was intended for. Took it back, the lady told one of the guys to go get me a new one. No hassle or 3rd degree. I have a 3" pump for the high banker I got from HF if you look closely they are an exact copy of Honda motors and the Honda parts swap exactly. One of the guys I know bought one & used it a lot in N California. He damaged the little valve cover. Went to town got a cover & gasket and was back up running in an hour or two.

 

[oneeye]

A vast majority of their stuff comes with the very same caveat that I used to tell people when Suzuki came out with the Samurai . Yes , it is 4X4 and a short wheelbase AND it looks cool but remember above all "It's NOT a Jeep".

I wish I had one of those!
Dan

 

[sniffer]

I'm a contractor and I buy things from HF. I can't say that I've had any more problems with their products, versus anybody else. I've bought hand tools, air tools, this and that, I also bought a 6 1/2 hp. motor, that looks like a
Honda, although it's painted blue. I'm either lucky or I've bought decent tools.
you have to remember though, you get what you pay for

 

[THingfool]

I bought the dual cylinder tumbler for Christmas. Ran it almost continuously from the 26th thru Jan. 4th. Only breaks were to change water and coins. Filled half full and had no problems. Also have the vibratory tumbler they have. Dosen't do coins well but did do rust removal on iron pieces with no problems in over 2 years. Only thing I had "act up" is reciprocating saw that occasionally sticks if put too much pressure on it. HH.

Ed

 

[rmptr]

Ha ! ... THf, I bought a brand new in the box Milwaukee Sawzall and a friend came by to borrow it before I ever got to use it. The trigger stuck on him, in the ON position...
Took the handle apart and the variable speed switch was kinda sprung open,,, I put the pieces back where they should be, worked the action a couple times, wrapped it with electricians tape, and it's been good for 15 years of abuse... probably twenty if I took the time to count.

More lately I got a 77 Skilsaw that sticks in the ON position... sometimes... That's a thrill !

If it ain't one thing, it's another.

Best
rmptr

 

[boogeyman]

Kinda like cutting rafters with a circular saw that the guard sticks open when you're not lookin? Wiped out the leg of a pair of levis before I threw it off the roof

 

[P.B. and Dylan]

I have had great success with Harbor Freight products and saved tons of money.
I can spend hours there, it's like a mall for guys.