junk items from harbor freight

stainlesscycle · 03-17-2010, 02:59 PM

the other thread pretty much extolls the virtues of some harbor freight items.. and i think harbor freight serves a purpose, but some things are just bad news....

this thread is for items that broke pretty much instantaneously...

6" safety wire pliers : broke on first use.

handheld rivet gun: broke on first use. (i just needed the nosepieces anyways..)

dust collector (get the extended warranty!!!! i've been through 3 of these units in 2 years....they don't grease the motor bearings...they really start squealing in cold weather. then they fail. it's easier to return then to tear it apart and grease the bearings. i've done both...)

roger123 · 03-17-2010, 04:02 PM

I bought one of the orange square base palm sanders. What a total POS!!!

~AJ~ · 03-17-2010, 04:10 PM

Torque wrench. Broke within a month.

B02S4 · 03-17-2010, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~AJ~

Torque wrench. Broke within a month.

HFT should make good on the warranty...

victor441 · 03-17-2010, 05:32 PM

bought a router speed control last year, only lasted about 2 months before dying...,

Bentley · 03-17-2010, 06:36 PM

Floor jack. Lasted about 1 year - roughly $6 per lift.

B

duck · 03-17-2010, 07:14 PM

The $3.99 battery tender.

Their zip-ties are cheap too. They break when you're installing them and try to pull them even halfway tight. They get probably get shipped over here because even the Chinese won't use them.

Skippii · 03-17-2010, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stainlesscycle

handheld rivet gun: broke on first use. (i just needed the nosepieces anyways..)

Great. I bought one of those yesterday. Haven't used it. It was for a friend.

LuciferMutt · 03-18-2010, 05:56 AM

Rubber strap wrench. Snapped the rubber off at the handle while trying to loosen a stubborn oil filter. I was pissed for a minute then remember the damn thing cost like $2 so fuck it.

bete · 03-18-2010, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippii

Great. I bought one of those yesterday. Haven't used it. It was for a friend.

Some friend you are.

. bete.

MiamiMotorcyclist · 03-18-2010, 06:45 AM

Hmmmm.... cheap slide hammer broke one of it's attachments real quickly.

I'm sure there have been other fails.

I did try that plastic welder long ago and had no luck with that.

All and all I've done okay with HF though.

racermdub · 03-18-2010, 07:00 AM

Must be that I've gotten lucky, I've used the safety wire pliers and $3.99 battery tender without fail for 4 years now.

P B G · 03-18-2010, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DevilNinjaDog

Rubber strap wrench. Snapped the rubber off at the handle while trying to loosen a stubborn oil filter. I was pissed for a minute then remember the damn thing cost like $2 so fuck it.

Craftsmen's is no better, they just don't work on oil filters what so ever, ok for a stuck hose spigot.

Tacodog · 03-18-2010, 03:30 PM

Harbor Freight = disposable tools. If you want something to last a lifetime, buy elsewhere. If you need a tool for a one time deal, then Harbor Freight is mostly worth what you pay.

ridewestKTM · 03-18-2010, 03:41 PM

I bought a Harbor Freight End Mill - just love it
Bought a cutoff band saw and it's not great but I'm happy with it.
Press plates -havent broken or bent
misc lathe tools - just fine

03-17-2010, 02:59 PM	#1
stainlesscycle ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2008 Location: morgantown, wv Oddometer: 1,639	junk items from harbor freight the other thread pretty much extolls the virtues of some harbor freight items.. and i think harbor freight serves a purpose, but some things are just bad news.... this thread is for items that broke pretty much instantaneously... 6" safety wire pliers : broke on first use. handheld rivet gun: broke on first use. (i just needed the nosepieces anyways..) dust collector (get the extended warranty!!!! i've been through 3 of these units in 2 years....they don't grease the motor bearings...they really start squealing in cold weather. then they fail. it's easier to return then to tear it apart and grease the bearings. i've done both...) __________________ current bikes 07 gasgas xc300-94 duc 900ss-86 morini camel (2)-84 IT200-83 IT175-78 guzzi lm1-77 pursang 250-76 morini 3 1/2 strada-76 frankentaco pursang 200-74 frankentaco pursang 200-74 morini 3 1/2 sport-74 mz ts250/0-74 puch 175 (3)-73 can-am 175tnt-71 guzzi frankeneldo-71 ossa Stiletto-70 frankentaco sherpa s(2)-66 morini corsarino(2)-63 morini corsaro + many more

03-17-2010, 04:02 PM	#2
roger123 Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2007 Location: VA Beach, VA Oddometer: 1,356	I bought one of the orange square base palm sanders. What a total POS!!! __________________ Roger '07 Wee Strom '06 FJR (For Sale) COG 5903

03-17-2010, 04:10 PM	#3
~AJ~ Adventure pooper Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Jackson, CA Oddometer: 224	Torque wrench. Broke within a month. __________________

03-17-2010, 06:36 PM	#6
Bentley Wannabe Adventurer Joined: Jan 2003 Location: Austin Oddometer: 234	Floor jack. Lasted about 1 year - roughly $6 per lift. B __________________ '98 BMW 1100GS '99 Honda XR400R He's got everything he wants, a girl, a drink, a song, If we use his formula, we surely can't go wrong. from the song "Mexican Joe" by Jim Reeves

03-17-2010, 07:14 PM	#7
duck PsyKotic Waterfowl Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Seattle (Berkeley with rain) Oddometer: 9,968	The $3.99 battery tender. Their zip-ties are cheap too. They break when you're installing them and try to pull them even halfway tight. They get probably get shipped over here because even the Chinese won't use them. __________________ 93 K1100LT, 94 K1100RS, 86-97 K75F (K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick), 91 K1, 05 KTM 450 SMR IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC) http://home.comcast.net/~smithduck/BMW_Tours.htm

03-17-2010, 05:32 PM	#5
victor441 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Santa Rosa, Calif. Oddometer: 460	bought a router speed control last year, only lasted about 2 months before dying...,

03-18-2010, 05:56 AM	#9
LuciferMutt Rides slow bike slow Joined: Aug 2008 Location: New(er) Mexico Oddometer: 9,531	Rubber strap wrench. Snapped the rubber off at the handle while trying to loosen a stubborn oil filter. I was pissed for a minute then remember the damn thing cost like $2 so fuck it. __________________ You couldn't hear a dump truck driving through a nitro glycerin plant! Cobbie Award Winner

03-18-2010, 06:45 AM	#11
MiamiMotorcyclist used to be -MiamiUly Joined: Jul 2007 Location: Miami, Fl. Oddometer: 1,833	Hmmmm.... cheap slide hammer broke one of it's attachments real quickly. I'm sure there have been other fails. I did try that plastic welder long ago and had no luck with that. All and all I've done okay with HF though. __________________ Okay it's a sportbike... but riding is not a sport, it's a necessity. Same goes for the Dual Sport.

03-18-2010, 07:00 AM	#12
racermdub Adventurer Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Abductor pollicis brevis Oddometer: 83	Must be that I've gotten lucky, I've used the safety wire pliers and $3.99 battery tender without fail for 4 years now.

03-18-2010, 03:30 PM	#14
Tacodog Old Guy Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Tucson Arizona USA Oddometer: 41	Harbor Freight = disposable tools. If you want something to last a lifetime, buy elsewhere. If you need a tool for a one time deal, then Harbor Freight is mostly worth what you pay. __________________ Tacodog '09 R1200GS/M "Barcolounger"

03-18-2010, 03:41 PM	#15
ridewestKTM Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2007 Location: now in Katy TX Oddometer: 1,670	Is it the price? I bought a Harbor Freight End Mill - just love it Bought a cutoff band saw and it's not great but I'm happy with it. Press plates -havent broken or bent misc lathe tools - just fine __________________ My 950KTM makes me feel like a little kid again......because it's so tall!

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