A Brief History of Harbor Freight Tools!
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- A Brief History of Harbor Freight Tools! - You knew it had to happen, its time for an overview of your favorite off-gassing, discount tool store!
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With out harbor freight most of these professional tools would be alot more expensive. Thank you Harbor Freight for making tools affordable.
Lowering the barriers for DIYers everywhere.
It is hard to take a talking bear seriously when you know that he can be easily distracted by the mere appearance of a pick-a-nick basket.
yes - and before its dark he has every basket in the park ;-)
Until , Heeeere comes Mr Forest Raaanger.....Hey boo boo..
I like the neighborhood tool bear, Red, voiced by Red Beard. It is unique and clever. He does seem to be "Smarter than the Average Bear!" too.
@@faerieSAALE Yeah he's cool.
I like the bear I mean I also love cigars and he is always rocking a stogie.
I'm actually glad that the closest H-F store is about an hour away. If they had a store here in town, I'd NEVER have any money in the bank and my credit cards would all be maxed out! H-F is no different than any other store, they have a lot of good stuff and a lot of not so good stuff. You just have to watch what you buy.
Just a thought, if you are poor a cheap tool that saves the day is better than nothing...
This. Cheap tools exist for a reason. Harbor freight has saved my money many times over.
It's also great for that tool you may only use a few times in a lifetime. You can usually buy it cheaper at HFT then you can rent it elsewhere.
@@WolfsHaven correct, I remember in 1966 doing a brake job on a 57 chevy with a crescent wrench vice grips and a screwdriver, I was a poor mat and I had no tools... HF would have been a blessing as I had to replace a muffler, and a starter and generator, I did get a combo open end set but everything was a fight lol
It's not a matter of being poor, it's a matter of convenience. I can outfit all my vehicles with tools for a fraction of the price
@@steverone7623 correct, BTW I have seldom had a tool deficit, but lots of times I have had a skill and knowledge deficit 😜😜😜😜😜
I'm impressed with a 17-year-old making it the hard way... he earned it himself. No matter what your opinion is of the quality. If you don't like it, don't buy it!
As a DYI'er, I buy good quality for the long term and lesser quality for the "not used too often."
I think that's what has helped HF to grow so much. I do the same when it comes to tools.
A true American success story. The first item I bought from HF was a 3x4 trailer to use behind my motorcycle. that was nearly 20 years ago. I still have it. For less than $250 I combined this trailer with a Sears car top cargo carrier and ended with an 18 cu/ft tow behind. Purpose built tow behinds were running $1500 at the time I had to order the trailer, but since that time a HF store opened about 4 miles from me. I have never gone to the store to buy an item and it not be in stock. The staff are always busy with customers, or asking if they can help you find something. Much, much better than Lowe's or Home Depot's. HF stores are always super clean, and rarely are any of there items out of place. It is the perfect store for the DIY'er. There is only one item I have had to return. It was an impact drill. I walked in gave it to them, and basically got another one off the shelf. This is the easiest tool return I ever experienced.
"American success story"? Cheap tools from China sounds like a Chinese success story. They're making bank off us, while the work is done in crowded factories of very poorly paid workers.
@@laurie4275 That afro wearing Ex-NFL player that went to work for Nike is being paid very well. Would you cut his pay in order to pay those 11 year olds more. If you do, you are obviously a racist try to hold the person of color down! You know I'm being sarcastic. BTW, In his own words, the NFL is like slavery. If you respect black players, then do the right thing and switch off ESPN and help stop the modern slave trade, so these people can be released to work as stockers at Walmart, backhoe operators, truck drivers, and coal miners. To watch professional sports is to condemn these fellow humans to be chained to homes in Beverly Hills, back seats of limos, force them to buy all the hookers they can survive.......
I forgot where I was going with this comment. I went off on a tangent. Anybody have a clue what my point was?
I first shopped at a Harbor Freight back in 1998, was not impressed with the quality of a lot of their tools, but you could still find some great bargains, especially if you needed a specialized tool you were not going to use much. I still shop at Harbor Freight, and I'm very glad to see the quality of most items has gotten much better. I also find the customer ratings and comments on their website very useful in deciding whether or not to purchase certain items.
Nowadays they have Hercules and Bauer.
I remember in the 90's they would travel around to rural areas and sell tool's out of semi trailers
tenkillcombo cummins tools too
I had forgotten about that. I remember it was like a circus coming to town.
They'd set up shop in the local armory every year. I got a shop stool I still use in the garage. But I also remember a a screwdriver set that the tips wore down after a couple uses.
Homier used to have semi sales at the fairgrounds. Last one I got my mini-mill was right around the first HF opening in town. I'm sure someone at Homier is kicking themselves right now.
Yep! Our fire department hosted a sale every couple of years. I still have the metric and SAE wrenches that I bought.
I love how ACE Hardware has 5000 stores in the us and harbor Freight only has 900, I’ve been in lots of different harbor freight locations but never been to a ace
You should. Ace is awesome and is locally owned in your community. They have a great selection too
I love my HF impact sockets and flex head ratchets.
I am a swimming pool builder. The gas powered pumps are BY FAR the best deal that I have found in the store. I have a 2" semi-trash pump that I rely on. It is 3 seasons old. I never change the oil, put good gas in it and use it till it dies. If it runs a season, I get my money out of it, but I cannot kill the thing. Also, their electric pumps are really good too, and at least half the price of the blue and orange big box stores.
I also have some of the mechanic's tools which I am really satisfied with (the breaker bar comes to mind as mentioned below), and the tool cart in my garage is US General.
As a pro, I can give the hired guys these tools and more often than not, they last. If they don't, I take it back, or just upgrade.
As a homeowner, I have every tool that I need to complete jobs around the house and am prepared.
Harbor Freight is my favorite store.
I remember the first HF store in Lexington. I was a kid but to me it was better than a toy store. Location has changed and they just recently remodeled again, but it's still one of my favorite stores.
I was born way before HF and am older than Eric but the hardware store was like a candy store to me as a kid, too. I knew how to install a door before I knew how to use a multiplication table. I remember I volunteered for a local theater program years ago (as an adult) to help out the director who is a friend, even he was shocked at what I knew how to do just walking in the door. About the only problem we ran into was that I was installing trim and asked him where the countersinks were. He told me, I went, got them then went back to installing trim -- five minutes later it hit him what I was doing and he went running up to me saying "don't countersink the nails, that makes it harder to remove the trim". I asked how he intended to cover the nail heads up and he said "let set decor deal with that". I said "OK, will do". I think that same day I taught five noobs how to install and trim up doors and install plywood flooring on raised areas of the set. I also got to use one of the students' even then ancient Milwaukee drills (not all of them were noobs), that thing was more powerful than any of my drills and I stripped screws with it. This was the days before clutches on drill chucks. I wish I had tried to buy that drill off of him, that is for sure (the most maintenance necessary on these would be replacing the brushes and lubricating the mechanism with some axle grease, they last forever otherwise).
you have to admit they keep getting better and better. And there's a store on every corner.
I love the Bauer 1/2" and 1/4" impact wrenches. I'm resurrecting a Geo Tracker 4wd using almost all Harbor freight tools and these Bauer tools just bust through any rusted frozen nut and bolt on it. These tools have been a huge time saver for me. The 20 ton hydraulic press and the Mattox wheel bearing adapter set made easy work of pressing out the big 1 piece bearing race which requires over 10 tons of force to remove. Maybe not the best tools but still dang good for my use.
Harbor Freight doesn't like us very much..... Great video!
Vcg. I. Tried. To. Film in my local Harbor Freight will the closest one to me and they agreed to let me continue shopping the store if I didn't record and erase the footage there funny I guess I see there point if you able to take videos and then DeWalt Factory Store or Milwaukee or Bosch you guys should know how to be inconspicuous wait a while and try again in the future and don't wear vcg shirts so the Harbor Freight staff don't recognize you lol
VCG Construction why don’t they like you guys?
I drive past a Harbor Freight once a month and I always go in and buy something - even if it's just a clamp - in order to get the free 27 LED flashlight which I find really useful. It's bright, has a hook and a magnet and it comes with batteries! True, I can't open it to replace the batteries, but as a freebie, why complain? I just get another free one!
Sir, you can absolutely replace the batteries on the 27 LED light. Are you referring to the blue one that is shaped like an oval? It has 3 tiny Phillips screw in the back of the light. You take them out and make sure the store's stickers are off the edges of the light, and the thing pops right open. Try it out, you just need a really small Phillips screwdriver. 3 AAA batteries, too.
Patrick Wagz - Yes! That's the light and you're right - The batteries can be replaced. I have several of these lights, but the screws are slightly different on each of them. Some have screws where the Philips head is deep enough that I could - probably (the screws are soft) - turn them with a tiny screwdriver. And in others, the slots are so shallow and rounded that I can't get a bite on them. I'd have to drill them out.
I do have some tiny Philips head screwdrivers and one of these days I'll be motivated to give it another try. In the meantime, I just keep getting new ones!
Yup I go in and will buy something for a buck and get a free flashlight or tarp
Patrick Wagz - Apparently I've run out of things to do because yesterday I dug out my good, tiny screwdrivers (Craftsman), and had no trouble removing the screws, even the soft ones. I'll still be getting the free ones but now, I'll give them out as Christmas presents!
haha, right on
Personally, I go with the 25ft tape measure or the 6piece screwdriver sets. But now I have about 8 of each, so probably should switch to something new. Maybe the free tarps?
HF auto darkening welding hoods are amazing.
My buddies in the shipyard sear by them !!!
swear...not sear....hahahahahahahaha !!!
I have one concern about the auto darkening welding hoods that would keep me from using them. What if the electronics controlling the auto darkening function go out or even if the batteries suddenly no longer have the charge to function? Before you can react, you have burned your eyes to a crisp and are now permanently half blind. No thanks, I will use the old style welding hood. If I burn my eyes to a crisp with one of those, it is my own damn fault!
@@mharris5047 the instructions tell you to find your spot - look to the side and do a quick test weld and make sure the screen darkens. I'm still getting used to the one I have - it's pretty sweet to look at your welding in natural color albeit too dark to see much other than the spark and hopefully the puddle... but yeah I kind of miss the simplicity of the old style - the auto darkening switch stupid fast so you would know pretty quick if Houston had a problem
I have been a professional mechanic for 35 years and I have a harbor freight truck air compress in my service truck and you can stop it it's been a great tool.
Trying to out how a goofy animated bear taking about a knock-off tool chain would be one of my favorite UA-cam channels.
I've fallen in love with most of there tools and the assortments the crimp connection one is pure gold as I've tested it with car batteries and they basically keep coming back for more
Harrorable Freight is pretty good for some things, others run from.
The Harbor Freight electronic calipers prior to Pittsburgh were great. After Pittsburgh, so-so.
I know a few small building contractors that have out fitted their crews with Harbor Freight miter saws, grinders, sanders and saws. They figure if the tool lasts 6-9 months they more than got their money out of it, and if the tool accidentally gets left on the job site, they aren't breaking the bank.
A friend needed a sandblast cabinet. The prosumer grades of cabinets start at $1500 verses the HF blast cabinet at $200. Throw away the foam rubber seal and use sealant while assembling, and no leaks.
The Chicago Electric spot welders are made in one of the former soviet countries and are work horses of DIY firearms builders.
Professional Gunsmiths like me like that spot welder too Gunga Dinn.
Harbor Freight, a mans candy store.
Only place on earth where you see men with fists full of coupons scouring the aisles for a deal.
I love the Pittsburgh 25 inch breaker bar. For $20 I can destroy as many breaker bars I please, and I can go back and get a replacement, since it's lifetime warranty.
Jackie chan_WTF $13.99 last list sale, seems better than my broken SK one.
I bought a breaker bar, wheel chocks, a small assortment of impact sockets, and a bottle jack from Harbor Freight. They make up a tire-changing kit that is far superior to any factory jack or lug wrench.
Just got the 1/2 inch drive breaker bar with the wrachett end on it for $17 with a 25% off labor day sale coupon . I couldn't believe the store was so crowded on labor day !
i have really abused mine and no problems... like 4 foot pieces of pipe over it and standing on it jumping up and down..
working shlub if you need 4 foot pieces of pipe and have to jump up and down on it I have to ask... You do realize that you don't need a 5 foot piece of pipe and to jump up and down on it to tighten your nuts and bolts in the first place right?
I used to refer to Harbor Freight as " the disposable tool store" They have always had their place. I am a professional contractor and have never been all one brand. When I started the only thing Dewalt made was a radial arm saw. It was a Makita and Milwaukee and Porter cable and Delta world. I like Hitachi and Ryobi tools as well. As you said Bear HF has been steadily upping their game and I applaud their efforts in this regard. Now if they could stop the shell game they play with coupons ..........
They have come up considerably on overall quality in the last several years. I used to buy special tools for one time use but now I look at them and the big box stores before I buy anything. I think they have great in store service and are available to help answer a question or find what you are looking for - unlike most big box hardware departments. They will open a second store in my town in the next few months.
My favorite HF item is the 3,500 watt inverter generator. Bought it when it first came out & with a sale coupon. I've found it to be very reliable and quiet running.
A set of chisel I got there about 10 years ago. Since I'm not pounding on oak all the time, they are great for all other things you would not use top quality chisel for. Sharpen them about two times a year.
Also like there parts bins with handles on them. Throw out the yellow bins and put foam in them. They make great tool storage containers Their 2.5hp plunge router is a monster and has been in my router table for 9 years. Theretable saw throws dust every where, but I only use it with a cross cut sled. So it works well within its limits.
Also love my power hand planer. It does the job for the 2 - 3 times I use it a year.
Love my 23g PIN nailer.
They are great for what I call “consumables”. Sandpaper, drill bits, latex gloves, 25 cent paint brushes (that you just throw away/cheaper than mineral spirits). The whole crawl space under my house is covered with free tarps from HF. “Free with any purchase”- 25 cent paint brush/free tarp
My favorites are old Mom & Pop stores with 40+ y/o NOS stuff on the shelves. Look fast before they're all gone!
Hi, I’m a huge HarborFreight fan and I own many tools from their with no problems, I’m semi retired and the line of tools is quality for me, I don’t need big name tools to turn a bolt, very interesting video ty, Bob,
My local harbor freight opened in 2016, they took over an older store, which used to be a CVS pharmacy store. They then moved a couple blocks down the street and built a new store. My favorite product from harbor freight is probably my US general 5 drawer tool cart. I’ve had it for about 6 months now and it’s been really great! No major complaints.
If you don't have a Harbor Freight near you obviously you can use the website. What you might not know is if you call the order in to their 1-800# they will give you the best coupon price they have without you even having the coupon.
Good to know...i used to hate rummaging through 6 current catalogs to find the code for the best price when placing mail orders.
Good to know, thank you, I appreciate it
I remember going to that store in the late 70’s. My dad loved pillaging through open boxes to find good deals. I was 7 years old I think. I just remember thinking what a yuck building. It took me years to go back in, now I love it!
3:05 Website has that angle grinder for $9.99 in 2005/2006. Today you can still pick up that angle grinder for $9.99 with a coupon...lol
I bought that angle grinder in 2002. Still using it today.
Where is the video for it at?
I got one at that price ! Had it five years now . Don't use it everyday or every week , but have burned up about 25 cutting -grinding disk on it and it's still going strong. But I don't overwork or push tools. I let the blade or cutting edge and the tool do the job . I don't force the tool to do it's job with dull blades or cutting edge . For some reason they last longer that way ? LOL .
buy the red grinder well the 3rd cheapest one black one sucks if you use it wire brushing truck bed 1 day in 2 hours n i did not use for but 10 minits then cool down n it fried
Those angle grinders are great. I keep one with a grinding wheel and one with a cutoff wheel so I can switch back and forth.
We used to have to drive to Topeka (about 45 min away), now we have one here in Manhattan. They moved into the Hastings shell. Did the same thing in Garden City as well.
I picked up one of their new vulcans because my tig machine took a crap and they said it was 2-3 weeks to replace it. Let's just say the replacement is still in the box 2 months later. They really stepped their game up.
awesome video - you're very knowledgeable about Harbor Freight
As Just a weekend grease monkey now but someone who worked as an auto repair guy when I was younger I would recommend HF tools . If you need something you can use everyday at your job you should look elsewhere . But if you will only use the tool two or three times a year or you need a tool cheap to do a job , then shop HF. I have bought many tools from them . Only one time did I have a 1/2 inch drive socket wrench fail on the second time I used it after six moths. Took it back with no sales slip and got an immediate exchange for a new one ! That's what is called a lifetime warranty ! And you won't find tools with lifetime warranty at HF price.
My daughter used to love the all terran terrain tricycle with the pneumatic tires. It was so strong I would stand on the back and she would ride me around.
HF used to sell a lot of factory refurbished power tools. I have a refurb 12v DeWalt cordless drill from the early 90's. Still works great. Also have various old chinesium pliers and hand tools that held up well and are better than their current counterparts
I used to be a bit of a tool snob in my younger days and would not have been caught dead in a Harbour Freight. As I have gotten older I have come to realize that sometimes comparing the price to the number of times used ratio is prudent for tools. They seem to have come a long way in the last decade and I enjoy browsing their stores and have become somewhat of a convert and catch myself recommending this or that from them often.
Yeah, I had to drive 50 miles to get to a HF store, crowded and lousy parking, then a new store opened up 25 miles away in a strip shopping center, modern store with plenty of parking, then a few months ago one opened up just over a mile away, hot dog! A lot of cheap Chinese tools, but for the very light shop use I use them for they are at least adequate. It is nice to see them bringing out some better quality tools. While not the best tools on the market, they have a good selection and definitely fill a place and fill a lot of needs.
Bought a mail-order floor jack from Harbor Freight & Salvage Co. in 1984. All I wanted it to do was last a couple years until I got on my feet under me financially and could buy a 'good' one. It ended up lasting almost 30 (THIRTY) years. Amazing!!
Hey Bear! Thanks for the book. I enjoyed your first and I'm sure I'll like this one too. Finding these histories very interesting.
That's good because till it cools down here I'm not spending much time in the shop 😃
@@denoftools I have known people to buy a couple of the large 220VAC window air conditioners, pop them through a wall and insulate their garages so they can work in the summer. The large 24K BTU A/C units cost about $80 per month each to run in my area of the country which is cheaper than the cost to heat the same garage each winter. If you use your garage in a professional capacity they can really pay for themselves quickly.
Honestly we just got a harbor freight in my town like Last year... I've heard good things about some of their stuff so I decided to check it out when I got my taxes this year... OMG... I don't know how I lived without it!!! I love their stuff!!! The Pittsburgh professional line is really good quality for the money and with the no hassle warranty it's a no brainier!!!
It used to be embarrassing to admit you had HFT stuff, but early on, and out of nescessity, I got their 40 ton press, mini drill press, dirty water gas pump, 4000W generator, orange belt sanders, orbital sander, cheap angle grinder, 4 drawer tool cart, mini tire changer, various clamps, fractional calipers, pneumatic air hoses and bits and pieces, Bunker Hill security system, 6 automatic hallway lights, stubby hammer, and several tool boxes and parts organizers, deep impact sockets, various small hand tools, LED droplight, ceramic kitchen knives and kitchen tupperware. And BTW, I still own everything I mentioned above and that's just off the top of my head.
Hell, who doesn't buy their zip ties, super glue, 2-part epoxy and their batteries? It's friken endless how vested in them one can become without realizing it. I truly believe HFT is the untold number one reason Craftsman went away- I watched myself go to Sears less and less and started to go into HFT more and more.
We got our HF in 2016 I use to have to drive an hour before that. It's kinda nice having them just up the road.
One of the best buys I've had from HF is the 6 amp reciprocating saw. When on sale, they are right about $20. I use one more than a DIYer around the house, and I've never had one go out on me. I either lose them, or make a permanent "loan" to someone. My neighbor was a contractor, and his big bucks Makita saw burned out on the last day of a job. He hadn't been paid yet, so the money was tight. He bought one of these 6 amp models, figuring if it lasted the day, he could get the job done. He moved about a year later, and was still using it every day. That says a lot to me.
I have a love/hate relationship with Harbor Freight. Some things work beautifully while others are just complete junk. It's nice to have them nearby when you need a tool right now. I've known of HF from when they sent catalogs to our house in the 80's. It's good to see them growing.
My Harbor Freight, took over an old JoAnn Fabrics store that sat vacant for years in a shopping plaza known as "Miracle Mile"
I started going to hf in california in the 80s. They have really improved, the rackets are giving snap on a run for the money
I like HF mostly for the hand tools. The Pittsburgh ratchets, sockets, screwdrivers, and newer Quinn and Doyle pliers are all solid tools for homeowners and diyers. Affordability and the return and replace policy also makes them low risk for any use. HF is also a good place for bungie cords, loading straps, tape, zip ties, tool boxes and other odds and ends. I'm still not sold on their power tools but there's plenty of quality hand tools to be found.
AS a Field Service Tech of 50 years I Really Like Harbor Freight.
I built an entire room to my house using nothing but Harbor Freight tools...awesome and totally reliable...table saw, nail guns, nails, drill bits, the whole shebang !!! All the tools worked great...the room was 15 feet by 40 feet...used to be a back patio...turned it into a functional room...God bless HF !!!!
Another GREAT video from DaBear........
My favorite tools from harbor fright is welding helmets.
Im 37 but I have been buying personally from Harbor Freight for long enough to own a set of Utica Tool (American made) metric nut drivers from them.... they arent the best but in 1996 when I was 16, I was happy to have an American tool from Harbor Freight.
I bought their 4-1/2" angle grinder back in '95 and it's still going strong!
Favorite Harbor Freight tool. I can't say I have a favorite. Here is the thing, the beauty really, about harbor freight. They don't have anything that really makes you giddy. (Maybe their Earth Quake half inch). But they carry a LOT of things that work well enough for the job you are trying to do. Ill give an example.
Electric hand planner. In terms of quality, it's essentially throw away. BUT!!! I only need an electric hand planner for certain things. I may use it once every 3 years. And for the money,,, it's brilliant. It's done every job I have asked of it. It owes me NOTHING. If it shits the bed tomorrow, ill go get another one and have it for another 10 years.
And that pretty much sums up Harbor Freight in a nutshell. I have their socket sets in a tool box on my tractor. If they get rusty or break or get stolen, who gives a crap. And some of their tools, like the earthquake, are actually pretty got damn good. There are a few Diamonds in their inventory. But for the most part, HF is the go to place for tools that just need to be good enough to get a few odd jobs done every once in a while.
Ill end on this note. HF also carries a lot of small things, zip ties and ratchet straps and so on. Their paint brushes suck, but I still by 20 at a time, because they are cheap as dirt and they work great for bang up jobs. Have you bought a paint brush at Home Depot lately? Jesus H Christ.
And that's why I love HF.
I like Harbor freight, some of the electric items are hit-and-miss. I bought a grinder that burned out the 1st day but I also bought a drill many years back and put that thing threw hell. That drill works as good as the day I bought it.
I have a hand grinder from HF...never had a issue with it...I do not FORCE the tool, I let the tool work FOR me...fantastic tool as per my needs....
Ended up buying a ton of HF tools for my "shop tools" for my guys who don't have full kits and so on yet. Went full on the Hercules line.
I have done tool haul video after tool haul video that includes Harbor Freight tools and love them. Currently my favorite tool from them is their 5 drawer tool cart. My least favorite tool was their exhaust pipe expander. It cracked on the first use. But, the return policy has been great and I always bought something else the few times I had to warranty something. So a win/win for everyone. P.S.- I love the ratchets too!
I own and manage rentals, and work as a handyman. When a load of tools was stolen out of my truck I ran to Harbor Freight to get back in business. If a cheap tool breaks, I'll replace it with a name brand. My current favorite HF tool is the 1/2 hammer drill. Don't drill concrete often, but it's nice to have. The 50 foot power snake literally paid for itself the first time I used it. Quality is improving, prices are still good.
Early 80’s Harbor Freight imported from Taiwan and Japan, and if you were careful, there was some excellent quality items.
I have been buying from Harbor Freight since getting one sheet sales fliers in the mail in the 1980's. For limited home use, most items are built well enough. Harbor Freight wasn't the first company to sell inexpensive tools manufactured in China. I think they made a success of it though. Also, over time, the quality of the items that they sell has improved. In the US we were used to buying stuff that we expected to last a lifetime, and if you use your tools each and every day, perhaps you wan't tools that are more durable, but for the weekend warrior this stuff is pretty good. My favorite Harbor Freight buy....It has to be the 13" variable speed band saw. Again, I don't use it every day, and because of that it doesn't run perfectly smooth (the drive belt takes a set much like not driving your car regularly where the tires need to warm up ) but it cuts and I still have all my fingers.
Got the book download, it already jumped itself on to my kindle. Thanx bear...
I remember them back in the 80’s. I grew up in the valley near North Hollywood. The son has one of the biggest homes in Beverly Hills. The father and son fought a lot and the son kicked him out of the office around 2010 when the father was looking at the companies financial records. Their is an on going legal battle between the son and his father and the father’s wife. Believe the son undervalued the company when dealing with financial information and the money the father was supposed to get and the son was using stock dividends to buy the 50 million dollar house in Beverly Hills.. I am guessing the father and son don’t spend Thanksgiving together. Think the father introduced the son into the business because they both started the business in 1977 then the son had great ideas to expand it to what it is today. Glassdoor gives it a one star review for those people that work there. Meaning it really sucks to work at their stores. Favorite tool has been their cheap Sawzall. It has done a lot of jobs for me.
I remember they had an outlet in east LA in the early 80's They sold stuff salvaged! Bought my first engine stand there, and I still have it!
That's honestly really sad if its true... I remember reading about some hostility between the son and the father as the son moved to take over the company, but not in much detail. It makes me wonder how much more successful the company could have potentially been by now if they had kept working together!
I own quite a few harbor freight products, but the one that is far and away the best is their 4' x 8' folding trailer. I got it on sale six years ago for $250. I have used it a lot, and still own it. The 4' x 8' bed is so useful. Combine that with the stake bed conversion, and you have a really versatile trailer that stores almost anywhere!
I was fortunate enough to live in Central Kentucky near Lexington. I still use my Harbor Freight drill press which I bought in the Lexington store in 1980. They have great tools for DIYers like myself
OK, my take on HF, and my cheap
Ridgid set of drivers.
A few years ago, I found a drill-driver
set, 2 tools, 2 batteries, charger and
carry case, from the local (orange)
Big Box hardware store. It was $100!
GREAT set of tools! But, I was not
able to jump through the right hoops,
to get the replacement clause activated.
Now, HF. They have a few GREAT tools
I have, but haven't actually "purchased."
The 6 piece screwdriver set, amazing!
Beats Craftsman, hands down. (I've
got a Craftsman flat blade, that, I was
able to bend torsionally. Yep, twisted the
blade, trying to remove a screw. I've NEVER
bent any of that FREE set, unless I did it on
purpose, with a torch.
Another fave, the multimeter. Have a few
laying around.
Those 4 inch magnetic parts dishes!
Those 12 inch magnetic "tool holder" strips.
That 4 bits screwdriver, with the shaft that
pulls out, and flips over, with the 2 double
ended bits, GREAT! Another use, pull the 2
bits out, use the center piece as a specialized
nut driver for 1/4, and 5/16 or 8 MM hose clamps
Yes, it WILL work. You're welcome.
Clamps. Usually what I "buy" to get the free stuff.
Norm, (Norm Abrams) says you can't have too
many clamps. Theirs are pretty damn good!
(20 or 25% off, good deal!)
That cute little 1/4
and 3/8ths ratchet is a good buy. Anything
made "Pittsburgh Pro, is as good as Craftsman
USED to be. Only thing I dislike, is the inability
to get FULL socket sets. EVERYTHING from 8
MM to 24 MM, and missing none!
I usually go with a friend, and get multiples of
what I need.
Sorry to get so long winded.
steve
I bought a die grinder and air chisel through their mail order in the mid '80s. They still work.
I just replaced the engine on my Troy-bilt horse with the 6.5 hp/ 212cc Honda clone from HF for $100. It was easy to install, starts and runs well. For an engine that I only use once or twice a year it can't be beat. I picked it up on the way home. I saw here on the tube where people build this engine into racing gocart motors. /Sounds like fun.
Thats true. I used to drive an hour to visit harbor freight and would plan special times to travel there after a list was made. Now just recently they opened a store in waxahachie a few weeks ago and i have been there at least 6 times already.
Its pronounced Cam a ree oh BEAR! Haha thanks for all the awesome vids!
I'm a trucker and there are a few of the mechanics in the shop uses the hurcerles impact and dose the job just fine
One of the best harbor freight store I've been in was Pencicola , great lay out ,clean , well organized. My local store is located in Rothchild Wisconsin , could be larger , more organized and friendly help would be an improvement.
I know its about 130 miles, but the new store in rice lake is beautiful
I was a professional mechanic for decades and would have no issue using some of their Pittsburgh Pro in a shop setting. I was a fabricator during part of that time and just picked up the Hercules 11 am angle grinder. I watched the break down of it and it is comparable to the Dewalt. I was a faithful Dewalt fan and still buy Dewalt, but with HF upping their game that may not stay that way. Remember, the idea is to put money in the bank, not in your toolbox or the tool truck.
I have quite a few of there products and for the most part they all are very good when used accordingly (ie the right tool for the right job) but with that said they do have stuff that's not worth carrying out of the store.
Now my favorite item would be all of them because I can get stuff done and make some money, but I have to give the 20gal parts washer that I purchased in 1986 from a magazine ad, that is still going strong to this day (this was my first HF purchase for $99 and free shipping) the #1 spot.
My latest purchase was the Central Machinery 8x12 metal lathe that I am in the process of setting up $750 with 25%off coupon.
Guess my current favorite is the 8” drill press. It’s the only major tool I’ve got at the moment. The Bauer drill bits have been treating me well, and the 6pc wire wheel set is lasting much longer then expected. I think of HF as a cheap test drive of tools. If a tool I get keeps running then great, if it doesn’t and I was using it a lot perhaps it’s time for an upgrade.
The 24 inch bridge tile saw cost me less than half than what I paid for my MK saw AND the Harbor Freight saw works three time as good. It's quieter with its induction motor, no brushes to replace, has its own stand, handles much larger tiles and cuts perfectly straight every time. By moving the saw and not the tile to cut works so much better than my MK saw that I don't even use it any more.
Interesting film and history lesson, Red. We’re due to have a new HF opened soon about a 7 minutes drive from my house. The only one closer is on the Southside of Montgomery, AL. My wife will know where I’m at if she hasn’t seen me for a few hours and she knows it’s my off-day from work. I have fun with the register clerks when I’m checking out with a purchase. I like to try and get a rumor started by asking, “Is true Harbor Freight will be open 24 hours beginning next month?” Whoa Nellie the responses I get! Harbor Freight tools don’t over flow my tool chest and cabinet, but I have a good handfuls worth. I believe the best item I’ve purchased so far at HF is the Earthquake XT 1/2” air impact, I added the one year extended warranty just in case. That impact works much better than my older, weaker Craftsman 1/2” impact. I wonder as Harbor Freight continues to advance in their tool quality if they’ll wean off purchasing the China-made stuff and add at least more Taiwan-made stuff.
Great video. Very interesting.
I have the HF 2hp dust collector. It words great.
My rule with HF tools is:
If it uses electricity, or can in any way hurt you, but it elsewhere.
Nitrile gloves, Tarps, screwdrivers, hammers, magnetic bowls, flashlights, funnels, rubber washers and grease are among some of the best things I buy at HF.
I have watched HF grow over the past 10-15 years from a store loaded with “knuckle busters” You know.tools made from powder metal that would just snap if you put any pressure on them. Just a store filled with Chinese made junk. Fast forward 10+ years and man has HF come a long way. The product line up has exponentially improved in quality! Now HF tools can go head to head with the top names in the business. Their prices have definitely gone up but are still lower than many competitors. I love HF and find myself there several times a month. One area where I think they are missing the boat is the LED Flashlight market. They should expand this tenfold! The market for cool LED flashlights is HUGE! And the market for 18650 batteries is big as well. Take it from a Flashlightoholic. HF would clean up !
There is 3 harbor freights in 30 miles of my house .. 1 is actually next to my bank...it’s soo hard to fight the temptation when I deposit my paycheck..😂
BEAR! I stopped in to my local (Newport News VA) Harbor Freight and got 2 items that really are great. I got a Hercules tool bag that is really sturdy and holds a lot of stuff AND an 8 dollar Pittsburgh framing hammer. They really are great for DIYers like me.
Harbor Freight is the In N Out Burger of tools. They keep expanding.
It took me a while to warm up to HF. In the early days I bought a set of snips (Wiss knockoffs) from HF Salvage, and the first time I tried to cut a piece of galvanized steel the cutting edge crumbled. I think HF has gotten better, but I am still wary. The stores near me smell like high sulfur fuel oil, and lots of the products smell like that too. I can't argue with success.
I use their ratchets. Good stuff.
My favorite HF tools are the ones I got at sidewalk sale events with the orange tags. Got one of the older blue generators for $200, two $100 hammer drills $25 a piece, the 12" Chicago Electric mitre saw for $70. The double cut saw for $30. Magnesium circular saw $30. Every one still good! The thermal cutoff on the circular saw is a little too touchy. I have used and abused the hammer drills, especially the older one. I use it to ream out rotted fence post. Then I fill the hole with one of the u shaped post supports from home Depot, and new cement. Works like a champ! Also the 1/2 inch heavy duty corded drill is a favorite. I bought it new with 20% coupon for about $35. That thing just keeps going! Have had it for 20 years. Ssssssombody sssssstop me!!!! (Jim Carrey - The Mask). 😎
I love my Bauer brad nailer. For $26 with the coupon this thing have saved me HOURS of nailing. Buy once cry once, not my experience with harbor freight. Just have realistic expectations and you’ll love their tools
I bought some wrenches and some other tools from Harbor Freight Salvage Company in late 79 or early 80. The tools I got were made in Spain and good quality, I still have them. I was surprised about 15 years ago to find a store in Roanoke, VA when returning from a vacation further south. Once a year we'd stop by on the way home and stock up on some tools and supplies. Then about 2 years ago a store opened locally. I don't buy as much at a time because I can go at any time. The quality of their Chinese stuff has definitely improved over the years.
Great video. Love to see more people on the feright train!!!
Hello HF 🐻..
My favor tool is the grinder and the flex welder .. Because they are the one's for the budget and work great for the diy ....and i leave it with that..thanks everyone and see u on the Woodside.
They just opened one in Buckhannon, WV on Tuesday 8/28/2018 Now I don't have to drive 2 hrs to get to
one. . I have been to a lot of their stores even the one in Lexington.. Been buying their tools for 30 years.
It’s funny to watch this video because when this video was made I used to have to drive an hour to go to a harbor freight but now there is one in my town and I love it. I’ve bought so much from them and really I’ve had great luck with the items I bought. I generally go with the rule of if it’s made of steel it’s pretty good I did get a crappy floor jack but I then bought a Daytona and so far so good we shall see.
The jumbo end wrenches and 3/4- 1 inch drive sockets are great! You can beat the piss out of them and if they break they are cheaply replaced.
I've been using my banks 30 deg farming nail gun and its working great so far. Love it. Was gonna get a 21 deg and the store was out of stock
Great story! Their $20 Sawzall is tough to beat, especially considering what the Milwaukee goes for. Use it a few times and it pays for itself.
Like anywhere you have to watch what you buy. I bought a brake flusher and bleeder system from them and It's the berries, then I bought a 1 1/4 socket from them to make an emergency repair on a diesel . Upon completion of repair the socket cracked. I pretty much figure it's demise was my fault. When I purchased the socket I knew it was too light for working on diesels. Actually I was supposed it did not bust when I took the bolts out. It busted on retorque of final bolt therefore allowing me to get the bus on its way