Can we talk about those cheap knee kickers from Harbor Freight?

I bought one for $45 thinking it was a steal, but the teeth stripped on the second job and I had to run out and buy a Roberts for $180 to finish. That extra trip cost me half a day's pay on a big install in Phoenix. Anyone else get burned by a tool that seemed like a good deal at first?

3 comments

3 Comments

black.laura1mo ago

Harbor Freight tools are basically a gamble you pay for upfront. You might get lucky, but you're often just buying the problem twice when it breaks. That "good deal" cost you way more than the sticker price.

grace_hunt841mo ago

It's the same with cheap paint and fast food.

kai_knight110h ago

That "gamble you pay for" thing hits hard because the real gamble is your time and reputation, not just the cash. I've learned that cheap tools cost more in the long run when you factor in the headache of them failing mid-job and scrambling for a replacement. The savings up front just aren't worth the stress of hoping a tool holds up when you need it most.

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