Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Threepoint]

You can buy 2 bulb LED 4 ' lights all day long on Amazon for probably 5-7 dollars less per light. I bought a 4 pack for something like $89 .
Just saying. :thumbsup:

That's was my initial thinking when I first saw the HF lights in the ads recently. Haven't tried them, and don't need any more shop lights right now, but after Lou's post yesterday I checked others online out of curiosity. I think it's important to compare the claimed lumen outputs. HF claims 5,000 lumens. The two bulb fixtures I happened to pop up online claim only 3,200.

 

[Ford850]

That's was my initial thinking when I first saw the HF lights in the ads recently. Haven't tried them, and don't need any more shop lights right now, but after Lou's post yesterday I checked others online out of curiosity. I think it's important to compare the claimed lumen outputs. HF claims 5,000 lumens. The two bulb fixtures I happened to pop up online claim only 3,200.

Yep, there's a huge variety now, all looking similar. I found them ranging from 3000 - 7000 lumens at Menards, so you have to read the details.

 

[lostcreekranch]

That's was my initial thinking when I first saw the HF lights in the ads recently. Haven't tried them, and don't need any more shop lights right now, but after Lou's post yesterday I checked others online out of curiosity. I think it's important to compare the claimed lumen outputs. HF claims 5,000 lumens. The two bulb fixtures I happened to pop up online claim only 3,200.

You also want to be aware of the light color temperature, as well.

Choosing the Right Color Temperature - HitLights

 

[4get gto]

Yea you got me wondering now that a "1" bulb fixture is putting out more than most "2" bulb fixtures. Don't have any information right front of me but I know the " 2" bulb lights I bought were advertised at 4400 lumens. I'm tempted to buy a HF light and compare.

 

[California]

HF's 4 ft hanging LED shop light is great! This tractor stall has always been murky. That's a 1923 license plate nailed to a rafter (upper left) and I doubt there was electricity here initially. The stall was really only useful for parking. Individual fixtures added later never have lighted it adequately.

One 4 ft LED near the back (shown) and another 2/3s of the way to the door, light up the stall like daylight. Finally I don't need a droplight over what I'm working on. These HF lights use 60 watts, and are considerably brighter than a 4 ft fluorescent fixture with two 20 watt tubes.

See Harbor Freight Coupon Database for a coupon good through 10/17, $19.95.

Recommended!

 

[dragoneggs]

I know this is an HF thread but Costco has some excellent LED shop lights that price cycle between $19.99, $24.99, and $29.99 a couple of rounds per year. At $19.99, very hard to beat. I have 10 and they have been working great for over two years. Instant on, bright, and no radio interference that I used to fight with fluorescent lighting.

 

[lostcreekranch]

HF's 4 ft hanging LED shop light is great! This tractor stall has always been murky. That's a 1923 license plate nailed to a rafter (upper left) and I doubt there was electricity here initially. The stall was really only useful for parking. Individual fixtures added later never have lighted it adequately.

One 4 ft LED near the back (shown) and another 2/3s of the way to the door, light up the stall like daylight. Finally I don't need a droplight over what I'm working on. These HF lights use 60 watts, and are considerably brighter than a 4 ft fluorescent fixture with two 20 watt tubes.

See Harbor Freight Coupon Database for a coupon good through 10/17, $19.95.

Recommended!

View attachment 613630

That’s very impressive!

 

[Diggin It]

Pay attention to the wattage draw on them. Some are far higher than others. Some are almost equivalent to flourescents.

 

[LD48750]

Any experience with use in unheated out buildings?

How good do they work in northern winters?

 

[dragoneggs]

Pay attention to the wattage draw on them. Some are far higher than others. Some are almost equivalent to flourescents.

https://www.costco.com/Feit-4-Linkable-LED-Shop-Light,-2-pack.product.100462723.html

If anyone wants to compare to Costco 'Feit' brand.

 

[stuckmotor]

I bought the 60 piece Pittsburgh SAE/Metric Tap & Die set Item 35407. This afternoon I threaded over 16 inches of 3/8" mild steel rod. The die is still cutting well. Tap Magic is the lubricant I used.

 

[MoArk Willy]

Any experience with use in unheated out buildings?

How good do they work in northern winters?

Cold weather has little effect on led lights.

 

[MoArk Willy]

Amazon has quite a few led shop lights, many of them "linkable". Their way of saying they can plug into each other.
They have a 4-pack for about $80. I will most likely purchase those in the near future. I believe the lumen output is about 4800....not bad for just a few watts....42 per fixture compared to a T8 fixture which is closer to 100 watts.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I took a chance on the HF Cat 1 quick hitch. It was on sale for $99.99 and I had a 25% 4 day coupon so ..... $75.

3-Point Quick Hitch for Tractors - 27-3/16" Clearance

I've got a nice piece of 1" steel to modify the Top Hook, if needed.

More later.

 

[reb]

LED's and quite bright

Are those LED bulbs easily found in the marketplace or are they unique to HF?

 

[California]

I took a chance on the HF Cat 1 quick hitch. It was on sale for $99.99 and I had a 25% 4 day coupon so ..... $75.

3-Point Quick Hitch for Tractors - 27-3/16" Clearance

I've got a nice piece of 1" steel to modify the Top Hook, if needed.

More later.

Will the hooks on yours require cat 3 to cat 1 bushings? The HF photo seems to show their original version that took cat 2 to cat 1.

 

[California]

Are those LED bulbs easily found in the marketplace or are they unique to HF?

Claimed 30,000 hours life, that's 10 years in an industrial shop that's open six days a week, and years longer in the typical HF customer's home shop. I think it's a throwaway fixture.

 

[4get gto]

Are those LED bulbs easily found in the marketplace or are they unique to HF?

As California mentions none I've seen are not repairable. Buy a new whole light.
There are LED bulbs that you buy to convert your existing fixtures but that's a whole different thread.... :thumbsup:

 

[lostcreekranch]

Will the hooks on yours require cat 3 to cat 1 bushings? The HF photo seems to show their original version that took cat 2 to cat 1.

I haven't even taken it out of my truck yet but, plan to give it a look over this afternoon and I'll report back. I'll need the bushings on a couple of implements and rest are Cat 1 / Cat 2 hitches. Found some pretty good prices, for the bushings on eBay.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Cold weather has little effect on led lights.

I'm not sure about that. I've had electricians here tell me that some of the cheaper ones have problems starting up the light in the cold. But most will start ok until it gets down to around 0 F degrees. Once it gets to -40 F, some of them have problems (but so do fluorescent lights).

I guess it depends on what you mean by "cold"?