22 Best Tools You Can Buy at Harbor Freight

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In this video, we highlight the must-have tools that offer the best value for your money. From essential hand tools to powerful equipment, these picks are perfect for both beginners and seasoned DIY enthusiasts. Find out why Harbor Freight is the go-to destination for affordable, reliable tools that can handle any project.
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00:01 Intro
03:42 Roll-around Tool Boxes
05:08 Pittsburgh SAE & Metric T-Handle Ball End Hex Key Set
05:57 Pittsburgh Transfer Punch Set
08:20 Pittsburgh 6” Quick Release Bar Clamp
09:40 Pittsburgh 12” & 18” Ratcheting Bar Clamp
11:37 Pipe Clamps
13:20 Pittsburgh 2” Spring Clamp
14:22 Pittsburgh Corner Clamps
15:41 Bench & X-Y Vise
19:17 Right-angle Grinder
21:26 Drill Press
23:43 Belt Sander
26:05 Air Compressor
27:57 Merlin Hose Reel
29:12 Hydraulic Jacks (Various)
31:11 Disposable Paint Brushes
32:39 Ranger Face Shield
33:21 Western Safety Dust Mask
34:22 Magnetic Hardware Dish
35:06 HFT 30’ Extension Cord Reel
36:32 Conclusion
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[thewinddb]

I dont buy much from HF, but as a self employed welder for 10+ years that keeps track of how much value I get out of my consumables I will say this. Their cutoff disc's for grinders dont really wear down much faster than most other name brands, but are definitely cheaper. The cutting disc are so thin, that everybodys wears about the same and at most if it wears out 25% faster, they're still at least 50% or more cheaper. So those are cost effective to use.

Now their flap disc's are the opposite. If you need those, go to your local welding supply to buy them. They are about twice the price but are around 3 times as thick and last about 4 times longer, making them more cost effective. The ONLY time I would buy them at HF is if there is a ridiculous sale or coupon on them because they wear out so quickly.

And to touch on the grinder that you mentioned for metal work. Unless you're working on the pipeline, a 4 1/2" grinder will do about anything you need around the shop and will be lighter and fit in tighter spots. Leave the 6" grinders to those doing industrial or pipeline work.

[glumberty]

I purchased the Hercules compound miter saw as an upgrade to my old Dewalt miter saw and bought the stand for it. I couldn't be happier. I have the Bauer portable bandsaw. That's another tool I'm quite happy with. Harbor Freight has definitely improved their quality.

[research]

I used to give each of my clients one of the 2-inch Harbor Freight paint brushes for every computer workstation I installed. Rather than using expensive canned air, I showed them how to simply brush the keyboard and screen at least once per week.

[TheSMEAC]

Overbuilt tools, as well as underbuilt tools are a very real thing. As a ~95% handtool only shop, most of the limited power tools I have for household maintenance are about right or overbuilt (i.e. the dewalt 12v drill & driver set is just about right for my home needs and will probably last the remainder of my life of ~25 years). My dewalt lunchbox planer is just right but is really only used in dimensioning after I’ve face jointed one side first (with good maintenance it’ll last me till I die too). As a byproduct, it’s only really used as a ‘shop’s apprentice’. A set of carbide knives is a great investment because I don’t depend on it for final surface for anything and the long lasting dimensioning legs is well worth it. Some guys are better with the HSS knives and changing them out more often to keep their surfacing in peak condition. In my case, if so have a nick in a knife, it’s really not a big deal for a long time. A set of chisels for the hybrid woodworker can vary depending on what he thinks he needs, but by and large, he’s not going to demand or need to demand as much from them as guys like me do. A guy who occasionally breaks out a No°5 or block plane to edge joint a short box side, clean up endgrain, or chamfer and edge isn’t going to need the quality and exacting level of someone who spends hours with a No°6/Foreplane in his hands just to dimension once it used more than any other plane I have. I use Harbor Freight the same way the rest of you guys do for buying a tool I’ll use a few times or once every few years (20 ton bottle jacks, a hammer drill, 50’ drain snake, etc… as examples). But also they are handy for some consumables. Like you, transfer punches have come in handy when building tools; in my case two sets of transfer punches sine I’ve used them for alignment. I’ve made my own sets of drawbore pins from their tapered punches. Their tarps have been great for stacks of slabs and lumber I’ve air dried. Their C Clamps have done well for me in locking steam bends to forms. A box of acid brushes or tongue depressors have a thousand uses.
We can see these truths across home needs, shop types, and shop synergies. Be it Powertool/Hybrid/Handtool Shops and Renter/Owner/Renovator DIYers, we can all benefit from HF. 🫡

[gerald]

Homeowner with some rental properties here. After a decade dealing with a set of consumer-grade Black & Decker 12-volt tools, I decided to replace them. I weighed a number of brands (looked at price/performance, warranty, suitability for my use case) and went with Harbor Freight's Hercules 20-volt system. Quality seems to range from pretty decent to surprisingly good, and I've had no issues or complaints.

[fmrana]

I have 10+ Bauer and Hercules power tools, and I find they r able to go head-on with my Dewalt tools. None of them have failed on me in over 1 year of almost daily/weekly use. And I abuse them more than my more expensive Dewalt line of tools. One thing I would recommend is getting the 2 yr extended warranty on power tools. This allows a no hassle replacement (NOT repair) within any HF store ( no waiting/shipping). Also recommend to buy using their coupons which come out weekly.

[lauralake]

May i add: drop cloths, moving blankets, paint trays, other consumables, doo dads such as solar garden lights, light duty garden tools, and stuff you scatter all over the house such as the tiny flashlights. Great video.

[ChristopherNayar-tc]

I got the 2 ton shop crane on sale for $200. It folds up into a small footprint and has been very handy, along with the 1 ton chain hoist for $80. They have been really useful when loading and unloading heavy items into my truck bed. Also, I can put the harness on my dog and lift him up into the air when it’s time to hose him down and then he can’t run away!

[salchristiano]

Clear true and no fan boy name calling. Thanks for this one. I bought a few of their 12v Hercules tools because they were lighter than the many orange brand 18v tools I have had for years. When I’m working over head the lighter weight allows my damaged shoulders to last more than an hour. The battery life of the Hercules 12v is outstanding. I put half of a metal roof on my shop with one battery… that was nearly 300 2 and 3 inch screws. I still love my orange tools but the blue is worth a look.

[guarino]

I'm a Harbor Freight fan! Especially finding things that are marked down or open box...just purchased a scroll saw(open box) for $44

[Wastelandman]

Probably the oldest HF tool I have is a 12v impact wrench that is corded and had jumpers to hook to a battery. I've had that thing since 04 and it still works. It was like $25 when I got it and its done everything from remove tires to pull stuck lawn mower blades. I've never regretted buying that. Unfortunately they don't make them anymore. More's the pity.

[magnumjgjg]

I got a warrior rotary sander, and that thing works flawlessly. It's like $40, and it has 7", or 6" disk options, and I love that thing. I use it to rough sand plywood, even out bench tops, and even do some close to finish grit. Their Hercules random orbital sander vibrated so much, I thought my hand was going to catch fire, but the rotary sander is by far the best rough sander I have ever used.

[bigredracingdog]

HF sells a cheap, somewhat flimsy aluminum bar clamp in various lengths. At the store I found them to have too much flex so I didn't buy any. However after viewing the Paul Sellers YT video "Retrofitting Aluminium Clamps, " I may have to reconsider. He has a cheap, easy mod to vastly increase the strength and stiffness of the clamp. Cheap and easy are my two favorite things for anything related to tools.

[ShortGrump]

Totally agree with your intro on why it’s good to buy from HF sometimes. My general rule is if I need quality and/or precision, I go with more well-known brands. If I just need something to get the job done or an entry-level tool (because I’m not sure if it’ll become a permanent fixture in my garage), I’ll check out HF first.

I’ve bought a bench grinder, drill press, bench sander, clamps, and chisels, all of which are good enough to get the job done or get me 90% there. And if I ever realize the tool is becoming a staple in my shop, then I upgrade the tool and have a spare now for quick and rougher jobs.

Awesome video

[unclepewter]

I was a mechanic for 20+ years and learned from my father. He always said that if you need a tool 2 times or more you need to buy it instead of borrowing it.

[jamesbannerman]

Hercules and Bauer are both worth their price. I own several and they have been outstanding.

[ChristopherNayar-tc]

They recently did a deal: spend $40 and get a free cheapo angle grinder. They let you buy something for $40, take the free grinder, then immediately return the $40 item. So it’s just a free grinder. They had no problem with allowing me to do that. I’ve had two of those grinders, they are usually like $10 and they get really hot whenever I use it for more than a few minutes, and they bog down a little bit when using a wire brush and putting pressure on it, and start to smell like they are burning. One of them broke after like two months of use and the other one still works a couple months later. I definitely want to get a good quality replacement for it

[grepora]

I think the paint brushes from the Dollar Tree are the best buy for disposable brushes. I use them for touch ups of interior and exterior walls with latex paint. The trick to get good results is to stroke in the same direction (up and down) after applying the paint. When done, clean it up an use it again. When it get too gummed up with paint, throw it away and get another one. Less than $0.70 per brush for a two pack or $0.45 each for a three pack.

[RobertDYon]

I’ve had that same grinder for over 20 years and use it regularly.

[jefftucker]

besides my pipe clamps all my other clamps are from HF, they get the job done and I've never run into a problem with them, I have roughly 30 HF clamps