HF-free Infrared with $119.99 purchase
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Good tip if you are spending $ there anyway but I hope to NEVER give HF $119 of my hard earned money. I would rather just go buy a thermometer. They can keep the $119 worth of crap.
The only thing I have ever bought there that didn't dissapoint was the bucket of wire ties and a landscaping mesh tarp.
The only thing I have ever bought there that didn't dissapoint was the bucket of wire ties and a landscaping mesh tarp.
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you need to copy and paste the UPC symbol from the email or the website if anyone here wants to use that coupon. I already deleted that email or I'd post it for you.
webbie
Seasoned Moderator
I got a lot of decent stuff there. But don't need anything now.
We were having a bday dinner at a local place last night and my bro said the place had served him cold food before - and that the waitress didn't believe him when he told her so. One of these might be handy in such a situation.
We were having a bday dinner at a local place last night and my bro said the place had served him cold food before - and that the waitress didn't believe him when he told her so. One of these might be handy in such a situation.
DanCorcoran
Minister of Fire
My experience has been very different. I buy a lot of consumables there (gloves, sandpaper, punches, etc.) and appreciate the low prices. I just bought a heat gun, palm sander, and oscillating power tool and used them for several days straight to strip paint from 90-year old doors. Worked like a charm. In fact, over the years, I've never had a HF tool break or stop working. Just lucky I guess...
Oh, and let me put in a plug for one of their products. I just discovered my favorite work gloves. They sell many varieties, but the ones I really like are a loose weave, kind of like a knit glove, but with a bright yellow rubber coating on the front of the fingers and palm. They last a lot longer than the split leather gloves I had been buying and have a much better grip, with good sensitivity through the rubber. They're great for handling wood when splitting and stacking. Best of all, they just had them on sale for $1.50 a pair! I suggest you buy one pair, then if you like them, go back and pick up several more when they're on sale.
Here's a link: http://www.harborfreight.com/coated-rubber-grip-gloves-x-large-90913.html
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We actually have a Harbor Freight store here in Bend, Oregon. Go figure. I have, in the distant past, ordered some tools from them, and my experience was not good. Kinda like, "Use once and discard" (which actually works for some applications). But, if I can see it and touch it before I buy it, I can be a lot more picky. I don't expect to get much from their stuff, especially in terms of durability, so it usually doesn't disappoint. I pretty much stick to the affordable consumables from them. Rick
I've actually had pretty good luck with their stuff. Obviously some of their stuff is really cheap in quality but the latest hand tool quality is actually pretty good for moderate applications. A Snap-On they are not but for my use plenty good enough. I also purchase a lot of the consumable type items like gloves. I've had a few air tools I have had to exchange but not much else.
webbie
Seasoned Moderator
I used to do a lot of R&D for extenaflue (sheet metal, grinding) and I had, among others...
1. A stove pipe crimper - worked fine on 24ga stainless steel...
2. Their bead roller, which is somewhat famous....in home-built circles
3. One of their grinders
4. Hex Key Sets - with the plastic handles
5. An anvil
6. Multi-meters
and some other stuff.
It all works fine for non-production stuff. I often use tools very little, so they work - and I sold #2 and #3 recently for more than I paid.
If I owned an HVAC shop then I'd probably go a step or two better, but even a lot of the good stuff for those markets is now made in Taiwan, Vietnam and China.
Most of my heavy-duty stuff was used American-made - not made any longer, like Pexto, Niagara, Wysong, etc. - I also sold that stuff for more than I paid.
I think the HF stuff has improved over the years.
Grizzly is another Chinese brand. I have a friend who has been in the Construction field for 40 years...he says the stuff is quite good.
http://www.grizzly.com/
Sure, HF is a price leader....but the fact is that most weekend warriors don't need the high end stuff.
1. A stove pipe crimper - worked fine on 24ga stainless steel...
2. Their bead roller, which is somewhat famous....in home-built circles
3. One of their grinders
4. Hex Key Sets - with the plastic handles
5. An anvil
6. Multi-meters
and some other stuff.
It all works fine for non-production stuff. I often use tools very little, so they work - and I sold #2 and #3 recently for more than I paid.
If I owned an HVAC shop then I'd probably go a step or two better, but even a lot of the good stuff for those markets is now made in Taiwan, Vietnam and China.
Most of my heavy-duty stuff was used American-made - not made any longer, like Pexto, Niagara, Wysong, etc. - I also sold that stuff for more than I paid.
I think the HF stuff has improved over the years.
Grizzly is another Chinese brand. I have a friend who has been in the Construction field for 40 years...he says the stuff is quite good.
http://www.grizzly.com/
Sure, HF is a price leader....but the fact is that most weekend warriors don't need the high end stuff.
The truck bed crane lift I have on my log splitter in my avatar came from HF. Works fine. Same with my log cart and trailer dolly, several angle grinders, a heavy duty 8" Portable Ventilator and various other stuff. For tools that are not going to see a lot of use HF is fine. And I always carry a 20% off coupon. I never buy anything at HF without using the coupon and getting the freebie.
DanCorcoran
Minister of Fire
Yeah, I think I'm going to give those little LED flashlights as Christmas presents this year...I have a bagful as freebies from Harbor Freight, along with the 20% discount coupon, of course.
That's funny! I know what you mean... I have a lot of those as well.
On a side note... I wonder if production is moving away from China. My latest HF set of SAE & metric wrenches with lifetime warranty was made in India.
webbie
Seasoned Moderator
They are BIG. When you drive to Florida you pass one of their warehouses in SC - MASSIVE!
I suspect they contract for work - and maybe even own factories - in various parts of the world.
I used to include a tube of this stuff with my chimney thingys.....
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-oz-rtv-silicone-red-90026.html
It's about 5 bucks or more in the hardware store. US made, I think. But they had it on sale once a year for $2 a tube. I would buy 25 or more of them at that price!
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