Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[IslandTractor]

Picked up a HF 80A-DC Stick Welder over the weekend. Man, is that thing tiny. I didn't get a chance to use it yet, though, so it'll probably be this coming weekend. I've read some pretty good things about it. We'll see.

It wasn't on sale, unfortunately, at $170. They did have the flux core feed unit on sale for $99, and I almost went that route instead. For some reason, I just went with the stick.

...and I didn't have my free flashlight coupon with me. :banghead:

View attachment 499427

Don't forget to give us a report on the little HF inverter stick machine. I love the lunch box size. I've always wanted one but have 110v/220v welder (Multimatic 200) already and haven't been able to justify another.

 

[dragoneggs]

My new HF floor standing sand blast cabinet is up and working. Great price and it doesn't suck but does benefit greatly from modifications. I should start a thread on the mods.

 

[txdon]

I got here late. Island Tractor, I tried to copy and paste your response so it would be easier for others to follow but I failed at that attempt.

So here are my thoughts to TXdon; I sure would like to add my healthy and hearty applause to TXdon also!! What a grand looking addition you did to your property!! That is stunningly superb workmanship. I could only dream about being even slightly close to that good. Man, you are an skilled person! Very well built.
Greg

Thanks. I really did not have a plan when I started, just one paver at a time, and 20K pavers later I'm done. A special thanks to Ron Hall (TBN) who help me with one section as he passed by my place and to the late Jim Inman (TBN's Jinman) who came up with the ideal to tie the circle together with the Compass Rose. Jim was able to walk on his creative idea. See Pic. He died later that year.

 

[PJSprog]

Don't forget to give us a report on the little HF inverter stick machine. I love the lunch box size. I've always wanted one but have 110v/220v welder (Multimatic 200) already and haven't been able to justify another.

Will do. It'll probably be this weekend before I fire it up.

 

[lexluther]

I'm not a pro. First paver project. The compass rose took several months working on it part time, the entire paver circle drive took two years, but I did take a break in the middle to recover from a heart attack, and only worked when the weather was right. Looking at it from space it does point true north. The secrete is to get the boarders right with cement and steel and with the right slope for drainage then add a good packed rock base followed by coarse leveling sand, pack again, measure, cut and lay.

Dang, that is cool... from space... even more cool

 

[lexluther]

By the way on the batteries... a pet peeve of. One after the Kirkland brand ruined so many things... the Duracell batteries marked "duralock" or something similar are guaranteed not to leak. Knowing that was enough for me to switch for ever

 

[IslandTractor]

By the way on the batteries... a pet peeve of. One after the Kirkland brand ruined so many things... the Duracell batteries marked "duralock" or something similar are guaranteed not to leak. Knowing that was enough for me to switch for ever

Frankly I have learned to trust Kirkland branded stuff from Costco. Certainly higher quality than anything equivalent from HF. I think of Kirkland the way I used to think of Craftsman. Better than most but not as good as the top pro stuff.

 

[lexluther]

Frankly I have learned to trust Kirkland branded stuff from Costco. Certainly higher quality than anything equivalent from HF. I think of Kirkland the way I used to think of Craftsman. Better than most but not as good as the top pro stuff.

Except the batteries they are... They will ruin whatever you put them in eventually

 

[sixdogs]

There is a new freebie tool offer to go along with the free flashlights and such and it's a welcome addition and a desirable item. It's a screwdriver with replaceable tip so you can use any screwdriver bit it in. We have a couple of these and they are very handy. One screwdriver with a few bits and you're covered for most any situation.

http://widgets.harborfreight.com/ws...html&cust=&keycode=1021&single=true&main=true

Not sure if it's a magnetic tip but it would be sweet if it was. I'll be heading to HF in the next few days to pick up some yet unknown item I can't live without along with my free screwdriver.

 

[KubotainNH]

There is a new freebie tool offer to go along with the free flashlights and such and it's a welcome addition and a desirable item. It's a screwdriver with replaceable tip so you can use any screwdriver bit it in. We have a couple of these and they are very handy. One screwdriver with a few bits and you're covered for most any situation.

http://widgets.harborfreight.com/ws...html&cust=&keycode=1021&single=true&main=true

Not sure if it's a magnetic tip but it would be sweet if it was. I'll be heading to HF in the next few days to pick up some yet unknown item I can't live without along with my free screwdriver.

That is a useful one, I've been collecting them to put in each of our vehicles. No magnetic tip from what I remember.

 

[California]

There is a new freebie tool offer to go along with the free flashlights and such and it's a welcome addition and a desirable item. It's a screwdriver with replaceable tip so you can use any screwdriver bit it in. We have a couple of these and they are very handy. One screwdriver with a few bits and you're covered for most any situation.

http://widgets.harborfreight.com/ws...html&cust=&keycode=1021&single=true&main=true

I have a couple of those, and like them. I think the two removable bit-holders have the right size opening for the two common sizes of hose-clamp bolt heads, too.

 

[IslandTractor]

Except the batteries they are... They will ruin whatever you put them in eventually

I've ruined stuff with Duracell and other premium batteries too. Leave them in a few years past their use by date and crap happens. The only thing I have not experienced is a leaking rechargeable Eneloop battery (yet). Those are my current favs.

 

[MossRoad]

There is a new freebie tool offer to go along with the free flashlights and such and it's a welcome addition and a desirable item. It's a screwdriver with replaceable tip so you can use any screwdriver bit it in. We have a couple of these and they are very handy. One screwdriver with a few bits and you're covered for most any situation.

http://widgets.harborfreight.com/ws...html&cust=&keycode=1021&single=true&main=true

Not sure if it's a magnetic tip but it would be sweet if it was. I'll be heading to HF in the next few days to pick up some yet unknown item I can't live without along with my free screwdriver.

I'm pretty sure you can loose tips down that handle if you shove them in there. I just picked one up a couple weeks ago to have in my pouch. Its nice in that it eliminates 4 handles. They are cheap, but work. Grab a few and keep one in each car, because, you know, we can all work on modern cars with a screwdriver now... :laughing:

 

[sixdogs]

I have a couple of those, and like them. I think the two removable bit-holders have the right size opening for the two common sizes of hose-clamp bolt heads, too.

Now, that would make a truly useful--- and free---HF tool to get. Sure wish it was magnetized as well.

When these replaceable tip screwdrivers first showed up in the 1960's, they were from Japan and every guy wanted one. Those $500 stereo component sets from the mid 1970's usually came with one. They were well made screwdrivers--no magnet--and I might still have mine.

 

[California]

A couple of days ago I posted (#6881) about the HF MIG-180 welder I just bought from someone who had upgraded it with longer, heavier cables etc. Today I installed a replacement of the spool hub that should have been in it, and a jumper so + or - can be sent to the gun. (First owner had modified components to gas-only and 10 lb rolls only).

The welder works great, I won the gamble on buying used HF gear. I intend to run flux core only because I don't need pretty welds, most of what I do is modifications or repairs on 3-point implements. And I need to carry the welder a distance to locked storage when I don't have a project going. KISS principle.

I put down several sample beads on 1/8" flat stock and discovered the lower 1/3 of its heat range is sufficient for this. I tried maximum setting one time and went right through the 1/8" material.

One more mod is a big capacitor mounted external. I found that this smooths the arc at any amperage setting, as claimed. It is also claimed to increase output current, but that must stress the internals so I'm not likely to run it wide open with the capacitor switched on.

Has anyone on here applied these modifications to this, or the prior versions, of HF's mig welders?

 

[Clyde in TS]

My best success with broken bolt removal has been with left hand drill bits. My experience is that a drill bit "bites" and snaps off just as it is penetrating the bolt. A left hand drill bit (available from Harbor Freight) will often back the bolt out when it bites.

 

[PILOON]

Now, that would make a truly useful--- and free---HF tool to get. Sure wish it was magnetized as well.

.

Quite easy to magnetize a screwdriver blade.
Stroke it with a good magnet works and they even sell a 'magnetize/demagnetize device' tool at some stores.

 

[sixdogs]

Quite easy to magnetize a screwdriver blade.
Stroke it with a good magnet works and they even sell a 'magnetize/demagnetize device' tool at some stores.

I've done blade tips before but this would require the screwdriver shank as set up to accept the tip. I figured that would be too big to do?

 

[KubotainNH]

Quite easy to magnetize a screwdriver blade.
Stroke it with a good magnet works and they even sell a 'magnetize/demagnetize device' tool at some stores.

Yep. I've also removed the handle on these and put one end in the chuck of my drill to give me some high powered reach.

 

[MossRoad]

You could also get some of these tiny magnets and shove a couple down the shank. Then the whole thing would be magnetized... maybe. :laughing:

1/8 x 1/16 Inch Neodymium Rare Earth Disc Magnets N48 (1 Pack) – totalElement