Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Sysop]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-tools-dont-suck-post4833820.html#post4833820

Ewps, missed it. Good catch!

 

[Midniteoyl]

Ewps, missed it. Good catch!

You're up early, but not that early

 

[DFB]

I found my first ViseGrips in an obscure space inside the grille of a 1949 Olds 88 that I bought in 1961 from my uncle - who had bought the car new. The pliers cleaned up ok but they had been in there a while. Non-locking version.

I'll look around and see if I still have them.

Back in my old motorcycle Enduro dirt bike days more than once a pair vice grips become a makeshift gear box lever or foot peg after said part may have succumbed to boulder or was mangled beyond normal recognition

 

[V65ozzie]

I like their ball pein hammers, the ones with the yellow handles. I'm on my 3rd set in two years. My guys lose them constantly.......... I've had luck with their impact sockets. I have a bunch of their cheap sockets, they sit in a box for those times I have to build a tool for a one time job or such, they also double as press adapters.
Harbor freight has it's place in my tool box, generally for disposable use

 

[Midniteoyl]

Back in my old motorcycle Enduro dirt bike days more than once a pair vice grips become a makeshift gear box lever or foot peg after said part may have succumbed to boulder or was mangled beyond normal recognition

Mine was a hood release handle..

 

[California]

Back in my old motorcycle Enduro dirt bike days more than once a pair vice grips become a makeshift gear box lever or foot peg after said part may have succumbed to boulder or was mangled beyond normal recognition

I recently found a rusted footpeg in the orchard that I think I recall ripping off of my BSA, in about 1964.

After the second winter of that as my only transportation I gave up on bikes for a long time. Then about 1988 we had a slide covering the logging trail back into my gold mining claim so I went out to the flea market and got a $100 junker dirt bike to haul stuff in. (between carburetor teardowns). I brought that back to the orchard and looped it clear over backwards climbing the terraces here too fast. No injury, but as I watched the bike tumble head over heels down the slope it occurred to me that at over 50 and responsible for a family, that was enough dirt biking for me.

 

[California]

Ok, back on-topic for this thread.

I'm surprised no one commented on my post #7701 above, the introduction of a new line of 'Vulcan' welders at HF that are likely to be clones of Hobart, Everlast, or something. I think this marks HF stepping up to go toe to toe with the big boys, or at least with the reputable brand welders sold at the box stores, TSC, etc.

That page linked over on Welding Web shows the new Vulcan line is in pre-order status now. And I see HF's flagship mig welder, mig-180, is on sale for $249 which may be a closeout.

Does anyone know more about this?

 

[Oaktree]

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.

How do they stand up? Never tried the HF ones, but I've had several from HD or Lowes with plastic headbands, I'd be lucky to get a summer out of them. Now maybe I've just got a big head, but those always broke in half after a few uses. Finally broke down and got an American-made set at a real tool store with a spring steel band...8 years and still like new.
I suppose the HF cheapies are good to keep in the truck for emergencies as someone else mentioned, but I wouldn't want 'em for my only pair.

 

[jimmysisson]

We used a couple pair of Peterson vice grips to haul roof plywood up mid-seventies. Used a muffler clamp u-bolt w threads cut off welded to the rounded portion between handle and jaws. Worked well for cheap.
Jim

 

[Michael Aos]

I just started using the $35 Hercules 4.5" 7-amp small angle grinder. Liking it so far.
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