A friend of mine needs to buy a complete tool set including sockets, rachets, wrenches, etc. I know DBM recommended Harbor Frieght a few times so I checked thier site out. Their prices are very cheap compared to Craftsman and Huskey. Do any of you own tools from this company, if so how good are they? I own Craftsman and Husky tools myself and feel both are top quality, but if the Pittsburgh tools are equal in quality he can save a lot of money. FYI: the prices are half as much as Huskey and Huskey is about 25% cheaper than Craftsman.

http://www.harborfreight.com

 

Pittsburgh is a private brand of Harbor Freight Tools. The Pittsburgh line is consists of imported items of low price and low quality. I did (and do) recommend their 1/2-inch click-type torque wrench http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...itemnumber=239 as a good value and suitable for wheel work. This item is frequently on sale for $10 or $12.

I own mostly Craftsman tools... but let's not fool ourselves, they are not top quality. That badge of honor goes to Snap-on tools. Snappy tools are beautiful, they "feel right" in your hand and are almost unbreakable... but they cost much more than Craftsman. Many professional technicians insist on Snap-on. For the home mechanic Craftsman and Husky are the best choice. Pittsburgh is not the equal of Craftsman or Husky.

I'm not knocking Pittsburgh tools. I own a few, mostly specialty items which are rarely used items such as...
Obstruction wrenches http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=3092
Stubby wrenches http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=37375

I recently bought Harbor Freight's high-lift floor jack http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=42820 when it was on sale in the store for only $90. It has a maximum saddle height of 31" and I love it!

 

Are you in the market for an air-powered impact wrench?

This one is a bargain.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=53176

This one costs more but it has real muscle!
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=40453

It appears to be a copy of this expensive name-brand gun.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=32431

 

I agree 100% with DBM on this issue. I have 2 brothers in the auto body business. Snap On is the only brand they buy. Myself, I have a collection of Craftsman tools along with a nice rolling tool chest of draws. When I need heavy equipment, I go to my brothers place. Harbor frt. and Pittsburg do have a few selective nice tools. I had my eye on that floor jack myself a few times.

 

Daniel,

Thanks for the quick response. My friend is mostly interested in Harbor's wrench and socket sets. So you feel they are lower quality than the Craftsman? It's tempting to buy Pittsburgh because the price is so low but I am familiar with the old saying: "you get what you pay for." Has anyone used Pittsburgh sockets and wrenches in the past?

 

Check their website http://www.harborfreight.com and see if there is a local store near you (I visit the one near me about once a month). Then you can evaluate the parts yourself. Personally, I buy medium quality (Craftsman, Klein, etc) tools that I used frequently and last a "lifetime" (wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, etc). If it's a tool that I rarely use and using a cheapo doesn't present a safety hazard, I'll pick up stuff Harbor Freight like the budget T-handle allen wrenches they had for half off a few weeks ago.

 

I used to use "Pittsburg" all the time, with my previous employer. If you need them to use as a DYI mechanic, these will work. The finishes aren't the best but I never broke one. Then again I never used one in a high torque situation. For general use, for the $$, their cool.........................Their like..."What do fat girls and mopeds have in common?????? Awns- "Thier both fun to ride, until your freinds see you!!"

 

I'm not fond of the Pittsburg line of socket wrenches and sockets. I believe their product is made in Taiwan. The wrench mechanism in particular is sloppy and weak. In addition, if you keep the sockets in an unheated garage, the finish will corrode. Craftsman in considerably higher in quality all the way around plus they have a lifetime replacement warranty on hand tools. As a testament to their quality, I have rarely had to return one. I don't think the price difference is that big a deal to fore-go buying the Craftsman. Surely, one can find other things less critical to scrimp on. Skip a meal out here and there and before you know it, the price difference is made up. Daniel is right that Snap-on is the cadillac of hand tools. I have a Snap-on catalog that I like to drool over from time to time. Their tool chests are particularly nice!

 

Yes, Craftsman are much better! Snap-On are awsome, however my professional snap-on mechanic freinds home's are worth less than their tools!!