• From: land of plaid
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 323

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

Jeff G 78 wrote:

Sorry, but I'm a tool snob and can't stand to hold junk tools in my hand.  I learned a long time ago that quality tools (Snap-On, Mac, etc) work better, feel better, and tend not to round off fasteners.  The majority of my tools are 30-40 year old Craftsman, but I have some Snap-On wrench sets, impact sockets and torque wrenches.  A teammate of mine has a toolbox full of HF junk and the majority of it simply doesn't work well.  My power tools are DeWalt, Milwaukee, IR, etc.  I really don't even like Craftsman power tools.  The balance and weighting sucks and they are almost all bigger than they need to be.  I will buy HF locking pliers to use for welding and I like the HF vinyl gloves.  Otherwise, I stay away from HF.

Mac is now made by the same company that makes Evercraft tools and Stanley tools.  Most are made in mexico.  My toolbox is 90 percent Snap-On at the shop, but mostly Craftsman and Mac on my service truck.  Cheap tools usually end up costing me time and busted knuckles.  I guess I'm a tool snob too, but in the end it's worth it to me.

zero budget racing: 
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  • From: Detroit, MI
  • Registered: 2009-05-16
  • Posts: 1,594

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

I didn't know Mac went to shit.  I haven't bought any Mac tools in years.

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'74 260Z
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  • From: Van Nuys, CA
  • Registered: 2011-02-11
  • Posts: 2,617

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

Jeff G 78 wrote:
Mulry wrote:

From looking at their drill presses, I'd be really surprised if some of those aren't coming out of China too.

I believe ALL drill presses are made in China regardless of brand.  Craftsman, Husky, Jet, etc. are all imported.  Same goes for most large shop equipment. 

It used to be that I would return broken Craftsman tools on a monthly basis, but over the past ten years, I will use them as long as possible because I know the replacement will be a bigger POS than the one I broke.  It's a downward spiral and eventually every Craftsman tool in the toolbox will have been replaced and will be no better than Harbor Freight quality.  The warranty becomes useless.

Not my drill press. Its a West Bend industrial floor model that's about 60 years old. I got it from the estate of a former engineer who worked for Northrup Grumman

Constructor/Owner/Driver - Billy Beer Ford Futura

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29 Reply by EyeMWing (edited by EyeMWing 2012-05-25 04:12 AM)

  • From: Baltimore, MD
  • Registered: 2010-05-20
  • Posts: 1,336

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

Jeff G 78 wrote:
Mulry wrote:

From looking at their drill presses, I'd be really surprised if some of those aren't coming out of China too.

I believe ALL drill presses are made in China regardless of brand.  Craftsman, Husky, Jet, etc. are all imported.  Same goes for most large shop equipment. 

It used to be that I would return broken Craftsman tools on a monthly basis, but over the past ten years, I will use them as long as possible because I know the replacement will be a bigger POS than the one I broke.  It's a downward spiral and eventually every Craftsman tool in the toolbox will have been replaced and will be no better than Harbor Freight quality.  The warranty becomes useless.

Hilariously, the Pittsburgh garbage has a lifetime warranty now, too. The only time I've managed to outright break a Pittsburgh (it was a ratchet size adapter), it was literally in the same motion that an old 80's Craftsman socket split... Which was on an exhaust bolt, using a 4-foot jack handle as a cheater pipe and a leg press to supply the rotation.

I've been keeping my eye out for a Snap On ratchet set for less than the $Infinity they sell it off the truck for. Fact of the matter is, they want $1400 each for a fairly limited set of sockets, per drive. It would take at least 3 of those sets to equal the comprehensiveness for a $150 Craftsman box. That means you could turn over every socket in the box 28 fuckin' times without the damned warranty.

I suspect what I'll end up doing is grabbing a high end ratchet and individual high-end sockets for the common sizes (half inch, 7/8th, 10mm, 12mm, 13mm, 15mm, 18mm, each in shallow and deep configurations, plus impact variations)

Driver, Pit Monkey, Rod Buster and Engine Fire Starter
Team FinalGear
  • From: San Diego, CA
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 1,494

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

Ha, glad I'm not the only one who noticed that smell in their store. They opened up a new store close to me a few months back and it had that smell right off the bat.

I'm not a tool snob at all. While I'm not proud of it, probably 50% of my tools are HF stuff. If it's a one time use specialty tool, I have no problem buying their stuff since it can save a ton of money. Of course I may not feel that way if I was a professional tech making a living with my tools, or there wasn't a HF store nearby, but I've actually had very few HF tools fail on me.

Prickstine: The killer '58 Mopar EFury30.

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  • From: Freeport, NY
  • Registered: 2009-05-13
  • Posts: 1,505

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

mechimike wrote:
obsolete wrote:
mechimike wrote:

I typically only buy inexpensive tools when they are simple tools that are unlikely to hurt me if they break.  i just rolled the dice on a "PITTSBURGH" spring compressor for $13 that so far seems to work OK... *knock on wood*

Wait, what?  Is it a valve spring compressor?

No, it's a strut spring compressor.  Yeah, I realize it _could_ potentially hurt me if it broke, but I treat the tool as if it's likely to break at any second and stay clear of something that could fly into my body or face.

I don't remember all the specifics of the story, but a friend of mine who had help me build our car had used a cheap spring compressor working on an old race car of his.  Long story short something went wrong with it and he ended up breaking his hand. 

He has really nice expensive spring compressors now.

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  • From: Lynnwood, Wa
  • Registered: 2011-06-16
  • Posts: 371

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

Parkwod60 wrote:

Not my drill press. Its a West Bend industrial floor model that's about 60 years old. I got it from the estate of a former engineer who worked for Northrup Grumman

Again, anything made 20+ years ago is a different story...

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

33 Reply by Spank (edited by Spank 2012-05-25 10:32 AM)

  • Spank
  • Utter Madman
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  • From: Escondido, CA
  • Registered: 2009-06-10
  • Posts: 3,074

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

EyeMWing wrote:

Hilariously, the Pittsburgh garbage has a lifetime warranty now, too. The only time I've managed to outright break a Pittsburgh (it was a ratchet size adapter), it was literally in the same motion that an old 80's Craftsman socket split... Which was on an exhaust bolt, using a 4-foot jack handle as a cheater pipe and a leg press to supply the rotation.

I've broken a couple of the pittsburg / HF socket adapters. and a pickle fork. That's about it. I have some of the first generation wratcheting wrenches that HF sold and they are AWESOME and have given me zero trouble and are, in fact, my go-to wrenches for anything for the past 5 years or so. I bought some recently, however,a nd they are nice and shiny, but otherwise certainly not the same quality.

Oh, and I did buy one of those 105 piece too kits for $34.99 as an emergency 3rd backup set of tools at the track and, well, those wrenches and sockets are crap. But if we're on a need for a 3rd complete tool set then simply having a facsimile of a wrench at least lets us appear productive.

I've returned some craftsman ratchets recently and they would not give me a new one. Instead, they issued me a clearly-well-used "reconditioned" one. And when they didn't have the one I needed in stock (3/8") reconditioned, they told me to come back later.

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  • From: Freeport, NY
  • Registered: 2009-05-13
  • Posts: 1,505

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

Spank wrote:
EyeMWing wrote:

Hilariously, the Pittsburgh garbage has a lifetime warranty now, too. The only time I've managed to outright break a Pittsburgh (it was a ratchet size adapter), it was literally in the same motion that an old 80's Craftsman socket split... Which was on an exhaust bolt, using a 4-foot jack handle as a cheater pipe and a leg press to supply the rotation.

I've broken a couple of the pittsburg / HF socket adapters. and a pickle fork. That's about it. I have some of the first generation wratcheting wrenches that HF sold and they are AWESOME and have given me zero trouble and are, in fact, my go-to wrenches for anything for the past 5 years or so.

I've returned some craftsman ratchets recently and they would not give me a new one. Instead, they issued me a clearly-well-used "reconditioned" one. And when they didn't have the one I needed in stock (3/8") reconditioned, they told me to come back later.

Yes I exchanged 2 1/2 inch drive ratchets we had at the firehouse that broke and got reconditioned ones in return, but I also broke an extension and a screwdriver and they gave me new ones right off the shelf.

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35 Reply by chevette (edited by chevette 2012-05-25 02:46 PM)

  • From: land of plaid
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 323

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

Jeff G 78 wrote:

I didn't know Mac went to shit.  I haven't bought any Mac tools in years.

They arent terrible, but definitely not as good as they used to be.  My shop is in wilmington ohio only a few miles from where Mac used to be made.  Used to be able to go to the local salvage yard where all the tools that didnt pass inspection were sent and buy them by the pound....i would hate to guess what i pay per pound on the snap-on truck.

zero budget racing: 
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Coming attractions: 1963 Anglia, 1958 Dauphine, mid-engine Astro van, and the footprint gets a turbo....

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36 Reply by echosixmike (edited by echosixmike 2012-05-26 02:14 AM)

  • From: place of bad smells
  • Registered: 2012-03-14
  • Posts: 144

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

EyeMWing wrote:

Hilariously, the Pittsburgh garbage has a lifetime warranty now, too. The only time I've managed to outright break a Pittsburgh (it was a ratchet size adapter), it was literally in the same motion that an old 80's Craftsman socket split... Which was on an exhaust bolt, using a 4-foot jack handle as a cheater pipe and a leg press to supply the rotation.

I've been keeping my eye out for a Snap On ratchet set for less than the $Infinity they sell it off the truck for. Fact of the matter is, they want $1400 each for a fairly limited set of sockets, per drive. It would take at least 3 of those sets to equal the comprehensiveness for a $150 Craftsman box. That means you could turn over every socket in the box 28 fuckin' times without the damned warranty.

I suspect what I'll end up doing is grabbing a high end ratchet and individual high-end sockets for the common sizes (half inch, 7/8th, 10mm, 12mm, 13mm, 15mm, 18mm, each in shallow and deep configurations, plus impact variations)

I've been using Grey Pneumatic, http://www.gpsocket.com/index.cfm  for all my various impact tools.  Buying stuff out of the truck is for desperation moments, which happen less frequently these days.  The company is in Wisconsin, but I suspect a lot of it is imported from Taiwan.  It's not chicom though, so I can settle with that.  Pricing is pretty reasonable IMO.  S/F....Ken M

  • FJ40Jim
  • FJ40Jim
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  • From: Lancaster OH
  • Registered: 2009-05-02
  • Posts: 1,119

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

I thought the HF stench is formaldehyde that is saturated into the ricepaper cardboard to keep it from decomposing?

Jim C.
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  • From: Texas
  • Registered: 2010-02-22
  • Posts: 734

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

Is there any harm in using an impact socket set with regular hand ratchets as a primary socket set?

ALLEGEDLY!

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Scuderia Ignorante // Modena / Dearborn / Aichi Prefecture / West Texas
  • From: Detroit, MI
  • Registered: 2009-05-16
  • Posts: 1,594

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

IgnoranteWest wrote:

Is there any harm in using an impact socket set with regular hand ratchets as a primary socket set?

No.  They are just thicker wall, so they don't get into tight spaces as well as standard sockets.  They are also 6 point rather than 12 point like most standard sockets.

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'74 260Z
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  • From: Freeport, NY
  • Registered: 2009-05-13
  • Posts: 1,505

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

Jeff G 78 wrote:
IgnoranteWest wrote:

Is there any harm in using an impact socket set with regular hand ratchets as a primary socket set?

No.  They are just thicker wall, so they don't get into tight spaces as well as standard sockets.  They are also 6 point rather than 12 point like most standard sockets.

If I'm gonna hammer on something with hand tools, or put a 4 foot breaker bar on it, I ALWAYS use impact sockets and extensions.  I've snapped a regular extension in half, and shattered more than one craftsman or other normal socket.

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  • From: Iowa
  • Registered: 2010-04-20
  • Posts: 1,398

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

So... The Harbor Freight Smell.... Sounds like a great name for a penalty!!!!  Let's come up with an idea.

LemonAid - Changing kids lives one lap at a time.
  • From: land of plaid
  • Registered: 2009-04-30
  • Posts: 323

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

Jeff G 78 wrote:
IgnoranteWest wrote:

Is there any harm in using an impact socket set with regular hand ratchets as a primary socket set?

No.  They are just thicker wall, so they don't get into tight spaces as well as standard sockets.  They are also 6 point rather than 12 point like most standard sockets.

they are also not hardened as much.  so they are less brittle and can take the abuse of an impact repeatedly without shattering.  but since they arent as hard, they are fatter to increase the lifespan.

zero budget racing: 
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Coming attractions: 1963 Anglia, 1958 Dauphine, mid-engine Astro van, and the footprint gets a turbo....

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  • From: Doylestown PA
  • Registered: 2011-07-26
  • Posts: 65

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

Holly Cow!!!
I bought that engine cleaner spray thingy and put it in my tool toolbag specific for my angle grinder and accessories(why,I don't know)

THE SMELL!! IT WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE FABRIC.
I THINK THIS IS WHAT CANCER SMELL LIKE

Really Bad Stafford 2010
Not so bad New Jersey 2011
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3rd Stafford 2011 etc...etc...etc...
  • Registered: 2009-05-19
  • Posts: 184

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

Probally the same Hydrogen sulfide waste they hid in the drywall sent to the Gulf Coast after Katrina. People who rebuilt with it had to totally demo and rebuild. The H2S gas destroyed the wiring, cooper pipe and Aluminum A/C coils not to mention what it did to kids lungs. Don't worry our government will let you sue the Manu.

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45 Reply by dana_h_acdc (edited by dana_h_acdc 2012-06-07 10:52 PM)

  • Registered: 2012-06-07
  • Posts: 90

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

I worked at HFtools for a couple years

Their cardboard packaging Stinks! The "destruction" manuals stink and that being said yeah everything is packaged in more cosmoline than a cheap Russian surplus rifle.
AND IT STINKS TOO!

another thing about their stuff is the quality varies TREMENDOUSLY usually you get what you pay for


and there is some stuff that is amazing and other stuff that could be deadly... anything in a big set is lower quality than "individually" packed products

I've done quite a bit of wrenching and own a bunch of their tools and a bunch of random better stuff. It never fails I always grab my Pittsburgh 9pc metric wrenches before my Craftsman set... they have "composite" ratchets with 72 teeth that are awesome 3foot jack handle hasn't broken it yet

I bought one of their cheap Orange "Chicago electric" 3/8ths drills. I was a little leery at first but it has great Torque! Using a Phillips screwdriver bit it has broken heads off of heavy wood-screws when they twist into oak too fast. Using a cut off mandrel and 3" cut off wheels it has been a chopsaw and been beat on for several years and it is still awesome!

their 3 ton jackstands are great

Another good buy I found was a "3000lb" aluminum racing jack been using it for years now and is very strong/sturdy lifting its weight limit and then some (lifted the front end of a 1989 Lincoln LSC there wasnt a wiggle from it)

On the other side of things I've witnessed their heatguns lighting on fire in less than 60 seconds. I owned a "2 ton" floor jack that used to bend twist and deform a terrifying amount under a 1996 2door pontiac grand am (not that heavy) just lifting a corner of the car. VERY SCAREY!

  • From: Lynnwood, Wa
  • Registered: 2011-06-16
  • Posts: 371

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

3-Day parking lot sale starting today!

http://widgets.harborfreight.com/wswidg … ycode=1003

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
  • From: Oregon
  • Registered: 2011-06-27
  • Posts: 342

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

The Benz ate two sets of spring compressors while trying to cut the front springs.  It was terrifying when they failed.  Never using those again!!!  And the thumbwheel ratchets suck ass.  We've cracked several sockets, but never fret when we have to grind down a crappy box wrench for a custom tool.  I do hate the smell of the store and it's packaging!

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  • From: Freeport, NY
  • Registered: 2009-05-13
  • Posts: 1,505

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

Mike98036 wrote:

3-Day parking lot sale starting today!

http://widgets.harborfreight.com/wswidg … ycode=1003

I RAIDED that sale, spent like $120 lol

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Craptain, Team Farfrumwinnin - 1993 Volkswagen Fox #14 (painted like a Ur Quattro)
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  • From: Doin' Crime in 21229
  • Registered: 2009-05-01
  • Posts: 2,155

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

TeamLemon-aid wrote:

So... The Harbor Freight Smell.... Sounds like a great name for a penalty!!!!  Let's come up with an idea.

There was a team in Charlotte last year that did a "Horrible Freight" theme.  IIRC they gave a bunch of cheap crap to Phil as a bribe.  I think the car was an E30, too.  Somehow I ended up with a plastic-handled Machete that wa spart of the bribe. 

A Horrible Freight Trophy could be appropriate, too...

We affirm that the world's magnificence has been enriched by a new beauty: the beauty of speed. A racing car whose hood is adorned with great pipes, like serpents of an explosive breath- a roaring automobile that seems to run on machine-gun fire is more beautiful than the victory of Samothrace.  --Filippo Marinetti

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  • From: Texas
  • Registered: 2010-02-22
  • Posts: 734

Re: That Harbor Freight smell

I love that smell.

It smells like I can pretend to afford to pretend race cars.

ALLEGEDLY!

-Dave
Scuderia Ignorante // Modena / Dearborn / Aichi Prefecture / West Texas