Use Harbor Freight for Lawn and Garden Tools?

Harbor Freight and Northern Tool are fairly similar. Some of the stuff is pretty bad, some of it is surprisingly good. Almost all of it is less expensive that the competition. The stock can be inconsistent and it absolutely pays to scope it out, wait for sales, and then get the items you want in the first hour of the sale before it is gone.

Unfortunately, the least impressive area of the store is the gardening section. I think we picked up a soil moisture meter there, but have passed on most other stuff. However, I picked up a 14" throat bandsaw for $200, an animal trap (have-a-heart style) for $15, full cast iron frying pan set for $10, and various tools and supplies for extremely low cost. All work like a champ. If there is one caveat, it is to steer clear of tools that depend on hardened steel. For some reason, the factories in China where these items are produced can't properly temper and harden, and the sparks from some tools indicate a softer alloy that looks good in the store, but doesn't cut or hold an edge. Cast items, however, all seem to be very sturdy and well designed. Perhaps this is a cross-over of skills from the heavy industry of the Maoist era? I've currently got my sights on a wood lathe and a small arc welder, both are simple items that depend on solid old technology.

One tip is that Harbor Freight offers an in-store no-hassle replacement policy for a few bucks. I use it when I know I'm going to be using a product hard. For example, I bought a clear water pump (less than $40) and even with the proper pre-filter, the motor seized after three months. I walked in with the pump and the guarantee, showed the melted motor fan, picked up a replacement and walked out. It was that simple. The new one has worked fine. (FWIW, I thought I had a similar guarantee at Tractor Supply on a gas powered pump, and discovered that it was just another rip-off guarantee. Guess who I'll NOT be buying equipment from in the future?)

If you want something as a toy, Harbor Freight sometimes has a radio controlled park flyer airplane for $30. The durned little thing is easier to fly than my expensive ones and more sturdy.

As for weed whackers - If you have to go for a gas powered one, get one with a four-cycle engine. Unless you are super vigilent about fresh gas, the two-cycles clog up or wear out quickly. I also put a little Lucas gas treatment in my gas can for power tools, to boost the cleaning ability of the gas. Lawn equipment has smaller parts and is more sensitive to dirt than a lot of larger engines. There is one other issue your parents might have experienced. A lot of gas powered tools sold in the recent past were not compatible with the ethanol now being added to gas. Floats, seals, lines, all can be damaged if not made of the proper materials.

So, overall just keep in mind the old adage: "You get what you pay for."