Harbor Freight

[RonC]

any of you guys have one nearby? i love this store. cheap homeowner tools for occasional use. follow ads and internet coupons and you can fill up the tool chest for not much $.

this week i got decent 16 ft tape measures for 99 cents. heavy duty scissors for under a buck. pencil torches for 99 cents. exacto knockoff knife kits for a buck. 6 packs of mini clamps for a buck. a cheapo dremel tool knockoff with a lot of attachments for $7. then, hand them an internet coupon, and get a free screwdriver set that works just fine. nice chaep way to fill up the tool chest when you have a new house.

 

[CWS]

Big HQ building right around the corner from me. They have an outlet store. I love this place.

 

[Electric Sheep]

I've been buying their cheapassed Chinese-made junk for years...my garage is full of their crap.

As long as you're not having to RELY on their stuff (meaning, it's all you got and it better work right now no matter what) then I think it's great. The prices are typically a fraction of big, high quality name brand stuff.

But like most things in the world, you get what you pay for.

Thankfully, most of the time all I need is piss cheap quality. :grin:

 

[Fox]

Actually, some of their higher end machine tools are pretty decent. I have an HF surface grinder that works well and has served faithfully for many years. It has a few quirks, but once you figure them out they are not a problem. I know several guys who have some of their vertical milling machines and they give the same reports.

 

[smokingIsh]

i like the 18 guage air nailer. Had mine for years now with no problem. Grab it before I do my porter cable.

 

[Saully]

Thanks for mentioning this. I'd noticed a few weeks ago they have a new store near my house but not on my ordinary routes. Last night I realized I needed a PVC pipe cutter because the hacksaw wasn't giving straight cuts so I stopped by this morning. Of course I decided then not to buy it but still need it so I'll have to go back this afternoon. At about $9 or $10 rather than the $40+ in Home Depot's site I realize it's not the highest quality but good enough for the little I'll use it.

 

[RonC]

Thanks for mentioning this. I'd noticed a few weeks ago they have a new store near my house but not on my ordinary routes. Last night I realized I needed a PVC pipe cutter because the hacksaw wasn't giving straight cuts so I stopped by this morning. Of course I decided then not to buy it but still need it so I'll have to go back this afternoon. At about $9 or $10 rather than the $40+ in Home Depot's site I realize it's not the highest quality but good enough for the little I'll use it.

exactly my thoughts. I usually buy a tool, use it once, then it gets lost. In most cases, a cheap tool will do the job for me.

 

[Gummi Bear]

I'm a tool snob. I take better care of my tools, than I do myself sometimes. I buy the best I can afford (sometimes can't afford, but buy anyway to complete a project) I've made my living with tools in my hands for so many years, I've learned the value of quality tools. It's a justifiable expense.

I do however, buy some things from HF. Consumables like cutting wheels, blades, magnets. I do have some of my trail tools to keep in the Bronco from there. They get dropped, lost, loaned out, and I won't miss them. I also like it to buy tools, to modify for a specific task, I don't care if I bugger them up.

 

[cvm4]

I tend to go for more quality tools. I like to take care of them, unlike some guys I work with. And they wonder why their tools are always rusted or lost :dunno: Just makes me mad...

 

[RigilKent]

I tend to go for more quality tools. I like to take care of them, unlike some guys I work with. And they wonder why their tools are always rusted or lost :dunno: Just makes me mad...

Same here i go for quality when i purchase tools with intent to keep them for life and take care of them.

 

[cvm4]

The most frustrating thing for me is trying to use a tool that isn't working properly. :angryteet

 

[Gummi Bear]

The most frustrating thing for me is trying to use a tool that isn't working properly. :angryteet

:waving:It's good to know I'm not the only one that goes nuclear when a tool goes south, or doesn't live up to expectations.

I threw a brand new Metabo drill into a lake because it didn't have enough torque, smashed several others for various faults, and made the Sears manager cry when I demanded that a ratchet be replaced when the internals grenaded, and I smashed my hand (*she got queasy when I showed her the open wound). The list goes on, and on...:hammersma