Honestly, I love Harbor Freight tools, I’ve been in the industrial and automotive fields for 10+ years and I don’t mind one bit having a tool box full of HF tools. They get the job done quite well.
My family has a good sized ranch here in Texas, and the toolboxes here are filled with Harbor Freight tools. We have had extraordinary luck with them and they have proven themselves time and again.
I do my own auto servicing at home. The money saved by doing it myself has paid for my tools (mostly HF) many times over. I also have the pullers... used twice, but great to have.
My suggestion on the black impact sockets you showed is to use nail polish and paint the area where the size of the socket is marked. Allow it to dry and then get a rag with acetone and wipe the area you painted. It will remove the nail polish on the top surface, but the polish that went into the recessed area of the marking of the size will still be there highlighting the numbers of the socket size. Now you will have sockets that are easier to read.
There's thousands of new mechanics out there using Harbor Freight tools to get by, until they're able to slowly build up a professional grade set. No shame in that. And I bet there's a few of those Harbor Freight tools that will serve them well for many years.
I have a lot of harbor freight tools in my box, been in the field for 5 or 6 years. Some stuff is good, some is trash. But use it until it breaks,warranty it out,then buy a better version. That's what I do
Well we have been brainwashed to believe that we need to jump on a tool truck as soon as we become a tech, and put ourselves in debt for life, for the exact same tools that are sold under numerous other brands for 1/10th the price! It's sad because these young guys feel peer pressure to have the "cool tools", instead of worrying about being a better tech. Tbh some of the worst techs/master techs I've ever experienced in my 40 years, were the guys obsessed with their tool truck brands and had the big shiny tool boxes! I may own Snap-On/Matco now, but I rarely buy those brands anymore ever! I recently built out a road box for my campervan and guess what kind of ratchets are in it... Capri and Craftsman, and ill put them against anything you bring to the table! It's many times more about the hands that work the tools, not necessarily the tools themselves.
Im a tech and i use a pretty good amount of HF stuff, the only thing i really wont buy from them is power tools, and now with icon theyre really competing, icon is basically reverse engineered snap on stuff
@@FahimibnDawud so true man i hate that. Tool trucks stuff is good if needed, at the end of the day youll be fine without it . I always see these guys with these snap on carts full of snap on tools and im just thinking man your gonna be paying that off forever, but idk their choice i suppose
I agree. Breaker bars are also invaluable for loosening stuck or corroded fasteners all around a car. They are typically much longer than a ratchet, thus providing more leverage to loosen difficult bolts.
@@stever5887 if you are cheap, lots of PB Blaster penetrating oil spray several times daily for about a week, then using a small sledge hammer to lightly tap on the wrench handle, slowly increasing the amount of hammering force. If it is still stuck, more PB Blaster and trying again a day later. Instead of adding heat and maybe breaking something (like my skin), I just take it to a real mechanic to loosen something for a few bucks, then finish the work myself. Help support your local mechanics, and you might learn something talking to them.
I think he outlined everything honestly, and accurately. For his application what he has, and uses is adequate. Style has a lot to do with a tools longevity. I work with some guys that are ever so ginger, and methodical in every movement.. Not rough on the equipment.. Other guys are bulls in a china shop. They get the job done.. They just have a pile of broken tools at the end.. Regardless of brand.. You don’t use a ratchet to do breaker bar stuff, and you don’t use 1/4” stuff to do 1/2” stuff.. It saves your tools, and it saves your hands!!
Great video! Thanks for sharing all your first hand experiences. My experience with H.F. tools has been mostly positive, and I use them for everything from household use to working on my fleet of 85 buses and fire trucks. I need sockets up to 2 1/2", I got a set with 10 sockets, huge ratchet with two extensions and a case for $40 bucks,..incredible price. But I did bend the breaker bar with some real heavy use. p.s. AVOID the multi colored, double box end ratcheting wrenches that have ANY plastic, you can see it if you look closely, they simply fall apart. The ratcheting wrenches that are shown here (box and open end) are far superior. Their black impact sockets are dynamite, I use them mostly with an air gun with no problems. And yes, they are hard to read. I've also used their regular chrome sockets with an air gun, no problems in many, many years of use.
That transfer pump worked great for me I had zero issues with it. Sure if you transfer liquids all the time get something else. I used the transfer pump to remove 8 gallons or so out of my generator and it worked without an issue.
The thing I like about harbor freight. Is they have so many tools that the DIY guy can’t get many other places. Snap on trucks don’t come to my house. Most of there stuff is pretty good
If you're unhappy with the welds on the leveler, stop by a welding shop or even an exhaust shop and bring the part in already wire brushed down to bare metal. They can knock that out in a few seconds maybe for a few bucks. It looks like it would be a pretty stout leveler and I'd find a way to adapt an impact to crank it.
Actually most levelers do not work very well when full engine weight is on them. Most are designed for adjustment with weight off, lift and check, then adjust more as necessary. In our shop we've always found that it took more effort to use the leveler than to use a long chain and just move the hook on the chain. Sometimes you might need to use a bolt and nut through a couple of links to create an eyelet from the chain, or to act as a stop pin so the chain doesn't slip on the hook if you are pulling from a steep angle.
All of the folding cranes are pretty much designed to put the weight on the outside wheels. This keeps the unit stable under load. You should never change the hole layout for your convenience. Use a pry bar.
Exactly if he was thinking he would've realized that you don't want the weight of the engine on the small wheels which would happen if it was easy to push the pin in without raising the lift
Most of my tools are Craftsman. Quinn chrome socket set and Daytona low profile jack are the only tools I brought from HFT. Cheap but still get the job done, love it!
Brought that tap and dye set. It was cheap and I really needed to tap a thread on my steam heating system. It worked but I only used it twice and both times it passed. So for a few uses yes great value. Also brought breaker bar, works well.
These are the HF tools I’ve purchased in two categories. Good and bad: The good: metric and standard combo wrenches, spark plug boot and hose removal pliers, 1/2” breaker bar, 1/2” click type torque wrench, belt sander and sanding belts, ratchet and socket sets: 3/8”, 1/2” drive metric and standard deep well and regular. Impact deep well sockets. The bad: 1/4” ratchet and sockets, 32 piece screw driver set in hard black case- red plastic handles. (Threw them away) The screw drivers broke during normal use and were spinning in the handle. That was when I was working on my Mercedes rear door lubricating and cleaning the window regulator and frame, the vacuum locks (power locks), and door hinges. The 1/4” drive ratchet: in all fairness I probably should have been using a larger size but the snap ring pops out and the gear falls out when you use it on very tight bolts. I just pop it back in place. Sometimes you don’t feel like digging out another tool lol. I have other tools that were given to me but I haven’t used them yet. Air conditioning pumps, pullers, compression tester, etc. I’m a classic Mercedes enthusiast with two classic MB cars. Worked on cars as a hobby 25 years, Benz- 6 years.
I bought the impact sockets from harbor freight and I used them for work I never had an issue with any of them I still have them and I recommend them home and professional the best I've ever used that includes snap-on
I just assembled my own shop crane, and thanks to your vid, I realized putting the small casters in the rear solves the problem. Had I not seen your video I wouldn't have thought of it and would have assembled it the same way you did, so thanks for saving me a little trouble.
Very good honest assessment by a man with experience. Thanks for taking the time to evaluate these tools for perspective buyers...although i don't make auto repairs...it gives me a good idea of the value and durability of all of their tools. You are a good communicator . Thank you.
I completely agree with you on the one ton engine picker. It just doesn't have the reach unless you're pulling an inline 4 banger or V6 and you can extract it to the 500 lb setting. Spend the extra money on the 2 ton model....Period. The caliper kit. GM, Chrysler....Ford. Never had an issue. Bolt puller...I've pulled a good number steering wheels with it. Breaker bars are a no brainer. For 10 bucks each, buy every size they sell. Everything I mention here I've had for well over 10 years and used the crap out of it for DIY. Freinds, relatives and myself.
Really enjoyed this one I've been debating whether or not to get the tap n die set, and my neighbor showed me the dremel set and what a great price. Thanks for sharing your talent and videos, Rodney
Thanks for the great video. I really liked the flavor and presentation. I dislike the "versus" videos although I understand the point. I'm not only a DIY'er, I'm also poor. It's not an issue of buying an economical tool from HF or spending hundreds of $$ for a snap on. It's the issue of being able to afford a tool so I can do the job myself or just doing without; the tool AND the job. I appreciate HF for making home-based repair jobs available to me that I just wouldn't have otherwise. I mean my home, not a business. Keep up the great work!
Mark Ash I agree 100 percent. It is great when you need a specialty tool or something you wouldn’t normally use. I have had a great experience with their tools.
I flip cars often and throughout the year and 90% of the tools I use are from harbor freight, they really last a long time. I've had my soccets and wratchets for over 9 years and still work perfectly. 2 key things to these tools 1. Know how yo ue them properly and 2. These are not professional grade so dont use the same wrench for 300 bolts a day
@@nobodynoone2500 they really are quality tools within reason. Like I said in a professional environment I would still use em to test them out and see how they perform but I would have low expectations. Rather they beat my expectations than be angry my $.80 soccet didn't last 15 years removing bolts day in day out.
lots of people in the comments are bashing cheap tools, well, i renovated an entire house and I probably spent about $400 on tools, (because I already owned the rest of the tools i needed) and about $5000 on materials (wood flooring paint and trim for 5 rooms). In the end I saved myself over $30000 in labor costs and made over 60k when I sold the house. The tools I used are still in perfect condition and I could literally do 100 more renovations and still be able to use the same tools. If any of the tools broke and needed to be replaced, I could buy multiple replacements and still pay less than say... a Dewalt drill, which is not much better, and yes I owned several as well as several cheaper drills and both performed the same. That said, I have also bought some Dewalt when on sale or searching Craigslist .....such as a brand new planer (the owner used it once and sold it to me for $250... 250 for a $700 dollar planer!! and he even made a base and included it. People who are brand snobs are just stupid, spending their money on name and not so much on quality. ( a lot of different tool brands are made in the same factory in China, they just change the casing color so Ryobi, Dewalt, Bosch, Black and Decker, Chicago Electric and some others) yes there are some variables but now they are less and less since it's cheaper to make the same parts there are not that different from one brand to another so why pay more so that your friends don't make fun of you for not having name brand tools? what are you in high school?
Agreed. God forbid you have a green Ryobi tool on a job site and not a blue Bosch or Red Milwaukee. hahaha. I own a Bosch hammer drill and a Ryobi hammer drill. Here are the differences: color, weight, a few extra features...both have been around for years and both have plenty of life left, and both perform EXACTLY THE SAME...in fact I think the Ryobi drill has more torque.
@@christopherelrod8788 some of the Pittsburg have rubber grips they melt. The bad thing about name brand Irwin vice grips is they're made in China and so are the Pittsburg why pay the premium.
5 років тому+10
Harbor Freight has some good stuff. Other stuff, not so much. Personally, Im not loyal to a single brand. Snap On??? No thanks. Id rather not go into debt to purchase tools.
I was a moron and DID go into debt! Learned my lesson very early on. I was living 1500 miles from home and working in a Honda dealership. When I was hired I had a basic set of tools but, of course, needed some specialized stuff. I bought them from the tool trucks but I wasn't making enough money. Suddenly realized that my actions were unsustainable when rent on my apartment was due and I had spent my money. I was 18 or 19 and no one ever sat me down and taught me how to budget my money. Things were real bad for a couple of months and shaky for over a year. On the upside it taught me how to plan ahead and I have never gone broke again.
im a professional helicopter mechanic. i have a number of Harbor freight tools in my box at work. Pittsburgh and Quinn hand tools (non moving part types) do great. overall, im impressed by Pittsburgh Pro ratchets, but, i have a hard time getting over the selector lever being backwards from the standard. "On" is the wrong way on Pittsburgh ratchets.
@@tarakim3488 so... every other major tool manufacturer in the world is guilty of patent infringement? No, it's called an industry standard. If Kobalt, Craftsman, Snap On, Matco, Mack, Gearwrench, Armstrong, and dozens of others all build them the same way, its obviously not a case of patent infringement.
For the sockets that you said you can't read, what I do I take my angle grinder with a brown/soft disc and lightly remove the black paint until the just the black paint is left in the crease of the number and is easily visible. Hope that helps.
The engine stand works great for a small block v8. No issues at all and I’ve had complete motors on them for a year or so outside even and it still looks great. I’m also using a hydraulic pump from them on an old engine hoist and sought of abuse it and it works great. I’ll stick to craftsman for my ratchets and sockets and pretty much everything else. Harbor freight is excellent for tarps and stuff. Good video.
Outstanding review. I don't mind going to Harbor Freight because I am not a master mechanic. I work on my own stuff around the house instead of paying a mechanic to do a job I can do. Harbor Freight usually does not disappoint with the their quality compared to price. Some of their products suffer in longevity due to the quality. I am okay with that if I know I am getting a great price. You did a great job breaking down everything that you use!
I have a wide range of Harbor Freight Tools everything from hand tools to Electric motorized tools and my engine stand and hoist all work perfectly fine just as good as any Craftsman or Snap-on tool that I have oh and I forgot all of my Harbor Freight Tools are between 10 and 30 years old they work fine Harbor Freight has served me very well. You just have to remember any cheap tool that you buy that can last 5 or more years you've gotten your money's worth out of it so what is the difference if you have to replace it I don't see a problem with that
I have the breaker bar and I love it I also have there 3/4 dr breaker bar I use then all the time at my shop. I did not know that hft sold long pipes like that I will pick one up
This old man has a complete set of Pittsburg (Forge) ratchets in 1/2", 3/8" and 1/4" drives. I bought them over 30 years ago when Harbor Freight was Harbor Freight Salvage and they actually came to our local area (Fuquay-Varina, NC) and set up several tents to sell tools. I've been a customer ever since and own a home shop full of their tools. Do your homework and read the reviews before you buy and you won't be disappointed.
Some ppl don’t have money for snap-on or other highend crap. Thanks for the video and thanks harbor freight for the good prices and products for the person who has a job to finish......
Excellent review, thank you. A couple things I would add on the good side for HF are clamps and drill bits (singles or sets). On the not-so-good side, I agree with the screwdrivers being not worth the price, or any edged tool (chisels, lathe tools, and so on).
I still use their mechanical tool set (Pittsburgh) and it's held up incredibly well after six years. Just purchased their 1.5 ton as well. So far so good. Good luck!
@@CarsNToys thats the jack i got it got the job done but i had to put some wood 2x4s to get enough lift for my jeep wj exceeded the weight its rated for too
The tap and die set looks much better than my HF tap and die set. If I used taps and dies more, I would buy an expensive set, but plenty good for me. Agree 110% on the ratcheting wrench set.
for those ratcheting box end wrenches, go to true value and pick up a set of gearwrenches for 30$, more wrenches, better brand service if you break one
Very nice review. I also have a lot of the HF tools you spoke about and the have held up just fine (non-commercial use). I also picked up the HF 12 Ton Press (model 60604) and a few of the press disk kits. All good. BTW, you must live in the northern climate where they salt the streets (your cement garage floor has deteriorated).
I’m about to adjust my ‘75 Mercedes 450 SEL valves and need HF wrenches to heat up and bend for the special tool since it’s no longer available. Best way to go IMO.
I work at a shop and love harbor freight since they are cheap i buy the wrenches and heat them with to torch and bend to my liking or double wrench them but still prefer my mac tools
When i first started workin in Automotive collision repair i thought matco and snap on were amazing. Little did my immature brain know. I only liked them bc i thought i was spendin lots of money on a quality tool. And tbh it is good quality. I have a impact from snap on which is my favorite tool to use. But HF has deals that are hard to beat and for great quality.
For the price of their bodywork tools you can buy several sets before reaching the cost for a name brand set. But I've yet to ever had to replace anything from harbor freight due to failure
Harbor Freight has stepped up the quality game in the past few years. Pittsburgh Pro stuff is made in Taiwan. No, not the same quality as USA Made Snap-On, etc, but, a lot of Irwin, Craftsman, and "mid-grade" tool companies are making their tools in the same factories.
Really good video. If you know tools, you can pretty much figure what's good and what's not. I have several tools from HF and I happy with them all. The heavy duty angle grinders work good for me. I have two. I leave a cut off wheel on one and a flap disk on the other. Keep up the good work.
My approach to Harbor Freight sets li,e the tap and die is; if I wear out a particular piece I buy a good quality one to replace it and then I have all the other sizes just in case I need them. I found that it’s cheaper over the long run to have large sets and replace a piece here in there instead of spending big bucks on small higher quality sets
I had no problems with harbour freight tools. I worked as a contractor on ft hood for over 8 years. Most of my tools were and still are harbour freight.
Just because they're HF tools doesn't mean you have to go for the cheapest ones. They have some good tools if you're a discerning shopper. The only problems I've had is with their absolute cheapest options when I needed something in a pinch.
Regarding the engine hoist, you said that when lowering the leg for use it was a problem lining up those holes to insert the pin in the operational mode. This is not correct. Those hole don't line up for a reason. The caster wheels under the pivot point are not designed to support the weight of whatever the hoist is lifting. It is rated at a ton, those wheels are not. You have to raise the wheels off the ground when using the boom to avoid damaging the casters. Put a pry bar under the frame to lift and you won't hurt your back.
Impact sockets are designed for impact. Hundreds of rapid impacts. They are “softer” than chrome. Chrome sockets are more appropriate for a breaker bar application.
for the numbers, paint the number with a light color paint and clean up the exess on the outside, if you want a perfect job wax the outside of the sockets and keep the wax away from the numbers and paint the letters clean the exess and your problem goes away in a snap
If you want a faster and easier way to see the sizes, just sand it space lightly with 400 grit dry sandpaper. The metal is likely silver and the black pant would stay in the recess. Nice review.
Can't speak for anything else there because I haven't bought it but their tap and die set has yet to break one single tap and they are very useful. I've bought some wheels there that broke easily but as long as I bathe my taps in a bucket of used motor oil at the end of the week they seem to work wonderfully
150% recommend a breaker bar for strut work, especially if you live in the North. With Rust my main knuckle bolt took 250Lbs ft lbs of Torque to get off. You need leverage for that.
I have couple of engine stands and they work good sometimes people try to put too much weight on it make sure it's the right wait for what you want to do with it. People put they put too much weight on it
Yeah, they qualify good, they can get the job done for entry level jobs. Just not the highest quality control, not the tightest tolerances, and not always the best option for the job. They do work, and as long as they are functional they shouldn't be knocked for it, but some times certain jobs requires certain tools. My $40 multimeter works perfectly fine for what I need, but as a engineer my job mandates a more accurate unit which runs $600. Not 12x's better but it's the better tool for that job. Big fan of their breaker bars!
They warranty hand tools. I broke a wrench, took it in and they replaced the entire set. Got a bad drill in a multi tool set. Under warranty, they gave me a complete set brand new! Their extended warranty is good to get plus they will keep it on their computer so you don't have to keep up with the ticket or the warranty paper. I get a copy of my ticket emailed after I make a purchase. Really handy!
First time I used the ratchet wrenches the gears stripped out and I mean on the first bolt first turn even tho they are no questions asked warranty I have just not had time to make it back to the store
It's says grade 5 bolts right on the box and if you don't like the bolts just replace them and they are screw driver's not chisels so that's why they don't don't hold up well to the hammer. So far I have been pleased with what I have bought from HF for the price I paid.
I should of been more specific. Light usage (not dead blows) will cause the ends to crack up and fall apart. I never had an issue using Craftsman (or other brands) regarding light usage.
@@CarsNToys Can't you just grind a new tip on them? Most of us will regrind the tip after they are damaged (or worn) to get longer life or just to get a screw in/out with a screwdriver that isn't quite the right size. Personally, I want a tempered tip (that's why they crack); BTW you can beat on their cheapo screwdrivers w/o cracking problems but their tips don't last long being used for their intended purpose.
I don't understand why people that hate Harbor Freight click on these videos and put their nasty rude comments I have purchased tools from Harbor Freight for years yes they have some junk tools down there but they also have lots of good tools . Most of time before I purchase a tool from Harbor Freight I will read the reviews online. If you are a d.i.y then most of Harbor Freight's tools are right up your alley. If you turn wrenches professionally then you depend on that tool to make your living with then the tool truck tools will most likely be your choice of tools. I have been working on cars for over 15 years and I have a little bit of everything in my toolbox . Harbor Freight Tools have come a long way from what they used to be in fact I would say they're not as good as quality as Craftsman if not better.
you have the same opinion as i do with hf wont trust my life to em but for a beater throw away every day tool so far good enough have better tools if needed but hf is my go to 1st
The engine hoist should have had the castor adjusted with a few spacing washers the day he put it together. Twelve point sockets are never recommended they will round off nuts that have rusted. What is an engine level tool one or two long studs will guide an engine onto a stand or gear box. Tools are made to serve a purpose if you only get them out to do a short service every few months then cheap is the way to go, if you use them every day then buy the best you can afford and look after them
Yeah they are good. Power tools I have are dewalt and Milwaukee. I got dewalt tool set/craftsmen/Stanley/husky and rest are harbor freight. I buy all the missing sockets I need and 1/2 breaker bar is amazing from harbor freight.
You'd have laughed at my lag-eyebolt into the stud of the garage wall, hooked to my come-a-long, hooked to a 2" wrench that has a 1 1/4 wrench threaded through it, hooked to my chain hooked to my silverado pulling it up the inclined driveway. It worked. 2:18 That's a "feature" on my 2 ton "higher end" folding engine hoist as well. My recent alternator video has a review of the same breaker bar. I think its design is superior to the Pittsburgh Pro model with the rubber handle. Love that thing. I use my kids sidewalk chalk on the sockets to make them visible, if it gets oilsoaked or wet, just re-apply super easy. Since its sidewalk chalk I color-code them too {:-)Thanks for the reviews.
Their bigger titanium tap 'n die set is much better.... it's twice as much $... but for what you'll spend on the standard set in metric and SAE you could buy the better and much more complete titanium set... I have used the smaller ones in the past and they'll do the job... I'd rather have the bigger better one though... their impact sockets are really really good though.... some of their stuff isn't bad you just have to know what to get and what you're doing with it.... nice video
no, they are only good if you are doing light to maybe medium work. Snap on might seem over priced, but snap on wont break or give you problems when the job is hard. I still to this day dont understand why people are having this argument, the cheap tools will work fine on lighter duty jobs, but if you push cheap tools they break every time way before good tools. But if you dont need anything heavy duty and dont want to spend alot of money cheap tools are fine.
Natty ice you are correct to a degree. You have to know the limitations of tools like taking a 3/8 in standard length ratchet to the caliper bolts, can get the job done but you probably bought to use a 1/2 or a breaker bar it’s just knowing limitations, I have stripped and broken a lot of snap on stuff. It’s not bullet proof
all of harbor freight wrench sets is they don't include all sizes. like the long handle metric wrench st does not have a 13mm wrench which is probably the most common metric wrench.
The metric sets need to go up to 19mm. Lots of stuff on cars n trucks are 19mm. That's why I don't buy many of these sets. Go to Sears there are great deals now.
Honestly, I love Harbor Freight tools, I’ve been in the industrial and automotive fields for 10+ years and I don’t mind one bit having a tool box full of HF tools. They get the job done quite well.
My family has a good sized ranch here in Texas, and the toolboxes here are filled with Harbor Freight tools. We have had extraordinary luck with them and they have proven themselves time and again.
Thanks for your feedback!
I do my own auto servicing at home. The money saved by doing it myself has paid for my tools (mostly HF) many times over.
I also have the pullers... used twice, but great to have.
Absolutely. The investment pays for itself.
My suggestion on the black impact sockets you showed is to use nail polish and paint the area where the size of the socket is marked. Allow it to dry and then get a rag with acetone and wipe the area you painted. It will remove the nail polish on the top surface, but the polish that went into the recessed area of the marking of the size will still be there highlighting the numbers of the socket size. Now you will have sockets that are easier to read.
Nice tip! Thank you.
I use model paint.
Or use White Out.... just put a dab on there and smear it around and it will highlight the size
Use a paint pen. Then scrape off the paint and leave the paint on the inside of the number. ☺️
hit the numbers with whatever spray paint that you have on hand that will contrast then wipe off excess with a rag.
There's thousands of new mechanics out there using Harbor Freight tools to get by, until they're able to slowly build up a professional grade set. No shame in that. And I bet there's a few of those Harbor Freight tools that will serve them well for many years.
BoiseG well said I can’t afford snap on to matco so harbor serves there purpose
I have a lot of harbor freight tools in my box, been in the field for 5 or 6 years. Some stuff is good, some is trash. But use it until it breaks,warranty it out,then buy a better version. That's what I do
Well we have been brainwashed to believe that we need to jump on a tool truck as soon as we become a tech, and put ourselves in debt for life, for the exact same tools that are sold under numerous other brands for 1/10th the price! It's sad because these young guys feel peer pressure to have the "cool tools", instead of worrying about being a better tech. Tbh some of the worst techs/master techs I've ever experienced in my 40 years, were the guys obsessed with their tool truck brands and had the big shiny tool boxes! I may own Snap-On/Matco now, but I rarely buy those brands anymore ever! I recently built out a road box for my campervan and guess what kind of ratchets are in it... Capri and Craftsman, and ill put them against anything you bring to the table! It's many times more about the hands that work the tools, not necessarily the tools themselves.
Im a tech and i use a pretty good amount of HF stuff, the only thing i really wont buy from them is power tools, and now with icon theyre really competing, icon is basically reverse engineered snap on stuff
@@FahimibnDawud so true man i hate that. Tool trucks stuff is good if needed, at the end of the day youll be fine without it . I always see these guys with these snap on carts full of snap on tools and im just thinking man your gonna be paying that off forever, but idk their choice i suppose
The breaker bar is a must have. It makes it real easy to loosen lug bolts from tires.
Absolutely
So does an impact
I agree. Breaker bars are also invaluable for loosening stuck or corroded fasteners all around a car. They are typically much longer than a ratchet, thus providing more leverage to loosen difficult bolts.
Jordan Vasquez my man 👍 ugga dugga that shit out
@@stever5887 if you are cheap, lots of PB Blaster penetrating oil spray several times daily for about a week, then using a small sledge hammer to lightly tap on the wrench handle, slowly increasing the amount of hammering force. If it is still stuck, more PB Blaster and trying again a day later. Instead of adding heat and maybe breaking something (like my skin), I just take it to a real mechanic to loosen something for a few bucks, then finish the work myself. Help support your local mechanics, and you might learn something talking to them.
I think he outlined everything honestly, and accurately. For his application what he has, and uses is adequate.
Style has a lot to do with a tools longevity. I work with some guys that are ever so ginger, and methodical in every movement.. Not rough on the equipment.. Other guys are bulls in a china shop. They get the job done.. They just have a pile of broken tools at the end.. Regardless of brand.. You don’t use a ratchet to do breaker bar stuff, and you don’t use 1/4” stuff to do 1/2” stuff.. It saves your tools, and it saves your hands!!
Great video! Thanks for sharing all your first hand experiences. My experience with H.F. tools has been mostly positive, and I use them for everything from household use to working on my fleet of 85 buses and fire trucks. I need sockets up to 2 1/2", I got a set with 10 sockets, huge ratchet with two extensions and a case for $40 bucks,..incredible price. But I did bend the breaker bar with some real heavy use. p.s. AVOID the multi colored, double box end ratcheting wrenches that have ANY plastic, you can see it if you look closely, they simply fall apart. The ratcheting wrenches that are shown here (box and open end) are far superior. Their black impact sockets are dynamite, I use them mostly with an air gun with no problems. And yes, they are hard to read. I've also used their regular chrome sockets with an air gun, no problems in many, many years of use.
I just used that transfer pump to remove 7 gallons from my Volkswagen. Worked just fine for me. Great vid A+++.
Good stuff! Thank you.
That transfer pump worked great for me I had zero issues with it. Sure if you transfer liquids all the time get something else. I used the transfer pump to remove 8 gallons or so out of my generator and it worked without an issue.
Im a pro and a good percentage of my box is harborfrieght. Maybe 20% harbor frieght, 30% percent craftsman, 30 percent snap on, rest everything else.
Those hose pliers are also ideal for removing spark plug boots. :)
The thing I like about harbor freight. Is they have so many tools that the DIY guy can’t get many other places. Snap on trucks don’t come to my house. Most of there stuff is pretty good
If you're unhappy with the welds on the leveler, stop by a welding shop or even an exhaust shop and bring the part in already wire brushed down to bare metal. They can knock that out in a few seconds maybe for a few bucks. It looks like it would be a pretty stout leveler and I'd find a way to adapt an impact to crank it.
Thank you. That's a good tip!
Actually most levelers do not work very well when full engine weight is on them. Most are designed for adjustment with weight off, lift and check, then adjust more as necessary.
In our shop we've always found that it took more effort to use the leveler than to use a long chain and just move the hook on the chain. Sometimes you might need to use a bolt and nut through a couple of links to create an eyelet from the chain, or to act as a stop pin so the chain doesn't slip on the hook if you are pulling from a steep angle.
All of the folding cranes are pretty much designed to put the weight on the outside wheels. This keeps the unit stable under load. You should never change the hole layout for your convenience. Use a pry bar.
Exactly if he was thinking he would've realized that you don't want the weight of the engine on the small wheels which would happen if it was easy to push the pin in without raising the lift
Most of my tools are Craftsman. Quinn chrome socket set and Daytona low profile jack are the only tools I brought from HFT. Cheap but still get the job done, love it!
HF is great for occasional use tools. ALWAYS read the reviews before you buy. At least they print the bad with the good.
Brought that tap and dye set. It was cheap and I really needed to tap a thread on my steam heating system. It worked but I only used it twice and both times it passed. So for a few uses yes great value. Also brought breaker bar, works well.
Very cool. I still use the set, although mostly for light usage. Cheers.
These are the HF tools I’ve purchased in two categories. Good and bad:
The good: metric and standard combo wrenches, spark plug boot and hose removal pliers, 1/2” breaker bar, 1/2” click type torque wrench, belt sander and sanding belts, ratchet and socket sets: 3/8”, 1/2” drive metric and standard deep well and regular. Impact deep well sockets.
The bad: 1/4” ratchet and sockets, 32 piece screw driver set in hard black case- red plastic handles. (Threw them away)
The screw drivers broke during normal use and were spinning in the handle. That was when I was working on my Mercedes rear door lubricating and cleaning the window regulator and frame, the vacuum locks (power locks), and door hinges.
The 1/4” drive ratchet: in all fairness I probably should have been using a larger size but the snap ring pops out and the gear falls out when you use it on very tight bolts. I just pop it back in place. Sometimes you don’t feel like digging out another tool lol.
I have other tools that were given to me but I haven’t used them yet. Air conditioning pumps, pullers, compression tester, etc. I’m a classic Mercedes enthusiast with two classic MB cars. Worked on cars as a hobby 25 years, Benz- 6 years.
winch bolted to the floor is perfect for dragging in dead cars. thumbs up.
It's a life saver. It saved me big time when this Acura TL snapped its subframe: ua-cam.com/video/5VZhVz0iqrY/v-deo.html
Or dead bodies
The legs on the folding crane are designed that way so as to lift the center casters off the floor.
Domo's Automotive yes you are absolutely correct! I saw that also.
Drill
Domo's Automotive agreed.
Came to the comments to say this.
@@jamestern5720 No, don't! The little casters are supposed to be lifted off the floor in use.
I bought the impact sockets from harbor freight and I used them for work I never had an issue with any of them I still have them and I recommend them home and professional the best I've ever used that includes snap-on
The blue LED light puck is the best freebie from HF
lol Yes I love that thing as well. The newer ones are LEDs
I just assembled my own shop crane, and thanks to your vid, I realized putting the small casters in the rear solves the problem. Had I not seen your video I wouldn't have thought of it and would have assembled it the same way you did, so thanks for saving me a little trouble.
Thank you for the heads up.
Very good honest assessment by a man with experience. Thanks for taking the time to evaluate these tools for perspective buyers...although i don't make auto repairs...it gives me a good idea of the value and durability of all of their tools. You are a good communicator . Thank you.
I completely agree with you on the one ton engine picker. It just doesn't have the reach unless you're pulling an inline 4 banger or V6 and you can extract it to the 500 lb setting. Spend the extra money on the 2 ton model....Period. The caliper kit. GM, Chrysler....Ford. Never had an issue. Bolt puller...I've pulled a good number steering wheels with it. Breaker bars are a no brainer. For 10 bucks each, buy every size they sell. Everything I mention here I've had for well over 10 years and used the crap out of it for DIY. Freinds, relatives and myself.
Awesome!
Really enjoyed this one I've been debating whether or not to get the tap n die set, and my neighbor showed me the dremel set and what a great price. Thanks for sharing your talent and videos, Rodney
Thanks for the great video. I really liked the flavor and presentation. I dislike the "versus" videos although I understand the point. I'm not only a DIY'er, I'm also poor. It's not an issue of buying an economical tool from HF or spending hundreds of $$ for a snap on. It's the issue of being able to afford a tool so I can do the job myself or just doing without; the tool AND the job. I appreciate HF for making home-based repair jobs available to me that I just wouldn't have otherwise. I mean my home, not a business.
Keep up the great work!
Mark Ash I agree 100 percent. It is great when you need a specialty tool or something you wouldn’t normally use. I have had a great experience with their tools.
Thank you. Well said!
I flip cars often and throughout the year and 90% of the tools I use are from harbor freight, they really last a long time. I've had my soccets and wratchets for over 9 years and still work perfectly. 2 key things to these tools 1. Know how yo ue them properly and 2. These are not professional grade so dont use the same wrench for 300 bolts a day
I'm suprised by the quality of their sockets. The tolerances are a bit loose, but I bought them to abuse em and they have yet to break.
@@nobodynoone2500 they really are quality tools within reason. Like I said in a professional environment I would still use em to test them out and see how they perform but I would have low expectations. Rather they beat my expectations than be angry my $.80 soccet didn't last 15 years removing bolts day in day out.
lots of people in the comments are bashing cheap tools, well, i renovated an entire house and I probably spent about $400 on tools, (because I already owned the rest of the tools i needed) and about $5000 on materials (wood flooring paint and trim for 5 rooms). In the end I saved myself over $30000 in labor costs and made over 60k when I sold the house. The tools I used are still in perfect condition and I could literally do 100 more renovations and still be able to use the same tools. If any of the tools broke and needed to be replaced, I could buy multiple replacements and still pay less than say... a Dewalt drill, which is not much better, and yes I owned several as well as several cheaper drills and both performed the same. That said, I have also bought some Dewalt when on sale or searching Craigslist .....such as a brand new planer (the owner used it once and sold it to me for $250... 250 for a $700 dollar planer!! and he even made a base and included it. People who are brand snobs are just stupid, spending their money on name and not so much on quality. ( a lot of different tool brands are made in the same factory in China, they just change the casing color so Ryobi, Dewalt, Bosch, Black and Decker, Chicago Electric and some others) yes there are some variables but now they are less and less since it's cheaper to make the same parts there are not that different from one brand to another so why pay more so that your friends don't make fun of you for not having name brand tools? what are you in high school?
Agreed. God forbid you have a green Ryobi tool on a job site and not a blue Bosch or Red Milwaukee. hahaha. I own a Bosch hammer drill and a Ryobi hammer drill. Here are the differences: color, weight, a few extra features...both have been around for years and both have plenty of life left, and both perform EXACTLY THE SAME...in fact I think the Ryobi drill has more torque.
Tool snobs and experts and know it all's
Totally agree. Retired on a fixed income in ct. Ripoff tax state
@@pirihern9329 "retired on fixed income in ct."
Your choice, no sympathy from me.
@@danielwilkinson1024 Doesn't sound like he needs or wants your judgment or sympathy. Go be a troll dipshit somewhere else. Move along.
The Bolt Puller Set I owned since 2004. Still going strong in 2019. I am a Dealership Technician! Thanks for this!
That's awesome! Thanks for your feedback
I have a lot of harbor freight stuff. Personally, I have no complaints, everything of theirs I have has always worked
Some are good. H F is stepping up their game.
I like the Pittsburg vice grips for welding. I don't feel bad when they melt or get cover in spatter.
Ya. My Vise grips get covered in spatter. But they dont melt so. Eh
@@christopherelrod8788 some of the Pittsburg have rubber grips they melt. The bad thing about name brand Irwin vice grips is they're made in China and so are the Pittsburg why pay the premium.
Harbor Freight has some good stuff. Other stuff, not so much. Personally, Im not loyal to a single brand. Snap On??? No thanks. Id rather not go into debt to purchase tools.
I was a moron and DID go into debt! Learned my lesson very early on. I was living 1500 miles from home and working in a Honda dealership. When I was hired I had a basic set of tools but, of course, needed some specialized stuff. I bought them from the tool trucks but I wasn't making enough money. Suddenly realized that my actions were unsustainable when rent on my apartment was due and I had spent my money. I was 18 or 19 and no one ever sat me down and taught me how to budget my money. Things were real bad for a couple of months and shaky for over a year. On the upside it taught me how to plan ahead and I have never gone broke again.
im a professional helicopter mechanic. i have a number of Harbor freight tools in my box at work. Pittsburgh and Quinn hand tools (non moving part types) do great. overall, im impressed by Pittsburgh Pro ratchets, but, i have a hard time getting over the selector lever being backwards from the standard. "On" is the wrong way on Pittsburgh ratchets.
Appreciate the feedback!
@@CarsNToys no problem.
It's like that so it's not patent infringement.
@@tarakim3488 so... every other major tool manufacturer in the world is guilty of patent infringement? No, it's called an industry standard. If Kobalt, Craftsman, Snap On, Matco, Mack, Gearwrench, Armstrong, and dozens of others all build them the same way, its obviously not a case of patent infringement.
For the sockets that you said you can't read, what I do I take my angle grinder with a brown/soft disc and lightly remove the black paint until the just the black paint is left in the crease of the number and is easily visible. Hope that helps.
Thank you. Appreciate the feedback.
The engine stand works great for a small block v8. No issues at all and I’ve had complete motors on them for a year or so outside even and it still looks great. I’m also using a hydraulic pump from them on an old engine hoist and sought of abuse it and it works great. I’ll stick to craftsman for my ratchets and sockets and pretty much everything else. Harbor freight is excellent for tarps and stuff. Good video.
Outstanding review. I don't mind going to Harbor Freight because I am not a master mechanic. I work on my own stuff around the house instead of paying a mechanic to do a job I can do. Harbor Freight usually does not disappoint with the their quality compared to price. Some of their products suffer in longevity due to the quality. I am okay with that if I know I am getting a great price. You did a great job breaking down everything that you use!
Thank you. I appreciate the feedback!
I am a retired ASE Master Mechanic who went into heavy equipment mechanic and fully agree with your assessment.
I have a wide range of Harbor Freight Tools everything from hand tools to Electric motorized tools and my engine stand and hoist all work perfectly fine just as good as any Craftsman or Snap-on tool that I have oh and I forgot all of my Harbor Freight Tools are between 10 and 30 years old they work fine Harbor Freight has served me very well. You just have to remember any cheap tool that you buy that can last 5 or more years you've gotten your money's worth out of it so what is the difference if you have to replace it I don't see a problem with that
I had a small block chevy engine on the harbor freight stand, for 3 months, its not bad, held up nice.
I started using harbor freight tools they been good to me no problems
I bought myself a Pittsburgh mechanics set at Harbor Freight today to try them against my kobalt tools. wish me luck ;P
I have the breaker bar and I love it I also have there 3/4 dr breaker bar I use then all the time at my shop. I did not know that hft sold long pipes like that I will pick one up
This old man has a complete set of Pittsburg (Forge) ratchets in 1/2", 3/8" and 1/4" drives. I bought them over 30 years ago when Harbor Freight was Harbor Freight Salvage and they actually came to our local area (Fuquay-Varina, NC) and set up several tents to sell tools. I've been a customer ever since and own a home shop full of their tools. Do your homework and read the reviews before you buy and you won't be disappointed.
Man this is one hell of a review. Thanks brother.
Some ppl don’t have money for snap-on or other highend crap. Thanks for the video and thanks harbor freight for the good prices and products for the person who has a job to finish......
Excellent review, thank you. A couple things I would add on the good side for HF are clamps and drill bits (singles or sets). On the not-so-good side, I agree with the screwdrivers being not worth the price, or any edged tool (chisels, lathe tools, and so on).
Thank you. I have yet to try their drill bits.
Just picked up a pittsburgh machincal tool set and floor jack from hf we will see how it goes
I still use their mechanical tool set (Pittsburgh) and it's held up incredibly well after six years. Just purchased their 1.5 ton as well. So far so good. Good luck!
@@CarsNToys thats the jack i got it got the job done but i had to put some wood 2x4s to get enough lift for my jeep wj exceeded the weight its rated for too
The tap and die set looks much better than my HF tap and die set. If I used taps and dies more, I would buy an expensive set, but plenty good for me. Agree 110% on the ratcheting wrench set.
Love the ratcheting wrench set. Thanks for commenting.
The tie rod tool there was good it had the size I needed to remove the inner rod. And also the predator engine 6.5 is good put it on my log splitter.
for those ratcheting box end wrenches, go to true value and pick up a set of gearwrenches for 30$, more wrenches, better brand service if you break one
Very nice review. I also have a lot of the HF tools you spoke about and the have held up just fine (non-commercial use). I also picked up the HF 12 Ton Press (model 60604) and a few of the press disk kits. All good. BTW, you must live in the northern climate where they salt the streets (your cement garage floor has deteriorated).
I’m about to adjust my ‘75 Mercedes 450 SEL valves and need HF wrenches to heat up and bend for the special tool since it’s no longer available. Best way to go IMO.
HF is great for a diy guy, and im seeing more and more HF tools showing up in pros garages,
I work at a shop and love harbor freight since they are cheap i buy the wrenches and heat them with to torch and bend to my liking or double wrench them but still prefer my mac tools
When i first started workin in Automotive collision repair i thought matco and snap on were amazing. Little did my immature brain know. I only liked them bc i thought i was spendin lots of money on a quality tool. And tbh it is good quality. I have a impact from snap on which is my favorite tool to use. But HF has deals that are hard to beat and for great quality.
For the price of their bodywork tools you can buy several sets before reaching the cost for a name brand set. But I've yet to ever had to replace anything from harbor freight due to failure
Harbor Freight has stepped up the quality game in the past few years. Pittsburgh Pro stuff is made in Taiwan. No, not the same quality as USA Made Snap-On, etc, but, a lot of Irwin, Craftsman, and "mid-grade" tool companies are making their tools in the same factories.
No pro will buy anything from that place.
That last item, the Transfer Pump, I have two (home, and country weekend location), and they're great!
Thanks for the feedback. I recently purchased one off Amazon. So far so good. Cheers.
Really good video. If you know tools, you can pretty much figure what's good and what's not. I have several tools from HF and I happy with them all. The heavy duty angle grinders work good for me. I have two. I leave a cut off wheel on one and a flap disk on the other. Keep up the good work.
Thank you. Appreciate the feedback.
I have 2 of the 64 piece socket sets. I got one in the garage, and one I use at work putting equipment racks together.
My approach to Harbor Freight sets li,e the tap and die is; if I wear out a particular piece I buy a good quality one to replace it and then I have all the other sizes just in case I need them. I found that it’s cheaper over the long run to have large sets and replace a piece here in there instead of spending big bucks on small higher quality sets
I had no problems with harbour freight tools. I worked as a contractor on ft hood for over 8 years. Most of my tools were and still are harbour freight.
Thank you! Appreciate the feedback.
Just because they're HF tools doesn't mean you have to go for the cheapest ones. They have some good tools if you're a discerning shopper. The only problems I've had is with their absolute cheapest options when I needed something in a pinch.
ok so they don't last as long as professional tools but by the same token i can replace them 3 times and still pay less then for the professional ones
dmmcw 8 Very true yet I've been in some shops and they have harbor freight stuff they have been useing for years .
@Bill Johnson snap on the Jedi tools of the auto mechanic world .
Race Hill Farms
Tomatoes and Oranges
Regarding the engine hoist, you said that when lowering the leg for use it was a problem lining up those holes to insert the pin in the operational mode. This is not correct. Those hole don't line up for a reason. The caster wheels under the pivot point are not designed to support the weight of whatever the hoist is lifting. It is rated at a ton, those wheels are not. You have to raise the wheels off the ground when using the boom to avoid damaging the casters. Put a pry bar under the frame to lift and you won't hurt your back.
Use a snatch block on your winch cable and you'll double your pulling power...
Impact sockets are designed for impact. Hundreds of rapid impacts. They are “softer” than chrome. Chrome sockets are more appropriate for a breaker bar application.
for the numbers, paint the number with a light color paint and clean up the exess on the outside, if you want a perfect job wax the outside of the sockets and keep the wax away from the numbers and paint the letters clean the exess and your problem goes away in a snap
H.F. has good tools for the price. I'm excited that a store is coming to our neck of the woods. I won't have to buy online anymore.
I always go to the store because of those damn shipping charges.
If you want a faster and easier way to see the sizes, just sand it space lightly with 400 grit dry sandpaper. The metal is likely silver and the black pant would stay in the recess. Nice review.
Can't speak for anything else there because I haven't bought it but their tap and die set has yet to break one single tap and they are very useful. I've bought some wheels there that broke easily but as long as I bathe my taps in a bucket of used motor oil at the end of the week they seem to work wonderfully
Thanks for the heads up. I have no issues thus far with their tap and die set as well. Key, as you point out, is lubrication. Cheers.
150% recommend a breaker bar for strut work, especially if you live in the North. With Rust my main knuckle bolt took 250Lbs ft lbs of Torque to get off. You need leverage for that.
Agreed. The breaker bar is a huge plus and often sold for less than $10.
I have couple of engine stands and they work good sometimes people try to put too much weight on it make sure it's the right wait for what you want to do with it. People put they put too much weight on it
I have the 64 piece set it will stand up to a impact on short bolws, so that gives it 4.5 stars in my book
Many great quality tools there
The legs on the crane are designed that way like what Domo said but you could always install washers to get the correct height.
Thank you. I'll certainly have to do that.
@2:50 That's designed that way so the middle wheel ends up off the ground. Otherwise, you're dragging 6 wheels around instead of 4 wheels.
Just put the pump handle right behind the middle wheel and pry up. Makes it a lot easier to put the pin in to lock the leg down.
take a bright paint marker and write over the size markings on your black impact sockets so they're more noticable
Thank you for the tip
Harbor freight tools do decent in professional usage. Coworker has used Pittsburg impact sockets for 13 years. And Pittsburg snap ring pliers for 10
I like their Pittsburg brand as well. I've had no issues thus far.
Yeah, they qualify good, they can get the job done for entry level jobs. Just not the highest quality control, not the tightest tolerances, and not always the best option for the job.
They do work, and as long as they are functional they shouldn't be knocked for it, but some times certain jobs requires certain tools. My $40 multimeter works perfectly fine for what I need, but as a engineer my job mandates a more accurate unit which runs $600.
Not 12x's better but it's the better tool for that job.
Big fan of their breaker bars!
They warranty hand tools. I broke a wrench, took it in and they replaced the entire set. Got a bad drill in a multi tool set. Under warranty, they gave me a complete set brand new! Their extended warranty is good to get plus they will keep it on their computer so you don't have to keep up with the ticket or the warranty paper. I get a copy of my ticket emailed after I make a purchase. Really handy!
That's awesome. Thanks for the heads up!
First time I used the ratchet wrenches the gears stripped out and I mean on the first bolt first turn even tho they are no questions asked warranty I have just not had time to make it back to the store
The holes don't line up so that you only put weight on the front wheels when they are out, saw a guy drop an engine when he had one leg disabled.
The Dremel and brake tool is neat
The Dremel accessory kit is awesome.
I got a socket set from there a week or so ago and the new Pittsburgh ratchets are designed like the craftsman now
Very cool. Thanks for the heads up.
CarsNToys no problem
It's says grade 5 bolts right on the box and if you don't like the bolts just replace them and they are screw driver's not chisels so that's why they don't don't hold up well to the hammer. So far I have been pleased with what I have bought from HF for the price I paid.
I should of been more specific. Light usage (not dead blows) will cause the ends to crack up and fall apart. I never had an issue using Craftsman (or other brands) regarding light usage.
@@CarsNToys Can't you just grind a new tip on them? Most of us will regrind the tip after they are damaged (or worn) to get longer life or just to get a screw in/out with a screwdriver that isn't quite the right size. Personally, I want a tempered tip (that's why they crack); BTW you can beat on their cheapo screwdrivers w/o cracking problems but their tips don't last long being used for their intended purpose.
I don't understand why people that hate Harbor Freight click on these videos and put their nasty rude comments I have purchased tools from Harbor Freight for years yes they have some junk tools down there but they also have lots of good tools . Most of time before I purchase a tool from Harbor Freight I will read the reviews online. If you are a d.i.y then most of Harbor Freight's tools are right up your alley. If you turn wrenches professionally then you depend on that tool to make your living with then the tool truck tools will most likely be your choice of tools. I have been working on cars for over 15 years and I have a little bit of everything in my toolbox . Harbor Freight Tools have come a long way from what they used to be in fact I would say they're not as good as quality as Craftsman if not better.
Well said. I agree.
you have the same opinion as i do with hf wont trust my life to em but for a beater throw away every day tool so far good enough have better tools if needed but hf is my go to 1st
The engine hoist should have had the castor adjusted with a few spacing washers the day he put it together. Twelve point sockets are never recommended they will round off nuts that have rusted. What is an engine level tool one or two long studs will guide an engine onto a stand or gear box. Tools are made to serve a purpose if you only get them out to do a short service every few months then cheap is the way to go, if you use them every day then buy the best you can afford and look after them
Appreciate the feedback.
Yeah they are good. Power tools I have are dewalt and Milwaukee. I got dewalt tool set/craftsmen/Stanley/husky and rest are harbor freight. I buy all the missing sockets I need and 1/2 breaker bar is amazing from harbor freight.
Love the breaker bar. Well said. I haven't tried their power tools; I'm still using Dewalt mostly.
You'd have laughed at my lag-eyebolt into the stud of the garage wall, hooked to my come-a-long, hooked to a 2" wrench that has a 1 1/4 wrench threaded through it, hooked to my chain hooked to my silverado pulling it up the inclined driveway. It worked. 2:18 That's a "feature" on my 2 ton "higher end" folding engine hoist as well. My recent alternator video has a review of the same breaker bar. I think its design is superior to the Pittsburgh Pro model with the rubber handle. Love that thing. I use my kids sidewalk chalk on the sockets to make them visible, if it gets oilsoaked or wet, just re-apply super easy.
Since its sidewalk chalk I color-code them too {:-)Thanks for the reviews.
Nice tip! Thank you.
thanks so much for sharing your experience
Their bigger titanium tap 'n die set is much better.... it's twice as much $... but for what you'll spend on the standard set in metric and SAE you could buy the better and much more complete titanium set... I have used the smaller ones in the past and they'll do the job... I'd rather have the bigger better one though... their impact sockets are really really good though.... some of their stuff isn't bad you just have to know what to get and what you're doing with it.... nice video
I agree. It's trial and error finding what works and doesn't work. Thanks for the feedback.
Harbor freight tools are good if you use them correctly. Snap On is ridiculously over priced.
no, they are only good if you are doing light to maybe medium work. Snap on might seem over priced, but snap on wont break or give you problems when the job is hard.
I still to this day dont understand why people are having this argument, the cheap tools will work fine on lighter duty jobs, but if you push cheap tools they break every time way before good tools. But if you dont need anything heavy duty and dont want to spend alot of money cheap tools are fine.
Natty ice you are correct to a degree. You have to know the limitations of tools like taking a 3/8 in standard length ratchet to the caliper bolts, can get the job done but you probably bought to use a 1/2 or a breaker bar it’s just knowing limitations, I have stripped and broken a lot of snap on stuff. It’s not bullet proof
Snap on tools break too. The only difference is that it takes weeks for a replacement and harbor freight will exchange them same day.
Casey Smith snap on sockets fit better any professional grade tool fits better than harbor freight
@@wononcyka666 dude craftsman. Husky. Kobalt. Are all like 1/4 of price from snap on and are above average tools
Pittsburgh tools have lifetime warranty!
I found that the breaker bar has a lot of play and is hard to use with limited space.
all of harbor freight wrench sets is they don't include all sizes. like the long handle metric wrench st does not have a 13mm wrench which is probably the most common metric wrench.
Absolutely yes.
dude. Taps wear out no matter where you get them. I have high dollar tools and they do wear out. Its all in how much you use them.
Agreed. This set still works well.
The metric sets need to go up to 19mm. Lots of stuff on cars n trucks are 19mm. That's why I don't buy many of these sets. Go to Sears there are great deals now.
Good tip. Unfortunately the local Sears closed many months ago. I ended up purchasing a 19mm socket via Amazon.
1 ton crane in my opinion is for small things like snowmobile lawn mowers small tractors etc.