Thread: The Harbor Freight Debate.

In the razor world, there is Gold Dollar, in the tool world there are Harbor Freight tools. Just like some customize their Gold Dollar, if you customize your Harbor Freight tool it will work for how long who knows...

Originally Posted by Martin103

In the razor world, there is Gold Dollar, in the tool world there are Harbor Freight tools. Just like some customize their Gold Dollar, if you customize your Harbor Freight tool it will work for how long who knows...

I like this comparison because like Gold Dollars cheap tools are hit and miss. There isn't a lot of heavy quality control which keeps production costs down which keeps consumer costs down. Paying more for a quality item means you get a guarantee that the item is going to work the way it is supposed to for as long as possible and with cheaper stuff you get a guarantee that it might work. At least that is how it is suppose to be. That being said I have a HF disc/belt sander that I paid $25 for that has lasted quite a few years with pretty heavy use so I can't complain when it recently broke the metal adjustment stopper on the belt and needs to be fixed. Even quality makers have duds that get through. A lot of people buy cheap (price) and cheap quality stuff so it can be thrown out and replaced when it breaks. Not many want to take the time to fix anything anymore. Time is money and all that. Granted if it cost more to fix or takes an unreasonable amount of time I will replace.

Over the years I have many times chose relatively cheap tools that don't have a life time guarantee because the chances of me loosing them or having them "borrowed" is much more than the chance of breaking them.

If you work on equipment in a nice clean shop it is much different than in a muddy ditch or field.