Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[DFB]

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.

I picked up on that too they don't say impact rated but just for reference I have similar ones from TSC that have held up ok so far.

But looking thru the reviews I always start with the lowest ratings some users seem to have had a few issues with them getting stuck in the impact driver most noticeably with the 1/4 X 1/4 adapter. Others claimed the ball detents didn't work well dunno. I have to take the worst reviews with a grain of salt especially if the good reviews far outnumber them

I have quite a few of these adapters in various lengths up to 12 inches from different manufacturers but never experienced an 1/4 shank adapter getting stuck in the tool But once had a cheapie socket get stuck on a impact wrench anvil because it twisted and deformed.


Sixdogs what about the Warrior magnetic nutsetters...any good? I had some on my tool table but they sold so I didn't get a chance to try them out lol!

Power Tools – Save on Power Tools at Harbor Freight Tools

I have had stubby nutsetters tekton brand not fit in my various impact drivers they wouldn't lock in the collet because the turned down portion of the shank was too short to catch the ball when inserted in.

 

[JRobyn]

I keep at least one of the bench brushes at every different saw and drill press, plus the bench. So maybe 5 or so of them.

 

[94BULLITT]

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

Yeah, they are not much good on an impact driver. You lose a lot of torque through them. I have a snap on 1/4 impact adapter and i can torque more with it than the ones from HF.

Also don't use the bits from the security bit set from HF in an impact. I broke a Phillips after running 3 screws in wood.

 

[sixdogs]

I picked up on that too they don't say impact rated but just for reference I have similar ones from TSC that have held up ok so far.

But looking thru the reviews I always start with the lowest ratings some users seem to have had a few issues with them getting stuck in the impact driver most noticeably with the 1/4 X 1/4 adapter. Others claimed the ball detents didn't work well dunno. I have to take the worst reviews with a grain of salt especially if the good reviews far outnumber them

I have quite a few of these adapters in various lengths up to 12 inches from different manufacturers but never experienced an 1/4 shank adapter getting stuck in the tool But once had a cheapie socket get stuck on a impact wrench anvil because it twisted and deformed.


Sixdogs what about the Warrior magnetic nutsetters...any good? I had some on my tool table but they sold so I didn't get a chance to try them out lol!

Power Tools Save on Power Tools at Harbor Freight Tools

I have had stubby nutsetters tekton brand not fit in my various impact drivers they wouldn't lock in the collet because the turned down portion of the shank was too short to catch the ball when inserted in.

I have never used the nut setters so I can't say. BUT, I have used the 100 piece security bit set and can highly recommend it. It will take off every odd screw I have ever seen. In fact, I'll bet you could take apart one of those vandal proofed elevators PDQ. For the pittance it costs, everyone should have one. I use it once a year but every time am glad I have it.

 

[PJSprog]

I fired up that 80A DC inverter stick welder yesterday, and played on a flat scrap piece for awhile. Not being a welder, it took a bit to get it going. Stuck it about three times before I remembered the "striking" movement to start the arc. After that, it laid down beads pretty well with 1/16" 7014 rods. I found I got a lot less splatter and better control around 55A than I was getting at 80A. Seems like it will be a very capable little device for small projects.

The real big surprise for me was the $44 HF helmet. Very sensitive. True to other reviews, it's not the most sturdy thing, but it'll work fine for a non-pro homeowner doing occasional welding projects.

I also learned that it is not a good idea to weld on the top of a wood-top portable clamping bench. Whoops.

 

[California]

I have a piece of cement-asbestos-fiber board that was probably intended to insulate a wall behind a wood stove. I put it on the workbench when I have a small welding project to do there. No damage yet.

Thanks for the review. I don't need another welder but at times I've been tempted by HF's ads for those.

 

[Jim Nelson]

Another little jewel is the right angle screw driver set item #92630,a good friend's wife came up with this and I don't use it a lot but every now and then it is the perfect tool.I was pretty skeptical at first but there have been a couple of times I've put a considerable amount of pressure on it and it has stayed together.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Those right angle drivers are the best thing running for getting into tight spots w/o having to remove other items that might be in the way.

 

[PhysAssist]

Txdon--that really is an amazing end result. Wish I had the patience and smarts for a project like that.

I'm not sure what the current membership on TBN or this thread is, but I'll bet there are a lot of us who have not only the same respect and awe for this project, but also the same sentiments as Island Tractor- please don't tell our spouses about it!

Awesome job man!

 

[PhysAssist]

I have a yellow one from many moons ago works okay for me...have cut a lot of back poly pipe with it. Cuts straight thru the thinner wall stuff easy enough.

Does seem to cut crooked on thick stuff like sched 40 pvc conduit if you try squeezing straight thru it. Working it like a pipe cutter and rotating the tool around the pipe helps a lot to get a straighter cut.

Harbor Freight Reviews - Ratchet Action Hose/PVC Pipe Cutter

Hi DFB,


Thanks for posting that link- I had no idea that there was an independent HF review site- but i'll prolly use it a lot for stuff that I don't seem to find readily/easily on here.

They also are clearly completely independent of HF, because some of the reviews commented that HF won't post their negative comments on certain items.

Thanks again,
Thomas

 

[PhysAssist]

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?

Hi Ca,

If you find out anything about that capacitor add-on, particularly a how-to DIY, I would really appreciate a heads up, because I'd like to fully enable my HF wire burner.

Thanks,
Thomas

 

[PhysAssist]

I also learned that it is not a good idea to weld on the top of a wood-top portable clamping bench. Whoops.

heh, heh, heh
Thomas

Been there, done that, threw out the T-shirts...

 

[California]

Hi Ca,

If you find out anything about that capacitor add-on, particularly a how-to DIY, I would really appreciate a heads up, because I'd like to fully enable my HF wire burner.

Thanks,
Thomas

Here you go. This link is nothing more than a trail of breadcrumbs that will lead you down a rabbithole but it does answer your question ... and a lot more.

Take a look at this thread in the HF forum over on Welding Web
Cap mod on HF 180 mig
then start following the trail of links back into the prior threads there.

To summarize - the earlier blue mig welders were the basis for extensive mods to get them up to solid performers, and those mods are well documented if you wade through reading the inevitable trial and error engineering that was attempted and sometimes succeeded. Those same mods are applicable to the latest Mig 180 and 170 models but in my opinion HF did a pretty decent job with the 180, it's already at the level that those modifications were intended to accomplish.

The guy I bought my welder from was obviously a garage inventor and did a clean job of installing the latest, proven versions of the mods described in those threads. One thing he skipped - the capacitor needs a resistor across it to bleed off the charge after you release the gun's trigger. I found there is no resistor on mine. I cautiously shorted a screwdriver across it to see if there was still a charge a few minutes after welding - and burned through the chrome on the screwdriver. Since this capacitor is external on the back of the cabinet it's a significant safety hazard. I need to add the resistor and cut down a piece of Tupperware or something for a shield over the capacitor terminals.

 

[TheMan419]

Any one have an opinion on 18 Volt 3/8 in. Cordless Drill/Driver And Flashlight Kit

My old cordless is dead as the batteries are fried. I don't use it all that much.....

 

[Gary Fowler]

They say on the pack they are to be used in something with a low draw.

How much lower draw can you get than from a digital camera. A good set of batteries will take several hundred pictures when not using a flash. And they start leaking within a month or so in a flashlight.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Any one have an opinion on 18 Volt 3/8 in. Cordless Drill/Driver And Flashlight Kit

My old cordless is dead as the batteries are fried. I don't use it all that much.....

I got one and the charger wont work. It is a two piece charger and the part that fits onto the battery has some chip boards in it (it doesn't work). The actually charger puts out 18v but the juice cant get thru the slip on battery attachment. Got to take it back if I ever go back to Little Rock (70 miles one way)

 

[IslandTractor]

Any one have an opinion on 18 Volt 3/8 in. Cordless Drill/Driver And Flashlight Kit

My old cordless is dead as the batteries are fried. I don't use it all that much.....

I will never buy another NiCad battery powered tool ever. If you want to save money get a Ryobi lithium 18v. If you want something that will last decades get a Makita, Bosch, DeWalt, Fein etc 18V Lithium. For something to be used occasionally and mostly just around the house, the 12v lithium tools from Ryobi, Makita, Bosch are really very good.

 

[Oaktree]

How much lower draw can you get than from a digital camera. A good set of batteries will take several hundred pictures when not using a flash.

Every digital camera I've ever owned (that used AA batteries) recommended using NiMH rechargeables, and recommended against standard-duty batteries. I have NEVER gotten several hundred pictures out of a set...I'm lucky to get 70 or 80.

That having been said, I wonder if anyone at HF got the irony of recommending "heavy duty" batteries only for low-draw devices. :confused3:

 

[94BULLITT]

How much lower draw can you get than from a digital camera. A good set of batteries will take several hundred pictures when not using a flash. And they start leaking within a month or so in a flashlight.

A digital camera is a high drain device. The HF batteries are Zinc Chloride.

Our Essential Guide To Batteries - Page 2 of 3 - What Digital Camera

If you use your camera frequently check out Eneloop batteries. Costco has them from time to time and Amazon has good prices on them.

 

[California]

I will never buy another NiCad battery powered tool ever. If you want to save money get a Ryobi lithium 18v. If you want something that will last decades get a Makita, Bosch, DeWalt, Fein etc 18V Lithium. For something to be used occasionally and mostly just around the house, the 12v lithium tools from Ryobi, Makita, Bosch are really very good.

Ditto. NiCad is obsolete, and nothing more than a frustration-maker. I don't know why HF still uses it.

Ryobi is the natural step up from HF into competent 18 volt tools for DIY, farm etc. Quite usable but not in the expensive, powerful category a pro would use daily.

Ryobi is "Good enough for the girls I go with." as an old Carpenter buddy used to say. I wouldn't buy anything cheaper.