“For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.”
– Luke 8:17
It was bound to happen one 
of these days, but I was finally caught at Harbor Freight. And so, “My name is Fr. Thomas, and I am an Harbor Freight customer.” To which we, the minions, were forced to respond, “Hi, Fr. Thomas;” how humiliating. I did not have a lot to do today except sit around and watch DIY/Maker/Woodworking videos on Youtube. (Classes do not begin at the university until tomorrow.) I decided to take a break around lunchtime, and somehow I found myself surfing the Harbor Freight website. Oh no … Father is about to do an unboxing blog. That 20%-off coupon is extremely tempting, but I stumbled upon their 99¢ section. I could not help myself, and I was convinced that I needed a half dozen 2″ c-clamps and a combination sharpening stone.
And now you see my problem. I was sucked up into the excitement of it all and left with more than I expected. It all made sense in my head. The tape measure was the freebie; I had the coupon. And then I thought, “If that sharpening stone is a dud, I do not want my good chisels to be ruined.” No chisels were harmed in the writing of this blog. 
The next thing I know, I found myself staring at a 6-set of chisels, which included a size I did not have (1-1/2″). The $9.99 price tag almost had me walking away, but then I remember that flibberdy-gibbet 20-percent off coupon. I felt as if my body was possessed, and the wicked woodworking demons put it in my shopping basket. If worse comes to worse, they can be a set of beater chisels. Please wait … Rationalization in Process.
I suppose I should not complain too much. I walked out of there with 14 tools and only spent $16.12. Just to make the Engineers, Mathematicians, and OCD people upset … that’s $1.14 per tool. But there I go again, rationalizing it all away. “My name is Fr. Thomas, and I am an Harbor Freight customer.” I need help!?!
I’m a Harbor Freight customer too. There are some real gems there. Nothing to be ashamed of. I bet your clothes smell like a greasy tire now.
There is nothing else quite like that smell, in a good way of course.
Sharpen those chisels and clean up their sharp edges and you will genuinely be surprised.
At only $8, it is certainly worth a try.
I got those HF chisels from my wife this past Christmas. After watching Paul Sellers YouTube instruction sharping a chisel I was encouraged.
He brought a $4 chisel into very good condition.
Please note my HF chisel set had a very heavy polyurethane costing. I ended up using a paint remover to get the stuff off!
I proceeded to use the HF diamond honing bock (200, 300, 400 600 grit). It appears the blades may not be at 25 deg. ? I just worked on them for the feel of the angle worked. At 600 grit I get a pretty good dull mirror look. At least the mill marks are gone. My next step is 1000-1200 emery paper and do forth.
Good luck I think these maybe a gem. Using them will tell the real story.