say what you will about harbor frieght

[jackag91]

but even if the $79 12 ton press I bought breaks tomorrow, it was worth it.

I can't believe how less painful it made installing my u-joints.

It is amazing how much easier it is with the right tools.

 

[Scott_Hower]

My $20 Sears vice has never left me down for a u-joint /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[JerryB]

SWYWAHF.........

true....they are good for a one time use tool or things that can be easily be modified for "all the time use"

Gloves, brushes etc.etc. surely. I found a really neat conical brush last week....for $1.50 ea w/ cupon I got two for cleaning wheel windows and crannies.....Dumpster casters are cheap for roll around carts.

Certainly not for a torque wench or similar.

 

[roger_abbott]

I hunt for tools all the time - local suppliers, Ebay, flea markets, estate sales. Curious thing is, the only USA-made tools I find any more are at least 20-30 years old. Seems as though everything is made in China or Taiwan now. Very few tools are advertised as made in USA any more.

Harbor Freight has some pretty good "big" tools - engine stands, hydraulic tools, even a rolling gantry crane and most recently, an English wheel ($300) and a planishing hammer ($180). I wish I had known. 60 days ago I spent $1,500 for an English wheel. For the limited amount I will use it, the Harbor Freight model probably would have served just as well.

I guess that is the advantage of HF tools. In professional use, they probably wouldn't do very well but for the hobbyist, they are an affordable alternative.

 

[IanF]

I would agree. I recently picked up one of their transmission jacks for $100 (on sale from $140). And I like having a $40 3/4" drive ratchet set.. although I tend to use the sockets more often for pressing in seals than on nuts and bolts.

 

[terriphill]

For our 1st engine pull two years ago, we rented a hoist (it was not too good) for the 2nd car we bought a hoist from Harbor freight. It has pulled at least 7 motors and the engine stand we bought has held them for us. The cost was 1/2 what other hoists we looked at cost and it has served us well.
I don't really look there for tools...I'm partial to craftsman..but even those aren't what the older ones were.
But I would recommend Harbor Freight as a stop (Sears, autosupply,e-bay and garage sales) if you are shopping around for a tool.

 

[LLAngus]

/bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/iagree.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif

 

[eschneider]

FWIW, I'm replacing my Snap-on tools with harbor freight tools as the snap on stuff breaks. maybe it's my snap-on dealer, but they won't warranty anything anymore unless its a screwdriver or wrench. I just spent $150 repairing a snap-on jack. My snap-on air sanding board died, and the dealer told me it was non-repairable, and offered to ell me a new on for $400. I can buy 20 H.F. boards for that price. I've been through 7 or 8 snap on drop lights in the last 2 years.... No warranty, thanks for your business. My snap on air compressor died, and the dealer wanted othing to do with it. he gave me the number of a service specialist for the company who actually makes it. Fortunately that was less than $100 to fix, but it's only 3 years old!!!! And yes, I have snap-on screwdrivers, but my favorite ones - the ones that work best for stubborn screws - came from harbor freight!!!!

Just my experience. I'm sick of spending the money for stuff that breaks and isn't covered.

 

[AweMan]

Just one word. Craftsman!
The Sears store near here trades Broke for Good NO questions asked. They even gave me extra rebuild kits for both my 3/8 and 1/2 In. ratchets.
Kerry

 

[drooartz]

No experience with Snap On, but I've had nothing but good luck with the local Sears for broken tools from them. They're very clear about which tools have the warrantee, and no hassle on replacements.

 

[vping]

Just one word. Craftsman!
The Sears store near here trades Broke for Good NO questions asked. They even gave me extra rebuild kits for both my 3/8 and 1/2 In. ratchets.
Kerry

Love bringing me old stuff in fir new. I've had the same tape measure for the past 21 years. It's actually my third same one. It breaks I get a new one. Usually about every 10 years I manage to cut it or tear it.
I've modified SC tools and they take em back.

 

[Scott_Hower]

FWIW, I'm replacing my Snap-on tools with harbor freight tools as the snap on stuff breaks.

Wow, that's not been my experience. Are you sure you don't mean Blue Point as sold by Snap-On? Blue Point is their rebranded stuff sold from the Snappy guy. They don't warrant that directly, only what the OEM (who isnt Snap On) does. Most of it is commonly available elsewhere.

I've NEVER had a Snap-On branded tool break and I've abused plenty over the years. I buy their rachets and wrenches; pretty much everything else I buy from Sears Hardware, as it's 3 miles up the road and no hassle replacement.

My brother-in-law runs the local Harbor Freight store. We have an agreement. If I need something, I call him and he delivers it after work. I buy the beer /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banana.gif. Life is good.

 

[14dna]

Used Snap-on all my life (30 years as professional mech.) I guessing your problem is the dealer not the company. I've had a 35 year old wrench break in the last 15 months, and Snap-on replaced it no problems. Call the head office, I'm sure they would like to know this.
Dave

 

[Banjo]

Wellll All the Snap-on stuff you mentioned is power-tools. And Sears is the same way. Power-tools don't have the same warranty as hand-tools. Hand tools are life-time. from Sears, Mac, Snap-on (and Blue point) Matco, and many others. Even most of the made-in-Tiwan junkers have a lifetime warranty if you want to hassle with it.
But pretty much across the board, any kind of power-tool will only have a limited warranty (usually 1 year)
As a Professional technician, I have a pretty good assortment of various brand tools, but most of my hand tools are Craftsman.
All that said, I dearly wish we had a Harbour Freight somewhere around here. I get stuck waiting 6 months for the travelling tool sales so I can wait for an hour in a line to buy junk tools.

 

[DrEntropy]

I'll go with Scott, Ben and Dave, RE: Snappy. I've NEVER had a problem getting a Snap-On hand tool replaced. Even had one dealer who'd recondition some power tools for us gratis. My "collection" is as diverse as any, too: MAC, Snappy, PROTO, Craftsman, BluePoint, et al. Most of my screw-sticks are Snap-On or Matco. Sears has a store about everyplace so if it's a "need it NOW!" situation, Craftsman gets my vote. For 'junk tools' we're lucky enuff to have a "Wholesale Tool" warehouse within a couple miles, so they get that trade.

 

[eschneider]

Just to maintain focus, my comments were meant to be a vote "for" harbor freight (per the original post) than "against" snap-on".

<grin>

It is an interesting commentary, though, that those who shared their snap-on experiences also use harbor freight or wholesale tools. Maybe my memory is skwewed, but I can remember not too log ago when harbor freight tools and the like were considered taboo by "professionals". I'm glad to see that's changing, because availability and acceptance of economical tools empowers the hobbiest in a dying hobby......

 

[DrEntropy]

Yeah. If it makes a job easier, I'll have it... I'm no "ToolSnob" when it comes to brand, just practicality. The 'junk' tools have gotten a bit better in the last few years too.

...the paint guns they have are an adequate Chinese copy of Binks stuff. Nearly makes 'em a "throw away" item!

 

[Exotexs]

hi, I didn't know there was any taboo about HFS tools. I used to receive their catlogs in the mid 1970's and I used to order their strange tools for ridiculous low prices. I still have most of those tools today, including a 14-piece Socket & Ratchet Set in a steel case which has outlasted many Craftsman and Stanley sockets for which I've paid too much, obviously. Incredibly, I just moved to Orlando and they have a STORE nearby! yeehaaaww!

When I say "strange" tools, I mean that one of the sockets in that old 1970's set happens to be a tiny 1.5mm socket which I treasure like gold, because my Jaguar has a few 1.5mm bolts requiring this socket. Now, where can you get a 1.5mm chromed Socket? nowhere that I know of. Certainly not from Craftsman!

Harbor Freight Salvage taboo? not moi.

 

[JPSmit]

where abouts in central Florida are you? we moved last summer from Oviedo.

 

[anthony7777]

banjo, working at westchester county airport i always bought my hand tools from the snap on truck, i only had to replace a 1/4" drive handle had no problems but ive seen guys return for replacement all kinds of stuff electric, pneumatic, etc with now problems, perhaps its the size of the volume they do in a particular service area that might compel them to do better? while in the woods hunting with a buddy i found a very old 3/4" open end wrench very rusty could just about read "craftsman" on on its side, i bet my buddy lunch i could get them to give me a new one, turns out it was so old they didnt even make that version of that wrench anymore the salesman called over the manager not to argue but because he collected these old tools and gladly gave me a replacement, my buddy bought the pizza.