[sammyg2]

I'm a mechanical engineer by trade and started out as an industrial mechanic/millwright. I've worked on just about every type of machine there is at one time or another, including a one and a half million HP turbine/generator. I've used just about every brand of tools there is.

I like harbor freight tools. I have allot of harbor freight tools.
Not to make a living with but for around the house.
MOST of them are fine for occasional use or light duty and are a great deal for the money.

There are some obvious exceptions to that but if you know what your looking at you can spot them. Most of their hand tools are good, except for ratchets and wooden handled hammers.

Their cutting tools usually suck, things like drill bits or anything that has to hold a sharp edge.

The chicago pneumatic compressors are good but the chicago welders absolutely suck.
Their house brand cordless drills suck but their sawzalls and right angle grinders work well.
Same with hte opther power tools I've bought there (too many to name).

The pitsburgh scrwewdrivers are really good, their hex keys (allen wrenches) are really good too. Same with the pittsburgh combination wrenches.
Their version of "channel locks" suck.

You can get a great deal on most tools, usually spending 1/4 or less of what you would elsewhere.

Case in point:
last week I needed to rebuild a 3/4 hp pump and motor.
My gear puller didn't reach far enough to pull the bearing off the inboard end of the motor so I bought a forged 3 jaw puller from HF with an 8 1/2" reach. It works really well and did the job perfectly. It cost $13. I may never use it again but for what I spent who cares?

If you are a contractor, a tool snob, don't care about money, or are someone who doesn't know tools, go somewhere else. If you like saving money on projects and are willnig to take a chance on something not working out for a few bucks spent around the house, HF is a great resource.