Lowes' brand is Kobalt. I have one of their folding job site table saws for a fraction of the cost of the big boys. I love it. As for Harbor Freight, I have had great luck with their tools.
Ive heard quite a few good things about Kobalt now, but I think the only Kobalt tool I own is a utility knife. I may have to check them out, someone said they have a hand plane. If so I will have to try that for sure
We dont have time for me to list all the things over the years that I have bought from HF . I will say that when the first store hit my area oh some 20 years ago I was needing a chopsaw, and at that point, I had little funds for it . I found one at HF and picked it up it was the cheapest one they had back then, and I still have it and use it. I'm a homeowner, so it doesn't get used daily. To this day, it still works great. I have changed the blade. But it still feels like a cheap kid's toy. It was a great life choice. I agree with you 💯 the video was spot on. Keep them coming.
Confused, Craftsman was picked up by Lowe’s 5-6 years ago. They still have the displays and service levels Sears had. I have had sockets, wrenches and screw drivers replaced just as I did working at Sears in high school.
I have quite a few of HF tools and i built 2 decks and repaired a porch useing Bauer line power tools, various Pittsburgh pro tools and they all work just fine. I've yet to break a ratchet socket or anything with them. And yes I have even used them to repair my car and my father's truck no issues so they can run out and spend countless cash on snap-on tools. But I'm good with harbor freight. Oh and I also have the Kobalt line of tools that Lowe's sells ,They work great also
I am a lifelong tinker. And harbor freight hits the bill every time I need. The customer service is top-notch and there’s selection is awesome. Just picked up the off-road jack and loving it. Makes doing so much on my lifted truck easier.
I have a lot of HF mechanical tools and even more electrical and hand wood shop tools. Ive only had to return one item ever. Almost any handtool has a lifetime warranty. Walk in with the broken one and leave with a new one.
Den of Tools makes a good point, they are a USA based store and have a ton of USA employees. Look at where Chevy and Ford are made. People still call them American brands. I don't buy everything from HF, but I buy way more than I probably should. In fact, I was very hesitant to purchase the Bauer line of 20v tools. I absolutely love them. Doyle pliers impress me as well. Great points in your video!
Craftsman didn’t have bad luck, sears bought Kmart so sod craftsman there. Sears was bought by a holding company and they purposefully leveraged it to pull the value out of it. It’s a modern day big business technique, craftsman just was a victim of holding companies and bane capital type business like how mitt romney made his koney
Honestly, I don't think there's a reason anyone should be buying off of tool trucks anymore. The quality of tools nowadays in general has come a long way. Harbor freights Icon line for example is 99% of what snap on is, but a fourth of the cost. Especially since most of harbor freight hand tools come with lifetime warranties. You don't have to wait once a week for the truck to come. And it doesn't take 6 weeks to get a step bit that broke (matco). I almost pity the people that buy a $3k box when my $400 husky one will hold the same tools just as well. I think the tool trucks keep their prices high just to maintain their exclusivity. Not because they're that much better
It's all in what you can afford and/or prefer. Why buy a Filson flannel shirt 100% 24 oz wool made in the USA when you can buy a see through spandex flannel from walmart made in China? They're both flannels, Wal-Mart hires usa employees.
I restore old tools. Plus i buy my new tools from Home Depot. I cant afford the name brands so i have a collection of Husky and Ryobi tools. I think Snap on is more of a status symbol.
I don't buy much Snap on stuff because the damn truck never shows up. It's been over two months since he's been by. The Mac guy shows up every week like clockwork.
I’ve used old craftsman for years and I always talked mad shit on the modern craftsman without actually buying it using the new stuff untill recently when I bought some impacts and I was actually surprised at how they are pretty good so I then bought some of there new ratchets and so far I have been plesently surprised at how well they perform for working on my car and other mechanical things No they arnt as good as those classic craftsman but they are definitely not as bad as everyone I know made them out to be So now I find myself buying harbor freight and cheap tools because of craftsman isn’t as bad as I thought let’s see what else is not as bad it’s amazing what you can find if when you put your hate aside for cheap tools
The warranty is not 100 refunds. Purchased a used icon box weent to HF for some warranty work/ parts for the slides. They asked for my phone number there was no toolbox attached to my phone number. The manufacturer's defect was not able to fixed due to this. There is something going on with the warranty needing a phone number. Why do you need a phone number I need a new tool it brook , HF is not sears . HF is not perfect and I've had tons of issues in the pnw
Interesting. Honestly I didn't know they even had a warranty on things, but guessing its not a warranty for the life of the tool like Craftsman used to be, but for the lifetime that the buyer owned it? Must be why they tie it to an account? Just guessing though, I may be talking out of school here.
It's because their system won't let anything be replaced until they have an account of which to attach it. I'm an Inside Track Club member and have never had an issue with warranty replacements.
@@FahimibnDawud harbor freight is not a replacement for sears. Even Lowe's who has craftsman tools don't want to honor the warranty. Lifetime warranty should mean lifetime of the company. Not just the original owner or an inside track member.
You're absolutely right it's just stupid to only buy stuff from one particular brand when there are other brands that do the same things for cheaper. But you have to check the quality first because buying tools just because they are cheap isn't the right way either they have to be usable too. Over all nice video had me really think about the way i'm gonna buy tools. Greetings from Germany 🙋♂
Wow thanks for the comment and the view! I agree, some tools are just worth spending the money. I tend to save my money for more higher end wood working tools, but go for the cheaper ones for less used ones.
Plus a lot of brands specially the Taiwan varieties are basicallly 90% the same item Look at a capri, gear wrench and Milwaukee ratchets they look very similar prolly same manufacture. Similar price points
Brother, most of us are not wealthy, and if we could buy a good American made tool for a not break the bank price, I would, but there's not a good choice other than Harbor Freight.
Craftsman was a huge loss to the majority of tool using American's. Black & Decker went from the premium from decades ago to an obscure "maybe you can find us, chances are you can't" and their lifetime warranty is an absolute nightmare to fulfill, if a company is going to own a huge majority of the tool market, where are their stores. I still use my Craftsman tools (Sears era) everyday, between my handtools and my Craftsman power tools, yes, my 19.2 volt stuff. The majority of people that hated the 19.2 stuff, they used the combo pack that came with 5 tools, underpowered homeowners tools, but very few knew there was a premium line, brushless drill, 3 speed impact tools built by the same company that built Ryobi and Milwaukee. And now, the Craftsman power tools are lower end, even their premium stuff is weaker Dewalt stuff, Dewalt cordless tools absolutely suck, they work great the first few months, after that, the new model is out so upgrade then.
I so agree with this! I still have a Black and Decker jig saw from ohh I'd day the early 90's and it still works great. It's crazy to me how everything has turned into this over produced, prepackaged throw away tools. They have lost the pride of being lifetime tools and replaced it with the feeling that they don't care about their consumer and just want you to buy the same tool every year when the new model comes out, or yours eventually breaks.
Why "I" don't buy Snap-On? because i have common sense and not desperate where I need to finance my tools. Yes Snap-on makes some good enough tools, but 100% NOT worth the price. I use my tools every day, my goto.. Pittsburg sockets. Never broke one. I CAN afford Snap-on. I just prefer to keep my money and spend it on tools of equal quality like ICON or even Quinn. I also have a bunch of Husky. ALL of which have a no questions asked lifetime warranty. I had a RUSTY pair of Husky pliers. Took them to HD and swapped them out. No ID, no receipt, no questions asked.
My Icon, my Husky, shoot even my pittsburg have lasted me a decade, without breaking a single tool, we don't get rich by wasting money on stupid crap. I'm not in debt and I own my own house and 3 vehicles, all of which I maintain and work on. How many "Snap-On zealots" can say that? @@vinichi3014
I'm actually fighting with Snap-On right now about replacing one of my flex head ratcheting wrenches that was broken when i bought it! They sent the wrong size and are giving me a hard time about replacing it with the correct size. I stopped buying Snap-On for years because of their customer service, and i see nothing has changed! My 40 y/o Craftsman, Sears-Japan, Wright, Astro, Sunex, Grey Pneumatic, Tekton, Lisle, etc.. never give me issues. Yet when it comes to Snap-On, they're assholes as usual! I hate the whole lifestyle of broke mechanics and techs who want to flex their shitty truck tools that will never be paid off too.
Sears dropped the ball. They owned Craftsman and had outlets through Sears & KMart , owned by Sears holdings When everyone shipped to China, They followed along with all merchandise but they maintained the USA prices which killed them. WalMart hurt KMart and Amazon killed Sears stores while Craftsman became the same as every other brands, so Harbor Freight expanded Most the tools at Harbor Freight are Taiwan not China. Even Snap On sends Willaims tools to be made in Taiwan Stanley Black & Decker's Craftsman is China & India , now Vietnam and its the same as Dewalt, Lenox, Irwin, Stanley, all China. The Craftsman V-series is awesome but not available in stores. Same as Icon Even MAC Tools Ratchets are made in the USA with Taiwan Gearhead. Some of the MAC wrenches are Taiwan Harbor Freight is becoming the new Craftsman and many professionals are using their tools now along with Capri Tool, Tekton, Olsa Good conversation piece
Pretty hard to beat HF on warranty walk in and swap out. I have tons of snapon and other brands and if I’m being honest I enjoy my snapon best because I know it’s considered the best and I know it cost a lot so must be good. That all being said my Pittsburg pro stuff has hung rite in there and done the same thing my snapon does for way less money .
@TheTrailblazer1974 It's because we are brainwashed to think that the Snap-On "feels better" or "works better," when in reality they perform no better than many mid-tier manufacturers! I'm glad you're honest though.. you understand that it "feels" better because it's SUPPOSED to feel better.
um bud the warranty process on tool trucks is horrible, you got to wait all week for the dude to show up then he doesnt have that single socket or bit or whatever on the truck so he has to order one for next week so you are out a tool you need for 2 weeks instead of one 10 minute trip to HF on lunch or after work
Lowes' brand is Kobalt. I have one of their folding job site table saws for a fraction of the cost of the big boys. I love it. As for Harbor Freight, I have had great luck with their tools.
Ive heard quite a few good things about Kobalt now, but I think the only Kobalt tool I own is a utility knife. I may have to check them out, someone said they have a hand plane. If so I will have to try that for sure
We dont have time for me to list all the things over the years that I have bought from HF . I will say that when the first store hit my area oh some 20 years ago I was needing a chopsaw, and at that point, I had little funds for it . I found one at HF and picked it up it was the cheapest one they had back then, and I still have it and use it. I'm a homeowner, so it doesn't get used daily. To this day, it still works great. I have changed the blade. But it still feels like a cheap kid's toy. It was a great life choice. I agree with you 💯 the video was spot on. Keep them coming.
Thanks for watching, I've always looked at those saws and wondered if they are any good.
Harbor Freight's lifetime warranty even on the low end Pittsburgh stuff you can't go wrong.
Doesn't seem like it
Confused, Craftsman was picked up by Lowe’s 5-6 years ago. They still have the displays and service levels Sears had. I have had sockets, wrenches and screw drivers replaced just as I did working at Sears in high school.
I did not know that, thanks for letting me know. I tend to avoid Lowes if I can.
I have quite a few of HF tools and i built 2 decks and repaired a porch useing Bauer line power tools, various Pittsburgh pro tools and they all work just fine. I've yet to break a ratchet socket or anything with them. And yes I have even used them to repair my car and my father's truck no issues so they can run out and spend countless cash on snap-on tools. But I'm good with harbor freight. Oh and I also have the Kobalt line of tools that Lowe's sells ,They work great also
That's awesome! Keep up the good work!
Good discussion--so sad about the decline and fall of Craftsman.
Thanks for watching
I am a lifelong tinker. And harbor freight hits the bill every time I need. The customer service is top-notch and there’s selection is awesome. Just picked up the off-road jack and loving it. Makes doing so much on my lifted truck easier.
Oh I didnt know they had an off road jack! Ill have to check that out
I have a lot of HF mechanical tools and even more electrical and hand wood shop tools. Ive only had to return one item ever.
Almost any handtool has a lifetime warranty. Walk in with the broken one and leave with a new one.
Harbor freight’s icon line is good. I’ve not been disappointed
Yeah, so far I haven't really been too disappointed in anything from there...minus that hand plane lol.
Den of Tools makes a good point, they are a USA based store and have a ton of USA employees. Look at where Chevy and Ford are made. People still call them American brands. I don't buy everything from HF, but I buy way more than I probably should. In fact, I was very hesitant to purchase the Bauer line of 20v tools. I absolutely love them. Doyle pliers impress me as well. Great points in your video!
Thank you, and yes very valid points about all the other companies as well.
Craftsman didn’t have bad luck, sears bought Kmart so sod craftsman there. Sears was bought by a holding company and they purposefully leveraged it to pull the value out of it. It’s a modern day big business technique, craftsman just was a victim of holding companies and bane capital type business like how mitt romney made his koney
Honestly, I don't think there's a reason anyone should be buying off of tool trucks anymore. The quality of tools nowadays in general has come a long way. Harbor freights Icon line for example is 99% of what snap on is, but a fourth of the cost. Especially since most of harbor freight hand tools come with lifetime warranties. You don't have to wait once a week for the truck to come. And it doesn't take 6 weeks to get a step bit that broke (matco). I almost pity the people that buy a $3k box when my $400 husky one will hold the same tools just as well. I think the tool trucks keep their prices high just to maintain their exclusivity. Not because they're that much better
Well said
It's all in what you can afford and/or prefer. Why buy a Filson flannel shirt 100% 24 oz wool made in the USA when you can buy a see through spandex flannel from walmart made in China? They're both flannels, Wal-Mart hires usa employees.
true
Good video
Thanks
HF tools are Good enough , and lots of their tools have a lifetime warranty .
100%!
I restore old tools. Plus i buy my new tools from Home Depot. I cant afford the name brands so i have a collection of Husky and Ryobi tools. I think Snap on is more of a status symbol.
100% agree about Snap-On. I restore tool as well, and honestly those are some of my absolute favorites.
I also restore tools, and it has become a favorite hobby of mine! Plus, you can bring back the best tools ever made and give them life again!
I don't buy much Snap on stuff because the damn truck never shows up. It's been over two months since he's been by. The Mac guy shows up every week like clockwork.
I don't have any mac tools, but gotta appreciate the guys hustle.
I like my MAC stuff pretty well too.
I’ve used old craftsman for years and I always talked mad shit on the modern craftsman without actually buying it using the new stuff untill recently when I bought some impacts and I was actually surprised at how they are pretty good so I then bought some of there new ratchets and so far I have been plesently surprised at how well they perform for working on my car and other mechanical things
No they arnt as good as those classic craftsman but they are definitely not as bad as everyone I know made them out to be
So now I find myself buying harbor freight and cheap tools because of craftsman isn’t as bad as I thought let’s see what else is not as bad it’s amazing what you can find if when you put your hate aside for cheap tools
Very well said!
I love harbor freight.
Preach!
Icon is a high quality brand its not China made its Taiwan made big difference
Very true!
The warranty is not 100 refunds. Purchased a used icon box weent to HF for some warranty work/ parts for the slides. They asked for my phone number there was no toolbox attached to my phone number. The manufacturer's defect was not able to fixed due to this.
There is something going on with the warranty needing a phone number. Why do you need a phone number I need a new tool it brook , HF is not sears .
HF is not perfect and I've had tons of issues in the pnw
Interesting. Honestly I didn't know they even had a warranty on things, but guessing its not a warranty for the life of the tool like Craftsman used to be, but for the lifetime that the buyer owned it? Must be why they tie it to an account? Just guessing though, I may be talking out of school here.
It's because their system won't let anything be replaced until they have an account of which to attach it. I'm an Inside Track Club member and have never had an issue with warranty replacements.
@@FahimibnDawud harbor freight is not a replacement for sears. Even Lowe's who has craftsman tools don't want to honor the warranty. Lifetime warranty should mean lifetime of the company. Not just the original owner or an inside track member.
You're absolutely right it's just stupid to only buy stuff from one particular brand when there are other brands that do the same things for cheaper. But you have to check the quality first because buying tools just because they are cheap isn't the right way either they have to be usable too. Over all nice video had me really think about the way i'm gonna buy tools. Greetings from Germany 🙋♂
Wow thanks for the comment and the view! I agree, some tools are just worth spending the money. I tend to save my money for more higher end wood working tools, but go for the cheaper ones for less used ones.
Plus a lot of brands specially the Taiwan varieties are basicallly 90% the same item
Look at a capri, gear wrench and Milwaukee ratchets they look very similar prolly same manufacture. Similar price points
Definitely not the same stuff but for the average DIY guy HF is good enough
Nailed it!
Brother, most of us are not wealthy, and if we could buy a good American made tool for a not break the bank price, I would, but there's not a good choice other than Harbor Freight.
Craftsman was a huge loss to the majority of tool using American's. Black & Decker went from the premium from decades ago to an obscure "maybe you can find us, chances are you can't" and their lifetime warranty is an absolute nightmare to fulfill, if a company is going to own a huge majority of the tool market, where are their stores. I still use my Craftsman tools (Sears era) everyday, between my handtools and my Craftsman power tools, yes, my 19.2 volt stuff. The majority of people that hated the 19.2 stuff, they used the combo pack that came with 5 tools, underpowered homeowners tools, but very few knew there was a premium line, brushless drill, 3 speed impact tools built by the same company that built Ryobi and Milwaukee. And now, the Craftsman power tools are lower end, even their premium stuff is weaker Dewalt stuff, Dewalt cordless tools absolutely suck, they work great the first few months, after that, the new model is out so upgrade then.
I so agree with this! I still have a Black and Decker jig saw from ohh I'd day the early 90's and it still works great. It's crazy to me how everything has turned into this over produced, prepackaged throw away tools. They have lost the pride of being lifetime tools and replaced it with the feeling that they don't care about their consumer and just want you to buy the same tool every year when the new model comes out, or yours eventually breaks.
Why "I" don't buy Snap-On? because i have common sense and not desperate where I need to finance my tools. Yes Snap-on makes some good enough tools, but 100% NOT worth the price. I use my tools every day, my goto.. Pittsburg sockets. Never broke one. I CAN afford Snap-on. I just prefer to keep my money and spend it on tools of equal quality like ICON or even Quinn. I also have a bunch of Husky. ALL of which have a no questions asked lifetime warranty. I had a RUSTY pair of Husky pliers. Took them to HD and swapped them out. No ID, no receipt, no questions asked.
100% agree. I am going to have to give Husky a try.
It's OK if you can't afford quality tools
My Icon, my Husky, shoot even my pittsburg have lasted me a decade, without breaking a single tool, we don't get rich by wasting money on stupid crap. I'm not in debt and I own my own house and 3 vehicles, all of which I maintain and work on. How many "Snap-On zealots" can say that?
@@vinichi3014
I'm actually fighting with Snap-On right now about replacing one of my flex head ratcheting wrenches that was broken when i bought it! They sent the wrong size and are giving me a hard time about replacing it with the correct size. I stopped buying Snap-On for years because of their customer service, and i see nothing has changed! My 40 y/o Craftsman, Sears-Japan, Wright, Astro, Sunex, Grey Pneumatic, Tekton, Lisle, etc.. never give me issues. Yet when it comes to Snap-On, they're assholes as usual! I hate the whole lifestyle of broke mechanics and techs who want to flex their shitty truck tools that will never be paid off too.
Yeah they are like student loans lol, never able to pay them off, and somehow keep growing.
I'm a New Subscriber. I could use one of those bags
Welcome to the channel, comment on the bad video to be entered in the drawing.
Harbor Freight is 90% as good as Snap On, at 1/5 the cost.
Agreed on most things.
@@mataooutdoorsYes, I'm talking about Harbor Freights higher lines. They still have some cheap junk that I wouldn't touch.
No they are not lol
@@vinichi3014 I have Snap On, and Icon. Okay, so, 89% as good?
Sears dropped the ball. They owned Craftsman and had outlets through Sears & KMart , owned by Sears holdings
When everyone shipped to China, They followed along with all merchandise but they maintained the USA prices which killed them.
WalMart hurt KMart and Amazon killed Sears stores while Craftsman became the same as every other brands, so Harbor Freight expanded
Most the tools at Harbor Freight are Taiwan not China. Even Snap On sends Willaims tools to be made in Taiwan
Stanley Black & Decker's Craftsman is China & India , now Vietnam and its the same as Dewalt, Lenox, Irwin, Stanley, all China.
The Craftsman V-series is awesome but not available in stores. Same as Icon
Even MAC Tools Ratchets are made in the USA with Taiwan Gearhead. Some of the MAC wrenches are Taiwan
Harbor Freight is becoming the new Craftsman and many professionals are using their tools now along with Capri Tool, Tekton, Olsa
Good conversation piece
Sir, You know your stuff.
Amazing comment! Thank you for that.
100% Snap-On and Matco if your paycheck depends on tools. The warranty alone is worth it for a professional.
I figured a professional has to lean that way right? Its just a hard pill to swallow looking at those price tags.
Pretty hard to beat HF on warranty walk in and swap out. I have tons of snapon and other brands and if I’m being honest I enjoy my snapon best because I know it’s considered the best and I know it cost a lot so must be good. That all being said my Pittsburg pro stuff has hung rite in there and done the same thing my snapon does for way less money .
@TheTrailblazer1974 It's because we are brainwashed to think that the Snap-On "feels better" or "works better," when in reality they perform no better than many mid-tier manufacturers! I'm glad you're honest though.. you understand that it "feels" better because it's SUPPOSED to feel better.
um bud the warranty process on tool trucks is horrible, you got to wait all week for the dude to show up then he doesnt have that single socket or bit or whatever on the truck so he has to order one for next week so you are out a tool you need for 2 weeks instead of one 10 minute trip to HF on lunch or after work