Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Midniteoyl]

So, trying to get the Earthquake 1/2" impact @ $79 and use the 20% off coupon too.. No go. Online or in store.

 

[SoGeorgia]

I'm like most, I have an assortment of high quality tools and also HF tools. Snap-On.. older Craftstman.. DeWalt, Hitachi, you name it.. I'll admit it though, even though I've been burned on some HF tools.. I love the place.. :-D

My list of don't suck:

Flooring nailer.. I got it on sale for 129.. I bought it to put down 650 sq/ft of 3/4 oak flooring.. 2.25 inch wide oak flooring.. you can do the math if you want, but that's NARROW, thick oak flooring.. and 650 square foot of it.. I wish I had kept up with how many of those big staples I used... thousands... I was doing this all myself.. in the evenings and weekends after work.. NO way I could afford to rent a good floor nailer for that long.. I could have bought a good one many times over for the price to rent one.. but I also couldn't afford to buy a nice one.. so I bought the HF nailer.. first one worked ok.. but kept jamming.. I got 3 rows of flooring down and I was ready to throw it out the window.. took it back and got a free replacement.. that one finished the entire project and is still going strong..

The newer Pittsburg Pro deep well sockets.. excellent... they have a better finish than any sockets I've had in the past and have survived being beat on, used in my press when I couldn't find anything else to use and even sitting in the rain overnight without rusting..

1 inch drive impact socket set.. I don't even want to think about what a name brand set would have cost.. I've beat the crap out of these sockets and they still work/look perfect..

12 ton press.. works great.. it presses.. saved my can several times already with jobs that I'd be stuck without a press..

Motorcycle/ATV floor jack.. I modified it slightly by placing the lift arms on the outside instead of the inside.. not sure how to explain it, but to lift a Harley Davidson Dyna I had to move the arms farther out.. I used grade 8 bolts.. worked perfect and still works great..

1/2 inch impact wrench.. the one for around 70 bucks.. 450ft/lb I think.. always works.. no complaints..

3/8 drive composite handle ratchet.. black/grey.. works good..

 

[chopped]

I had a surpose the other day.I bought sone small yellow web strappings maybe 4 years ago. they were about 1.99 each and had a hook on each end they are great. So good that I bought extras to have in the drawer.Well yesterday I grabbed a couple and opened then and thought they were missing the one lead with hook on it. Turns out the stock number is one didgit from the ones with two hooks ,,these were ok to loop around something and bring tight but not to stretch out the full legnth. I just searched HF and dont even see them listed anymore. But they are great...multiple uses for them..

 

[mrutkaus]

The 60" 4-drawer hardwoord workbench

Workbench with 4 Drawers, 60" Hardwood

is very nice. Takes a couple hours to assemble but to me is wonderful quality, something like from a fancy tool catalog. In a way would almost look like a piece of furniture inside a house.

Very sturdy, although I put end supports under the lower shelf (the only major piece which is pressed wood, although thick and solid).

I urethaned the whole thing before assembly as was going to used in a shelter outside.

Mike

 

[sixdogs]

In the past few weeks I saw coupons for 25% off rather than the new normal of 20% off.

 

[Travelover]

In the past few weeks I saw coupons for 25% off rather than the new normal of 20% off.

I noticed that , too. I hope they continue to take the 25% off the sale prices, as it is usually cheaper than their stand alone coupon discounts.

 

[California]

The 25% coupons bring some prices BELOW the Inside Track Club price for that item. And with a %-off coupon your range of items is broader.

I bought a year of ITC a while back and saved money overall. More recently I don't see how its a bargain, you'll never make back the upfront cost.

 

[jinman]

I noticed my local newspaper's Sunday magazine insert has 25% off HF coupon and bargains page, but my co-op electric and Reader's Digest my wife takes all still have the 20% off coupons and pages. It doesn't matter because I seem to always forget to take a coupon with me when I'm going to HF. I normally think of something I need at HF when I go to Sam's Club right around the corner. I need to clip and keep a bunch of coupons in my car. Even if you make small purchases, a dollar here and there will soon add up. It only costs $2.49 for a big slice of pizza and a big soft drink at Sam's, so it doesn't take long for the HF coupons to pay for your lunch.

 

[chopped]

Im going to recomend this cut off wheel model


120 Volt 3 in. High Speed Cut-Off Tool

And the current price of 19.99 is a good one I paid closer to 39 I think.But it works as it should Two things to keep in mind,and advantage is its electric.(I used to have to wait for my air one to regain volume) Next it has a an overload cut out.(learned the hard way)I thought it was dead almost the first time using it. But set the rest and away it went.
You need to be sure to go slow and easy with it ,its actually doing allot of work..

 

[chopped]

Im going to recomend this cut off wheel model


120 Volt 3 in. High Speed Cut-Off Tool

And the current price of 19.99 is a good one I paid closer to 39 I think.But it works as it should Two things to keep in mind,and advantage is its electric.(I used to have to wait for my air one to regain volume) Next it has a an overload cut out.(learned the hard way)I thought it was dead almost the first time using it. But set the rest and away it went.
You need to be sure to go slow and easy with it ,its actually doing allot of work..

 

[aczlan]

Im going to recomend this cut off wheel model
120 Volt 3 in. High Speed Cut-Off Tool
And the current price of 19.99 is a good one I paid closer to 39 I think.But it works as it should Two things to keep in mind,and advantage is its electric.(I used to have to wait for my air one to regain volume) Next it has a an overload cut out.(learned the hard way)I thought it was dead almost the first time using it. But set the rest and away it went.
You need to be sure to go slow and easy with it ,its actually doing allot of work..

So, what would you use this for that you wouldn't use an angle grinder?

Aaron Z

 

[BigE_]

So, what would you use this for that you wouldn't use an angle grinder?

Aaron Z

I have the air version, and I use it for slicing through metal. It works much faster than a grinder because the blade is thinner and you aren't taking off as much metal. Since I got my chop saw I don't use the cut off tool as much, so I haven't purchased the electric one.

Think of it as the difference between a chop saw and a bench grinder, only in hand held versions.

 

[newbury]

I noticed my local newspaper's Sunday magazine insert has 25% off HF coupon and bargains page, but my co-op electric and Reader's Digest my wife takes all still have the 20% off coupons and pages. It doesn't matter because I seem to always forget to take a coupon with me when I'm going to HF.

Early September we got 2 copies of AARP that had the 25% off coupon. I used one then photographed the second one on my Samsung Galaxy Note 8, the coupon expiration is January. I have since gone in 4 times and just shown them the picture on my note 8, and they copy the number down. Before that I've gone in with ONLY the coupon number and rec'd the discount.

I recently rec'd another 25% off coupon good till 2/18/14 from www.valpak.com, you can get the same coupon there. Plus coupons for their freebees.

 

[aczlan]

I have the air version, and I use it for slicing through metal. It works much faster than a grinder because the blade is thinner and you aren't taking off as much metal. Since I got my chop saw I don't use the cut off tool as much, so I haven't purchased the electric one.
Think of it as the difference between a chop saw and a bench grinder, only in hand held versions.

I have thin blades for my angle grinder that I use when slicing (vs grinding with thick ones) so there wouldn't be any real advantage in my case then.


Aaron Z

 

[paulharvey]

I have two of the 25% coupons, and they dont normally keep the coupon, because its on a larger sheet of HF coupons. Keep one in wallet and one in lunch box just in case. I always feel a bit funny using 25% off on a $5 item, but I do anyways.

 

[adventure bob]

I recomend the 1/2 in ch earthquake gun. Have owned one for years. Can be found with a coupon for as low as $65. I have actaully tested its torque in lab conditions and it actaully does what they say it will in terms of torque at a given CFM.
While I would love an Ingersol, I take this one four wheeling and it gets completely abused. I would be hesitant to take a $600 IR gun on the trail, where it could be stolen, lost or damaged. But a $65 gun? No brainer.

As an aside When we took the gun apart it had an IR stamp on the anvil and hammers.

 

[RDrancher]

Well...I can tell you that the HF ratchets DO suck. I bought an extra set of wrenches / ratchets to have around the garage. About an hour ago, while tightening the last bolt on the frame mounted master cylinder on my Studebaker, I had the locking ball that holds the sockets on the ratchet fail. I now have an inch and a half long gash in my forehead from the ratchet.

 

[daugen]

Ouch! Sorry about that RD, hate when that happens and you really clonked yourself.
Hope it heals soon.

 

[madmax12]

Ouch! Sorry about that RD, hate when that happens and you really clonked yourself.
Hope it heals soon.

+1 .

 

[chopped]

Good question For one I use it with some plumbing. It cuts PVC and copper easily,The other day I received a load of used lumber with nails sticking out.I usually use a hammer and pry bar etc to pull the nails. But in this case I used the saw to cut the nails off.I also had a small part once tat I need to 'grind' a little bit off of anf it worked fine for that.Another use was to cut the race off of a wheel bearing hub.I needed some small pieces of metal cut so I used that also.The key here is its electric therefore I dont have to wait for the compressor to build up the volume to run it constantly also more portable.Oh I cut some rope with it also.plexi glass. I find I use it more now instead of the air cutter.But yes why this other than a grinder, maybe cause its able to get into smaller places..Its just a handy tool overall and for the cost it pays itself off quickly.

So, what would you use this for that you wouldn't use an angle grinder?

Aaron Z