vettfixr

I gotta stay away from that site. :cry On the other hand I now have an AC Manifold gauge set, vacuum pump and an air brad nailer for my home projects and about a billion staples. :D It's great until the bill comes.

shoptek

I hear you!!!
Actually I should own at least an asile of Harbor Freight. I'm sure I've funded a good part of their store :lol:

I used to have to drive 50 miles to get to their nearest location, but now they went and screwed up and opened a store about 20 miles away. They opened 3 weeks ago, and I've been there the past 3 weekends!

Not always the best quality stuff, but there are still deals to be had!

Budman68

I've got one by the house. And with the daily coupons they send me it's hard to stay away. :cheers:

LAvetteman

Bought my first air compressor there last month. Just couldn't pass it up. :D

sammyb

Yeah, I just discovered Harbor Freight about 3 months ago. That place is like crack to us car guys. I now have a 6000lb rolling winch ($49) and four car wheel dollies ($80) and a new air hose ($10)

and there are only about 30 other things I have put back on the shelf because I don't "need" them

lone73

vettfixr:

I have had a long term respect for your dedication and perseverance to your project and I respect your opinion but I do believe you've missed it on this one...

It's not called Harbor Freight...

It's HORROR FReIGHT !!

I've visited the local store on numeros occasions and seen their tools and their quality in general is abysmal.

There IS a happy medium between Snap-On and "Horror Freight".
Give THAT a try... Money spent on cheap tools is worse than burning it.

later
dr




[Modified by DavidR, 10:33 PM 9/27/2003]

Crash Dummy

I live in a bum-*** town called Pearland and don't venture into Houston(15 miles away) very often. What the heck is a Harbor Freight?

Smokehouse69

Harbor Freight is one of those places that sell very, very cheap Chinese tools at jacked up prices. If you need something for one time use, and can't borrow it from Autozone, then get it from Harbor Freight.
They are basically the same tools that end up in those migrating tent show tools sales. Homier is one outfit that makes it through this part of bumfukt Texas, about every three months or so.
I admit that I have bought tools from them and probably will again, somethings that I use once a year I can't see spending Snap-on prices for.
My son lives in Houston and he tells me there are places in Houston where the Chinese have setup market places to buy these same tools right off the boat at really reduced prices. He told me he'll take me down there one day to see what they have for sale.

Tom73

http://www.harborfreight.com/

79VetteMike

There is a discount tool store close to me. I've bought alot of stuff from them so far. Alot of times, it's cheaper to buy the tools and do it yourself than sending it off to be rebuilt by someone else-that's how I justify most of my purchases. I bought an industrial sized sand blaster a few weeks ago and it's already paid for itself.

houstoncajun

hey smokehouse69, if you find out where that market is let us know. i am also in houston and use harbor frieght too, would like to cut out the middle man :cheers:

vettfixr

I think the secret of using Harbor Freight is to know what you're buying. I've bought a number of tools over the years and for light duty work they're fine. I have a sawzall that I use about once a year for branch trimming that I got for $39 and it's 3 years old now and hasn't missed a beat. Now if I was using it to make a living I would have gotten a good saw for $150-$300. Another example is the brad nailer I just got. For the ocassional use I'll give it you can't beat the price -$49. If I was in the business I would have bought a Stanley Bostitch at triple the price. You have to weight the use of the tool with the duty rating and in many homeowner cases the Harbor Freight tools are very adequate. Also, it's pretty hard to tell the difference in things like pry bars. I mean a hunk of metal is a hunk of metal.

mrvette

About 20 years ago or a bit more, I bought a drill press from HF , and it's served me well.....no complaints, however some years ago I put an American motor on it....more powerful....3/4 horse...from an old furnace blower...

MY favorite spot for anything like tools is the hock shop....go there for all you tool needs, buy Snap On for HF prices....seriously....gotta haggle though...

40 bux for a 160 buck Fluke DVM?? works fine....

30 bux to exchange my old CP 1/2 inch impace for a Ingersoll?? in a heartbeat....things like that....

GENE