Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Diggin It]

I have been buying from HF for a long time. I can remember when they only had catalog sales in my area.
They use to have free shipping for orders over $50.00 and no sales tax.

Even after they started web sales, they would run coupons for free shipping over a certain amount. That's how I got my cast iron wood stove. I don't think they even sell this model anymore, though you can still get it from other sources.

 

[Diggin It]

Feedback on the yellow tow and recovery straps .....


I have three different ones. I've never used any to pull vehicles. I use them for tree work and log moving. Wrap one end around a standing tree, then use a come-a-long to help guide the tree down where I want it. Also use them to lift trunks as shown below. At least one is now showing some stress frays, probably from hanging it over the FEL bucket. Not clear enough to show in pictures though. How risky is that? I'm thinking it's time to retire it from lifting and pulling.

 

[4570Man]

You should really consider getting some chains for that kind of work. And consider getting some axel straps. They’re about $5 and really cut down on the abuse on tow straps. Here’s 2 other heavy duty straps I bought that I thought were a good price for what they were. 30,000 breaking strength and I got the 8’ one for $13 and the 20’ one for $22.

 

[California]

I found bolt holes along the top edge of my bucket so I bolted on four cold-shuts (chain splices) that I already had. I put them on temporarily for a project and thought they were too light, and would bend under heavy load, but I've never bent one in 15 years.

I like these better than chain hooks because they don't chafe rope. Another use is to hook and carry the plastic bucket that holds my chainsaw.

And yes, chain is preferable for lifting anything that can chafe.

 

[sixdogs]

harbor freight 1/2 drive earthquake impact wrench 700 ? ft lbs tq
Be careful, you will break the wheel studs with this impact !

On the flip side of that, I can just snap off rusty bolts on old farm equipment and save a lot of time disassembling. Just spray oil on the outside of the bolt head or nut so it's easier to get out of the socket. Impact wrench is really powerful.

 

[Diggin It]

On the flip side of that, I can just snap off rusty bolts on

HF should use that for the stage name of a Tool Time Girl kind of spokesperson, Rusti Boltz.

 

[aczlan]

On the flip side of that, I can just snap off rusty bolts on old farm equipment and save a lot of time disassembling. Just spray oil on the outside of the bolt head or nut so it's easier to get out of the socket. Impact wrench is really powerful.

I have been known to do the same thing. Something along the lines of "I dont care of you come loose, or snap off, but either way, a new bolt is going back on"

Aaron Z

 

[California]

I have been known to do the same thing. Something along the lines of "I don't care of you come loose or snap off, but either way, a new bolt is going back on"

Aaron Z

Yeah, BTDT. :thumbsup:

 

[LouNY]

Back when I first got out of the Marines I worked for a small Ford farm equipment dealer,
I would have loved to have a cordless impact as are available today, mine supposedly will develop 1200 ft/lbs.
One of my jobs was stripping down old surplussed NYC fire trucks that he would buy to strip for parts and pieces.
It was faster to tighten bolts to snap them then remove them, so a long MAC breaker bar and lots of sockets to
turn into the tool trucks every week.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

harbor freight 1/2 drive earthquake impact wrench 700 ? ft lbs tq
Be careful, you will break the wheel studs with this impact !

Something is going to give for sure.

One wheel on the F150 was pulled off at the body shop and I think they put it back on with an EarthQuake. When trying to remove it the socket spilt and chewed up the lug nut. The socket was on the light side but worked fine removing the other three wheels. I finally got it off using a nut extractor, 1 1/4" socket and breaker bar out out our 3/4" drive set with a 4 ' pipe, jack stand to support the pull handle along with a 6' step ladder so I could jump on the extended pipe.

This sucker needs to be used with torque sticks for sure to not overtighten.

 

[aczlan]

This sucker needs to be used with torque sticks for sure to not overtighten.

Or turn it down, mine has 3 settings:
1. "Hand tight"
2. "3/8 ratchet tight"
3. "Did you want the threads pulled out of the nut" tight

I generally use the middle setting to snug down lug nuts, then tighten them with a torque wrench.

Aaron Z

 

[Oaktree]

Ha! When I was in eighth grade, I had to choose one of four languages to study as a second language: German, Spanish, French or Latin. My teachers and advisors urged Spanish. I went with French, studied it for four years, and now kick myself for never learning Spanish! Quebec may be the one place in North America where that decision might have paid off for me! :laughing:

Or northern New England where those with a French-Canadian heritage (as well as Canadian tourists) far outnumber Hispanics. When I was in high school the foreign language choices were French and Latin. I didn't have any say in the matter, but French was chosen for me, however it was Parisian French, not Canadian.

Most if not all of our official state "Welcome To New Hampshire" signs also say Bienvenue.

 

[CMV]

Soooooo much stuff I buy there and very little disappointing/garbage/waste of money. Some of my favorites:

3 generators. The 3000/3500 inverter, the 3500/4300 & the 7250/9000 regular ones. The inverter one is so quiet - you can stand right next to it running a good load and have a conversation in a normal voice. The standard gas ones, from 1st time out of box and every time since, start easily on first pull and work great. I have been extremely impressed with them and the 3500/4300 is my most used by far. Years in service and lots of use at my remote property with no utilities, and it just performs excellently every time.

The little electric log splitter for $225 w/ coupon. I expected it to be a POS or struggle a lot, but it just goes thru logs even way oversize. Only downside is the 3500/4300 generator won't run it - needs the larger one or household AC. But it does a lot more than it looks like it could/should.

Gloves in general. From the 5 mil nitrile to the various mechanics or basic work gloves. Super cheap and hold up a long time.

The quick-change airbrush kits. Just throw away the little plastic container (comes with 6) and the gun never needs cleaned.

The fat yellow 3000 lb ratchet straps @ $9 are a steal.

The purple HVLP spray gun that's always on sale for around $10 - works as well as a $60 one and cleans up easily.

The digital calipers. Those are hit & miss so I buy 6, keep 2 best, return remainder. But the sets I have on my reloading bench, at my lathe, & at my mill are every bit as smooth, accurate, and repeatable as the Mitutoyo we use at work. Calibration checks even after years of use, they're still dead nuts with 1" & 2" references.

The fine walnut media in 25lb box. Works great for reloading case tumbling and never clogs a flash hole. Much cheaper than other types.

The 5/16 gr 70 truckers chain. Have a bunch of these & some I cut into 2 x 10'.

The 21 gal 2.5HP black air compressor. Loud & needs a 20A circuit, but I use all the time for over 3 yrs and it's excellent. Keeps up with a blast cabinet

Just saw in an email this week they have a rifle length Apache case for Around $100. Have one of the smaller ones that's real nice so want to check that one out next time I'm at the store. If it's a good as the small ones, that's a nice case for the $.

Some stuff is pure crap - the TiN drill sets - fine for wood, but are horrible on metal, need sharpened new, and way too much size variance for precision work. The mesh paint filters - poor design and let lots of unfiltered liquid just run through bottom corner of cone. Most of the basic hand tools are too soft to be durable.

@Diggin It - check these out for basic lifting. I use with pallet forks a lot, but much better than the tow strap if you don't want to use chains:



6 ft. 64 lbs. Capacity Lifting Sling

 

[sixdogs]

Or turn it down, mine has 3 settings:
1. "Hand tight"
2. "3/8 ratchet tight"
3. "Did you want the threads pulled out of the nut" tight

I generally use the middle setting to snug down lug nuts, then tighten them with a torque wrench.

Aaron Z

Torque wrench is what I use. If you have an Earthquake and use on lug nuts you eventually will overtighten and strip or bend a backing plate or something.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Where is the 3 torque switch?

 

[aczlan]

Torque wrench is what I use. If you have an Earthquake and use on lug nuts you eventually will overtighten and strip or bend a backing plate or something.

As I said, I use it to snug the bolts down. I stop once they get snug and I always end up tightening them more when I switch to the torque wrench.

Where is the 3 torque switch?

On the back of the Earthquake that I have, you have 1 reverse setting and 3 forward settings.

Aaron Z

 

[PJSprog]

The digital calipers. Those are hit & miss so I buy 6, keep 2 best, return remainder. But the sets I have on my reloading bench, at my lathe, & at my mill are every bit as smooth, accurate, and repeatable as the Mitutoyo we use at work. Calibration checks even after years of use, they're still dead nuts with 1" & 2" references.

I have the digital calipers, but I stopped using them. Got tired of changing the batteries all the time. I bought the 6" dial caliper for my loading bench, and haven't changed a battery in over 10 years. They work great, too.

 

[lostcreekranch]

As I said, I use it to snug the bolts down. I stop once they get snug and I always end up tightening them more when I switch to the torque wrench.
On the back of the Earthquake that I have, you have 1 reverse setting and 3 forward settings.

Aaron Z

I have this one;



Like Aaron notes, reverse and three torque settings. I've never needed the highest setting.



1/2 in. Aluminum Air Impact Wrench

 

[CMV]

I have the digital calipers, but I stopped using them. Got tired of changing the batteries all the time. I bought the 6" dial caliper for my loading bench, and haven't changed a battery in over 10 years. They work great, too.

hmmmmm....the batteries mine came with last well over a year. I don't use their included spares. I have something else that uses same LR44 battery - illuminated scope maybe? - but buy a bunch of blister packs of name brand ones from amazon. So the calipers get those when the originals fade & they last a longer time after that. Wonder if yours didn't auto-off correctly or something? But they are "hit or miss" - I've gotten plenty that were real gritty, wouldn't return to zero, would always start up in mm and need changed to in every single time, or simply were off 3-5 thou and wouldn't calibrate to a reference. Store is only a few miles from me and I pass it all the time, so buying a handful & then returning the duds next day isn't a big deal.

They used to carry an outside micrometer with a mechanical digit counter that was a copy of a Mitutoyo 193 but think they only have the more expensive electronic one now. Wish I'd have bought another couple of those since it works pretty well too

 

[aczlan]

I have this one;

View attachment 587549

Like Aaron notes, reverse and three torque settings. I've never needed the highest setting.

View attachment 587551

1/2 in. Aluminum Air Impact Wrench

That looks like mine (other than mine is not as clean).

Aaron Z