Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[KubotainNH]

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

Too costly for a free tool.

 

[MossRoad]

Too costly for a free tool.

:laughing:

There's 100 of them for $3.99!!! :laughing:

4 cents per each free Harbor Freight tool is still too much! :laughing:

 

[sixdogs]

What's a "rare earth" magnet compared with a regular magnet? What's the difference?

 

[MossRoad]

What's a "rare earth" magnet compared with a regular magnet? What's the difference?

From here:
Rare-earth magnet - Wikipedia

Rare-earth magnets are strong permanent magnets made from alloys of rare earth elements (elements in the lanthanide series, plus scandium and yttrium).[1] Developed in the 1970s and '80s, rare-earth magnets are the strongest type of permanent magnets made, producing significantly stronger magnetic fields than other types such as ferrite or alnico magnets. The magnetic field typically produced by rare-earth magnets can exceed 1.4 teslas, whereas ferrite or ceramic magnets typically exhibit fields of 0.5 to 1 tesla. There are two types: neodymium magnets and samarium-cobalt magnets. Magnetostrictive rare-earth magnets such as Terfenol-D also have applications—e.g. in loudspeakers. Rare earth magnets are extremely brittle and also vulnerable to corrosion, so they are usually plated or coated to protect them from breaking, chipping, or crumbling into powder.

The term "rare earth" can be misleading as these metals are not particularly rare or precious.

 

[sixdogs]

Thank you for the rare earth magnet info.

 

[Mendonsy]

Yes, those little magnets are strong. I have some that are 5/16" diameter and 5/64" thick which came from HF stuck to the edge of my workbench. It takes about 5 lbs of force to pull them off.

 

[California]

Some of the strongest small magnets I've seen came from taking apart old 5.25" full-height hard drives. I don't know if modern drives use them.

 

[DFB]

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 have a couple of Craftsman brand screwdrivers like that...reversible with ball detent. For years they have been my most often used just handy and easy to switch tips. Much better than the screwdriver handles with the rubber ring around them that hold various 1 inch bits. Like its been mentioned the hollow shaft hex portion should possibly double as nut driver too. But now I wonder if its SAE or metric :laughing:

For free how can you go wrong

 

[California]

Looks like they're closing out the blue electric Pressure Washer, replacing it with a green one with longer hose and slightly stronger specs.

Reviews on the blue one show some failed after little use - so get the warranty!

Does anyone have practical experience with the blue one? Price with coupon is about $65. HF's replacement model and anything decent from Lowe's etc is over $100. My application is simply washing mud and grime off the tractor. I don't need the power to prep for deck refinishing etc.

 

[sixdogs]

I have a couple of Craftsman brand screwdrivers like that...reversible with ball detent. For years they have been my most often used just handy and easy to switch tips. Much better than the screwdriver handles with the rubber ring around them that hold various 1 inch bits. Like its been mentioned the hollow shaft hex portion should possibly double as nut driver too. But now I wonder if its SAE or metric :laughing:

For free how can you go wrong

I just picked up my fee screwdriver and it is a winner. There are lots of uses for these and lots of places to keep one for whenever the need may arrive. I could use six or eight of these.

 

[prichard]

Looks like they're closing out the blue electric Pressure Washer, replacing it with a green one with longer hose and slightly stronger specs.

Reviews on the blue one show some failed after little use - so get the warranty!

Does anyone have practical experience with the blue one? Price with coupon is about $65. HF's replacement model and anything decent from Lowe's etc is over $100. My application is simply washing mud and grime off the tractor. I don't need the power to prep for deck refinishing etc.

I have a blue electric but not from HF. I think I might have got it from Woot, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was made by the same manufacturer. I've been quite happy with it for light duty work. If I remember I'll look for a brand tomorrow.

 

[sixdogs]

Here is an absolute best buy from HF. It's their " 7 inch bench brush" and cost is under $2. It's one of the handiest things I have and, in fact, I have two of them. One is for oily things like the top of the bench and the other is for things I want no oil residue on like woodwork and such. One of the better HF buys. Plus, there's no smell of evaporating rubber solvents.

7" Bench Brush

 

[newbury]

Looks like they're closing out the blue electric Pressure Washer, replacing it with a green one with longer hose and slightly stronger specs.

Reviews on the blue one show some failed after little use - so get the warranty!

Does anyone have practical experience with the blue one? Price with coupon is about $65. HF's replacement model and anything decent from Lowe's etc is over $100. My application is simply washing mud and grime off the tractor. I don't need the power to prep for deck refinishing etc.

I bought the Sun Joe Pressure Joe 2,030 psi 1.76 GPM 14.5 Amp Electric Pressure Washer from Home Depot while it was on sale for $100+ tax. Used it for several hours cleaning the house siding, driveway, deck etc. Very pleased with it.

I wanted the higher PSI mainly because part of my house is 3 stories and I needed the higher pressure to reach the heights.

 

[sixdogs]

Here's another winner. These are bits you chuck into your electric drill and can use for tightening lighter hardware. I use mine a lot when indoors or when I don't want to start up the compressor. $5 and that's before the 20% off. I use mine in a driver type drill with a push on chuck so it's fast and easy to use.

Hex Drill Socket Driver Set 3 Pc

 

[aczlan]

Here's another winner. These are bits you chuck into your electric drill and can use for tightening lighter hardware. I use mine a lot when indoors or when I don't want to start up the compressor. $5 and that's before the 20% off. I use mine in a driver type drill with a push on chuck so it's fast and easy to use.

Hex Drill Socket Driver Set 3 Pc


View attachment 500020

I use use those on my 1/4" impact driver. They work really well...

Aaron Z

 

[newbury]

Here's another winner. These are bits you chuck into your electric drill and can use for tightening lighter hardware. I use mine a lot when indoors or when I don't want to start up the compressor. $5 and that's before the 20% off. I use mine in a driver type drill with a push on chuck so it's fast and easy to use.

Hex Drill Socket Driver Set 3 Pc


View attachment 500020

I'm a great user of those, especially the 3/8.
I've got about 120 or more 9/16 nuts holding my "enclosed" trailer enclosure together, mostly on flat U-bolts.

A DeWalt 20V Max drill, the 3/8 socket driver and a deep wall 9/16 socket make assembly and disassembly a relative breeze.

 

[California]

Here's another winner. These are bits you chuck into your electric drill and can use for tightening lighter hardware.
Hex Drill Socket Driver Set 3 Pc
View attachment 500020

I use use those on my 1/4" impact driver. They work really well...

Aaron Z

The hex-to-socket bits are something everyone should have.

Running these dozen or so 11 inch bolts into drilled holes was simple compared to using a ratchet.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

They are nice, but I have broken impact rated ones on my battery impact driver.

 

[KubotainNH]

Hard drive magnets are super strong, watch your fingers. I like that brush and the idea of 2 of them. I also have the hex to socket type adapters, super useful.

 

[sixdogs]

They are nice, but I have broken impact rated ones on my battery impact driver.

I can't find them in a quick search but I think I have seen black oxide impact ones as well. Another option would be to turn the power down.