Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[dragoneggs]

Not much into overmoulded grips. They tend to look old when they get dirty.

Not me so much either but needed the flex handle.

 

[5030]

Not me so much either but needed the flex handle.

Do a longer term test for us. I'm curious as to how the grip holds up. Already know it will lose it's pretty color with one greasy use.... What I'm curious about is, will it crack and come off. Chinesum rubber isn't noted for longevity... I do like the double gear ratchet design though. Much better than the pawl design.

The standard (no grip) handles sure look like another well known tool truck brand....

 

[dragoneggs]

Do a longer term test for us. I'm curious as to how the grip holds up. Already know it will lose it's pretty color with one greasy use.... What I'm curious about is, will it crack and come off. Chinesum rubber isn't noted for longevity... I do like the double gear ratchet design though. Much better than the pawl design.

The standard (no grip) handles sure look like another well known tool truck brand....

Will do. The fine ratcheting surprised me playing with the demo tool at the store. I’ve blown out old craftsman ratchets so I’m worried about strength but with a small 1/4in drive, I often need finer gears to work in tight spaces. Excited to see how this performs.

 

[stuckmotor]

Do a longer term test for us. I'm curious as to how the grip holds up. Already know it will lose it's pretty color with one greasy use.... What I'm curious about is, will it crack and come off. Chinesum rubber isn't noted for longevity... I do like the double gear ratchet design though. Much better than the pawl design.

The standard (no grip) handles sure look like another well known tool truck brand....

5030,
Wasn't it you who was going to get the Bauer impact driver? 2V Hypermax Lithium 1/4 in. Hex Compact Impact Driver, Kit

Did you buy it? If so, have you tried it on Phillips screws and how well did it work? Every drill I ever used spun the slots out and ruined the bits in short order. I've heard that impact drivers do a better job.
Thanks,
Stuck

 

[Diggin It]

I got a Ryobi 1/4" impact that seems to work well on Phillips, Square and Torx. Put some 3" drywall screws through 2xs into 4x4s with no effort. I've taken a few out and put them back in with no head damage.

 

[PILOON]

What can you say about a bucket? Well, the people who reviewed it found something to say. I read a couple and couldn't tell whether they were serious or tongue-in-check.

Well when I did renovations and building I always ordered a couple of drywall mud in buckets as part of an order.
Often the price was even the same as the boxed mud so I still have a supply.
One usage is to store my tractor chains.

Now as to tools------
many years ago a client went to China to visit and buy power tools for resale.
He described the production line as being stopped every so often to change the labels.
He actually saw Snap On change over to Harbor Freight, Sears etc etc.

Notice as to how today's tool castings simply have a indentation to where they stick the brand label.
On high ticket tools the insert is 'quality' while on the 'el cheepo' it might just be a paper label.

 

[hunt4570]

What can you say about a bucket? Well, the people who reviewed it found something to say. I read a couple and couldn't tell whether they were serious or tongue-in-check.

I love my buckets!! use em for tons of stuff! Nuts/bolts, chains, fencing supplies, just whatever. Even works well in a boat for keeping fish live. I like the ones with lids as it keeps everything inside clean. Yes, I have lots of storage buckets around. Not sure the HF ones have lids. Was in construction for most of my life, I have empty paint buckets, sheetrock mud buckets, hydraulic buckets from around the farm. If you go to lowes, you can get a free bucket with 4.5 gal of dry wall mud for $14.99 .
I even bought some food grade buckets I use for emergency food storage for when the zombies (or democrats) take over !!

 

[Fallon]

I got a Ryobi 1/4" impact that seems to work well on Phillips, Square and Torx. Put some 3" drywall screws through 2xs into 4x4s with no effort. I've taken a few out and put them back in with no head damage.

Comparing an impact driver to a drill isnt quite as impressive as comparing a drill to a manual screwdriver, but still impressive. An impact will drive screws a lot better than a drill under challenging conditions while not trying to break your wrists. I'm not sure I've tried one with a slot drive, but all the others work well.

On a similar note, I've abandoned Philips screws for Torex. Phillips were designed to cam (slip) out under high loads back in the day before torque limiting drivers. Robertson (square) are better & Torex are WAY better than Philips or slot screws.

 

[hunt4570]

Comparing an impact driver to a drill isnt quite as impressive as comparing a drill to a manual screwdriver, but still impressive. An impact will drive screws a lot better than a drill under challenging conditions while not trying to break your wrists. I'm not sure I've tried one with a slot drive, but all the others work well.

On a similar note, I've abandoned Philips screws for Torex. Phillips were designed to cam (slip) out under high loads back in the day before torque limiting drivers. Robertson (square) are better & Torex are WAY better than Philips or slot screws.

Torx I think, not Torex.. that's a semiconductor..

 

[MoArk Willy]

On a similar note, I've abandoned Philips screws for Torex. .

One thing that most do not realize when comparing Torx to Phillips is that Torx tend to drive more easily because 99% have a drill tip...most Phillips do not.