The stud extractor does work.Drill a small hole, then larger hole, this will releave the pressure in the work piece. The other things you don't buy at harber freight, are life jackets, parachutes, fire extinguishers, and condoms.
+Kirk S Because if they fail the "return policy" does not include anything made when the item failed. All the other items, when the fail, your left without something made; a drill fails your left without a hole. A condom fails, you might finish the project you were trying to not create.
+yopagedotcom can we get any more dependent???? We can't even manufacture the circuit board that goes in air force one.... the plane used form the president has Chinese parts. I
I think most are missing the point with HF tools, it allows someone to do a job they may have not been able because they couldn't afford the high priced tool that they may only use once, I have a cabinet full of Snap On and other "name brand" tools but still have a bunch of HF power tools also, in fact I should do a video on how good some are FOR THE PRICE.
+Terry Graves Plus if you can buy a cheap tool and it works, then you save a bunch of money. If it breaks, take it back and THEN go buy the expensive counterpart. I have a HF miter saw that I put a good blade on and it has served me very well for ten years now.
+Terry Graves This is spot on. I am a lawn care pro, if HF tools sold mowers, I would not buy one, or a trimmer, or a blower, or a spreader. All my lawn care tools are pro grade, and they cost a small fortune, but last for thousands of hours of use. HF tools is ideal for the occasional use tool for the weekend welder/mechanic/wood worker.
+Josh V Congratulations you've now supported the shitty companies to keep producing shitty quality products and spend more money then needed because you still bought the good product.
Oh noes I feel so bad... no wait, I don't. I think you missed the point. That happens SOMETIMES, but most of the time the HF product works just fine. I think I have done this for maybe three or four tools. A wire stripper, a set of crescent wrenches, and brake compressor. HF is great for someone starting off, they do not need insanely overly-engineered, commercial grade stuff. Using my strategy I have probably saved thousands of dollars. Tens of thousands if were talking Festool.
I treat Harbor Freight tools as consumables. For the price, you use them as long as you can and toss them if they break. I have 4 of their red angle grinders with a different wheel on each one. Saves time and they haven"t let me down yet.
My spindle lock broke, so I had to put a sanding wheel on it, (you can hold the wheel and tighten it), and not use it for anything else. And, bought a different cheap brand for all the other attachments.
Wow! What an amazing variety of comments. It is always helpful to hear the pros and cons of various tools by actual users. As with any tool store, sometimes it is luck of the draw since perfection is not to be found anywhere. I have purchased both good tools and bad ones at EVERY place I have shopped for tools. A sixth item I would add to this list is the Central Pneumatic 16 gauge finish nailer,(69575;68023). It failed on the job almost immediately. Took it back and exchanged it and the replacement failed almost immediately as well. Conversely, the same brand 18 gauge finish nailed has worked flawlessly. Ultimately replaced the 16 gauge with the Campbell/Hausfeld version which has worked flawlessly for about a third of the price. I don't have the budget to buy all high end tools, so until I do, reviews by actual users are always appreciated.
I have several of the $10 HF 4.5" grinders and they have been great for several years. One has a sanding disc on it, one has a wire brush, one has a cutoff wheel on it, etc. Saves me from having to stop and change out the discs. The key is never let the little motor get hot. Actually the same is true of the DeWalt version too. The DeWalt version has (or did have) plastic motor brush holders that either melt or distort if they get too hot. Its why i don't loan these grinders out. FWIW I had a Ryobi 4.5" grinder give a heroic day's work back in the 90s cutting bricks before it died a hot, smelly death too. I have also seen someone get a DeWalt so hot that the windings short out and suddenly you have a grinder with 70% of the power it originally had. Might as well get whatever miles you can get out of it as a very light duty grinder b/c it has diminished power. I suspect the same would be true of the HF 4.5" grinder. If I used these tools for hours multiple times per week I'd own the best tools available. For my hobby garage shop where I have the time to go slow and make the most of my cheap tools - these tools last a long, long time. If I buy a cheap tool and its junk right out of the box, I'll ask for my money back. If I buy a cheap tool and feel that I can't get my money's worth, then I upgrade rather than buy a cheap tool over and over.
Very true I mean think about this a minute people if you think your going to get snap on quality tools for dollar store prices your kidding yourself or you should not be buying tools! The rule of thumb that my best friend and I have about Harbor Freight is 2 questions 1. How much are we going to be using this tool? Everyday all the time, once a month, once a year? 2. How much TORQUE (the real test of any tool) are you going to be putting on it? 1. If it is a tool your not going to use very often but you need it to get a job done one time who care? HF tools mostly have a warranty and it come down to are you using it for home or work (commercial stuff). If it is just hope and you use it once it awhile HF is probably fine. 2. How much TORQUE this is big one for me as I will not buy ANY HF channel locks! I had a pair I was doing something with and the locking part slipped the handles came crashing together with my finger caught between the handles. Needless to say this tool went FLYING! I get very angry when a tool fails and I get hurt from it. If it fails and I don't get hurt normally no big deal I buy only lifetime warranty but when I get hurt like most guy I turn into the Hu only not green. Remember guys what your buying your tools for my best friend is a 40 year mechanic and I have quite a few years myself so when we talk about tools especially my best friend I am talking about he has bought about every brand tool out there and could tell you why some are better than other. So good luck and think before you buy.
HF tools are not for contractors or industrial use. They are for people who aren't going to use the tool a lot and don't want to pay dewalt prices for it.
I have the 4 1/2" grinder and after about 20 hrs. of tough grinding it's still going. The bad thing about this grinder is the switch instead of a trigger. If the grinder hangs on a piece of metal it has the torque to pull the grinder from your hand while it runs on. You may lose some digits if not careful.
I've had the black 4.5" angle grinder since 2011 and I use the crap out of it when I am grinding down welds, the smart owner strips it down and removes what the Chinese call the grease(lack thereof) and lubes it with suitable grease for quiet reliable operation. The only negative is it gets hot so you gotta wear gloves when using itfor extended times. I almost thru it out before watching a video on YT about the lack of lubrication in the gear case. After that I took the other grinders apart and lubed them as well. I alternate between a Dewalt and Makita each having a different wheel/grit disc on it. White finger is very common with cheap grinders, need something that absorbs the vibration, or take breaks very often.
I've had two of those 4 1/2" angle grinders, they've both worked fine for me. And before you say anything, the only reason I've had two is because I moved across the country and gave the first one to my brother. I've cut thick steel pipe, ground down the same pipe to thin the outer diameter, cut, sanded, all of that. It's gotten plenty of use so far without issue.
I've used the black Drill Master 4.5" grinder for everything from stripping/sanding to cutting suspension parts to dressing welds. Never let me down. The screw extractor set worked for removing some age-welded, broken exhaust studs from a nickel-iron manifold. A bit touchy about hole depth & finish, but not terrible for the price. My current work tools as an electrician are a mix of Milwaukee, Makita, Dewalt, Hitachi, & various Harbor Freight "brands" like Pittsburgh & Chicago Electric. My previous tools as a mechanic ranged from HF to Snap-on & SK. I've actually never had a Harbor Freight tool fail on me - but I know what to look for, am willing to spend the time in-store sifting their stock to find it, & understand the limits of the tools. Their 18V cordless drills will never match even my Makita/Hitachi 12V drills, but they're neither intended nor rated to. Their drill bits are no match for my Milwaukee or Bosch bits but again, they're not intended to be - they're 1/3 the price or less & best for crap jobs where you EXPECT to destroy the bits. Their 180A welder lays some very nice beads - once you get some decent wire in it & set the feed tension properly. The Drill Master cordless drill, goes on sale for $15-20, makes a great household drill. I've put together a couple of walls with one (yes, nails, but she insisted on screws . . .), no problems.
Take this video with a grain of salt. I own some of the items shown and they have been perfectly fine. Is it all high-end professional grade stuff? No. Will it do the job for most of us at a crazy low price? Yes.
I bought the DrillMaster Angle grinder for $9.99 , grinded 5 houses down to bare wood before it died out. can't beat that price the grinder is one of the best grinders I've ever used.
i have one of the 4.5 grinders just like the one you gave an image of and ive used it hard several times . vibrates a tad more then id like but it works real well . cut atruck frame up with it . did 2 sets of ranger rear spring shackles and a set of f250 front spring brackets and several other grind and keep grinding things with it ... never failed in the 3+ years ive had it a real 12.99 value
+batvette Actually, luck really does have a lot to do with it, and anyone with experience would know that HF dependability becomes more dodgy as complexity rises. I bought a very solid feeling SDS hammer drill for a great price, and the first time I used it the drill-only mechanism failed. Since I got it for its SDS drill-impact use, I wasn't bent, but a function failed as soon as I used it. If this had been a $300+ Bosch device I would had had a fit, but I think I paid maybe $25 for this thing and had the quality expectation to go with it.
+Bob G LOL, I had that Bosch SDS max hammer drill you're thinking about for a few years, the one sold at home depot for $328 I think. Bought the Bosch chuck for $56 and a couple of their concrete bits for about $20 each. Amazing how fast that drilled concrete floors, once you made a dimple you just put one finger on it and watch it drill its way to hell. One of the best tools I ever owned but for straight drilling it struggled, hardly any torque to it. When my jobs began to not involve concrete drilling I bought a milwaukee 1/2" magnum when they were us made, for about $120. It'll twist your arm off.
+batvette I rented one for a job and was amazed at how quickly it cut a perfect hole into concrete. It was one of those "Oh, mama" moments and I had to get one, but sticker shock made me wish instead of do. I later got the HF SDS drill and some good bits and was very pleased, even without the drill-only option. I do like HF five-pack work gloves, and a lot of their storage stuff, etc., because they are as good as any other brand for waaaay less $, but I always lower my expectations with anything more complicated from HF. Don't get me wrong, a $12 HF rivet gun is just as good as a $30 Craftsman rivet gun, but I don't don't froth and kick things when the HF tool breaks. Right now I'm considering a $9 HF punch kit vs a $25 OSH punch kit for a pistol trigger job. The HF kit will probably be worth it if I'm gentle with it and don't expect more than one or two uses. Some will hate me for thinking like that, and I'm not so sure they'd be wrong.
HF tools are not meant to be used in a pro shop or construction site environment all day. buying these tools for ridiculous price and expecting Dewalt or Bosch performance or longevity is more than unrealistic.
You got that right. I`ve had trouble with tools I brought either locally or from their warehouse located in Camarillo, CA., from line wrenches that slip to pry bars that have too much "give". The only really good item I`ve purchased from them was a C.P. 10-gallon air compressor for occasional use in my garage. IMO, Northern Tool has much better products.
Yeah true, HF stuff for the most part is cheeap, chinease junk with the occasional usefull tool. You always get what you pay for and when you pay very little , you get just that. When you get tired of throwing your money away , then you save up and buy a reliable name brand tool, Rigid is one of my favorites.
+R.J. MacReady Russia is great at some things, driving.... not so much, have you ever watched any bad driving videos? mostly Russian plates on the cars, they suck at driving lol..
I actually purchased that very drill for $9.99 and used it to help build a parade float. We used it to drive 8 inch screws into 4x4's and 2x4's for framing. It would sink the screw a quarter inch into the wood !! That was five years ago. It was plenty powerful and I still have it. It works great !
I have at least 4 of the 4.5 black grinders and I have used them hard. You can not beat the price for what they do. I did have to repair a cord but in general I have no complaints
+Joseph M But he clearly said.. the $22 grinder DID hold up... that was the point. Some of the stuff it TOTAL crap, and will break even with light use.. Some of the stuff is perfectly fine for your average light duty regular home use.
+Joseph M Bought a $19.00 orange body 3/8" hammer drill from HB. Drilled two holes and the brush mounts melted out of the motor. I went to a garage sale and bought a 20 year old Milwaukee 3/8" hammer drill for $10.00. That was 2 years ago. I have drilled dozens of 5/8 dia holes in a poured concrete floor. We were rebuilding my son's garage and needed to set anchors through the sill plate into the floor.
Haha I can't believe a harbor freight bashing video actually exist! This is like going to a dollar store and talking trash about the cologne. There isn't a single item that is high quality. You either buy something here for one time use or you are too cheap to buy quality. There has never been a single item that has let me down. $15 for a grinder that I used to clean rust off of a half ton diff to be painted not to mention the calipers, shocks and frame.
I wouldn't trust the electric tools if you're a contractor. But simple products like ratchet straps, bungee cords, vinyl gloves. They are a good deal. Also if your a weekend mechanic alot of the "specialty tools" like gear pullers, vices, Irwin style clamps, generic vice grips ect all have worked amazing. Also the various packs of hardware in those plastic bins is a amazing deal! They do offer a cheap warranty on all their tools. Probably had 300 hours on a orbital air sander. I blew it up on my fault didn't oil it correctly. Had it replaced the next day.
+Sundown798 I'm a weekend warrior. I Used that grinder to prep a Ford 9 inch to sell. I love the ball joint puller they have. and all the electrical terminals and heat shrink they have. I buy the electric grease packets and squirt a dab in before I heat up the shrink. The engine stand, cherry picker and 1 ton Jacks have worked flawlessly since 2000.
+Sundown798 I got my composite orbital sander there for like $35 and it runs just as good as my $100 IR orbital sander, my HF sander actually even has a built in air regulator which my $100 IR sander does not have.
My son bought a bench grinder there. It was so weak you could stop it with your bare fingers. Most HF stuff works OK at least a few times but they do sell some stuff that is worthless right out of the box. Made for decorating your garage I guess.
A Baller My friends a high end finish carpenter. Has Festool everything. Great tools of course. He needs to depend every day on them. Only thing he complains about is the expensive metric size blades. HF is like a box of chocolates. You never know when you get a bad one lol.
I have asked that same question many times, however, no one will honestly answer me. I also would like to understand how the individual wants a lower price tool to operate like a DeWalt or other high end brands. When the tool is not as precise as the DeWalt, they then do a YT video and complain, and trash the item. Big production and precision call for higher-end tools---then make the financial investment. Hobbyist work does not always have the same exacting requirements as industrial and large scale workshops. So where is the logic in complaining after the fact? I am a newbie, week-end wood hobbyist, and after giving serious thought to what I wanted to make, HF affords me opportunity to really come to terms with my new hobby without having to take out a bank loan to purchase some of the initial tools. I was beginning to believe that woodworking was only for those with large financial resources--$500 scroll saw; $500 Table saw - $200 benchtop drill press, $400 router table, $300 miter saw/stand and another $300-600+ for blades and dust system, $250 bits & keyless drill chuck - we're talking about $2,550+ to set up shop. Not all of us can afford that initial investment! Once we learn the limitation on a HF tool (before purchasing), then go for it with understanding.
ive had and used the black 4 1/2in angle grinder for 3 years now. and not a once in awhile use, I use it to cut/grind when fabbing up custom prerunner bumpers/roll cages/ and even 1/4in plate steel. its been accidentally ran over by my truck and still works perfect. maybe i got lucky, but I have massive respect for harbor frieght regardless of what anyone else says. my most used tool in my customs shop is my earthquake XT impact and its incredible, I have quite a few harbor frieght tools and equipment in my shop and have never had any huge issues with them. I will say the 3/8s reversable drill in this video is pretty crappy, but for the price I bought 3 and in the past 4 years 2 gave out. so im still 30 bucks in for making thousands in the shop with them. still worth it.
My son bought me a telescoping handle garden lopper for Father's Day that is pretty much useless. It is designed to lock the handle in place after extending the handle by tightening the handle to keep it in place. The handle won't stay locked in place no matter hard you attempt you attempt to tighten it. I'd be reluctant to buy any tools there in the future.
theaberrantdon when I was in HS my dad told me "be nice to the fat girls because later on some will get skinny and remember who was and who wasn't a jerk to them." he was right. *swish!* lol
+dosmastrify Craftsman doesn't make their own tools. Their is no Craftsman manufacturing plant, just a name brand. They contract out to certain specs and sell at an appropriate price point with their warrantee because they know the tools meet specs. I was trying to buy a Craftsman power saw and was frustrated that the store couldn't get it in when they promised, then the store manager offered me the more expensive Skilsaw at the same price and he showed me they were made by the same company. The reason some Craftsman tools are better than other brands, and vice-verse, is specs. The fact that some Chinese tools are better than others is simply that distributors are willing to spend a little more for a tool with better quality, even if two different quality tools are made in the same factory.
My dad's 3/8" electric drill was purchased used back in 1939 for $1.00 and used in welding shop, farming, and many other places. I have replaced the chuck, bearings and brushes. The cord would last about 5 years, dad would pull on the cord to unplug or drag drill to him. Right now I can't recall the brand name, but they were brought by B&D in the late 30's.
I have that exact 4in angle grinder that I have used, sometimes pretty hard, and never had any problems. Sometimes when cutting thicker metal with the new Lenox carbide metal blade it can bog down but it gets thru the material. I have disassembled and cleaned and greased it twice.
magicguitarpedal Ridgid wood working tools are assembled in Ohio, I don't know what parts may be made here. All of the plumbing tools are still made there I believe. They still have their own machine shop
You are correct,if it says assembled in the USA it will also say "with global components", which means the parts are made in China but assembled in America,so sadly not much is 100% made here anymore, the way I see it,if all the components are made in China, it's a Chinese product,which is not always bad as long as a company has good quality control for their products.I own Milwaukee, DeWalt, Ingersoll Rand, Makita,etc. They're all great!
magicguitarpedal most of the time technical items are made here in the US and ship to China for cheap labor assembly . Like the iPhone has more parts from Germany than any other country . Most companies ship all the parts to China to be assembled and then get shipped back to where they're going to be sold. Any tool over 10 lb is going to be made in America because it's too heavy to ship it from China
+Ken Doe- I would buy American if the prices weren't more often jacked up to cover the cost of inflated union salaries, benefits, and pensions. I used to work in a union shop so I'm well aware of the downside effect of labor unions on manufacturing cost. I got fed up with the company paying some snot-nose apprentice $4 more per hour to box and load equipment that I designed. Unions can go suck it! I'll buy American only if I can afford to...and far too often I can't.
+Ken Doe You are correct, and im not just shitting you I do work hard to buy USA made or USA owned "everything". I just bought a $48 made in the USA flag over a China made one.... I'm not even sure I would cover one of my brothers or sisters (Military) in a Chinese made US Flag .. I'm not going to even argue why I have bought tools from Harbor, other then the fact I really don't know any USA made Angle Grinders, and even more upsetting my CRAFTSMEN tools I use are no longer USA made... Didn't figure that out till I noticed upon trading in a 3/8's ratchet that the holding ball had broken, that the "MADE IN THE USA" was missing from the handle. I hate unions, they have been the ruin of so many of our nations industry..
+Ken Doe That's pretty much impossible. Just about everything is either made in China or they contain parts or materials that are made in China. Your computer, cellphone, TV, car, etc. are loaded with parts & materials that are made in China. And check your shoes, clothes, kitchen, bathroom, etc. I guarantee that you buy, use & enjoy Chinese made products on a daily basis. This isn't the 1960's anymore. Outsourcing began in the '70's and companies never looked back.
This was shot on an old camera my son had received for Christmas years earlier. It has since been replaced. I am actually surprised it did so well for being a cheap kids' Kodak.
I use Milwaukee drills, Hilti and Bosch hammer drills, Metabo grinders, both 4 and 7". Wilton table vices. And I have had no trouble with any of these tools, BUT...... I use them almost everyday and have to depend on them. If you are a homeowner and use a tool once or twice a year, they do have some good prices...but don't expect them to last as long.
+crashandburnbirner Yeah that was the first thing I did to mine was change the grease after letting it run for a few minutes for initial break in, It made operation a lot quieter.
My neighbor has the cheaper angle grinder. We've built a huge paver patio and cut a LOT of pavers with it. I also did a small walkway paver extension off my patio & used it. Still going strong!
I e had my Chicago electric angle grinder for about three years. I use it to profile/cut out my knife blanks. It’s gone through various high carbon steel (lawnmower blades, D2, 1095) and it’s still going strong. And guess what? When it eventually breaks, I’ll go right down to HF and fork over another 20 bucks for three plus years of use.
If it were not for Harbor Freight I would not be able to have access to a lot of the tools I have. If you are a Hobby person like I am I for sure get my moneys worth from the tools I buy at HF. I can understand if you are a professional using these tools all day every day that is totally a different story.
exactly, or if I'm gonna buy something I'm only gonna use once or twice I get it at HF, I ain't buying a hella expensive one from Matco so it can just collect dust in my toolbox after 1 use.
Exactly. And DO spend some money for the BASIC tools: screwdrivers, wrenches, etc. Go to Sears and buy Craftsman tools when on sale (Black Friday). They have a lifetime guarantee. Some people go to garage sales and buy beat to shit Craftsman wrenches and pliers and drive right over to Sears and exchange them for new.
That is so untrue. There are a lot of great values, from Harbor Freight. Especially for the occasional harry homeowner, diy guy. I have quite a few HF buys, that I've had for Better than 15 years, that are still going strong.
No, not even that long. I bought the "Heavy-Duty Hammer Drill" to bore a series of holes in concrete. I had already drilled 3/8" pilot holes and now had to drill them to 5/8". I got about 1/2" into the first hole and the drill started on fire. I ended up taking the chuck off the drill and putting on my smaller hammer drill and finishing the job with it.FYI, my smaller hammer drill is a 40 year old Milwaukee that has drilled thousands of holes in it's lifetime. I've replaced the brushes once.
Naw. I've had good luck with almost every hydraulic jack, press and porta-power I've bought there. Sockets and wrenches suck. If you're a pro mechanic, stay outa there.
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+Buckarooskiczek I know plenty of professional mechanics who buy tools from hf and have 0 issues
I have the orange grinder and the power cord shorted within a the first couple uses. It was pinched and just burn up. I repaired that and have beat it up. I cut tile and concrete with it and the switch got stuck on but use compressed air to clear it and it still works. The same thing happened to the orange drill. the wire was pinched. The chuck slips on small bits but I usually use it for a screw gun. The motor some times smokes but I run it no load for a few and let it cool and it still is working. When I buy an electric tool I run them wide open for a few mins to break in. The oscillating tool I bought burned up very quick but returned for a new one and that is still working. The volt meters aren't that bad but the leads are shitty and the wire pulls out of the probe. all of the ones I have were the freebee type. The vises suck. The slide hammer set was crap the bearing jaws broke so easily.
I am a mobile generator tech. 5 years ago I bought a $9.99 4" angle grinder from HF. I have had others before like Dewalt, Makita ect. This grinder from HF I have used it and abused. I got it so hot that it wouldn't hardley turn. I let it cool down and back to work for this grinder. I even bought a spare to put in my truck for when if ever this grinder gives up on me. The spare is still in the box for the last 5 years. I use this grinder very heavily and it still is working! Love this grinder and I didn't have to sped $79.00 for it either!
+rdecredico I second that, but the thing most people don't realize that just because it is made in China that does not mean it's a chunk of shit. What happens is so many things that are made in China are from the very cheapest bidder that has a lot of competition leaving them with a very small profit to work with so operating cost have to be kept at minimum which naturally is going to come with trade offs such as quality and reliability (and comical translations on instructions). Not to long ago I was looking at bass processors for car audio because a lot of people was saying that the Soundstream that is obviously a generic Chinese build house part and is sold by a lot of other companys was just as good as the American made AudioControl Epicenter that AudioControl designed. I was looking at the manuals for it and it was obvious by looking at the subsonic filter settings on the cheap on that they had no idea what they was doing and looking at the manuals the Soundstream was almost all copy and paste from the Audiocontrol (AudioControl manuals are very distinct in they way they are worded), even the technical specs was exactly the same besides them taking off made in the USA. I brought this to AudioControls attention and hopefully they will be able to do something about it.
most things are made in china, including many/most quality tools. the issue is quality control, retailerz in the US sometimes have to reject entire lots or pick amd chose good items out of various shipments. eventually the manufacturer will be forced to improve or the retailer will move on to another manufacturer. imo there are two main reasons we get cheap chinese junk, 1st is places like harbor freight who buy cheap lots with little concern for quality. second is that even when good design is used and quality demanded the labor model in china rejects automation in favor of large labor forces. this allows for a greater variation unit to unit.
I bought that drill 6yrs ago and still use it often. The only problem I've had with it is the cord shorted near the handle and I never wrapped it up the way you do. I has been a great drill.
The 4 1/2 Drillmaster angle grinder is one of my favorite tools. I have abused it for years and it performs great. It can be operated with one hand to cut stone or brick (with a diamond blade sold separately). $15 and if it ever falls apart I will get a new one. Hopefully for $15. I love it.
I think I have that very vice in my shop! Worked it very hard for 20+ years, never had any problems with the swivel or jaws, but did have to replace the screws holding the 'teeth' of the jaws in place. Was worth every penny. Maybe they have changed over time, or from a different manufacturer?
Agreed on everything but the 7in grinder. That looks exactly like what I use for high speed buffing auto paint. Its actually a really nice unit and has features that are found on really high end buffers. The "weirdness" your talking about is due to a feature that will disengage the drive mechanism if you move the head away from your work surface or something like that, a feature usually found on higher end buffers. I got the one with variable speed for buffing paint. I could see it not working very well for grinding though.
I purchased the vice and the 4 inch grinder for every once in a while use. They worked and they still work. What do you expect for a few dollars? a quality tool. I;m a wood turner and I own a $2000 lathe. When I need a quality tool I spend the money. I will buy from Harbor Freight when I need a tool once.If it still works after that I am ahead of the game.
I have had the 4.5" angle grinder you mentioned for years, still works great. Used flapper discs, cutt-off wheels and grinding wheels with it and use it fairly frequently. Perhaps they were made differently around 2010? I do, however, perform maintenance on all my power tools bi-annually, so that could be a factor.
I broke one of those vices the first day. I'm a professional mechanic with my own shop and it's a love/hate relationship. I see people worship their floor jacks, they can have the 2 dead ones out back for free. One lasted a year, the other 3 months. Best tool they have is their retractable hose reels. I have one of their gantry cranes out back. Customer bought it for me to use for one thing, lifting the body off a 1964 Corvette when I restore the frame/chassis. I use it all the time for pulling engines, truck beds. At a $1,000 it was a pretty good tip on a job. It was a fun job, too. Got a good chunk of change for stripping a frame completely down, getting it sand blasted/powder coated, then putting it back together with everything new, every nut and bolt...
I have wrenches and ratchets, full socket sets regular and deep well, metric and standard...all 6 point...been using them for about 9 years.... no issues, I use them with a breaker bar, torque wrench, both of which also came from harbor freight...I have stood and bounced on the breaker bar while removing lug nuts..the bar and socket held up just fine, I did mess up once and used a socket with an electric impact trying to get some flange bolts off of an exhaust and broke the socket... but it had a lifetime warranty, Harbor freight gave me a whole new set of sockets.
I tried the screw extractors from HF and they worked great. Can't remember the price but the set at Sears was more than quadruple the cost. They worked okay for me, but they're those kind of tools that you rarely need.
I have the $14.99 grinder from harbor freight. I bought it 2 years ago, and it is my go to grinder cause it's $14.99. Surprisingly it has never let me down and never failed in any way. The only part of the whole package that was garbage was the pins on the spanner wrench used to change disks
I've read lots of reviews on the HF chain sharpener for chain saws. Most of the reviews were bad. Most of them said after the 3rd or 4th chain the bearings would go out or the plastic housing would melt. I have 3 saws, my son-in-law has 4 and we have a few spare chains for each and the chain sharpener I got from HF 7 years ago.... still going strong and haven't had to change the stone yet. Most people don't know how to sharpen a chain and they burn the sharpener up. You're not grinding down a weld to make it smooth. You only need to take a little off the tooth to make it sharp.
Another item I bought and returned multiple times is any of their rotary tools. Either the clap that holds the bits in would break in the tool, or the lock that you hold down while loosening or tightening holder for the bits would break.
I have the 4.5" angle grinder. I like it because it's cheap and it works. I don't do much with it, but it works. I wouldn't own it/use it in a shop of any sort, but here at home cutting rusted exhaust or body panels, it works.
On the flip side, I bought a Chicago Electric oscillating tool second hand at a rummage sale and have beat the hell out of it for >40 hours of use and it still runs perfectly.
I have real good luck with the sockets wrench's and of course the ratchet. I have had then for about 8 years now and all still work. I have also bought one of the trailers that you put together. it also is still going strong. like others have said there is junk there. they also have had some tools that I was not able to find elsewhere to do carb work on a tractor
I've been in the tile business for over 30 years. I've had at least 6 full size wet saws, mk's, felkers, targets, you name it, I've either owned 'em or used 'em. In 2006 I worked a big job on the gulf coast after Katrina hit. We needed another saw so the super brought a harbor freight $250 special with the stand and everything. I said "harbor freight? Are you nuts?" Boy was I wrong. I used that thing practically all day, every day for 6 months and loved it. I made up my mind that the next time I was in the market for a saw I was getting a harbor freight. The saw is a 10" saw, not 7. It'll cut bricks and blocks. You can pull a pin and use the head like a chop saw! The rails for the tray are adjustable in case your cuts don't line up square with the blade. You can rip plank tiles. You can make plunge cuts. It's a 2.5 go motor. I've used for a couple of years now and the only thing I've had to do is buy blades because everybody uses porcelain. I paid less than $300 for it and I only have 2 complaints: 1- It's HEAVY! 2- It comes with a cheap pump. I HIGHLY recommend this item! (At least that's my experience).
I never expect longevity from HF products but have lucked into some items that have paid off from there, surprisingly enough the vice has lasted 5 years so far and it's used weekly, tho I never hammer things on it, that may be asking a little much from the vice, good video.
The drill and angle grinders are not too bad. I left them in the rain/sun for months...still good for small job. The #6 is the Aluminum 1,5 Ton Floor Jack. The rear swivel wheel broke under stress and I was nearly hurt/killed!
"WV591" Right on the money. No pun intended. I bought five 4" angle grinders at 11.99 on super sale, one red, one blue and three orange, figuring I could just replace one as they fail for that price, and the blue one failed out of the box,(smoked, and replaced) the rest I've use hard and put up wet, and they still work six years later. Only took the others out of the box because I found having a bunch of different wheels on them ready to use helped save lots of time. I've had hit and miss results from HF, but all in all, it is still the best thing going for price if you're not Bill Gates.
You know... I got a few things from harbor freight. One thing I noticed. I have a Dremel and wanted a kit with lots of attachments. I have Dremel brand attachments, but I was looking for a cheap kit that had the most accessories in one buy. I actually went to mernards and found an accessory kit for rotary tools there for only 9.99. This was mernards off brand called "Tool shop". I purchased this kit. A few days later I was in Harbor freight and I noticed that exact same kit I purchased at mernards. It was litterally the exact same, all the same accessories, the same storage box as came with the mernards brand. The only difference, was the plastic accessory box was blue with harbor freight brand on it and the one from mernards was red. It was the exact same kit I purchased at mernards for 9.99. Harbor freight was selling the same kit by the same manufacturer with a different company label for 19.99 Point is, harbor freight isn't always the least expensive. I been looking for a bench grinder and couldn't even find them in the store. Maybe the website but not the store. Rural King in my area has an off brand called "Tool shed" They had a 6" 2.1 amp DUAL WORK LIGHT bench grinder for only 29.99. I haven't seen a bench grinder that inexpensive that INCLUDED TWO WORK LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES. only issue, it's taking me almost 2 hours to figure out how to mount the spark sheild and tool rest. The grinder is super quiet and will be perfect for my needs. I just don't think I have enough holes in the wheel gaurds to mount these sheilds and rest properly.
I had the black grinder the one mentioned for 5 years and still works. lots of battle damage and abuse from me. the only thing that failed was electric cord so I replaced it with a heavy duty extention cord that I don't use anymore.
Thanks for the info! I've had good luck with the small angle grinder so far but maybe I've just been lucky. I know a lot of their stuff is hit or miss as far as quality goes. I love the explosions!
Ive had that extractor set for years and have used it many times with no issues! i also have belt sanders and other power tools from HF that have been great! Just be careful about what you get some tools are great and some not so much!
I don't like Harbor Freight Tools, but the black angle grinder is actually really good. I've been using mine for almost 2 years, and it's still runs really strong. Never had a problem, it even went under the flood waters during Harvey. It still works great. I'm a welder, I do a lot of grinding.
I found buying the more expensive of 2 or 3 of the same item, generally works pretty good at HF. I have the most expensive reciprocating saw of 3 and it's still working after 6 years of heavy use cutting thick wood and steel.
I own the angle grinder. Not much power but it works OK for the price. Bought a smaller 4" vice. Used it a couple of times. Good so far. How about something positive. What Harbor Freight items do you like?
Great video... straight to the point.no long drawn out intro.no yip yap.no bashing jus personal honest opinion..wish I would have seen before buying the Chicago drill.crappy..only good for assembling Ikea furniture
Thanks for the warning/reviews. I would add their tap and die set. I don't have the item number, but I tried it and thought I was an idiot because it never worked. I hadn't used a tap and die set before so I assumed it was my lack of skill until I got an Irwin brand set. That set worked as I expected and allowed me to repair an expensive device that had a stripped threaded hole. When I tried the HF set again it still failed.
I have the 6in vise and has held up almost 2 years now with bending things and beating and drilling as well. Not a Wilton but I haven't had any issues at all with it with a decent amount of abuse.
i have had great success with my cheap grinder. With the 20% off coupon, its a throw away. My last one, i used for a year, cutting c - channel, flat,angle, you name it. Either cleaning, or cutting, or grinding, it held up under some real abuse. Last one lasting about a year, I more than got my money's worth out of it. going thru package after package of cutting blades, i can't count the number of blades i have gone thru. i have built large heave pull trailers using 1/4" steel, using it on multiple projects, and rebuilding my old 1980 White semi. Yes, it finally crapped out on me, so i went and purchased another one. Just pulled off the guard, put on a cutting blade, and started working on my new project, a home made saw mill.
The screw extractors are excellent. I use them All the time in my auto repair shop. One must remember that Harbor Freight is a tool store that provides home owners, who occasionally needs different types of tools for the once in awhile repair or project, at an affordable price. If you are going to be constantly using a tool, then buy their higher end tools.
I own the 60625 model drill master angle grinder and it actually is worth everybpenny in my opinion. Their is a tear down video on this grinder and the internal components on the 60625 are of a much higher quality all across the board, than the other. Also, I own the 7" grinder as well, and it does in fact work just fine for what it is. I didnt pay 40$ for the 7" grinder, expecting it to be of german quality such as milwaukee when I opened the box. I knew what it was when I bought it, and it has served quite well for the money that was spent on it. Huge tip though, every one of my grinder from HF, the drill masterb60625, the 7", and the hercules 7amp grinder were all disassembled before first use. I cleaned out all crap grease in the gear cases and repacked all of them with quality castrol MOLY grease amd like I said every one of mu grinders perform flawlessly. I beat the hell oit of all of em too
The 4 inch grinder . I bought 2 of them thinking if it worked a couple hours it paid for itself. I have worn out several non HF real wire brushes with the same one I started with. When it quits in the trash it will go & I grab the 2nd one.
I bought two grinders from them and both are hardwired inside that cause the rpms to run faster than normally and this will sling the internal gears completely out of the grinder. It burns up in other words due to the voltage input.
i can verify the vice is weak. i was just tightening the axle shaft on my chevy power steering pump. the pump worked but the vice snapped a jaw and was hollow as well. another fail from hf is their inverters. just guessing but the watt rating was not what it was rating and it fried. great analysis.
I have that cheap drill and it's great for polishing the finish on aluminum using HB polishing ends and compound. It's a higher speed than most/a lot of drills. I've also used it on several thousand wood and drywall screws. It's over 15 years old and still working great. The only tool I'd be leery of is the vice, even though I have HB's cheaper/smaller one that's been great. My pretty young neighbor has/had the vice in the video. He was doing Ujoints and put a cheater over the handle. I told him that it wasn't a good idea on a cheap quality vice. 2 minutes later and the sliding shaft was in 2 pieces. There was at least 2-3 different shades of cast iron at the broken part. There is no such thing as good Chinese or Asian metal. If you want a quality vice that can be abused, it's best to buy German or U.S made. Not sure I would want those EZouts either.
Had 2 of their drills, both worked well...for a while. They have very cheap plastic gearing in the trigger that failed on both of them rather quickly. Moters were stuck in the on position at all times after that (I was lucky there). Never again, used the cord off one as a replacement for an much older metal frame drill that belonged to my wife's dad. So not a total loss, their tools are designed to do one job before failing, as long as you treat em as throw away they sort of work.
I did auto body work for 33 years. Own a Sioux panel cutter/air chisel that I got used that is over 50 years old. Great tool. Bought a Snap-on air ratchet for $90 with a 90 day guarantee. After 6 months, it broke. I threw it away and bought a $20 air ratchet from Harbor Freight that lasted over a year or more. When it no longer worked, I bought another one, and another. Another great buy from Harbor Freight. 4 HF tools for less than the price of one Snap-on, and they last longer.
That's the point I've been trying to make here; if you don't expect much from these tools, you're generally not too unhappy when an inexpensive tool gives out and you don't have to spend a lot to replace it with a tool that will do the job well enough. Too many people are arguing that HF tools need to last as long as name-brand because they were purchased in a store just like name-brand. If HF did not enjoy mostly successful sales they would go under.
i built the angle grinder into a fixture to grind a long taper on some 1/8 steel by 1" by, 14" long. I have ground for hours with that grinder and have had no problems. It is being used in one position so this isn't a true test but I am happy camper at the price.
I'll tell you what is pretty good and that's the portland 14" electric chainsaw. Swap out the chain that came with it for a replacement Oregon S52 with 4 cutters to the 3 that the saw came with and it kicks ass. Much better performance than expected for $ 40 on sale.
You can add and add to this list. My rack of standard combination wrenches were a little off (not a good fit when compared against Craftsman and Husky tools of same sizes, too likely to round a nut or bolt); my rack of metrics were just wrong altogether! That was almost a year ago. I have bought one item from Harbor Freight since, and I'm only pleased with it because I modified it to be useful.The lesson: MOST Harbor Freight items are not worth buying.
I bought the $139.00 shallow well pump and got the extended warranty on it wich I never needed. The thing was still pumping after three years or more as a lawn sprinkler. As far as I know it still is as we sold the house.
I dunno..I have the small grinder and have ground the crap out of stuff with it and it still works ok. The little wheel stop for changing wheels fell out so I use a screwdriver to change wheels now, but it'll cut angle iron all day long. I have found that with most stuff they sell with electric motors attached to belts the motors themselves are usually worth more than the actual piece of equipment itself. I bought a $50 sander just for the $80 motor. The rest of it is decorating the inside of a box in the garage somewhere.
Let me add the 6" digital caliper to this list. I understand these items are not the top of the line but they should work for a while anyway. Other items I bought there are good to go. Thanks for the heads up on the vise.
I have the smaller version of that vise. So far so good after a year. It hasnt seen a large portion of work. But it has has some pounding and wrenching done for sure.
The only tool he had up there that I've used is the 4.5 inch angle grinder. I love it. I've used it many times over they few years I've had it. I've had no problems using it.
I love the 4 1/2" grinder. For occasional use its great. You cant beat the price. When it burns out and it will I will buy another, still cheaper than a high end one.
The stud extractor does work.Drill a small hole, then larger hole, this will releave the pressure in the work piece. The other things you don't buy at harber freight, are life jackets, parachutes, fire extinguishers, and condoms.
why not condoms? I think even Trojans are made in China
+Kirk S Because if they fail the "return policy" does not include anything made when the item failed. All the other items, when the fail, your left without something made; a drill fails your left without a hole. A condom fails, you might finish the project you were trying to not create.
+Kirk S They're recaps.
+phillip krywosa The U.S. military has lately began buying heavily from China. So, look out.
Who needs the jobs anyway.
+yopagedotcom can we get any more dependent???? We can't even manufacture the circuit board that goes in air force one.... the plane used form the president has Chinese parts. I
I think most are missing the point with HF tools, it allows someone to do a job they may have not been able because they couldn't afford the high priced tool that they may only use once, I have a cabinet full of Snap On and other "name brand" tools but still have a bunch of HF power tools also, in fact I should do a video on how good some are FOR THE PRICE.
+Terry Graves Plus if you can buy a cheap tool and it works, then you save a bunch of money. If it breaks, take it back and THEN go buy the expensive counterpart. I have a HF miter saw that I put a good blade on and it has served me very well for ten years now.
+Terry Graves This is spot on. I am a lawn care pro, if HF tools sold mowers, I would not buy one, or a trimmer, or a blower, or a spreader. All my lawn care tools are pro grade, and they cost a small fortune, but last for thousands of hours of use. HF tools is ideal for the occasional use tool for the weekend welder/mechanic/wood worker.
+Terry Graves They also come in handy for the times someone asks to borrow a tool.
+Josh V
Congratulations you've now supported the shitty companies to keep producing shitty quality products and spend more money then needed because you still bought the good product.
Oh noes I feel so bad... no wait, I don't. I think you missed the point. That happens SOMETIMES, but most of the time the HF product works just fine. I think I have done this for maybe three or four tools. A wire stripper, a set of crescent wrenches, and brake compressor.
HF is great for someone starting off, they do not need insanely overly-engineered, commercial grade stuff.
Using my strategy I have probably saved thousands of dollars. Tens of thousands if were talking Festool.
I treat Harbor Freight tools as consumables. For the price, you use them as long as you can and toss them if they break. I have 4 of their red angle grinders with a different wheel on each one. Saves time and they haven"t let me down yet.
Those grinders aren't rated for continuous duty. You gotta have two, at least, and switch when they get too hot to run.
+Russ G repack the gears with high quality grease. Reduces heat up over time and really quiets them down.
Bob Humphries - That's smart. Kinda like Einstein with 7 of the same suit.No wasted time just grab one
My spindle lock broke, so I had to put a sanding wheel on it, (you can hold the wheel and tighten it), and not use it for anything else. And, bought a different cheap brand for all the other attachments.
that's the best way to go. you lessen wear and extend the life of all of them.
Wow! What an amazing variety of comments.
It is always helpful to hear the pros and cons of various tools by actual users.
As with any tool store, sometimes it is luck of the draw since perfection is not to be found anywhere. I have purchased both good tools and bad ones at EVERY place I have shopped for tools.
A sixth item I would add to this list is the Central Pneumatic 16 gauge finish nailer,(69575;68023). It failed on the job almost immediately. Took it back and exchanged it and the replacement failed almost immediately as well.
Conversely, the same brand 18 gauge finish nailed has worked flawlessly.
Ultimately replaced the 16 gauge with the Campbell/Hausfeld version which has worked flawlessly for about a third of the price.
I don't have the budget to buy all high end tools, so until I do, reviews by actual users are always appreciated.
I have several of the $10 HF 4.5" grinders and they have been great for several years. One has a sanding disc on it, one has a wire brush, one has a cutoff wheel on it, etc. Saves me from having to stop and change out the discs.
The key is never let the little motor get hot. Actually the same is true of the DeWalt version too. The DeWalt version has (or did have) plastic motor brush holders that either melt or distort if they get too hot. Its why i don't loan these grinders out.
FWIW I had a Ryobi 4.5" grinder give a heroic day's work back in the 90s cutting bricks before it died a hot, smelly death too.
I have also seen someone get a DeWalt so hot that the windings short out and suddenly you have a grinder with 70% of the power it originally had. Might as well get whatever miles you can get out of it as a very light duty grinder b/c it has diminished power.
I suspect the same would be true of the HF 4.5" grinder.
If I used these tools for hours multiple times per week I'd own the best tools available. For my hobby garage shop where I have the time to go slow and make the most of my cheap tools - these tools last a long, long time.
If I buy a cheap tool and its junk right out of the box, I'll ask for my money back. If I buy a cheap tool and feel that I can't get my money's worth, then I upgrade rather than buy a cheap tool over and over.
If you make a living using an angle grinder, get the $150 ones. If you use an angle grinder twice a year, get the Harbor Freight $15 one.
Bill White exactly
Very true I mean think about this a minute people if you think your going to get snap on quality tools for dollar store prices your kidding yourself or you should not be buying tools! The rule of thumb that my best friend and I have about Harbor Freight is 2 questions
1. How much are we going to be using this tool? Everyday all the time, once a month, once a year?
2. How much TORQUE (the real test of any tool) are you going to be putting on it?
1. If it is a tool your not going to use very often but you need it to get a job done one time who care? HF tools mostly have a warranty and it come down to are you using it for home or work (commercial stuff). If it is just hope and you use it once it awhile HF is probably fine.
2. How much TORQUE this is big one for me as I will not buy ANY HF channel locks! I had a pair I was doing something with and the locking part slipped the handles came crashing together with my finger caught between the handles. Needless to say this tool went FLYING! I get very angry when a tool fails and I get hurt from it. If it fails and I don't get hurt normally no big deal I buy only lifetime warranty but when I get hurt like most guy I turn into the Hu only not green.
Remember guys what your buying your tools for my best friend is a 40 year mechanic and I have quite a few years myself so when we talk about tools especially my best friend I am talking about he has bought about every brand tool out there and could tell you why some are better than other. So good luck and think before you buy.
Uh, the $20 one works good. Spend the extra 5 bucks.
or choose the sane middle ground and get a $50 major brand angle grinder then when you use it twice a year, it will last 30+ years.
I agree you are exactly right
HF tools are not for contractors or industrial use. They are for people who aren't going to use the tool a lot and don't want to pay dewalt prices for it.
the angle grinder is the same one he's talking about I had for 2 years and still going strong
the 4 1/2 inch one
I have the 4 1/2" grinder and after about 20 hrs. of tough grinding it's still going. The bad thing about this grinder is the switch instead of a trigger. If the grinder hangs on a piece of metal it has the torque to pull the grinder from your hand while it runs on. You may lose some digits if not careful.
I've had mine for 3 or 4 years, use it constantly, it works just fin.
They are good to start out with
I've had the black 4.5" angle grinder since 2011 and I use the crap out of it when I am grinding down welds, the smart owner strips it down and removes what the Chinese call the grease(lack thereof) and lubes it with suitable grease for quiet reliable operation. The only negative is it gets hot so you gotta wear gloves when using itfor extended times. I almost thru it out before watching a video on YT about the lack of lubrication in the gear case. After that I took the other grinders apart and lubed them as well. I alternate between a Dewalt and Makita each having a different wheel/grit disc on it. White finger is very common with cheap grinders, need something that absorbs the vibration, or take breaks very often.
I've had two of those 4 1/2" angle grinders, they've both worked fine for me. And before you say anything, the only reason I've had two is because I moved across the country and gave the first one to my brother. I've cut thick steel pipe, ground down the same pipe to thin the outer diameter, cut, sanded, all of that. It's gotten plenty of use so far without issue.
I've used the black Drill Master 4.5" grinder for everything from stripping/sanding to cutting suspension parts to dressing welds. Never let me down.
The screw extractor set worked for removing some age-welded, broken exhaust studs from a nickel-iron manifold. A bit touchy about hole depth & finish, but not terrible for the price.
My current work tools as an electrician are a mix of Milwaukee, Makita, Dewalt, Hitachi, & various Harbor Freight "brands" like Pittsburgh & Chicago Electric. My previous tools as a mechanic ranged from HF to Snap-on & SK.
I've actually never had a Harbor Freight tool fail on me - but I know what to look for, am willing to spend the time in-store sifting their stock to find it, & understand the limits of the tools. Their 18V cordless drills will never match even my Makita/Hitachi 12V drills, but they're neither intended nor rated to. Their drill bits are no match for my Milwaukee or Bosch bits but again, they're not intended to be - they're 1/3 the price or less & best for crap jobs where you EXPECT to destroy the bits.
Their 180A welder lays some very nice beads - once you get some decent wire in it & set the feed tension properly. The Drill Master cordless drill, goes on sale for $15-20, makes a great household drill. I've put together a couple of walls with one (yes, nails, but she insisted on screws . . .), no problems.
I think the biggest reason not to get any of those tools is that they appear to suddenly explode, even when not in use.
www.shutterstock.com/search/exploding+head
It's the disposable tool store. If you know that going in, its no problem.
Take this video with a grain of salt. I own some of the items shown and they have been perfectly fine. Is it all high-end professional grade stuff? No. Will it do the job for most of us at a crazy low price? Yes.
That is what Harbor Freight is all about affordable tools for the DIY'er.
Can't use the words "high-end" or "professional" when talking about HF
Dude, Theirs use, And then there's abuse
I've had a good experience with my 4" HF angle grinder. I don't use it very often, but no problems whenever I pull it out of the box.
I've had one for years, beat the crap out of it, and it just keeps going.
I bought the DrillMaster Angle grinder for $9.99 , grinded 5 houses down to bare wood before it died out. can't beat that price the grinder is one of the best grinders I've ever used.
I have one of the older 4" grinder an (orange one) for about ten years and it's still kicking.
I have one of the old orange ones too, still runs fine.
used mine for 6 or so years before needing to switch to the spare brushes.
My orange one has outlasted two Dewalts in the shop. I certainly wan't expecting that.
i have one of the 4.5 grinders just like the one you gave an image of and ive used it hard several times . vibrates a tad more then id like but it works real well . cut atruck frame up with it . did 2 sets of ranger rear spring shackles and a set of f250 front spring brackets and several other grind and keep grinding things with it ... never failed in the 3+ years ive had it a real 12.99 value
most of the"burned out" units are the result of abuse by people who dont know how to use the tools
When you shop at Harbor Freight Tools you've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky?
its not luck but practical experience that tells you which tools to avoid. open the box, hold it in your hand, you just know.
+batvette Actually, luck really does have a lot to do with it, and anyone with experience would know that HF dependability becomes more dodgy as complexity rises. I bought a very solid feeling SDS hammer drill for a great price, and the first time I used it the drill-only mechanism failed. Since I got it for its SDS drill-impact use, I wasn't bent, but a function failed as soon as I used it. If this had been a $300+ Bosch device I would had had a fit, but I think I paid maybe $25 for this thing and had the quality expectation to go with it.
+Bob G LOL, I had that Bosch SDS max hammer drill you're thinking about for a few years, the one sold at home depot for $328 I think. Bought the Bosch chuck for $56 and a couple of their concrete bits for about $20 each. Amazing how fast that drilled concrete floors, once you made a dimple you just put one finger on it and watch it drill its way to hell. One of the best tools I ever owned but for straight drilling it struggled, hardly any torque to it. When my jobs began to not involve concrete drilling I bought a milwaukee 1/2" magnum when they were us made, for about $120. It'll twist your arm off.
+batvette I rented one for a job and was amazed at how quickly it cut a perfect hole into concrete. It was one of those "Oh, mama" moments and I had to get one, but sticker shock made me wish instead of do. I later got the HF SDS drill and some good bits and was very pleased, even without the drill-only option. I do like HF five-pack work gloves, and a lot of their storage stuff, etc., because they are as good as any other brand for waaaay less $, but I always lower my expectations with anything more complicated from HF. Don't get me wrong, a $12 HF rivet gun is just as good as a $30 Craftsman rivet gun, but I don't don't froth and kick things when the HF tool breaks. Right now I'm considering a $9 HF punch kit vs a $25 OSH punch kit for a pistol trigger job. The HF kit will probably be worth it if I'm gentle with it and don't expect more than one or two uses. Some will hate me for thinking like that, and I'm not so sure they'd be wrong.
lmao. I scam out JUNK every time I ride by a Harbor Freight.
HF tools are not meant to be used in a pro shop or construction site environment all day. buying these tools for ridiculous price and expecting Dewalt or Bosch performance or longevity is more than unrealistic.
You got that right. I`ve had trouble with tools I brought either locally or from their warehouse located in Camarillo, CA., from line wrenches that slip to pry bars that have too much "give". The only really good item I`ve purchased from them was a C.P. 10-gallon air compressor for occasional use in my garage. IMO, Northern Tool has much better products.
Yeah true, HF stuff for the most part is cheeap, chinease junk with the occasional usefull tool. You always get what you pay for and when you pay very little , you get just that. When you get tired of throwing your money away , then you save up and buy a reliable name brand tool, Rigid is one of my favorites.
Ive had many of their tools out perform bosch and dewalt so dont be thinking higher cost makes something better.
Rigid is discount store name brand dude, made in taiwan...
+R.J. MacReady Russia is great at some things, driving.... not so much, have you ever watched any bad driving videos? mostly Russian plates on the cars, they suck at driving lol..
I actually purchased that very drill for $9.99 and used it to help build a parade float. We used it to drive 8 inch screws into 4x4's and 2x4's for framing. It would sink the screw a quarter inch into the wood !! That was five years ago. It was plenty powerful and I still have it. It works great !
I have at least 4 of the 4.5 black grinders and I have used them hard. You can not beat the price for what they do. I did have to repair a cord but in general I have no complaints
The old adage; "You get what you pay for". A $9.99 drill, a $14.99 angle grinder, seriously what did you expect for the little money you paid ?
true.
+Joseph M
But he clearly said.. the $22 grinder DID hold up... that was the point. Some of the stuff it TOTAL crap, and will break even with light use.. Some of the stuff is perfectly fine for your average light duty regular home use.
kens97sto171 : Certain items do last as you stated, however, a $9.99 drill you can't expect
much.
+Joseph M Bought a $19.00 orange body 3/8" hammer drill from HB. Drilled two holes and the brush mounts melted out of the motor. I went to a garage sale and bought a 20 year old Milwaukee 3/8" hammer drill for $10.00. That was 2 years ago. I have drilled dozens of 5/8 dia holes in a poured concrete floor. We were rebuilding my son's garage and needed to set anchors through the sill plate into the floor.
Good for you, Milwaukee brand is a dandy, should last for many yeas to come.
Sometimes yard sales pay off.
Haha I can't believe a harbor freight bashing video actually exist! This is like going to a dollar store and talking trash about the cologne. There isn't a single item that is high quality. You either buy something here for one time use or you are too cheap to buy quality. There has never been a single item that has let me down. $15 for a grinder that I used to clean rust off of a half ton diff to be painted not to mention the calipers, shocks and frame.
I wouldn't trust the electric tools if you're a contractor. But simple products like ratchet straps, bungee cords, vinyl gloves. They are a good deal. Also if your a weekend mechanic alot of the "specialty tools" like gear pullers, vices, Irwin style clamps, generic vice grips ect all have worked amazing. Also the various packs of hardware in those plastic bins is a amazing deal! They do offer a cheap warranty on all their tools. Probably had 300 hours on a orbital air sander. I blew it up on my fault didn't oil it correctly. Had it replaced the next day.
+Sundown798 I'm a weekend warrior. I Used that grinder to prep a Ford 9 inch to sell. I love the ball joint puller they have. and all the electrical terminals and heat shrink they have. I buy the electric grease packets and squirt a dab in before I heat up the shrink. The engine stand, cherry picker and 1 ton Jacks have worked flawlessly since 2000.
+Sundown798 I got my composite orbital sander there for like $35 and it runs just as good as my $100 IR orbital sander, my HF sander actually even has a built in air regulator which my $100 IR sander does not have.
My son bought a bench grinder there. It was so weak you could stop it with your bare fingers. Most HF stuff works OK at least a few times but they do sell some stuff that is worthless right out of the box. Made for decorating your garage I guess.
A Baller My friends a high end finish carpenter. Has Festool everything. Great tools of course. He needs to depend every day on them. Only thing he complains about is the expensive metric size blades. HF is like a box of chocolates. You never know when you get a bad one lol.
On the other hand, when you only spend 9.95 or whatever, why would you complain about the quality?
I have asked that same question many times, however, no one will honestly answer me. I also would like to understand how the individual wants a lower price tool to operate like a DeWalt or other high end brands. When the tool is not as precise as the DeWalt, they then do a YT video and complain, and trash the item. Big production and precision call for higher-end tools---then make the financial investment. Hobbyist work does not always have the same exacting requirements as industrial and large scale workshops. So where is the logic in complaining after the fact? I am a newbie, week-end wood hobbyist, and after giving serious thought to what I wanted to make, HF affords me opportunity to really come to terms with my new hobby without having to take out a bank loan to purchase some of the initial tools. I was beginning to believe that woodworking was only for those with large financial resources--$500 scroll saw; $500 Table saw - $200 benchtop drill press, $400 router table, $300 miter saw/stand and another $300-600+ for blades and dust system, $250 bits & keyless drill chuck - we're talking about $2,550+ to set up shop. Not all of us can afford that initial investment! Once we learn the limitation on a HF tool (before purchasing), then go for it with understanding.
ive had and used the black 4 1/2in angle grinder for 3 years now. and not a once in awhile use, I use it to cut/grind when fabbing up custom prerunner bumpers/roll cages/ and even 1/4in plate steel. its been accidentally ran over by my truck and still works perfect. maybe i got lucky, but I have massive respect for harbor frieght regardless of what anyone else says.
my most used tool in my customs shop is my earthquake XT impact and its incredible, I have quite a few harbor frieght tools and equipment in my shop and have never had any huge issues with them.
I will say the 3/8s reversable drill in this video is pretty crappy, but for the price I bought 3 and in the past 4 years 2 gave out. so im still 30 bucks in for making thousands in the shop with them. still worth it.
My son bought me a telescoping handle garden lopper for Father's Day that is pretty much useless. It is designed to lock the handle in place after extending the handle by tightening the handle to keep it in place. The handle won't stay locked in place no matter hard you attempt you attempt to tighten it. I'd be reluctant to buy any tools there in the future.
dont buy a 20 dollar drill n expect it to work like a 80 dollar dwalt or kobalt simple as that
Well, like my mama used to tell me: "You get what you pay for".
Exactly. Generally speaking, the more you're going to use the tool, the more you should probably be paying for it.
and no tool is stupid proof.... get the right tool for the job and use it RIGHT...
Garry Koalman One of the strangest pieces of dating advice she ever told me...
Yea but their hand tools have a lifetime guarantee!:)
theaberrantdon when I was in HS my dad told me "be nice to the fat girls because later on some will get skinny and remember who was and who wasn't a jerk to them." he was right. *swish!* lol
Only five?
More like 5000
LOL
My rule for HF is: "Don't buy anything with moving parts!"
Rick Dunaway Craftsman too! They make their own hand tools but everything else is chinese!
+dosmastrify Craftsman doesn't make their own tools. Their is no Craftsman manufacturing plant, just a name brand. They contract out to certain specs and sell at an appropriate price point with their warrantee because they know the tools meet specs. I was trying to buy a Craftsman power saw and was frustrated that the store couldn't get it in when they promised, then the store manager offered me the more expensive Skilsaw at the same price and he showed me they were made by the same company. The reason some Craftsman tools are better than other brands, and vice-verse, is specs. The fact that some Chinese tools are better than others is simply that distributors are willing to spend a little more for a tool with better quality, even if two different quality tools are made in the same factory.
My dad's 3/8" electric drill was purchased used back in 1939 for $1.00 and used in welding shop, farming, and many other places. I have replaced the chuck, bearings and brushes. The cord would last about 5 years, dad would pull on the cord to unplug or drag drill to him. Right now I can't recall the brand name, but they were brought by B&D in the late 30's.
I have that exact 4in angle grinder that I have used, sometimes pretty hard, and never had any problems. Sometimes when cutting thicker metal with the new Lenox carbide metal blade it can bog down but it gets thru the material. I have disassembled and cleaned and greased it twice.
buy USA tools. Where? They don´t make it anymore!
magicguitarpedal Ridgid wood working tools are assembled in Ohio, I don't know what parts may be made here. All of the plumbing tools are still made there I believe. They still have their own machine shop
You are correct,if it says assembled in the USA it will also say "with global components", which means the parts are made in China but assembled in America,so sadly not much is 100% made here anymore, the way I see it,if all the components are made in China, it's a Chinese product,which is not always bad as long as a company has good quality control for their products.I own Milwaukee, DeWalt, Ingersoll Rand, Makita,etc. They're all great!
magicguitarpedal snap on does alot of co. Still do some husky hill t is
magicguitarpedal most of the time technical items are made here in the US and ship to China for cheap labor assembly . Like the iPhone has more parts from Germany than any other country . Most companies ship all the parts to China to be assembled and then get shipped back to where they're going to be sold. Any tool over 10 lb is going to be made in America because it's too heavy to ship it from China
About half of DeWalt tools are made in USA now. I think it's happening more and more in the last couple of years
Quit SUPPORTING China!
+Ken Doe- I would buy American if the prices weren't more often jacked up to cover the cost of inflated union salaries, benefits, and pensions. I used to work in a union shop so I'm well aware of the downside effect of labor unions on manufacturing cost. I got fed up with the company paying some snot-nose apprentice $4 more per hour to box and load equipment that I designed. Unions can go suck it! I'll buy American only if I can afford to...and far too often I can't.
+Ken Doe You are correct, and im not just shitting you I do work hard to buy USA made or USA owned "everything".
I just bought a $48 made in the USA flag over a China made one.... I'm not even sure I would cover one of my brothers or sisters (Military) in a Chinese made US Flag ..
I'm not going to even argue why I have bought tools from Harbor, other then the fact I really don't know any USA made Angle Grinders, and even more upsetting my CRAFTSMEN tools I use are no longer USA made...
Didn't figure that out till I noticed upon trading in a 3/8's ratchet that the holding ball had broken, that the "MADE IN THE USA" was missing from the handle.
I hate unions, they have been the ruin of so many of our nations industry..
+Tim Arnold I'd buy american if it was 10 times the price but where you going to find anything made in the USA?
+crusty old fart you might find stuff made in USA in China
+Ken Doe That's pretty much impossible. Just about everything is either made in China or they contain parts or materials that are made in China. Your computer, cellphone, TV, car, etc. are loaded with parts & materials that are made in China. And check your shoes, clothes, kitchen, bathroom, etc. I guarantee that you buy, use & enjoy Chinese made products on a daily basis. This isn't the 1960's anymore. Outsourcing began in the '70's and companies never looked back.
#6 microphones
This was shot on an old camera my son had received for Christmas years earlier. It has since been replaced. I am actually surprised it did so well for being a cheap kids' Kodak.
Just kidding, dude.
hahahahah
Did the cameras come from HF?
NoGufff damn it you beat me to it!
I use Milwaukee drills,
Hilti and Bosch hammer drills,
Metabo grinders, both 4 and 7".
Wilton table vices.
And I have had no trouble with any of these tools,
BUT...... I use them almost everyday and have to depend on them.
If you are a homeowner and use a tool once or twice a year, they do have some good prices...but don't expect them to last as long.
i have no issues with the chicago electric angle grinder. works excellently for 4 years and still going.
it can be a smart idea to pull a part the gearscsnd add grease
+crashandburnbirner Yeah that was the first thing I did to mine was change the grease after letting it run for a few minutes for initial break in, It made operation a lot quieter.
All2skitzd
My neighbor has the cheaper angle grinder. We've built a huge paver patio and cut a LOT of pavers with it. I also did a small walkway paver extension off my patio & used it. Still going strong!
I e had my Chicago electric angle grinder for about three years. I use it to profile/cut out my knife blanks. It’s gone through various high carbon steel (lawnmower blades, D2, 1095) and it’s still going strong. And guess what? When it eventually breaks, I’ll go right down to HF and fork over another 20 bucks for three plus years of use.
I don't buy anything from Harbor Freight that any job's success would hinge on.
If it were not for Harbor Freight I would not be able to have access to a lot of the tools I have. If you are a Hobby person like I am I for sure get my moneys worth from the tools I buy at HF. I can understand if you are a professional using these tools all day every day that is totally a different story.
I respect your input, sometimes you just buy what you can afford, it's better than doing without. Simple as that.
exactly, or if I'm gonna buy something I'm only gonna use once or twice I get it at HF, I ain't buying a hella expensive one from Matco so it can just collect dust in my toolbox after 1 use.
not reLly, when the tool simply doesnt work (like the extractors) you really are better off without.
Exactly. And DO spend some money for the BASIC tools: screwdrivers, wrenches, etc. Go to Sears and buy Craftsman tools when on sale (Black Friday). They have a lifetime guarantee. Some people go to garage sales and buy beat to shit Craftsman wrenches and pliers and drive right over to Sears and exchange them for new.
well what the hell do you want for a buck 295? a rrrrrrrrrubbbbeeerrrrrrrr buiscuit???
Thanks, Ellwood!
1skywrench
Mmm bow bow bowwww. Elwood Blues!
Things to not buy at harbor freight: everything
if you just need something for a one-time job you might be able to get by
That is so untrue. There are a lot of great values, from Harbor Freight. Especially for the occasional harry homeowner, diy guy. I have quite a few HF buys, that I've had for Better than 15 years, that are still going strong.
No, not even that long. I bought the "Heavy-Duty Hammer Drill" to bore a series of holes in concrete. I had already drilled 3/8" pilot holes and now had to drill them to 5/8". I got about 1/2" into the first hole and the drill started on fire. I ended up taking the chuck off the drill and putting on my smaller hammer drill and finishing the job with it.FYI, my smaller hammer drill is a 40 year old Milwaukee that has drilled thousands of holes in it's lifetime. I've replaced the brushes once.
Naw. I've had good luck with almost every hydraulic jack, press and porta-power I've bought there. Sockets and wrenches suck. If you're a pro mechanic, stay outa there.
+Buckarooskiczek I know plenty of professional mechanics who buy tools from hf and have 0 issues
I have the orange grinder and the power cord shorted within a the first couple uses. It was pinched and just burn up. I repaired that and have beat it up. I cut tile and concrete with it and the switch got stuck on but use compressed air to clear it and it still works. The same thing happened to the orange drill. the wire was pinched. The chuck slips on small bits but I usually use it for a screw gun. The motor some times smokes but I run it no load for a few and let it cool and it still is working. When I buy an electric tool I run them wide open for a few mins to break in. The oscillating tool I bought burned up very quick but returned for a new one and that is still working. The volt meters aren't that bad but the leads are shitty and the wire pulls out of the probe. all of the ones I have were the freebee type. The vises suck. The slide hammer set was crap the bearing jaws broke so easily.
I am a mobile generator tech. 5 years ago I bought a $9.99 4" angle grinder from HF. I have had others before like Dewalt, Makita ect. This grinder from HF I have used it and abused. I got it so hot that it wouldn't hardley turn. I let it cool down and back to work for this grinder. I even bought a spare to put in my truck for when if ever this grinder gives up on me. The spare is still in the box for the last 5 years. I use this grinder very heavily and it still is working! Love this grinder and I didn't have to sped $79.00 for it either!
Harbor Freight=made in China!
All the stuff made everywhere is from China.
+rdecredico I second that, but the thing most people don't realize that just because it is made in China that does not mean it's a chunk of shit. What happens is so many things that are made in China are from the very cheapest bidder that has a lot of competition leaving them with a very small profit to work with so operating cost have to be kept at minimum which naturally is going to come with trade offs such as quality and reliability (and comical translations on instructions).
Not to long ago I was looking at bass processors for car audio because a lot of people was saying that the Soundstream that is obviously a generic Chinese build house part and is sold by a lot of other companys was just as good as the American made AudioControl Epicenter that AudioControl designed. I was looking at the manuals for it and it was obvious by looking at the subsonic filter settings on the cheap on that they had no idea what they was doing and looking at the manuals the Soundstream was almost all copy and paste from the Audiocontrol (AudioControl manuals are very distinct in they way they are worded), even the technical specs was exactly the same besides them taking off made in the USA. I brought this to AudioControls attention and hopefully they will be able to do something about it.
cept all sstuff made everywhere in China is not equal. Atleast buy from a manufacturer that has "quality control".
most things are made in china, including many/most quality tools.
the issue is quality control, retailerz in the US sometimes have to reject entire lots or pick amd chose good items out of various shipments.
eventually the manufacturer will be forced to improve or the retailer will move on to another manufacturer.
imo there are two main reasons we get cheap chinese junk, 1st is places like harbor freight who buy cheap lots with little concern for quality. second is that even when good design is used and quality demanded the labor model in china rejects automation in favor of large labor forces. this allows for a greater variation unit to unit.
As most tools and stuff is these days, it's such a lame argument these days...
Who gives a rats ass about your opinion. We know you got fired from harbor freight
thank u
LoL
I bought that drill 6yrs ago and still use it often. The only problem I've had with it is the cord shorted near the handle and I never wrapped it up the way you do. I has been a great drill.
The 4 1/2 Drillmaster angle grinder is one of my favorite tools. I have abused it for years and it performs great. It can be operated with one hand to cut stone or brick (with a diamond blade sold separately). $15 and if it ever falls apart I will get a new one. Hopefully for $15. I love it.
Got three more with a $10 coupon a couple of months ago. Have not expectation that they are as durable as one selling for $30, but who cares?
I think I have that very vice in my shop! Worked it very hard for 20+ years, never had any problems with the swivel or jaws, but did have to replace the screws holding the 'teeth' of the jaws in place. Was worth every penny. Maybe they have changed over time, or from a different manufacturer?
I have had my orange grinder for over 10 years.
And the black one for 3-4 years.
I use both of them a lot and they both are still working well.
Agreed on everything but the 7in grinder. That looks exactly like what I use for high speed buffing auto paint. Its actually a really nice unit and has features that are found on really high end buffers. The "weirdness" your talking about is due to a feature that will disengage the drive mechanism if you move the head away from your work surface or something like that, a feature usually found on higher end buffers. I got the one with variable speed for buffing paint. I could see it not working very well for grinding though.
I purchased the vice and the 4 inch grinder for every once in a while use. They worked and they still work. What do you expect for a few dollars? a quality tool. I;m a wood turner and I own a $2000 lathe. When I need a quality tool I spend the money. I will buy from Harbor Freight when I need a tool once.If it still works after that I am ahead of the game.
I have had the 4.5" grinder for 4 years now and it's always been great. Obviously I am not a daily user of it but when I need it, it's there!
I have had the 4.5" angle grinder you mentioned for years, still works great. Used flapper discs, cutt-off wheels and grinding wheels with it and use it fairly frequently. Perhaps they were made differently around 2010? I do, however, perform maintenance on all my power tools bi-annually, so that could be a factor.
I broke one of those vices the first day. I'm a professional mechanic with my own shop and it's a love/hate relationship. I see people worship their floor jacks, they can have the 2 dead ones out back for free. One lasted a year, the other 3 months. Best tool they have is their retractable hose reels. I have one of their gantry cranes out back. Customer bought it for me to use for one thing, lifting the body off a 1964 Corvette when I restore the frame/chassis. I use it all the time for pulling engines, truck beds. At a $1,000 it was a pretty good tip on a job. It was a fun job, too. Got a good chunk of change for stripping a frame completely down, getting it sand blasted/powder coated, then putting it back together with everything new, every nut and bolt...
I have wrenches and ratchets, full socket sets regular and deep well, metric and standard...all 6 point...been using them for about 9 years.... no issues, I use them with a breaker bar, torque wrench, both of which also came from harbor freight...I have stood and bounced on the breaker bar while removing lug nuts..the bar and socket held up just fine, I did mess up once and used a socket with an electric impact trying to get some flange bolts off of an exhaust and broke the socket... but it had a lifetime warranty, Harbor freight gave me a whole new set of sockets.
I tried the screw extractors from HF and they worked great. Can't remember the price but the set at Sears was more than quadruple the cost. They worked okay for me, but they're those kind of tools that you rarely need.
I have the $14.99 grinder from harbor freight. I bought it 2 years ago, and it is my go to grinder cause it's $14.99. Surprisingly it has never let me down and never failed in any way. The only part of the whole package that was garbage was the pins on the spanner wrench used to change disks
I've had the 7" grinder for over a year and have used it for various jobs. It's worked fine for me.
I've read lots of reviews on the HF chain sharpener for chain saws. Most of the reviews were bad. Most of them said after the 3rd or 4th chain the bearings would go out or the plastic housing would melt. I have 3 saws, my son-in-law has 4 and we have a few spare chains for each and the chain sharpener I got from HF 7 years ago.... still going strong and haven't had to change the stone yet. Most people don't know how to sharpen a chain and they burn the sharpener up. You're not grinding down a weld to make it smooth. You only need to take a little off the tooth to make it sharp.
Another item I bought and returned multiple times is any of their rotary tools. Either the clap that holds the bits in would break in the tool, or the lock that you hold down while loosening or tightening holder for the bits would break.
Thank you for the reviews! I always wondered about the $14.99 4 1/2 inch angle grinder. It!s currently on sale for $9.99. Keep up the great work!
I've actually owned that $15 angle grinder for 4 years of constant use and it held up surprisingly.
I have the 4.5" angle grinder. I like it because it's cheap and it works. I don't do much with it, but it works. I wouldn't own it/use it in a shop of any sort, but here at home cutting rusted exhaust or body panels, it works.
I have bought the large vice and I use it all the time and works great, no problems here
On the flip side, I bought a Chicago Electric oscillating tool second hand at a rummage sale and have beat the hell out of it for >40 hours of use and it still runs perfectly.
I have real good luck with the sockets wrench's and of course the ratchet. I have had then for about 8 years now and all still work. I have also bought one of the trailers that you put together. it also is still going strong. like others have said there is junk there. they also have had some tools that I was not able to find elsewhere to do carb work on a tractor
I've been in the tile business for over 30 years. I've had at least 6 full size wet saws, mk's, felkers, targets, you name it, I've either owned 'em or used 'em. In 2006 I worked a big job on the gulf coast after Katrina hit. We needed another saw so the super brought a harbor freight $250 special with the stand and everything. I said "harbor freight? Are you nuts?" Boy was I wrong. I used that thing practically all day, every day for 6 months and loved it. I made up my mind that the next time I was in the market for a saw I was getting a harbor freight. The saw is a 10" saw, not 7. It'll cut bricks and blocks. You can pull a pin and use the head like a chop saw! The rails for the tray are adjustable in case your cuts don't line up square with the blade. You can rip plank tiles. You can make plunge cuts. It's a 2.5 go motor. I've used for a couple of years now and the only thing I've had to do is buy blades because everybody uses porcelain. I paid less than $300 for it and I only have 2 complaints:
1- It's HEAVY!
2- It comes with a cheap pump.
I HIGHLY recommend this item! (At least that's my experience).
I never expect longevity from HF products but have lucked into some items that have paid off from there, surprisingly enough the vice has lasted 5 years so far and it's used weekly, tho I never hammer things on it, that may be asking a little much from the vice, good video.
The drill and angle grinders are not too bad. I left them in the rain/sun for months...still good for small job. The #6 is the Aluminum 1,5 Ton Floor Jack. The rear swivel wheel broke under stress and I was nearly hurt/killed!
"WV591" Right on the money. No pun intended. I bought five 4" angle grinders at 11.99 on super sale, one red, one blue and three orange, figuring I could just replace one as they fail for that price, and the blue one failed out of the box,(smoked, and replaced) the rest I've use hard and put up wet, and they still work six years later. Only took the others out of the box because I found having a bunch of different wheels on them ready to use helped save lots of time. I've had hit and miss results from HF, but all in all, it is still the best thing going for price if you're not Bill Gates.
You know... I got a few things from harbor freight. One thing I noticed.
I have a Dremel and wanted a kit with lots of attachments. I have Dremel brand attachments, but I was looking for a cheap kit that had the most accessories in one buy.
I actually went to mernards and found an accessory kit for rotary tools there for only 9.99. This was mernards off brand called "Tool shop". I purchased this kit.
A few days later I was in Harbor freight and I noticed that exact same kit I purchased at mernards.
It was litterally the exact same, all the same accessories, the same storage box as came with the mernards brand. The only difference, was the plastic accessory box was blue with harbor freight brand on it and the one from mernards was red. It was the exact same kit I purchased at mernards for 9.99.
Harbor freight was selling the same kit by the same manufacturer with a different company label for 19.99
Point is, harbor freight isn't always the least expensive.
I been looking for a bench grinder and couldn't even find them in the store. Maybe the website but not the store.
Rural King in my area has an off brand called "Tool shed"
They had a 6" 2.1 amp DUAL WORK LIGHT bench grinder for only 29.99.
I haven't seen a bench grinder that inexpensive that INCLUDED TWO WORK LIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES.
only issue, it's taking me almost 2 hours to figure out how to mount the spark sheild and tool rest.
The grinder is super quiet and will be perfect for my needs. I just don't think I have enough holes in the wheel gaurds to mount these sheilds and rest properly.
I had the black grinder the one mentioned for 5 years and still works. lots of battle damage and abuse from me. the only thing that failed was electric cord so I replaced it with a heavy duty extention cord that I don't use anymore.
Thanks for the info! I've had good luck with the small angle grinder so far but maybe I've just been lucky. I know a lot of their stuff is hit or miss as far as quality goes.
I love the explosions!
Ive had that extractor set for years and have used it many times with no issues! i also have belt sanders and other power tools from HF that have been great! Just be careful about what you get some tools are great and some not so much!
I did buy a cutoff tool for 4 dollars I used it for 4 years , in my mechanic shop the bushings are worn and sloppy but it does still work
Never had issues with the 4 1/2 inch angle grinder. Used it to cut 3 sets (12 total) of suspension coil springs.
I don't like Harbor Freight Tools, but the black angle grinder is actually really good. I've been using mine for almost 2 years, and it's still runs really strong. Never had a problem, it even went under the flood waters during Harvey. It still works great. I'm a welder, I do a lot of grinding.
I found buying the more expensive of 2 or 3 of the same item, generally works pretty good at HF. I have the most expensive reciprocating saw of 3 and it's still working after 6 years of heavy use cutting thick wood and steel.
I own the angle grinder. Not much power but it works OK for the price. Bought a smaller 4" vice. Used it a couple of times. Good so far.
How about something positive. What Harbor Freight items do you like?
Great video... straight to the point.no long drawn out intro.no yip yap.no bashing jus personal honest opinion..wish I would have seen before buying the Chicago drill.crappy..only good for assembling Ikea furniture
Thanks for the warning/reviews. I would add their tap and die set. I don't have the item number, but I tried it and thought I was an idiot because it never worked. I hadn't used a tap and die set before so I assumed it was my lack of skill until I got an Irwin brand set. That set worked as I expected and allowed me to repair an expensive device that had a stripped threaded hole. When I tried the HF set again it still failed.
I have the 6in vise and has held up almost 2 years now with bending things and beating and drilling as well. Not a Wilton but I haven't had any issues at all with it with a decent amount of abuse.
i have had great success with my cheap grinder. With the 20% off coupon, its a throw away. My last one, i used for a year, cutting c - channel, flat,angle, you name it. Either cleaning, or cutting, or grinding, it held up under some real abuse. Last one lasting about a year, I more than got my money's worth out of it. going thru package after package of cutting blades, i can't count the number of blades i have gone thru. i have built large heave pull trailers using 1/4" steel, using it on multiple projects, and rebuilding my old 1980 White semi. Yes, it finally crapped out on me, so i went and purchased another one. Just pulled off the guard, put on a cutting blade, and started working on my new project, a home made saw mill.
The screw extractors are excellent. I use them All the time in my auto repair shop. One must remember that Harbor Freight is a tool store that provides home owners, who occasionally needs different types of tools for the once in awhile repair or project, at an affordable price. If you are going to be constantly using a tool, then buy their higher end tools.
I own the 60625 model drill master angle grinder and it actually is worth everybpenny in my opinion. Their is a tear down video on this grinder and the internal components on the 60625 are of a much higher quality all across the board, than the other. Also, I own the 7" grinder as well, and it does in fact work just fine for what it is. I didnt pay 40$ for the 7" grinder, expecting it to be of german quality such as milwaukee when I opened the box. I knew what it was when I bought it, and it has served quite well for the money that was spent on it. Huge tip though, every one of my grinder from HF, the drill masterb60625, the 7", and the hercules 7amp grinder were all disassembled before first use. I cleaned out all crap grease in the gear cases and repacked all of them with quality castrol MOLY grease amd like I said every one of mu grinders perform flawlessly. I beat the hell oit of all of em too
The 4 inch grinder .
I bought 2 of them thinking if it worked a couple hours it paid for itself.
I have worn out several non HF real wire brushes with the same one I started with.
When it quits in the trash it will go & I grab the 2nd one.
I bought two grinders from them and both are hardwired inside that cause the rpms to run faster than normally and this will sling the internal gears completely out of the grinder. It burns up in other words due to the voltage input.
and the 7 inch angle grinder too it works like a beast. cleaned up my 81 camaro subframe 3 times with it and no problem yet
i can verify the vice is weak. i was just tightening the axle shaft on my chevy power steering pump. the pump worked but the vice snapped a jaw and was hollow as well. another fail from hf is their inverters. just guessing but the watt rating was not what it was rating and it fried. great analysis.
I have that cheap drill and it's great for polishing the finish on aluminum using HB polishing ends and compound. It's a higher speed than most/a lot of drills. I've also used it on several thousand wood and drywall screws. It's over 15 years old and still working great. The only tool I'd be leery of is the vice, even though I have HB's cheaper/smaller one that's been great. My pretty young neighbor has/had the vice in the video. He was doing Ujoints and put a cheater over the handle. I told him that it wasn't a good idea on a cheap quality vice. 2 minutes later and the sliding shaft was in 2 pieces. There was at least 2-3 different shades of cast iron at the broken part. There is no such thing as good Chinese or Asian metal. If you want a quality vice that can be abused, it's best to buy German or U.S made. Not sure I would want those EZouts either.
I agree totally with the grinder. The only tool if the 5 I have purchased from Freight. Almost a single use tool. Went out and bought a DeWalt.
Had 2 of their drills, both worked well...for a while. They have very cheap plastic gearing in the trigger that failed on both of them rather quickly. Moters were stuck in the on position at all times after that (I was lucky there). Never again, used the cord off one as a replacement for an much older metal frame drill that belonged to my wife's dad. So not a total loss, their tools are designed to do one job before failing, as long as you treat em as throw away they sort of work.
I've had my HFT grinder for 5 years, and it still works great!!
I did auto body work for 33 years. Own a Sioux panel cutter/air chisel that I got used that is over 50 years old. Great tool. Bought a Snap-on air ratchet for $90 with a 90 day guarantee. After 6 months, it broke. I threw it away and bought a $20 air ratchet from Harbor Freight that lasted over a year or more. When it no longer worked, I bought another one, and another. Another great buy from Harbor Freight. 4 HF tools for less than the price of one Snap-on, and they last longer.
That's the point I've been trying to make here; if you don't expect much from these tools, you're generally not too unhappy when an inexpensive tool gives out and you don't have to spend a lot to replace it with a tool that will do the job well enough. Too many people are arguing that HF tools need to last as long as name-brand because they were purchased in a store just like name-brand. If HF did not enjoy mostly successful sales they would go under.
i built the angle grinder into a fixture to grind a long taper on some 1/8 steel by 1" by, 14" long. I have ground for hours with that grinder and have had no problems. It is being used in one position so this isn't a true test but I am happy camper at the price.
I'll tell you what is pretty good and that's the portland 14" electric chainsaw. Swap out the chain that came with it for a replacement Oregon S52 with 4 cutters to the 3 that the saw came with and it kicks ass. Much better performance than expected for $ 40 on sale.
You can add and add to this list. My rack of standard combination wrenches were a little off (not a good fit when compared against Craftsman and Husky tools of same sizes, too likely to round a nut or bolt); my rack of metrics were just wrong altogether! That was almost a year ago. I have bought one item from Harbor Freight since, and I'm only pleased with it because I modified it to be useful.The lesson: MOST Harbor Freight items are not worth buying.
I bought the $139.00 shallow well pump and got the extended warranty on it wich I never needed. The thing was still pumping after three years or more as a lawn sprinkler.
As far as I know it still is as we sold the house.
I dunno..I have the small grinder and have ground the crap out of stuff with it and it still works ok. The little wheel stop for changing wheels fell out so I use a screwdriver to change wheels now, but it'll cut angle iron all day long. I have found that with most stuff they sell with electric motors attached to belts the motors themselves are usually worth more than the actual piece of equipment itself. I bought a $50 sander just for the $80 motor. The rest of it is decorating the inside of a box in the garage somewhere.
Let me add the 6" digital caliper to this list. I understand these items are not the top of the line but they should work for a while anyway. Other items I bought there are good to go. Thanks for the heads up on the vise.
I have the smaller version of that vise. So far so good after a year. It hasnt seen a large portion of work. But it has has some pounding and wrenching done for sure.
The only tool he had up there that I've used is the 4.5 inch angle grinder. I love it. I've used it many times over they few years I've had it. I've had no problems using it.
I love the 4 1/2" grinder. For occasional use its great. You cant beat the price. When it burns out and it will I will buy another, still cheaper than a high end one.