[Boatanchors] Harbor Freight

[Jerry K]

There's a large place in Oklahoma City that specializes in hand tools 
(only) of all kinds, 95% of which are the same grade as carried by HF, 
only with about 40 times the selection. The place is huge. But if you 
walk the aisles and look carefully, you can find some really good deals 
on small stuff. I've found top quality stainless American, German, and 
Swiss dental and medical tools such as picks, probes, hemostats, and 
clamps of all shapes and sizes, etc. They also carry Klein factory 
rejects at great prices, most of which are rejects because of a bad spot 
on the handle's plastic coating, etc., and not a mechanical problem. 
That's how I keep my miniature/circuit board tool box supplied. I like 
to schlep around that place every few months, and never fail to find a 
few high quality name brand goodies at very low prices. I have never had 
any problem with any of it, even using it hard. They do sell a lot of 
shiny junk, though, so you have to be careful and selective.

Most of my hand tools were collected over the last 50 years. Some of 
them belonged to my dad, who was a high pressure gas pipeline welder by 
trade and would not tolerate crappy tools. It's pretty amazing to pick 
up and compare his tools with modern versions, especially box/open end 
and socket wrenches from Lowes', Home Depot, and Sears. Hand tool 
quality has definitely gone sharply downhill, that is unless you can 
afford to have the Mac or Snap-On truck drop by every few weeks.
73 Jerry W5KP

Jim Brannigan wrote:
>
> No argument.  Like so many things you have to be careful and select a 
> tool to fit the project.
>
> I bought a corded hammer-drill for $25.  I need a hammer-drill about 
> twice a year and am not about to spend $150-200 for a name brand 
> drill, but for 25 bucks, I love it.  The same with speciality drill 
> bits and hole saws, I'm going to use them one or twice and out they go.
> They sold a plastic dowling jig for less than $4.  This is NOT the 
> tool you want to use to build furniture, but for rough work it is 
> perfect....
>
> I picked some very good, refurbished name brand tools (Makita, 
> Milwaukee) at great prices.
> I could go on......
>
> 73,
> Jim
>
>> Jim,
>>
>> I'd be a "bit" hesitant to even call their products as "Consumer Grade".
>>
>> I wouldn't even give my wife one of their screwdrivers.
>>
>> At the same time though, I have picked up the SAE and Metric "T" 
>> handled allen wrenches.  You just have to remember that they do NOT 
>> have the same tool strength that you would normally expect.
>>
>> Bob - N0DGN
>>
>> Jim Brannigan wrote:
>>>
>>> I am fortunate that there are no Harbor Freight stores on Long Island.
>>> This has saved me tons of money and the need to build more storage.
>>> The shipping and handling charges make it uneconomical to mail order 
>>> the low priced "teasers".
>>>
>>> HF sells homeowner grade, not contractor grade tools.
>>>
>>> Jim
>>
>> -- 
>> Bob - NØDGN
>>
>
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