I used ru-vid.comUgkx4ynqaujg7rZKFapA8s29kTpRszJGa3-K this for the first time today to replace the front wheel bearing on my rwd 98 dodge dakota. This had absolutely no issue removing or reinstalling the lug nuts and it took off the axle nut without any struggle. Sounds like it's got some muscle to it. Time will tell
Make sure to get onto the harbor freight coupon database enter the item number and most of the time there is a coupon if not use a 20% off one item coupon also don’t forget your free item
Yes I was going to do a video about that actually...they are gonna rebrand it as icon and double the price 🥵🥵 I held them both in my hand yesterday at the store
@@GearHeadsGarageChannel I've got 2 of the Pittsburgh bars and I bought 1 each for my dad, uncle and a few friends of mine. At $14.00 with coupon for a 25 inch 1/2 drive breaker bar, you cannot go wrong. A video review was done on youtube a couple years ago where a guy tested the Pittsburgh against a Mac, Snapon and Matco, and the Pittsburgh held it's own, doing everything the other 3 would do, and at the bargin price it sells for. There is a few other videos done on them too, and pretty much eveyone is impressed by them.
The 2 ton folding shop crane is really good... I own two of them. I've only pulled engines with them a few times, but I use them all the time for moving jet skis around.
Couldn't agree more on the impact sockets, I have the 1/2" deep & shallow metric & SAE sets for about 6-7 years, look as good as day I bought them. The Pittsburgh Pro are made from chrome molybdenum, same as the high-dollar impacts (my Grey Pneumatic 1/4" & 3/8" sets are Cr-mo). The HF Daytona orange 3-ton low-profile jacks are also real deal, best floor jack I've ever owned.
I think, meaning I'm not sure, but it sort of makes sense, that no matter how cheap an impact socket is, it has to hold up the pressure of an impact gun in order to be deemed an impact socket. I have a feeling that all impact sockets are probably made of chrome molybdenum, and the brands like Pittsburg known to be cheap tools will be probably as good as much more expensive stuff.
@@frozerekmeyata4091 Pittsburgh Pro line when purchased 10 yrs ago was Cr-mo. A lot of regular Pittsburgh & other lower-end impact sockets are CR-V which is fine but don't typically stand up to daily use. A lot of it's personal preference & what you can afford.
@@buffalobluecheese That sounds right, I wouldn't buy their regular stuff but their air impact stuff would be just fine; now a mechanic I know who works for a Acura dealership in town buys nothing but Harbor Freight ICON hand tools, and he has their tool chests too; claimed he saved thousands over buying SnapOn; he does have some SnapOn only because Harbor Freight didn't carry a particular specialty tool.. I bought most of my hand tools as I needed them between 1972 and 1980 I think, I bought mostly Proto, some S & K, that stuff I've used for years without any issues working on my own cars, and friends cars, and of course around the house. I don't work much on my cars now due to all the crap they have in them that I know nothing about.
@@frozerekmeyata4091 from what I understand the Harbor Freight ICON line is their premium line & is on par with Snap-on. Both are out of my pay grade & not necessary as I only use for personal DIY use. I do like the tool cabinets @ HF, the US General line is very popular.
@@buffalobluecheese I don't know if ICON is on par with SnapOn or not, I do know the mechanic guy said he saved thousands of dollars going with ICON vs going with SnapOn, and money was his big motivator, as was getting a decent grade of tools. When a auto mechanic has to invest at least $30,000 in tools, PLUS, add to that collection every year as auto manufacturers come up with some sort of nonsense requiring a specialty tool to work on something, then in order to get those tools you have to go into debt with the SnapOn dealer who works like the mafia. I knew a mechanic who had a debt to SnapOn, of thousands of dollars, he got fired because he accidently screwed up something on a customers car, the auto repair place CALLED SnapOn that day, SnapOn rushed over and took all his tools, and the SnapOn Tool Chest while the mechanic was there asking them not to! Then SnapOn wouldn't let him get his tools back a week later after getting a new job, telling him he would have to rebuy them all over again, tools that were his that he had been paying on for 8 years. Even dealerships, and some independents, will pat you on the back when they hire you and say, don't worry about the tools, we have them here, we'll deduct X amount of dollars out of your paycheck for X number of years, after which those tools are yours to keep. Sounds great doesn't it? Then about 3 years go by and you're fired or laid off, and they keep the tools because you hadn't paid them off yet, and the dealership turns around and sells them again to the next mechanic, and the dealership does this over and over and over, and you thought dealerships only ripped off customers getting their cars repaired! And all that money being spent on tools for a job that pays $30 an hour on the upper end of the pay scale (depending on where you live), with at least $500 dollars a month coming out of your paycheck to pay the tool bill, the job isn't worth it. Mean while the repair shop charges $100 an hour to their customers, yes I know they have to pay for insurance, salaries, benefits, etc, but I know it doesn't cost another $70 an hour to cover those expenses; not to mention profit gouging on parts like charging $40 to $60 per sparkplug that only cost $12 to $16 at any auto parts store. But let's pay the mechanic $30,000 a year minus at least $6,000 (includes the high interest) a year for tools. Sounds like a dream job doesn't it?
The Braun light uses standard 18650 batteries. As a computer technician, I pulled a laptop battery apart and salvaged six 18650 batteries and swap them out of my Braun light and just keep them in rotation. I love this so much, I'm going to buy a couple more of these lights. The Braun light is literally the most used light in my toolbox.
Yes! I forgot to mention this in the video but having 18650's to swap out is so nice. I have a charger on my toolbox and can run over and change out the battery when it dies vs having to plug it in, so much more convenient.
granadojl The 18650 is what sold me on that light. After having other light batteries degrade over time I knew it would be nice to be able to keep it a lot longer, I can also keep a few spare batteries charged and ready to go. I got mine for 20 bucks when they first came out with a coupon, it took a long time to find one in stock too so it’s no wonder they raised the price. I wish I’d have bought another at 20.
@@mcearl8073 Right on Brotha. I'm a Computer Tech that has access to allot of "old" laptop batteries... which contain roughly 6 18650 batteries grouped in series. I will be pulling one apart tonight to salvage the 18650 batteries. Heads up, in June's HF flyer... the Braun light is on sale for $22. I'll be buying two on the first of June... (Payday)
granadojl Thanks for the heads up. I’m going to pick another up, I actually have that flyer with the coupon in it, I haven’t looked through it yet. I might pick up that aluminum folding chair too for 20 bucks.
I think that icon will be another line altogether kind of how they have their good better best mentality (Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh pro, Icon) (Warrior, Bauer, Hercules) etc, great video btw!
Agreed on the 1/2" breaker bar! Add the inner tie rod removal tool and you are set. It's now $37.99, but I know I only paid between $20 and $25 with coupon.
Excellent video! One HF tool I use frequently is the Digital multimeter #63604, $6.39. As a matter of fact I keep several of them in different places. I save the precious Fluke meter for those few times I need precise resistance or voltage measurements. 95% of the time the HF multimeter is perfectly adequate for the job and I don't have to worry about it getting stolen or damaged. I had a crew come out to put up a steel building recently and the foreman (who was a highly skilled pro) took quite a few HF tools out of his truck!
I love that little red meter, I keep them around the house and in the camper. Probably 4 or 5 laying around at the moment. As you said, almost never need to break out the Fluke unless you need quick reaction time or precise measurements.
Their AC manifold gauge set has worked well for me as well. FYI, Scotty Kilmer and Eric the Car Guy both used the Harbor Freight AC manifold in their videos.
@@robertmusselman4488 I have used my HF vacuum pump for about 4 years and it still works great. It is the cheaper model. I change oil in it after every use.
$80 LOW profile 3 ton floor jack Heavy duty rubber 25 ft air hose (don't know the $) And #1 is the earthquake 1/2 inch impact wrench (pneumatic) for $80. Many other good ones but these are the super stars!
I agree with this list. I got the braun work light on sale with a coupon for 25 bucks...best work light ever. The magnet is pretty strong and compared to matco and snap on you cant go wrong. Same for the pick set. For o-rings especially for the 1.99 price I played I'm super happy. Another great pick up is the 6" magnetic bowl. For 3 bucks you cant go wrong to keep small parts or bolts from getting lost.
I am a lifelong mechanic and DIY guy. In the past I found HF tools to be complete junk. But I’ve recently heard some good things and decided to give them a second look. I’ve been pleasantly surprised that HF has definitely stepped up their game and offer some quality tools.
One more honorable mention,,,I bought a English Wheel , 230 dollars, very well built, and precise, it's the exact same one that 3 other well known companies are selling for 500 dollars,,,read bad reviews about harbor freights in the past,,but you can't go by them because they are constantly changing companies that they get there products from, my father is 88 now smartest man I've ever known and for 20 years he went to harbor freight, until he drove there and got lost along the way, I have his stash of harbor freight stuff now,,some 20 years old and still doing the job,,,out lasted my dear old dad...
I've been using the line wrench set too for a long time. It's not something your gonna beat on of course, so why overpay out the ass for Snap On line wrenches?
Bought the harbor fright light was in the video and it's a good light. I live in Chicago and when we had the polar vortex (-50°f) in February of 2019 i left if on a dodge ram and it returned to me in June of 2019 and ot was fully working and functional as the way I left it. I would hight recommend that light.
Hey Justin I see a lot of you guys do best of worst of HF videos,but nobody does a what tools would you like to see HF make video.Personally one Id like to see is a long 1/4 inch breaker bar ,I think Snap On makes one ,but I'm not a mechanic so buying a Snap On for guys like me isn't feasible in a lot of ways.I know HF monitors these channels so maybe itd help push a few tools into production. Anyways just a thought.
I bought a set of those Pittsburgh deep impact sockets about 9 years ago and I am very impressed, they are of the same quality or better than Craftsman, or any home or auto supply place will have. Plus with the hassle free no receipt necessary no questions asked lifetime warranty you'll get a replacement fast. I did check out HF drawer style tool boxes and quite frankly they seem quite good, even felt like the metal used was thicker than others I've seen, hmm. Also the Pittsburgh brand of combination wrench sets I've tried at a friends house seemed quite sturdy, he's had his for about 8 years and no wear marks. I also bought one of their Pittsburgh 3 ton jacks and been using it for about 3 years and it works flawlessly. I personally would never buy anything electrical from them because they are all junk and will fail quickly and not have the power you might expect, plus there is no lifetime warranty of those type of tools and equipment, I bought a Chicago Electric battery drill just to see how good it would or wouldn't work and thing was gutless, I kept using it though but it killed itself about a year and half after I bought it; so I went to Home Depot and bought their Rigid line and that stuff has been amazing, lifetime warranty as well. The same thing happened to a HF soldering iron I bought except it died about 2 months into the warranty, but it was so bad I threw it away, it took forever for it to heat up enough to melt the solder. Then I tried a Chicago Electric dremel type of tool...LOL! that thing was a joke! It had no power whatsoever, kept stalling under the lightest of pressure, I think if you put a buffer wheel on it you could safely polish your teeth without harming the gums! So stay away from their electrical stuff, but their hand tools from what limited experience I have with them seem to be more than good enough for the home mechanic and maybe a pro mechanic as well. Pro mechanics would be wise to buy some selected tools from HF because the cost of tools for the mechanic keeps going up, plus new tools all the time are required, tool expenses can easily exceed $30,000, so if you can get away with some cheaper stuff that will still perform then good for you.
In all honesty, the Bauer impact driver drill is great. Good battery, lasted me over a year so far and I use it every day cause I’m a mechanic. Only bad on it is you have to clean the factory grease out and put some quality grease. After that, it’ll do anything.
I like their tools. I like their breaker bars, jacks and some of their ratchets and other hand tools are great. Affordable, quality and lifetime warranty.
The hydraulic shop press I got from HF has came in useful for more than just pressing bearings in/out since I don't have a bench vise, it is a bit wobbly though. The engine stands (along with the presses) are well worth picking up considering they're just all metal tools (for the most part) that can be modified/fixed easily. Have been using my Chicago electric flux core welder for over 3 years with no problems. The last Chicago electric 3" grinder I bought lasted 5 years until it just recently started flipping it's breaker constantly. Have used the compression tester for about 5 years as well with no problems (just a hose, fittings, and gauge after all). Really like the 3 ton low profile jack that I got for about $79, has came in really handy working on friends & my lowered cars. A little common sense goes a long way when purchasing tools from just about any retailer.
I have experience with all the things you listed(except the compression tester) and they have been good as well! Used to have that press also, just bolt it to the floor if you have concrete using anchors and its good to go!
Their 4 1/2 angle grinder is awesome. $14 and works just as good as my Ryobi that cost me $40. And if it does break I’m more inclined to buy the cheaper one again.
Good and objective review. I own all of them except the impact socket set and the light. I totally agree with you. I'd like to add 2 more items: the low profile jack and 6-ton jack stands. I've had them for 6 or 7 years. Never had any problems with any of them. Thanks a lot.
I also have experience with that Jack and those stands very good mentions! I didnt include them cus I didnt feel they fell in the same category as the other things I listed.
I agree, there are some good items at Harbor Freight. Hell, most of the trusted old school quality U.S. brands we trusted are now made in China anyway; probably Snap-On too. :(
About 20yrs ago I bought the 79.00 core flux welder(99 dollars now) I've used it for hobbhy type work for years and it still works. I also have used US general 4 drawer rolling cart for years. Not everything they make is good for professional use but for a few times a year use they are fine. I also have the Drill press (bench one) works fine after 15yrs And that gets almost daily use.
the astro style lights you can find that dont have the $50 astro brand name or $75 matco. Dont exactly know the names they use but they do have two different brightness ones a 500 and I think 700 for around $15-20 on amazon if anyone does like them.
I like the ratcheting box wrenches in SAE and Metric. Each is a double ended and I think there's 4 to a set so you have 8 common sizes. For us shade tree mechanics, I like the corded impact gun. I bought mine for $39.99 about 15 years ago. Great for most lug nuts or other tough bolts. Their Pittsburgh torque wrenches are hard to beat at $9.99. Not a tool but you can't beat the US General tool chests. I got the 44-inch roll around and top chest about 17 years ago and have outgrown them so I recently added the 72-in roll around. I can't see ever spending the money on a Snap-On or Matco or even a Craftsman box.
I have the bolt extractor sockets. Didn't work for the application i used them for. But then again nothing else did either. Ratchet, breaker bar, impact, bolt extractor, torch, vise grips, or air chisel. Haven't needed to use them again, so i am not sure how good they are. I have almost everything else on your list and have liked them all. Also traded out my mini mag flashlight for the pocket sized quantum. It's brighter and easier to turn on and hold.
The dead blow hammers are fantastic, along with the lime green chisel set. Don't get me started on the 8750 generator, it is incredible and saved from numerous power outages. I use the Allen head sockets a lot and are also very good.
How have the ratcheting ends held up? I saw them there and considered getting them to put in my jeep for side work but I dont have any experience with the HF ones.
A lot of people give this a bad rap but I have changed 60+ tires on it and have yet to break it and that is the manual tire changer and for $40 ware can u go wrong. I think ware a lot of guys go wrong is they don't use enough soapy water to make it go easy.
Also totally depends on the tires and wheels your trying to use it for. I have a tire machine that works for truck stuff or will pay a tire shop if its my nice wheels tho, I dont have the patience for that anymore lol. I work on cars ALL day the last thing I want is to do things the hard way 😛 PS. It's "Where"! Or for a part getting weaker would be wearing out, wares are things you sell!
Also some of the power tools are great for fab work. I've had the reciprocating saw for years, have the Hercules grinder, have their small 6 ton press, and also I LOVE the portable band saw. Use that thing all the time with some Milwaukee blades. It's a beast for $100. Been using the heck out of their small drill press too, not power but pretty accurate.
I agree about those screw drivers. I've had a set of them about a year or so, and they are holding up pretty good. I like that they are bolstered so you can use a wrench on them, and the handles are pretty nice. I have a set of HF impact sockets that are holding up pretty good. HF has been upping their game with a lot of their tool line.
The 1/2 inch Pittsburgh is damn good for the price. $10-20. You have to spend quite a bit of money to get one better. Just about everyone agrees. The 3/8 is good also. The 1/4 has kind of a reputation for not being repeatably accurate. I'd stay away from it. Read all the reviews on HFs website. The middle of the range any torque wrench has is where it is most accurate. That is usually how you should decide what to buy.
I went to the one in Janesville Wi. looking for a job radio. The guy didn't know what a Job Radio was. I tried to explain it was for listening to music while working. He didn't get it, and I went somewhere else. I went back several months later looking for a work mate folding bench with a built in vise, The person took me to these very large stationary benches. I told them smaller, foldable fits in a car, they said Oh you need drawers, I said no and they said we don't have anything like that. After 6 mins looking my wife found it and she didn't even know what I was looking for.
I'm a metal scrapper so I put my pliers thru hell and back. I bought a pair of the Doyle groove pliers from HF about the same time that I got my channel Locks and The Channel Locks are already starting to show a bit of dealigning while the Doyles are holding up like true champs.
Crows feet are handy to have once in awhile! I have the HF set and a sunex set. I usually use the sunex ones they have way more contact and are much better to use and less likely to round things off like the HF ones...that said every once in awhile the HF ones are the only ones that fit.
@@GearHeadsGarageChannelAs you said, some HF stuff is good, some bad. I found the crow feet wrenches to slip too much, actually so much so that they don't really work. Need to get a different set from a different source.
@@genericusername1365 like I said in the comment on this, the line wrench style from more expensive brands works much better and wont round things off...BUT there has been a few times they didnt work and the HF ones were the only thing that would fit!
I'm late but my dad has a set of harbor freight deep sockets he has had for like 5-6 years maybe longer but he still has the full set they are great Edit:my dad works on carbonated engines he allso has a lot of specialized tools and has some of the bolt extraction sockets that have the spiritual Grove's
I think the 25" breaker bar (1/2") is pretty good. I felt it flexed a little bit on a really badly stuck axle but, but been pretty good otherwise. I like their torque wrenches. For $20 it's not bad at all and fairly accurate. Heck, I remember buying one for $10 on a deal. One did mess up after 5years, but HF replaced it free of cost..... no questions asked!
Harbor freight is great for what it is. I have tool I could never afford if it wasn't for harbor freight. Yes if I was a professional it would be a different story. But for the DIYer they are great for the price. You snap on fanboys are crazy and have too much money to waste.
Nice selection and as far as ratchets go, I just habitually check with the socket on too. It's just automatic to me...muscle memory, ya know? That Braun LED is such a good buy. They are NEVER in stock at either store in my city.
Yup the wrench switch doesnt bother me since I check anyway but I can see people who are used to just flipping the switch one way and expecting what they are used to getting annoyed!
Glad to hear it! Ill keep my blue point ones for work they have been fantastic but maybe I will have to pick some of these up for sidework to keep in my jeep JUST in case!
After 20ish years as an auto tech I amassed over 100k of truck brand tools and tool boxes. I gave up the auto industry and went industrial maintenance. All my snap on stuff is at home in the garage and I've got a box full of Harbor Freight tools at work, they work great.
i bought 2 of the braun lights. both lasted about a month each. replaced them with the snap on magnetic work light. only 45 bucks and a far better light
Thanks for taking the time to get these recommendations up here. I'm just a hamfisted DIYer perfectly content with the occasional semi-craptastic tool for occasional use. My ancient HF 'Chicago Forge' brand circlip/spring clip pliers set is a good example. I think they were like four bucks and came in an orange plastic sack that looks like it was made from recycled 3rd World shopping bags reading "4 Peice Spring Clip Plier Set" [misspelling theirs]. I don't think HF has even sold them in more than a decade. They just look WOEFULLY lousy--like they were forged in some Chinese guy's shed on a barbecue grill. They are hardly the pinnacle of the toolmaker's craft. But still, they always get the job done that once a year or so I'll need them. Still, good is good, and I really appreciate your tip on those heavy duty screwdrivers. They look swell, and why DON'T all screwdrivers have a nice little hex thing by the handle for tougher work? In fact, why don't vice grips have one on the adjuster too?
I broke one of my long punches ,punch part came right out Handle I did get it stuck though and had to use vice grips on it, but I had no idea they were two piece I would still buy them again though
The Earthquake XT impact wrenches are great, and the price makes them truly fabulous. The 1/2 inch version is a real workhorse and priced below the crap ones at other store. The 3/4 inch version is great as well, and actually produces more torque than many 1 inch impacts.
Bought a 3 1/2 ton low pro jack from them about 5 years ago for under $100 (with a coupon), it's low enough to fit under my Honda without dragging or getting hung up but can easily lift my pick-up as well
I've been buying things from Harbor Freight for years. The oldest thing I still have is a variable speed 3/8th corded drill I bought for $8 that I used for many things. I did rip out much of the old plaster on wood strips walls in the bathroom and used the drill to not only use drywall screws to frame in a box around the bathtub that's recessed inside the box, While the walls were torn out I redid all the plumbing and rewired the bathroom and used the drill to install the drywall. I also used it for many other things and considering what I put it through I never expected it to last so long. About 5 years ago, I bought a 3/8th inch Pittsburgh 80 ft. lb. torque wrench. I took it to the test dept. where I worked and had it tested and it came back with a certified calibration sticker on it. Recently, I bought a set of jack stands to do work on my car. Good quality for the price. I also bought a large vise with 6 inch jaws for my basement workshop and it has a 4 inch square flat section for an anvil. Good deal for the proce. I also bought a hand held belt sander the uses 3 x 21 inch belts. Another good deal. I plan to make a stand for it so I can use it on my work bench . I've also bought many other things from Harbor Freight like a 5 inch bench grinder, a hand held circular saw and a few other things. Of everything I bought only a few of them failed, but they were cheap to replace. Over all, I like Harbor Freight as a source for tools.
Haven’t read all the comment but would assume was already mentioned. I didn’t know until I bought the impact sockets that Pittsburgh is lifetime warranty from HF so for the times you said you didn’t care if they broke you’d just buy another. They are lifetime
That Braun light is great. I ended up buying 2 for I think $25.00 each during one of HF's sales. I wasn't expecting much but those things have been awesome. I highly suggest them to anyone who is on the fence.
Yep great light. i have one of the first gen ones and its bright as day one but looses connectivity sometimes during bends. Other than that a great light.
Okay, you got me good with that test light, brother! I bought a snap-on test light new off of ebay for $25. It was totally worth that money. I've used it constantly for 3 years now at work (auto repair shop, of course) and it looks and performs like I just bought it. Oh, I do have that hook and pick set, though...
When I bought my car a year ago the harbor freight about 5 miles from me in Georgetown washington became the go-to place for cheap tools and car accessories and I got the 129 piece Pittsburgh tool set for less than 40$ and I use it at least once a week.
Maybe it’s not really for auto repair, but the Pittsburgh 3/8 drive hex keys (Allen) are great quality also. Every tech that has come into the print shop I work at has a set.
I have the HF deep impact socket set and the 3/8" 1/2" SAE/Metric impact socket set. Both sets are perfect for DIY auto mechanics I also have the bolt type wheel puller set. I'm glad you mentioned the mini pick set. For a couple bucks, that pick set has come in so handy for removing old o-rings and breaking lose radiator hoses. My personal favorite right now is the Earthquake XT stubby 1/2" impact wrench. That stubby impact wrench is lightweight, can get into tight places, and packs plenty of torque for replacing shocks and struts.
