HF Duds list. Data wanted.

[dbhost]

First things first. Known HF haters, don't bother taking up the space, we already know your answer is everything they sell... (Won't even go to HF to grab U.S.A. made Goodyear air hoses on the cheap?)...

I would like to use this thread to gather data to compile a "Worst of Harbor Freight" list... The information I am looking for is...

#1. Item #.
#2. Item Description.
#3. What is the problem with the item?
#4. Is the item still offered by Harbor Freight Tools?
#5. Do you believe the problem you experienced was due to quality control, or design problems?

[Charlie]

Deleted by me.

[twistsol]

98426-0VGA
Digital Air Flow Regulator
I exchanged three of them and they all leaked, and not just a little bit
It is still offered

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=98426

Could have been design or quality control. For 12.00 I pitched the last one and haven't thought about it until now.

[jonmulzer]

#36139

4 Piece Wood Chisel Set

The problem is the steel. I purchased a set for beater chisels that I would not mind if I caught a nail or scraped paint with them. They are not even suitable to open paint cans with. They would probably dull and chip if you only used them to open paint cans with. Not even worth the $5.99.

Quality control and design both. The steel is absolutely horrible.

[dbhost]

#36139

4 Piece Wood Chisel Set

The problem is the steel. I purchased a set for beater chisels that I would not mind if I caught a nail or scraped paint with them. They are not even suitable to open paint cans with. They would probably dull and chip if you only used them to open paint cans with. Not even worth the $5.99.

Quality control and design both. The steel is absolutely horrible.

So should I have included materials used as a separate item?

[LarryG]

3390x - black dead blow hammers in various weights.

Not exactly duds, but they'll mark your work unless you wrap the striking portion of the head with packing tape. The orange ones cost a buck or three more but don't exhibit this problem.

[sweensdv]

I'm not sure that I would classify anything HF sells as a dud. Their products are what they are and are generally worth pretty much what they sell for. Sure, a few of the thousands of products they sell are pretty good deals but most are just cheaply built inexpensive knock-offs of better brand name products. If that is the description of a dud than 99% of what HF sells would fall into this category and I just don't have the time to list them all. BTW, I own quite a bit of the stuff they sell and was just there this morning and bought something so I'm not a HF hater. Shame on you for accusing my favorite disposable tool/junk store of selling duds.

What else would one expect from a $6 set of chisels other than poor quality?

[dbhost]

I'm not sure that I would classify anything HF sells as a dud. Their products are what they are and are generally worth pretty much what they sell for. Sure, a few of the thousands of products they sell are pretty good deals but most are just cheaply built inexpensive knock-offs of better brand name products. If that is the description of a dud than 99% of what HF sells would fall into this category and I just don't have the time to list them all. BTW, I own quite a bit of the stuff they sell and was just there this morning and bought something so I'm not a HF hater. Shame on you for accusing my favorite disposable tool/junk store of selling duds.

What else would one expect from a $6 set of chisels other than poor quality?

While I agree with your point. I think the idea is that a "Gem" delivers performance above what the purchaser would normally expect for the price paid. A "Dud" would be something that simply does not work, or is something the purchaser considers to be a poor value...

A $6.00 set of chisels would be a gem of a deal, IF they worked, held an edge etc... but if they are simply useless because the metal cannot hold an edge, then they would be a dud...

[DUD]

I thought You were talking about Me!

Bill

[jonmulzer]

So should I have included materials used as a separate item?

That's up to you. Your list sir.

[jonmulzer]

What else would one expect from a $6 set of chisels other than poor quality?

I expected some level of functionality. I certainly never expected Two Cherries or anything. I wanted something to scrape paint with and do all the other stuff that I would love to use my Marples for if it would not damage them. As it is, they are not worth $6. They are worth what a couple of ounces of China's crappiest steel is worth.

[Photojosh]

Here's one hot off the frustrated presses. I'm actually posting this from the shop.

1. 45076
2. General Purpose Rope Hoist
3. Doesn't work. Rope twists up and creates far too much friction to operate.
4. Yes
5. Design problems. Might have been solved with better/different rope.

What did I expect for $7? I wasn't trying to lift 400-500 lbs of something, but I was hoping to have an easy way to hoist up the 100-150 lb "bag" of baby junk that is in storage hanging from my shop ceiling. I knew the rope was actually more like 3/16 than 1/4 and I knew it was twisted rather than braided. But still, I didn't even get a chance to try it out becuse of the massive twisting/kinking of the rope between the upper and lower pullies (sp?).

Anyway, sometimes you live and learn with HF stuff. If I get down there soon and I remember to bring it, I'll probably try and return it.

[Wood_workur]

So should I have included materials used as a separate item?

It falls under design, no? Part of designing a product is specing materials.

[cgallery]

Part #96687, 120 Volt Circular Saw Blade Sharpener

It doesn't work.

It would, if they included something besides a diamond blade for doing the sharpening.

The diamond blade is too coarse to sharpen fine carbide.

If the grit was fine (like a DMT fine credit card), then yes, this thing would actually function as a fairly decent (albeit) rudimentary sharpener.

I have adapted the thing to various other purposes. I needed to accurately cut some HDD bits to use as guide blocks on my bandsaw, and it sure did the trick there.

[dbhost]

Great stuff folks. Keep 'em coming!