Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[California]

Pneumatic roller seat is $19, had one for years.
Pneumatic Adjustable Rolling Stool Seat

I like mine but I didn't realize it was so low until I got it home. Its height is for doing a brake job or something, not for sitting at a workbench.

Rolling here and there to fetch tools or parts is handy.

I like the Mechanic's Rolling Seat, too. Its handy to accumulate tools and parts as a project progresses.

 

[Threepoint]

[snip]

BTW, I have the Sherwin Williams formula to match the HF orange paint, if anyone needs it.

Rick, Ha! Move over, Kubota and Kioti! It's a testament to HF's growing respect when some of us even want to match their paint color!

 

[Garandman]

Is it the same as Kubota? Ariens And Kubota Are Chevrolet Engine Orange.

Now if I could match Honda snow thrower red.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Is it the same as Kubota? Ariens And Kubota Are Chevrolet Engine Orange.

Now if I could match Honda snow thrower red.

All you need to do is find a removable part that has unfaded paint and get color scan. S-W does it and I’m sure other paint stores do as well.

 

[Threepoint]

All you need to do is find a removable part that has unfaded paint and get color scan. S-W does it and I知 sure other paint stores do as well.

I'm wondering if it might depend on the location. A couple years ago I tried to have a local S-W here match the "Burnt Orange" color that Woods uses on their implements. Was told they could do it in latex paint, but not enamel! Skeptical, I got the contact number for a regional S-W rep, and she confirmed! Maybe it would be different now.

I could have had it custom-matched by an automotive paint vendor, but that would have been pretty expensive for just touch-up. Or ordered from Woods through an authorized dealer. Last year I discovered that TSC sells a very close match, off the shelf, and it's available in a rattle can. Case Power Yellow 8-22983 by Majic.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Yeah, good old Harbor Freight QUALITY!

Cutting An Anvil In Half With A 60,000 PSI Waterjet - YouTube

 

[PhysAssist]

Lotta MC buddies are picking up the motorcycle lift for less than $300. We just do not have the room.

Pneumatic roller seat is $19, had one for years.
Pneumatic Adjustable Rolling Stool Seat

Mine lost all the caster bearings within a couple of months, and the seat was too small for my large fundus, but the base and hydraulics were sturdy, so I put on new casters and the old OEM seat from our Kubota, now it's great.

 

[Garandman]

All you need to do is find a removable part that has unfaded paint and get color scan. S-W does it and I’m sure other paint stores do as well.

Yeah, for $15 which is what the dealer charges.

Chevy Engine Orange is $4 at any big box or hardware store. Haven’t found anything easily removable on the Honda snow thrower.

 

[sixdogs]

Yeah, good old Harbor Freight QUALITY!

Cutting An Anvil In Half With A 60,000 PSI Waterjet - YouTube

Good old bondo in the casting voids. Why expect less?

 

[jerrybob]

Bought one of these belt sanders from HF several years ago.....it was cheap with a coupon. I have abused the heck out of it........still going strong and doing the job.

6.5 Amp 3 in. x 21 in. Heavy Duty Belt Sander

 

[Michael Aos]

Went back and checked this morning. Turns out the "Made in Taiwan" version was on a different shelf.

Side-by-side, the Taiwan version is definitely nicer. I'm planning to return the Made in China version. I haven't used it.

I finally noticed the 2 different part-numbers for many products seems to correspond to China / Taiwan versions. Same price.


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Just purchased the 301pc Mechanics Tool Set on sale for $155.

I'd read they were manufactured in Taiwan, so I wanted to check it out. Mine says "Made in China" -- and the fit / finish looks like it.

I'll probably still keep it though.

I have a couple similar sets -- 2 different Craftsman versions (150pc, plus another similar sized), 2x Kirkland / Costco 159pc (very nice finish), and a Dewalt 181pc black chrome.

The problem with the smaller sets is that I always seem to need that 1 tool / bit / socket / wrench that isn't included.

 

[California]

Bought one of these belt sanders from HF several years ago.....it was cheap with a coupon. I have abused the heck out of it........still going strong and doing the job.

6.5 Amp 3 in. x 21 in. Heavy Duty Belt Sander

Your luck is better than mine.

That sander ran fine for two days preparing a deck for re-staining. However the zipper on the dust bag tore out in the first hour, the second or third time it was opened. it was miserable to operate. I returned the sander.

 

[sixdogs]

Went back and checked this morning. Turns out the "Made in Taiwan" version was on a different shelf.

Side-by-side, the Taiwan version is definitely nicer. I'm planning to return the Made in China version. I haven't used it.

I finally noticed the 2 different part-numbers for many products seems to correspond to China / Taiwan versions. Same price.

View attachment 529803
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Any tool you can find made in Taiwan are far nicer than Chinese and are getting close to rival some old time American tools that were well respected. Good steel, decent craftsmanship and I'm a buy America first guy if at all possible.

 

[/pine]

Bought one of these belt sanders from HF several years ago.....it was cheap with a coupon. I have abused the heck out of it........still going strong and doing the job.

6.5 Amp 3 in. x 21 in. Heavy Duty Belt Sander

Ditto
I bought the same sander about 9 years ago in a pinch in the middle of a job...it's since went through a dozen big all fiberglass (commercial fishing vessel) customization/fabrication jobs...

Just used it the the other day (up side down) to shape / re-fit a broken sledge handle to fit a hand axe head...

 

[jerrybob]

Your luck is better than mine.

That sander ran fine for two days preparing a deck for re-staining. However the zipper on the dust bag tore out in the first hour, the second or third time it was opened. it was miserable to operate. I returned the sander.

Sorry to hear. My sander has done floors, furniture and several buggy/wagon parts..........she just keeps going and I've not been gentle.

 

[jerrybob]

Ditto
I bought the same sander about 9 years ago in a pinch in the middle of a job...it's since went through a dozen big all fiberglass (commercial fishing vessel) customization/fabrication jobs...

Just used it the the other day (up side down) to shape / re-fit a broken sledge handle to fit a hand axe head...

:thumbsup::drink:

 

[California]

Sorry to hear. My sander has done floors, furniture and several buggy/wagon parts..........she just keeps going and I've not been gentle.

I liked the operation of the sander. Easy to handle, good power, effective. If the bag had held up I would have kept it as a favorite tool. I probably will buy that model next time I have a project, and will will of course keep it - assuming it doesn't fall apart like the first one. Duct tape holding the bag closed and a dust mask on me for two days wasn't fun.

 

[TheMan419]

3 Bin Wall Mount Parts Rack

Anyone use the above? I am just a homeowner, not a commercial repair guy. Building up the usual assortment of nuts, bolts, screws and whatsits from projects. Like to keep the left overs organized so when the next project comes along I don't have to run to the hardware store.

So I do not need anything too beefy, it will get some occasional use.

 

[California]

Building up the usual assortment of nuts, bolts, screws and whatsits from projects. Like to keep the left overs organized so when the next project comes along I don't have to run to the hardware store. So I do not need anything too beefy, it will get some occasional use.

I've had my wife saving jars for me for years, and I've settled on two sizes for leftover small fasteners: Plastic quart mayonnaise jars, because they are transparent, and unbreakable when filled with heavy stuff, and glass stuffed-olive jars for smaller items, including mixed small items in the same jar. With this slender shape, nothing is concealed if you roll the jar to shuffle the contents. I bought a heavy, maybe mil-surplus, 5-drawer office filing cabinet to keep these containers and larger objects in - extension cords, scrap rubber and leather for patching things, plumbing and air fittings, trays of rusty old bolts that can be cleaned if I can't find a clean stored one. Anything I expect might be stored for years but will save a trip to town by having it on hand.

The 5-drawer filing cabinet keeps all this random stuff in a small footprint.

My work area where this stuff is stored long term is unique, its an open equipment-parking stall so anything stored long term needs to be protected from the climate and from the tractor dust that settles into anything that's been there a long time. Open trays like HF's wouldn't protect small objects as well as the jars.

 

[Threepoint]

3� Bin Wall Mount Parts Rack

Anyone use the above? I am just a homeowner, not a commercial repair guy. Building up the usual assortment of nuts, bolts, screws and whatsits from projects. Like to keep the left overs organized so when the next project comes along I don't have to run to the hardware store.

So I do not need anything too beefy, it will get some occasional use.

A problem with open bins is accumulation of dust and dirt in with the parts, especially sawdust if you're going to do any woodworking. I'm partial to the pullout clear plastic drawers for small parts. Hang two or three of these units side by side on the wall, or stand up at the back of a work bench: 4 Bin Organizer with Full Length Drawer