All I can say is *WOW*! (Chinese tools)

[ziggy]

Re: All I can say is *WOW*! (Chinese tools)

Anybody try the Harbor Freight air tools?

ya, i got an air compressor there.. it lasted till the warranty was gone. then it let the magic smoke out of it... so all i got was a taste of what i knew i wanted, compressed air capability. now i'm hosed and back to square one. no air compressor... i wasn't impressed... that is my experience...

 

[Kiwi Phil]

Re: All I can say is *WOW*! (Chinese tools)

One of my brothers is a POM, and a journalist with his own publications, and his business takes him to China about 3 times per year.

He tells me the biggest problem the Chinese have is that the western buyers go there for low quality cheap product, as this is what the masses in the western world buy.

Apparently, China makes equally the best quality products available anywhere in the world, and they are very advanced.

It is a matter of identifying these products and sourcing importers and suppliers.....which you have obviously done.

This is a side issue.
I have an issue with packaging.
The national company everyone buys from is very 2nd rate compared to the china made imports. The china price is about 65% of the local, but when freight is added prices are close....but china production time is 10 days + freight, against 6 weeks (and then you have to ring and pester him). The lettuce grower around the corner has gone to the chinese and he reckons it is a superior product....and it is.........probably twice as good.
I just can't bring myself to pull the trigger on the locals....yet.

Cheers
Phillip

 

[JaSla74]

Re: All I can say is *WOW*! (Chinese tools)

IMHO there is no finer screwdriver than a Klein screwdriver. An absolute joy to use.

I second that

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: All I can say is *WOW*! (Chinese tools)

Anybody try the Harbor Freight air tools?

I've got an air ratchet, cut off tool, grinder, and impact wrench from HF. No problems with any of 'em.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: All I can say is *WOW*! (Chinese tools)

I have a lot of HF tools. My favorites are the retractable 50 ft air hose that is connected to my compressor and the 40 ft retractable power cord.

Have numerous air tools although I found the 1/2" impact wrenches leave a lot to be desired. I have an IngersolRand for that.

I heard the multi tool is awesome. That is my next purchase.

Make sure you sign up for the email alerts. They send out 15% coupons weekly.

 

[xxxflhrci]

Re: All I can say is *WOW*! (Chinese tools)

Yeah, I like their alerts and sale papers. They always seem to have something on sale that I "need".

One of the best purchases that I have made from them that has saved me some bucks is their portable tire changer. I initially bought it just for the beadbreaker part, so I could break the bead on my motorcycle tires and then change them by hand with tire spoons. However, it has certainly came in handy for changing a trailer tire or small car tire. I caught it on sale for 29 bucks.

 

[DECK SWABBER 58]

Re: All I can say is *WOW*! (Chinese tools)

My heavy duty stuff is snap on. Overpriced but cost per year gets less as time passes. Does the job each time I use them. I

I have a whole box of snap-on. Great stuff but I will never buy another one again. The overpricing is so the truck will pull up outside my shop and warranty no questions asked. The dealers keep going in and out of business and if their is one he doesn't want to stop just to do warranties. I have to chase the trucks down and when their was no dealer in the area a rep came by and handed me a letter with instructions on how to warranty by mail.

I bought a huge Craftsman tool set (400-500pc) almost 20 years ago and it's been a great set of tools. But, I can tell the difference between their new ratchets and the old ones, the old ones are soooo much smooooother. I wound up with a new style (cheap) ratchet instead of the old style . I also

Those new ratchets sure aren't the same. I have all 3 sizes.

 

[Les Robb]

Re: All I can say is *WOW*! (Chinese tools)

Over the years I can only remember one Craftsman socket that broke with no extra help on my part (ie cheater bars and 1/2-3/8 adapters or rust etc. )

Please remember that the Sears tools are low end and do not carry the lifetime warranty Craftsman does.

I agree with many before that if I can buy American at a decent price that will be my choice. Klein, Craftsman, Channel Lock, Vice Grips and Snap on will always be my first choice.

Good mechanicking
PS I still use my fathers 1/2" drive ratchet (snap on) with a brass selector for forward and reverse rotation. Don't have a clue how old it is, but it works flawlessly.

 

[thrillhouse700]

Re: All I can say is *WOW*! (Chinese tools)

Im a bigger fan of matco than i am of snap on.... My tool box has matco, snap on, craftsman, s&k, stallwille (sp), and harbor freight.

I have roughly 20k invested into my tool box and tools, and my favorite 1/4" ratchet is my 4.99 harbor freight ratchet. I had a set of torx sockets from harbor freight that lasted 1.5 years, within that 1.5 years I broke 5 snap-on, matco and cornwell t40 torx sockets haha.

 

[lowkee]

Re: All I can say is *WOW*! (Chinese tools)

Update

It has been a week or so since I got my new HF socket set, and I wanted to share my first experience with it. I ended up having to re-do my timing belt job on my 00 Neon because the new belt tensioner caused the belt to rub against the cover. So I took the opportunity to use my new socket set. I used my impact gun with the 1/2" sockets and a bunch of the 3/8" sockets as well. So far I'm very pleased. Even the case is decent, and allowed me to keep all the sockets organized, which is something I dearly needed to start doing. Too many lost sockets not knowing if maybe a socket rolled off or not.

As for the rachets, I was wrong comparing them to my Craftsman ratchets. They are identical to my 3/8" Stanley tools ratchet, which i began using in place of my craftsman one years ago (So long I forgot it was different). I'm so glad it matches, as there was a reason I went with the Stanley ratchets.. they work much smoother and are more comfy on my hand. I can't wait to use this set for years to come. My craftsman set just became a backup for this one.

As for wrenches, I use a mix of HF and craftsman, as they have different properties, and as such different uses. My HF set are long neck wrenches with thinner wrench heads, so I can man handle them easier and can fit into spaces fatter ones cannot (like a double nut lock), but the craftsman ones can take a hammer better, as they have a flat edge to them and seem to fit with more precision due to less rounded surfaces. So I wont be archiving those craftsman any time soon.

My screwdriver set was initially a craftsman with the hard clear plastic handles, which were designed by a barbarian bent on torture. I replaced those years ago with a cheap $15 set from Popular Mechanics which have a grip similar to the rubber stippled grips you would find on an 80's BMX bicycle. Much more comfy for all day use and they have held up for the past 10 years I've owned them. Amazingly I haven't lost any, either! I would post a photo, but these handle grips seem so elusive, not even Google image search cam back with any examples. I saw an identical set under another brand in a Big Lots once and bought it as a backup. I would have bought 4 sets if they had them, as finding unicorns seems easier than finding this set.

Well, that's my review. Cheers, and enjoy your 'cheap chinese tools'. I know I am.

 

[DavidW2009]

Re: All I can say is *WOW*! (Chinese tools)

Had a Chinese-tool experience just before the holidays. Needed a flaring tool for some 1/2" copper tubing. Bought the Chinese tool a few years ago, don't remember where, and never used it until now. Went to use it and the 'D' clamp part was too large to fit squarely on the tube gripper. Could not get a straight flare. The casting was very crude.

Went to Lowes and bought their American brand flare tool. The tube gripper was defective and would not grip the tube, but it had a good 'D' clamp. Showed Lowes and they gave me a refund.

Went to an auto parts store and bought a Tiawanese made flare tool. It worked very well.
***************************

I sometimes stop by a pawnshop or two and look over the sockets and wrenches.
(Only when it's on the way or convenient, and have a few minutes)

Most of the stuff is junk, but sometimes there are Craftsman and other good brands.

One pawnshop sells the sockets at $.50 each, any size. Wrenches are by the pound. I now have quite a few good tools for pennies on the dollar.

 

[thrillhouse700]

Re: All I can say is *WOW*! (Chinese tools)

agree with you, some of the chinese tools are awful. We picked up a tail pipe expander for my Chinese friend at his request from HF. First use and it exploded INTO his exhaust so then we had two problems.

I've never heard a Chinese guy have so many choice words towards his own country and people. Was quite entertaining.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: All I can say is *WOW*! (Chinese tools)

Well, I have some Harbor Freight stuff- big cheap wrenches that need more brawn than finesse, a drill press, and some other odds and ends and wrenches. I don't mind welding up cheap tools to make a tool for a particular task, either. The best HF tool I have is a air-driven brad gun that I bought on sale for $4.99,. That is still going from almost 10 years back!

However, for "mission critical" stuff I wouldn't personally select Harbor Freight tools! I have a fairly complete Crafstman selection which is fairly good for the price point, but I will have to say my favorite of all my tools is the small number of SK Tools that I own. GREAT STUFF and a pleasure to use, and much less than SnapOn which I will admit are nice but way to pricey. I would rather spend on SK or Crafstman. These have been dependable and long lasting.

As far as returning the great manufacturing expectations to the USA- that ain't gonna happen in today's world though I long for it too. Chinese import tools are hit-or-miss on quality, and it offends me that they ship stuff I don't like at high enough a price to make a killing on their manufactuiring but still undercut actual quality made goods enough that you pick the chinese product instead. The only thing that makes chinese cheap is the poor wages and living conditions of the average workers in China. It's a discgrace and a moral slap in the face to all those here who made something worth buying only to have the public buying choices basically sell out the country.

My 2c. I will buy whatever SK I can as it it keeps being a good product and says "forged in USA." I'd rather buy German or whatever than support human rights violaters by buying their "almost as good" junk made in China. EVERYTHING is made in China these days. Uggh.

My 2 cents