5 Harbor Freight Warrior Tools Users Say You Should Steer Clear Of

Harbor Freight is a major support option for tool users across industries. The retailer carries a huge range of in-house brands. These include names like Daytona, a jack and stand option for mechanics working on standard and custom project cars, and Bunker Hill Security, an option for outdoor security lighting and surveillance equipment. Harbor Freight also carries the Warrior brand, a tool solution designed to provide a broad range of support tools for renovation projects and work on hobbyist tasks. Warrior sits on the inexpensive side of Harbor Freight's catalog, and many of the tools and accessories found with Warrior badges on their sides deliver great value and solid performance and have received high praise from users.

However, not all products deliver the same level of quality and performance, and there are a few Warrior tools that buyers have expressed dissatisfaction with specifically. These five tools from Harbor Freight's Warrior brand have received the lowest average ratings from users, and more than a few specific complaints about power and performance pepper the review sections of these tools' product pages. They form a collection of gear that tool buyers might want to avoid when searching for new equipment to help finish renovations and other projects.

Warrior's 10 Amp, 7-Inch Variable Speed Rotary Polisher/Sander is a dual-purpose tool. It's a corded solution with a tool body largely resembling the angle grinder that many users will be familiar with. However, rather than acting as a cutting solution, this power tool delivers sanding and polishing functionality that makes it a nice addition to the toolkit of any user who frequently works on automotive paint and other finishing touches to metal components. This tool strives to be an integral part of tasks like weld-free rust repair on a project car. The tool is just $40 and offers a 10-amp motor that produces up to 3,500 RPM rotational speeds. It's built with a large D-shaped handle to help support improved control and leverage in use, and is controlled with a six-speed dial for a greater range of power output to cover numerous job requirements.

Customers don't particularly like this tool, though. Across 168 reviews, only 82% would recommend the product to others, and it has garnered a 4.1-star rating. In all fairness, more than 100 reviewers have given it the five-star treatment. However, many buyers note that the variable speed function falls short of expectations, especially when tackling polishing tasks. Many reviewers suggest that it doesn't offer enough power. If you're working on flat pieces or small segments, this inexpensive solution might be more than capable of supporting your needs.

The 0.7 Amp Rotary Tool Kit features an 80-piece setup, including all sorts of grinding accessories, polishing and sanding attachments, and wire wheels. It's a corded tool that offers plenty of coverage across the spectrum of hobbyist crafting and material refinement, but the rotary tool is extremely small. Harbor Freight notes that this is a light-duty kit, and even though it delivers a high speed, rated at 16,000 RPM, the small motor is not suited to even moderate demands. Even so, it features a spindle lock for easy accessory changes.

Reviewers give it a 4.1-star average rating across 373 reviews. 82% recommend it to others, while numerous reviewers lament the power output of the product. It's worth remembering, however, that this is not designed to be a general-purpose rotary tool, and the price absolutely reflects that fact. This tool costs $10, and Inside Track Club members can get the kit for $7. For a solution with this versatility, a low price tag demands a serious trade-off. This tool isn't the right solution for anything other than small customization projects and delicate finishing touches. The low rating is skewed by reviews that often call it "garbage" because it can't cut through their intended workpieces, most of which appear more demanding than the 0.7 amp motor is explicitly designed to accommodate. If you're seeking a general-purpose rotary tool, this is not the solution for you.

Mini tools are an interesting area of the Harbor Freight catalog, more broadly. The outlet has also carried a mini table saw in the past that is comical in its build, but can actually deliver good performance for hobby crafters in the right circumstances. The Warrior 0.9 Amp 2-Inch Mini Cut-Off Saw is another tool with a small footprint and a niche performance area. This solution delivers high-speed cutting to slice through plastic, wood, and soft metals. The saw can achieve blade speeds of up to 10,600 RPM. It comes with a multi-material cutting blade and introduces mounting holes in the base and a built-in clamp to hold your workpiece in place as you make your cuts.

However, 92 reviewers came together to give it a 3.9-star average rating. The tool also doesn't feature a recommended rate on its product page. Some users noted a quality cutting solution for niche areas. The ½-inch cutting depth and two-inch blade aren't going to 'cut it' for anything other than very small precision requirements, however. Complaints seem to revolve mostly around the motor's power. The tool features very limited cutting capacity, even with plenty of functional performance, and so it's designed for craft uses and precision work. Anything thicker or harder to slice through is going to cause problems. This can be a good purchase for renovators to cut tubing and small metal stock, but it's not up to the task of shearing through anything more substantial.

A hot knife is an important accessory tool for those working with insulation, rope, or fabrics, and numerous other materials. Harbor Freight notes that the 130-Watt Hot Knife from Warrior heats up quickly and reaches a maximum temperature of 840 degrees Fahrenheit. It operates with five heat settings to dial in the right temperature level for any particular job you might have before you. It also comes with a depth-adjusting sled to create a physical stop, allowing easily repeatable cuts and precision depth maintenance across longer slices. The flat edge allows it to perform cuts with solid precision, and a single push button makes operating the tool easier.

A 4.0-star average rating across 57 reviews indicates that the tool isn't perhaps ready to tackle all of the jobs that it was designed to perform, however. The main gripe that reviewers have with the solution is its heat level. Even with a maximum temperature rated for good cutting performance through numerous materials, many users say that it just doesn't provide sustained temperature at a high enough level to actually deliver precision cuts. They note that this temperature issue results in slow cutting performance, leaving warping and burn marks on many material types. Therefore, an alternative is probably warranted for anyone requiring this kind of power tool.

The Oscillating Multitool is a renovator's best friend. The plunge cuts this tool can accommodate, allowing it to be a delicate demolition option and a precision installation tool all in one package. Beyond basic cutting, the oscillating multitool provides compatibility with a huge range of accessory solutions that can turn the equipment into a sander, grinder, polisher, and much more. The tool can support cutting through wood, grout and tile, metal, and many other materials, provided you're using the right cutting blade for the job.

The Warrior 12-Volt Cordless Oscillating Multitool Kit comes with a battery and charger, and is packaged up for $30. The tool features a universal arbor that affords it compatibility with most major brands, and it features six speed settings and a 2.5-degree oscillation arc for performance that lines up with many competitive alternatives. Users note that it's not quite up to the major renovation task, though. A 4.1-star average rating across 444 reviews and an 83% rate of customers recommending the tool to others indicate that an alternative should be sought for anyone needing an oscillating multitool for anything beyond basic cutting requirements. Users complain that the battery doesn't hold a charge for long enough. However, in my experience, multitools drain battery unlike any other power tool you pick up, so this criticism may not be entirely warranted.

Each of these tools can be found at the bottom of the list when sorting Warrior products by review score. They're all well-suited to specific job parameters, but fall flat when users try to leverage them in general-purpose settings. This makes them tools that collect numerous poor ratings.