Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[KubotainNH]

I hadn't touched a nailgun since, until last month I bought a Porter-Cable nailgun at the flea market for $23. Seller said he took the nose apart to clear a jam and couldn't get it to work again. I took it to the warranty service place, the tech took one look at it, and told me how the trigger lock should have been reassembled. No charge. Now it works like new, and I see these were $350 when new 15 years ago. Now I have to build something! :thumbsup:

Good deal, I used mine today to replace my dog ramp. It was a refurb unit and has never let me down. Course I only use it occasionally but so much quicker than a hammer.

 

[Danno1]

HAH! we still disagree.. Of all the things I like in HF, the step bits are one of the few things I thought were unacceptable. Garandman has it right in they work great in light gage steel or plastic fairly well. But any steel of higher than sheet metal gage and they wear out so fast they are only good for plum bobs afterwards

My experience was quite the opposite.

I need to drill some larger holes in heavy angle and used one of these figuring it was gonna be a throwaway tool. It was still sharp as new when I was done!



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[Danno1]

Fine print says you cant use it for anything though..

Well, it does have a lot of exceptions in the fine pint, doesn't it.

I used it for the shear/brake that is always on sale for $400. Got it for $300. And then used the $100 saved at McMaster-Carr to buy some steel and hardware and such to beef it up into something that won't break first time it gets used.



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[Wa11banger]

My experience was quite the opposite.

I need to drill some larger holes in heavy angle and used one of these figuring it was gonna be a throwaway tool. It was still sharp as new when I was done!

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Hmm, did you have the large diameter 2 piece kit or the small diameter 3 piece kit? I did have the larger diameter 2 piece kit and I used it to drill 26 holes in a 55 gallon drum the start size (first bit) is still good and sharp but the second from the last (where I stopped) is so dull butter would cut it .

 

[Handloader109]

Well, I do buy my share of HF tools. I know that a lot of people think that their little 90 amp 110v wire welder is crap, but as I don't weld often, I couldn't justify a $500 welder. I mean, how good can a $100 welder be? Well for an amateur welder, pretty darn good. I've gone through two rolls of Lincoln wire and half of the roll that came with it welding up stuff. Today I welded up a stand for one of my saws. Decent welds, the cheap hf wire actually welds better but spits way worse than the Lincoln. Oh, and the roughly $40 auto helmet works great for me too. Never fails.

 

[California]

Is this the black 90A welder? I think those are a major improvement over the older blue ones.

 

[Handloader109]

Yep, I've had it about a year, used it a good bit first few months, hadn't touched it since move here till now.

 

[CreekyB]

I finally went and replaced my failed 2 decade old HF rolling jack.

Wound up getting the 3 ton with Rapid Pump. Hopefully this one will go the two decades it's predecessor did.

I also purchased another set of jack stands, I mean come on man, you can never have enough jack stands. At least if you collect old classic junk like I do and practice rebuilding ADHD

In true fashion I had to get a few extras, I got another set of HF metric 1/2 impacts, shallow and deep, with extensions. I could not bring my self to buy a HF torque wrench.... I have never had one hold true longer than a month or two, picked up a decent one for the home off the Matco truck at work. I am cursed with access to a calibration bench for torque wrenches

I got tired of carrying more and more sockets between work and home. See how that works, ready excuse built in.

Also, I bought that club thing a while back. The purchases I made the day I bought it payed for the membership. I have since saved almost twice the cost of the membership.... Maybe I go to HF too much....

 

[Handloader109]

Yep, second store opening up around here, guess they see the sales still going up.

 

[California]

I could not bring my self to buy a HF torque wrench.... I have never had one hold true longer than a month or two

Interesting. I verify mine a couple of times per project by comparison with two beam torque wrenches, a 1960's Craftsman I bought new and and a Thorsen or something - a US name brand - nearly as old. All three match identical over the 15 years I've had the HF.