Seth Clayton Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 So I just found out there's a harbor freight 12 miles from me. Gonna swing by there sometime this week. Is there anything there I should take a close look at? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenskye Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 There are a few items that are hidden gems, but usually they aren't power tool related. Is there something specific you are looking for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Brendon_t Posted January 12, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 7 minutes ago, Seth Clayton said: Is there anything there I should take a close look at? Possibly your expectations. 99.9% of the merchandise in that building is absolutely crap.. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Clayton Posted January 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Not really looking for anything specific. My hand tool collection is VERY slim. One kobalt block plane, a damaged chisel and screwdrivers is about it. Might think about something to add to that. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxerjoe04 Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 I bought their chisels to scrape glue, works well $8. I buy their foam brushes and other small disposable brushes. Their lathes and dust collector aren't bad tools, I've also used one of their drill presses for a few years, def not amazing tools but not bad for the money, everything else probably not so much. I do use their chainsaw sharpener which isn't bad. Just get on their website and look around, the reviews are usually pretty on point, of course it's easy to get a lemon but you get 90 days to bring it back. So if you buy a power tool, use it sooner than later in case it screws up. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post RichardA Posted January 12, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Their "F" style clamps are worth every dime. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post bradpotts Posted January 12, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Their f clamps are the only thing I buy there. Usually only the 6 and 12. You start getting longer than that and they bend to easy 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxerjoe04 Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Yea agree as well with Brad, I do have some of the longer ones just to hold stuff in place but don't use them to apply tons of pressure to anything. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bulldog Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Some of their clamps are considered to be hidden gems. Think it's some of their bar clamps. They have a good 10$ dial indicator. I would expect their hand tools to be more trouble than they are worth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradpotts Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 I forgot that I did use their hvlp for a long time before I got a Fuji Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 There ramps,jacks and lots of other things are fine for home use. I like going in the store but I admit I have no woodworking stuff from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kon_jelly Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 The disc sander they sell there is great. And their dust collector (the 70 gallon one) is a great value, especially if you modify it. And yeah, I have a ton of their F clamps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Clayton Posted January 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Only f-clamp I see online is a 60". There are other bar clamps in the 6"/12" lengths, but they're not specifically called f-clamps. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradpotts Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Only f-clamp I see online is a 60". There are other bar clamps in the 6"/12" lengths, but they're not specifically called f-clamps. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk They call them quick release bar clamps 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Clayton Posted January 12, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 They call them quick release bar clamps Ok got it. Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Their Teflon tape's as good as anyone's! Seriously though, your first time there, you'll be in awe of the variety of things they carry! +4 on their small clamps. Don't forget to clip your free tape or flashlight coupon. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Capwn Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Clamps. Traditional F-style. Their aluminum clamps are good with a little modification @Marty Backe presented (ala Paul Sellers) Dust Collector. Drill Press. HVLP guns, compressors, and compressor accessories/fittings. Skip the hose though, get a better quality hose. Cheap-o trim router seems to work for light duty. Chisels for glue clean-up. Rubber mallets and deadblows. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmotjr Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 28 minutes ago, RichardA said: Their "F" style clamps are worth every dime. All four of the dimes is costs to buy one too. Love these clamps. HF tools are disposable tools, for the most part. Even if they have a 50% fail rate, they are 25%-33% of the cost of a quality tool, so I'm still ahead financially. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_r_ Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 51 minutes ago, Brendon_t said: Possibly your expectations. 99.9% of the merchandise in that building is absolutely crap.. Exactly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Brendon_t Posted January 12, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 14 minutes ago, Marmotjr said: Even if they have a 50% fail rate, they are 25%-33% of the cost of a quality tool, so I'm still ahead financially. That's possibly one of the most absurd argument I've ever heard. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmotjr Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 That's speaking purely on a financial basis. I'm not referring to qualities and features. But for things like clamps, it makes total sense. A Clamp either clamps or it doesn't. So if I can buy 4 of them for the cost of a name brand, and 2 of them fail, then I'm still ahead one clamp. It's simple Expected value math. But of course there are many other qualities that enter into the value of a product, so that becomes a type of "Utility function" when assessing the value. There's a reason HF clamps, lathe's, and DC's are generally well liked, they are simple devices that only have to do a couple things. A clamp clamps, lathes and DC's spin. And not much else. If they can get those few things to work right, then people are willing to overlook the other crappy parts on the piece, due to the price. This too becomes part of the "Utility function". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tpt life Posted January 12, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 10 minutes ago, Brendon_t said: That's possibly one of the most absurd argument I've ever heard. Considering I cannot kill the recip saw from there, it really isn't. I paid $19. If I kill it, I will likely buy another and never pay what my first Milwaukee cost. It just depends on the tool and the nature of disposability. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 I suppose it's a throw of the dice. When putting up the shop wall, I needed to drill 10 holes in the concrete floor. I bought a hammer drill. It drilled one hole flawlessly. Wouldn't turn the bit for the second. I'll spare the in-between. 3 trips back and on the 4th drI'll. I had 10 holes. I paid for it once and with the final return, ended up paying nothing. Semantically, I was financially ahead because i got ten holes for free..That's still a lousy argument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuxleyWood Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 Harbor Freight is great for all manner of tools you plan to use once or on rare occasions. They are also good for things that are hard to screw up like say moving blankets or cheap tarps. The key is either knowing what is a gem or not prior to walking in. I have bought quite a few items there over the years and not one has failed to live up to my admittedly lowered standards for items bought at HF. In fact I can't think of anything bought there that actually failed, but again I research the gems and only use their tools for odd jobs vs constant use. I do have 40 or so of their 6" F clamps but only use them for bent lamination glue ups where numbers are more important than actual clamping pressure. Other than that they are the last clamp I would reach for, but they are functional just not what I would consider a pleasure to use. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 The less accuracy driven the tool is, the more I'd give them a shot. The clamps are great for the price. If you just want 20 or 30 clamps to spread a small amount of pressure uniformly, HF is a great option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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