Hey guys, been browsing for a floor jack and hit up harbor freight.
They got some 3 ton jack stands, torque wrenches, and automotive ramps on sale this weekend......check out the flyer:

Retail Flyer

I meant to buy a set last week, bought a set this morning!

just bought two 3 ton jack stands, a 1/2 dr. torque wrench, and an electric fly swatter for $30. Not bad harbor freight, not bad at all...

I do not buy from this company anymore. Total junk, especially elecrtical items. All china crap.

Jack stands are on my shopping list for the weekend.

It's super cheap, so I don't care if things break. I'll just buy another one and still have saved $$$$$$$$$$$$. Not like I'm expecting optimal performance out of an electric fly swatting tennis racket that I paid $2.99 for.


By the way, if you guys want even more of a discount, here's a personalized link I got after my purchase. It's to share with your friends and they give you another discount on your total purchase. Not bad!


Harbor Freight Tools

Yeah I bought 2 sets of jack stands and a 3/8 & 1/2 torque wrenches last week for ~$60. Its pretty cool and fine with me since they won't be used all that often anyways.

You can also spend $30 and have access to all kinds of "super duper" coupons, many of which also can be found on line (with the Google) for free.

Last weekend I scored a Mig welder for $89. a Low profile creeper for $19 and a pneumatic extension hose for $9. ya there stuff is all cheap Chineesium crap. Sometimes thats all you need... I also own a top of the line "blue box" Tig welder... that was over $1200... If I have to quick and dirty fix a broken shovel or need a quick jig... I now have a fast plug it in and go welder.... If it breaks after a years use... No biggie I spend more than $90 per year on Argon for my fancy TIG system.

Not everything from China is crap. My fiance was made there and I'm quite pleased with the quality. ;-)

This.

Harbor Junk.

Yep. There sell straight crap. They do have good customer service. If you don't mind having to go back for replacement why not. I wouldn't but anything from them that I really needed to rely on though, like a jack stand that is supposed to hold up your car while you are underneath it.

I don't mind saving a dollar here and there but I am not going to put my life on the line for it.

Proper inspection of the stands, regularly should help reduce/eliminate the rate of failure, every tool will fail if it is pushed beyond its ratings far enough and put in the wrong spot. And while it is cheaper steel, i can't imagine a jack stand that is within a few years of purchase that is properly inspected and has light use within its ratings would fail, and i would imagine its failure rate at that point is comperable to a craftsmen or snap on or matco stand would have. So yeah they do fail, i bet if a little inspection of the stands and common sense on where to place the stands, and to work within the ratings would keep you much safer. If the stand is defective it sucks but ANY manufacterur can have defective products, just because some guy on IH8MUD's stand failed doesnt mean they are crap, you don't know the whole story, whether the stands were within a few years old, and if he properly used the stand, as misproper use of them can cause failure. And yes i was worried they might not be as safe, but i then thought they would not be able to sell them in this country if they were actually crap, considering the high rate of sueing and the strict restriction of the Gov on safety equipment.

So yes i will be buying my $13 3 ton stands.

I still don't want their stands or jacks, life is too precious. I did buy a floor jack once and it would only hold the vehicle up for a short period of time. The more I used it the less time it would hold the vehicle up. We are not talking 5 minutes here, more like 30-60 seconds. Hardly enough time to get the jacks underneath. I do have a few of their air tools, and some other odds and ends, to include a non working 12 volt POS air compressor (this is the second one)..

I have bought things from them in the past. Much of their stuff has crapped out. When I worked by a Harbor Freight it was no big deal because they were really good about returning things. Now I don't live close to an HF. I live out in the middle of nowhere. The closest HF is about 2 hours away. It just isn't worth it to buy something knowing there is a good chance it will let you down.

I actually prefer buying used tools now. I figure if a tool is 10 year old and still in good shape it is probably a well built tool. Plus it saves money.

I went and read a lot about this guy's jackstand failure, this is all I can find: