Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[California]

Anyone have one of the smaller compressors? I'm thinking about the 8 gal. 2 HP 125 PSI Oil Lube Air Compressor or I might cheap out and get the 69269/97080. The small cheap one is $39.99 this weekend, it would do 90% of what I use one for. I would prefer an oil one like 62763/60567 at $129.99 or 69667/68740 at $119.99. Any thoughts on any of the above models?

I bought their next larger, nearly identical 2.5hp / 10 gallon model. (Except the stock # was different when I bought this a few years ago). Never have changed the oil, I guess I should. It still runs same as new.

Comments: 1) its loud, you instinctively go work somewhere else while it fills up.

2) It does a great job of powering the $9~$15 HVLP spray gun.
Assuming you add a good sized water separator before the sprayer. This isn't a flaw, just physics, the moisture in the air goes liquid when pressurized. I tried a small one and it wasn't enough so I bought this one. Problem solved. I'm getting nice work out of my setup.

3) It powers the Earthquake impact wrench great. It will kick in after a few lug nuts but never lacks sufficient pressure. But this tool must be more efficient than HF's lesser impact wrenches. Before buying the Earthquake, this compressor was inadequate for HF's cheap $20 and $30 impacts rated about 225 ft lbs. It couldn't keep up.

4) Its CFM capacity seems to be considerably less than it claims. After I bought it I tried a HF die grinder rated at same CFM as the compressor. Pressure soon dropped to 20psi and the motor started to smoke badly before I noticed it. The thermal cutout didn't trip. (never has). I expect it would have been in flames if it had been in another room.
Similar experience with the larger needle scaler and a couple of other tools rated at or slightly above this compressor's claimed CFM, they quickly sucked it down to 20 psi.

Summary - good compressor if you don't need to run it at full rated CFM.

 

[Travelover]

25% off coupon today only. http://view.harborfreightemail.com/?qs=78c8a1b3a3ab0b6c651de836964c77e7a936bcd2119952ca2641733b1607758561ff332ef30f4307e9ad7778e771734afc1d90e7a96ced4587f4f068acbea8ca

 

[joeyd]

I haven't read all 664 pages of this thread but I recently purchased a trailer tongue storage box, Haul-Master - item#60302, and I was impressed. It seems well constructed, hefty enough at nearly 50 lbs. and the lid and gas strut latch very nicely. It would have been a perfect install if those darn guys (tongue in cheek) at Fox Trailer wouldn't have run the electric lines in metal conduit through the frame.(yes the conduit is sealed with silicon to prevent water damage) I had to re-drill two of the mounting holes in the box to miss the conduit.

Over all very happy! :thumbsup:

 

[Travelover]

I haven't read all 664 pages of this thread ........

That's OK, most of us couldn't remember every post even if we had read all 664 pages. Thanks for listing a item number - it makes it easier to search the thread.

 

[hutchman]

Got me some snatch (with 20% off).

View attachment 479949

 

[PhysAssist]

If you have a NT store reasonably close, they will ship to store for free.

I checked their store locator page, and there is unfortunately a big vacuum around the north-east.

 

[PhysAssist]

So you can store stuff ABOVE the palletized contents. Used, good condition pallet racks with beams for 3 levels can often be found on CL for about $200 a section (2 uprights, 6 beams).

Some people get them free. I lucked into 7 sections (8 uprights 12' high, 42 beams 8.5' long) for $70, but most of mine were closer to $200 a section.

View attachment 478966 View attachment 478967 View attachment 478968

And if you decide to move them it's like Erector sets for adults (especially if you have a welder and can cut metal )

Then after you get them set up you have so much more space for all the "stuff" you buy at Harbor Freight

While I would love to have pallet racks, they aren't that practical with our little tractor as the primary fork lift- [although I have been trying to talk my SWMBO into a telehandler or a trackhoe] because we can't lift very high.

For me the value of the Pallet jack is moving things w/o needing the tractor, and being able to pack pallets tightly into our storage area without them becoming inaccessible- that doesn't require racks [although again I'd love me some] which around here seem to be equivalent to hen's teeth.

 

[PhysAssist]

I just bought a 12 inch double miter chop saw for $135 at the sale last week. I haven't used it yet, but I will this week, and it has good ratings.

I really like mine, but I had been setting it up for use on my welding table, so when I saw their miter saw table on sale [w/o coupon] and had a 25% off a single item coupon, I bought theirs- it's [based on my comparison with my B-I-L's DeWalt] a great table, very well made and sturdy, and I'm using the saw more now, since it's easier to just roll it out and set it up than it was to pull out and set up the welding table, then lug the saw out to it, and hoist up on it.

The miter saw table rolls easily, balances well, and set up [once it's assembled and the saw is attached] is 4 button pushes, 4 legs swung out and I'm good to go.

If you get one, be sure to take the rubber feet [which I didn't even know were there] off the bottom of the miter saw before you put it on the table mount to fasten it- otherwise the mounting bolts are too short- don't ask me how I know....

Also- My B-I-L won't fold his DeWalt down completely because when he tries to stand it on end, it's prone to tipping over, but with mine, if I raise the wheel-end stock support roller to its maximum height before collapsing the legs, it provides a sturdy foot that makes the table stand firmly upright.

I will have to look at his table again to see why that doesn't work for his.

 

[Polarisjunky]

I have purchased a fair amount of their tools. I feel for the money it is a win win for a hobbyist mechanic/do it yourselfer like myself. Are there higher quality tools out there? Yes. Are there higher priced tools out there with the same quality as HF tools? Absolutely. All tools have limitations.

 

[sixdogs]

Another one that doesn't suck is the free tape measure sometimes offered. I've got a half dozen of them and they have become my go-to measure because of the clear numbers. Sure they could break at any time so not for important things but for barn or shop use they work great, especially since they're free.