Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Diggin It]

The recoil doesn't bother me (yet), but E/S is nice as long as it doesn't eat the battery too often.. Those small batteries can get pricey,

I'm just not sure about the extra $300+ for the extra 1500 rating. Since I have the 8250 to run lights and motors, I'm not sure I need the 3500 if the 2K will run my electronics.

 

[KubotainNH]

The recoil doesn't bother me (yet), but E/S is nice as long as it doesn't eat the battery too often.. Those small batteries can get pricey,

I'm just not sure about the extra $300+ for the extra 1500 rating. Since I have the 8250 to run lights and motors, I'm not sure I need the 3500 if the 2K will run my electronics.

When I got the gen it didn't bother me either, I wanted it so my wife could fire it up if needed. I wrote out directions on how to set the whole thing up. My shoulder has been bugging me for a while so now I'm happy I have it because it takes a bit to start after sitting. My FIL's 2k Honda is much easier to start so maybe the smaller unit you are looking at would be too. As for the battery, if needed I use my jump pack to get it going but I have yet to replace the battery.

 

[California]

Many pages back I wrote about the HF Angle Grinder Holder that makes the grinder into a cutoff tool. It was unsatisfactory. The lightweight sheet metal base flexed too easily letting the cutting disc wander. This was unsafe in addition to making an inaccurate cut, a thin cutoff disc can shatter if flexed sideways under load.

Today the equivalent tool but with a cast iron baseplate is in a Northern Tool email ad. $15. I bought it.

I was asked to report on this Northern Tool Angle Grinder Holder after I got it set up:

I like it. It's solid, precise, just what I need. It's a valuable addition to my tools.

I mounted an old $10 HF DrillMaster angle grinder (4.2 amps) in it. That has plenty of power for driving the thin cutoff blade. It continues to cut precisely when weight is applied to work the grinder harder. It simply works. It's better than I expected.

If you buy one: Setting it up precisely is like the many adjustments you do to make a table saw cut true - adjust, measure, adjust some more, repeat. After considerable tinkering, it makes cuts that are as true as I can evaluate by comparing a finished item to a carpenter's square.

My cheap DrillMaster angle grinder isn't as fat as this was designed for. So that meant more tinkering to get the cut moved over, to not nick the vise and baseplate. I notched the washers that mount the superstructure to the base, to get the Allen screws even closer to the upright part. See the photo below.

The manual says it's for 4.5" and 5" angle grinders. My grinder is 4.5" but I have a 10-pack of 4 inch cutting discs. They are too small. After their diameter is ground down 1/8" smaller they wont reach the bottom of a cut. This needs 4.5" cutting discs.

I can't think of anything else. In summary -just buy it.

 

[thepumpguysc]

While on the subject of gen sets.. on ebay theres a DuroMax 10K watt duel fuel, that goes on sale periodicaly.. its 999.00 NOW but it goes up & down dramatically.. I got mine for 499.00 w/ free freight shipping.. The last sale I saw was 549.99.. comes w/ electric start & a battery AND the hose to hook-up propane..

 

[Diggin It]

^^ But that's not an inverter type. That's a conventional unit and the output can be 'dirty' causing performance issues for electronics. That's what's happening with my 8250 and why I need something else.

It was suggested that using a device to create additional load would help and I found that running a window A/C in summer or inductive heater in winter helped a lot to smooth the output. But that also caused more fuel consumption which reduced run time. That may not be an issue for short term outages, but can be a big problem for a ten day outage where the roads aren't passable. I try to keep at least 20 gallons of gasoline on hand, but the 8250 only gets about 8 hours on 6 gallons, so I could burn that 20 gallons in about a day. At $2 or more a gallon, that can get expensive right quick. With the gas stations gouging us during 'peak demand' times like outages, gas could easily go over $4/gallon.

 

[crazyal]

I have an older Generac with a Honda engine. It starts easy enough but at 4200 watts it doesn't like to start my 1 1/2" well pump. Being a regular Honda GX engine it's also pretty loud. Two of the 3500w inverters would be enough for me but that's two engines vs one to maintain. It would be nice to be able to run just one most of the time and fire up the second when needed. The other option would be to mate a 3500 and a 2000 together. That would give me a nice lightweight quiet portable generator and a little more to handle the well pump. It's a shame that a stand alone diesel gen is so expensive. I've always got diesel on hand.

 

[paulfun9]

But honestly, i have a mental problem that tells me that i must stock many of everything. I can't buy less than 3 of an item that is a consumable. Sometimes 6. I can't control it. I'd the stores run out of what you need during the zombie apocalypse, it's okay. I've likely got 10.View attachment 576559View attachment 576560View attachment 576561View attachment 576562View attachment 576563View attachment 576564

I don稚 consider it a problem.

I don稚 pay the raised price that automatically comes with having to buy some of this or that because I ran out.
Just take a look at the inflation on the price of oil! I might not have to buy any for the rest of my life because I once got a reall good deal and brought a truckload home.
WD-40, I,m still using it at 1990痴 prices
The trick is to buy the hints you will actually use in multiples and try to force yourself to only get one of those that you will most likely use once or twice in your life.

 

[paulfun9]

I'm not seeing any reason for a professional mechanic to do it either. Smart, to me, would be using that extra $3 to $4K to buy tools. Or the family something nice.

Have to agree! Also have many friends who worked thier entire life as mechanics and also agree.

 

[newbury]

While on the subject of gen sets.. on ebay theres a DuroMax 10K watt duel fuel, that goes on sale periodicaly.. its 999.00 NOW but it goes up & down dramatically.. I got mine for 499.00 w/ free freight shipping.. The last sale I saw was 549.99.. comes w/ electric start & a battery AND the hose to hook-up propane..

Yes, I've one and try to post every time the price drops down into the $600 or less realm, but sometimes that only lasts an hour or so.

 

[lostcreekranch]

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