Mechanic Responds to Harbor Freight Tool Shaming

Great place to buy inexpensive (throw away) tools for first timer/new mechanics. Learn your trade while you learn your tools.
Also lots of new let's that stuff for those things outside the box.

As a driveway mechanic, Harbor Freight is my go to tool supplier. If you want a “lifetime” tool, Lowes can sell you Craftsman. Remember, they probably have much the same quality now.

Harbor Freight has been improving with their Icon line. I have some of the Icon sockets sitting in my box alongside my snap-on and at first glance you would not know the difference. I am in my fifties and have a hard time spending $600 on a set of truck sockets when the Icon line works for what I need. In addition to that, some of the US general and new Icon boxes that HF is offering are more than adequate for 80% of the mechanics I have worked with. Starting out in this industry with mountains of debt do to a box choice seems to be a rough way to do it when there are other choices. If you are to the point in your career you need a 72" roller with full powered top and side lockers and have the income to afford $15k plus for a toolbox off the truck then more power to you, but I think there are other options that work just as well and HF is a viable option sometimes.

I bought 2 Drumond, nonsubmersible pumps on the same day, 2/17/22. Neither pump works and the store will not accept a return. As of today, 8/13/22, l have to receive a refund. The purchase price for both is over $150.

The wire strippers from Harbor freight are great. Most electricians I know have them.

Just as a Fyi, the YouTube channel is called"Rainman" Ray's Repair.

I've bought one Harbor Freight tool, an impact wrench. It died after removing three tires! The fourth I had to remove with a lug wrench and hammer. Never again.

I have not had to buy any hand tools in a LONG time. That is due to acquiring most, if not all, my hand tools years ago when I worked for a commercial two-way radio sales, installation and repair shop. They are a mix of Penny's Penncraft and Sears Craftsman hand tools. I have had the Penncraft since the mid 70's and the Craftsman hand tool collection started in the early 80's. The wrench and socket sets are both American standard and metric.

I'm a retired master mechanic and millwright. I've used a lot of tools from harbor freight. Cheapest to replace. I have had the other name brands fail just as easily. My crews were relentless in the abuse. One tool is as good as another if you know how to use them.

From experience, harbor freight has had some poor tool lines, ex. Drillmaster cordless, junk. But I have Pittsburgh sockets, and other various tools from hf. Have broken adapters on impacts but never a socket and that's working on semi's/trailers, I have other brand tools, yes they are geared toward the professional mechanics, nothing beats a snapon 1/4dr ratchet , harbor freight has changed alot of its brands and if I didn't have them already I'd buy them. I have no complaints with hf, I like the tools I have from there,currently.

Tools do have lifetime warranty. I have broken all tool's from crap on to crapsman. Had a set of taps out do a set of crap ons more that once. Also the torque wrenches will hold a cal longer than a crap on. And yes I'm a journey man, work at a dealership, been doing it for 20 years. And ave a wide variety of different manufacturers tools in my box.

I'm a diesel mechanic and here's how I look at it, if it is something I am going to use rarely harbor freight is fine like the rivet gun I use once a year or two, and my carry around box that sits in my pickup is harbor freight, I have mostly old craftsman hand tools and Cornwell air tools, strap on is my last resort for tools I can't get from anywhere else, toolboxes I also get from Cornwell

Harbor Freight wrenches proof you can chrome noodles.

Harbor Freight wrenches proof you can chrome noodles.