I know this is not in the right section but I would like to see a bit of input.

Question:

Harbor Freight Tools has the cheapest tools around. What is everyone's opinion of their tools?

 

looks good to me especially price wise ( dont think a tool does any better with a name like snap on on it because it dosnt ) if the person dosnt know how to use that tool the name means nothing

 

At least go get a descent craftsman set. If something in that set doesn't hold up (ie. allen wrench sockets) then buy only those things from snap on. Harbor freightstuff (yes I have used alot of it) generally sucks. Their grinders and sawzals and other power tools are alright, but their sockets, whenches, and other hand tools suck. And yes this is my opinion, but I used to make custom motorcycles for a living so I have used the best and the worst.
Avant, I only have snapon stuff for the tools that I kept breaking (some high torque applications), and I haven't been able to break any of the snap on stuff that I have.
Fun with craftsman tools, He He.

 

I have tools from them and i think some even have the lifetime warranty. I make a trip there once and a while and spend more than i should have.Personally i generally only by odd ball tools from them because the quaility is not really there on a lot of their stuff.

 

For some things they are OK, like the rear brake tool. But for normal hand tools, not the best. Here is why, "made in china" cheap metal, it's not heat treated, or hardened. When you need them the most, they will break on you! Then you have to get another car to take you to the store to buy another tool. I also steer clear of normal "craftsmen" tools & try to get the Pro series.

But jack stands, oil pans, zip ties, razor blades, heat shrink tubing, any kind of consumables is fine.

 

I was a snap on fan because of their life time guarantee but that soon wore off when I bought tools from halfords which offered the same and a third the price and well pleased with them

 

man i've seen some bad tools from harbor frieght. I would never buy any perscion tools from them, A.K.A. there torque wrenches

 

I only buy craftsman. You can't beat a forever warranty. I managed to break a 3/8" ratchet by over torquing a bolt. All I had to do was go to Sears, say it was broke, and I got a new one.

 

I have purchased a set of wrenches, sockets, allen's - I also (just today) purchased a rear break kit and bleeder kit from them - the real reason that I have made most of my recent tool purchases there, is that all my good (craftsman) tool are at my parents. It doesn't pay to drive 120 miles to get them. I figure, yeah there cheap but I can break 3 of these and still be ahead of snap-on.
I needed a impact socket to rotate my wheels - went to sears and found one it was almost $10. went to harbor and got a whole set for $15. I figure I'm only going to be putting 100lbs on it so why spend tons of money.
The key word in any of these posts has been "precision." If your going to be using them non-stop and on the job then go buy some good tools. If your just doing a simple job over the weekend and you need something - see if you can get it for cheap. thanks for everyone's input.

 

a professional tool is the question ( feeler gauge/ torque wrench/ valve-spring compressor) but a spanner? is only a spanner, of course there are some cheap stuff out there but they work if used properly