(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Harbor freight wrenches

tractorguy2

tractorguy2

Well-known Member
I bought this wrench set for a Christmas gift for my nephew. It cost $5.99. They look like better quality wrenches than the HF set dad bought back in 94 to keep in the combine. Dad still has all of them never broke any.

I was wondering if any of you have used the HF ratchet wrenches?
a250589.jpg
 
I bought some for our son last year so there would be some tools for me to use when I go visit, after I found them all they worked just fine. I think they are an excellent buy!
 
I use harbor freight on my service truck and I also have John Deere tools both cheap and lifetime warranty
 
That's exactly what they bought us at work about 2 years ago. The mechanics didn't like the operators borrowing their tools for minor repair (understandable- there's a lot of money in those drawers) so they bought these. SAE and Metric along with the socket sets and extensions plus screwdrivers etc. Probably spent about $100 on tools which is a lot for HF. However they have been through MUCH abuse and have yet to break anything. Really impressive actually. Quality is certainly acceptable and durability has proven fantastic... so far.
 
Russ from MN- "after I found them all they worked just fine. I think they are an excellent buy!"

LOL!!!!
 
I have several sets that have the SAE on one side and Metric on the other. I carry them in the pickups and tractors. I have yet to break one but some of them do not fit the bolts/nuts real tight. So you have to watch on bolts/nuts that have much rust on them or you will round them off.
 
This is the other type. They are SAE and Metric types. They actually ratchet. I have an SAE set that is maybe four years old and not a one has broken yet. Now I don't use the ratchet end like a pipe wrench, just use common sense.
a250603.jpg
 
Back 25 years ago or so, much was being reproduced in India and Brazil. They had QC issues with a lot of stuff but overcame them with our help. They were starting to get good parts and tools made at reasonable prices. Then Cheena came along and took everyone's business over there and we all know what happened next. There's value on all HB stuff for sure. PITTSBURGH ? ? makes most all of their hand tools. I bought sets of all their tools in 2015 for a friend for his OTR truck and he has not complained yet. I've had cheap sets of socket wrenches and open end wrenches that bent, cracked, or failed in the past, Craftsman included. I don't know if the verdict is in yet on how well they perform in a daily mechanic shop environment. For around the house/garage they should be fine.

Tim Daley(MI)
 
You can't blame HF for manufacturing jobs going to China. We did it to ourselves and are continuing to do so. People need to wake up to what is going on before we are a third world country.
 
These wrenches have two things going for them that make them okay to own.
1. They have a lifetime warranty. Not too big of a deal, but some tool companies still don't have it.
2. You can use these wrenches without worry of them being stolen. They are cheap enough that most people won't steal them, and if they do get stolen, you can replace them inexpensively.
 
Pittsburgh was a very good name years ago in tools used in sheet metal forming. Is there any relationship in them long-ago tools and todays wrenches?

Dusty
 

Just bought a set of Long'ies and a set of short'ies to add to my regular wrenches. Find now that the longies are my go to wrenches. And in the few places they dont fit, the shorties are needed anyway. So my regulars are on a sabatical for much deserved rest.
 
I haves two sets of the polished long-handle combo wrenches from HF. Metric and SAE and they are every bit as good as any Snap On, Bonney, Utica Tool, Craftman, Williams, or Mack that I have.

I also have two sets of the HF flare-nut wrenches and each one broke in two the first time I used it.

So one type is great and one is absolute junk.

Note - HF would not give me warranty on any individual wrenches that broke. They said if I sent back the entire sets - they would look them over and maybe replace them. I am not going to waste the cost of postage to send mine back. If the new ones are the same junk as the old, they will break the firt time I use them and what is the point?
a250626.jpg

a250627.jpg
 

The best tool/parts savers I have and I have a bunch of'em... Something as simple as changing out a battery one of the tool trays is part of the job.

Google Magnetic-Tool-Tray[/url]
 

I've got some, they work fine. No, they aren't as nice as my Gear Wrenches, but if I lose one I don't break down in tears over it.
 
Harbor Freight did not send jobs to China. Harbor Freight first started buying whatever they could find and sell cheaply. As Harbor Freight grew and became more of a power they were able to dictate some quality in their purchases. Today HF owns and contracts it own production facilities and have created some of its own store brands.
Your Harbor Freight is a long cry from your daddies Harbor Freight.
 
I still have some tools I got near 40 years ago from Harbor Freight and some have been great. 3/4" ractchet and socket set that cost me $19 back around 1980. A large electric grinder made in Japan. A gas powered water-pump made in Italy.
 
The flare-nut wrenches are listed as "chrome vanadium steel" and snap like toothpicks.
 
I am not a HF basher. Been buying from them for 40 years. That said - these "chrome vanadium" flare wrenches snap like twigs. I am not even bothering to pay postage to get warranty. Not worth the bother unless they can come up with a better quality replacement.
a250653.jpg

a250654.jpg
 
I have sets like those in the first photo in both SAE and Metric. Great wrenches. Mine were made in India. And I might point out that some of the finest steel on earth comes from India. I read once about some steel statuary in India that was 2,000 years old and nary a speck of rust.
 
Almost all your wrenches like these you are talking about are made of either Chrome Moly steel or Chrome Vanadium steel and Chrome Vanadium is the stronger of the two.
 
I have a large 3/4" dr socket set. When I had to take the large nuts off the Case back-hoe cylinder rod, I used a 6 Ft pipe on the breaker bar and the socket and the bar helded up with no problem. Just in the newspaper yesterday, HF is building a store about 10 miles from me, so if I break a socket, I'll just go and get another. Was reading in the paper that they employ over 17,000 people and have over 800 stores in the USA. For my smaller sets 1/2", 3/8", 1/4" Dr and combination wrenches, I still prefer my S-K sets.
 
The wrenches shown in the original post are identical to those sold here in Alberta under the Titan brand. If you look closely at label, you'll see "Made in India". I bought a set to try out in the machine shop. Not only have they stood up to hard use, the handles are comfortable, and both ends fit the nuts and bolts correctly. The sets I buy have both SAE and metric in the same holder. I buy more sets when they go on sale, and never have to go looking for a 9/16" or 3/4" wrench. I don't usually get the warm fuzzies over import tools, but these wrenches have served well. Both the manufacturer and importer deserve credit for a quality product. unc
 
They are made in India, but same difference. But we have plenty of jobs in this country, people just don't have the necessary skills to fill them.
 
I've got several sets. They are far better than the last Craftsman set I bought. You don't care if you have to modify them to get into tricky spots either. I can't vouch for their ractchets.
 
I have Snap On sae, Mac metric and my first set are Craftsman, the Craftsman don't break they bend.
 
From what I've seen people in this country just lack the work ethic. It's probably the main reason factories are looking toward robotics.
 
Thank you everyone for your comments. I will definitely stay away from the HF flare wrenches.

My nephew is 23 is a certified in computer technology. He just bought his first house. I doubt he will use these wrenches very often.
 
Here?s my harbor freight 25 inch breaker bar I made that started life as a regular harbor freight ratchet and a 25 inch breaker bar haven?t broke it in a year of working on tractors and semis
a250884.jpg
 
I have the same set as the OP's photo in both SAE and metric up at my hunting property. Work great and price is right.

I have a lot of HF tools in my set up at my farm because my theory is that a HF tool that's there where you need it and when you need it will hands down beat a "better" tool that's back in the shop at home.

With HF tools I can also afford to buy some tools that make life a lot easier like big adjustable wrenches, jumbo wrenches, a 3/4 inch drive socket set, the long handle wrenches shown on this thread, air tools, etc. This way I can do away with tool busting cheater bars on 1/2 inch sockets, etc, and a life is a lot easier. No way am I going to buy these same tools if I have to pay for even a mid-line brand, but with HF I get pretty decent tools that I otherwise wouldn't have at all.

Grouse
 
I'm lucky enough to have a HF store in my town. If I go in there, I can't get out without an armload of stuff.

Sometimes I see stuff and buy it just to have it on hand. This is stuff I wouldn't normally have but if I do need it, I don't have to run into town to buy it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
Which impact wrench to buy?
2
Replies
31
Views
2K
WNYBill
W
J
Harbor Freight
Replies
13
Views
759
504
5
W
Harbor Freight tools using Dewalt battery's
Replies
2
Views
488
jm.
jm.
super99
Wood lathe
Replies
13
Views
3K
rlp in Co.
R
C
MF Power Steering
Replies
1
Views
553
Mduncan60
M
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top