Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[hunt4570]

In spite of the fact that many times they are.


Hard to admit you spent 10 times as much for the same result.

You do not spend 10 times as much for the SAME result!

 

[Diggin It]

I've been pinged by 110 so often I can light a bulb like Uncle Fester.


New ad says you get a free bucket with a $25 purchase. Whippee! I get a free bucket when I buy driveway sealer. Or do I buy the bucket and get the sealer free?

 

[Fallon]

I fail to see the issue it's takes very little voltage to kill you.
If you are that worried do you use any plug in tools? that 115 VAC is going to jump right out and get you.
Think about all the suburbanites out there in the damp grass with the corded 115 VAC weed wackers.

Ya, was about to say the same thing. There are different risks with DC vs AC, but really not particularly notable in the difference the danger of electrocuting yourself with either.

To get higher battery voltage you need more cells. That pretty much means more cost. You can mess with the volts & amps to keep the same wattage, but generally more volts means more oomph for the tool. Higher voltages are less affected by voltage drop across wiring. Higher voltage at the same wattage also means you can use thinner wiring to save weight & cost.

 

[Industrial Toys]

The Voltage thing is more Marketing than anything practical. As is "Brushless".

I have been watching too much of this guy. Really smart and funny too. Buys tools and disects them. BOLTR: Harbor Freight Bauer vs. Hercules | THERE WILL BE SMOKE! - YouTube

It's sad. Sometimes there is a GREAT low cost tool, but they cheaped out somewhere making it worthless. Same for High Quality, High Cost Tools. Like a ****** switch or something.

 

[LD48750]

I've been pinged by 110 so often I can light a bulb like Uncle Fester.


New ad says you get a free bucket with a $25 purchase. Whippee! I get a free bucket when I buy driveway sealer. Or do I buy the bucket and get the sealer free?

Did you notice that the lid cost $2 in another part of the add?

 

[5030]

The Voltage thing is more Marketing than anything practical. As is "Brushless".

I have been watching too much of this guy. Really smart and funny too. Buys tools and disects them. BOLTR: Harbor Freight Bauer vs. Hercules | THERE WILL BE SMOKE! - YouTube

It's sad. Sometimes there is a GREAT low cost tool, but they cheaped out somewhere making it worthless. Same for High Quality, High Cost Tools. Like a ****** switch or something.

I haven't experienced that with my Bauer drill, maybe I have an improved version but I will say that when you do a locked rotor high amp draw on anything motorized, you will find the smoke. I don't care what brand or how much it cost.

Besides, the Canuk has a vulgar mouth....eh

 

[5030]

Got my 5000 pound Badland RTV winch on sale, $139 clams with remote. I put one on my wife's new Kubota side by side and it was totally plug and play easy. Nice winch. Gear train is a bit noisy though. Come with mount plate and roller fairlead. Got the Chief 4.5 air angle grinder on sale too. I may have to make a pilgrimage to HF this week. Been lusting for a 4.5" air (no smoke out) angle grinder. $79.95. Pretty hard to find the smoke in an air tool....:laughing:

 

[5030]

Ya, was about to say the same thing. There are different risks with DC vs AC, but really not particularly notable in the difference the danger of electrocuting yourself with either.

To get higher battery voltage you need more cells. That pretty much means more cost. You can mess with the volts & amps to keep the same wattage, but generally more volts means more oomph for the tool. Higher voltages are less affected by voltage drop across wiring. Higher voltage at the same wattage also means you can use thinner wiring to save weight & cost.

What it is, 500 Ma across your ticker puts you in the Obit column.....

 

[California]

... Pretty hard to find the smoke in an air tool....:laughing:

I was amazed at the torque of a 1/2" air drill a neighbor brought (plus portable compressor), on a shared a fencing project. The drill could only be stalled with extreme pressure - maybe 150 lbs of force pushing it into a hole in the steel well casing that we used for fenceposts. But that didn't hurt it. It would take a good-sized shop drill press or a plumber's hole hawg to exceed what this hand tool could do. Impressive!

 

[Industrial Toys]

I use a 1/2" IR air drill that I bought thirty years ago at a garage sale. I like it because it's torqy enough for heavy drilling but if you stall it, no harm done. Friends have been using Ridged 18V drills commercially and have given up on them for failing in such stalling applications.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

The Voltage thing is more Marketing than anything practical. As is "Brushless".

I have been watching too much of this guy. Really smart and funny too. Buys tools and disects them. BOLTR: Harbor Freight Bauer vs. Hercules | THERE WILL BE SMOKE! - YouTube

It's sad. Sometimes there is a GREAT low cost tool, but they cheaped out somewhere making it worthless. Same for High Quality, High Cost Tools. Like a ****** switch or something.

I dunno but I've been beating on my Panasonic lithium 14.4v drill driver and drill along with my Milwaukee M28 Sawzall now for over 10 years. Same tools, same batteries. Used multi times a week. The Panasonic is brushless. The sawzall I've need to swithc out it quick release collar (i wore it out) and its switch. The Panasonics? nothing has ever broken--even after falling into a lake!

 

[Industrial Toys]

Matsu****a ALWAYS made GREAT stuff in my experience. It is Japanese after all. Curious where there stuff is made today.

 

[countrybumpkin]

Went today to try and buy a black 26x22 tool chest with my coupon for 239 that expires Friday. Lady said they were out and might get one or two in in a few weeks, she did say the display was available but I passed on it, I did get a rain check for that price but it’s only good for 30 days. I may go back in the morning and grab it if it’s there so I can finish up my Steve O work bench.

 

[5030]

I was amazed at the torque of a 1/2" air drill a neighbor brought (plus portable compressor), on a shared a fencing project. The drill could only be stalled with extreme pressure - maybe 150 lbs of force pushing it into a hole in the steel well casing that we used for fenceposts. But that didn't hurt it. It would take a good-sized shop drill press or a plumber's hole hawg to exceed what this hand tool could do. Impressive!

While I like my cordless tools, I have an abundance of air power available. I have around 30 CFM at 150 psi available. Usually around the shop, I prefer air tools because like you say, no smoke ever. I need the volume and pressure for my CNC plasma table and the Hypertherm 60 amp plasma unit. So long as you put a couple drops of oil in the air intake every day, basically maintenance free.

 

[John_Mc]

Not sure I want to be carrying around a saw with a 80 volt battery on it. Should be good for the lawnmower.

People seem to have bought in to the marketing sham that higher voltage means "better" or "more power", so most of the manufacturers are pushing voltages higher.

I put that in the same category as the big box stores selling cheap 40cc saws with a 20" bar on them. ("Gee, this one must be better, it has a bigger bar."

 

[5030]

People seem to have bought in to the marketing sham that higher voltage means "better" or "more power", so most of the manufacturers are pushing voltages higher.

I put that in the same category as the big box stores selling cheap 40cc saws with a 20" bar on them. ("Gee, this one must be better, it has a bigger bar."

You mean a 'Poulan'......

 

[ronjhall]

My concern about 80 volt tools was weight of battery.

 

[Ford850]

My concern about 80 volt tools was weight of battery.

I agree. At some point you reach diminishing returns. I'd rather have a lighter weight tool that can power through most jobs, than a heavy weight tool that can do it all. I find myself grabbing my smallest Stihl chainsaw more and more, due to it's light weight and ease of use.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I like 5HP SHOP vacs that plug into a regular 120 volt recept. Talk about FREE energy!

 

[Dutch445]

The Voltage thing is more Marketing than anything practical. As is "Brushless".

I have been watching too much of this guy. Really smart and funny too. Buys tools and disects them. BOLTR: Harbor Freight Bauer vs. Hercules | THERE WILL BE SMOKE! - YouTube

It's sad. Sometimes there is a GREAT low cost tool, but they cheaped out somewhere making it worthless. Same for High Quality, High Cost Tools. Like a ****** switch or something.

Yes, he is very interesting, he's been doing tool teardowns for years.
no doubt a different language than most of us use, but quite entertaining also.
i'v watched quite a bit and actually learned tons of stuff about manufacturing processes,
electric systems, hydraulic systems, machining etc.
can't seem to pinpoint his background, mentions mining a lot, but he also
mentions boeing a lot, and in 1 vijao he had on a boeing shirt, but you never
get to see his face or identity. keeps it well hidden.
almost wonder if he is/was an engineer with boeing?... who knows.
he actually deleted a whole bunch of his vijaos just to keep the clutter down
and don't go to BC, he says it SUCKS! lol
i like watching him!