Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[lennyzx11]

That's exactly what would happen if I had one. I would make it unusable as intended in about two weekends.

Mine currently is piled up but I do try to keep it cleaned off. It’s a battle.

It has been perfect for parking my mug welder cart (also from HF ), and two portable generators underneath.
It also has some longer boards laid across the top of the ladder ends to keep them out of harms way for now.

Mine has been a good buy. The decking is a little thin for my tastes but not bad enough for me to replace it.
Used it for insulation, lights, and paneling installation in my old shop.

 

[newbury]

I guess I'm just not with it?I don't understand the toolbox thing for the rural home mechanic DIYer ...I've got one toolbox a four drawer Craftsman that I have had for 20 years. It is nowhere near full and I have no need for more tools. I have both metric and SAE 3/8 drive sockets plus a set of metric combination wrenches plus the necessary Torx and hex wrenches. I also have a set of 1/2 drive sockets. All together, about 150 lbs of tools. I work on my mower, my car (the 2000 Windstar was recently traded for a new RAV4), CAT powered motorhome, BMW motorcycle, Craftsman weedeater and the 2003 Massey Ferguson 231S. Am I missing out on some special tool(s) that would make my life easier? The shop is 1600 sq. ft. and I would likely not roll a big toolbox around even though the floor is concrete. Help me out here....

If any of you live closeby (Warrior, AL), I need some welding done on my box blade. I'll pay top $.

For my life up to 2011 my official tool storage were two 24" Craftsman toolchests, one w/ 3 shallow drawers, one w/ no drawers. Plus numerous cardboard boxes w/ tools in original packaging or just piled into boxes. And my "workshop" was a 10x15 space in the basement.

We didn't have a cat but I'm sure there would not have been enough space to swing one.

In 2011 I added 5,500 sq feet concrete floored workshop. And started buying tools like they were toys.

I've added these toolboxes:



And they are half full, with still a lot of tools to be put away.

It is so NICE to be able to have a drawer for pliers, one for wrenches, one for screwdrivers, several for socket wrenches, etc. etc. A separate chest for air tools, one for chainsaw tools.

My best new addition was a good labeler to make easy to read labels for all the drawers, versus strips of tape with hand scrawled text.

 

[Diggin It]

In 2011 I added 5,500 sq feet concrete floored workshop.

That's bigger than my house (both floors), breezeway, garage and shed/shop combined.

And it wouldn't matter how many carts, toolboxes or cabinets I had, the tools would still end up in a pile where ever I used them last.

 

[Code54]

I find I have a lot of tools - interior trim tools, code readers, flare nut wrenches, vacuum brake bleeders, compression testers, and that is just a sample of the auto stuff, another couple drawers for electrical specific (sq drivers, 12v testsers, meters, etc), then one rolling cabinet with just sockets, deep, impact, reg. depth, shallow, etc...
Really ends up taking a lot of space and I personally like it all organized so that honestly takes up some extra space....

 

[crazyal]

I guess I'm just not with it?I don't understand the toolbox thing for the rural home mechanic DIYer ...I've got one toolbox a four drawer Craftsman that I have had for 20 years. It is nowhere near full and I have no need for more tools. I have both metric and SAE 3/8 drive sockets plus a set of metric combination wrenches plus the necessary Torx and hex wrenches. I also have a set of 1/2 drive sockets. All together, about 150 lbs of tools. I work on my mower, my car (the 2000 Windstar was recently traded for a new RAV4), CAT powered motorhome, BMW motorcycle, Craftsman weedeater and the 2003 Massey Ferguson 231S. Am I missing out on some special tool(s) that would make my life easier? The shop is 1600 sq. ft. and I would likely not roll a big toolbox around even though the floor is concrete. Help me out here....

If any of you live closeby (Warrior, AL), I need some welding done on my box blade. I'll pay top $.

I had the plastic organizers on a rack that mounts to the wall for things like screws but found that a tool box works better for me. The plastic bins either were too small or too large. With a drawer I could make stuff fit without wasting too much room. The drawers keep them covered when not in use. Plus the tools, like a pop rivet gun, that only get used with things like the rivets can stay together easier. Things like the solder gun stays with the solder and the wire in a drawer (along with other things like those standard 12v relays) and the staple gun and staples.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Harbor a freight buddies... Help me please.

How can I combine and organize 10 lbs of crap (wrenches) into a 5 lb bag (tool box drawer)? I hate and despise this particular drawer in my toolbox.

I have wrenches in the drawer, hanging from shelves and sitting on shelves.

Metric, standard, ratchet of each, 0 degree offset of each, 13 degree offset of each, line wrenches of each, stubby wrenches of each and I'm sure a couple doubles off each.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I had the plastic organizers on a rack that mounts to the wall for things like screws but found that a tool box works better for me. The plastic bins either were too small or too large. With a drawer I could make stuff fit without wasting too much room. The drawers keep them covered when not in use. Plus the tools, like a pop rivet gun, that only get used with things like the rivets can stay together easier. Things like the solder gun stays with the solder and the wire in a drawer (along with other things like those standard 12v relays) and the staple gun and staples.

How about peanutbutter jars?

 

[crazyal]

How about peanutbutter jars? View attachment 575793

My father used glass baby food jars. I bet he had 100s of them and seeing what was inside each one was kind of a pain. Some had the covers screwed to a board on the top of his work bench. Some were in those cardboard with wooden ends crate grapes were shipped to grocery stores in. Some were just laying around.

 

[dragoneggs]

And they are half full, with still a lot of tools to be put away.

It is so NICE to be able to have a drawer for pliers, one for wrenches, one for screwdrivers, several for socket wrenches, etc. etc. A separate chest for air tools, one for chainsaw tools.

My best new addition was a good labeler to make easy to read labels for all the drawers, versus strips of tape with hand scrawled text.

I found labeling my drawer pulls was key to me finally getting organized and actually putting stuff away. Try it! With a labeled drawer, I can never put something in the wrong place, I just can't do it.

I found it pleasurable to wipe off tools (put a paper towel dispenser next to my two tool chests) and put them away. Sometimes I don't do it right away but the next time I walk by, I will put it/them away if I am done with that project.

Might seem **** but I know I have saved so much time not having to dig for tools. Took me a half of a lifetime to learn this but so glad I did. A label maker ought to be in every workshop if you have a decent collection of tools IMHO.

 

[dragoneggs]

My father used glass baby food jars. I bet he had 100s of them and seeing what was inside each one was kind of a pain. Some had the covers screwed to a board on the top of his work bench. Some were in those cardboard with wooden ends crate grapes were shipped to grocery stores in. Some were just laying around.

I had a bunch of Gerber baby food jars for misc. screws, wire caps, etc. Even made a custom wood rack for the array of little jars. Am kicking myself that I let that go to the buyer of our house a few years back. Thought I would come up with a better tray system. But missing those baby food jars. I guess because they fed my son and daughter almost 30 years ago.