12 Harbor Freight Tools Even Haters Of The Store Will Love

Harbor Freight is a tool outlet with plenty of features to love. It offers a discount program called the Inside Track Club, costing shoppers $29.99 per year, and brings heavy discounts across many of the store's tool. Those who have never shopped at Harbor Freight or intentionally avoid the outlet might not have thought about the program before, or even considered some of Harbor Freight's in-house brands as worthy of their attention more generally.

However, the retailer has grown into a prominent, nationally operating choice for all kinds of tool, equipment, and accessory purchases. Some of the outlet's most useful products actually aren't tools at all! No matter the item you're shopping for, Harbor Freight has become a solid resource to find a quality product at a great price. Of course, tools are the firm's bread and butter. 

These 12 tools provide huge upside potential for a buyer seeking all sorts of key features in their purchase. Whether you're looking for a cost effective price tag or a premium solution that can go the distance, Harbor Freight might surprise you with the depth of its catalog and the value its equipment deliver. While I don't have personal experience with each of these exact tools, my background as a home improver with a substantial collection of equipment paired with buyer reviews provide a framework for selecting these pieces.

SDS drills feel like a niche tool going well beyond the coverage of a standard hammer drill that many users won't require as they go about home improvement projects. But the added heft of this tool makes it a significantly valuable asset in any collection. At first glance, it might not seem like a valuable addition, but the SDS drill is uniquely suited to work involving concrete or brick construction and offers extreme power to handle many other heavy duty needs. Breaking down a block wall or busting up a concrete path benefit from this equipment, as do tasks like deck building.

The Hercules 14 Amp, 1-1/7-Inch SDS Max Variable Speed Rotary Hammer is a corded tool, and it doesn't come cheap. However, it features a collection of significant enhancements that are central in your selection of a quality SDS drill. Moreover, owners love the gear, giving it a 4.6 star average rating. The electronically controlled motor provides consistent power even under heavy loads, and it generates up to 2,800 beats per minute. But arguably the most important function of a quality rotary hammer — speaking from experience — is the ability to engage or halt the drill bit's spinning momentum, a function included in this option's repertoire. This allows you to use the tool as either a drill or a pure demolition hammer. In addition, shock absorbing properties make it easier to use over lengthy periods of time.

270 customer reviews have earned the Bauer 20V Cordless Corner/Detail Sander a 4.7 star average rating, and it's easy to see why. Regardless of your existing feelings about Harbor Freight, a $20 detail sander is always a steal. Importantly, this is a bare tool so you will need to source a battery, too. However, the tool is a phenomenal option for all kinds of sanding requirements. This sander features a compact design but it doesn't skimp on the details. A direct drive motor offers 11,000 orbits per minute and the tool weighs just 1.1 pounds while also incorporating rubberized grip material to make for a comfortable hold while you work around important sanding tasks.

There are numerous sanding tools available on the market. What sets them apart is their primary use case. This is a random orbit sander at its heart, allowing for quality coverage of multi-purpose sanding tasks. However, this tool diverges from the typical round shape and features a pointed edge that gives users the ability to get into corners and other tight areas.

An oscillating multitool is a must-have piece of equipment for all sorts of home renovators. Professional installers utilize the multitool on a regular basis to cut detail work and remove old material. This cutting implement features a unique blade movement that shimmies back and forth rapidly with a forward facing blade that can accommodate plunge cuts in unique ways. If you're working on a tight budget, the Warrior 2 Amp Variable Speed Oscillating Multitool is a phenomenal choice to bring in significant functional versatility at a rock bottom price tag. Users give it high praise, too, with a 4.5 star average rating marking the tool as both supremely cost efficient and sporting quality build specifics.

If you join the Inside Track Club, you'll get an extra $5 off the price of this tool, too, bringing a $20 multitool down to just $15. This cutting implement is a corded model, running on a 2-amp motor. However, anyone who's used a cordless multitool will tell you, myself included, that they absolutely gulp power. If you're working through numerous cuts on a project, you'll want to have more than one battery on hand to support the use of just your multitool, before even considering the power requirements of other equipment. The tool is compatible with over 30 attachments and features sealed bearings to help support a long lifespan of use. Six speed settings run the tool's oscillation rate up to 20,000 per minute.

Wrenches are a critical feature to any toolbox, whether you frequently work in the garage or tackle repairs to electronics systems or basic household elements. No matter the job, a wrench is often one of the first things you'll reach for and so investing in at least a baseline collection of these fastening tools will help support your growth as a mechanic, renovator, or even in woodworking. Icon is Harbor Freight's premium in-house brand, for users who want visually appealing gear and the DNA of a workhorse wrapped up in a single package. You'll pay a bit more for Icon equipment over Harbor Freight brands like Pittsburgh, but with this premium price tag comes improved features, a lifetime warranty, and more.

The Icon Professional SAE or Metric Offset Box Wrench Set features a critically important bend in the handle that allows tool users to enjoy improved comfort while handling their equipment. This is a five-piece set that features a 60-degree offset to create clearance off of flat surfaces. The box ends feature 12-point construction and the five wrenches feature double ends with 10 sizes running in sequence rather than skipping a less common size or two along the way. The offering is rounded out with a premium storage tray, helping to fuel a 4.8 star average rating and a 98% recommendation rate from buyers.

Inexpensive and widely functional tools are the bread and butter of all sorts of users. In this regard, the Cen-Tech 12V Alternator/Battery Checker is an ideal solution that everyone can get behind. 408 customers have reviewed the product, giving it 4.5 star average rating and recommending it 89% of the time to other buyers. Price is obviously a main factor in the love this tool receives, listed at Harbor Freight for $7. The tool features two alternator reading indicators, "good" and "bad," and three battery ratings listed as "good," "low," and "bad." The tool also features a magnetic back plate that allows you to stick it to your car as you test the electronic components within. This delivers a hands-free operation that helps improve your experience while checking important components throughout the vehicle.

There are many reasons why your car might begin to falter. Common reasons for your engine to chug away but not actually fire include some typical combustion components. But your battery and alternator could also be culprits here. Weak performance is another problem that these electronics systems can ultimately be responsible for, and with a quick and easy diagnostic tool in your arsenal you can identify and address the issue without delay.

Needle nose pliers offer a particularly valuable function that most other hand tools can't. However, not every set of pliers will operate with the same extreme level of versatility. The Icon 11-Inch, 45-Degree Long Reach Pliers take things to a new level in terms of job coverage. This tool features both a long reach body construction and a tilted jaw that adds additional capabilities into the mix. With a 45-degree tilt added into the jaw, you can attack grabbing tasks from a more advantageous angle. Combining the two features together, this solution delivers ample benefits for users needing precision grabbing power throughout their tool usage demands.

Users give these pliers significantly high praise, With 99% of customers recommending the item to others and 117 reviews giving it a 4.9 star average rating. Naturally the vast majority of reviewers gave the tool a perfect score, highlighting durability and value among its most impressive qualities. Some liken it to Snap-On tools, and Harbor Freight specifically compares the tool to a Snap-On product that costs $70 more. At the moment this pair of pliers is an in-store only tool, but the website notes it will be available online by November 7.

A mechanics tool set provides a wide range of hand tools that will help you get numerous jobs completed without additional tool purchases. The result is a compact set of equipment that can easily be thrown in the trunk of a car or placed in a closet for those living on their own for the first time and perhaps lacking significant storage. If space or money saving features are of the essence then a mechanics tool set should be your first port of call.

The Pittsburgh 225-Piece Mechanics Tool Set is a great choice in this regard. It features 225 individual pieces including three ratchet heads, diagonal-cut pliers, a multibit screwdriver, and much more. It's all housed in a compact carrying case that makes organization and mobility front and center. Users give this toolkit a 4.8 star average rating, and 99% of the 2,035 reviewers recommend the item to others. Durability, price, and overall tool quality are all notable mentions in the thousands of individual points of feedback provided by buyers. The set features both SAE and metric sizes, and the wrenches, pliers, and more are all constructed from chrome vanadium steel to deliver reliable performance, an aesthetic shine, and solid longevity.

A vice is an undeniable upgrade that occurs in your workshop once you have one. It acts as a third hand, lending increased control and flexibility as you go about routine tasks. Holding a workpiece in place so that you can perform a cut or drill pilot holes becomes significantly easier and more efficient when you don't have to clamp it in place with your other hand or another body part.

The Doyle 6-Inch Swivel Vise with Anvil and Pipe Jaws is among Harbor Freight's best rated clamping solutions. The tool sports a 4.9 star average rating across 355 customer reviews. Price, durability, and quality are all highly touted features of the solution that drive a 99% recommendation rate. It offers a 360-degree swiveling base with additional functional carve outs for both flat stock and rounded pipe elements. It also comes equipped with a small anvil placed on the back end of the tool. It can produce up to 9,900 pounds of clamping force and is made of cast iron with hardened steel jaws offering a replaceable contact point to deliver even greater longevity in the tool. It will be available online by October 20 and Harbor Freight notes that it's comparable to a Wilton model priced more than $800 above this tool's $200 list value.

A drywall sander is something I'm personally familiar with, and this solution offers an ideal upgrade over the tool I have. In truth, there's a bit of jealousy here of users owning the Bauer 5 Amp, 9-Inch Variable Speed Drywall Sander, and 628 Harbor Freight reviewers count among them! They give the tool a 4.2 star average rating, noting the price of the tool and ease of use among its most impressive qualities. The sander offers a 9-inch head, so large, specialized sanding discs are a must. But with that additional accessory comes greatly expanded sanding capabilities. 

From experience: You'll absolutely blaze through drywall or plaster-repair sanding tasks with this tool in your arsenal. The difference it makes is astounding. This solution in particular, delivers extreme flexibility with its extendable handle. The tool features a telescoping shaft that extends out to 5 feet. The result is a sanding tool that can reach the ceiling without the need for a step stool or ladder and can equally reach down to baseboards or the floor without forcing you to bend over even slightly. This makes it a high quality tool that will save your knees and back when doing finish sanding on a room you've heavily spackled, filled in with plaster, or recently de-wallpapered. It also offers a 360-degree ring light to help illuminate the finish you're leaving on the wall so you won't miss any fine details.

The Bauer 20V Brushless Compact Reciprocating Saw is a critical tool for users doing demolition work. Any time you need to remove structures from your home, garage, or elsewhere, the reciprocating saw should be among your most important assets. It's purpose-built to shear through wood, metal, and other material that may be buried within a wall, decking boards, or elsewhere. This is something of a precision instrument to counter the wanton destructive force of a sledgehammer. With that being said, the reciprocating saw is no multitool, but that doesn't mean it can't be a massive productivity booster in your collection.

532 reviewers combine to give it a 4.8 star average rating with 98% recommending the product. The compact cutting solution excels where some other reciprocating saws fall flat. It's 29% more compact than competing alternatives, allowing it to be used confidently with one hand. The tool also features a keyless blade change functionality that makes it easy to continue working when your blade dulls. It features an LED light to help illuminate the cut line and a 3,000 SPM cutting capacity for fast and efficient removal of whatever you may be cutting.

The Pittsburgh 70-Piece Comfort Grip Screwdriver Set is a workhorse hand tool addition to your garage. The set features numerous standard and precision screwdrivers in a variety of common blade types and sizes. It also features Allen wrenches, A multibit nut driver and numerous screwdriver and nut driving bits. Each one features TPR grips that resist oil buildup. There are also cushioned for a comfortable and secure hold throughout usage. The chrome vanadium steel shafts add to the durability and functional turning power that the set delivers.

Users give this screwdriver set at 4.8 star average rating with 98% of customers recommending the product to others (across 1,188 reviews). The set retails for $30, and that price tag has lots of buyers particularly excited about the value it brings into their workshop. The set is complete with a storage rack to keep the equipment organized and ready for use at a moment's notice.

The thickness planer is a woodworking tool that precision shop workers will be highly familiar with and others may have never heard of before. Regardless of your exposure, the thickness planer is a tool that can amplify your ability to construct things, whether that involves DIY renovation projects around the house or fine woodworking products. The Hercules 15 Amp, 12½-Inch Portable Thickness Planer is a solid example of the tool, and makes for a particularly interesting addition to a workshop in need of the equipment. 392 reviewers give the tool a 4.8 star average rating, with the tool's power and precision among its notable features, but the price tag ultimately moving the needle for many buyers ($400).

The thickness planer can be an expensive piece of shop machinery, even in a smaller format such as this portable model. This option from Hercules offers many excellent features such as a 15 amp motor and a three-knife cutterhead. It can plane wood up to 6 inches thick and 12½ inches long, offering solid compatibility with many tasks you might face as a woodworker or renovator seeking to flatten and square up boards before installing precision elements in your build. Simply put, this can be a major difference maker at a favorable cost.

Each of these tools were selected based on a few key criteria. First and foremost, they are all highly rated by users with hands on experience, owning the tools in question. These ratings provide specific context in selecting these tools over alternative options (from other Harbor Freight brands or a different variant of the same equipment). The selections were also highlighted based on my personal experience with each tool type (sometimes the tool featured and other times with a different brand).