Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Kontak
That's an unfair statement.
Harbor Freight's ICON brand is head and shoulders above Kobalt as to quality. The end.
I'm not dumping on Kobalt but you need to differentiate between Chicago Electric/Pittsburgh/Central Pneumatic type HF tools and ICON brand HF tools.
The HF mid grade Hercules, Chief, Braun stuff is in the Kobalt ballpark. Good DIY tools.
Yes HF cheap stuff sucks: In the 2000's I had a big slide hammer from the freight and the "forged" ball on the end of the fat slide rod was meant to stop the slide hammer and transfer force to whatever you were hooked to. It broke off from the slide hammer hitting it. A dozen others tools have started on fire, quit, broke, never started, etc.
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I was working down the front of a marine engine. Out in the sun and my hands didn’t fit so getting scraped up with grease and salt water. Owner had loaded up on the cheapest harbor freight tools, gone long on their awful totally useless channel locks. I had my own tools.
Whenever I needed a break I’d sit back and drink water and pick out his worst rusted garbage tool (Phillips with manked tips, rusted pliers, miscast channel locks) and give it the old float test. Felt like I was doing the world a favor and it put me in a better mood.
I’ve handled the icon stuff it seems really nice but price is pretty serious.