Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[California]

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

If you can pull 5 hp out of a regular 15 amp outlet you have indeed discovered free energy.


I like the Ryobi 18 volt chainsaw because of minimal set-up to start a project. Just grab a couple of batteries go.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have gone to bed way later then planned, watching one video after another of his. I learn a lot and that is unusual for videos, many of which are a lot of talk and not much valuable information, if any. His humour is quite unpredictable. He knows his materials to the point of obsession.

I also watch a lot of this guy. Very interesting and educational. Reverse engineering of a mains power controller. - YouTube No screaming and hellos, just right into it.

 

[dragoneggs]

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 are correct in saying ... 'it doesn't mean more power' but it does mean there is more 'potential' depending on the amperage.

 

[dragoneggs]

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

Now that is false advertising where the uninformed get suckered. Have to look at output Volts/Amps.

 

[Grumpycat]

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."

Add "premium" gasoline and "synthetic" motor oil to your list. The concept originates long time ago, am sure prior to the "17 jewel watch" is better than 14, and 21 even better! Or counting the number of transistors in your battery powered radio.

I don't doubt "premium" gas can be better than regular, but is not just because the octane rating is higher.

I don't doubt synthetic motor oil can be better than refined oil, but I don't assume "synthetic" means anything more than marketing making a play to charge higher price.

Have done a fair bit of electronic design in my career. I don't accept 7 transistors must be better than 5. Is too easy to add transistors without benefit. Quite often the better design uses fewer parts. 6U computer boards were once as good as we could do, but they are huge, more cpu power in your iPhone.

Marketing found early in the cordless power tool era how they can divert customers into believing voltage is the metric to compare a tool's ability.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Snap-On warrantied my 30-year-old, ball-peen-dead-blow, 32-ounce hammer today, sight unseen with free shipping.

The price has gone up a bit since I first purchased mine.

 

[Industrial Toys]

A friend is a SNAP-ON Fanatic. Buys most of it "CHEAP" used here and there. Their NEW prices can easily support an EASY exchange warranty program. Besides, a mechanic may buy five hundred Snap-On pieces, or more. How many is he going to bust? Actually they do hedge their bet with power tools. Limited warranties.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

A friend is a SNAP-ON Fanatic. Buys most of it "CHEAP" used here and there. Their NEW prices can easily support an EASY exchange warranty program. Besides, a mechanic may buy five hundred Snap-On pieces, or more. How many is he going to bust? Actually they do hedge their bet with power tools. Limited warranties.

When I worked as a mechanic I busted piles of sockets and screwdrivers to the point where I got Mac Tools sockets because I felt they were made better, but Snap-On Screwdrivers were where it was at for durability as well as being able to put a wrench on them. Nowadays, having and used both, I'd put OEM Screwdrivers up against Snap-On screwdrivers.

 

[dragoneggs]

I have NEVER been able to understand why folks would pay the crazy high prices for Snap On Tools. :confused3:

I think I own one Snap On tool that I bought on eBay, a used mini dial torque indicator I found for a reasonable price.

 

[3Ts]

Add "premium" gasoline and "synthetic" motor oil to your list. The concept originates long time ago, am sure prior to the "17 jewel watch" is better than 14, and 21 even better! Or counting the number of transistors in your battery powered radio.

I don't doubt "premium" gas can be better than regular, but is not just because the octane rating is higher.

I don't doubt synthetic motor oil can be better than refined oil, but I don't assume "synthetic" means anything more than marketing making a play to charge higher price.

Have done a fair bit of electronic design in my career. I don't accept 7 transistors must be better than 5. Is too easy to add transistors without benefit. Quite often the better design uses fewer parts. 6U computer boards were once as good as we could do, but they are huge, more cpu power in your iPhone.

Marketing found early in the cordless power tool era how they can divert customers into believing voltage is the metric to compare a tool's ability.

And computer clock speeds. Is a 3 MHz clock speed better than a 1 MHz clock? If you believe the marketing, one would think so. But, consider that when they first came out there were 2 companies, one with a 3 Mhz CPU, the other with a 1 Mhz CPU - the 3 MHz CPU took 15 clock cycles to do a multiply, the 1 Mhz CPU took a single clock cycle so it was 5 times faster. You don't hear of the company that had the 1 Mhz CPU anymore.

 

[Tomtint]

I have NEVER been able to understand why folks would pay the crazy high prices for Snap On Tools. :confused3:

I think I own one Snap On tool that I bought on eBay, a used mini dial torque indicator I found for a reasonable price.

I have a few misc Snap-On hand tools. The ones I really like are the ratchets and a set of long metric wrenches. ..Also have a set of Matco ratchets. ... The professional grade tools certainly feel better in your hands. And the ratchets are much more refines than my Craftsman or Kobalt ones. I bought the S.O stuff used and the Matco set was also "used" ..but still in the wrapper when I got them. .. I would buy them again if I needed it.

 

[Oaktree]

Add "premium" gasoline and "synthetic" motor oil to your list. The concept originates long time ago, am sure prior to the "17 jewel watch" is better than 14, and 21 even better! Or counting the number of transistors in your battery powered radio.

And don't forget the wattage claims for stereo equipment back in the 70s. Some cheap-o dept. store stereo with built in 8 track player claiming it was 500W (and only had a 2 amp fuse!).

 

[dragoneggs]

And don't forget the wattage claims for stereo equipment back in the 70s. Some cheap-o dept. store stereo with built in 8 track player claiming it was 500W (and only had a 2 amp fuse!).

Yep, it always boils down to knowing how to read the specs not the advertising.

 

[5030]

I have a few misc Snap-On hand tools. The ones I really like are the ratchets and a set of long metric wrenches. ..Also have a set of Matco ratchets. ... The professional grade tools certainly feel better in your hands. And the ratchets are much more refines than my Craftsman or Kobalt ones. I bought the S.O stuff used and the Matco set was also "used" ..but still in the wrapper when I got them. .. I would buy them again if I needed it.

Speaking about 'feel' you need to go and 'feel' an Icon torque wrench and 'feel' a Snap-On or Matco and then report back. I have, I have a Snap-On 1/2" drive clicker wrench and an Icon 1/2" drive clicker and in my perspective, the Icon 'feels' better than the Snap-On at 1/4 the cost. JMO however. Go 'feel' it for yourself.

 

[5030]

My last Snap-On tool truck purchase was a 12 volt test light. Snap-On logo, nice pretty green self coiling lead, 95 bucks. Looked at the end flap on the box (after I paid my 95 clams)... Said 'Made in China' I was totally done with Crap-On after that. I can buy Chinese lots cheaper at HF. Snap-On can KMA for all I care.

 

[dragoneggs]

My last Snap-On tool truck purchase was a 12 volt test light. Snap-On logo, nice pretty green self coiling lead, 95 bucks. Looked at the end flap on the box (after I paid my 95 clams)... Said 'Made in China' I was totally done with Crap-On after that. I can buy Chinese lots cheaper at HF. Snap-On can KMA for all I care.

Tell us how you really feel! :laughing: Yeah the HF Icon are looking pretty good.

 

[aczlan]

My concern about 80 volt tools was weight of battery.

In many cases, the 80 volt battery in the 40 volt volt batteries are the same weight, they just have as many watts for the 80 volt battery as the 40 volt battery.

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

I have an air compressor motor that claims to be a single phase, 240V 5 horsepower motor, but when you look at the amp draw it's actually only a 2 horsepower motor.

Aaron Z

 

[dragoneggs]

In many cases, the 80 volt battery in the 40 volt volt batteries are the same weight, they just have as many amps for the 80 volt battery as the 40 volt battery.I have an air compressor motor that claims to be a single phase, 240V 5 horsepower motor, but when you look at the amp draw it's actually only a 2 horsepower motor.

Aaron Z

Power = Volts x Amps = Watts

Horsepower = 745watts

5hp x 745 = 3725watts

3725watts / 240v = 15amps ... so in a perfect world it is true but not reality.

 

[California]

Horsepower is also torque x rpm, a more useful measure compared to watts consumed.

 

[5030]

Tell us how you really feel! :laughing: Yeah the HF Icon are looking pretty good.

I did......:thumbsup: Why I 'had' to buy the HF impact sockets. My Snap-On socket split up the side on Sunday. No choice was a good choice.

They are good. So is the 'Chief' line of air tools. My next purchase, the 4.5" air angle grinder for 75 bucks. The IR is $215.00.