15 Niche Harbor Freight Tools (And What They're Used For)

Tool users know the value of a good, obscure piece of equipment. The weirder and less common, the better, in many instances! Quirky, odd, or niche tools stand out visually, but they also perform critically important functions for their users. Tools such as the chain wrench look like they've been mashed together by creative tool users with endless time for tinkering on their hands. But this and other tools like it that frequently sit near the bottom of a toolbox or silently on the shelf waiting to be tasked with new work pave the way for smooth and efficient job performance. Without a niche tool in your arsenal, designed specifically to handle a task you come up against at least semi-regularly, you'll have to wing it or take on the job without sufficient support from your collection. This can result in added safety risks or a task that takes much longer than is strictly needed.

Harbor Freight is a common conduit for tool users seeking something out of the ordinary. The tool retailer carries a gigantic catalog of equipment, and many of the brand's tool offerings fit this bill perfectly. If you're looking for something that's not a run-of-the-mill hand or power tool, Harbor Freight's extensive shelves can often be just the right place to look. From specialty striking tools to saw attachments that revolutionize the power tool's use in otherwise tricky situations, Harbor Freight's catalog often provides plenty of unique options for buyers seeking coverage for specific needs or an out-of-the-box job requirement.

The power drill is commonplace in virtually every tool user's arsenal. Drills come in many styles, however, and some layouts of the tool are far less common than others. One example is the Bauer 7/5 Amp, ½-Inch Low Speed Spade Handle Drill/Mixer. This tool sits as something of a cross between a mixing-specific drill and one that can be used for other tasks. The drill features a side handle and a rear D-shaped handle to accommodate gripping requirements across a broad spectrum of tasks. The tool features a keyed chuck and a reversible, variable speed control. The tool delivers up to 600 RPM of maximum rotational speed. That doesn't sound very exciting, but the reality is that by limiting its speed, the drill is capable of producing enormous torque.

The power output of this unit is ideally positioned for mixing dense aggregates like plaster or concrete slurries without slowing down or jamming up. It's also an ideal tool for drilling through solid beams and other dense materials. Slow speeds and huge bottom-end power are essential for anchoring structural timbers and other, similar jobs.

The Hercules Circular Saw Beam Cutter Attachment is an attachment tool that Harbor Freight notes offers compatibility with "most conventional and worm drive 7-1/4-inch circular saws." However, it should be noted that this is a tool we've highlighted in the past as one to consider steering clear of because users report that it doesn't actually deliver the compatibility that's promised. Even so, the attachment seeks to provide a massive productivity boost when using your circular saw to cut extremely thick beams. 

The tool introduces what is essentially a chainsaw attachment to provide the precision of one tool with the extended reach of the other. It is capable of cutting beams up to 12 inches thick in a single pass, vastly expanding the cutting capacity of a standard circular saw. The attachment features a low-profile, anti-kickback chain that helps make clean cuts across both rip and cross-cutting dimensions. The tool also includes a guide bar to support a straight slice through workpieces.

The Pittsburgh 3-Pound Neon Orange Dead Blow Hammer features a soft face construction that eliminates worries over sparking or damage to a work surface. The tool is built from a PVC material that naturally resists negative interactions with shop chemicals, making it a must-have solution for any kind of metalworking or mechanic shop tasks. However, a dead blow hammer isn't just a mallet with a soft face. Instead, it's a hollowed-out striking tool with shot integrated into the head to dampen the tool's kickback force upon impact. A dead blow hammer allows you to apply a striking force exactly where you need it, with added confidence that the tool won't bounce up and hit something else.

Pittsburgh's 3-pound option sits right in the middle of the catalog, with head weights ranging from 1 pound up to 5 pounds. The tool is available for Inside Track Club members for just $8, and even Pittsburgh's most expensive option in this range will only set you back about $16.

Harbor Freight is an outlet with many divergent points of focus, but one common refrain within its catalog of goods lies in the world of mechanics' tools. The Quinn 3/8-Inch Drive SAE and Metric 14-Piece Spark Plug Socket Set is a specialized socket set designed specifically to handle removal and reinsertion of spark plugs. In truth, anyone can change their spark plugs with a few critical tools and a bit of know-how.

A spark plug socket set is purpose-built to handle the demanding architecture of the engine compartment. This kit sits in an EVA foam storage tray with organized sockets built into the unit. This allows for easy identification of the component you need at a moment's notice. It includes universal joints and extensions with a slide-lock mechanism that securely attaches sockets to these accessory components. The sockets feature extra deep interior dimensions for extended reach, and they include rubber inserts to keep spark plugs centered as you go about your task.

The Warrior 130 Watt Hot Knife is a cutting tool designed to heat up and slice cleanly through a range of materials. This unit is a corded tool and features five heat settings controlled via a dial on the tool's top. It operates with a push-button activation and utilizes an auto shut-off feature to support safe usage. The tool can achieve a maximum temperature of 840 degrees Fahrenheit, giving it the ability to cut through foam, nylon rope and webbing, plastics and synthetic fibers, and concrete insulation.

This is something of a crossover tool when it comes to niche usage. It's ideal in hobby crafting and other similar pursuits, as well as for supporting finish installation work or even packaging tasks that require specialized foam inserts to support a product. The tool features a dual-use cutting blade to support numerous applications, and it also features a depth-adjusting sled to lock in cutting dimensions for repeat cuts or lengthy slices that need to maintain a continuous depth.

The Pittsburgh 12-Inch Miter Box with 13-1/2-Inch Backsaw is a combination of two tools paired together. The backsaw is self-explanatory, but the framework it fits within may not be a familiar sight to many. That's perhaps a sad reality of the modern tool landscape, because the miter box is a time-honored analog to the technical leap forward that is the miter saw. This tool is generally far less expensive in comparison to its powered counterpart, and this model doesn't disappoint, with a price tag of $10 for the miter box frame and included saw. A miter box features saw notches at varying angles, allowing you to slide a board through the interior dimension and then cut at precisely measured miters.

The tool isn't as versatile as a powered option, and you'll cut notably slower with the hand tool. However, there's no getting around the value that this kind of solution brings for quick cleanup cuts or simply as a means to handle mitered sawing requirements when power is unavailable or the bulk of the tool limits its effectiveness. This tool features beveled cuts at 45- and 90-degree angles and can handle cuts up to 2 inches deep.

A scroll saw is perhaps the epitome of niche power tool aesthetics. Scroll saws are an ideal solution for those in the crafting world. They provide cutting power similar to a jigsaw, with the ability to perform sweeping, arcing, or angled cuts that can be stopped midway through the workpiece. The Central Machinery 16-Inch Variable Speed Scroll Saw is a cost-effective option with a 16-inch throat depth and plenty of solid feature inclusions.

This tool delivers tool-free blade changes with the help of a thumbscrew adapter and a flexible work light to give you illumination right at the point of cutting. The table also tilts up to 45 degrees to the left to help with angled cutting needs. The cast-iron base is solid and durable, providing a tool that is built to last while also helping to reduce vibration during use.

The surface conditioning tool is a piece of equipment that isn't likely to leave your garage. As such, it's frequently a tool that only project car enthusiasts and auto maintenance buffs will consider. It does serve a purpose in other workshop settings, specifically in areas involving metalworking, but many users might prefer to use a flap disc on their angle grinder. The Hercules 9 Amp Variable Speed Surface Conditioning Tool is a corded solution that can provide up to 3,700 RPM rotational speeds. It's a tool with a top handle and drum-mounting spindle that can house a range of surface conditioning brushes.

The tool is primarily designed for paint stripping, rust removal, and other metal conditioning tasks ahead of refurbishment projects or other surface applications. On a project car, this tool can help strip down years of abuse so that you can efficiently reach the bare metal lying underneath to build the vehicle back up in all its glory. This tool can also be useful in welding tasks to clean up surfaces where a joint will be fused. The tool features all-metal gearing for enhanced durability and a 6-speed control dial with a drum guard and ergonomic design to support user comfort and safety.

Drivers who have encountered work crews on the highway may be familiar with a tool like the Pittsburgh 10,000 Foot/Meter Digital Measuring Wheel. Those who've hired landscapers for big jobs around the house might also have a bit of experience with the tool. However, many people don't really have any particular usage requirements around the house for a measurement device like this. Even so, an inexpensive model such as this one can provide accurate measurements at a cost-effective price when performing enhancements like laying new sod. Even a small yard is almost certainly going to be longer than your tape measure can handle in at least one direction.

A measuring wheel allows you to simply walk the distance you're trying to capture and then check the readout. This tool features the ability to track measurements up to 10,000 feet or meters, and it operates with a telescoping handle to adjust to your particular height or other jobsite requirements that are best served by slight alteration. The tool also features a memory function and a digital readout with bright green numerals.

The Doyle Portable Chain Vise is a tool that might not bring value into the picture for a standard homeowner working on routine home improvement projects. Yet, it's an instrumental piece of equipment for metalworkers and many others in the trades. Specifically, this vise features a chain lockdown mechanism rather than the typical jaw layout. The result is a tool that can conform to the curvature of virtually any workpiece that might need to be clamped down. Naturally, this makes it an ideal solution for locking in round stock like pipes or even something like rebar to support accurate cutting and material shaping tasks.

The chain vise can support workpieces between 1/8-inch and 6 inches in diameter, making it versatile across a range of needs. The vise features a worktable with mounting holes and folding sides for easy portability and vital workholding capability when in use. It also weighs in at a middle-ground figure of 40 pounds. This gives it the heft required to stand pat while in use without making it too unwieldy or limiting portability.

Sanding tools come in a surprisingly wide ecosystem of options. The random orbit sander is possibly the most widely recognized solution in this regard, but others like belt sanders, palm sanders, and more deliver pivotal functionality for home renovators and others. The Bauer 5 Amp, 9-Inch Variable Speed Drywall Sander is another type of sanding tool that fills a unique void that others cannot. This tool features a 9-inch sanding deck, delivering a much larger sanding area in a single pass than a standard unit. It also features a telescoping handle that extends up to 5 feet, delivering what is undoubtedly its signature function. The drywall sander is purpose-built to handle smoothing tasks on walls, specifically from floor to ceiling without requiring you to climb up on a ladder or work platform or bend down low to get near the ground.

The extendable handle and integrated collection components work together to make this a tool that can smooth out jointing compound with ease ahead of other surface finishing tasks. This unit features a flexible pivoting head and a 360-degree light ring for surface finish inspection tasks that don't require you to squint or bring in other illumination tools. The 15-foot vacuum hose connects to most adapters, allowing you to operate the tool with the help of integrated shop vac suction for improved environmental management.

A tap and die set is used to repair damaged threads or cut new ones on screws and in screw holes. This tool set is essential for metalworkers looking to integrate fasteners into their work, and it's also valuable for home improvers and others who don't want to simply toss components when they take a bit of damage. Repairing screw holes is simple and limits the amount of work you have to do in order to complete a task when something goes awry. The Pittsburgh SAE and Metric Tap and Die Set is a comprehensive kit featuring 60 pieces and a wide range of sizes.

The kit is capable of cutting and repairing both internal and external threads, meaning it can be used with nuts, bolts, and screws, as well as previously cut recesses in existing metal workpieces, among countless other potential needs. The tools are heat-treated for quality hardening and feature precision ground teeth, edges, and dimensions. The set comes in a compartmentalized storage case for easy organization and safekeeping.

A tool that most recreational users won't have any experience with is the Chicago Electric ¾ Horsepower Concrete Vibrator. Yet, it's a key piece of the equation for working with any volume of concrete beyond very basic projects. This tool is a corded solution that delivers plenty of power to generate 13,000 VPM. It's a heavy tool, with a shipping weight of more than 16 pounds, and one that features almost exclusively in heavy-duty working environments.

The tool's vibration end is placed into still-liquefied concrete that's been poured into forms. When activated, the tool vibrates rapidly to shake loose air bubbles that have become trapped within the pour. This is a crucial step to getting even moderately sized concrete builds right. Air bubbles trapped beneath the surface can jeopardize the structural integrity of the finished product. As a result, vibrating them loose so that they can bubble up and exit the environment allows the concrete to settle more completely.

The Bauer 12 Amp, 6-Inch Benchtop Jointer is a small-scale unit that brings an iconic but often painfully expensive power tool into the wood shop of many aspiring woodworkers. The jointer is a tool that can help build your woodworking skill, but it's one particularly difficult to utilize, and even moderately sized models will run you thousands of dollars. As a result, it's not a great beginner tool, and it's often immensely frustrating for users to find out that the jointer isn't a universal solution to squaring up boards.

For woodworkers who have major space constraints, a benchtop model can be an ideal way to save on floor space and also limit the cost. However, it should be noted that benchtop models tend to feature key limitations when compared to full-sized tools. However, this tool can still be a solid addition in certain circumstances. It delivers up to 9,000 RPM blade speeds with twelve four-sided cutters doing the work to flatten boards. It offers a 1/8-inch maximum depth and a 6-inch maximum cut width with fence stops and an onboard chip blower.

The Finch & Mclay Floor Knee Kicker Carpet Installer is an essential hand tool that you'll find in virtually every carpet installer's tool bag. This solution helps to stretch carpeting into corners and edges without allowing it to bunch up or buckle. The installation tool is built with a lightweight aluminum frame. It also features a rubber knee pad and foam grip to deliver comfort and efficiency in the tool, limiting the pain you might experience while doing a job that is already famously hard on the knees and back.

Carpet installation is something of an art. You can't rush this task, and there's often a need to move back and forth between areas in order to create a snug fit across the entirety of the installation without introducing wrinkles, warpage, or bulges. This isn't a tool that you'll need for any job beyond the carpeting sphere, but it's an essential one in that world.