The Truth About Harbor Freight Tools in 2024
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 มี.ค. 2024
- Dive into our latest video where we uncover the reasons why Harbor Freight is your go-to destination for quality tools at unbeatable prices!
From power tools that punch above their weight to hand tools with lifetime guarantees, we're spilling the beans on how Harbor Freight keeps both your toolbox and wallet full. Whether you're a seasoned craftsman or just starting your DIY journey, this video is packed with insights, comparisons, and real-user experiences that will make you rethink where you shop for tools.
Don't miss out on stretching your dollars further-click play now!
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HF has pretty much taken on the DIY market and caters to it. Their products are "good enough", and for me, that's good enough.
Spot on. It's all about getting the job done without breaking the bank.
I have an old Chicago Electric handheld belt sander (orange plastic body) that I bought at Harbor Freight over 20 years ago. I paid maybe $15-20 for it. Still works to this day.
That's what I call getting your money's worth! It's awesome that your old belt sander from Harbor Freight is still kicking after two decades.
I may have that same belt sander. Put it through some hard work sanding down my deck.
I've been shopping at Harbor Freight for 20 yrs or more now and I actually bought few tools from them and used them more than once. Then a long came the Icon brand and Chief and Earthquake. It has now became the place that I go to first when looking for a tool.
Wow, 20 years of shopping at Harbor Freight! It's great to know that brands like Icon, Chief, and Earthquake have contributed to your positive experience.
Same. Every time I go in, I see at least one mechanic in coveralls buying Icon or Quinn. My wood/metal fab shop is either vintage 1950's American cast iron, or Harbor Freight.
I have always been a proponent (for myself) of buying
quality tools, to last a lifetime. However, as I got past
50, I realized, I can buy less expensive tools and they
will (for me) still last a lifetime. 😁✌🖖
Lol i never looked at it like that.
The Father's retired alright, he died in 2016. I have tools I bought mail order from HF in the 80s-90s and they still work great. Overall hand or power tools have worked well.
I bought both Bauer and Hercules tools and like them both. I got at least 25 cordless tools and a dozen batteries. You can't beat the deals when they give you a free tool for buying a battery and charger. Best Bang for the buck!
I share the philosophy that you buy the HF model until you use it enough to break it, then step up.
I have a few HF pneumatic nailers that I fully expected to die quickly due to the price and they are still going strong after 8+ yrs.
But I’m just a weekender.
That's a practical way to go about it. Why splurge when the HF models are holding up just fine? It's like the old saying, 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it!' Your HF nailers must be tough cookies to last that long.
Harbor Freight also sells non-resident brands. I bought a Franklin stud sensor which is also sold at Home Depot (for $8 more, I might add). One can also purchase Bremen (Bessey) clamps, PB petroleum products, WD40. I think the current owner is making a concerted effort to: a. Incorporate more name brands, and b. Improve the quality of resident brands to compete functionally with brands found elsewhere, including tool trucks.
It's encouraging to hear about the efforts Harbor Freight is making to offer a wider range of brands and improve quality. Appreciate you bringing this up!
Oh! Bremen are Bessey! I was wondering why they are so good.
@@Obtuse94 Bremen aren’t Bessey. I suppose they could be made in the same Chinese factory!
Thanks for the info and yes I agree with you about how to spend and for what purpose and how many projects you need the tools etc. Awesome thanks 😊
Glad you found it helpful! Appreciate your comment. ☺
I’m lucky enough to have a HF in the same strip mall as my local HD. HF is perfect for disposable things (gloves, tyvek suits) as well as things with few moving parts (power cords, tool bags). It’s great to have the choice.
I like Harbour Freight brands because when they break or wear out, they are easy to fix with shop fabricated parts (like making a new handle for your clamp which broke). Great video thumbs up.
Appreciate the support! It's awesome to hear you're making the most out of your Harbor Freight tools with some ingenuity.
I concur with your assessment. Buy the brand that works for you. As a DIYer, I don’t depend on my tools so day in, day out use and dependability are not requirements for me.
I have bought both low end and high end hand planes. They all work but the high end ones are easier to precisely set and keep that set up more consistently. While the time isn’t critical to me, the satisfaction of knowing the high end tools are more enjoyable to use makes a difference.
Having said that, I have bought several HF tools and every one of them have served my needs well.
Well said. Everyone's needs and preferences are different when it comes to tools. It's all about finding the right tools for your needs, whether it's high-end precision or reliable affordability. Harbor Freight tools may not be high-end, but they sure do get the job done.
Great stuff sir. I got a Chicago electric drill over 5 years ago because I was going through life stuff and needed a drill. Not everyone should use an electric drill. The video is very helpful since I have the woodworking bone back. I used to work for a high end cabinet shop 20 years ago and went to work for the gubment. After building a couple things for my lovely bride to be I want to get back into it.
When I was growing up To indicate that a product was Poorly made we Would say it was made in Japan.
Then the quality of Japanese products Improved to the point that they have A reputation of making high quality products.
Then the term change to Made in Taiwan And then their products improved And then their products improved. Same used to be said about Harbor freight. But you are right when you said they have improved the quality of their products. My son and I both own a company. We are purchased harbor freights flex core wire welder and we love it. We have purchased a new matic tools and we love them. I know of some that have purchased their sliding compound miters saw. I was impressed. You are correct when you say Purchase the tool Based on the amount of its intended use.
Good advice for all.
That's an interesting comparison! It's incredible how perceptions of product quality can shift over time. It's great to hear that Harbor Freight tools have become a reliable choice for you and your son.
5:45 I have a very similar story with the hammer drill, the only power tool I've bought from Harbor Freight. First used it to drill holes in brick to install a bike rack, then years later to drill a few holes in cinder block wall. No complaints about the price or performance!
Thanks for sharing your experience. It seems like the HF hammer drill is perfect for occasional projects, just like the ones we both experienced. It's great when a tool can handle those tasks without any issues.
Great Video. Thanks
A few things i can recommend.
The 18v warrior drill.( not 12 volt)
I've had it a couple years, usually drill pilot holes with it, but have used it for hole saws, etc.
Bauer cordless rotary tool, lots of power and long battery life. On sale often
Clamps! The only issue I've had is the plastic protectors won't stay on.
Warrior angle grinder, for 10-15 bucks. It will last most people years.
Thanks for the recommendations! It helps narrow down my choices for next time. 😊
I have a 1/2 inch drive impact that I bought 40 years ago that still hit good, and I used it on the job for twenty years!
That's impressive longevity for your impact driver! Harbor Freight tools can definitely surprise us with their durability, especially when they're such a crucial part of the toolkit for so long.
@@sawinery-woodworking it was the Alltrade brand that they quit selling in the 90’s I believe.
Spot on with your video. Harbor Freight has some good stuff and some stuff that if it makes it through that one job you'll be lucky. I've bought stuff from HF for 20+ years, the first purchase I made from them was their old US General 44" roller tool chest....a year later I bought the top chest...I never got the end cabinets unfortunately, and now the stuff they have is bigger so it won't work with my old tool chest. However, that old tool chest combo has sat on my carport for 20+ years, other than being dusty and dirty its a great tool chest...one of those things that you can save a lot of money and get a quality item that'll ast for decades.
I did have the Chicago Electric sliding 10" and the sliding 12" miter saws, both worked fine, overall quality was expected to be cheap, and that's what they were....my grandfather passed away recently and my uncles took all grandpa's tools, so I shoved those 2 Chicago Electric saws in their trailer too...figured they wanted all the tools, they can have those as well, no loss to me, I'll eventually replace them, but most likely with the Hercules 12" Double Bevel Sliding Compound Miter saw, or the Skil Worm Drive 12" Double Bevel Sliding Compound Miter Saw.
I had a Chicago Electric 10" portable table saw that thing was cheap, beyond cheap, the bearings in the arbor side of the motor failed within a couple years, and I trashed the saw. The Hercules portable table saw they have now is pretty good for the price....the Warrior version is just as crappy as the Chicago Electric one was...I think some of the Chicago Electric stuff has been rebranded with the Warrior name....and some of the old Chicago Electric stuff they no longer sell was bought by TEMU and sold without any labeling on the tool or packaging LOL.
I have several of their air tools, all work just fine, oldest being my 18 Gauge Brad Nailer, which is about 20 years old as well....still works great, and its been used and abused over the years. I have the framing nailer and the roofing nailer, both I've used very little but very useful when I need them...that's kind of the thing with HF tools, a lot of the stuff is great for those once or twice a year needs where you can't justify spending 3x or more money on a tool you need for a project that'll sit on a shelf most of the time unused, but you need it for that one task.
The Bauer and Hercules lines are good, I've got tools in both lines, and they work fine, I have no complaints with them, and have recently pretty much given away all my Yellow tools as most brands of tools out there now are much better than the Dewalt stuff in terms of power and torque. Yep, you pay for the name and that's about it with Dewalt anymore, they're far from top of the line now, and their prices are ridiculous. I have a few Skil tools, but all are corded, some old Black and Decker stuff, Ryobi, etc. I'm far from brand loyal, I buy what happens to be on the shelf at the time for the most part.
Those first clamps you show can break but are easily fixed. The plastic on the inside of the mechanism will break but can be fixed with a simple small bolt and nut. I also have the same drill press and it has served its purpose.
I agree if I need a special purpose tool for will probably be a one time use I find the rental fee (If available) of that tool and if it a high enough percentage of the HF least expensive offering I will buy it there. That calculation works for me and there is an off chance I will need it again someday. A good example of this was a SDS impact hammer. Rental cost at the time was approx. 59$ the HF offering was approx. 85$. For me no brainer and I have used it several times since .They have really upped their game with other items I now use daily. My favorite purchase was the Earthquake 1/2 inch impact driver I use mostly on lug nuts and larger fasteners it has had heavy use over 5 years, has the original battery and still going strong. Plus their returns policy is excellent I have nothing at this point in time to complain about with HF. Great video. Cheers.
I like most HF tools I have, even the cheap $11 chisels I bought are decent once I sharpened them and they hold an edge enough for me
It can definitely be surprising how even budget-friendly tools can hold up with a bit of TLC.
Love me some Bauer & Hercules. For the most part. Hate the Bauer angle grinder I have. But, I hate most angle grinders with flick switches rather than trigger switches.
Appreciate your honesty! It's great to hear that you're a fan of Bauer & Hercules tools overall. Sorry to hear about the hiccup with the angle grinder, though. Maybe there's a different model that would work better for you.
I have four Harbor Freight parallel clamps in my shop. They have worked great. I will buy more as I need them. You do have to baby them a bit. Make sure you put tape on the bar to keep the glue off. This is also a good tip for top-of-the-line clamps. Also, the bar metal is a little softer than the high-end brands so resist the temptation to crank up the clamping pressure.
HF parallel clamps may not get as much attention as some other brands, but they're definitely a solid choice for many. Good to know they're working out for you!
Yes I love hf great place
Just stumbled upon this video and I agree with it. I have bought many tools from harbor freight. If it's a higher priced item I usually research it online first. You really can't go wrong with Hercules in my opinion. I have the table saw and miter saw.both work flawlessly. Only wish the table saw had a soft start feature. Also anything with the Doyle or Quinn name has been great quality.
Hey, thanks for adding your two cents! The Hercules line is a solid choice, and I'm glad they've worked so well for you.
Excellent analysis. A couple of years ago I needed a small side grinder for a single job. Harbor Freight was running their 4 1/2" Warrior brand grinder on sale for less than $10. Seemed like a no-brainer so I bought it. It did the job perfectly fine and ever since has been used primarily to sharpen my lawn mower blades a few times per season. Not sure how it would hold up under heavier use, but it turned out to be perfect for my needs.
Several years ago I was also in the market for a 12 inch sliding compound miter saw. I narrowed it down to the Hercules and DeWalt tools. Lowes was running the DeWalt on sale for about $360 which at the time was about the same price as the Hercules. The tools appeared very comparable, and both got excellent reviews. But when I researched the availability of repair parts I found I could buy any part I needed for the DeWalt while only a very limited number of parts were available for the Hercules. That sold me on the DeWalt. If I would have had to pay the regular price on the DeWalt (about $200 more) it would have been a much tougher decision.
Overall I've had good luck with Harbor Freight tools, but your advice about matching the tool to your actual requirements is very sound.
Thank you for sharing! It's really valuable to learn about your decision-making process with the two brands. And yeah, researching repair parts is definitely a smart move.
I have nover had a Harbour Freight tool fail me. I have other brands from when I was a mechanic that still work but if I need a new tool I shop Harbour Freight first. Great tools for the home owner and a great selection. I have a new welder from there and it is low cost and easy too use with practice.
Great to hear you've had such solid luck with Harbor Freight tools, especially for home projects! Sounds like they've really come through for you. Care to share some of your favorites aside from your new welder?
@@sawinery-woodworking I have the Electric and air powered impact guns and their small tire changer for mower and small trailer tires and they are all great tools. I used the electric impact gun and it surprised me as too the power it has. Great tools.
I was literally there yesterday and saw those chisels you mentioned. I had the opposite reaction as you, which was that they’re so cheap, I might as well give them a try.
Hey, thanks for sharing your take! It's all about finding what works best for our needs. Hope those chisels work out well for you!
I love buying tools at harbor freight. I hope they stay privately owned.
thank you sir for the work you put into your teaching videos, and this particular video is extremely helpful to me personally. I have bought quite a few of Harbor Freight's various clamps and I've never had a failure yet when used properly for what they're designed to for. I've always wondered about their Bauer and Hercules line of power tools, if they were of good quality. Now I'm looking at their Central Machinery lathe. Thanks for the insights!
Thank you for your kind words! I'm so glad to hear that the video was helpful for you.
you said what i been saying all these years, if the tool isnt complicated (ex. drill press/belt sander) HF is a good place to go, or for one off, i worked for HF years ago and their quality control was horrible.
Harbor Freight can be a great option for certain tools and projects. Sorry to hear about the quality control issues you encountered, though. And thanks for sharing your experience!
I love my Hercules dual bevel miter saw.
I had that exact same green 4x36 sander for about 25 years. At about year ten, I dropped it off of a 3 foot table onto concrete. It landed on the disc sander and broke it.
I picked it up, took off the broken disc sander, put it back on the table (and secured it this time), turned it on and it kept on working!
I was literally waiting for the thing to die before I got a new one but ended up moving and just gave it away. As far as I know, that thing is still going!
It's impressive that the sander survived that fall and kept on going strong. Definitely amazing how durable some tools can be.
Bauer line does not include a table saw.
The Hercules is almost nice, but has enough QA issues to make it a hard pass. It wouldn't take much to bring the quality level up, but in its current form... no.
The Warrior is very budget oriented as low as $125-$130 on sale. May be okay for small DIY projects. Definitely not for large material. Use at your own risk.
Skil offers a much better entry level table saw. The TS6307-00 is better quality than the Hercules, and cost substantially less.
Chicago Electric, but CENTRAL Pneumatic and Machinery.
I have a Hercules mitre saw, and it's great, but I'm a DYI'er, so it might not hold up with constant use. I've used it regularly for over 5 years, and worn out the blade it came with (which was VERY good), but perhaps there are other brands which hold up better.
Appreciate you sharing your experience! It's awesome to hear that your Hercules miter saw has been serving you well for over 5 years. And yes, considering other brands geared towards heavy-duty use is definitely a good idea for prolonged or intense usage.
I love this channel
I love walking into harbor freight. It's a well lit and always impeccably clean. The staff are fantastic and I recently picked up the Hercules 1/2 impact wrench. If you look at impact wrench reviews it appears that they seldom do them from the northeast. Here in New England we have a ton of salt being used and lots of moisture which equals a lot of rust. I did my brakes all around including the removal of the rotors/calipers. Lugs came off effortlessly and the caliper rear bolts came off pretty easy. This didn't reach all the boys from the back due to its size but I knew that going in. Just really happy with the tools in general for the above average mechanic or carpenter. I even saved about 50 bucks because I have the inside track membership. I also appreciate the variety in the tool boxes, jack stands, and add-ons. Lastly, the return policy and the warranty cannot be beat. Hercules impact wrench has a 5 year warranty and a three for the battery. Phenomenal!
It's awesome to hear that you had such a good time at Harbor Freight and that the Hercules impact wrench worked well for you. The Inside Track membership sounds like a great way to save some cash as well 🙂
I agree 100%
9:22 I think you meant to say Warrior, rather than Bauer. HF doesn't have a Bauer table saw. The Warrior line is equivalent to Chicago Electric.
That Hercules table saw is nice, but it's slightly outclassed in features and price by the Skil TS6307-00.
You’re right. My memory failed me there. I guess I assumed it was Bauer. Either way, I wasn’t all that impressed with it.
I agree that Harbor Freight is great when you need to use a tool once, but some of the tools you said were good enough were some of my worse HF purchases. I'd purchased 4 of the longer quick release bar clamps and they kept snapping. I exchanged a couple no problems, but even those snapped. I finally tossed the lot. That was years ago, so maybe it's gotten better. The belt sander I use to this day, but I had to do some tweaking to get it to run right when I bought it, and the motor bogs down easily. I haven't bought their hand plane, but I have seen others on youtube try to "fix" that plane and it definitely doesn't seem to be worth the trouble. Also, tests of edge retention show it to be horrible. I do think HF is doing better. For example, I bought Icon replacements for older hex key T-handles that I liked the form factor but were breaking free of their handles and rounding over. The Icon's are much better. But I do think they let their low bar go too low.
I appreciate your input. It sounds like you've had your share of ups and downs with Harbor Freight tools. Sorry to hear about the issues with the bar clamps. Have you found any other gems in their lineup?
Their parallel clamps are honestly comparable to the Jorgensen clamps, at almost half the price. I use them daily and they’ve been awesome!
I'm glad to hear that! It's always a win when you find quality tools at a great price.
I have used Doyle and Quinn dikes and lineman's pliers they do the job quite adequately while they are not top of the line klien or channel lock at least they are not great neck
The issue with Her toes right now is the number of tools they have for that anyway platform. They need to widen the number of tools that run on that battery platform.
There are some gems in that store as well as some crap. The #4 sized and the dual adjustment plane with wood tote and knob are not good at all as a jackplane. I am going to turn mine into scrubplanes. Not sure how well that will work out yet but they currently serve no other purpose.
You just have to know what youre looking at with some of their stuff. Some of their stuff has several part numbers for the same tool. The 20t press for example. Theres 2 different versions. I cant remember which one is better but one bolts together and the other has the main frame welded. Same tool, same price, different quality.
Thanks for chiming in! Your advice about understanding Harbor Freight tools is much appreciated. Appreciate you sharing!
HF does not actually "build their own" tools. Bauer and Hercules are made in the same Chinese factories as Ryobi and DeWalt. (Yes, DeWalt has some US manufacturing, but with Chinese parts)
China will build whatever quality tools you pay them to build. Remember, these people have a nuclear arsenal.
That said, your video is spot-on. There are good and bad tools at HF. Way more good than bad today compared to 15 years ago.
Doing the research is up to the buyer.
Sorry if I implied that they actually build their own. I’m sure you’re right that they just find a Chinese manufacturer to build for them. I guess the big difference today, compared to 20 years ago, is they’re having that factory turn out better quality tools.
I'm not a cheapskate, I just don't like paying money for things! I started out in the 90's on the cheapo stuff like the 9 dollar angle grinder (I hear that inflation caused it to go up to 10 dollars) but now, my wood/metal fab shop is either vintage American cast iron from the 1950's or Harbor freight. Every time I go in, I see AT LEAST one mechanic in coveralls buying Icon or Quinn. I have GIVEN AWAY a harbor freight 4x36 belt sander and a 5 inch swivel vise after about 25 years of hard service. Ended up moving and decided to just buy new. My old swivel vise cost 59 bucks back in the day - it's 79 now - not much inflation...
I'm suspicious the, "I don't need one, so I'm not doing that," comment regarding the table saw was reflexively aimed at a spouse... 😂
After I show my husband a new tool and he reminds me we already have that tool, I have to backpedal with, "Oh, yea, yea.. I was just looking and thought it was cool. 😏"
Over the 30+ years of buying tools I have bought countless brands of tools, I have zero concerns with buying some tools from HF rather than a high end brand. I wanted to buy a 12” compound miter so was going to buy the yellow $600 one then Hercules came out with theirs, after touching and reviewing them I noticed build quality is nearly identical so waiting one year for it to be shaken out by others I ended buying the Herc for nearly 1/2 the cost. Have owned and put it through it paces fro about 2 years and it is a fantastic saw, my sisters boyfriend who has a HF salary but thinks he is Thurston Howell hardly does any DIY because he ends up making things worse after touching but likes to buy tools and when he does will “only buy quality” so will never buy anything from HF. I laugh as his yellow tools are overkill for him and 1/2 are broken because he has 10 thumbs.
Hey, thanks for sharing your experience. Love that you found your match with the Hercules saw. It's proof that you don't need deep pockets to get the tools you need.
I don't know that I would ever buy any power tools at harbor freight. I suppose if they were going to be lightly used then I would. But if I had a project that I knew I was going to have to work the hell out of a power tool I would probably buy something that is much higher quality, and just spend the money the first time.
I bought a socket set 3 years ago for $12 and maybe used it 3 times. I’d say I got my moneys worth
Nice one! Sometimes all we need are affordable tools that get the job done when you need them.
The Hercules and Bauer line have 5 year tool 3 year battery and 3/2 year warranty. Thats comparable to the big brands.
The problem with harbor freight, is that they are no longer following the business model that they were founded on. They want name brand prices for their power tools now. I could go on and on with these scenarios, but I'm only going to give one example. When I needed a planer, I looked at hf and Lowe's. The craftsman and the Bauer looked identical in design, weighed the same, etc, but the craftsman was $60 less. I got the craftsman, and sure enough, the Bauer knives fit it. The craftsman cost less and came with twice the warranty period as the Bauer. The next time you need a power tool, compare hf to Lowe's and home Depot on the price, and then pay close attention to the warranty. I very rarely buy anything from hf and when I do, it's something small and inexpensive. When they got rid of the coupons, that was pretty much the end of me shopping there for power tools. There is one more thing though. If they want to compete with the two mentioned stores, open the doors at the same time they do. If I need something for a job one morning, I don't want to wait until 9 am to go pick it up.
Right on. Pro finish carpenter here, love HF, but ya gotta pick and choose wisely, though I have to admit it's trial and error for me over the years. Tried the $10 angle grinder. Junk.(was really no surprise) bought their $25 23 ga.pin gun at least 15 years ago,I've estimated I've driven at least 50,000 pins w it,still use it every day. Same w their first multi tool,though it's corded and since added the Milwaukee 18v to my collection, but it still works like a champ.
It's true, with HF, you've got to be selective, but when you find the gems like that pin gun, it's golden. Sometimes, HF surprises us with their reliability.
The Baur line does not have a table saw. I think that you meant Warrior.
Ive committed to the Hercules line from drills and grinders to the sliding miter saw and the table saw for my woodshop. Will be getting the planer soon.
Ive found the Hercules models to be just as reliable and cheaper in price than the other box store brands. Saving money and getting quality at the same time is getting harder starting a few years ago and may hopefully get better in next year.
Harbor Freight has created the Hercules line as a professional line of tools, intended to complete with Milwaukee, DeWalt and Makita. I can’t say how well they last, although from what I know of their construction, they should be a good, durable brand. Based on that, I’d say you made a good choice. Good luck!
@@sawinery-woodworking All of the Hercules cordless tools come with a 5-year warranty (3-years on the battery). If something does go wrong, just bring it back to the store and they'll replace it. That's a better warranty than you'll get from most other pro-level brands.
I use my milwaukee fuel impact wrench and and ratchet everyday and those tools are a god send,. but I use HF sockets with those tools because they're good enough and even if I did have a socket fail they have a lifetime warranty like any other brand, One that I can take in myself and be in and out vs having to mail it in or wait for a tool truck to come by. Also since they're so cheap it makes my dumbass losing sockets all the time not hurt so bad when you can pick up another for less 10 bucks. I also have one of the pittsburgh jacks and that thing is a work horse. but I've had lots of lemons with their pliers. I went through so many doyle side cutters that I just gave up on them. Same with their allen wrenches. They have lifetime warranty too but I'm not going to hf every other day to replace them. Their air tools though? Simply amazing bang for the buck. I have central pneumatic air tools that my dad used at his job for years that I now use. He bought them on the premise that if they go bad another one is just 8 bucks and they just never went bad even after years of daily use and probably not being oiled as they should. My dad has the same belt sander you have with the disc he bought about 10 years ago and that thing works like a champ.
Hey, thanks for sharing your tool insights! It's always interesting to hear how different brands stack up in real-world usage. Glad your HF air tools are holding up well with years of use.
The planes that I looked at aren’t really quality but that was a year ago. The wooden hand screw clamps are fantastic, and the pipe clamp sets are great, but they can’t go onto cheap pipe or the pipe WILL fail first.
Their pipe clamps are excellent and at a great price. Good point on the pipe. Since I mostly use bar clamps and not pipe clamps, I’ve never had that particular failure happen to me.
@@sawinery-woodworking it’s from the low quality Chinese imported pipe. You can use the American made pipe beside the Chinese pipe and crank the latter to failure; it breaks at the threaded end because the pipe wall is compromised. The Chinese imported pipe still works fine for fluids and is significantly cheaper ( a lot of mechanics use galvanized pipe for air distribution around their shop)
I would call their Hercules brand as prosumer. I’ve used a few and they are nice. But they really don’t feel like real professional tools. It’s hard to explaine. But I’ve been doing this since that late 1960s and I know what professional tools feel like and how they work. I just can’t realistically compare them to my DeWalts. As far as gears and bearing go, just because they’re metal doesn’t tell us much. What is the metal? Is it hardened and tempered properly? Is it pressed, or machined, or ground? How good are the bearings? There is a large variation in bearing quality. The same thing for=r the rest. There’s a reason why they cost 40% of a professional tool and it’s not the brand name itself, though maybe 5% of the price of all these tools are brand name. Chicago or Pittsburg branded tools don’t have that, but Hercules tools have that price built in to the price as well.
One question I would ask you is if they have a router worth the money.
fb Marketplace has used craftsman for 35 dollars all day long
I have never used any of Harbor Freight’s routers, so I don’t have any personal experience with them. However, I would expect that their Hercules routers are worth the money, especially considering how much cheaper they are than other brands.
Also remember that the hand tool brands like Pittsburgh and Icon have a lifetime warranty. Take back that clamp your son broke, and they'll give you a new one.
Hey, thanks for sharing that! It's great to have that extra reassurance when investing in tools.
They just hit 1500 stores
Okay
Now that there is a Harbor Freight in my small city, it is where I get most of my tools. Only most, though.
Icon hand tools are great IMHO. Hercules tools are good quality and really can compete with the big names. Bremen parallel clamps are designed to be very competitive and may or may not be as good as the others but seem to be good enough for me.
I got one of their cheap General Electric routers. It wasn't worth the small amount I paid - seriously, not worth $5. . . At this point I won't buy that brand.
Recently bought one of their ramps. No one else in the area sold what I wanted and the ramp worked like a charm.
But for cordless stuff? I was all-in on Makita but now I'll go with Dewalt and Flex due to better battery tech.
What can I say? Yeah, I like Harbor Freight for a lot of stuff.
Sounds like you've got a mixed bag with Harbor Freight! Good to hear the ramps and some tools are hitting the mark. Shame about the router, though. Finding what works best in that sea of options is key, isn't it?
P.S.
Switching to Dewalt was a smart move-I’ve been using their tools too and totally agree, the battery life is a game changer. How are you finding them for your projects?
@@sawinery-woodworking I simply have no complaints at all about Dewalt.
I believe your statement that "harbor freight makes tools" is misleading. They may spec them but I don't believe they own any manufacturing in the USA or anywhere else.
I think even that may be a little far. A lot of what’s in the store is manufactured white label in China and then shopped to brands. You’ll run into identical tools sold under different labels. He has a Wen band saw there and a lot of Wen tools are the same.
That said, all store brands operate that way. Craftsman used to be like Bass Pro store brands: a little cheaper offering made by the major manufacturers. Hand planes were made by Sargant and Millers Falls for 100 years. But I think they had gone full store brand even prior to Sears going defunct, definitely after. Kobalt, Husky, etc. operate that way. Also lower tier brands like Skill. Ryobi is where you start getting dedicated manufacturing. Then you run into the mess of corporate structures where most big box name brands fall under 2 parent companies, often going GM putting different plastic (and batteries) on the same tool body.
And then there’s some of the old brands that have gone overseas. Pony Jorgensen’s customer support is even in China, and I can’t tell the difference between their F clamps and HF’s except the color. I just buy clamps at garage/estate sales from when they had better tolerances and no plastic. Irwin Marples is similar with at least some of their line, seem to be the same as big box store brand. Stanley mostly exists as a label sold off to different companies in different segments.
I have an old HF drill press that’s good enough. I’ll replace it eventually. Probably anything that’s a big electric motor is fine: the sander, a grinder, whatever. They’re basically the bare minimum reference design of that thing. It’ll be kinda crappy, the tolerances aren’t great, and the plastic will break off, but they’ll work. That’s not OK for a saw. And their regular power tools are just bad, except for his use case of “once in a blue moon” when you can’t borrow one.
But I mostly buy shop stuff there: magnet trays, funnels, wire brushes, etc. The one real thing they’re my source for is Evaporust. Dollar Tree is often better for things like cheap paint brushes, spray bottles, cleaners, and their table cloths make a great small drop cloth to protect a bench from glue ups or finish. For things in bulk, Amazon or Temu (if you can wait 2 weeks) are cheaper for the same junk.
The stores are owned by a different company. They operate as Harbor Freight.
Handle snapping off? yup. made a wood replacement. The WINDSOR chisels? they work good enough for me most of the time. the are a bit short though. Steel quality? BTFOOM! I sharpen and the when the need it, do over. I have since been gifted a better set Gida brand.
Making your own wood handle is impressive. And it's good to hear the Windsor chisels are serving you well overall. Have you noticed a big improvement with the Gida set?
@@sawinery-woodworking Yes. They are longer both blade and handle and the handles are a bit more comfy. Gida steel is Chrome Van which is good enough for a guy on SocSec.
SUB'd
Thanks for the support!
The thing about Harbor Freight is that 95-99% of people don't need nicer tools. I'm an "average joe" that uses tools here and there around the house. I probably use all of my tools a combined 0-5 times per month. Why do I need expensive tools? When the HF tools I own finally break (I'm not convinced they ever will at the rate I use tools) I just buy another one for a few bucks. There is no way in my lifetime I'll come even close to spending what it would cost even to just buy a cheaper/middle of the road priced brand like Irwins line of tools. Let alone Snap On, Mac etc.
You make a great point. Harbor Freight tools are great for folks who don't need high-end tools for frequent use. It's all about practicality and saving money where we can.
The info you said about everything being built and sold is harbor frieght. This is incorrect. Harbor freight (gonna call them HF from now on) doesn’t manufacture a single item that they sell. Most of the tools they sell are manufactured by an independent company in either China or Taiwan. These manufacturers sell tools to many other companies as well. In fact majority of the tools HF sells you can find elsewhere rebranded under a different name. Often times for less money too.
This is very common in the tool industry. Majority don’t manufacture themselves (except the big companies). Rebranding isn’t something just HF does, even Maco a professional tool company who markets there tools to mechanics and sells off trucks much like snap on does the same. They don’t manufacture anything but tool boxes.
HF is merely a retail store much like Walmart. They don’t manufacture anything and the stuff you can get at HF you can often get elsewhere under a different brand.
"Had the Drill Press for over a decade"...still calls it "Chicago Machinery." lol
So what dude. Its easy to get names mixed up when you have a lot of them.
I love Harbor Freight. I think if you buy their better or best versions of tools and don’t abuse them you’ll probably make out ok. Sure, the Pittsburgh hand tools aren’t the highest quality, if your paycheck depends on your tools maybe don’t buy that brand but if you’re a weekend warrior maybe they’ll suffice. Plus they do have a lifetime warranty. If you’re only going to use a power tool infrequently or for lighter duty work maybe the Warrior brand will do just fine. I have Pittsburgh hand tools and Warrior, Chicago Electric and Bauer corded tools from Harbor Freight and I’m pleased with 98% of them. I’m also only a DIYer and I know tools have limitations, all of them, no matter where you buy them from. That’s my 🪙🪙
Nice, it's refreshing to hear a balanced perspective on their offerings. Your advice about choosing their better or best versions for longevity makes a lot of sense. At the end of the day, it's all about finding the right fit for your needs.
I'm a novice and don't have a fortune to go out and build a mini factory woodshop like a lot of these guys on TH-cam. The gatekeeping thing in the woodworking community online against harbor freight is obnoxious and I suspect more often based on emotion rather than facts. I really appreciate your insightful videos like this one where you keep an open mind and take a deeper look at the actual, specific tools, rather than just writing off the entire company and its brands with one stroke. Thanks a lot and keep up the great videos.
The voice recognition on my phone stinks. Should have read it before I hit send.
Mm ok
I don’t care what anybody says about Harbor Freight, I can’t afford cheap tools
You make a strong point about the cost of cheap tools. Sometimes saving money upfront can cost more in the long run if the tools don't hold up. It's all about finding that balance between budget and quality.
Their clamps are fraction of the cost of the brand name ones.
Harbor Freight's clamps are indeed much cheaper than brand name ones, but I've found them to be surprisingly durable and effective. The ones I have are still going strong after years of use.
@@sawinery-woodworking I have a few of them too. 👍
I also bought a plate jointer, what a piece of junk.
I think you need to tell the public wen that by a tool if they can get parts for it I have a 7” jointer and the fence needs parts
And I called them I can not get parts for it I payed good money for it with out the parts the jointer is not good mit as well put it in the trash a wast of money a not safe to use if that is good bisness you at taking the people how by your tools how do you think that makes me fell Donald jauregui wast of money and no service after sales put that in your pipe and smokit.
The sockets and ratchets are completely horrible. Sockets don’t grip well at all. The quick clams don’t hold. This a no precision tool market.
Wierd icon sockets and wrenches hold exact or better tolerances than snap on. Now I can see Pittsburgh sure. Here's the issue Pittsburgh pro and quinn are made by Apex in the same plant as gearwrench. So when I hear people hate on HF and praise gearwrench I laugh. At that point it's a bias opinion and not an educated one
Lot's of junk but a few good things.
Totally get that-it's like sifting through a treasure chest, right? Always a thrill when you snag a few good finds amid the rest!
actually harbor freight. doesn't MAKE anything. the Chinese do . they are nothing more then a retailer
Paid advertisement, obviously. What I know is 80% of what I buy from there, breaks within a week of buying it. Sure, they exchange it, but my time is valuable. I do like their daytona jacks and jackstands
what the fuck are you talking about you orc
truck in the pfp compensating like you're comparing the size of your clubs and yours happens to be a chicago machinery brand
Disagree
@asaadalmohammadi3008 I'm a metal fabricator with a cheap boss. I've had plenty of experience with Harbor freight stuff , but i'm glad that it's worked out for you. I like precision and reliability myself. I also don't like my tools breaking
It definitely depends on the particular tool. If you have a cheap boss, he’s wasting YOUR time by trying to skimp. My question is why are you working for someone that has no business sense? Downtime= no money
Cheap tools = downtime
Professionals (getting paid to do work) that work on commissions don’t risk downtime. When I was a plumber working on commission, I didn’t skimp on my plumbing tools. There were a few tools that did not have quality alternatives, so I had to save up or use rental equipment that was proper for the job. I DID use a 60# electric breaker (jackhammer) a lot, but never bought my own. I found out how important the handles were on the Bosch Brute (the yellow one) as opposed to immobile handles on a gray one that I used once. It left me almost unable to move my arms the next day; I know if I had employees, the Bosch Brute would be my pick so it kept everyone working.
You are using the tools that keep breaking- it’s either the wrong tool, the tool being misused, or poor quality tools. When a person has their livelihood dependent on something, it’s not something to skimp on.
For instance, I love the fact that I can buy a nearly identical clamp for much less at HF, or a belt sander, and it will be adequate. I actually tend to over tighten clamps and have broken a few bar clamps, so I know now that the pipe itself is key(I bought pipe at Home Depot) because the metal of the pipe is worse than the Harbor Freight clamp itself.
When it comes to tool choice, it’s up to the operator to make the final decision- take responsibility and either get the proper tools yourself, or get a different employer if they don’t understand why you NEED the PROPER equipment (which may not correlate with price, but usually does)
Sounds like you're buying the wrong stuff at harbor freight. Or your boss is having you buy the wrong stuff at harbor freight.
Ok?
OK.