Re: Harbor Freight jack stands recall

Posted by Fish'n Jim On 2020/5/25 10:24:32

Yes, they are a "chinese tool take out" store mostly.

Don't get me started! My pet peave for last decades since retirement. All your old tools start to die just about time you can use them. Wastes money, not to mention can get hurt. My stands are very old and still good, held my Caddy for last 4 years.
It's got so bad to be able to buy good stuff, there are few options for some items. I have stuff, 30-40 years old that is more functional and in better condition than some of this stuff is new.
Like you say, a one time use doesn't support a high cost professional tool, but many times it's just not available!
I looked for a "good" engine crane but they're just not out there. I bought one another store bases on the display model. Wouldn't roll. The axle hole was drilled off center on one of the casters? ZERO quality control! If I take it back, I get one just like it? I had to refit and stiffen the whole unit before it was even usable. I'm going to up grade further when I get some time. You have to find good stuff "used", go to auctions. etc.
Even the big names have fallen for the trap. If it isn't "made" there, the parts can be but you don't see them. The market share is so large in some items. I bought several name brand right angle grinders trying to find a good replacement, including the maker of my 30+ year old 9" standby, and only one turned out to be good. I was able to resurrect my 40 year old other one after some maintenance. One I had to send back, the switch melted on second use. And these were top line tools, not chinese take outs. Maybe I should have bought those, used once, and thrown away??? I bought a "good" hammer drill and the chuck would not stay tight. Trashed. Only had to drill a couple holes for anchors.
Very skeptical of fitness of anything now.
The description are sometime desceptive also. They tend to use metric dimensions, convert, and sell in US, so may not even fit. So a 2" sch40 pipe OD is bigger than 2" but may say fits 2" pipe and be just short of 2" at 50 mm.