Official Harbor Freight win or lose thread

[wheel607]

Have a bunch of problems surrounding the purchase of their 4 gallon backpack sprayer. To make it short, yes I took it back to the store, and they promptly told me to call a number they gave me, as they didnt handle refunds in the store on most any sprayer. This was in the first 9 days after I bought it from them. It just didnt work. Top kept blowing off the tank, wouldnt pressurize, even water. Well they gave me a REFUND and it didnt show up on my VISA next month, eventhough they told me since it was VISA it would be only 3-5 business days (I got the womans name). Long story, I have invested over 10 hours in this crap with wrong person, she doesnt exist, wrong phone numbers, person answering Harbour Freights sprayer line at home in his pajamas, (he told me). Couldnt transfer to the number I was given. Anyway, just dont buy anything you think you may bring back. Buying their CRAP from China is fine, use it up and dont ever expect a refund. I must say, I have bought other things that I returned and have NEVER had this problem. I would definately forgo making a big purchase from them until the first of the year. I have still not gotten my $31.00 back, but I have called VISA to take care of it. Seems like a classic flim-flam to me.

[Archie]

I use their 69645 4 1/2 inch Drill Master angle grinders and 60614 3/8 inch Drill Master variable speed reversing drills daily. Had them for years and still going strong. Value for money? You bet!

[DerrickfromNC1]

Purchased some HF wet/dry sandpaper today.....price was right (7) 9”x11” sheets of 220grit & 7 of the 500g. Price for 7 was only $2.99. However the problem I’m finding is that the paper used is brittle and will not fold over flat like other wet/dry paper w/o tearing at the fold. Also as your sanding....little bits and pieces of the paper start breaking off.
Other than that it works!

[HarryFD]

Positive shout out.

I cracked my 19 mm Pittsburg impact socket yesterday. Brought it to HF and without complaint or issue I was given a replacement. Just like Sears used to do for craftsman back in the day.
_________________
1970 Deluxe Sunroof Bay Brilliant Blue/Cloud White
1971 Jaguar XKE 2+2 V12 Coupe
1973.5 911 Targa
2009 MB C300

[brian rogers]

Well I’m gonna stick my neck out here. I just purchased the 4 ton porta power set. For the 1st use it’s great. It’s one of those use it once and awhile tools.
Grandson found a safety post the hard way, caved thing in pretty badly. The Jack pushed things out just like it’s supposed to. Only complaint is it would be nice if they could just tighten the fill plug up. Hydraulic oil all through the nice carrying case. We’ll see in the next go around pushing out a bay door frame.

[vtomike]

Predator 3500 Super Quiet Inverter Generator = Big WIN! Consumer Reports even gave it great ratings.

Electric start or pull, can power air conditioning on a camping trailer.

You can find them on sale with coupon for $700.

[Tvättbjörn]

win - corded DRILL MASTER 3/8 In. Variable Speed Reversible Drill. Using it for several years now. No issues.

lose - silver tarps. Bought several and used them during summer to cover up
stuff outside. They just start falling apart after weeks in the desert
sun. I got one under their 3 month warranty replaced. I had only one
receipt left. Checked other stores and i did not find UV rated tarps at all. They were surprised I was using them outside

lose - Swivel Head Hand Riveter, broke internally. It is several years old, but
not used very often. Mine has black rubber handles. New ones have
yellow handles. Not sure if there is a difference.

win - Titanium Coated High Speed Steel Step Bit Set, 2 Pc. Using them for several years now. Works good.

win - 7 In. Bench Brush - Not falling apart after years of use - very good for the price. Got a small steel dust pan from the 99 cent store. Perfect combo.

[Mark Evans]

[brian rogers]

Ill add another win that’s a little out of the blue for this crowd. They have a dovetail jig for wooden cabinet building. I use mine for speaker cabs.
The router bits need to be used gently. I had a router already so I can’t speak on that. I have a few other HF motors, grinder and drill. Their router may be ok.
The jig takes some patience to setup properly but it works.

[brian rogers]

Ive bought the 60769 parts washer used. Using Tractor Supply stoddard solvent, 15 gallons worth. No issues. You may find a used one locally. They are handy but bulky and smelly if left open. Pick up some HF Brushes and your in biz.
Win

[jbbugs]

HF’s 3/8” swivel head ratchet is a quality tool. It’s almost identical to the Snap On version, which I have owned for over 20 years.
I paid about $125 for the Snap On, and $16 for the HF.
After using the HF for a month, I went back and bought 3 more of them.
They haven’t failed me yet. I keep a second tool cart in my race trailer, and tend to buy the cheaper tools for it since they sometimes get lost at the track.
_________________
Drag bus! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MOVmKdhX4

69 OG paint Transporter
73' Super Beetle Champcar Endurance Roadracer
Patina my ass, that's a Rust Bucket!

[delibessleep]

#5907 30 In. Capacity Shear, Press Brake, And Slip Roll

Win. It will require some dialing in to set correctly...which is kind of a PITA. The shear is good for 20 Ga. metal. The break is the best part of it. I've yet to use the roller, but I did notice one of the woodruff pins was missing and it wouldn't turn one of the rollers. (easily replaced.) I picked mine up with a coupon and paid $320, so I am really pleased in terms of price. I use a lot of HF stuff, and this is better than average in terms of quality.
_________________
63 Single Cab
87 Westy
18 Alltrack

Biology is destiny...choose your mutations carefully

[scottyrocks]

I just picked up a Pittsburgh 3-ton low profile hydraulic jack at HF.

I've been needing a new floor jack for quite a while.
_________________
“If you care for a thing long enough, it takes on a life of its own, doesn't it? Mending old things, preserving them, looking after them – on some level there's no rational grounds for it.”
– D. Tartt, 'The Goldfinch'

[brian rogers]

Anyone using the HF parts washer? Part# 07340. Docs say a water base cleaner. I’m assuming Simple Green. Anyone use these with a solvent?

[Busstom]

[Cusser]

[Bob Loblaw]

[norcalmike]

Bought one of these when I needed the table space to swap the hatch and wiring on my Golf.
Came in real handy. I can see it being used plenty for 20 bucks

[DerrickfromNC1]

I purchased this metal shear:

https://www.harborfreight.com/14-gauge-4-amp-heavy-duty-metal-shears-62213.html

Works great and rated to cut thicker gauge metal than anything close to it’s price. I’m not sure what the thickness of a factory running board is but I cut thru a set length wise like butter.
Handy tool to have in your box.

This one was mentioned in a previous post back in 2012.
https://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-quarter-inch-forged-ball-joint-separator-99849.html
A must have and worked great when removing the steering rod from the pitman arm on a split bus. Will pop off a ball joint in minutes with no damage to the grease boot.

[ivwshane]

Wins
I bought a media blast cabinet from then and after properly sealing it and upgrading my fittings to high flow, it works great! The only negative is that the include light is useless. I have an LED shop light that I got from home depot that sits on the window that words works fine.

I bought an impact gun, the new earthquake series, compact 1/2" and it works great, with the high flow fittings.

Their general brand mobile cart that I got for $99 is great but I did end up buying two new swivel casters for it for better mobility.

Magnetic tool holder. If you can get the when they go on sale for $3 its a freaken steal! I use them to hold wrench sockets.

To be determined
I bought an industrial water separator for my air compressor and other than being able to better control the pressure, I'm not sure if its doing much.

Losers
The Pittsburg torque wrenches are almost useless. The issue is that the audible click you are supposed to hear when you reach the specified torque, its barely audible. (I don't know if its something that can be fixed) however for the $30 I spent for three different sizes of torque wrenches, I'll live with it.

Smaller tumbler. Very disappointed in this. For one, the two stores I visited, didn't have the necessary media that supposed to work with it (they had large media which did not do anything). The lid would work itself off. If you put too large of a part in it, it could potential wear a hole in it because of the thin plastic its built out of.

Those are just my most recent purchases. There have been a lot of winners and losers throughout the years though.
_________________
77 westy 2.0 FI
69 ghia coup 1600dp
70 single cab