Jack recall, chinese junk from Harbor Freight
- Thread starter mrtexas
- Start date
rotorwrench
Well-known member
Folks may think this is getting political and maybe it is but Corporations are all about making as much money as they can. If this means purchasing things from foreign countries that might use slave labor, they have no problem with that. That may be the problem. Maybe they should have a problem with that.
We purchased very little from the Soviet Union and Red China during the cold war. A lot has changed since then. Mom & Pop businesses are a lot more few and far between now days because the consumer wants low prices too.
We purchased very little from the Soviet Union and Red China during the cold war. A lot has changed since then. Mom & Pop businesses are a lot more few and far between now days because the consumer wants low prices too.
Today I pulled out my favorite adjustable (crescent type) wrench. One of my friends went to China way back before such a trip was common, and for souveneirs and gifts he bought tools. This wrench even has chinese writing on it. It's made of perfect stainless steel and is the best adjustable wrench I've ever owned.
dumb person
Well-known member
I don't have a photo of it, or even know where it is at the moment. But i had a pre-war ratchet that was made in china.
Wasn't even a ratchet as such, more like, a heavy steel scroll that bound up when you turned it in one direction.
Wasn't amazing, but showed, that once, a long time ago, they could make stuff that wasn't junk.
Some more modern tools i've bought, it was amazing. Amazingly bad.
They didn't weigh much despite their volume.
The steel itself was 'hollow' and wasn't really steel. Where they broke, showed the metal was more like sponge, and would rust in 50% of the surface. The rest looked like someone recycled every random grey metal they could find. Didn't know lead, aluminium, and tin cans could mix.
Wasn't even a ratchet as such, more like, a heavy steel scroll that bound up when you turned it in one direction.
Wasn't amazing, but showed, that once, a long time ago, they could make stuff that wasn't junk.
Some more modern tools i've bought, it was amazing. Amazingly bad.
They didn't weigh much despite their volume.
The steel itself was 'hollow' and wasn't really steel. Where they broke, showed the metal was more like sponge, and would rust in 50% of the surface. The rest looked like someone recycled every random grey metal they could find. Didn't know lead, aluminium, and tin cans could mix.
Lawrie
Well-known member
I had a mate who had a boat that had a chi+++ engine in it, It was called a dungho
My mate and son were doing a service in the engine room and the sons job was to clean the dungho,s oil bath air clear and refill it with oil.
What he did was fill the air cleaner right with oil, when my mate started it up it got reving faster and faster ,they couldn't,t shut it off, the vacated the eng room as the flywheel exploded,.
He showed me the remains of the f/wheel it was supposed to be cast iron but iron looked more like cork it was so large grained.
After that the engine was called the dungheap.
Lawrie
My mate and son were doing a service in the engine room and the sons job was to clean the dungho,s oil bath air clear and refill it with oil.
What he did was fill the air cleaner right with oil, when my mate started it up it got reving faster and faster ,they couldn't,t shut it off, the vacated the eng room as the flywheel exploded,.
He showed me the remains of the f/wheel it was supposed to be cast iron but iron looked more like cork it was so large grained.
After that the engine was called the dungheap.
Lawrie
cajunfirehawk
Senior Member
I use them but I don't bet my life on anything I use, if I work under a car or truck, it has a minimum of two jack stands and a floor jack, period. Anyone who says they buy cheap tools that says they were unaware they came from china is full of crap, its cheap for a reason and in most cases they work fine, as shown in the jack pic I own a ton of Milwaukee M18 and M12 tools, those are not sold in HF but are made overseas where most other battery powered tools are made and they are rated very highly. Most hobbyists like us cant afford made in USA tools, I wish I could afford them but I have to settle for cheaper brands, too many politics involved in why tools are made overseas. And sorry to say I don't think in my lifetime (almost 60) we will see a big change in that, I hope so but...YMMV
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itslow
Well-known member
Garbage is produced everywhere, including here in the USA. It all boils down
to the thoroughness of the engineering behind a part and the quality control processes after its been manufactured.
Not sure I would trust ANY jack stand on blacktop. I have seen motorcycles fall over on a warm day when their stands sank into soft asphalt.
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USJack makes 3, 6 and 12 ton jack stands made in the USA: www.usjack.com
Also, Snap-on says their 3 and 6 ton stands are made in the US.
The USJack units have a two-tooth locking system which appears to be superior to the typical design.
Kube
Super Moderator
One must remember that they (Chinese) can make anything we can make. They DO make what the guys in the USA chose to buy from them.
Typically, the choice is low quality as most folks seemingly want as cheap as possible with little or zero forethought as to how long that thing might last.
If most folks actually gave an ounce of thought, they would buy better quality that would last a lot longer and subsequently be cheaper in the long run.
Days long gone I'm afraid...
Kube
Super Moderator
In part I agree with you.
However, what it truly boils down to is the wholesale buyer's requirements.
51504bat
Well-known member
Couple of thoughts. Back in 1965 I had a friend that bought a new Honda 50. I remember looking at the "Made in Japan" plate on the frame and giving him a hard time about it. His reply was "unfortunately they all come that way" Now all these years later "Made in Japan" is considered a good thing. Also, the Chinese can make nuclear devices so they can pretty much make anything they want to and in any quality. And finally don't bet on all your Snap On tools being made in the USA. They are making some product off shore, including China.
My son is a certified Mercedes Benz technician. I have been in the shop with him several times and asked him about their choice of tools. Interestingly, there are many different brands depending on quality and service. For instance, almost all 'hand tools' are Snap-On. Battery operated tools are generally Milwaukee. Scanners and such are either Midtronics or Matco. Some of the floor jacks are Northern tool - Arcan brand. Some are Snap-On. The lifts I have seen are Rotary Lifts.
Are there any Harbor Freight tools in there? A few, but not many. Jack stands from Harbor Freight? No.
My wife and I spent the weekend with him over Memorial Day and he gave me an early father's day present - a 1/4 inch and a 3/8 inch Snap-On ratchet handles! They are smooth as silk.
Are there any Harbor Freight tools in there? A few, but not many. Jack stands from Harbor Freight? No.
My wife and I spent the weekend with him over Memorial Day and he gave me an early father's day present - a 1/4 inch and a 3/8 inch Snap-On ratchet handles! They are smooth as silk.
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philipswanson
Well-known member
Have any of you guys returned older jack stands for the recall? I have an old pair but the decals are no longer on them identifying the numbers. Will they take them back when the numbers are worn off? Can they id them?
V8COOPMAN
Well-known member
Ah.....You've done it now! Having jacks with the numbers worn-off proves to HF that you got MORE than your money's-worth in use......RETURN DENIED! DD
What do y'all think of Hein-Werner 6-Ton Jack Stands? Made in USA. Any good?