Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[patrick_g]

I have had a HF horizontal or vertical metal cutting continuous loop band saw type saw for a couple years.

Metal Band Saw - Horizontal/Vertical Metal Band Saw

Mine is green vs the red ones currently selling. Look to be same except color. Has adjustable pneudraulic lowering so you can set the speed the saw is lowered onto the metal to be cut. It has a pump with adjustable delivery volume so the water based solution of cutting/cooling liquid rate of supply can be easily adjusted.

I don't use mine much as I cancelled the project I bought it for. B U T the times I have used it... wow ... it does a good job. It came with a sample piece of material cut by the saw. It was round bar about 1 1/2 inches in diameter and the sample piece was quite thin, thinner than a penny by far. Perfect cut. I was suspicious about a very thin sample piece cut that perfectly but now having made several cuts with it getting really really good cuts I concede that the saw is a good'n.

Too bad I cancelled the project I was going to use it on. It would have done an amazing job. These saws are slow compared to a 14 inch abrasive cutoff saw but make virtually a perfect cut. The material holding vise is adequate for holding the material firmly and is nicely adjustable. Long stock should be supported past its balance point so nothing "funny" happens as the cut is finished.

Patrick

 

[lostcreekranch]

So there are actually Four things ( I had previously only known of three) you should never buy from HF

1. Parachute
2. Fire extinguisher
3. Condoms
4. Jack stands

All joking aside, your point is well taken!

You totally missed Defibrillators! Life Rafts! Oxygen Masks! Life Vests!

 

[sixdogs]

So there are actually Four things ( I had previously only known of three) you should never buy from HF

1. Parachute
2. Fire extinguisher
3. Condoms
4. Jack stands

All joking aside, your point is well taken!

You totally missed Defibrillators! Life Rafts! Oxygen Masks! Life Vests!

You beat me to it. I didn't know about the defib things but am pretty sure there is or used to be some sort of a heart monitor device that you wore on your wrist to warn of problems. Imagine the luck of the draw with that one.

 

[California]

You totally missed Defibrillators! Life Rafts! Oxygen Masks! Life Vests!

Tires!

Harbor Freight tire recall (pdf).

 

[patrick_g]

am pretty sure there is or used to be some sort of a heart monitor device that you wore on your wrist to warn of problems. Imagine the luck of the draw with that one.

I have two of those and they agree with each other and with the super duper multitool med monitor out local paramedic carries.

However, YMMV.

Patrick

 

[California]

am pretty sure there is or used to be some sort of a heart monitor device that you wore on your wrist to warn of problems. Imagine the luck of the draw with that one.

I have two of those and they agree with each other and with the super duper multitool med monitor out local paramedic carries.

Blood pressure monitor. They still have them.

 

[Wasmeneh]

Blood pressure monitor. They still have them.

They may still sell them in your state but they are outlawed in N.C. Which is too bad they worked better than the on that cost 3. times as much.

 

[sixdogs]

I've seen the blood pressure monitor but a few years back I thought they had one with an EKG type function or something like that.

 

[Garandman]

Anyone recently purchased the motorcycle lift? I致e heard the new ones are not very stable, and that they are fine. They are $450, as little as $300 on sale, while I think other brands are way more.

My road bike has the exhaust underneath so a jack doesn’t work.

 

[slow84ta]

I thought this was a pretty good video for harbor freight automotive tools, very informative!

 

[PILOON]

So there are actually Four things ( I had previously only known of three) you should never buy from HF

1. Parachute
2. Fire extinguisher
3. Condoms
4. Jack stands

All joking aside, your point is well taken!

Another item:
Birth control pills!

LOL, a local Dollar store actually was selling them until the FEDs made them stop.

 

[Michael Aos]

I’m planning to purchase 1 or 2 more of the 301pc made-in-Taiwan kits if I can find them.

 

[dragoneggs]

I’m planning to purchase 1 or 2 more of the 301pc made-in-Taiwan kits if I can find them.

Let us know... I want one or two as well. Great gifts and I wouldn't mind an extra set myself.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I have one of them; problem is the wrenches only go up to 3/4". The screwdrivers do not go back into their slots very easy, some not at all.

Ron

 

[California]

So there are actually Four things ( I had previously only known of three) you should never buy from HF
....

Five. The silver tarp.

I bought one last May.
(#69204 15x19 HD Silver Tarp, receipt 5-5-2017 and not installed immediately.).

This one rotted from sunlight. An edge tore away from its border before 6 months, now at 8 months it disintegrated at multiple points. The perimeter remains attached. It didn't tear out any grommets which would indicate wind stress. It tore effortlessly taking it down.

 

[dragoneggs]

I have one of them; problem is the wrenches only go up to 3/4". The screwdrivers do not go back into their slots very easy, some not at all.

Ron

Yeah, I know, but handy to have a set stuffed in the back of my truck. When I happen to be at a friend or family's home, and they start talking about this and that... that isn't working, I can fix it. If they are talking stuff bigger than 3/4in, I don't volunteer on the spot with my good clothes on.

 

[California]

When that little briefcase size 130 piece tool kit goes on sale its a reasonable value for $30. I would use it only as described above, leave it in the car to use only in a desperate emergency or when visiting family who wait for you to come and fix their stuff. Quality isn't good but the broad range of items you would never think to take along makes it worthwhile.

As I noted several pages back, my only use of the kit so far was: I loaned it to a neighbor who had an appliance repair tech there who hadn't brought the right Allen key for something.

When I got the kit I noted the 'crescent' wrench adjustment was sloppy, it didn't hold its setting. It would be frustrating to use - but far better than nothing!

In addition to emergencies, this kit might be just right for an apartment dweller who uses tools a couple of times a year.

 

[Garandman]

I mentioned it earlier in this thread, but I once bought a set of HF drill bits that were for use in plastics and wood only. No metal. How can that be? It's the cheapest thing I ever bought

Plastic drills have a sharper angle so they will not split the stock. Were they actual plastic drills? Those are hard to find and expensive.

 

[newbury]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm going to keep an eye out for a sale on it and give it a try.

That bandsaw regularly goes on sale for $100.
Harbor Freight Tools Coupon Database - Free coupons, 25 percent off coupons, toolbox coupons - 10 AMP DEEP CUT VARIABLE SPEED BAND SAW KIT

Five. The silver tarp.

I bought one last May.
(#69204 15x19 HD Silver Tarp, receipt 5-5-2017 and not installed immediately.).

This one rotted from sunlight. An edge tore away from its border before 6 months, now at 8 months it disintegrated at multiple points. The perimeter remains attached. It didn't tear out any grommets which would indicate wind stress. It tore effortlessly taking it down.

View attachment 540619

What?? You put it outside and exposed it to sunlight and wind?
Actually I've used them to cover stuff for years outside and they last me 3 or 4 years in Northern Virginia, partial shade.

 

[sixdogs]

Plastic drills have a sharper angle so they will not split the stock. Were they actual plastic drills? Those are hard to find and expensive.

The drill bits were metal--of a sort--but so fragile you could only use to drill light plastics and soft wood. Even in wood, they were good for maybe one or two holes. They looked like they were aluminum or zinc and could have been an attempted knock off of those expensive bits.