Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[crazyal]

I don't get their fliers very often but did a few days ago. I noticed there were several new brands. One of them, Vulcan I noticed a few posts ago. I had a flier from December 2015 with a 25% off new years day coupon in it. These new brands were listed as excluded on the coupon even back then. There are a few more listed. Maybe they were brands HF used in the past or maybe they just registered them with plans on expanding. HF seams to be moving towards brands that are excluded from their 20%/ 25% off coupons. Without them I'll be less likely to shop there. I find prices are not always cheaper for similar merchandise. For example I needed a 50' 14g extension cord. There's no HF near me so I went to Home Depot. For the exact same price ($19.99) I walked out the door with one. Had there been a HF close by I would have gone there and used a 20% off coupon to buy it and picked up a few other things since the coupon still works for them.

For example the last time I looked the portable band saw was made by Chicago Electric, now it's made by Bauer. The price is the same and it does go on sale often but now the 20% off coupon doesn't officially work. So if it's something that doesn't go on sale or you don't want to wait for it to go on sale you are going to pay more. I'm wondering if this is a trend and HF is going to try to phase out the coupons.

 

[dragoneggs]

Blip!

With the database wonky, a new post must be made before you can view the next page in a thread.

This is the new post.

Thanks for pointing this out... thought it was the onset of something.

 

[California]

Thanks for pointing this out... thought it was the onset of something.

Looks like they're still working the bugs out of the database. I deleted that post apparently in the instant you quoted it. When I looked back into this thread to see if the final page remained visible, I saw your reply for an instant then my screen went total black. I had to close the tab, the Firefox session, all other Firefox sessions - everything had gone black - then restart Firefox, before my browser returned to functioning normally. Strange.

 

[sixdogs]

This battery powered XL, 1/2" impact wrench must be some sort of breakout for HF.

2V Max Lithium 1/2 in. Cordless Xtreme Torque Impact Wrench Kit

It's getting mostly five star ratings but I have learned to wait for debugging. I may have missed it but anyone own one of these?

 

[KubotainNH]

This battery powered XL, 1/2" impact wrench must be some sort of breakout for HF.

2V Max Lithium 1/2 in. Cordless Xtreme Torque Impact Wrench Kit

It's getting mostly five star ratings but I have learned to wait for debugging. I may have missed it but anyone own one of these?

I wonder if they are starting to mess with the ratings. I got a catalog recently and I had to search to see if there were any items with less than 4 stars. I only saw one or two which doesn't seem accurate.

 

[IslandTractor]

I wonder if they are starting to mess with the ratings. I got a catalog recently and I had to search to see if there were any items with less than 4 stars. I only saw one or two which doesn't seem accurate.

They certainly do mess with ratings. I've "posted" both good and bad reviews of HF merchandise but only the good reviews are ever published on their website. Buyer beware, especially since the current administration is unlikely to support honesty in advertising regulations.

 

[California]

Buyer beware. I've had several of my negative reviews refused without comment.

If you sort reviews worst-first you can get some idea of potential problems even though they publish a greater number of 5-star reviews. Then if you do decide to buy, examine the object for the issues in those comments, and be prepared to return it if the one you got has the same flaws.

Also sometimes there are people re-selling HF stuff as 'factory reconditioned' on Amazon, new condition, higher than HF prices. I think they just run down and buy the item at Hf to fill an order. So looking on Amazon you may find more factual reviews for your item. I've see HF's little 12 volt water pumps sold this way, and Ryobi (Home Depot house brand) stuff too. Both at 50~100% over native price.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Husky vs Yukon mobile boxes..

 

[PJSprog]

Husky vs Yukon mobile boxes..

Interesting.

 

[jack707]

I use the predator engine on my log spliter 6.5 hp

 

[PhysAssist]

Is that long-handle vise-grip built well enough to apply maximum force to it?

I would have expected an ordinary vise grip to fold up or bend sideways and tear out a rivet, or something, if it got the force that long handle provides.

I haven't put my full [considerable] body weight on it yet, but I suspect the jaws will slip long before the metal gives out- they're pretty heavily made.

 

[California]

Thanks PhysAssist.


A long and thoughtful review of the new 3500 watt Inverter Generator, over on Welding Web:

3500 watt quiet Inverter Generator

He likes it.

 

[stuckmotor]

I got everything together to use my electric drill to drive screws down and secure some corrugated metal to build a small roof. After driving the first screw I noticed that the magnetic driver socket had disappeared from the keyless chuck. I even searched with a magnet and never found that socket. To finish the job I got my 3/8" drive speeder handle, a 1/4" adapter and a 1/4" socket. Because I was on a ladder I couldn't get over the speed handle to puncture the metal, so, I punched a small hole through it with a nail to start the screws. It worked great and allowed more control than the drill would have. 3/8 in. Drive Speed Handle

 

[PhysAssist]

I got everything together to use my electric drill to drive screws down and secure some corrugated metal to build a small roof. After driving the first screw I noticed that the magnetic driver socket had disappeared from the keyless chuck. I even searched with a magnet and never found that socket. To finish the job I got my 3/8" drive speeder handle, a 1/4" adapter and a 1/4" socket. Because I was on a ladder I couldn't get over the speed handle to puncture the metal, so, I punched a small hole through it with a nail to start the screws. It worked great and allowed more control than the drill would have. 3/8 in. Drive Speed Handle

Sounds like you used some ingenuity, and made it work- Cheers for that: :drink:

But I'm too lazy for that , so I always keep some of these laying around [They're actually always stored in exactly the same spot so I always know where to find them.]:



The ones on the left are rated for use with impact tools, but I have used them interchangeably so far.

This was my search term: HEX SHANK 1/4" SOCKET ADAPTER


Unfortunately I couldn't find any of them on HF, so IIRC, I bought mine on clearance from Northern Tool.

 

[PhysAssist]

Thanks PhysAssist.

<Helpfully included long thoughtful Genny review link> deleted for brevity

De nada- One of the things we used to use those "vise grip" knock-offs for was pulling nails and staples in recycling wood and disassembly of pallets, and for that both the grip strength, and the extra leverage were really helpful, and neither was too much for the other.

Now we use this:



and rarely have to use much pulling force, if any.

Air Locker AP7 Heavy Duty Professional Punch Nailer / Nail Remover with - YouTube

BUT, I ended up having to get one of these:



Adjustable Face Shield

AND we use either some of these:



Anti-Fatigue Foam Mat Set 4 Pc

or a big garbage barrel under the work piece to prevent flyers from hitting us in various body parts.

...And for my last featured product that we really like:

When my SWMBO took me to the LGR to shoot some bigger caliber rifles than we have access to at home, we borrowed their ear covers, and liked them so much better than the ones we already had, that I bought 2 pairs of these:


Hearing Protector

which are the ones that we had borrowed at the range, and which, even though the online specs say they are rated for 25 dB noise reduction [the packaging says 35 dB IIRC], are WAY better than my electronic ones, which are also rated at 25 dB NR.

As always, YMMV and caveat emptor!

Yours,
PA

 

[California]

View attachment 517589

Hearing Protector

which are the ones that we had borrowed at the range, and which, even though the online specs say they are rated for 25 dB noise reduction [the packaging says 35 dB IIRC], are WAY better than my electronic ones, which are also rated at 25 dB NR.

I like those. Much better than HF's red ones, better than earplugs. I have noticeably less fatigue after a day of tractor operation using these.

 

[stuckmotor]

Sounds like you used some ingenuity, and made it work- Cheers for that: :drink:

But I'm too lazy for that , so I always keep some of these laying around [They're actually always stored in exactly the same spot so I always know where to find them.]:

View attachment 517582 View attachment 517581

The ones on the left are rated for use with impact tools, but I have used them interchangeably so far.

This was my search term: HEX SHANK 1/4" SOCKET ADAPTER


Unfortunately I couldn't find any of them on HF, so IIRC, I bought mine on clearance from Northern Tool.

I've two or three sets of those and I actually had one in the pasture near where I was working. It was 1/2 inch and I needed a 1/4. Organization isn't my strong point.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Is that long-handle vise-grip built well enough to apply maximum force to it?

I would have expected an ordinary vise grip to fold up or bend sideways and tear out a rivet, or something, if it got the force that long handle provides.

When it comes to locking pliers, the only ones that you can really count on are Vice Grip and other American based brands. Germany too I would guess. Economy locking pliers are soft. Most can be destroyed by just getting as firm a locked grip as your strength allows. The pins in the joints bend and will finally shear if used tight over and over.

 

[California]

View attachment 517581

Unfortunately I couldn't find any of them on HF

Hf has them, I have the set. But I just now went through a half dozen search terms before locating them on the website.

Hex Drill Socket Driver Set 3 Pc

 

[California]

When it comes to locking pliers ... Economy locking pliers are soft. ... The pins in the joints bend and will finally shear if used tight over and over.

That's been my experience, its why I asked if Tractor Supply's long handle version was solid enough to use as intended. Since PA described it as adequate I may get one.

Incidentally I've been using cheap vise grip pliers as a quick-n-dirty welding ground clamp. It bites into dirty steel then I clip the welder's ground to it. (I clean the area where the weld will go! This is out on the other end of the material.)