I buy a few things from H F. I guess I buy from a lot of places now that I think of it.
New Line Of Harbor Freight Tools
- Thread starter RustyRatRod
- Start date
-
mopardude318
Well-Known Member
Working with quality tools really does make the job easier. I prefer to buy US made tools. I’m just a shade tree mechanic, but I still buy Snap-On when I can.
Now I’m not saying this icon wrench is junk, maybe I’ll give it a try as I need another torque wrench.
And yes I agree with the above statement, I buy a lot of tools from swap meets. Older USA made tools.
Now I’m not saying this icon wrench is junk, maybe I’ll give it a try as I need another torque wrench.
And yes I agree with the above statement, I buy a lot of tools from swap meets. Older USA made tools.
I have seen the new tools. They look good but I don't know how tough they are. I would need to see inside a ratchet to see how they are built. The HF tools mirror Snap On and Mac's cheaper line of imported tools. As long as the warranty is there there will be buyers but most professional techs have more pride than to have a tool box full of Harbor Freight.
valiantwagonguy
Well-Known Member
The Chinese garbage we are flooded with can be directly linked back to the dirt bag politicians who are owned by the greedy dirt bag corporate interests .We all sat back and let this happen so stop bitching about it.You want to change it VOTE OUT ALL DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS !They are your enemy not the Chinese. The Chinese simply took advantage of our greed
j par
Well-hung Member
And just think you could have had a Hemi Cuba instead...
j par
Well-hung Member
There's a new generation of Tech's... They all Drive Japanese cars...
Ha, but you're the expert. I spent 28 years owning a Mac Tool business but I get the big red X. Yep, you know it all!
May be you didn't hear what I said J.
j par
Well-hung Member
I don't know at all but if you insist..
My 30 year old son "the tech" he buys a few things from the mack truck but not the majority... Certainly not tool boxes... Those kids just don't make that kind of money anymore... The corporate wants too much of it...
j par
Well-hung Member
When my son started a new job and he needed a crap load of tools he went straight to Harbor Freight.. instead of getting himself up to his eyeballs in debt with the mack truck...
j par
Well-hung Member
I don't know at all but I certainly know my own son..
We all used to be down on Jap stuff but we have learned they can and do make high quality products. I bet the Chineese- iums are also capable. If these HF tools are of good quality, thus will have to be proved to us non believers!!!!
dano
Evil Handy Man
We have a yearly cal where I work for everything we use in manufacturing (meters, Power Supplies, ovens, timers, o scopes, torque wrenches, etc). I've never heard from the independent cal cert company rejecting a tool over the brand. As long as it can be calibrated and pass their testing they cal and cert it.
There was another thread that had a link where a HF TQ wrench registered as good or better than a snap on.
I might be setting myself up again for the red x, but I think a lot of the hype about super expensive tools is just that- hype.
My brother is one. he looks down on anything except top tier tools as though you're not a "real" mechanic if you don''t have a $3500 tool box full of snap on and mac.
It's kind of like keeping up with the Joneses.
What I used to say about Craftsman vs those top tier brands was-
"If it breaks, you get a new one- can't really do any better than that."
I might be setting myself up again for the red x, but I think a lot of the hype about super expensive tools is just that- hype.
My brother is one. he looks down on anything except top tier tools as though you're not a "real" mechanic if you don''t have a $3500 tool box full of snap on and mac.
It's kind of like keeping up with the Joneses.
What I used to say about Craftsman vs those top tier brands was-
"If it breaks, you get a new one- can't really do any better than that."
my68barracuda
Well-Known Member
Not wanting to be nosey, but are you planning to build a rocket or spaceship? Just asking,,,,
Screw lifetime warranty. I want lifetime quality..
Nothing worse than stripping a ratchet,then having to return it 75 miles away. I need it to work.
Last edited:
139 dollar ball joint service kit vs 869 dollar snap on kit.
Snappy is way tougher, has features and parts that save you time, thereby making you money in less time spent. Mind you, i make my living with my tools.
high end air hammer vs any other, try chiseling off a rivet. it has paid for itself in a couple years.
Snappy is way tougher, has features and parts that save you time, thereby making you money in less time spent. Mind you, i make my living with my tools.
high end air hammer vs any other, try chiseling off a rivet. it has paid for itself in a couple years.
They don't understand. They can just hand out red X's like candy. You have been a tech for how many decades now? You know the drill. You do get what you pay for. I saw 90% of my customers on a weekly basis. If you didn't take care of them they can and will buy somewhere else.
DrEamer
I suffer from cars on the brain!
No, red X from me. I work at a dealership, and walk through the shop and you'll find most of the established techs with Snap On, Mac, or Matco boxes full of said tools. Most of the guys starting out that get paid by the hour instead of flat rate use Craftsman and some HF. I don't turn wrenches anymore, but as I said earlier most people that don't make their living with tools will by cheaper brands. Also, you must have been doing something right to be a Mac dealer for as long as you have. Our local guy hung it up after 20 years, and went to work for the city for medical and retirement benefits. Unfortunately no one has picked up his route.
That sucks for the tech's. I was disappointed when after a year they found someone to take my route. I hear a lot of complaints about his service (or lack of). I hung it up after 28 years because of health reasons. After my heart surgery I could get back in the truck and do it again. LOL
Half of the argument ( discussion) centers on are you are a "real" mechanic and make a living with your tools or a hobbiest. I am a hobbiest although I have took apart and put together ( nut and bolt and half *** restos) many cars for decades now. I admit I have never owned a Snap-On tool, but I love quality, but I also have to justify the costs of anything. I do not make my living with my tools. I have a couple of S-K rachet wrenches that are 30 years old.
Never had a Craftsman I did not break and was never gonna drive 2 ours to a Sears store to be handed a "kit" to fix it with !!! That is when I fond S-K and etc.,
I just finished the paint work on 3 cars, all shot with $45 guns. High quality? no but acceptable and affordable. I would love to have a $1000 spray gun and a paint booth while wishing, but I got the job done with quality I can accept.
Personally I hope HF steps up and demands decent quality from the Chinaman. And that goes for the zillion other companies that sold out America also!
Never had a Craftsman I did not break and was never gonna drive 2 ours to a Sears store to be handed a "kit" to fix it with !!! That is when I fond S-K and etc.,
I just finished the paint work on 3 cars, all shot with $45 guns. High quality? no but acceptable and affordable. I would love to have a $1000 spray gun and a paint booth while wishing, but I got the job done with quality I can accept.
Personally I hope HF steps up and demands decent quality from the Chinaman. And that goes for the zillion other companies that sold out America also!
vitamindart
Well-Known Member
I made a living at the Dealer level for a good 10 years, when I started I had a box full of Craftsman tools. they did the job and the longer I was there and the more work I did. the more they were replaced with Mac, Snap On or Matco tools. My tools helped me Make Money, some of those Craftsman tools were still in my tool box when they walked us out the door. Harbor freight is good for some stuff, but not the tools I made my living with.
pishta
I know I'm right....
Its funny, I got a buddy that worked in China for 5 year doing cell tower work. He told.me China has some high end hand tools too, but they never get exported because everyone knows "Made in China' means crap and the export Chinese tools are made to a export price point, ie cheap. I had 1 snap on 7/16 combo wrench in my box. Dont know where it came from, but I hated it. The thing was so thin that it was uncomfortable to break nuts with. I'm sure it was strong as hell, but the handle almost had an edge to it. Like an airplane wing. I got a set of HF Pittsburgh combo wrenches and have never had a complaint about them. Cant really find a fault in a wrench. Ratchets are another story. I had a Kreuter (sp?) Ratchet and that was awesome. Had a squarish handle and a very fine sprag. Bullet proof but not theft proof :-(
BigStrok3
Mopar!
The icon line looks pretty good for what it is. But for the price I'll buy gearwrench. I'm just a hobbyist for the most part and never had an issue with them.
I knew this would be a good one 
-
