Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[hutchman]

FWIW my HF Blue Flame helmet works like new in occasional use over 5 years but is too dark for low power welding. I replaced it with one that has ranges lower than its 9 minimum.

I just downloaded the manual of one of the HF ones. They claim the battery should be good for 6 years.

 

[IslandTractor]

I wasn't talking bad about the HF helmets ... it's all I have. All I was saying is they will eventually crap out and when they do you can either toss them or fix them. It's been a few years since I fixed one but I just looked back at some links and it looks like they have CR2032 batteries. There are re-chargeable and regular type. I thought I remembered reading somewhere that CR2032's weren't rechargeable but looking again at the links it looks they there is a rechargeable version. HF Helmet battery replacement webpage? Reviving an AutoDarkening Welding Helmet I like them and am glad I didn't spring for one of the more expensive $180+ versions as they appear to eventually die and have the non-replaceable batteries too.

I have a good quality Miller helmet. It uses standard AAA batteries.

 

[aczlan]

I wasn't talking bad about the HF helmets ... it's all I have. All I was saying is they will eventually crap out and when they do you can either toss them or fix them.

It's been a few years since I fixed one but I just looked back at some links and it looks like they have CR2032 batteries. There are re-chargeable and regular type. I thought I remembered reading somewhere that CR2032's weren't rechargeable but looking again at the links it looks they there is a rechargeable version.

HF Helmet battery replacement webpage?
Reviving an AutoDarkening Welding Helmet

I like them and am glad I didn't spring for one of the more expensive $180+ versions as they appear to eventually die and have the non-replaceable batteries too.

I had a HF helmet that had the batteries go bad. It still went dark but not quite as quick.
I tried replacing the batteries, but I cracked the screen when I took it apart and it didn't work after.
I replaced the "Auto Darkening" assembly with this one: Mohoo Solar Auto Darkening Welding Helmet Lens Mask Goggles Automation Filter Shade Goggles - - Amazon.com and have been very happy with it.
It takes replaceable CR2032 batteries and it fit right where the other one was, it works very well. In fact, it will darken from the sparks when grinding if I don't shut it off.

Aaron Z

 

[hutchman]

I had a HF helmet that had the batteries go bad. It still went dark but not quite as quick.
I tried replacing the batteries, but I cracked the screen when I took it apart and it didn't work after.
I replaced the "Auto Darkening" assembly with this one: Mohoo Solar Auto Darkening Welding Helmet Lens Mask Goggles Automation Filter Shade Goggles - - Amazon.com and have been very happy with it.
It takes replaceable CR2032 batteries and it fit right where the other one was, it works very well. In fact, it will darken from the sparks when grinding if I don't shut it off.

Aaron Z

Cool! Nice to know just the guts are available. That's worth the time it would take to break open the original and remove the old batteries to modify for a battery holder!

 

[Midniteoyl]

I wasn't talking bad about the HF helmets ... it's all I have. All I was saying is they will eventually crap out and when they do you can either toss them or fix them.

It's been a few years since I fixed one but I just looked back at some links and it looks like they have CR2032 batteries. There are re-chargeable and regular type. I thought I remembered reading somewhere that CR2032's weren't rechargeable but looking again at the links it looks they there is a rechargeable version.

HF Helmet battery replacement webpage?
Reviving an AutoDarkening Welding Helmet

I like them and am glad I didn't spring for one of the more expensive $180+ versions as they appear to eventually die and have the non-replaceable batteries too.

With the right charger circuitry, all Li-Ions are rechargable. Most Lithium batteries are not rechargeable but Li-ion batteries are.

 

[KubotainNH]

I have the blue 90amp welder and have run many spools of wire through it mostly for sheet metal work. It's still going fine, you do have to watch the duty cycle a bit because it will start to skip when too hot. I only use quality wire in it, the HF stuff makes a mess.

I have quite a bit of hand tools from them but I do stick with a better brand for normal sockets. Hard to beat their multi-pack of extensions and I've never broken one. All of my impact sockets came from them when they were on clearance because they changed the writing on the new socket sets. Again never broke one even when using a breaker bar with a pipe, they are quite strong. You can pretty much tell what to buy and what to skip by looking at the item but some things are a crapshoot.

 

[sixdogs]

When I crawl under a car on jackstands, I always have a safety plan. If it's a quickie something I may leave the floor jack pumped up and holding a bit of the car where I'll be. That way if it slips, and it never has, I have plan B for safety's sake.

If I'm doing something serious underneath, I'll set up another jackstand or two just for backup. Remember, those jackstands are made of Chinese steel and we bought them at Harbor Freight. Right there is reason enough for backup.


On the aluminum jackstands, they actually look much better made than the steel ones. I think they would win a torture test.

 

[MossRoad]

I had a HF helmet that had the batteries go bad. It still went dark but not quite as quick.
I tried replacing the batteries, but I cracked the screen when I took it apart and it didn't work after.
I replaced the "Auto Darkening" assembly with this one: Mohoo Solar Auto Darkening Welding Helmet Lens Mask Goggles Automation Filter Shade Goggles - - Amazon.com and have been very happy with it.
It takes replaceable CR2032 batteries and it fit right where the other one was, it works very well. In fact, it will darken from the sparks when grinding if I don't shut it off.

Aaron Z

That's good to know, thanks.

I have two HF helmets. One is probably close to 10 years old, the other probably 4. Both still work fine and get very infrequent use. If I know I'm going to be welding, I put them in the sun for an hour or so beforehand.

 

[newbury]

Here's a link to 25% off coupon for 8/12/16 through 8/14/16

 

[lostcreekranch]

Here's a link to 25% off coupon for 8/12/16 through 8/14/16

Now you have to guess what it can actually be used on?