The Hater's Guide to Harbor Freight | What to Avoid
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 พ.ค. 2024
- Top tools to buy at Harbor Freight and the ones to avoid!
This video is not sponsored. Some product links are Amazon and other affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission. This helps support my channel so I can continue to make content like this.
Videos To Watch Next
Ultimate Parallel Clamp Test Video - • Best Parallel Clamp? H...
5 Tools Under $30 You NEED TO SEE - • 5 Tools Under $30 Ever...
PLANS: www.731woodworks.com/store
Greatest Free Gift I've Ever Received: story4.us/731Woodworks
Tools from Harbor Freight -
Parallel Clamp Test Results - www.731woodworks.com/731-blog...
Current Harbor Freight Deals - sovrn.co/pnvc06d
Bremen Parallel Clamp - sovrn.co/1gzlppz
Pittsburgh Bar Clamp - sovrn.co/isu3emi
Hand Screw Clamps - sovrn.co/kz808c4
F Clamps - sovrn.co/1kmjj26
Magnetic Trays - sovrn.co/nopmixp
Tool Wall I have - amzn.to/3H1ySwJ
Magnetic Hooks -- sovrn.co/5ctsjh7
Magnetic Tool Holder - sovrn.co/10feg7o
Magnetic Paper Towel Holder - sovrn.co/121b1rh
Hercules Miter Saw - sovrn.co/tvwe222
Bauer Planer - sovrn.co/1etpcno
BETTER CHOICES THAN HARBOR FREIGHT
Irwin F-Clamps - amzn.to/3FdWJrB
Bench Mark Rules - lddy.no/1e3bc
FastCap Tape Measure - amzn.to/3AX74pg
Swanson Square Combo Pack - amzn.to/3Vz8hLs
Bosch Router I Recommend - amzn.to/3VikTqA
Narex Chisels - lddy.no/1e3bf
DeWALT Table Saw - amzn.to/3Vz1xx2
Whiteside Router Bit Set I Recommend - amzn.to/3VxbStK
Follow me on Amazon for more tool reviews: www.amazon.com/shop/influence...
Join this channel's Patreon to get access to exclusive member-only behind-the-scenes videos, member-only live streams, discounts, and other cool member-only perks! / 731woodworks
Join this channel to get access to the perks:
/ @731woodworks
Get $10 off any order of stickers, labels, and more using this link: www.stickermule.com/unlock?re...
Disclaimer: Please see the link for our disclaimer policy for all of our videos on the 731 Woodworks TH-cam channel www.731woodworks.com/youtubed... - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
▼EXPAND FOR TOOL LINKS and INFO▼
Watch Next = Harbor Freight vs other Parallel Clamps - th-cam.com/video/jA4nhgY30kU/w-d-xo.html
Tools In This Video:
Current Harbor Freight Deals - sovrn.co/pnvc06d
Bremen Parallel Clamp - sovrn.co/1gzlppz
Pittsburgh Bar Clamp - sovrn.co/isu3emi
Hand Screw Clamps - sovrn.co/kz808c4
F Clamps - sovrn.co/1kmjj26
Magnetic Trays - sovrn.co/nopmixp
Tool Wall I have - amzn.to/3H1ySwJ
Magnetic Hooks -- sovrn.co/5ctsjh7
Magnetic Tool Holder - sovrn.co/10feg7o
Magnetic Paper Towel Holder - sovrn.co/121b1rh
Hercules Miter Saw - sovrn.co/tvwe222
Bauer Planer - sovrn.co/1etpcno
Tool Wall I have - amzn.to/3H1ySwJ
BETTER CHOICES THAN HARBOR FREIGHT
Irwin F-Clamps - amzn.to/3FdWJrB
Bench Mark Rules - lddy.no/1e3bc
FastCap Tape Measure - amzn.to/3AX74pg
Swanson Square Combo Pack - amzn.to/3Vz8hLs
Bosch Router I Recommend - amzn.to/3VikTqA
Narex Chisels - lddy.no/1e3bf
DeWALT Table Saw - amzn.to/3Vz1xx2
Whiteside Router Bit Set I Recommend - amzn.to/3VxbStK
(If you use one of these Amazon and other affiliate links, I may receive a commission)
Some other useful links:
Daily Tool Deals on my website: www.731woodworks.com/tool-deals
Subscribe to our email Newsletter: mailchi.mp/7e44c16eefdc/731-woodworks-email-newsletter
Check out our easy-to-follow woodworking plans: www.731woodworks.com/store
Outlaw's Board Butter - So Good it Should be Outlawed: www.731woodworks.com/store/boardbutter
I own the Hercules Table saw and they remodeled it in the last year or so. I have the original and it has a rack and pinion fence.
The only negative about the saw I have found is that you can’t use dado blades on them
Thanks for this video. FYI, about eight years ago I found a list of countries that china exports to. There were about 135+ countries that received A rated trade goods. The sole country receiving -B trade goods was Guess who? It is about hate.
And it is about the steel. HF steel is sub grade. The best chinese steel goes into their growing fleet of aircraft carriers, missile cruisers, destroyers and submarines.
Artillery and tanks. They are a globally focused communist country. Working on a 100 year plan towards economic and military domination.
We still butter their bread. Only for a few more years.
@@FixItFrench Thats a big no go then.
I'm not saying the BBB is a bit of a scam bit..................
My cousin was a mechanic for about 5 years prior to becoming a Paramedic, and his tool kit primarily consisted of Harbor Freight hand tools. He definitely didn’t think they were superior to top tier brand names, but they overall performed awesomely and he had like 1/10th of the cost in tools that some of his co-workers did. A lot of them were in significant debt to snap-on and others. He actually gave his whole tool kit to a new young mechanic that didn’t have any when he left to be a paramedic.
Yeah, the Snap-On truck should be thrown out of every garage they darken the doorstep of. My buddy has a huge tool chest full of their tools, but lives in a rented cottage because half of his paycheck goes to Snap-On. They charged him $150 for a single racket…NOT A SET, but a single ratchet. I wanted to weep for him, but he still thinks they worth every penny….it’s like he’s been brainwashed, nothing can sway him. He swears up and down that anything else is trash.
W cousin
Warranty sucks on name brands give you a hassle for weeks when you need it right then. Where harbor freight for a extra couple dollar give you extra warranty they replace it in the store.
@@bravofighter ive noticed that too, i think people get caught up in trying to impress everyone, with snap on it costs alot and alot of people in the mechanic world are man babies and will make fun of you if you dont have it, personally myself i dont care what anyone has, as long as it gets the job done, i carry all my main hand tools in a case i found at the thrift store and carry my harbor freight power tools in the bags they come with, and guess what? I dont think twice about it lol
I am a big fan of snap on tools they are expensive certain snap on tools did a much better job. I found
The screwdrivers wrenches and impact drivers are the best buy such things as breaker bars, sheet rock knifes wear a waste of money.
Extensions as well . Buy what you can afford.
To be fair to Harbor Freight for the BBB rating, it's largely meaningless. People don't just go to BBB to say things went great very often, Especially for a large, high-volume no-frills business like HF. The level of complaints will be far outnumber people coming in to say "the cheap Chinese tools I got didn't break" or "lasted about as long as you should expect for something that cheap. If you know what you're getting into, and know what you need to avoid, as no-frills stores go, they're not that bad.
@@1pcfred as a former ER nurse supervisor, I totally agree with this statement. That’s why I quit and found a job where I no longer lay hands on patients. I haven’t listened to anyone bitch in months.
BBB isn't totally meaningless. Some companies monitor their reputation closely and will make things right if there is a BBB complaint. These companies tend to monitor social media pretty closely. If there is a problem, these are good places to try to get satisfaction. OTOH, some companies don't care enough to spend any energy on customer sat.
BBB Seems like a scam to me. They want you to join so it seems a bit like extortion
Own a business..never been harassed as much as I was by bbb...it's all about money with them..out of date and no power
ANY rating at the BBB is meaningless, companies can pay the BBB for better ratings.
As a weekend DIYer, I don’t need heavy duty use. However, I’ve inherited a ton of my dads stuff. Now that I’m looking to buy some things I’ve finally started looking at Harbor Freight. Glad to hear it’s not as bad as the rumors claim.
The router bits can be useful because you can buy so many different styles at a much cheaper price. Gives you time to figure out which bits that you're going to use the most and upgrade later instead of buying the most expensive bit kit possible and finding out that you only used two bits.
I like a lot of things about harbor freight in that regard of being able to actually test out a type of tool to see if it's useful to your workflow.
I've done that, buy a cheap tool at HF and then realize I love or hate it. I didn't realize how much I would use a grinder tool till I bought a ten dollar one at HF. I then spent the money to get a much more expensive Dewalt after the HF tool quickly burned out.
Well said.
I'm a fan of this approach. Get a cheap kit that has everything you need. As pieces break or wear out, it becomes clear which things are worth investing in.
I love when people with a following bring to light that cheap items have their purpose! I love me some harbor freight. There is a time and a place for everything.
If you're like me as you continue to shop there, you will begin to notice that they're systematically making changes to their product lines to elevate the quality of their products.
@@ancienttom97 this is so true
Harbor freight is great for a one time use and abuse type of situation. Don't let your chisel hit a nail, naw it's harbor freight just whack it harder.
I've also used dollar store tools. For example, a long nose pliers might not be worth anything but if it's just for holding something while soldering it then they work great.
@@ancienttom97 I have seen that! it is great to see.
There is not a lot i will swear by at harbor freight but for one offs and disposables harbor freight is boss
I recommend their moving blankets. They are inexpensive when on sale and they’re great for protecting finished projects if you are transporting them.
Yep. Tarps and tie downs too. The ratchet straps are kind of weak feeling I wouldn’t trust it for big stuff
OMG Yes. They had a Sale last year, bought like 12 of them for about $2 each. We use them as Picnic blankets, Lining for tents, Day camping in the car (they go on the bottom under the blanks and over any padding), and also, moving things.
They have good deals on furniture dollies too. I have several and they have served me for years at a very low price.
@@charleselkins4546 I've put my kitchen range on one of the steel reinforced.
Makes it easy to pull out and clean around
Second that! I bought a bunch and they work just fine.
We’ve had two of the Chicago electric angle grinders in our shop now for 2 years and they are impressive. We use them regularly and in long durations and they continue to hold up.
I have had a Chicago Electric angle grinder for several years. I dropped it two years ago and broke the plastic housing. I bought a Harbor Freight plastic welder and fixed it. I am honestly shocked the thing still works after all these years and abuse. It was well worth the $20 I paid for it.
I actually bought a Chicago Electric miter saw off Craigs List like 5 years ago. Still works just fine. Granted, I paid like $40 for it. Not sure I would pay the sticker price for a brand new one.
Their $12 grinders are surprisingly good. My ex brother in law has had one for 5 years and he uses it all the time.
You can decide if you want to do it and how "ethical" it is but when you do wear one out odds are good you can go buy an identical replacement and then you just keep the receipt and bring in the broken one within 30 days and as long as it is in the box and you have the receipt you will get a "free replacement" which you can just put on the shelf so you always have replacement/spare on hand Come in during lunch or some other "busy time"
Me too 👍🏻
Recent sub, and someone looking to build out a shop -- just want to say I really appreciate the level-headed approach to your reviews and willingness to take on broader perspectives when it comes to addressing brands and categories of tools and the things that make a tool "cheap" vs. "inexpensive." It's really useful, and vastly more helpful than the folks who just tell you to get the Festool product and be done with it. I have no problem spending the cash when it's something I'll use all the time and rely on, but for niche tools it makes more business sense to think about the cost compared to the utility and find the middle ground; your insight really helps with that!
Harbor Freight has one great buys for tools that you may not use everyday. I have several tools from HF, but the vast majority of my tools are name brand. I like how woodworking/woodworkers out there seem to be more concerned about bragging about tools or cost of tools then they do woodworking. Use what you have or can afford and enjoy your craft or hobby.
Can't say it any better. Who cares what you have. As long as you get the job done what does it matter. I went forever without a nail gun. I didn't feel I had the need for it. I've since bought a battery powered nail gun. Life changer. So much faster than predrilling and hammering in finish nails. I was kicking myself for not making the investment sooner.
A true craftsman can do good work with mediocre tools. A mediocre craftsman can do no better than mediocre work with top brand tools.
Damn good advice for enjoying your hobby/craft.
If you made a nice piece and then you told someone that you did it with a $4 chisel set and $6 hand plane, how could I not respect you more?
I have a wood lathe that I bought from HF back in 1994 and it is one of the best values I own. It's been a great tool the few times a year that I use it. If you need a top quality tool, go spend four grand on a brand name tool.
Harbor Freight has some real gems in there sometimes. My dad used to own a mechanic and body shop and we had several of their smaller US general rolling toolboxes for new employees who had tools but no boxes. We still got a few of them years later even after we shut down after he passed.
Good presentation. As a hardcore DIYer, I have been buying from Harbor Freight for years and have learned what sort of items to avoid. Naturally, we often get what we pay for. But for that occasional light duty application, the affordability and ability of HB tools to stand up to the job can't be beat. I even own a HB milling machine that is priceless. I had to do a little tweaking and customizing but it is truly a nice piece of machinery. The big box stores gouge you with the price of tools and they are all made in China anyway, so depending on what it is, I generally go to HB after doing some research in the reviews of items and such.
Being a modeler i love their needle files and micro drill bits. Perfect for use on plastic
Bingo, need to know what you want them for. Building minis, HF stuff is great.
OTOH, I have quite a bit of tropical hardwood I brought back from overseas that will not only tear up the big name brand tools, but even industrial woodworking machines take significant wear and tear.
I’ll be honest I was a HarborFreight hater for a long time. Here, in the past few years I’ve slowly started to come around. Yes, there’s some really good deals in there but it’s sort of like how you would treat the dollar store. You get what you pay for.
And you eventually come to know what to expect out of your purchases. If you have a problem with the tool you just bought, they have a 30 day return policy that hasn't disappointed me yet.
They're great for most consumables. Nitrile gloves are a really good bargain. Even their ALKALINE batteries are good, for the price. Again, it's HF. I wouldn't trust them in an expensive tool. I use only Energizer Lithiums for these.
The fewer moving parts, the better HF is (known exception: Anvil. The iron they use is far far too soft for a proper anvil).
And as another commenter says, they are great for consumables. They have a small-size neodymium magnet, 10 for 2 bucks, IIRC, which is a very good deal. They have some different tweezers that are quite good. They also make a really really good 4x4x6 "tilt bin" for keeping larger screws, bolts, washers, and nuts in for organization. I just buy those by the pound from a local Rural King (think of a farm-oriented Wal-Mart... they sell live chickens and rabbits, for example!) which is by far the best place for getting bulk fasteners...
P.S., another source for great cheap stuff is Banggood. You're basically getting stuff from the exact same factory in china, and slicing out the middle man's cut.
They've actually stepped up in the last 5 years and are sending American QC teams to China. If I'm rarely going to use a simple tool I'll go Pittsburgh but if I need a little more quality I've been very happy with their mid grade stuff like the Quinn line. I've generally been a bit wary on the power tools but I might have to start looking at reviews of the Hercules line after this video. I'm very much in need of a cordless impact.
@@rushthezeppelin I bought an HF 'Warrior' 3/8" cordless drill a few months ago; battery holds charge really well, and for a home DIY type it was a better tool than Menards or Walmart sold, and with a coupon it was a few dollars less. It also runs at a higher max RPM than most 3/8 cordless drills. I've bought a few other items like a ~24 inch 1/2 breaker bar for lug nuts; used it a few times with no problems so far. Price is not the sole indicator of quality anymore, since it's all made in China anyway.
I built my entire tool collection from harbor freight. I've even ended up buying some of the stuff they say to avoid and they work surprisingly well. The basic Pittsburgh tools feel cheap but will last if you use them only for what they're rated for. The Pittsburgh Pro line is great. I regularly abuse them and they hold up well.
I've only had a few issues with their products, and both times, I returned to the store and either got a full refund or a tool replacement, with no issues following afterward.
Nothing wrong with that plan. If the HF tool lasts, you saved some money. If it doesn't, you know what features to spend on the next one.
I'm a heavy truck mechanic who got his box stolen in 2013 and to rebuild my tools most have been harbor freight. I don't buy "good" I stick with better and best and depending on the item I may buy some other brand, like my 1/2 inch impact is a nitrocat 1250. For air grinders that I need occasionally but that spend a lot time in the, box central pneumatic works great. For battery tools I started with Bauer but because of some of the tools available in the Hercules line I've started to transition to Hercules. I've been extremely pleased with both lines.
I've been abusing the angle head wrenches (to 2") for 8 years and haven't had one fail yet. You can't beat the impact sockets, I have shallow and deep 1/2 and 3/8s since 2013 and I've only broken one that I use all of the time, walk in the store and walk out with a new one.
Same, I would not have been able to build a shop without harbor freight. There are snobs in everything and tools are no different. Often the people telling you not to buy harbor freight are standing in front of a SawStop, a $10,000 planer, or some ridiculously huge CnC that I will never have access to. Literally, ALL of my knife shop is harbor freight tools and I have knives that sell for hundreds of dollars.
I'ma farmer and the Pittsburgh wrenches are good and cheap. I like having 5 9\16s compared to 2 craftsman. Both are made in Taiwan metal
I was in Harbor Freight about a week or so ago and they had a “newer” version of the Hercules table saw that had the same rack and pinion as the Dewalt job site saw. I think it was at the same price as it as well. I liked this video as you recommended other alternatives at a great price for the items you don’t recommend purchasing at HF. Every time I looked at chisels, they were astronomically high in price. The Narex you recommended seems like a great value for what you get. Thank you.
Another excellent review. I recently bought the Hercules 12-in sliding miter saw and used it for a project. I love it! For the money I feel like it is more saw than I even needed. I love the power of the motor, the accuracy of the cuts, and the stability of the cutting platform. I put it on the Hercules miter saw stand and it makes a perfect combination. I can stand it up in the corner of my shop out of the way until I need it.
I've got that exact router bit set and have been happy with it for the last 4 years. So long as you don't ask it to hog out large amounts of material (which you shouldn't be doing anyways) and take your time, they work great.
@@1pcfred agreed. I'm not building high end $10k end tables or something like that. I'm making a couple hundred dollar end table or shelf or whatever. The point is unless you're making super expensive high end products those cheap bits get the job done. I have the cheap ones from the big box stores and they are no different then harbor freight bits.
@@1pcfred slow and steady seems to work pretty good while not taking a huge bite.
Gotta love the "Avoid at all costs, because I ASSUME," advise.
I followed the conventional wisdom of buying a cheap set of router bits to see which of them I used the most then replacing those with quality bits. Got that set from Harbor Freight for that purpose, and 3 years later I have yet to replace any of them.
I wonder why 97% of reviewers would recommend them?
As others have pointed out the job site table saw has been totally redesigned. Perhaps an annotation of "Old Model," would be appropriate at this point.
Also, while the Pittsburgh ratchets and wrenches may be fine for "Using around the house," the Icon line are professional grade tools, and deserve to be recognized as such.
I would counter that and add that I use my Icons "around the house" and my Pittsburgh tools are in my go bag. Reason being if I lose a wrench out of there, it's not going to hit the wallet terribly because I forgot a wrench at the junkyard. I keep the Icon at home because I know I won't be in a situation where if I leave one laying around, it won't grow legs and walk into someone else's bag
@@THEviralgoose Good plan. Icon tools aren't things you want growing legs.
The wrenches are for more than just household DIY. I've been an industrial Millwright since 2007 and I started out with a Pittsburgh set up to 2". Those things have seen extreme torture in many heavy industrial settings and have held up remarkably well. They're not as good as Snap-On, MAC, or even older Craftsman, but for the price, you can't go wrong. My 2" Pittsburgh wrench has had 8-foot extensions on it torquing down anything from Evaporators to ID Fans and the teeth aren't spread open even a little bit.
I'm not going to comment on ratchets or any of the gear wrenches, but the simple basic wrenches are excellent for the price. Plus, if you lose one it's cheap to replace; something that'll happen to you quite often on a jobsite.
The Icon brand is not cheap at all and rivals the higher-end wrenches you get from Lowes/Home Depot/etc. It's no tool truck wrench, but those are essentially overrated anyway.
I guess my goal is to not scare newer apprentices or up-and-coming journeymen from Pittsburgh wrenches at first. Sure, you can upgrade as you advance your career, but I've seen too many newcomers waste their entire paycheck on tools that were just unnecessary. Put that money towards your retirement and quit buying into the hype.
Agreed! Precision instruments rarely exists in the Chinese Cheap Hallowed Halls of Harbor Freight. That said I did get the new variable speed bench grinder recently and it’s great. I mostly go for magnets, zip ties, cheap paint brushes etc.
After you and many others recommended those Bremen parallel clamps, I went to the nearest HF for a couple of 48” at their listed $39.99; “out of stock”.
Still out of stock several months later, but they’re now listed at $44.99; a 12-1/2% price increase.
Lowes now has 48” Jorgenen parallels at $39.98, 24” at 29.98.
Since the pandemic and Bidenflation, I've noticed that HF tools have increased significantly and I often find "as good as" pricing at Lowe's on better known brands. However, HF still does some great sales, but a tool buyer has to be very discerning on quality and comp pricing elsewhere. In other words, it pays to check your other big box stores before biting on a HF sale price, unless it's an item that quality is not as critical, like disposables and consumables.
Two things I would add, I go to harbor freight for disposable nitrile gloves, they are reasonably priced and work well for a consumable product. Second, as far as the router bits go I've been using the round over bits that come in the maroon packaging and are painted black for years and they are still sharp and work great. But like with all things mileage may vary.
Just found your channel today, and you do a great job with analysis/comparison videos! Watched the Ryobi video, and now this one. I would agree with pretty much everything you said here. We do a lot of the more minor repairs on equipment where I work, the major stuff gets sent out. As a result, the owner tends to be a little cheap on tools. Even for moderate use, the Pittsburgh wrenches have not held up, the round/spread out so easily. From personal experience, when I was younger and HF first came to our area, my dad purchased a lot of the cheap pneumatic tools. Complete waste of money...I don't think a single one lasted more than a year with moderate (farm shop) use. Now, last year he wanted a 3/4 air impact, and he ended up getting the Earthquake XT. We also have the 1/2 inch where I work. I would recommend those to anyone, they are awesome so far. I can't speak much for power tools, other than the 7 amp 4.5 inch Bauer angle grinder we recently got for work seems to be very good, especially at $30. I have no experience with any cordless tools, I'll stick to Milwaukee and DeWalt for that. (Home Depots and Ace Hardwares are more popular around me than HF or Lowes). Lastly, going back to the wrenches...a coworker did recently buy some Icon wrenches and ratchets. They seem to be OK so far, and I was shocked at how expensive they are (for being a HF tool) when I looked them up online. I know they are trying to compete with Snap On by selling Icon, and it reflects in the price. But, they are way better than any Pittsburgh tools so far, so time will tell if they are worth it. Bottom line, don't be afraid to buy the "best" at Harbor Freight, and you'll likely end up with a decent tool while still saving money compared to most major brands.
So happy when Harbor Freight opened a store closer to my home. Good prices on single use paint brushes, nitrile gloves, tarps, and one of my favorite HF tools; their Compact Air Needle Scaler. Their clamps work well for me for making small boxes, drawers, etc... Recently bought their Quinn 1/2" drive torque lug wrench and a 19mm socket to do my winter wheel changeover. TH-cam videos are great, but Harbor Freight reviews would be my first go-to.
Lots of good info here. I will also vouch for their power cords, especially the 10 gauge. I have two 25’ and a 50’, all with the lighted triple ends which are great if you’re not sure of a good connection. Never go to a job site without them. Price is at least a third lower than the big boxes. 12 gauge cords are also good.
Doing a lot a stain and finish work? The nitrile gloves are great. Get the 9 mil. I’ve reused the same pair to do hundreds of linear feet worth of oak trim. Plus, they have XXL sizes!
I concur with your assessment of the Fast Cap tapes. I swear by the 16’ lefty/righty. Actually, Fast Cap has a lot of good, reasonably priced goodies.
I've only discovered HF in the last year. I can say the router bits work great on pine... I haven't had any issues w/ their locking casters and ball bearing casters. I've also purchased tarps and moving blankets when they're on sale, and consuables like the rubber gloves, and paint supplies in the best category.
I buy the moving blankets those magnetic screw pans. Other than that they have an occasional good buy.
I use their casters. They work for me and their cheep. I also use their tarps but they are cheaply made and only last a season but they are also sold very cheep. I consider them as consumable items. As far as their router bits go, they do work but dull rapidly and I will replace those with a better brand.
Can't beat the price on castors,or solid rubber dolly wheels,Harb Rocks
I am also a HF Junkie. I had their plunge router for exactly one day and returned it. When I set it up and tried it out. the plunge guides were so sloppy. I could not get an accurate plunge into the work piece. I have a couple of sets of their router bits and have used a couple. They seem to cut okay. At the price I paid for them, if they dull up on me prematurely they will have served their purchase at the price I paid for them. I will replace with Bits&Bits or another quality brand when they do.
AS far as their casters go, I think that they're a little over priced when I can buy their small flat wood dolly for $17 and have to pay about $20 for just the caster wheels.
@@ancienttom97 it's funny you say that. My wife and I were looking at some coat hooks last night, and she saw some mounted on a board, and you just hang the board. She didn't like those hooks but we were contemplating buying the board w/ the hooks for less money, and tossing the board ;) However, I've not seen the locking caster wheels on any dolly, so that trick won't work for me there... but I will keep this idea in mind.
I actually use the 4 pack router round over bit set from Harbor Freight with the black colored bits and they work great. I build subwoofer enclosures on a regular basis and I use these bits on every project. They’ve held up very well for a year now with no issues at all. I also have some very high end bits as well from Mobile Solutions and the Harbor Freight bits that I use have been just as durable.
Another great tool at Harbor freight that I've used is the Chicago electric 10" tile/brick saw. Definitely not as good as other more expensive brands, but it's great to get started doing tile projects. I found the sliding trays to be a bit off, so you have to correct for that, but if you're careful and mindful you can work around it. I had to take the first one I got back because the tray was REALLY bad, but the second one I got was fine. Used that saw for several years as a contractor and did multiple bathrooms and kitchen backsplashes with it (I think I did 8 bathrooms and 5 kitchens) before upgrading and the finished projects were very good and precise.
The Hercules miter saw is a BEAST. The new Hercules plunge router is great also. Their tool boxes are great, their ICON tools are VERY good. Their 2 hp Dust extractor is supposed to be decent for the price, upgrade the impeller with a WEN for $50 and change the bag to a canister filter and its twice as good.
Stuff like the $10 grinder and $15 vibrating multitool are actually really good. They have very little moving parts and they get the job done. I've used both for many years before moving to cordless versions from better brands, but they're still running fine, and at that price it's even cheaper than renting.
For the occasional use mine gets, I love my $10 grinder! If it dies, I'll just take that as a sign that it's time to buy a better one.
The production value on this is crazy good. I've been getting into the "tool" and handyman world and I'm so tired of the bad audio cell phone videos. Thanks for changing it up.
Just want to say I really appreciate your critique on Harbor Freight Tools. You were fair and unbiased; Additionally you pointed out those tools you found to be of value. I am one of those people that purchases harbor freight tools, at least certain ones. I do have a Chicago Electric belt sander. I got it thinking Ill use it for a particular job and if it craps out well so be it. I was able to use it on 2 deck resurfacing projects and it is still going strong. That sucker wont die! It's 15 years old now. I also have the electric impact wrench that has received heavy use. Only recently changed out the brushes (brushes are included) after 12 years....Still kicking. You could not have said it better when you mentioned the metals in the tools are softer and lack quality. I stay away from their screwdrivers. I've had good luck with their Pittsburgh line of ratchet; no issues. I am of a generation when people oftened complained about items made in Japan. We should be so lucky to have more made in Japan and not China. Japanese chisels, for example, can't be beat. As for their automobiles....well Toyota cars speak for themselves. LOL! Bottom line is it pays to be informed; read reviews and then draw conclusions regarding purchases. Your videos are very informative and I have learned a lot....keep 'em coming!
My favorite HF find is the 3/4" pipe clamp with base. There are very few moving parts and it doesn't even matter if they are square or not. I put 2" thick hardwood pads on mine and slowly sanded the pads down until they fit perfectly flat. If you combine these with a 6' long steel pipe, you have clamps that can pretty much handle nearly any job for $40 or less.
I actually JUST noticed the 3/4" pipe clamps! They're FAR cheaper at HF than Amazon or the big box stores!!
I agree but they were $5.99 just a few years ago not $11.99 like now.
Latest Herc table saw is pretty good now. The v2 is rack and pinion plus some other quality of life features. Been using for a few months, no complaints so far. Only real drawback is it doesn't support dado blades. :/ Edit - Almost forgot, plug for the Herc router. Its super OP for the price, great value and performance.
Late to the party, but I also have the Hercules table saw. As others have pointed out, your video shows the previous gen with a "clamp on" fence. Mine is the second gen with a rack and pinion fence.
The fence *did* require some tuning to get it square and accurate, but it's been flawless for me so far.
My use-case is cabinets and some shop furniture. I'd *like* to do some more fine woodworking with it, and my experience so far leads me to believe I should have no problem when I use it for those projects.
Great video, as always. Thanks for the great content.
I bought the new Hercules planer with a 25% off coupon for $299. Hard to pass up. Bought a third grinder for $40 or so there simply so I did always have to be changing from cutting to grinding to flapper wheel. Works great, and has a good quality feel to it. I use a lot of their consumables like grinder disks, acid brushes, chip brushes, and rubber gloves. I also like their hardware kits for wing nuts, nylock nuts, springs and the like. You are right - those magnetic trays are great if you are like me always losing that critical screw. I also use them to organize hardware when I am doing a new assembly. Probably have a dozen of them in a few sizes. I use their analog vernier caliper every day which is precise enough for my needs. US General toolboxes are a great value, many of the mechanics where I used to work swore by them. The shorter (16” or so) F clamps and the spring clamps are well worth the money and you can never have enough. There is some junk there though, mostly Chicago Electric stuff and cutting or drilling bits and blades although for wood their drill bits seem OK. Overall I’m a Harbor Freight fan and am overjoyed they just opened a store 1 mile from me, right next to a Lowe’s.
Mechanic experience here the icon stuff is super solid. The Pittsburgh flex head long handle ratchets are nice. Also Daytona jacks snapon went after them because they were worried about the competition which if you know snapon they usually far exceed everyone else
Snap on exceeds nothing but being a bandwagon, I buy their pliers just for the hats
@@leytonmcnamee I mean I think it’s poor taste to say they don’t exceed others. I get the fan boys are crazy I can take stuff apart all day long with the Pittsburg stuff. But the quality is far better with icon. Then stepping up from that is snap on quality. Is it worth the price difference? To me no not really but I still love snap on
@@sneekc2146 icon is the equivalent of an electric lawnmower, it works for small stuff but not like hard usage, Mac is just all around the best
I've bought lot of tools from Harbor Freight, pretty much all of them are the lifetime warranty Quinn, Doyle, Pittsburgh, etc. Their hand tools for working on cars I think are pretty darn good. From what I have read, there are a lot of mechanics in shops that use Harbor Freight tools on a daily basis.
I do. I haven’t had any problems with their Quinn hand tools or Earthquake air powered impacts. I’d steer clear of the lowest brand of air tools though if I was using them professionally.
I actually bought the #4 plane and the #33 to mess around with and after some flattening they actually work REALLY well. I've had them for a couple of years now and use them a few times a month.
i have a ton of hf stuff that i am happy with, the catch is you MUST check reviews, its non negotiable to get a good product.
a few that i love is the red wood chipper, the us general tool chest, the bauer driver and hammer drill, the auger, their air nailer / stapler etc their small engines are usually pretty good
On odd tool that has been serving me surprisingly well from harbor freight is an English Wheel for sheet metal rolling and planishing. Sort of makes sense though - it's mostly just some solid metal rollers and a heavy frame, none of which goes under crazy stress or anything.
It looks like your store had the old table saw on display, before manufacturers had to update them with wider feet. The updated model does have a rack and pinion fence. I’m not a fine woodworker, but it works great for construction.
I personally have the Hercules 12 in miter saw and made several projects with it. It is a great saw I'm happy with it. As far as harbor freight hand tools, I use the icon brand daily working on semis and have had no issues
Agree with most of what you said here. Although the router bits are decent enough you just have to run slower or backwards more so than the Amana or other quality bits. Compressors have served me well in my furniture building. As has the Vulcan Flux core welder. One for sure dud you could mention is their grinders, DO NOT waste your money.
I've got the Hercules job site table saw. Actually my second, I had the first generation and brought it back to get the second gen version with the rack and pinion fence. Overall, I like it, especially for the price. Yes the fence can get sloppy, but a few adjustments gets it right and it works.
I miss my first gen I had to trade it in to get the rack and pinion table saw because my friend ended up losing the fence on the first one. The 2nd gen feels has a cheaper more plastic feel to it.
Definitely some great deals there and over the last 5 years, they have really been stepping up the quality of their product lines especially with the Icon, Hercules and Bauer line. Also the Badland winches are really nice and comparable to winches costing twice as much.
I purchased one of one of HB's ATLAS electric 10" pole saw, works great, I've used it enough times to have paid for itself if just time vs manual. I bought the dual 40v/80v battery, as I had planned on getting the ATLAS 80V Brushless Cordless 18 in. Chainsaw, I haven't yet, but its in the works. I've watched a few videos on them, and they aren't bad, keeping in mind I'd only be using it every few months for fire wood (trimming up and prep for splitting).
I’ve used their Warrior brand Sawzall and oscillating saws for about a year now and they’ve held up pretty well. I will say I don’t use them that much, so that might be why they have done so well.
My Chicago Electric right angle grinder that I bought for $10 at their sidewalk sale has lasted me almost 5 years. Again, I don’t use it everyday, but it’s still going strong when I do use it.
You’re spot on about the rules and squares though. They just aren’t as accurate as I need for fit and finish.
Great video!
I use the Hercules V2 table saw with the RP fence and it’s really a nice saw once you do the initial tune up. I was able to crank out some cabinets with it and I was very impressed with the accuracy for a harbor freight tool
Agree with your comment. I remodeled my restaurant and bar with this table saw. It surpassed my expectations.
No thanks. I moved on to Sawstop and no longer worry about my body parts and a Sawstop almost never needs major adjustment. When it comes to possibly chopping off pieces of my body cheap is not an option. I build cabinets for a living now. I can't afford to be missing fingers. An hour visit to an ER to get a finger reattached will cost a WHOLE LOT MORE than the most expensive Sawstop model.
The Hercules table saw used to have a rack and pinion fence when it was first released, at least as far as I remember... Den of tools did a side by side with the DeWalt of the same size and found the Hercules to be almost identical.
The Avanti airless sprayers are fantastic. The all metal one for 650 rivals Titan and Graco sprayers that are double to triple the cost.
The Central Machinery floor standing drill presses, benchtop wood lathe, 14" bandsaw and the mini lathe and mill are all great for actual shop tools.
Just a couple of good ones you missed or didn't know about. Everything else you said was right on the nose, except that table saw. Maybe get one in the box and do a review? I know the floor models can get messed up. Maybe they did away with the rack and pinion?
Anyway, cool content as usual. Hope you guys made it through the storm the other night. Up here in Upstate New York we caught the tail end of that wind... It was epic lol.
Peace and love to you and the family ❤️💛💚
The China Freight tools are just knock-offs of legitimate brands using stolen technology and designs.
As a former employee that also did research on the tools of the time. Almost everything you've mentioned is really accurate. The bar clamps are good, The machinist lathe is a good introductory lathe for small pieces and rifle barrels. The torque wrenches have been reliable over the years. The dust collectors, the sandblast units, almost all of the woodworking tools are decent. I agree the chisels are okay at best. The woodworking seems to be the shining area. I would stay away from consumables as a primary product. Like sandpaper. But they do well and they do great in a pinch. The Bauer, Hercules, earthquake lines are definitely better than the rest of their tools. The Doyle, Bremen, quantum, and other newer names are also really good. I started in '16 and left just before 2020. It's a weekend warrior store. Sufficient. If that makes sense
After watching several comparisons, I saved myself some money and bought the Hercules table saw when it went on super sale (and of course picked up some free moving blankets with it). The fence stays square enough for me. It can be a little fiddly to lock into the correct spot if you need to be precise, because when you press down on the locking lever, the fence can shift before it locks down. So I always have to recheck my measurement after it's locked. But once it's locked, it's locked and square. I've made drawers and picture frames with it and joints come out perfect.
Power-wise, I've done a few heavier cuts through thicker hardwoods. Recently cut two pieces of red oak glued together - 3/4" each - and you could hear the motor pushing a little, but it went through them clean with tear out or burning. So I'm guessing if you are doing a lot of heavy duty work, this won't be up to the task. But I think it's got plenty of power for the average woodworker.
I agree with most of what you said here. One quick note about the measuring rules. In your picture they are identical until the end where there is a thick (disposable) piece of plastic holding the tag on. I suspect the difference is a matter of perspective caused by this plastic creating a gap on one side.
Thanks for the video.
The absolute best thing I ever bought at HFT is the wooden machinist toolbox they sell for $89, in fact I have 3 of them. They are also great for storing my sketching supplies and Copic markers.
Hello Matt, another awesome video, very informative. And yes not everything is created equal at Harbor Freight for example a few years back I bought a 10" Chicago Electric miter saw because the price was right for what I could afford at that time. But the saw itself was not great, every time I went to use it I could never get a square cut & I just got tired of fiddling with it to try & get it square & I was past the return period so I couldn't return it. So I eventually broke down & bought a Ryobi miter saw from Home Depot & right out of the box it was true & square. Even when I switched out the blade for a Diablo blade it remained square & yes I learned my lesson the hard way about buying certain tools from HF but not everything is that way. But I would like to ask your opinion about a certain tool that I've been eyeing for a while from HF it's the Hercules 8" variable speed bench grinder. The reason I chose it is because of its variable speed & 5 amp motor compared to the Bauer 2.1 amp grinder, I didn't want something that was going to possibly bog down on me. Also it's a tool that I would be using on occasion with a wire wheel to clean up bolts & such when I do automotive repair so I didn't want something too expensive plus it's a Hercules & not a Chicago Electric. Any info or opinion that you might have on it would be greatly appreciated like if you know someone who has one or heard something by word of mouth. Well sir I think I have made this comment a little too long, thank you for your time & have a blessed day.
Thanks for the great video. I love HG as it gets me a good entry into trying out new ways to putz around my garage and basement workbench.
I would like to make one small change, and that is about the paint brushes. I live in Wooster where they are made and it cracks me up whenever someone pronounces it who has never heard it. It is the "oo" from "book", "took", or "whoops, there goes my spending budget on magenets". Please read this in a lighthearted and amused tone and not angeynlocal defends the proud name of Home Town America vehemently. Cheers and keep the vids coming!
I bought a bunch of Harbor Freight metal yardsticks, but cut them up into 4" lengths, drilled a hole near the end, and fastened them together with threaded rod with nut spacers. Presto...a storage rack for plier type tools that fits in your tool drawer and holds the tools on edge.
Pretty much sums up what I found when I visited one for the first time. Bought a couple of the smaller clamps and some consumables... go in with your eyes open with some knowledge and you can escape with a few goodies!
Their digital calipers are a good deal. I've been using a pair for over a decade, even in my machining class with super tight tolerances. I have a pair of mitutoyos also but I bought an extra harbor freight caliper just so I could have one in the garage, one at my desk, and one at my 3d printer.
They are straight trash
Yup. I have one in my garage, one in my basement, one in my glove box, and one in my kitchen junk drawer.
They're always coming in handy for something.
was gonna buy a used mitutoyo caliper but didnt want to pay $60 so just got a HF one instead. Good enough for my occasional use.
Hey man I wanted to let you know I went out to buy two of the Harbor Freight clamps you reviewed. I have to say I 100% agree with your review, these are KILLER clamps and easy to use. Like you I also have a few different ones as many wood workers do but these clamps, I am super excited to have gotten. Thank you for reviewing these products, it was very helpful. What I did like about these clamps is not just the ease of use but how accurate the pressure felt on my cutting boards. I also have an idea for a video for you, granted I have not seen all of your videos yet; I would make one on Tool Maintenance and clean up. Like how to clean, sharpen saw blades, Maintenace on these claps and how to properly cover them etc. I am not seeing many videos on good tool maintenance such as blade sharpening, how much that can save vs building new ones, cleaning them etc. Thank you for your videos, this one was very helpful!
Casters; My wife has a bunch of big planters on the deck and around the house. The caddys that she put them on were terrible. Even the "good" ones would hang up, break, and tip over. So I nailed a few scrap boards together and got casters at HF. They seem to be of good quality and half the price of most other places I looked. I might not try to move a gun safe around with them but they are fine for plants, out door prep tables, the smoker stand, etc. I was a maintenance tech and never used their tools for my job but now retired I find lots of bargains there. It is what it is. Thanks for the review and the many instructional videos.
I have the new Hercules table saw with the rack and pinion setup and I’d say with the upgrades they have made to it, it’s a much better saw and comparable to a lot of the higher end saws. They gave it a wider foot print and a bigger table. I’m just a weekend warrior but I’ve built 3 screen doors and enclosed a carport using this saw. It’s great for the price if you are looking at this as a hobby not a pro. The fence is a great upgrade and I’d say the only down side for this saw is you can NOT use a dado blade set in it.
As a mechanic and wood worker I can say that the Icon line is a very good line pretty much without exception. Most of those tools are a direct copy of something Snapon or Mac but for 1/4 the price and the same warranty. The new USG 34” full bank service cart is a snapon copy but I actually think HF did better (and I paid $400 because it had a dent). I would also say that if you aren’t sure how often you would use a certain tool that you are curious about, get it from HF and if you use it a lot plan to upgrade, if you don’t use it much then you aren’t out a bunch of $.
This is the best advice about buying from Harbor Freight that I've seen. Exactly how I think about Harbor Freight.
I bought a floor stand 16 speed drill press from Harbor Freight over 20 years ago & it's still running. I'm a weekend warrior & it being a Central Machinery product has been great for me.
Thanks for the info on the measuring tools. I never thought that their rulers could be incorrect.
As for the Hercules table saw, they have up graded it form the one you showed in your video. I bought the new stile and have been pleasingly impressed. The fence can now be locked down with a set screw to keep it parallel with the fence. Fence adjustment is on a rack and pinion system which I really like. And it looks like a Dewalt 7485 twin. Will it run a dato stack? No, does it have the power of a $1000 saw? No. But as a entry level, or a small shop table saw, it’s not bad. It also come with a combination blade that side by side looks identical to a blade . By the way love your channel!
Correction on my last reply I meant to say the Hercules comes with a combination blade that is identical to a Diablo blade
@@timdeniserhodes6450
I've wondered about how they could make those blades so cheap and if they were any good. I tend to buy better quality blades after starting with cheap. The first $100 10" saw blade I bought was like opening up a whole new world to me about 30 years ago. It cut so much smoother and cleaner, I could never go back to cheap for my table saw. But now, even cheaper blades seem to be better quality (if TH-cam reviews can be believed 😄). I might have to try one.
Just as an FYI, you can click the three dots to the right of your comment and edit it if needed rather than adding another comment.
Another very good organization product is their plier organization tray. I have one in my tool box and it works great. Also be careful buying wrenches especially set on special sales. Ive found that many times they are not a full set and will be missing commonly used sizes.
Oddly enough, to get a set of metric deep sockets for a lug nut set, I had to order one of Walmart's 1/2" sets; HF and others brands skipped sizes I needed when some goofball put different size lug nuts (same thread, different head sizes!) on a used car I bought.
Another one to add to the mix is the 5 gal paint sprayer they have. with a little bit of modification to the plumbing parts it makes an excellent entry level pressure pot for epoxy projects. So If you are just getting into using epoxy and you want a bubble free piece this is a good one to get at an affordable price.
HFT employee here, a tool i personally reccomend to alot of people is the low end Warrior drill driver. perfect for the homeowner who might only need a drill occasionally and ive done a few big jobs with it and its pretty solid
I agree with this summation of HF tools "almost" 100%. My exception would be the wood-handled HF chisel set. I bought a set and it did not take me long to get 'em perfectly flat and sharp using wet stones. What has impressed me more is they seem to hold that sharp edge for a considerable amount of time. I'm not woodworking every week, but the last time I sharpened them was over a year ago.
Their jack plane, however, is absolute garbage. Not recommended. Hey, it's cheap. That's just fine.
Their icon stuff is pretty good, their folding bar light I actually prefer over the streamlight that it's trying to knockoff. Likely not as strong but its lasted my abuse since it came out.
Their knipex knockoffs are pretty good quality but you aren't saving that much money so the price difference may not be worth it. The icon pliers wrench and Doyle water pump pliers are both well made.
I have a lot of things from HF that I use only occasionally like the chop saw, sander, drill press, and metal band saw. They work great but I wouldn’t depend on them for hard use. It’s nice to have a good inexpensive option for various tools. For my battery tools I stick to Milwaukee M12 and it works great for me. One thing I do recommend is the 1/2” earthquake 20v impact wrench it’s a beast. Although I just got the M12 1/2” stubby which will probably take over 95% of my impact wrench needs.
I just found your channel thanks to Stumpy Nub's followup to your scary but very informative table saw push stick video.
I agree with your assessment of HF F-clamps, measuring tools, and low end (Chicago Electric and Warrior) power tools. I bought the Harbor Freight router bit set a few years ago. So far, I've only used the straight and round over bits, but I've been very pleasantly surprised with the cut quality and by how well they're held up. I have no illusion that they would last as long as a Whiteside bit, but most of my work with them has been with softer wood like pine and poplar. When they wear out, I'll replace them with a higher quality bit. In the meantime, I didn't lay out hundreds for a set of bits that I don't use very often.
One of my favorite HF products is the blue LED flashlight that runs on 3 AAA batteries. It's super bright and hangs with a magnet or built in plastic hook. I have a few in the shop and one in every closet and lower kitchen cabinet. I got mine for free when they used to run coupons every week. Their moving dollies and moving blankets are also a good deal.
Their Chicago dust collector is an absolute beast, especially at its price range. It's definitely a tool I'd recommend.
Interesting.
I've nearly bought that dust collector a few times. Maybe.......someday.
I love my Harbor Freight drill press as it's been very good for me for a couple of years for making pens or other projects of the sort and has held up quite well.
I did get the metal yardstick years ago, however, it's only used for crafting with cutting fabric where accuracy isn't all that important and it's great for cutting straight lines with a rotary cutter.
I will say it does look like their "best" brushes are actually comparable in quality to the "good" brushes you get from big box hardware stores, however, I'm also of the opinion that I only used those when I was broke and trying to paint a house or for stain or poly on something that was going to get covered in stuff and a stray hair in the finish will probably get worn off or hidden!
Either way, I am a "I know what I'm getting when I go in there" but do like it for things here and there.
Honest and very helpful some of us want to do one or two projects and buying Dewalt or Bosch tools aren't necessary since they may only used once or twice a year
I have alot of harbor freight tools and so far only had problems with one. I got a charger pack that I could not get to charge so took it back and got another at no cost to me. Works fine now. I steer towards the Bauer line of power tools and found the drill /Driver has more torque then the porter cable my dad gave me. I do agree with the stay clear of drill master, its garbage. the Bauer and warrior lines are pretty good and have had no problem with the squares so far. All real power tools in my shop are the older craftsman tools.
My golden rule is avoid anything with a cutting face that you can't sharpen. In addition, anything should be considered disposable. Still, they have a lot of value for money especially for single-use specialty tools.
I have the Hercules random orbital sander and love it better than four other brands I have.
I also love the LED 10,000 k shop lights. They are the best fixtures I have.
I love the Yukon tool box so much I bought a second one.
I use lots of their drill bits in small sizes.
I just bought the new airless spray gun yesterday which compares to Graco. I will rate soon.
Hercules job site table saw has a rack and pinion fence. A very nice one I might add. It is not the most robust product, but for a job site saw it is excellent quality.
I bought the table saw for a kitchen remodel project I was working on out of town. I assumed I would be done with it when I left, but I ended up loading it up in my truck and bringing it home to replace my Rigid job site table saw. It definitely had less use, but it was also just better engineered and functionally worked more accurately. It is also substantially more compact. 10/10 would buy it again without hesitation
HF automotive tools are great! Especially their 24" and 18" Ratchet breaking bars. I think I bought the 24" for like $20 which is a super good price compared to all competitors. I also like their low-profile floor jack which I also bought for a good price. HB is great for the average DIYer. I agree with 731, I would not buy power tools from HF but I would buy a lot of their other products.
Their two top brands of power tools are some of the best. My yellow power tools now sit on the shelf. I like the HF ones better. I have used some of them a lot and abused them like the yellow ones. They have stood up better. Also their Pedator motors and generators are very good.
Among my purchases there are a floor jack, pneumatic cabinet nailer, pneumatic hoses, belt sander, hammer drill and assorted small items. The hammer drill gave up the ghost after one project. The belt sander held up for a few years worth of moderate use. The floor jack and cabinet nailer still work great (10+ years). Drill bits, hole saws and the like don't have the quality of the upper tier stuff and are pretty much one-project throwaways.
Another great Harbor Freight tool: Central Machinery 2.5 Liter Ultrasonic Cleaner
I've been using this ultrasonic parts cleaner in my garage for two years now without issue. Its not very big but I use it for cleaning underhood plastic pieces, carburetors, crusty hardware, etc for car projects i'm working on.
I have a HF small air saw. I got it to cut out truck grills for aftermarket grills. It worked great and I still have now. I got some really nice clamps from HF not long ago for where I work now and they’re great. I’ve gotten their dolly’s to move around heavy equipment. I have Snap-On, Mac, Matco, Craftsman, and other brands of tools. But the HF stuff I’ve gotten has worked well.
I gotta agree with you I know there chisels I use to ruffle on my harbor freight Wood Turner but I really haven't had any problems with it with the chisel or the wood Turner. But I'd recommend if you're planning on doing bigger projects like plates and bowls to go with a better brand where has a bigger capacity
I BOUGHT THE HERCULES TABLE SAW, it has enough power that i can cut 3/4 birch plywood and i bought it for building a murphy bed. this was my first woodworking project and it did really good. later i was looking up how to set up a saw to try to build a nice watch box and there is no setup possible. nothing under it really moves or adjusts or allows you to fine tune the blade. the fence is a thing you have to fiddle with and if your building around the house its fine but i now have to buy another saw if i want to be a better woodworker. i haven't looked into what to get as i have no shop, just a carport and a 7x4 shed so my saw has to be small. i would love a pros opinion on a highly adjustable small saw. i thought the delta looked pretty good.
I have a Pittsburgh 1/2" drive 20-150ft. lb. torque wrench that I purchased in 2000. That off lasted a 3/8" drive craftsman torque wrench purchased around the same time, which only lasted around 2 years. I also have purchased the 20V drill/driver and 1/4" Hex impact driver by Hercules.
thanks for the Informative video.i buy harbor freight tools for things that i don't use often. i bought a fish tape to pull some#6 wire. only used it once and still have it. It was less than 10 bucks.
My Bauer 20v drill has never failed me yet. The battery life is incredible...20 straight days without a charge. I also like their clamps and the hand tool sets are good to travel in my truck box for a quick repair.
I've got a bauer 1/2 inch impact wrench, I use it three times a yr to take blades off my riding lawn mower. I've never had a problem with it. Why would I go to lowes and pay 3 to 4 times as much. Many people buy products there I believe because they are not going to use them often.
I have Hercules table top with the rack and pinion
Love it
And my miter is great like you said
Only issue now is price is closer to the dewalts so the deal doesn't seem there anymore
Im a electrician and I recently started using the Hercules whole saws . An I'm really impressed with them they are performing above the middle of field and lots of higher price saws aren't drilling any more holes.
Started watching and went to my local HF during lunch! Thank you, picked up some Bremen clamps, magnetized trays, and a few other odds and ends! Appreciate the tip!
That is awesome!
I've not had a lot of issues with HF stuff. And their return policy is top notch. I got a tap and die set (probably not something to buy from there but I was on a budget) and when I broke a tap I went in and asked if the lifetime guarantee meant I could get a new tap - the lady said "a new tap, no - you get a new set"
We have one of the Hercules cordless drills, and the jobsite fan. Both have been very good for us so far.
I'd honestly be tempted to stick to them as our cordless hand tool source, if the line were larger. But if I'm investing in a battery system, I want to make sure it has a multitool, jigsaw and RO sander. A palm router would be nice, too, but I can live with a cord if necessary. Probably going to take the small step up to Ryobi. I just don't use them enough to justify one of the higher-tier brands.
I’ve used Harbor Freight’s tools for about four years now. I started out with the Bauer kit they had four years ago on Black Friday. It had the 20v drill, driver, circular saw, reciprocating saw, and a light along with 3 1.5ah batteries and two chargers. I then bought the hammer drill kit with a battery and charger. I did have to take back the drill as the chuck broke about a year into it. They replaced without any issues. Since then I’ve purchased several Bauer 20v tools. I also have the Hercules 12 in sliding miter saw anti love it
As a mechanic I have a large variety of different brands including harbor freight. I have snap on, craftsman, and all the rest. I buy quality if I use it a lot and need durability and reliable accurate results every time. Harbor freight for things when I just need it to function and quality and durability is not critical. Great video. Explains it exactly the way I shop at Harbor Freight.
I love Harbor Freight. I buy lots of tools that I need but only use infrequently. If my HF tool breaks, it means I use it enough that it warrants spending the money on a better tool to replace it. I've only had to replace a few things that way.
For the little amount of wood working I do. A short term chisel is fine for me. New door plate lock and such. I am not a carpenter by any means. But small projects at home type. Always have been interested in wood working. Tried to build a shelf and let’s say realized I needed way more equipment! Ouch.
Their swivel head breaker bar is great. I also got some mallets and crowbars cheap there. My rule of thumb is harbor freight is good enough if you just need a chunk of metal to beat something with
I work maintenance at a plant and turn wrenches every day. The Pittsburgh ratcheting wrenches have worked just as well for me as my gearwrench wrenches that I've lost or broken. They're ever so slightly fatter though.
They sell Doyle screwdrivers that are good screwdrivers, pry like hell with them and have never broken or bent one yet.
Badlands winches are the best winch you can get for the price point. Does everything a warn does at 1/3 of the price, can also vouch from personal experience.
Have a Bauer corded angle grinder that works well for home use, definitely doesnt stand up to the Milwaukee and Dewalt ones i use at work - but its great for the price.
They have 30' tape measures for like $6...have one and use it.
Moving blankets, nitrile gloves, ammo boxes - all good things to buy at HF as well.