Here is the best place to buy tools for all your DIYers

[YarisSedan]

http://www.harborfreight.com/

For people who are just getting into working on thier cars. And not sure if they want to spend a ton of money buying tools that they will rarely use. This place is a great resource to get increadibly cheap cheap tools that are halfway decent. I work as a mechanic by trade and i go here ocassionally. Stuff is literally 5 percent of the price my local snapon tool truck sells the same tool for. Most of it is stuff that has been copied off original and molded using a cheaper material. And some of the stuff is exactly the same just no name brand.

I usually stick to stuff that is solid such as wrenches and screwdrivers that are pretty hard to break. But there are lots of other good things there. If you sign up for thier club membership you get email coupons for thier local store which is sometimes 60 percent more additional off thier already cheap prices.

So anyone looking to tackle on a DIY but afraid to because they dont have the tools yet heres the place to look.

As you get more seriouse and want to step up for some better tools but cheap heres another great place to check out. http://www.sjdiscounttools.com

[Tamago]

stick to craftsman for sockets and ratchets. i've had many HF tools break under even hand-loading and caused some damage..

their spring compressors are really cheesy too, i just rent a set from the local autoparts shop these days (after having a HF one fail on me).

but HF is a great place to get shrink tube, electrical hardware, air tools etc. just be careful with their ratchets and sockets :)

[lita_g]

Originally Posted by Tamago

stick to craftsman for sockets and ratchets. i've had many HF tools break under even hand-loading and caused some damage..

+1, my husband has broken several and now prefers going to sears to get the occasional socket (craftsman) he may need.

But yeah, HF has several good deals, but most of the time you do get what you pay for. I like buying NiMh batteries there, they're usually pretty cheap.

[Nexus1155]

its a hit or miss with them, cheap crap that is easily replaceable that they sell is great, but i wouldnt trust them with things that could cause death.... IE Jacks/JackStands or anything else expensive...

[Altitude]

Bought a nice hydraulic shop press from them when I had to swap out some u-joints in my Jeep. Made a real PITA job a breeze. +1 for Harbor Freight. There are definitely better quality tools out there, but for a backyard mechanic it's an excellent option.

[staypuft]

going to harbor freight is like buying menards drill bits, you get what you pay for.

[Tamago]

Originally Posted by Altitude

Bought a nice hydraulic shop press from them when I had to swap out some u-joints in my Jeep. Made a real PITA job a breeze. +1 for Harbor Freight. There are definitely better quality tools out there, but for a backyard mechanic it's an excellent option.

you had to use a press to get u joints out? i just use a hammer and punch 1310 joints in and out in 3 minutes

oh and i bought an aluminum racing jack at HF. 4 years of serious abuse (used at every autocross to swap wheels out) and it's just starting to leak. i'm gonna pull it apart and re-seal it shortly and back in business. best $90 i've ever spent, no more scissor jack lol

[nemelek]

If you are a professional get the good stuff. If you use a tool once or twice a year Harbor freight is great. Especially on their sidewalk sales or internet coupons.

[Altitude]

Originally Posted by Tamago

you had to use a press to get u joints out? i just use a hammer and punch 1310 joints in and out in 3 minutes

oh and i bought an aluminum racing jack at HF. 4 years of serious abuse (used at every autocross to swap wheels out) and it's just starting to leak. i'm gonna pull it apart and re-seal it shortly and back in business. best $90 i've ever spent, no more scissor jack lol

It was a last resort. I tried hammer and punch, sockets, heating, solvents even a ball joint press - those bastards were practically welded in. The hydraulic punched them right out and it sounded like a shotgun going off when they let go.

[Tamago]

Originally Posted by Altitude

It was a last resort. I tried hammer and punch, sockets, heating, solvents even a ball joint press - those bastards were practically welded in. The hydraulic punched them right out and it sounded like a shotgun going off when they let go.

been there done that.. i use an air over oil press to knock out the chevy (teflon) joints. other than that it's BFH and punch all the way.

(btw if you need custom driveshaft work PM me)

[Tamago]

Originally Posted by nemelek

If you are a professional get the good stuff. If you use a tool once or twice a year Harbor freight is great. Especially on their sidewalk sales or internet coupons.

good place to get metric nut/bolt storehouse.. they're crap bolts but they work in a jam. also a great place to get a nice auto darkening welding helmet.

[auxmike]

Don't buy cheap sockets.
I stick with Craftsman. If they break they give you a new one at SEARS.

[PetersRedYaris]

Don't get HF's ball joint press either, they snap very easily...

[YarisSedan]

All the comments are right. You just have to use common sense with what you purchase from them. I wouldnt use 12 point sockets or wrenches from them as they will round off. But anything that sees very light use will be okay. Just stuff for poeple who will work on thier car only a handful of times a year. For more professional use the minimum brand i would use is craftsman. And for seriouse profesionals there is always snap-on tools and matco.

But for people just getting into working on thier own cars and dont want to fork out hundreds of dollars costing them more to do a service for thier own car than it would be to take it to a shop this is the way to go.

[ddongbap]

Originally Posted by staypuft

going to harbor freight is like buying menards drill bits, you get what you pay for.

x2

[robkay]

If you are going to buy something a little more expensive than a cheap hand tool it pays to do a little research. One of the things I found is that, like anything else, there are manufacturers who make a non-branded version of a product and a variety of sellers put there "brand" on it. I was searching for a hydraulic floor jack and found that one Sears sold was exactly the same one as a couple others stores carried a lot cheaper in a generic brand.

Also, you can buy HF discount coupons on eBay and get great discounts on things. Some are for single items, some are for total purchase, so you can get a great deal on several things. I ended up getting a jack at HF. It was a great value because it was already on sale, plus I used a coupon.

[nemelek]

Went to Harbor Freight today for a few stocking stufers and saw this. Managers special for $399. I had a 15% coupon so I got it for $340. 5 hp 2 stage 22 inch path. It probably won't snow the rest of the year.

[90tsi]

some of there stuff isnt bad. i like going there for disposible stuff like rags zipties and stuff. if you want the baller shit get strap-on... i mean snap-on sorry lol