..will this turn into a useful tool?
I'm looking for a BFH, specifically the 12 lb Sledge here:
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-lb-sledge-hammer-with-fiberglass-handle-94061.html
I need to bust up a bunch of concrete around the swimming pool we are filling in. Will this hold up or should I worry about it turning into chinese die grinder?
nono.. it will turn into twelve 1 pound hammers
Every mini sledge I've bought from HF has had the head fly off within a couple of months of purchase. I ponied up the dough for a kobalt and have been happy.
Save yourself a lot of misery and rent one of these: http://www.homedepotrents.com/diyTools/breaker.asp
eastpark wrote: Save yourself a lot of misery and rent one of these: http://www.homedepotrents.com/diyTools/breaker.asp
Eh...I need a new sledge for splitting wood with the wedge and I could use the work out.
I've been using one of their 4lb sledges for 6-8 years now with no problems.
No way I would bust up a bunch of concrete with a 12lb though. Rent the jack hammer unless you are build like Thor.
I have an 8 pound HF which works just fine. But like Toyman sez you better be built BIG if you are going to bust up a lot of concrete. I broke up a 4' x 4' x 6" slab with mine and it damn near killed me.
Faster to get some C4 and be done with it in seconds. 
I've never bought ANYTHING from HF that was worth drek. I'm convinced that anyone that likes their tools must not really do any work.
But I had a moment of weakness last week while driving by the store I normally don't come anywhere close to.
So I buy three things. One was a pair of clip on magnafied glasses, one was a pack of knock-off roloc discs, and the third as a floor jack they had on sale.
The glasses broke before I could even use them, the roloc copies self destructed about 30 seconds from new, and the floor jack started leaking when I tested it out on a gutted Civic shell. Never. Ever. Again.
I've had good luck, air compressor has been going for 5 years of hard use.
In reply to bravenrace:
Must be you. 
I've been using their stuff for years with pretty good luck. I've got two of their jacks. The little aluminum one did start leaking when I jacked up the rear of a loaded E250, but it works great on the race car. I had the rear of my F350 sitting on two of their aluminum jack stands for two days while I installed a 5th wheel hitch. I jacked it up with the other HF jack. Their blast cabinet rocks. I've buffed my entire 20' enclosed trailer with one of their buffers as well as most of my cars. Their floor model band saw is one of the most used cutting tools in my shop. I split a couple of cords of wood with their electric log splitter this winter. My die grinders are coming up on 6 years old and have worked flawlessly. I love their mini mill, though I did break a couple of gears in the head a couple of weeks ago, might have been the 3" hole saw I was using.
The only tool I've bought there I didn't like was the angle grinder and it's only problem was that it was noisy. It's no worse than the Porter Cable I got at Lowes. For $15 I use it as a spare.
I don't think I have ever bought a tool from them that wasn't worth every penny I paid for it. They work great for the price.
Either your HF stocks all the crap tools and mine stocks all the good ones or you are harder on tools than I am, and that's saying something. 
I still wouldn't use a 12lb sledge on concrete no matter who it's made by. They get damn heavy after a couple of dozen swings. 
I have at least 5 HF hammers that I have used professionally for about 15 years with no problems. I also had a $9 HD 1/2" breaker bar that took me 12 years to break, and I tried.
So I replaced it with two
8" buffer has 5 years on it I have impact sockets with 18 years on them.
I have some HF stuff.. not much as I prefer Cobalt. One of the tools I bought was a reciperocating saw.. got it for $35 a few years ago.. it is about to be used on it's third car destruction
Cone_Junky wrote: I also had a $9 HD 1/2" breaker bar that took me 12 years to break, and I tried. So I replaced it with two
I broke two breaker bars. The part the socket goes on broke. Then they changed to the ones they stock now and I haven't had an issue. I also have broken multiple adapters, and an impact socket. On the other hand everything else in my toolbox came from there so the overall failure rate is low.
I expect Harbor Freight angle grinders to last about as long as a bag of potato chips. That's what the extended warranty is for. Always keep a second one on hand, and keep track of your paperwork. When the one you are using breaks, put it with the paperwork, grab the backup, and carry on. No issues.
I've gone through so many of them that my local HF cashiers don't even bat an eyelash when I walk in with a broken one.
Same BFH, but it can split BFWood when the pool's gone.
Don't use concrete to fill in the pool hole, it will eventually float back up. Serious.
JoeyM wrote: I expect Harbor Freight angle grinders to last about as long as a bag of potato chips. That's what the extended warranty is for. Always keep a second one on hand, and keep track of your paperwork. When the one you are using breaks, put it with the paperwork, grab the backup, and carry on. No issues. I've gone through so many of them that my local HF cashiers don't even bat an eyelash when I walk in with a broken one.
Sounds like a lot of work and extra cost. I find it easier to just buy a good one and never have to replace it at all. But then again, that's my philosophy with all tools, probably stemming from my days as a pro wrench, where a tool that didn't break was more valuable than one with a warranty. That, and my age. You know people used to value quality products made in the USA. Seems like that's been lost with recent generations, and it's going to be a major contributing factor to the economic failure of this country. No tin foil hat necessary, just basic economics. Silly me.
I'd be happy to try a HF sledge hammer or axe. I"ve got both from H.D. for splitting wood, I don't recall what brand they are right now at work, but I had to return both of them within a couple of days as the head came loose on the axe and the head came off the sledge after driving wedges into fire wood. The replacements have last a couple of years, but I do feel the hammer getting wobbly again. I think it's hit and miss, and if HF is 50% of the price, well I might go there next. But now toyman has mentioned their log splitter I might look at one of those.
914Driver wrote: Same BFH, but it can split BFWood when the pool's gone. Don't use concrete to fill in the pool hole, it will eventually float back up. Serious.
Plan on "recycling" the broken concrete into a retaining garden wall and patio pavers.
Adrian_Thompson wrote: I'd be happy to try a HF sledge hammer or axe. I"ve got both from H.D. for splitting wood, I don't recall what brand they are right now at work, but I had to return both of them within a couple of days as the head came loose on the axe and the head came off the sledge after driving wedges into fire wood. The replacements have last a couple of years, but I do feel the hammer getting wobbly again. I think it's hit and miss, and if HF is 50% of the price, well I might go there next. But now toyman has mentioned their log splitter I might look at one of those.
these will take care of the wobbly head problem
I have never worn eye protection 'til swinging a HF brass hammer. It does the job, but randomly explodes. Better safe than sorry. 
The only bc tools I have broken were the water pump, an 8 ton press and an exhaust pipe expander. I exchanged the pump. augmented and welded the press. and earned how to seam weld exhaust pipes. Other than those items I have at least the longevity from HF tools that I get from HD junk
my local HF keeps the "fragile" tools like calipers and levels in the same aisle as the hammers...
In reply to Grtechguy:
I think you'll be fine, as long as you assume that the head will randomly explode at the most inopportune time, the handle will splinter into a million pieces, and the labels will peel off and attach themselves painfully to your corneas.
Oh, and don't get your hootus anywhere near it!
I ended up getting one from Home Depot and sent the inhouse child labor units to hard work.
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