HF? How long?

[leehljp]

On the pen forum, one fellow referred to one of his "HF" tools by the normal abbreviation of "HF". To this, one fellow responded with "What and where is HF? Home Federal, Half Fried, Hill Far, ??"

After a laugh, I got to thinking of how long I had known about HF.

1. When did you first hear of HF?
2. When did you first order from them?
3. When did you first visit an HF store?

For me:
1. I cannot remember when I first saw advertisements of HF it was so long ago. I can't remember if it was 30 or 40 years ago.
2. I think I did order from them a couple of times when they were a CA store only, again about 30+ years or so ago.
3. First store visit - Reno, Nevada, 1992 or 1996, bought one of those 3 inch long miniature anvils. Still have it.

[BigguyZ]

1. This had to have been back in 99 or 2000, I followed a link from a Computer case modding website to a nibbler, used to make cutouts in the computer case steel...
2. That same time in 99 or 2000, when ordering the nibbler.
3. Not until waaaaaaay after, in 2005 or 2006... bought a bunch of stuff.

[LCHIEN]

I remember seeing the flyers and maybe ordering some stuff about 30+ years ago.
they only had the Calif. store then.
I only visited the Houston store after buying a few items in the 2000-2002 timeframe by mail.

[eezlock]

HF? how long?

Lee, I read you post and I think this is the right answer. Not sure, but here goes... HF as I understand, in turning lingo stands for "hollow form".
If not, please correct me........

[LarryG]

1. I somehow got on their mailing list for the first time maybe 20 or 25 years ago.

2. Figured at those prices their stuff must be junk, so I never ordered anything and they eventually stopped sending me catalogs.

3. When I started hanging out here, five years ago, I learned that shopping selectively at HF can net a few gems, and I visited my first HF store shortly thereafter. Still haven't ordered anything.

[cgallery]

Probably not until their Milwaukee-area stores opened. Maybe as recently as the last five years. I had heard of them before, but wouldn't have been able to tell you what they were all about.

[leehljp]

Lee, I read you post and I think this is the right answer. Not sure, but here goes... HF as I understand, in turning lingo stands for "hollow form".
If not, please correct me........

LOL

HF = Hollow Form, Harbor Freight, High Frequency, High Five, Heart Failure, Have Fun, Hedge Fund, High Fidelity (remember that one?), Hip Fracture, Harrison Ford, Happy Face , Huck Finn, could go on and on and on!

[LinuxRandal]

I remember seeing their ads in magazines at the grocery store, in the late 80's early 90's. We had a Cummin's locally, and had one of its other tent sale companies come through yearly, so I know there would be a lot of crp, so I never ordered. (yes you can buy a vowel)

I believe they opened up here sometime around 2001, which is when I went in and saw what looked to be fair to good quality stuff, mixed in with what I thought/looked to be junk.

My worst purchase from them was their snap ring pliers. I never thought I would use them as much as I do, so I thought they would get me by.

[crokett]

I heard about HF on this forum but don't remember exactly when. I do know the first time I ordered figuring two week lead time would be enough it took 3 to get what I needed to finish a project so I didn't shop at HF for a long time. I still don't order from them, not patient enough to wait that long but now that they have 2 retail stores in my area I shop there.

[Uncle Cracker]

I can't remember how long its been for me... Seems like they've always been there.

[Alex Franke]

I learned about it from this forum, too. It seems to be the only place locally you can find obscure tools like an 8" #1 Phillips screwdriver.

I went there to pick up an HVLP sprayer.

[conwaygolfer]

Hf

About 30 years ago I ran across their catalogue and ordered a 3/4 in. socket set from them. Biggest socket was about 2in. Came with the ratchet and breaker bar. I also ordered a large set of wrenches at the same time. I still have all the items and occasionally I still need them.
By the way, the socket set cost $30.00 - less than one large socket or wrench from Sears.

They also came from California.

Conwaygolfer

[BobSch]

Probably about 35 years ago. One of the guys at work had a HF flier. I ordered a 1/2" electric drill (Which I've still got) and a pack of 100 hacksaw blades. Ended up ordering more blades because the guys at work bought most of them from me — 10 blades at a time.

[dbhost]

First heard of them in the mid 90s.

First purchase was a set of 1/2" drive wobble extensions, shortest was 3", longest was 24", I still have them. It was a mail order kind of thing.

First store visit was in 1997.

First web order was in 2007.

[WayneJ]

The first time that I learned about them was back in the 90s. I received a flier in the mail but never ordered anything from them. The first time I went into one was when they opened a store about 3 miles away. I applied for a job and they hired me. That was 3years ago and I still work there.
Wayne