Some hardware and tool stores have become so large that it can be easy to believe that you can find anything you could want from a particular retailer. Whether it’s a simple hammer, a chainsaw, a lawnmower, or even things like a car engine or grill, you’ll probably be able to get what you need. However, each merchant has its own idiosyncrasies, so while many common tools are available at most stores, some are available at some but not others. That happens to be the case with Snap-On and Harbor Freight.
Each of these companies offers a wide range of products from their in-house brands, and while most of their respective catalogs are extremely similar, there are several products that Snap-On sells that Harbor Freight does not. In some cases, Harbor Freight offers something vaguely similar but not exactly the same; in others, you’d be completely out of luck if you shopped at Harbor Freight instead of Snap-On. Here, we’ll look at five different tools that Snap-On sells that Harbor Freight doesn’t. These items range from portable tools that perform very specific tasks to equipment that can make the work experience at hand cleaner and more enjoyable. All of these Snap-On products are currently available for purchase, although one is on back order at the time of writing and will be available in the coming months.
Read more: Harbor Freight sells a jack that’s almost exactly like Snap-On’s — and it’s suing them
14.4V Snap-on Microlithium Portable Fluid Transfer Pump
Snap-On 14.4V Microlithium Portable Fluid Transfer Pump – Snap-On
Both Snap-On and Harbor Freight offer a variety of fluid transfer pumps. When it comes to Harbor Freight, all the pumps they sell are pretty powerful and usually require you to plug them into an outlet. The portable models they offer are either hand pumps or models with a hard tube that fits into a tank rather than two flexible transfer tubes. The Snap-On, meanwhile, is a fairly specialized transfer pump option.
The Snap-On 14.4V MicroLithium Portable Fluid Transfer Pump is unique in a few ways. First, it uses a 14.4V battery for power, making it a completely cordless tool. Harbor Freight offers a partially cordless pump option, but it is not a hand pump. The Snap-On Pump is held just like a drill/driver and is operated by a simple trigger on the handle. This gives you ultimate control over the amount of fluid you transfer. Being able to transfer five gallons of water per minute and stop the pump instantly can be helpful.
Although this is a convenient and useful tool, it comes at a high cost. Snap-On sells its portable pump for $420, and that’s before a battery and charger are included. That’s $260 more than the most expensive Harbor Freight fluid transfer pump. Snap-On power tools are generally quite expensive as an indicator of quality, so this is not all that unusual.
Snap-on blue dot engravers
Snap-On Blue-Point Engraver – Snap-On
Although most of the tools that Snap-On sells are branded as Snap-On, the company also has sub-labels, including Blue-Point. Among that line, one tool really stands out because Harbor Freight has no equivalent: the Blue-Point Engraver. This is a wire engraver that works on almost any surface you can think of, be it wood, metal, glass or something else. It has a 3mm tungsten carbide etched tip. However, the tool allows you to adjust stroke depth to nine settings via a dial on the side, giving you a lot of control over how deep you want a particular engraving.
Harbor Freight sells an engraver, but it’s a far cry from what Snap-On offers. This is a hand engraver that looks like a pen. For power, all you need are two AAA batteries, which are actually included. Unlike the Blue-Point engraver, you don’t have the option of depth of engravings, and while the pen-like design is great for some engravers, that’s the only option on how to hold it, while the Blue-Point has an extended soft-shell case that lets you hold it virtually any way you want.
There is also a clear price difference. The Harbor Freight Engraver is only $9.99. Snap-On’s versatile Blue-Point Corded Etcher is $107.50. Note that this engraver is on back order at the time of this writing and will not be back in stock until June 2026. This indicates a high demand for this Snap-On tool.
Set of restore thread files
Snap-On Thread Restoration File Set – Snap-On
Sometimes we have a screw with damaged, warped, rusted or aged threads that needs repair. Sure, we could buy a new screw, but if you have a specialized screw, it can cost you a lot of money. One of the best ways to fix these thread problems is with a thread restoration file, and Snap-On offers a three-pack of files from the Blue-Point line for $76.25.
In these three files, you have the ability to repair any screw that has between 9 and 32 threads per inch. This is the equivalent of threads with pitches of 0.75 to 3 mm, in case you prefer to use metric measurements. You just need to choose the correct individual file from the three to start setting your bolt. These thread files work similarly to trace threads, but the number of thread count options they support are usually much more limited.
Surprisingly, Harbor Freight does not sell any kind of thread restoration file. The store doesn’t even have thread bolts for sale either. The only products that Harbor Freight sells for repairing screw threads are threading and die kits that can include 40 or 60 different parts to handle in a large case. In the case of Snap-On, all you need are these three small files in a compact vinyl case. Snap-On also sells thread trackers and thread and die kits if thread filing isn’t your preferred method of restoration.
Automatic hand sanitizer dispenser
Snap-On Automatic Hand Sanitizer Dispenser – Snap-On
Anyone who does extensive manual work knows how important cleanliness is. There are effective ways to keep your workspace clean of dust and dirt, which includes keeping your hands clean. If you’re working with grease, oil, dirt, or other substance, it’s likely to get all over you. When this happens, you run the risk of getting the substance on tools, accessories, clothes, or other items that you definitely don’t want to stain. That’s why having something at your workstation to quickly clean your hands can be helpful, and a great option is the Snap-On Automatic Hand Sanitizer Dispenser from its Nitro-Gold line.
Once you install four D batteries, this dispenser can provide up to 30,000 dispensing cycles, the equivalent of more than 18 months of use or 30 refills with the Snap-On Head Cleaner. The dispenser is $39.75, and a four-pack of Nitro-Gold hand sanitizer refills is an additional $115. While the automatic dispenser option is cleaner, a manual version of it is also available for $28.25.
Harbor Freight does not offer such a distributor. His hand cleaning options are limited to bottles or jugs of liquid detergent. Unlike the Snap-On dispenser, they cannot be wall mounted to free up workstation space. All are manual pumps, just like a liquid soap dispenser next to the bathroom sink. The Snap-On Auto Dispenser is truly unmatched by Harbor Freight.
Snap-on four-port USB device charger
Snap-On Quad Port USB Device Charger – Snap-On
One of the most useful tools of the modern age isn’t something you use to fasten something to a wall or build a bookcase or table. It is instead a charger, a portable device that keeps all your devices fully charged. This is a crucial tool in a time when we are so dependent on things like smartphones and tablets. There are many places to buy a portable charger, but none of them is Harbor Freight. The best you can hope for is something you plug into an outlet for a few devices. However, from Snap-On, you can purchase the Snap-On Quad-Port USB Device Charger.
As the name suggests, this charger allows you to connect four USB-A ports to charge any number of devices. However, not all ports have the same output. One is 2A, one is 1A and two are 0.5A. The charger runs on a Snap-On 18V MonsterLithium battery, which is compatible with a range of other Snap-On power tools. A nice feature is that each USB port comes with an LED light that indicates how charged your device is, so once you have a steady green light, you know it’s fully charged without having to constantly check your battery percentage. Snap-On sells this charger for $76.95, which isn’t a terrible price for a four-output charger, but importantly, that price doesn’t include the cost of an 18V battery.
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Read the original article on SlashGear.