The infamous Harbor Freight Buying Guide got an extensive update today!
Here’s what’s new:
New Items:
5 items added to the “Bad-but-Buyable” list
11 items added to Abysmal list
48 items added to the “Good-Enough” list
37 ranking updates for Good List HF ToolsIn addition:
4 threads added to resource section
4 photos added
8 nicknames added
The lions’ share of additions came from the 63 comments YOU added to the guide, so THANK YOU!
+1 Mention to Existing Gems and +1 or More Mentions for New Items
Some old standards got new mentions – the Nitrile gloves for example and just about any socket set. Harbor Freight clamps picked up over 10 more “gem” mentions.
Some new tools came out of the gate strong… they hadn’t been on the list before but turned out to be good performers based on user experience. The #93440 18 Volt 3/8″ Drill for example, came out of nowhere. So did the compressors, which really surprised me. The #47257 Harbor Freight 6″ Digital Caliper came from nowhere with 4 mentions, too.
#36649 16 Piece 1/2″ SAE Deep Wall Impact Socket Set: 10
#37052 Pack of 100 X-Large Nitrile Gloves: 8
#47257 Harbor Freight 6″ Digital Caliper: 6
#93440 18 Volt 3/8″ Drill with Keyless Chuck: 5
the welding magnets: 4 (mentioned several times, did not specify type…)
Every compressor I’ve purchased from HF has worked like a champ.: 4
#38142 Heavy Duty 16 Speed Bench Drill Press: 4
#38160 Oscillating Spindle Sander: 4
#32208 14″ 4 Speed Woodworking Bandsaw: 4
#00623 1″ Travel Machinist’s Dial Indicator: 3
#4312 1/2” TITANIUM IMPACT WRENCH: 3
#46309 18 Gauge 3/8″ to 2″ Air Brad Nailer: 3
-18 ga nailer. People really rip on this one. It was jamming on me for a while. I kept trying to oil up the hammer, but it would jam again. I finally removed the entire piston assembly (allen bolts through the exhaust vent cap) and oiled it up well and it’s worked great ever since. $15 nailer!!!
#91039 3000 Lb. Capacity Lightweight Aluminum Racing Jack: 3
#93762 HORIZONTAL/VERTICAL METAL CUTTING BANDSAW: 2
#37793 2-1/2 HP Plunge Router: 2
New Good-Enough Items with One Mention
Getting on the “Good-enough” list isn’t tough for Harbor Freight tools – they just have to have a single mention from someone. This doesn’t mean they’re great, just that one person had a good experience with them.
#93085 Utility Blades, 10 Pack
#65330 20 Ton Air/Hydraulic Shop Press with Oil Filter Crusher
#93983 Non-Contact Pocket Thermometer
#92623 7″ Variable Speed Polisher/Sander
#97759 Wheel Hub/Stud Resurfacing Kit
#66098 1600 Watt Heavy Duty Dual Temperature Heat Gun
#43468 12″ Direct Drive Bench Top Disc Sander
I bought some ratcheting wrenches a few years ago that I’ll put up against anything out there.
US General tool boxes and chests
#90154 1195 Lb. Capacity 48″ x 96″ Heavy Duty Foldable Utility Trailer
#95189 5.5 HP, 2400 Watts Max/2200 Watts Rated Generator Set
#65324 2″ 235 GPM Dirty Water Pump
#42202 Abrasive Blast Cabinet (with mods and fixes)
#65685 600 Lb. Capacity Appliance Hand Truck
#33795 2 Ton Air One-End Frame Lift
#1694 8 Piece Heavy Duty Screwdriver Set
#95987 Blind Hole Bearing Puller
#95121 2 Piece Valve Lapper Tool
#42292 Automatic Battery Float Charger
#45338 1/2″ Variable Speed Reversible Hammer Drill
New Bad, But Buyable Items
If you’re a hacker/DIY type then these tools might serve you well. Just figure out an hourly rate for yourself and then add an hour of work to the cost of these tools ;)
-If you want a cheep 18 gauge nail gun for a weekend woodworker, buy HF and tweak it to work well … (I have done this with my HF air nailers and they work fine for friends that want to borrow my tools…. that way the Senco and Bostich guns stay in the shop!!)
-Pittsburgh wrenches: Wouldnt recommend. Just junk wrenches you dont mind abusing. Chrome on your arms if you wrench too hard. Good warranty though.
-Hand operated well pump
-HF biscuit joiner
-stationary power tools
New Abysmal Items
These items are no-buys under any circumstances… unless of course they show up on the “Good-Enough” list ;) That’s the enigma of Harbor Freight – one man’s “Abysmal” is 4 guys’ “Good-Enough.”
-carving knives
-Chicago Electric close quarters drill #92956
-the plastic wire ties.
-NEVER buy the bunjee (tie-down) cords!!
-The 4″ jointer (65673-1VGA) is useless, mainly because of the poor quality fence.
-Nitrile Gloves: NOT “I’m not a chemist but sodium hydroxide,(paint remover) ate through HF Blue Nitrile gloves.”
-bench drill press (…often recommended)
-3/8″ Corded drill.
-I got a small benchtop blasting cabinet. I HATE IT!!
-black bar w/ orange grip bar clamps.
Nicknames Added
For fun, here are the new nicknames that HF shoppers use to deride the store they secretly love:
# Harbor Fright
# Bottom of the Harbor Freight
# Harbor Hate
# The Chinese Cheesecake Factory
# For their inexpensive, thrice-yearly-use Chinese air tools, we call them, “INGERSOLL-CHAN.”
# I thought that I would tell you what my wife calls HF; we speak Russian at home, and she calls it vonuchka, or “little stinker.” She hates that HF smell of uncured rubber.
# “Harbor Sheight” (…Shite)
# China Fright
Read the Harbor Freight Buying Guide and remember to always trump your friends in the forums when they start talking about a great tool they “discovered” at Harbor Freight ;)
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rob Says:
June 6th, 2009 at 11:14 am
for those of us familiar with the guide it would be helpful to summarize the specific changes rather than just count them.
toolcrib Says:
June 7th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Thanks for the suggestion Rob – I updated this post with the tools and products in question…
G
Scott Says:
June 16th, 2009 at 3:10 am
Harbor Freight #97427 Dual Dowel Jointer is worth looking at. Manual say 1 5/16 between drill center but is actually 32 mm. Great for system holes on cabinets. The drills that come with it are tool steel and not very good. Purchase a variable speed control item #43060-4VGA to slow it down. 16.5K to fast for anything but carbide. The fence has to be shimmed to square and the height setting is difficult (scribe a line on fence after setup)Freud at $399 is the next price point for this tool. Once dialed in the HF unit works great and for $60 can’t beat the price
robert ellis Says:
June 18th, 2009 at 9:44 am
great company to purchase from
Chris Says:
June 28th, 2009 at 8:49 am
15″, 18″, 24″ Jumbo adjustable wrench set
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=751
ITEM 751-4VGA Is a great deal, especially when it goes on sale or with the usual 20% email coupons.
The jaw capacities aren’t quite as big as i would hope, but they do come in handy when trying to break free a big ass bolt or union.
Magnetic Parts trays are also a steal at harbor freight (various item number 4″, 6″, 9 1/2″). I carry the 4″ in my toolbag to hold screws when taking apart things, the magnet is very strong.
6″ plastic utility caliper is a good beater tool for your toolbag. $1.99 reg price, but regularly goes for $1, especially during parkinglot sales and dollar days.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=7914
1 1/4 gallon sprayer for $10, goes on sale for $8 with a coupon. Great buy, Ive been using it with harsh chemicals and its held up pretty well. I just make sure to rinse it out after each use. The 1 1/4″ gallon size is perfect, not too big and has a sturdy base that doesn’t tip over.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95692
PBerry Says:
June 30th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
Been buying, using, HF tools since the 80’s and there are only a very few that I know are killing machines.
The collapsible trailer jack with a wheel, has a plate to swivel upon, that is so weak, it deforms just putting the leg up/down, dropping the trailer onto your leg, or side! These need a CPSC RECALL!
The red/black plastic automatic wire strippers really fall apart on 18 AWG wire. Sad POS.
The good news… I have many HFT hand and power tools dating back to the 1980’s that still perform
perfectly!
Tons of money saved! I really like their welding tools, welders, grinders, drills, and air tools!
Jeanclaude Says:
July 7th, 2009 at 7:03 am
I have been buying Harbor Freight tools for nearly ten years. My first purchase was when my one-year-old, $80 Dewalt 4″ grinder went belly-up. I almost bought a new Dewalt, but saw a Harbor Freight ad for a 4″ grinder for $15. I thought, “I can buy four of these cheap ones for less than one Dewalt and then throw them away when they crap out”. That was almost ten years ago; I still using the first one and the other three are still new in the box. Sure, I’ve had my horror stories with cheap Harbor Freight tools, but remember when you buy a cheap tool, don’t expect the quality and performance of high end, expensive tools: i.e. a $5 Pittsburg wrench does not compare to a $150 Snap-on wrench (duh)… same thing goes for $15 nailers mentioned here; don’t compare them to $180 nailers: if you want the performance of of a Bostitch nailer, stop your whining about cheap tools, blow the dust off of your wallet and buy a bostitch.
philipma1957 Says:
August 24th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
I have the 10 inch compound miter sliding saw. Just add a better saw blade and it is a decent tool. It is durable I redid a ton of work in my home with it. for 70 bucks on sale it is good. you will need a better blade for cleaner cuts.
Robert Smith Says:
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:06 am
Approach electronics with caution, hammers and impact sockets are a good buy–it really helps to visit the store to see what you are buying.
gerald t. Says:
January 29th, 2010 at 11:33 am
Item 95977-2VGA water pump. I used a straight 4hrs/day twice a week for one summer for irrigation. So far it’s a winner. I changed oil at least three times in that period. Doesn’t take that much straight 30 weight, so why not? Engine combustion acids are what kills engines. Mine is the 5.5 hp. They claim the 6.5 is now on that model. Watch HF for their frequently screwed up descriptions of product.
Richard Duda Says:
February 1st, 2010 at 8:06 pm
Please continue to send me the Monthly Savings Book!
floyd safford Says:
February 2nd, 2010 at 2:54 pm
PLEASE KEEP ME ON YOUR MAILING LIST. NEAREST STORE 45 TO 60 MIN DRIVE ONE WAY. OPEN A STORE BETWEEN METAIRIE LA STORE AND BILOXI MS STORE SAY AROUND SLIDELL LA ….OH THATS WHERE I LIVE. THAT WOULD BE GREAT. BY THE WAY SAW YOUR DISTRIBUTION CENTER OFF THE INTERSTATE IN AL GA OR SC, CAN’T REMEMBER. STOPPED AND GOT A PICTURE OF IT AND ONE OF ME WITH IT IN THE BACKGROUND. IT HANGS IN MY WORK SHOP. THANKS
Armand Ortego Says:
February 2nd, 2010 at 4:43 pm
I enjoy shopping from your monthly saving books
I also like shopping your store in Lake C
harles La.Please continue sending your monthly saving books
Thanke You.
Armand Ortego