Hello everyone!

I want to write a little bit about tools and some things that I have learned. For a number of years I was a automotive mechanic, as well as an automotive painter. You probably can only begin to imagine the amount of tools you require to do a job like that. When I first started out, when it came to buying quality tools you really only had two options, the tool truck, or sears. Needless to say, I spent a large amount at both. Later in life I realized this was a huge scam. The tool truck (Snap-on, Matco, Mac) would buy tools from a certain manufacture and mark up the tool up to 400%!!!!!! How could they get away with this? Credit and availability is the answer. Most of the specialist tools were only available on the truck, there was no store that carried them, and there was the fact you could charge tools to an account. Later in life, but not too late, a Performance Tool opened up by my house. A $400 ball joint kit from the same manufacturer was on $50 now. That was the last time I set foot on the tool truck, although I’m still a diehard fan of sears hand tools. Well, how does this affect modeling? The same thing is happening in the modeling industry. The perfect example is MicroMark.com. Although they are a good company, and offer a wide selection, the mark up is outrageous! Last week I had to buy some tools. I flipped through the MicoMark catalog, and found some of the things I needed. Upset at the price, I started searching for some other place to buy, particularly a place that had nothing to do with models. I never thought to look at Harbor Freight buy my house. Harbor Freight has been around fro quite some time; it’s only recently that they have opened up stores, at least around by where I live. But, here are a few examples of some of the things I bought, and how much money I saved, also, take into consideration these products were made from the same company:

1. Triple grip third hand w/magnifier
Micro Mark: $20.00
Harbor Freight: $6.99

2. Deluxe lighted magnifier with lights
Micro Mark: $39.95
Harbor Freight: $3.99

3. 4 piece putty knives (called wax knives at HF)
Micro Mark: $26.00
Harbor Freight: $3.99

4. 20 piece grinding diamond tipped Dremel set
Micro Mark: $12.95
Harbor Freight: $2.99

5. Panel Sribe set
Micro Mark: $13.95 (For 1)
Harbor Freight: $3.99 (For 5)

6. 5 piece file set
Micro Mark: $17.45
Harbor Freight: $3.99

Total at MicroMark.com: $130.80
Total at Harbor Freight: $25.94

Plus I also bought a regular 3/8 compressor hose for $3.99. Once again, keep in mind THESE ARE THE SAME TOOLS!!! The only difference is who sells them tool you. So the next time you’re thinking about buying something for modeling, take the time to look some place else you might save a lot of cash!

-Jay-

Hi Jay,

Thanks, a lesson for us all.

Al

I've been using Harbor Freight ever since I got back into modeling, and also for home improvement. As well as the items you mentioned I've also gotten various clamps, forceps, tweezers, vices, lights, etc, etc, etc. I realize that some modeling items are specialized, but on the whole I find that as soon as the maker puts "model" on the packaging, the price doubles, tripples, or worse.

Yep, it is true. I have a Harbor Freight about thirty minutes from me and have bought a large chunk of my supplies from them.

Wow, and this isn't a sale of any kind...?

That's amazing...

I think Halfyank hit it on the head, when it has modeling on it, it triples. No this is not a sale, these are the normal prices, but it will be 10% off next week for there "If it fits in the bag" sale.

-Jay-

Here are also a couple other things about Harbor Freight. One thing is they have a website http://www.harborfreight.com/ If you ever see something on their website for one price, and the store has it for a higher price, point it out to them and they can normally match the price.

For some reason also SWMBO doesn't have a problem with me buying tools at Harbor Freight. If I even mention I'm looking for something for my modeling at a hobby shop she doesn't care for it. If I tell her I'm going to Harbor Frieght for a tool, she has no issue with it.

I get a lot of small hand tools and stuff from Harbor Freight. I found their corner clamps to be extremely useful, which may explain why all of a sudden I've started making for building corners

I don't really trust the offbrand power tools after burning up a few drills.

Yep..... I've had good luck with they're Air Nailers & Staplers, and other hand tools....... If it's something I might possibly break... I'll still go to sears....LOL

Jay, I am going to argue with you here, just a wee bit. I was a mechanic for 8 years. I started with a cheap taiwan made lifetime guarentee tool set from Checker Auto Parts. I used them all of 6 months. They were crap but I was poor. When I had the money I started replacing the broken bits and pieces with Craftsman tools. They didn't last as long as the cheap set from Checker. I finally switched to Snap-On and never looked back. I went from replacing sockets every month or so to never replacing sockets at all. By the time my mechanic career was winding down I had sockets that I had been using every day for 6 years. I still have them. I have a couple screw drivers that need new heads and I lost my 1/4" nut driver, but other than that all my tools are original.

When you are a mechanic, you don't buy anything but the best, or else you will spend most of your time making trips down to sears. Now I will grant you that most men only use their tools every other month or so, so spending $700 on a set of combination wrneches (spanners) is pointless to a man who would rather spend it on a new set of tires, or some more models, but to a mechanic, your tools are your life blood. Evebn though I know I won't use them like I did in the past, I still only buy the best. Maybe it's just stubborness, or maybe I got tired of busting knuckles when my cheap tools broke, but I will stand by Snap-On till the day I die.

And as for the cheap tool stores, we only had Cummins Tools in Missouri, and their tools were cheap junk. Not even worth it to a shade tree mechanic, much less a real one. Harbor Frieght has pretty good quality tools though, for the most part. I bought my mini-mill there and don't regret it a bit.

I'll counter argue then. I bought a Snap-On ratchet. It was a 1/4 body with a 3/8 head. In the time I used it, it would work for about 5 minutes and then break and I would have to wait at least a week for a replacement. If I had bought Craftsman, I would have had a replacement the next day. That is important with a important tool. As far as a Craftsman professsional ratchet, I never broke one. The point of what I was saying in the article though was when you buy a speciality tool from Snap-On such as a hub-nut kit, Snap-on does not manufacture that kit, another company does. Snap-on justs buys it and marks it up 400%. All the while you could have bought the same kit from Performance tool for way, way less, and still have it under warranty. If your trying to argue Snap-on verses Craftsman wrenchs and sockets, that to me is a matter of preference. I personally prefer Crasftsman for the price, but thats not to say I don't by Snap-on. When it comes to basic hand tools it's a toss up with me. Alot of people will argue that a Snap-on wrench will fit better, or their sockets might not break as easily. I use mostly Craftsman professional and I never had a problem. Thier performance was excellent. I used to laugh at people buying $400.00 wrench sets when I had $90.00 Craftsman pro sets that worked excellent and didn't have a tool bill attached! But fro instance I bought Snap-on swivel sockets because I had used them before and knew how durable they were as opposed to other sockets on the market. A purchase I might add I never regretted. But this also goes for tool boxes which I think are a complete joke! Some of them costing half as much as a car! the tool box doesn't make you any money. I have a huge stainless steel box with all the bells and whistles. And when most people saw it when I bought it, the went nuts over it. I was laughing knowing that it was off brand and I paid under a $1000 for it. So in conclusion I'm not saying Snap-on sucks, I just thinks its a big scam and I'd rather get the same tools for way less.

-Jay-

I buy a Harbor Freight all the time! The had a dual action airbrush for $20.00 that preformed as well as my badger! it is now on backorder and I wish I had another one. I purchased a hole punch set for $3.00 and a 2 gallon Air compressor for 39.99. Another great web site is grizzly. They have great tools and hobby selections as well.

My best deal at Harbor Freight: OptiVisor for $3.99

Harbor Freight ROCKS!

Being in the same boat as you Jay, and you Rob, I have been twisting wrenches all my adult life. I had the Snap on tool box and it was loaded with all the shiny bits and bobs from the truck.. The biggest reason I bought from Snap on was the easy payment plan. For 25 bucks a week I could have what ever I wanted. That went a long way. 20 years ago, as an apprentice mechanic, I made 8 bucks an hour but was required to start my tool inventory. The warranty was great, lifetime on all the tools. service was fantastic as well.. My dealer always made sure he kept stocked up.

Fast forward 15 years, and I take up forklift repair. And found a place called Princess Auto..
Princess Auto Tools are cheap, lifetime warranty on the power fist line of tools. And I dont need to pull my hair out when I lose something. I shop there exclusivly now.. Actually bought a decent pistol grip style air brush there. And it does a decent job for base coating. 90% of my Snap on stuff is sitting in the basement.. Some of my impact sockets actually have started to rust.... Sold the big box when I realized that I would not be going back to fixing cars...


Dave

Harbor Frieght had a great hobby compressor, campbell hausfield, for $96 USD, and the paasche VL dual action airbrush for $79...cant beat that

I won't disagree about the tool boxes. My best buddy at the time bought one of the "Black Knight" series with all the bells and whistles and paid 20K for it. I thought he was delusional. Mine cost $900 and holds just as many tools.

Before going to college I was a heavy diesel mechanic for a trucking company. Most everything I have is Craftsman Pro (which are better than regular craftsman only astheticly (Full Polish etc..) I used to work at Sears in the tools) with a few specialty item exceptions. I had a buddy that had to have Snap-on everything but owed ther truck about $25,000! I had just as many tools if not more but I have a lot more "toys" and don't live with my parents! The point I'm trying to make is that it's not the tool as much as the guy running it!

Also! I had a guy I worked with get his Craftsman Pro 56" box warrantied after another guy backed over it with a Peterbilt! Brand new no questions asked! I also warrantied a few of the pro boxes for the contractors out at Ft. Riley when similar stuff happened to them.
Gotta love Craftsman!

Could be worse, if it were a 'research proven' education product the price would be more than double, and if it were for scrapbooking or cardmaking the price would be triple as well.




Where are harbor Freight based? There aren't any that I know of in the upper Northeast.

Mike

Mike,

I think the ones here in NY are the closest to you at this point..... But the will ship out of CA.......

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/retail_stores.taf

I live a couple miles from Detroit, so it might be a bit of a ride for you :-)

Jay

I've been buying odds and ends from Harbor Freight for years now. Some good stuff, some cheap stuff. But well worth looking at first if you don't need the tool that day. Now they've open up a store about 10 miles from me
I love it!
Craig