This week I happened across a number of videos that took what could easily be argued as a subjective negative view towards certain tools purchased from Harbor Freight. You and I could typically skip to the end of this blog to get my summary point of view on the subject, but let’s tackle this old guy’s opinion on the quality and utility of these imported tools right up front. My experience has been; “It Depends”.

Sort of like those bladder control briefs of the same name; You aren’t crazy about needing to purchase and wear them but sometimes they help you out during a time of need.

If you are not aware of this particular tool supply retailer, it could simply be that your town doesn’t have one or that you’ve never happened across their website, or that you live outside the U.S. It is safe to say however, that you’ll find most everything that Harbor Freight sells is manufactured in China and repackaged for the U.S. market. These materials that are imported by cargo ship lead us to the name Harbor Freight. Brilliant, but at face value not really. If you drove by one of their store fronts not knowing what they sold, you could assume they might sell ocean going shipping containers. A more accurate name would be Cheap Imported Tools. Dot Com. Maybe that’s just a little harsh. Let’s be fair.

There are good reasons for needing to shop at this tool supply store. Preferring to shop there is a different story altogether. Therein lies the conundrum.

Let’s talk about the positive things this retailer can bring to the first time homeowner or weekend project warrior. First, the tools and shop accessories are actually pretty cheap when compared to any of the LowNards Depot national home centers. When you don’t have a lot of excess cash and you’re forced into a DIY home repair situation, Harbor Freight can be a great help. Need a corded impact drill to help set lag screws on your deck frame, or an air hammer and chisel to help remove that hideous pink tile from your bathroom floor? Harbor Freight has got you covered for less than a couple of Jacksons. How about a last minute hand truck, shipping blankets or rolling dolly to help with a move, or a sanding disk to remove decades of rust from your grand dad’s camp axe? Same answer.

Hey, those were pretty specific tool references weren’t they? Yes, I admit I am still a semi-frequent visitor to this store but not for the purely financial reasons you might think.

Some of the tools or accessories sold there are of similar quality or the same quality that you’ll find at a big box store and for typically less money. Ubiquitous items like castor wheels, trailer tires, hydraulic jacks, nylon rope, poly tarps, tool boxes, safety goggles, bungee cord or “C” clamps are all found there often at a reduced price. I have purchased and was pleased with all the items just mentioned. Sometimes when I’m looking for an inexpensive solution to a one-time problem, my first stop is Harbor Freight to see if I can get what I need.

The Other Side to the Coin

Now remember that I said at the top of this post, “It depends” when referring to my preferences for shopping there. I’ve had some pretty awful experiences there too depending on the type of tool or accessory we’re talking about. After buying our first home (900 square feet of pure joy with Lego bricks and Barbie accessories sprinkled everywhere), I needed some basic tools that weren’t my dad’s. Harbor Freight had an inexpensive cordless drill for about $30 at the time that didn’t break our small budget and was a big help as we fixed and remodeled parts of the house. It was underpowered and didn’t handle paddle bit drill holes through studs very well. The battery packs lasted about a year before they started to lose power and wouldn’t hold a charge. Had I doubled my spend on year one, I wouldn’t need to buy the better drill in year two. The economics of value. OK, I get it now.

Other accessory items failed me as well. I needed a set of impact nut drivers for that deck build I referenced above. It was important that I bought the set that was hardened and specifically designed for impact use and that is what I bought from Harbor Freight. The 9/16 bit shattered on the second lag screw. Rare sized drill bits purchased to fit a specific project never held their edge. Sandpaper seems like it should be all the same regardless of brand, but sorry friends. None of the sheets I purchased lasted more than a couple of board feet before the grit was gone. These were my experiences both good and bad. It is simply a “you get what you pay for” trope. Maybe a better phrase applies here; You pay your money and take your chances.

Other YouTubers who spent big dollars on some of Harbor Freight’s higher end tools seem to have good results. The Harbor Freight portable generators seem to get good reviews as do the replacement lawn mower motors they also sell. There’s even a small go-cart racing community in love with the larger Predator engine apparently for all their racing needs.

Wishy Washy Summary

Shopping at Harbor Freight is sometimes a necessity, sometimes a disappointment, sometimes a lottery ticket win and sometimes a guilty pleasure. I think back to my first time home owner example and when I didn’t have the money to spend on tools, Harbor Freight was a good alternative for cheaper imported tools. I simply learned that many of my inexpensive motorized tools weren’t going to compete on quality or longevity with Makita or Bosch brands very well.

Maybe when faced with the need for a tool purchase, you have to evaluate the long term need for the specific tool you’re buying. Like my broken Delta table saw saga from a couple months ago. I bought one of the cheapest table saws I could get at the time and focused on price only. I should have considered that it is a cornerstone tool of a workshop and that I’d be using it for years. Decades really. In the end, cheap construction led to it’s death after 4 years. Had I spent double the money, I’d have a tool that WILL be around for decades.

For one time problems or projects like snaking out a toilet and drain because your kids loved to flush toys to see then disappear, an inexpensive plumbing snake from Harbor Freight is your best answer. Limited and light use of a cordless drill/driver for the home? Okay too.

But when you have the option to buy a better quality tool like a circular saw, drill press or jig saw, you will quite naturally gravitate to those better brands like Bosch, Makita and DeWalt. I think Harbor Freight and their business model is probably okay with that. They were never built on the premise of offering the best quality tools available on the market. “Let us help you save a few bucks on inexpensive but sometimes useful imported tools”, should be their corporate motto.

I’m still a customer, and many of their products are absolutely fine and work well. If your purchase argument is purely centered around cost, make Harbor Freight your first stop. If you can afford to spend a little more, be sure to do your homework and check the consumer ratings first. It might be cheaper in the long run to buy better quality if you really need the tool to grow old along with you.