Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[California]

Anyone have the Bauer corded jigsaw? The built in laser seams like a totally useless feature (an LED light would be useful).

I found the laser was a great help to follow a layout line with my Ryobi jigsaw.

HOWEVER - I ruined a battery when I stored the saw in a jumble of cords and chargers which bumped that light's 'on' switch. A costly mistake.

 

[Jim Nelson]

I passed on the Lowes power tool set sale (just did not make it before they closed) but in part I am leaning towards HFT options. The wife has so many clapped out handheld vacs I should get her one so we can use the same battery/charger set up. I may pick up one Wed when I take her to the airport to fly to Germany where the daughter is studying this fall semester. They will be home in a couple weeks so it would make a nice Christmas gift so she can be more productive when cleaning.

Before we were married my wife told me " Never buy me a vacuum cleaner as a present, birthday,Christmas,or any other day". I have never forgotten this and we are happily married for many years now. Our son did get her a vac. once for Christmas,I believe, but that was fine because he can do no wrong. Except his first marriage, that was a wreck.

 

[LD48750]

Before we were married my wife told me " Never buy me a vacuum cleaner as a present, birthday,Christmas,or any other day". I have never forgotten this and we are happily married for many years now. Our son did get her a vac. once for Christmas,I believe, but that was fine because he can do no wrong. Except his first marriage, that was a wreck.

Because he buys women vacuum cleaners.

 

[5030]

Before we were married my wife told me " Never buy me a vacuum cleaner as a present, birthday,Christmas,or any other day". I have never forgotten this and we are happily married for many years now. Our son did get her a vac. once for Christmas,I believe, but that was fine because he can do no wrong. Except his first marriage, that was a wreck.

Think I can get away with buying her the vacuum. Been married 36 years and it'my 4th marriage...lol Could be vacuums ruined the other 3 but I don't remember.

 

[Fallon]

Before we were married my wife told me " Never buy me a vacuum cleaner as a present, birthday,Christmas,or any other day". I have never forgotten this and we are happily married for many years now. Our son did get her a vac. once for Christmas,I believe, but that was fine because he can do no wrong. Except his first marriage, that was a wreck.

I've bought my wife a scale & pots & pans. I only felt safe because they were explicitly on her short christmas list. Even then wrapping the scale felt like placing a claymore.

 

[flyerdan]

Before we were married my wife told me " Never buy me a vacuum cleaner as a present, birthday,Christmas,or any other day". I have never forgotten this and we are happily married for many years now. Our son did get her a vac. once for Christmas,I believe, but that was fine because he can do no wrong. Except his first marriage, that was a wreck.

That is a fundamental difference between men and women. Men are practical and would welcome any gift that helped them accomplish a task quicker, easier, or in a better way, be it a vacuum, shop tool or kitchen appliance.

 

[rangerfredbob]

Before we were married my wife told me " Never buy me a vacuum cleaner as a present, birthday,Christmas,or any other day". I have never forgotten this and we are happily married for many years now. Our son did get her a vac. once for Christmas,I believe, but that was fine because he can do no wrong. Except his first marriage, that was a wreck.

My wife explicitly asked for a Vacuum for Christmas last year, pointed out some cheap model at wally world... of course I stepped up a grade or two...

I just realized on my way home tonight that I could have gotten a 9000lb winch yesterday for $150 in box... that would really upgrade the main equipment hauling trailer and help around the house on the F350 (not for getting the F350 unstuck, that'd be on the small side)...

 

[5030]

I see HF dropped the price on their 12K winch because they have a snazzier model now. I bought the 5K one for my side by side, good puller. Plug and Play mounting too (other than running the power cables because the battery is in the back) but that is another story for another time.

With 10 cats and a big dog in the house, vacuums don't last too long. I don't contribute, I'm bald.

 

[ultrarunner]

Think I can get away with buying her the vacuum. Been married 36 years and it'my 4th marriage...lol Could be vacuums ruined the other 3 but I don't remember.

Each family starting out would get a new Electrolux for a wedding gift.

Going all the way back to the 1930's and all of them are still working except for the one my brother ran over with his truck forgetting he had not put it away after vacuuming the interior.

I was thinking of that today as I was buying new vacs for the hospital Housekeepers... seems 5 years is about it... before anyone says 5 years of daily use I would have to say nary a day went by where my Grandmother wasn't vacuuming something!

We actually had the same Electrolux salesman for over 60 years... no kidding... even in his retirement home he was still selling to longtime customers... still remember he always had an impeccable Cadillac and a trunk full of Electrolux... anything that broke he fixed.

I just thought that is how things were... but Grandma seemed to know everyone... the Overhead Door Man, the Plumber, the Painter, the Carpet man, the Electrolux man and of course her Appliance man... and they really did provide excellent service... and before he left he would always say "How are you fixed for bags?"

Visiting one of my friends when their refrigerator went out the Mom said no one was available to come and fix it until Monday... this was Friday... and she called the shop that new Grandma.... I called Grandma and she called and he said he would be out that day but it would be late... and he was.

It all goes back to when business was relationships with locals and service was King...

 

[John_Mc]

I'd rather have something (especially a flashlight) with a standard, replaceable battery (even AA/AA) than one with some internal, proprietary non-replaceable one. Flashlight batteries ALWAYS go dead just before you really need it, and you may not have one of those USB power adapters handy. I know I never can find one when I need one.

If I recall correctly, the batteries are replaceable on the light KubotainNH linked does have a replaceable battery. It just happens that it's also a rechargeable.