Jan 1 2014 calling all cheapskate mechanics Harbor Frt

Post by **abscate** » 29 Dec 2013, 06:15

Harbor freight sells medium to "value" oriented tools sneered upon by mechanics but perfect for suburban mechanics caught in middle class hell

January 1 st get 25 % off any one item online shopping.

Perfect time to get that floor jack or accessory tool that you've been coveting

I have no financial skin in a Safe Harbor Freight....

woolshire · Post by **woolshire** » 29 Dec 2013, 07:25

Yep...I have a garage full of their stuff. I live within a mile of one of their stores and visit it regualrly. A 20 or 25% off coupon for one item is always in our Sunday papers.
My favorite tool is an electric impact from them that I use all the time. It will remove wheel nuts up to ~200 ft lbs with the wheel off the ground...pretty good for $37.99.
Sure, I wish I could just buy all Snap-on stuff, but that isn't reality. If I could, my garage would be a millionaire.
Are all Snap-On tools even made in the states anymore?...are you sure

Post by **osman** » 29 Dec 2013, 14:17

Cheapskate Mechanics?! You called? My nearest store is 30 miles but near the junkyard I have to go to, so I am up there once a week at least. I recently joined their buyers club for $30 a year. I also like the electric impact, even though i have an ingersoll rand air impact, if I am just doing just lug nuts for brakes or something it doesnt make sense to crank up the noisy compressor. I have a coupon now from Popular Science that is for the US general rolling tool cart that normally only goes on sale for $150 for $100 until April. I will be picking that up soon. Their floor jacks and engine hoist are great as well as their $20 drill and flashlight combo. Their flex head racheting combo wrenches are only $20 for members but I think there are only 4 or 5 to a set, so I bought the kobalt ones from lowes instead, however they are so incredibly useful I might get the HF set as well. I love HF so much that sometimes I prevent myself from going so I dont buy stuff I just want as opposed to what I need. I do have a Tractor Supply Co nearby my house which has some very good deals on tools as well for those of us rural dwellers. I have professional mechanic friends that sneer at anything not "off the truck" meaning Matco or Snap-on, but they are also usually broke, renters not homeowners, and dont have a fleet of European luxury cars either. I like to keep my money in my pocket where it belongs for emergencies and rainy days, instead of having $100K of tools in a big red box at a business I dont even own. My entire tool collection costs less than their Snap-on or Matco tool boxes. One Caveat some of their stuff especially the Central Pneumatic stuff can be of almost dollar store quality and the Chicago Electric stuff can be borderline, but their Pittsburgh line of Hand Tools are great. Some sneer at their quality but I almost never break my tools and usually if it does happen it is your own fault from improper use. I am thankful to have the opportunity to own tools that if I had to buy the name brand version they would be prohibitively costly and would just be a wish list instead of being used. Their torque wrenches on sale for $10 are of good quality also. Long live Harbor Freight! Cant wait for them to build one in San Marcos. I apologize for being long winded but I think HF is the great equalizer, putting the tools of production and manufacturing into the hands of the common man, and that is priceless.

mfagus · Post by **mfagus** » 29 Dec 2013, 15:05

from what I recall they almost always have a coupon for either 20% or 25% off one item.
if you google harbor freight coupon you will find it.
i used that when I needed to but new tires and rims for my camper trailer.

Mark

Post by **abscate** » 29 Dec 2013, 18:05

They have a great NYD deal on the 1200# rating 4x8 trailer for 270 USD...Ive used mine for roof jobs, hauling heavy trash, getting free boats without trailers home, and kayak hauling...

tribologist · Post by **tribologist** » 30 Dec 2013, 07:28

My tools are mainly Craftsman but after finding my socket sets out in the rain a few times I purchased the 301 piece mechanics set for my son. It is one of the best investments I done in tools. The wrenches and pliers are quite bad but the sockets are great. What I love with it is that it is complete! Craftsman sets rarely go much over 7/8 or so and the duplicate sizes between 12 point and 6 point. This set goes up to 32mm and 1-1/4" The only thing I found missing so far is a T55 bit. They go from T50 to T60 (you need that for the serpentine belt.)

This set, a reversible ratchet wrench sets and a good quality regular wrench set takes you a long way.

Ulf

Post by **Matty Moo** » 30 Dec 2013, 08:38

I've been replacing all of my craftsman tools with HF as they break. I abuse the Pittsburgh sockets and haven't broken one yet. I've even used them on my impact gun.

I have three of their air compressors and just toasted one after 3 years. I'm surprised it lasted that long being that I would run it for hours at a time and never changed the oil on it. The compressor part is actually fine, the motor itself is hosed.

Post by **abscate** » 30 Dec 2013, 11:06

Even the most hard core mechanics amongst us don't use tools enough to justify the Snap-ons like the Pros. Even if you do buy them, the guys on the trucks won't replace them if you are just a homeowner and not buying tons of stuff anyway.

If you pick and choose from HF, with the Pittsburgh stuff being ok IMHE, you get pretty darn good value.

I got four roofs out of my HF roof nailer, and now that Im well past 50, my April 2013 roof was the last one Ill do in my life...

joe_pinehill · Post by **joe_pinehill** » 30 Dec 2013, 12:02

For some things you cant beat the price. Only bad experience was a 1/2 long handled ratchet. It looked kinda cheap, thought it was a mistake to buy. Ratchet broke after a few uses. Other than that, all good. They did replace without question, but only 3/8s were in the store at the time.

Post by **Matty Moo** » 30 Dec 2013, 16:18

Their clamshell spring compressors are 100% kickass. Sears sells the exact same unit painted a different color for 4x the price. Mine has paid for itself 10x over.

I honestly believe their sockets are of higher quality than Craftsman at this point, as long as it's the Professional line.

The brown tool chest they sell for $179 is also very nice and solid.

The HF by me also has decent looking girls in their twenties working there, they also don't seem to mind when I stare too long.