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In my new town, I have a Harbor Freight store and a Northern Tool store.
For those of you who have purchased from either supplier, or from both suppliers, who do you recommend ?
1951 Chevy Styleline Deluxe 2 door sedan / purchased from second owner 6-19-2000.
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Quality wise Harbor Freight has perhaps generally speaking low quality tools at low prices. Northern Tools has better quality as well as some well known good brands with higher prices. They also have coupon cards with X amount off on X total price purchases.
Gene Schneider
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The Mangy Old Mutt
"If It's Not Junk.....It's Not Treasure!"
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I have had minimal success with almost anything that I have used from Harbor Freight. The prices are great, but I have found the quality to be extremely low. I would rather spend more money and buy quailty tools.
dtm
the toolman
60th Anniversary Meet Chairperson
Dave
VCCA # L 28873
VCCA #83 Tool Technical Advisor for 1914-1966
VCCA #83 1940 Chevrolet Technical Advisor
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I agree with others regarding the quality issue. I have purchased from both and most items have been pretty much as expected-not top notch but reasonably usable. Most items I buy are ones that are used infrequently and if purchased from a top quality supplier I probably could not have afforded them. There are even a few items that I was more than surprised on how well they worked-such as the HF $10.00 HVLP spray gun, and some that belong in the trash.
Steve D
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I would rather spend more money and buy quailty tools. I totally agree with that! When I purchase a tool if the tool says "Made In China" I put it back on the hook and look for the same tool that is made in the USA...which is getting increasingly harder to do. I normally buy Craftsman tools, however, many of those tools are now made in china as well. Again, if the Craftsman tool is made in China I put it back on the shelf and walk away. I would much rather pay more money for a quality tool that is made in the USA, especially if the tool is going to last a life time.   
The Mangy Old Mutt
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When I need a tool, the first place I look is at a local used tool store.
Lots of good 'Made in USA' tools there with good vibes.
Cheers, Dean
Dean 'Rustoholic' Meltz old and ugly is beautiful!
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I guess it is a given that Harbor Freight has tools with low quality.
Can the same "bad news" be said for Northern Tool ?
1951 Chevy Styleline Deluxe 2 door sedan / purchased from second owner 6-19-2000.
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Can the same "bad news" be said for Northern Tool ? If the tools are made in China........probably.
The Mangy Old Mutt
"If It's Not Junk.....It's Not Treasure!"
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Backyard Mechanic
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Wish I had a "used tool store" better chances to buy USA made
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Can the same "bad news" be said for Northern Tool ? If the tools are made in China........probably. Craftsman has always been my tool of choice, but now, at my stage in life I'm not interested in a "lifetime" guarantee. I am not a "Made in China" fan, still want a "Made in USA" tool, but did not know the manufacturing history/home of Northern Tools.
1951 Chevy Styleline Deluxe 2 door sedan / purchased from second owner 6-19-2000.
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Listed below are twenty plus tool manifactures that still make tools in the United States Of America:
Bondhus, Monticello, Minn Ball, Hex, Torx Tools
Channel Lock, Meadville, Pa Hand tools
CCI, Waukegan, Il. Lighting Electrical
Cox, Haslett, Mi. Sealant & Adhesives
Craftsman Industrail Sockets & Wrenches
Crick, Been Wheeler, Tx. Levels
Dalluge Tools, Hevbron, Il. Hammers
Diamond Vantage, Irvine, Ca. Blades, Core Bits & Diamond Tools
Empire, Mukwonago, Wi. Levels
Flange Wizard, Placentia, Ca. Welding Frabrication Tools
Ideal, Sycamore, Il. Electrical Supplies
Justrite, Des Plaines, Il. Safety Storage
Kraft Tool Co., Shawnee, Ka. Trade Hand Tools
Lenox, E. Longmeado, Mass. Blades
Malco, Annandale, Minn. HVAC Tools
Marshalltown, Marshalltown, Iowa Concrete Tools
Mi-T-M, Peosta, Iowa Pressure Washers
Occidental Leather, Sebastopal, Ca. Tool Belts & Bags
Poliar, Hustisford, Wi. Air Compressors
Sait, North Windham, Conn. Abrasives
SK, Sycamore, Il. Hand Tools
Treds, Cincinnati, Oh. Work Boots
Vaughan, Hebron, Il. Hammers
Wright Tool, Hebron, Il. Hand Tools, Sockets, Wrenches
Last edited by terrill; 10/27/15 10:49 AM.
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Tech Advisor ChatMaster - 25,000
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As a side note, both Channel Lock and Craftsman have some of their tools made in China as well. When buying, look on the package or the tool itself to see where that particular tool was manufactured. Another item of interest is that all Snap-On (not on the list above) branded tool products are made in the USA, with the exception of two lines of tools made in Canada. The rest of the tools from Snap-On that are not 100% made in the USA are labeled as Blue-Point.
The Mangy Old Mutt
"If It's Not Junk.....It's Not Treasure!"
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Listed below are twenty plus tool manifactures that still make tools in the United States Of America:
Bondhus, Monticello, Minn Ball, Hex, Torx Tools
Channel Lock, Meadville, Pa Hand tools
CCI, Waukegan, Il. Lighting Electrical
Cox, Haslett, Mi. Sealant & Adhesives
Craftsman Industrail Sockets & Wrenches
Crick, Been Wheeler, Tx. Levels
Dalluge Tools, Hevbron, Il. Hammers
Diamond Vantage, Irvine, Ca. Blades, Core Bits & Diamond Tools
Empire, Mukwonago, Wi. Levels
Flange Wizard, Placentia, Ca. Welding Frabrication Tools
Ideal, Sycamore, Il. Electrical Supplies
Justrite, Des Plaines, Il. Safety Storage
Kraft Tool Co., Shawnee, Ka. Trade Hand Tools
Lenox, E. Longmeado, Mass. Blades
Malco, Annandale, Minn. HVAC Tools
Marshalltown, Marshalltown, Iowa Concrete Tools
Mi-T-M, Peosta, Iowa Pressure Washers
Occidental Leather, Sebastopal, Ca. Tool Belts & Bags
Poliar, Hustisford, Wi. Air Compressors
Sait, North Windham, Conn. Abrasives
SK, Sycamore, Il. Hand Tools
Treds, Cincinnati, Oh. Work Boots
Vaughan, Hebron, Il. Hammers
Wright Tool, Hebron, Il. Hand Tools, Sockets, Wrenches Thanks for posting this list. 
1951 Chevy Styleline Deluxe 2 door sedan / purchased from second owner 6-19-2000.
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As a side note, both Channel Lock and Craftsman have some of their tools made in China as well. When buying, look on the package or the tool itself to see where that particular tool was manufactured. Another item of interest is that all Snap-On (not on the list above) branded tool products are made in the USA, with the exception of two lines of tools made in Canada. The rest of the tools from Snap-On that are not 100% made in the USA are labeled as Blue-Point. Interesting comments, jyd.
1951 Chevy Styleline Deluxe 2 door sedan / purchased from second owner 6-19-2000.
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