Link: http://HarborFreightReviews.com

Item: Solar Insect Killer with Light
Item number: 95500
Retail price: $16.99
Frequent sale price: $14.99
Target price: $12.99
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You've got to be kidding, right? -- they're not, we are (this item is a joke ). One of the relatively few items sold by Harbor Freight™ that looks good but is really junk. (Most of the worse [i.e., absolute "junk"] items at Harbor Freight look cheap enough upon close inspection to forewarn the savvy shopper of their poor quality or inadequate design.) Buyer beware, this item will sucker you in unless you heed the warning written here or use a little common sense.

This item claims to attract insects to its metal grid and zap them like its bigger brothers that run on 120-volt AC power. A little common sense would suggest that it might be just a little difficult to generate sufficient power from a singe AA-cell battery to illuminate the LED brightly enough to attract insects AND a high enough voltage to fry them on the electric grid. Consider just the first point: when is the last time you saw a significant number of insects swarming around your solar-powered LED yard lights? Well, this unit has an ultraviolet LED and that should work, right? No again, it's simply not bright enough to attract more than the occasional stray insect.

The concept of a solar-powered insect killer is appealing, and being into saving-the-planet one-step-at-a-time, I have to admit I was really excited by the prospects of this product (e.g., bought three). Unfortunately, the manufacturer just hasn't succeeded in accomplishing even the first part of this task, and the few insects that do stumble upon the electrified grid seen to fly off unscathed.

We have tested three units and all have uniformly poor performance as insect killers. The attractive, well-constructed metal housing can fool one into thinking the electronics are similarly well designed, but this is not the case. Even the small switch used to select the white and ultraviolet lights deteriorates after only one or two Buffalo winters.

As an insect killer this product is a dismal failure. In fact, it only receives a target price (i.e., worthy of purchase at any price) because it's a cute little light if purchased cheaply enough. But because it's being seriously sold as an "insect killer," it makes our "Junk Buys" list. Harbor Freight should be embarrassed by this ridiculous product.

Bottom line: An interesting little light, but solar-powered insect killer it's not. Save your money for another Harbor Freight purchase unless you like the style or the soft glow of the ultraviolet light.

Link: http://HarborFrieghtReviews.com

Item: Electric Fly Swatter
Item number: 40122
Retail price: $7.99
Target price: $2.99
Best price: $1.99
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This great little electric fly swatter may seem like a joke or a novelty item at best, but it's a real lifesaver when confronting those nasty critters of summer, especially those carrying stingers. We've tested several and like most online reviewers we've found them to work very well. It takes 2 D-cell batteries to pack a 'thousand-volt' punch into creeping, crawling, and yes, even flying insects. It's a real asset when confronting those mean yellow jackets or aggressive wasps that seem to chase you down in the yard. It not only knocks them out of the air with the ease of a tennis racket, but it stuns them electrically and will fry them if left on the contact surface for a few seconds. (You might want to practice on a few moths first.) And it's not bad on those annoying flies and mosquitoes too.

Hint: Depress the "on" button for several seconds before swatting to ensure that the electronic grid has fully charged and use alkaline batteries to avoid being underpowered in an emergency fight with a mean fly or wasp. For flying insects that are only stunned and knocked to the ground, hold it on them with the button depressed for several seconds to make instant crispy critters.

This is a recommended "Hot Buy," must have item for everyone on the planet which we co-inhabit with pesty insects. Use it indoors and out, we have several located throughout our home: one near a backdoor where these critters like to fly in, one inside for those occasional spiders that try to take up residence, and one in our cabana (AKA tool shed) to confront flying stingers in the outside storage area and on the patio.

Remember that you don't really smash insects with this device, but rather, tap'em and zap'em. One or two hits on a solid surface and the fly swatter will be smashed and trashed!

The electric grid packs enough punch to fry insects if left on for a few seconds, so you should keep this well out of reach of small children and avoid sticking your tongue on it out of curiosity (remember, curiosity fired the cat?). Not really a toy, but a serious insect-control device safe which is safe when handled properly but capable of giving a nasty jolt.

Bottom line: Buy several at the target price; they're a must have item from Harbor Freight!