Framing Nailer
Every good DIYer needs a reliable framing nailer. If you ever plan on renovating or building anything with walls, one of these will drastically cut down your work time compared to a hammer and nails. This model from Banks is well reviewed, rugged design, and only costs $100.
Hydraulic Table Cart
Anti-Fatigue Foam Mats
In addition to being easy on the feet and a relief to the lower back, these affordable mats are popular with DIY customers and makers, who cut and glue them into elaborate costumes and sculptures. Anti-fatigue mats are perfect for anyone with a shop of any size. Sure, you can always make your own with spare carpet pad, but if there’s any chance that your shop or work space will get wet, sooner or later you’ll wish that you’d used something that wasn’t essentially a big sponge.
Trailer Hitch
If you’re planning on standard towing for a DIYer, you’ll want to be sure to check out this dependable three-ball hitch and see if it’s a good fit for your needs. If you’re going to be hauling materials from the lumber yard or hardware store, a trailer will let you get things done faster and more efficiently. Selecting a trailer hitch involves balancing quality and affordability, as well as an understanding of the kinds of items and trailers you’ll be towing.
Mini Jackhammer
2 HP Dust Collector
Metal Cutoff Saw
Portable Generator
If you ever work on sites that lack electric power, or if you want to make sure that your equipment doesn’t draw so many amps that you’re tripping breakers inside your home, then you need a portable generator. And when it’s time to pick the best power generator for your needs, don’t miss the great deals that Harbor Freight offers on these solid units.
Sure, for a contractor who’s paying a five man crew to be onsite it may make sense to pay an extra $1,200 for a generator with identical specs, as long as it buys some peace of mind. But if your only expense is the generator itself, Harbor Freight is a no-brainer.
Engine Hoist
Stethoscope
Furniture dolly
Angle Grinder
Grinding and Cutoff Wheels
Harbor Freight is a fantastic source for high-use, short-lifespan tools. A great example is cutting and grinding wheels. As anyone who’s used an angle grinder knows, the life expectancy of a cutting wheel is short at best. More expensive cutting wheels last a little longer, but for an average DIYer, this gain is almost unnoticeable.
Pick up your cutting discs at Harbor Freight and over the course of a few projects you’ll see significant savings. This holds true for rotary tool grinding and cutting discs as wells as angle grinder cut-off wheels.
Bolt Cutters
Rotary Hammer
Furniture Blankets
Deep Well Sockets
Right Angle Drill
Micro Pinner
Chain Hoist
Jack Stands
Drillmaster Router
Airbrush and Compressor Kit
Perfect for learning the basics of airbrush technique, this no-frills, high-value kit provides a compressor and brush for less than half the cost of many high-end airbrushes alone. This kit is great for trying out an airbrush for DIY hobbies and detail work such as wall stencils.
If you find that you enjoy airbrushing, you may want to upgrade to a brush with finer controls, but even then you’ll find that the compressor runs like a champ.
Pneumatic Stapler
Reciprocating Saw Blades
And, while you’re getting a reciprocating saw, grab some blades for it as well. This may seem obvious, but in fact not all blades are created equally. There’s a huge range of factors that make picking the right blade a detailed science. And in fact, many of the various saw blades you’ll find at Harbor Freight aren’t great choices for precision work. But the Harbor Freight reciprocating saw blades are a good purchase.
The fine finish blades for circular saws or miter saws need to have precisely cut teeth, and a durable body. Quality blades for these saws are expensive, and are often re-sharpened rather than replaced. Reciprocating saw blades, on the other hand, are designed to be used and abused. And Harbor Freight’s selection of blades is more than up to that task.
Floor Jacks
Even those who aren’t fans of Harbor Freight tools have to admit that their floor jack selection is top-notch. If you’re a DIYer considering buying a floor jack and stands for home car maintenance, do not whip out that credit card until you’ve seen what Harbor Freight has to offer.
Notice that the jack pictured is another Pittsburgh brand product. Once again, this line isn’t at the top or bottom of the price list, but offers solid quality at a very reasonable sticker price.
Project Kits for Young DIYers
This balsa wood T-Rex skeleton is the kind of puzzle that builds skills and confidence at the same time. These affordably priced models are a great way to get kids started in DIY. The sticker price makes it less painful when the inevitable wrecking ball of youthful enthusiasm meets breakable parts, and the variety of options means that you can match a young person’s interests, from woodworking to electronics.