Habor Freight reputation
davejames
Posts: 4,047
I've been considering Harbor Freight for a small-ish (3 gal) air compressor and 32 oz paint spray head, but have no experience with the business.
Anybody have input as to HF's reputation, quality, customer service, etc.?
Anybody have input as to HF's reputation, quality, customer service, etc.?
Comments
Make sure you take one of their flyers that always shows up in your newspaper or mail, lots of good deals and freebies. One of my better buys was a digital caliper at $9 from $29.
I bought an automotive fuel pressure gauge set with all sorts of foreign/domestic car adapters for around $80. Elsewhere I was seeing prices in the $400 range. And not much can go wrong with something like that.
But for CCTV, video cameras - what I've seen looks like junk pretty much. So I would not buy anything they have in that line.
So it depends. I was told a firewood splitter they sold is perfectly fine if you make a couple of modifications to it.
The thing with an air compressor is how much air it compresses how quickly. For paint spraying, I imagine just about anything could "keep up"? But for something like one of those air tools they use to change tires with, better have an air compressor which refills the tank with a quickness!
I've bought several belt sanders from that that crapped out within a year.
HF is like all importers of Chinese product: some of it is good; some isn't even worth the box it came in.
I only buy locally (have three of them in my area), and all are very accommodating. As a retailer I have no complaints. They don't pull down bad product reviews on their site (we know because there are many of them!), which should say something right there.
Agree with OBC: save those fliers. Many have a 20% off coupon that can be applied to anything.
I'm leery of their power tools - especially any cordless ones.
This particular one should be avoided:
http://www.saferproducts.gov/ViewIncident/1415228
I made the mistake of buying one of these and it came apart too. The brass insert looks to be press fit. Horrible design and it would have been better if they just screwed the fitting into the plastic. It would be different if it just failed because it was cheap. I could live with that. However, anything that fails as an untethered projectile is dangerous. This should be redesigned or recalled. Just read the reviews on the Harbor Freight site. It seems that most end up coming apart.
Robert
I don't buy anything electronic from HF but I do have quite a few things from them that have worked out pretty well. The 7x10 mini lathe is really good once you take it apart and lap the ways. I've had my metal cutting bandsaw for over a decade and it still works great, the stand is Smile but I see the new ones have better stands. The super heavy 12" disc sander works really well as does the 13 gallon portable dust collector (green one), I use it for my laser exhaust. Works great and is quiet - I have the larger one too, I replaced the bag with a large canister filter which makes a huge difference. I also have the 5hp 60 gallon compressor that I bought for $300 off craigslist, second hand but it had not been used. It is much noisier than my 1944 compressor but puts out much more CFM.
In general, the big heavy massive items are pretty good. The smaller more complex things I am very suspicious of. All powered hand tools from HF that I have had experience with are Smile.
http://www.harborfreight.com/mini-tire-changer-61179.html
Had to change the rear tires on my Craftsman tractor. The local tire dealer would dismount the tires, but refused to mount them as they did not sell them to me.
Since then, I have used it to dismount and mount the front tires of the tractor, and two utility trailers.
Had to Lag bolt it to a 4' x 4' pallet for stability.
So far so good.
I buy a lot of casters there. They seem to hold up if you go for the 300 pounders.
I have a couple of the small paint sprayer, we call them "fun guns" and the have lasted me at least 4 years now.
Air compressors are a Smile shoot. I tend to buy Home Depot "Huskey", but even my 4 year old Q19 motor just crapped out. Replacement cost, $206.00 for the motor. New bigger compressor, $199.99. Go figure.
It is model #40400, 2-HP, 8-Gallon.
If it's something you might use once or occasionally then it's probably good enough but if it's for production then don't expect it to last long. Their hand tools are great especially if they keep disappearing.
Similarly, HF regular tools are fine and get better over time. Their battery stuff was Smile 5 years ago but is now pretty good. The stuff they make and sell a lot of tends to improve faster. Their high end machine tools can be tremendous bargains and that can make the difference between havng and not-having, but do budget on doing some upgrades to make them fully usable. I use the hell out of my little 7x10 HF lathe, but without about $200 in extras like the quick change tool mount it wouldn't be nearly as useful.
I have an 8 year old air compressor from them which is fine, but it's not oilless, it's not particularly compact, and it's not high capacity.
They do work well for a while but you have to watch the diaphragm in the regulator pressure switch. Mine failed (hole through it) and there are no parts from Harbor Freight. Luckily it is an easy fix by installing a dorman replacement Ford master cylinder gasket. Just a slight trimming for the holes to allow the screw to go through and it worked perfect. You can find some details on how to do it on this thread:
http://www.fixya.com/support/t9657697-central_pneumatic_model_42321
ebay seems to have replacement regulators you can get to replace the whole assembly if it fails.
:thumb:
I guess I'll pays my money and takes my chances.
Price are good. Value ranges from, "you got what you paid for" to very good, given the price. Look for the specials in your weekly publications. They nearly always run them, and like mentioned already, usually 20 percent and or plus some freebie or other.
I got a nice, basic multimeter, with transistor check, capacitor measurments, and other goodies. Simple 4 digit display, no frills, worth about $30 anyway, and I got it as a freebie, just for hunting down that flyer and making a $20 purchase. Who knows what they actually paid for those things... Who knows if it all actually works too? So far, it agrees with my scope and other measuring devices. So there you go.
Product quality ranges from crappy to excellent. They do have lots of little oddities. Like I needed a very specific screwdriver to take my Mac apart. (what the hell Apple?) Apple picks some very interesting and seemingly rare fasteners. Harbor had 'em. Nobody else did.
They are pretty good about returns and they don't surcharge you for buying on credit.
My advice? Do buy on a good credit card that will charge back, and insure you can return and then roll the dice. Chances are you get something reasonable for a reasonable price. Sometimes you will get very good, and sometimes you will get Smile at what you realize to be a premium. Their intent is good. They are doing the deals they can, and those deals vary. Is what it is. They are at least honest about what they are doing, and so you just need to pay some attention. They don't make enough to take care of you in that way.
The way I see it, that's reasonable. Just know how it's all playing out when you go in, and you will be just fine.
They will often let you open things up, poke at 'em a little, etc... at least I've had no complaints about doing that.
People are nice, some knowledgable and they don't appear to pester. I find their stock reasonable too. It's rare they are out, even on the screaming deals.
If they are close to your location, no brainer. Not having to pay shipping and or wait is worth a short drive. The leaner your car is, the more worth it the drive is.
http://www.harborfreight.com/58-horsepower-airless-paint-sprayer-kit-60600.html
The reviews were favorable.
Couldn't see going the separate compressor/sprayer route for my home efforts.
It'll serve light duty here at the house, so I'm hoping...
I got their little 8 gallon compressor a few years back for about $80 or 90. Works fine for light duty. http://www.harborfreight.com/8-gal-2-hp-125-psi-oil-lube-air-compressor-69667.html
When I get serious about the Corvair and need to sandblast, I'll need a serious compressor. From what I hear, you need about 10 HP for serious work.
Yer gonna gett'er done with that phat 817 tip, You may want to grab a 417, unless you are pumping some very heavy Elastomeric pain.
Maybe pick up some Pump Armour Lubricant to use when you go to store the thing. Especially after spraying sticky latex.
Try checking out the HF pass/fail discussion.
http://www.google.com/search?q=garage+journal++pass%2Ffail&hl=en&gbv=2&oq=garage+journal++pass%2Ffail&gs_l=heirloom-serp.3...116437.121805.0.122476.12.12.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1ac.1.34.heirloom-serp..12.0.0.EDVVvCDXCT4
As others have said...Buyer beware..check every item since you are the QA inspector
Erco, 10 HP??? Are you kidding me? I think you need 3-phase for that,
-Phil
By no means Sir Erco. I just make sure to save a little each month for "house-oriented" expenses.
And, it was on sale.