11 Harbor Freight Tools You Won't Find At Home Depot

Purveyors of all things home improvement, both Harbor Freight and Home Depot are worth exploring ahead of a DIY project. Home Depot, especially, has garnered a reputation for offering just about everything you can imagine yourself needing. In fact, so extensive are the ranges on its shelves, that you could be forgiven for thinking there's no need to shop at Harbor Freight at all.

Before you make such a drastic decision, there are a few things worth bearing in mind. One is that some of Harbor Freight's most popular brands now produce power tools that are on a par with, and sometimes better than, the big-box names available at Home Depot. They also often come at significantly lower prices. Another is that there are certain items that experts say you should never buy at Home Depot. Finally, depending on what you're looking for, you might just find certain tools at Harbor Freight that are entirely unavailable at your nearest Big Orange.

It's these unicorn items that we're here to help you discover. Some, like Central Machinery's gas-powered saw mill, are only available in corded electrical versions at Home Depot. Others, like Central Machinery's backhoe, are available, but only on a rental basis. Similarly, only at Harbor Freight will you find specialist watch-maintenance tools with which to stock your craft room. And if you're in the market for a 24-carat gold-plated ratchet, well, you'll have no help finding it at Home Depot.

One heavy-duty Harbor Freight tool that you won't find at Home Depot is Central Machinery's Saw Mill with 301cc Gas Engine. That's not to say that you can't buy a sawmill at the Big Orange. You can buy an electrical set-up from Grizzly Industrial, which will be useful in areas of your yard that are close to an electrical outlet. But you won't get a gas-powered version, which you'll want if you have a large piece of land and you need to run it far from the power of your home.

If access to power isn't an issue, then you won't necessarily need to rely on Harbor Freight's range of gas-powered tools. Just be aware that you'll have to pay more for Grizzly Industrial's electrical unit. It's currently priced at $3,375, versus the $2,499.99 price tag of Central Machinery's sawmill. And if you want to ensure that your investment is backed by strong customer feedback, Harbor Freight's gas-powered version achieves a 4.6-star rating overall, with more than 330 ratings to-date. Grizzly Industrial's electrical counterpart, meanwhile, is rated 3.6 — the result of 7 reviews.

If you're renovating your home or garden on a budget, then renting heavy equipment is one of several Home Depot hacks that can change how you DIY. The chain has a strong inventory of machinery that can be hired, backhoes included, helping save shoppers the cost of buying them outright. However, if you have lots of land that you need to maintain, then a one-time investment in a backhoe is likely to be more cost-effective. Unfortunately, such machines are unavailable to buy outright at Home Depot. They can, however, be purchased at Harbor Freight.

Now, before you get too excited, it's worth noting the price of Central Machinery's 8 Horsepower Towable Backhoe. At $2,999.99, it's the most expensive item currently available at Harbor Freight. Then again, if you have a regular need for it, it could be a worthy investment. At Home Depot, to hire a tractor-mounted backhoe (the only type available), prices start at $254 for four hours, or $339 per day. For large, or multiple projects, investing in Central Machinery's backhoe could quickly pay for itself. It's also portable, negating the need for a tractor to mount it. It connects to your toe-hitch much like a trailer, and has an in-built, 301cc engine to run it once in situ.

Both Home Depot and Harbor Freight are excellent places to shop when it comes to tools. However, in order to understand why certain tools are available exclusively at either store, it's important to understand their specific niches. Home Depot is an out-and-out home improvement store. That means an excellent range of tools and hardware, plus a wide range of home and garden products and materials that you simply cannot find at Harbor Freight. Harbor Freight, on the other hand, focuses more on tools. It has its own set of brands, like Bauer and Hercules, which produce prosumer-grade tool tech at a price that's often more attractive than those of the big-box names. It also has certain niche items that don't strictly come under the banner of home improvement, and which are thus entirely absent from the Home Depot line-up.

This Watch Repair Kit from Pittsburgh is a good example. Priced at $8.99, it's equipped with precision tools that, according to Pittsburgh, are designed to help make fast and efficient repairs. It has a magnifying glass, two sets of tweezers, both Phillips and slotted screwdrivers, plus tools to open your watch without damage. It also has a storage pouch, to keep the tools organized when not in use.

Another useful tool for timepiece collectors, this Watch Case Opener from Pittsburgh helps you access your watch's inner workings without causing damage. You may be a hobbyist hoping to save some money versus having a professional service your favorite watch. Or maybe you're a professional watchmaker and need a new tool to add to the rack in your home workshop. Either way, this tool could come in handy.

Now, we should say that the Pittsburgh's Watch Repair Kit also comes supplied with a knife to open watches. This tool, however, is designed to help with various case types. It has pin-style jaws which can be adjusted to open screw-on type watches, and includes 4 pin sets for various other case styles. In other words, it's well suited to collectors of multiple watches. It's currently priced at $6.99, and like Pittsburgh's repair kit, it's a tool you simply won't find on the shelves at Home Depot.

After taking apart your watch, working out how to fix it, then implementing the repair, you'll probably be feeling pretty good about yourself. The next thing you need to do is put it back together again. Doing this properly is important to prevent damage, and just like opening and repairing your watch, reassembly is best done with dedicated tools. Again, you won't find the appropriate equipment at Home Depot, since watch repairs don't typically come under the banner of "home improvement." You can, however, buy a Watch Case Press from Harbor Freight.

Priced at $14.99, it's mountable, making it suitable for home professionals and hobbyists who wish to install it on their home workstation. It also complements the previous watch-maintenance products, helping to ensure no stage of the servicing process results in damage. It does this with six dual-sized concave nylon dies, plus six dual-sized flat nylon dies. These help to re-secure the casement without scratching the back or the crystal face.

There are certain tools and supplies that every DIYer should own. One of those is a trusty hammer, and if you've yet to buy one, you'll find that there are plenty to choose from at your local Home Depot. However, one type of hammer that you won't find there is a dedicated watch hammer. So, what? Surely a hammer is just a hammer. Well, it is. But the pins — and other parts — that make your watch tick can be incredibly delicate. If you try to drive them back into place with your trusty mallet or claw hammer, you'll end up doing way more harm than good.

At Harbor Freight, this Watchmakers Hammer with 6 Heads complements the wider, aforementioned range of watch-maintenance tools. You can use it for delicate jobs, like driving bracelet pins, riveting, and repairing minuscule parts. It costs $5.99, and comes supplied with six different heads, or tips, including a brass flat, steel ball, steel dome, steel flat, steel wedge, and a poly flat. This makes it useful not just for watchmaking and maintenance, but for a variety of delicate crafts.

Horns are, metaphorically speaking, a dime a dozen over at Home Depot. You certainly won't struggle to find a regular horn, which is good to know if yours has broken and you have the skills to replace it. However, if you try not to take yourself too seriously, or you have a classic car to which a good old-fashioned "awooga" horn would be suited, you'll need to try your luck elsewhere.

At Harbor Freight, Pittsburgh's Old-Fashioned Sound Ooga 12v Car Horn is currently available for $19.99. It delivers that classic Looney Tunes "awooga" sound that's sure to raise a smile in even the most heated on-the-road exchanges. It emits a blast of 109 decibels, which ought to be loud enough to grab the attention of most. The set also features a high-impact, rust-free plastic trumpet and steel body, and comes supplied with the wiring pigtail and mounting hardware required to install it.

Wire brushes can be useful in a number of ways around the home. They're especially handy for heavy-duty cleaning, whether you're stripping paint from metal surfaces or need a tool to remove rust from your bolts. There are various types to choose from, too. Hand brushes allow the most finesse, making them useful on surfaces you'd prefer not to agitate too aggressively. They're also handy in tight spaces. Wire wheels, on the other hand, can be attached to your power tools — delivering maximum torque in scenarios where it does no harm to go ham.

Given the number of home-cleaning tasks they can perform, it's no surprise that both of the above types of wire brush are available at Home Depot. In fact, there are plenty to choose from. The only downside is that, if you want wire wheels and a hand brush, you'll have to buy them separately. At Harbor Freight, on the other hand, Hercules recently released its 5-piece Carbon Steel Wire Wheel and Brush Set. It is, per Hercules, engineered for aggressive cleaning. It comes with four wire wheels, each designed for specific job types, like deburring, weld cleaning, rust removal, and polishing. It also includes a hand brush, which is suitable for general cleaning around corners and in hard-to-reach spots. All in, it's priced at $19.99.

Handy homeowners and DIY enthusiasts alike are sure to find use for a quality multitool. In fact, since they are so useful around the house, they're available in abundance at Home Depot, from heavyweight manufacturers like Leatherman, Milwaukee, and Gerber. However, if you're looking for maximum versatility, then you may still find the Big Orange selection surprisingly limited. Its most multi-functional offering — Hillman's "Claw" Key Ring — maxes out at 16 functions.

Compare that to Gordon's 20-in-1 Multi Tool. Priced at $39.99, it's one of Harbor Freight's most highly-rated multipurpose tools. It's slightly bulkier than regular multitools, due to the sheer amount of equipment that's built into it. Per the name, it features 20 different tools. These include standard essentials, like needle-nose pliers, wire cutters, a serrated blade, plus a standard knife. It also includes a wood saw, various drivers, a diamond-coated file, scissors, and a bottle opener. Of course, it isn't backed by the same reputation as products from brands like Leatherman and Milwaukee. But it is well reviewed, with 77% of over 580 users awardeding it 5 stars.

Yes, while it may seem like a frivolous purchase, you can indeed buy a Drive Professional Gold-Plated Ratchet from Harbor Freight. Such items are absent from the shelves of Home Depot, although, for most, this won't be too much of a problem. However, there are a few reasons why you may want to consider adding such a luxury item to your toolbox. Firstly, according to Icon (the manufacturer behind the tool), its 90-tooth gear-to-gear mechanism produces a tight arc swing, which, translated, means it's useful in tight spaces. Those gears are also machined for precision, meaning they can withstand heavy torque. As for the polished, gold-plated finish, it makes the tool easy to clean after use.

With all of that said, you can probably still manage without it. However, given that it is more of a "trophy" tool than something you'd realistically use every day, it could make a quality gift. As a Special Edition ratchet, it comes presented in a clear, hard-plastic display case. You could gift it to an auto-mad family member on a special birthday. Alternatively, if you work in a garage or another professional automotive environment, you could give it to a colleague to honor a milestone number of years served. Or, you could keep it for yourself and actually use it.

Once again, you won't struggle to find a quality trailer at Home Depot. In fact, there is lots of towable equipment to choose from. This includes traditional flatbed and cage-style trailers, in a variety of sizes, depending on what you need to move. You can also find towable garden carts, which are often more useful in larger gardens than other types of wheelbarrow. However, what you won't find at Home Depot is a trailer that you can fold before storing away. If you want one of those, then you may be better off visiting Harbor Freight.

There, Haulmaster's 1,720-pound Heavy Duty Folding Trailer is available for $699.99. Folded out, it measures 4 feet by 8 feet, and per the product name, can carry loads of up to 1,720 pounds. It has a baked enamel finish and heavy, steel frame, which will stand up well to years of use. It also has a tilting trailer bed, making loading and unloading easier with heavy goods. When folded, it measures 2 feet by 5 feet (plus 3 inches), allowing you to keep it in spaces where a non-foldable trailer wouldn't fit. One potential downside is that you'll need to build your own flatbed to mount on it. And while it comes with in-built slots for stake siding, you'll need to either buy (or build) the actual stakes and siding separately.