Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[ThirdMan]

I can't imagine anything louder than my HF direct drive oil lubricated compressor, an earlier 10 gallon version of this present model.

It's unpleasant, deafening - even located beyond the end of the workbench at the back of the tractor stall.

I see there are two different current models. The plastic cover faces the user and is like a megaphone on this one, and mine. Maybe the other version with the cover opening to the rear is a little quieter.

That said, I think these are the practical minimum in cost and capacity that can run that impact wrench.

Thanks for the info from several members. I have a lead on a used one that I plan to haggle for. I hope to upgrade in the future, but have to start somewhere. I will keep the hearing protection nearby.

 

[KubotainNH]

Well ..... after a 150 mile round trip, to closest HF Store, I opened the pole saw box only to find that the saw bar was missing. No plastic guard either!

Can’t begin to describe how p...sed off I am now. All savings now blown in diesel fuel costs to make a second round trip to get this corrected.

How hard is it to put all the parts in the box!!!

Haven’t tried blower yet ..... just three parts ..... blower, battery, charger. Charging battery overnight.

Call the number on the parts list paper. I had some missing parts on a press and they got them out to me in short order. Not worth that drive.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Call the number on the parts list paper. I had some missing parts on a press and they got them out to me in short order. Not worth that drive.

Thanks.

 

[aczlan]

Thanks for the info from several members. I have a lead on a used one that I plan to haggle for. I hope to upgrade in the future, but have to start somewhere. I will keep the hearing protection nearby.

Sounds good. We run a used belt drive two cylinder in the shop over at my in-laws, and we ran a another one at our house (it came with the house) until the rings went out.

Aaron Z

 

[PhysAssist]

I致e cut 8-10 branches often but ....... I make several initial cuts farther out the limb to prevent damage to the tree. Keep the chain sharp, oil in the tank, and it will cut wood ..... like cutting butter. Let the weight of the saw do the work, you don稚 need to force it.

Rick has it right, but he didn't mention the most important part- if you are trimming trees you want to live and be healthy-

FIRST making an undercut a little way out from your final cut or any place where you intend a through cut.

This breaks the connection to the bark, and prevents [or at least limits] any tearing of the bark as the limb falls.

https://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-trim-large-tree-branches/

 

[PJSprog]

Thanks. I was going to buy a spare battery but, found the coupon for the blower so bought it and now have two batteries.

That was our thoughts, too, with wanting to buy the regular chainsaw in addition to the pole saw. Better than buying a $60 battery that we may or may not ever use.

 

[Rock Crawler]

That was our thoughts, too, with wanting to buy the regular chainsaw in addition to the pole saw. Better than buying a $60 battery that we may or may not ever use.

That is exactly what I did, I wanted and bought the pole saw last fall and then a month or so back I grabbed the regular chain saw. I'm very impressed with both, and getting that regular saw with battery and charger means that I pretty much have unlimited power. You just can't kill these things unless your doing hard core work.

 

[California]

That's a good lesson in general:

Buying a battery alone is expensive. If you could use a second battery, always buy it in a kit that includes a tool that you might eventually use. Possibly with a charger as well. With 2 chargers and 2-3 batteries you, and possibly a helper, can work all day and never run out of power.

Also for drills and impact drivers it's handy to have several. I recently lifted and replaced patio deck boards. One drill with Phillips bit to tale out the old deck screws, another to drill pilot holes in the new decking, a third (impact driver) with Torx bit for the new deck screws, and my fourth battery in the little 'Skilsaw' to cut new decking boards to size. - All Ryobi stuff. The 18 volt Ryobi drills are incredibly cheap at the flea market, around $5. I have my original drill from the $150 Ryobi kit and three more cheap ones for multi-tool projects like this deck.

 

[Threepoint]

Call the number on the parts list paper. I had some missing parts on a press and they got them out to me in short order. Not worth that drive.

Rick, let us know how it goes once you call customer service. It is an unusual situation because of the distance. I'm guessing someone may have damaged their pole, then bought another unit, liberated the pole, resealed the box and returned it for a refund. Call me cynical I guess. Worst-case, customer service should let you order another another one online, have it shipped to you, then return the first for a refund when you are next at Harbor Freight. There would already be a record of your claim within the 90-day warranty period. Just another thought.

I found the managers at our local Harbor Freights to be quite reasonable in trying to make adjustments for the customers.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Rick, let us know how it goes once you call customer service. It is an unusual situation because of the distance. I'm guessing someone may have damaged their pole, then bought another unit, liberated the pole, resealed the box and returned it for a refund. Call me cynical I guess. Worst-case, customer service should let you order another another one online, have it shipped to you, then return the first for a refund when you are next at Harbor Freight. There would already be a record of your claim within the 90-day warranty period. Just another thought.

I found the managers at our local Harbor Freights to be quite reasonable in trying to make adjustments for the customers.

They told me that replacement parts could be shipped to me but, probably wouldn’t be shipped until early next week then ...... who knows how long to finally get them?

I gave up and made another 150 mile round trip, this morning, to get a trade out. I checked every nut bolt and washer to assure that I had everything this time. Two round trips ate up my coupon savings, and then some, in fuel costs.