wjz@nvuxb.UUCP (W J Zide) (03/20/85)
Periodically, I have been receiving advertisments
from Harbor Freight Salvage Co., Camarillo Ca. for various tool
offerings (hand tools, predominantly) at fairly attractive prices.
A large portion of their tools appear to be manufactured by Central
Pneumatic (air tools), Pittsburg Forge (sockets, wrenches) or
Central Machinery (power equipment - drills, etc.). I was wondering
if anyone out in netland has purchased such tools from Harbor
Freight Salvage and what their experience with them (Harbor and
the tools) has been. As a basis for comparison, how does the
quality of their tools compare to the Sears Craftsman line?
Bill Zide
Bell Communications Research, Inc.
West Long Branch, N.J. (temporarily)
PATH: ihnp4!hou2e!nvuxb!wjzmike@leadsv.UUCP (Mike Saboff) (03/22/85)
> > > Periodically, I have been receiving advertisments > from Harbor Freight Salvage Co., Camarillo Ca. for various tool > offerings (hand tools, predominantly) at fairly attractive prices. . . . > I was wondering > if anyone out in netland has purchased such tools from Harbor > Freight Salvage and what their experience with them (Harbor and > the tools) has been. As a basis for comparison, how does the > quality of their tools compare to the Sears Craftsman line? > I have purchased from Harbor Freight. They delievered promptly considering I paid by personnel check (~1.5 weeks). I bought: Set of screw drivers (wood handled) ~29 piece drill bit set w/case 1" english micrometer w/nice wooden box Set of allen wrenches w/cheap plastic pouch A set of pin punches w/cheap plastic pouch SAE tap and die set w/cheap plastic box Except for the drill bits, everything was made in the near east. (The drills were made in India) All of the companies (ie Central Forge) that Harbor Freight handle seem to be "clearing houses" for foreign producers. The tools were OK with the following flaws. Some of the screwdrivers are not mounted straight in their handles. Some of the drill bits have points off center. The tools are quite usable. As far as quality compared to Craftsman(tm), Craftsman wins hands down. I bought the Harbor Freight to put into a second car. I have a set of Craftsmen that I use all the time. You get what you pay for. For me, the price was worth it for a second set of tools. Will I buy from them again? I don't think so, I will wait for sales at Sears or discount tool stores.
kcm@cybvax0.UUCP (Keith C. MacKinnon) (03/26/85)
> > > > > > Periodically, I have been receiving advertisments > > from Harbor Freight Salvage Co., Camarillo Ca. for various tool > > offerings (hand tools, predominantly) at fairly attractive prices. > . > . > . > > I was wondering > > if anyone out in netland has purchased such tools from Harbor > > Freight Salvage and what their experience with them (Harbor and > > the tools) has been. As a basis for comparison, how does the > > quality of their tools compare to the Sears Craftsman line? I have also purchased from the Harbor Freight Co. and found that the tools were not bad. They sure don't compare to SEARS but they were cheap and I bought over 50 dollars worth to save shipping charges. I picked up saw blades, a tarp, rubber hammers, sheet metal cutters and misc. parts. The parts I received were in boxes and then in plastic bags. They all seem to work pretty good but the names of the parts are not what you call brand names. Most of the parts came from Central and Pittsburg Forge. I purchased from them a few years ago before they moved and still receive their catalogs once and a while. One thing I should point out is I also purchased the nut and bolt warehouse, well I received everything but the warehouse and waited a while to see if it would come in at a later date. I quess it was back order or something so I took a copy of my order list before I sent it in so I took another copy of the list and sent that in and told them I never received it and again and again I did it but no reply so I gave up. So watch out if anything is not in your package and somethings are back ordered I would right away get on their case about and don't waste time make sure you do receive it and always take a copy of everything that you ordered. HAPPY PURCHASING.... ..!kcm Keith MacKinnon Cybermation inc. Cambridge MA.
kevin@voder.UUCP (The Last Bugfighter) (03/28/85)
>Periodically, I have been receiving advertisments >from Harbor Freight Salvage Co., Camarillo Ca. for various tool >offerings (hand tools, predominantly) at fairly attractive prices. >A large portion of their tools appear to be manufactured by Central >Pneumatic (air tools), Pittsburg Forge (sockets, wrenches) or >Central Machinery (power equipment - drills, etc.). I was wondering >if anyone out in netland has purchased such tools from Harbor >Freight Salvage and what their experience with them (Harbor and >the tools) has been. As a basis for comparison, how does the >quality of their tools compare to the Sears Craftsman line? > > Bill Zide > Bell Communications Research, Inc. > West Long Branch, N.J. (temporarily) I have purchased tools from Harbor Freight Salvage Co. several times and have always been pleased with the quality of the tools and the service. Although some of their merchandise is from well-known names (i.e. Black & Decker) they have a lot of no-names and also stuff imported from China. I purchased an adjustable rachet torque wrench and a metric micrometer for $14.00 and $7.00 respectively, the torque wrench is as good as any Proto and of very heavy construction and the micrometer seems to be a match for any $30 unit. Both of these are China imports. Some of their other stuff such as a $4.00 70-piece socket set and a set of four C-clamps for $10.00 are not of the highest quality but are def- intely servicable for many years. They usually tend to back order at least one item but it shows up within a month. --- Kevin Thompson {ucbvax,ihnp4!nsc}!voder!kevin "It's sort of a threat, you see. I've never been very good at them myself but I'm told they can be very effective."