Harbor Freight Win-or-Fail Thread
 

Anyone interested in a Harbor Freight win-or-fail a.k.a hit-or-miss thread? Most of us are cheap bastards and a lot of us shop at HF so why not document it for the rest.

Please include the part number so that if a hot link breaks later on, it can still be identified.

I'll start off...

Win - Grassroots Motorsports and (I think) Popular Mechanics always have a 20% off coupon in the back of each issue. The great thing about this coupon is it also applies to sale items.

Win
13 Drawer Red Industrial Quality Roller Cabinet
ITEM # 90320
MANUFACTURER: U.S. GENERAL
Current sale price $369
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_2244.jpg

I bought mine a few months ago on sale with the coupon so out the door with tax it was about $350. That is a steal IMO for this thing. It is huge for a home tool box and holds a lot of stuff. Ball bearing slides are nice, and it has decent wheels so it rolls around easily even when loaded. Take a truck or a trailer if you buy one. The crate is large and in my case was loaded (by HF staff) with a fork lift.

The only thing about it I do not like are the drawer mats. They are slick and hand tools slide around too easily. This can be fixed with some better matting.

Fail
4.5" Angle Grinder (120V).
ITEM # 95578
MANUFACTURER: DRILL MASTER
Current price $10 (overpriced)
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_3299.jpg

I bought this and got about 2 hours of use out of it. The first set of brushes melted down while using a flapper wheel on some steel. I replaced the brushes, even bought spares, then one of the winding wires inside of the grinder overheated and failed like a fuse. I disassembled it to find the failure mode and promptly threw it in the trash. I have read elsewhere to stay away from the 'blue' grinders so that is consistent with my experience.

I since bought a different 4.5" angle grinder that was on sale.
ITEM # 91223 MANUFACTURER: CHICAGO ELECTRIC POWER TOOLS
It has an orange case. So far so good, though I am not ready to give it a win yet.

harbor freight wobble extension set. 70% WIN, 30% FAIL

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c.../image_160.jpg

The 1/4" extensions all broke pretty much on first use.

The 3/8" extensions when all stacked shortest to longest and on the end of my other standard long extension make removing the tranny bolts on a miata SUPER EASY.

Not bad for 11.99 but it appears they now make a 3/8 impact wobble extension set for 7.99.

oh and regarding the angle grinder, I just bought a miluakee the first time and it's awesome. probably way quieter than the harbor freight ones too.

Win (mostly)
3 HP, 21 Gallon, 120 Volt 115 PSI Cast Iron Vertical Air Compressor
ITEM # 94667
MANUFACTURER: CENTRAL PNEUMATIC
Current Price $130
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_3015.jpg

I bought this when I was about to do a large job, like an engine pull or something, and was tired of not having air tools. I did not expect it to last very long but figured if I got a decent amount of use out of it for awhile, why not at the price? Well I have had it for over a year now and have run it for many, many, many hours. I definitely got my money out of this unit and it is still going strong.

Some things I do not like about it:
1. It is noisy, but all cheap portable compressors like this one are noisy.
2. The wheels were shit. I had to replace them.
3. The pressure regulator is not very good. It does not flow well. I replaced it with an ingersoll-rand dryer/regulator i picked up at Northern Tool. Much better.
4. The condensation drain is hard to use. I replaced it with a 90 deg fitting, some piping, and a 1/4 turn ball valve, about $10 worth of stuff if that. Now it is easy to drain.

I get a lot of shit at my job (auto tech) for shopping the "freight". I usually have great luck with their hand and air tools. While most of my stuff is mac or matco, lately i've been buying more and more from HF.

Here's an example-I was shopping a air powered disc grinder for cleaning off old gaskets. Mac wanted $135 for theirs plus $20 for the arbor. I bought one at HF for $7.99 and picked up an arbor for $6. I've been using it for 3yrs with no issues, it even has a grease fitting on the head! I also picked up a HF cutoff wheel for $10 bucks and that sucker works better than my bosses matco one.

I figure I save a least a grand a year shopping there first before hitting up the tool trucks.

One thing I won't buy from HF is an impact gun, those suckers have no balls! I won't buy a box either. While they're fine for home use, most customers don't want to see there car being worked on by a guy pulling tools out of a US general box.:giggle:

Win
1/2" 'Earthquake' Impact Wrench
ITEM # 2623
MANUFACTURER: CENTRAL PNEUMATIC EARTHQUAKE
Current Price $90
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...m/image_88.jpg

For $90 this unit definitely does the job. It has busted loose several large thread, rusted-to-crap bolts, and takes off wheel lug nuts like they are nothing. The power adjuster and reverser switch can be hard to move around but otherwise it works fine. It is capable of splitting standard sockets so impact sockets are a good idea.

I had a silver bodied $25 HF impact wrench before this one and it is worthless. Really, don't even bother. I still have it, don't know why, might make a nice hammer someday

HF electric impact. Epic epic fail. I bought this to remove flywheel bolts. It half removed one before it bit the dust.

HF lowspeed heavy duty drill. WIN. I have used this thing for hours and hours and it never fails, and drills through anything. I bought it for 30 dollars on the display table (unpacked but still new.) I had to buy a chuck key from lowes for 6 bucks.

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_2734.jpg




Edit: These were also a failure. These damn things twisted every which way when i tried to use them, and eventually broke in half.

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_3597.jpg

LOL, when I saw the title to this thread, I was going to put this up as a fail. Mine ran for 30 seconds, smoked and stopped.

Never seen that one?

I just bought this one to replace my old IR 231 classic. About a pound lighter and packs 800lbft reverse and 650lbft forward. Works awesome, i'm just afraid to drop it.:eek4:

My $10 angle grinder (orange case) does all my cutting, and completely restored my motorcycle, which took a lot of grinding, sanding, and cutting. It's lasted at least 3 years, + or - a year. Still going strong with no signs of stopping.

I've been looking at their $60 aluminum racing jack to get under my car now that it's too low for my standard jack, and it'll go higher.

If you're talking about the blue one, it's well worth it.

+1. Blue jack and protection plan. I had one replaced already, the second seems to be holding up well. All the broken one really needed was some new E clips, but I didn't want to mess with it.

bot one when they had them for same price for the 4th of july, i am pleased

Win
Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Bandsaw
ITEM # 93762
MANUFACTURER: CENTRAL MACHINERY
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_2769.jpg

For the price it sure is great having a vertical band saw which is all I have used it for so far. It cuts well and is relatively quiet. So far I have cut tubing, pipes, angle iron, and 1/8" plate, all in aluminum and steel. No problems. It pummels a hack saw.

The things I do not like:
1. The brackets that holds the wheels for rolling it around are shit. The brackets just bend and then the wheels no longer work. I do not move it around much so I have not fixed this yet.
2. The blade it comes with is not very good. Get a bimetal blade the second you buy this saw. 64.5" IIRC.

Fail
8" Three-Jaw Puller
ITEM # 40970
MANUFACTURER: PITTSBURGH
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c.../image_836.jpg

I bought this to remove a stubborn axle from a wheel hub (Miata) and it failed in just a few seconds. One of the six plates that attach the jaw to the center portion snapped at the bolt hole. It is sitting on the floor under the bench waiting for repair. Now granted I was using an impact on it, and this particular axle would just not separate from the hub (penetrant, heat, pounding, blah blah) so it could have just been a case of a stoppable force meeting an immovable object. Whatever. It broke.

^^^This is one of my favorite new tools. Picked up their impact socket and impact u-joint, and it all works nicely together.

Fail
Abrasive Blast Cabinet
ITEM # 42202
MANUFACTURER: Central Pneumatic
Current price $119
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c.../image_955.jpg

Comes nearly fully assembled, which I thought was nice. The included blast gun made a fantastic paperweight, but it never pulled a grain of sand through the hose. The 3 included plastic sheets to protect the inside of the glass were enough to do about one small part each. The glass should be annealed to make it a little harder, and more resistant to abrasion. After I replaced the blast gun with another I had laying around, It shoots pretty well. I also covered the inside of the glass with wide clear tape and just replace a strip of tape or two when I need to see again. After use, sand dust covers EVERYTHING within a 10 foot radius.

WIN
ball joint tool. simple, just where eye protection an put a rag or something over the ball joint to act as anet. When it pops, it really goes.

Bench top drill press.

disc brake caliper tool kit, works well, it's the same one that autozone rents

FAIL
Wrenches: they start to bend under load and they don't seem to grip a nut that is slightly worn.

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c.../image_651.jpg

Transmission Jack: Full of Win

I have used it on a dozen plus clutch jobs and it always makes life easier. Well worth the $40 I spent on it.

Best thread ever, i need a trans jack now.

Same deal here, sockets and u-joint working well for me too. I also got the 1/2" impact extension set and it has been working well also.

EPIC Failure. Ratchet bar clamp/seperator 6", 12", 18", 24" Item # 46806, Item # 46807, Item # 46808, Item # 46809.
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_1277.jpg
I was pretty excited that these were so much cheaper then the Irwin's from Home Depot, so when they went on sale I bought a shit load of them. Half of them broke on the very first use (Either the removable end would snap off, or the ratcheting mechanism would break). About half of the rest broke on the 2nd-3rd use, and the rest wouldn't clamp tight (hey at least they didn't break right?).

I have found that the Irwin clamps from Home Depot come in packs, they aren't so expensive. Model # 4935502 Model # 5464 are the best deals.

Bought this, came with 30 pieces of bits and junk. 30 bit one was like $4, the 80 piece one (pictured) is $10. I dont see the 30 piece one on the site anymore. The rotary its self is pretty good for that price, but it could use some more torque. But it was $4. For that price I bought 2, figured if I break one they are cheap Ill get 2. So I say its a like 70/30 win/fail.

On a side note, I think this thread is brilliant.

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_3916.jpg
http://www.harborfreight.com/80-piec...kit-97626.html

I have both the impact extension set and the regular 3/8" and 1/4" set. The ball fell out of one of the 1/4" extensions. The impact wobbles feel pretty sturdy but i have not used them with an impact gun.

I too used all the extensions stacked to get to my tranny bolts. It was indeed super easy no problemo this way.

I've been rocking the blue case $10 4.5" angle grinder in this pic. I think it is full of W I N. After 5-10 minutes of grinding initially the gearcase locked up. after wrenching it back and forth it freed up and has been going like a maniac ever since. I've made 8 or so manifolds and a bunch of exhausts with it over the last 2 years. My local HF's don't carry this blue one anymore, only the orange brand. I keep looking because for $10 it'd save me the time of swapping between cutoff wheels and grinding or flapper wheels, I'm always switching between them now. Like most things HF, it is hit or miss. Mine is WIN.

Ha. See...i got the 220v version of this compressor and it's FAIL. I mean it works but takes forever to build pressure, yeah the drain sucks (I just don't drain it anymore), I thought the pressure regulator flowed bad so I removed it completely and it's still not enough flow to work an impact wrench. Good for running a die grinder and pumping up a car tire. Maybe I got a bad pump...ehh.

This thread sucks, there's no Harbor Freight in Greece.

If you have not tried it already, tee off or add an extra air fitting right at the tank or before the regulator. It helps with impact wrenches. If I have a really tough nut I will move the hose over to the non-regulated tank side for extra flow.

The 120V unit I have takes a while to build pressure as well. I did not mention it because I believe that is typical except for nicer, more expensive compressors. The duty cycle with a die grinder is about 20-30% because the compressor cannot keep up and I have to wait for it to recharge. That and the noise have me consider a nicer compressor from time to time, but not enough to shell out $700+. Patience and earplugs are cheaper.

Win:
Steel Jackstands- Almost everyone I know has them and I have yet to see a problem.
1 ton arbor press- I only used it to press in wheel studs (with a jack handle on the handle of the press) but it has saved me the purchase price already.
I haven't broken any of these yet, but 2 of mine in the set are noticeably crooked. Not sure how they managed that, but it always makes me laugh when I pull them out.

Pretty much any of their crane hoists will do the job for a miata. Mine was the $130 1-ton one, and I had to take the bumper off for it to reach, so I recommend getting the slightly longer one for $20 more. Easy to assemble/disassemble and put in an attic, and should last forever. Also purchased with this was one of those angle load leveler doodads to angle the engine. The handle kept unscrewing when I was turning counterclockwise (bad design), otherwise it was pretty solid. Both helped tremendously through my build. What didn't help was the engine stand I got from HF. I didn't really need it since I had the engine on the ground most of the time. Otherwise it was all win.

Attachment 194542Attachment 194543Attachment 194544

+1, have one aid it works great


WIN: Central Machinery 38847
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c.../image_628.jpg


WIN: Pittsburgh 40695
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c.../image_813.jpg

FAIL: Pittsburgh 37325: these bend every time I try to use them. won't cut anything
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c.../image_474.jpg

FAIL: Central Pneumatic Professional 93296: broke the first time I used it
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_3210.jpg

These are good. Cheap ($30 for the pair), sturdy, and fold for easy storage.

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c.../image_903.jpg

But watch out for this when you assemble them:

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...a/463ef69f.jpg

+1 That is the one I have that sucks. It would not even remove lug nuts very well.

Win- It beats my snap-on, craftsmen, and S&K ratchets HANDS DOWN. Smoothest ratchet in the box

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c.../image_800.jpg


50/50 win/fail. Half the set has busted, but we aren't exactly nice to them.

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c.../image_303.jpg


Full of win. Typically, cheap wheels will come apart when you put any heat into them at all. These can be coated in aluminum and burning hot to the touch, but will not come apart (unless you get a cutoff wheel wedged in).

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_2171.jpg

I'd have to say the my 1/2" impact sockets have been win.

Cutoff wheels, I go through them by the 25 pack. Win.

small 5x10" lathe was fail. Zero power. Took it back after disassembling and stoning all of the ways for three hours.

Jackstands, win

Cherry picker was Cummins instead of HF. Win.

Bandsaw that ZX referred to above - mine is Grizzly but just has different paint - win. I've cut 4" diameter solid round with mine. With Bi-metal blades they are great.

Rotary variable speed buffer for $30 was win.

$9.99 wooden furniture/appliance dollies are win for Miatas. Beats spending $120+ for wheel dollies if you have to move a Miata sideways in the garage.

I'll also add in my $40 20.4V drill I bought from O'riley's, probably at Harbor Freight as well.
I can't find a picture, but it's an orange no-name china brand. It works great, although on really tight screws I've found that the fucking chuck isn't reverse threads, so it'll unscrew the chuck before breaking the screw loose.

Thanks to Stein and ZX-TEX, because I have been thinking of getting one of those lathes. They have several, 5x10, 7x10, 7x12, 8x12.... but they all look the same so I imagine that they are all junk huh?

On a positive note: I use/like the jack stand pads, floor jack saddle pad, 3 ton jack stands, 6 ton jack stands, 2 ton low profile floor jack.

The only decent lathe worth buying is the 9x20. Pretty much everyone - HF, Grizzly, Enco all sell it. It's a decent lathe that has it's own forum for mods, tweaks, tricks. IIRC, they are just under $1K. In hindsight, I had the 7x10 I think.

Survival Knife
 

Win
8.99$
8" Hunting/Survival Knife

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_2283.jpg

This thing has been through a lot with me, and is still kicking tough.

lol :facepalm:

Attachment 194509

I bought mine from HF, pulled out a BP complete engine with transmission all in one pull. You bet I stayed away from it a few feet in case the hydraulics failed on me. Have only used it once, it is very practical, before pulling the engine a few of my buddies and myself held on to it for a minute or so at max height to test first.

Mine I got it for 99.99, check every now and then muscle car mags for coupons.

Usually Hondatuning has a good HF sale page that usually shows prices not available at the store or online. In fact when I bought it for 99 the guy asked me what I was talking about until I showed them the print out (no, I did not buy the magazine, pulled the page out of the mag, lol). At the store the even called the manager t double check, and were like, if thats what it says... go ahead give it for that price.

There is also a Hondatuning HF link which shows the specials, so no need to send the 5.00 or the hassle of ripping a page.

I would call it a total win, but because I have not used it much then it is a half half for now, but never be underneath when it has an engine hanging from it.

We have a 2 ton foldable shop crane (cherry picker). The ram seals melted down in the house fire, but I sanded it down painted it black, spent the 90 on a new pneumatic ram and its been a great tool ever since (its probably 5-6 years old). Its been used on more engines then I can count (a few 4.0 jeeps, the original BP motor, a BUNCH of LS1's, and few mustang engines, a few Honduhs, a VW or two, plus a few more I probably don't wanna know about). Its also held the front end of the Miata up for a few weeks at a time while building the car, and the back end of the tractor.

This is by far one of the best threads to come out this year... Great idea guys!

Win. The Multi-tool worked well for me when doing some tile and quarter/half round work at my sisters house.

http://www.harborfreight.com/multifu...ool-67256.html

Some of the blades wear out quick, but it makes quick work of scraping up old caulk with one of the scraper blades, and the moon shaped cutter was great for cutting hinge notches in a door frame that I fixed this weekend.

Frank

This is good to hear, I might go get one today.
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I have a blue bodied 4.5" angle grinder that I bought for $4.99 during their Turkey Day sale back in 2005 and it has been fine. Loud as all hell, but still works. I bought two in case one broke, but I'm still on the first one.

Also a +1 on the $60 blue racing jack.

I have the Northern Tool version of this compressor. Identical except the tank is painted black and has a Northern Industrial sticker.
There are many vendors selling units with this same chinese compressor motor on top, and I'd caution anyone using one of these about the duty cycle. I was using a 3.5" cutoff wheel for an extended period of time and had the compressor running for probably 7-8 minutes straight when I heard a muffled bang and it stopped compressing air. The motor still ran but I'm guessing the rod was broken. Not sure of the exact mode of failure since I didn't bother taking it apart. Got it warrantied and I haven't broken the second one yet.
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_3015.jpg



I recently picked up one of these floor nailers. I've put down a couple hundred sq ft of 3 1/4" by 3/4" thick Brazilian Cherry and it has been great so far. Not one jam, sets 2" Bostitch cleats at the perfect location and depth. What's weird is that the specs say it will take 16 gauge cleats, but HF doesn't sell a 16 gauge cleat and neither does anybody else around here, though I believe you could mail order them. The standard Bostitch cleat is 15 gauge, and if you follow the nailer's instructions to load cleats into the side of the magazine you will indeed find that they are just slightly too large to fit. However, if you top load the cleats they feed & fire perfectly. I have a few hundred sq ft to go, but so far it looks like a winner.
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_4264.jpg

Win.

Best cigar lighter for the money:

http://www.harborfreight.com/micro-torch-42099.html

Bed Bath & Beyond sells that same item but they call it a "creme brulee torch" and price it at $19.99. :laugh: It does work well for cigars, melting the ends of cut nylon rope, etc.

They usually update the dates on the 20% off coupon here, so just print it out before you go, no need to clip from magazines:

http://www.harborfreight.com/motortrend

Engine stands are WIN. My '99 motor has been on one for over a year. I tell all my friends to get the 1000lbs.

Haha. Even though I don't work there anymore I still get a 20% discount (total). Manager is cool as hell. He drives a badass Shelby GT500 with 700+ by the way.

This 67022 low profile shop jack on clearance. 2 7/8" - 20 1/16" lift range is very nice for the Miata. $59. http://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-l...ack-67022.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_5952.jpg
Full of wins

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c.../image_495.jpg
again more win.... minus the shitty guards..... face shield FTW

another win
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_2176.jpg
probably not accurate, but keeps me from breaking bolts in low torque specs

and finally
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_5721.jpg
it wont start a cummins or anything like that, but it works for most cars, plus flats. Great for camping as someone always kills their car from stereo use. In fact its in the miata right now

also wins- cheap rope, cut-off wheels, many of those 100 piece whatevers in the plastic cases ie hose clamps, o rings, and cotter pins etc. 134a manifold gauges(us general), 6" digital caliper,

I just picked up a 2 ton floor jack and stands set for $40 at o'reilly auto parts, not low profile but still cheap.

1/4" Composite Air Die Grinder
ITEM # 95029
MANUFACTURER: CENTRAL PNEUMATIC PROFESSIONAL
$29.99

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_3133.jpg

Win!

Using it to port some heads at the moment. Works well. Of course it's not too hard to do a good job, it's a die grinder, it spins. Holding up though, and it looks and feels well made.

I'm very happy with my trailer from hf. On sale $199. Served me well thus far.

They don't lift very high.

High enough to get the jack stands under the car I hope

Glad to see this thread is still alive. Do not let the latent periods deter additional posting. Clearly due to the nature of the content this is an exception to the normal convention of discouraging thread resurrection.

WIN
Flat-Free Bigfoot Hand Truck ITEM # 97564
http://www.harborfreight.com/media/c...image_8669.jpg
http://www.harborfreight.com/flat-fr...uck-97564.html
I bought this so I could roll large heavy objects between two buildings connected with a gravel driveway. In fact I used it to move a complete set of car tires and wheels just yesterday, about a 160+ lb load. The large wheels on the hand truck are the key to success. I bought it on sale for less than the price listed in the link.


FAIL
I had a cheap hand truck I bought from HF several years ago for about $30. It did not hold up to the rigors of country life so I turned it into a rolling platform for a big potato cannon. The hand truck was a FAIL for moving anything over 60 lbs or so over rough terrain. But it was a win for potato cannon duty. I am pretty sure it was this one ITEM # 95061
http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-d...uck-95061.html

I've purchased three of those orange angle grinders (I think they changed them to red later so at least one of them is red). All work great years later but one of them had the handle break off on me and I almost cut my arm off with it. Was my mistake but the cheap metal gave way that held the handle threads.

Part number? I could always use another good ratchet.