Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Gary Fowler]

Been contemplating purchasing a couple HF retractable air hose reels just because if the 'tripping over the uncoiled air hose on the shop floor' issue I could use at least 2.

My issue is, should I buy the higher buck Diablo reels or the lower priced Chicago ones? What is the difference and what works. Big cost difference involved.

Far as I can see, they are all 50 foot hoses and they all swivel and are all wall mount.

I'd sure like some informative information before I dump the 'big bucks' versus the small bucks on a couple.

Real use opinions please...

I dont recall the brand, I dont think it has a name on it (Harbor Freight Red 50' ) but IIRC mine only cost around$60 when I bought mine about 5 years ago. It works really well and hose is still holding up like new. It is only exposed to light when I have the shop door opened so little to no sunlight damage. I dont know how it would do exposed to full weather conditions since it is not enclosed. I think if I needed it outside, I would opt for the fully enclosed model. It is well worth whatever the price is now, no more tripping on hoses, no more rolling up loops etc.

 

[Diggin It]

Back to HF, anyone try a poly hose like below? Sick of the rubber ones I have being hard to manage especially in cold weather.
1/4 in. x 25 ft. Polyurethane Air Hose

I got a blue poly hose, not that brand. OK when warm, stiff as pipe when cold. I relegated it to fixed line in the garage, cut it up as needed for Ts and other fittings, used cable clamps to hold it in place along the ceiling.

 

[Diggin It]

I bought one of the higher end lightweight Diablo hoses, its not bad but I dont really like it, kinks kinda easy.

Got a 25' a year or so back. Stays out in the shop, no climate control but no direct sun. Lots of surface cracks and crazing already. Hope it's just the surface.

One disappointing item is the 10 pack of #2 Phillips insert bits. They wear down quickly.

Think I've shattered 8 out of 10 of them so far. To be fair, I was using them in a 1/4" Impact driver. They took quite a bit before giving up though.

 

[5030]

I dont recall the brand, I dont think it has a name on it (Harbor Freight Red 50' ) but IIRC mine only cost around$60 when I bought mine about 5 years ago. It works really well and hose is still holding up like new. It is only exposed to light when I have the shop door opened so little to no sunlight damage. I dont know how it would do exposed to full weather conditions since it is not enclosed. I think if I needed it outside, I would opt for the fully enclosed model. It is well worth whatever the price is now, no more tripping on hoses, no more rolling up loops etc.

I'm always tripping over air hose on the floor. Next week I'll have a couple. Probably have to get the short whip hose to connect to the air line though.

 

[5030]

Like alot of others have commented here, I find Harbor Freight is a mixed bag of pretty good stuff and poor quality stuff, so you have to do your research online. The good stuff I have includes their pedestal fan, 20 ton shop press, Daytona floor jack, creeper, welding cart/cabinet, quick-release bar clamps, and the Titanium Flux125 Welder, which so far seems to be a good value for a beginner's welder. For anyone considering getting into welding inexpensively, I have a video on the Titanium Flux125:

I also have a Bauer SDS-Max rotary hammer drill which has held up surprisingly well after heavy use, and recently got a chop saw, but too soon to pass judgement on it.

One disappointing item is the 10 pack of #2 Phillips insert bits. They wear down quickly. Also, I don't buy their blades, based on YouTube review and performance tests.

Good review and no funky music either. You skill improves with each weld.

I seem to have better luck with the DeWalt hex bit screwdrivers. They last and last.

 

[aczlan]

I'm always tripping over air hose on the floor. Next week I'll have a couple. Probably have to get the short whip hose to connect to the air line though.

I tried a auto retract one from harbor freight, after a few years the hose fell apart and the retractor started getting finicky about where it wanted to stop. I replaced it with a hand crank one that was significantly cheaper and is still going strong. When we put up the new shop I put a hand crank one between the garage doors in there and it has been great.

I seem to have better luck with the DeWalt hex bit screwdrivers. They last and last.

For Phillips bits, nothing seems to beat the ones that go back to a full quarter inch hex, I use both the short ones and the longer ones that go directly into the impact and they seem to strip out significantly less screw heads than the smaller ones or the ones that go back to a "flex" section.
I have used both of these styles, they both seem to last about as well. One of the longer ones lives on my 18 volt impact:




Aaron Z

 

[Threepoint]

I have the basic 50' model of the HF self-retracting air hose reel. It's been going strong for about eight years. The retracting spring and pawl stop mechanism is easily adjusted, if necessary to increase tension or for more positive pawl engagement. The thing is so simple, I really don't see the point in going with a more expensive unit unless it will be in steady daily use.

The stock rubber hose split at the working end after several years, but I just trimmed off a few inches and repaired it with a 3/8" ID barbed-to-3/8" NPT hose end fitting. The hose is replaceable, but so far so good.

 

[5030]

I have the basic 50' model of the HF self-retracting air hose reel. It's been going strong for about eight years. The retracting spring and pawl stop mechanism is easily adjusted, if necessary to increase tension or for more positive pawl engagement. The thing is so simple, I really don't see the point in going with a more expensive unit unless it will be in steady daily use.

The stock rubber hose split at the working end after several years, but I just trimmed off a few inches and repaired it with a 3/8" ID barbed-to-3/8" NPT hose end fitting. The hose is replaceable, but so far so good.

Looking at all of them, the Chicago and the Bauer and the high end blue one's instruction books and parts breakdown's, not much difference in parts, big difference in price though. Don't see the value in the 179 buck Earthquake versus the 69 buck Chicago and it's not an every day thing with me either though I do want the 50 foot hose. In reality, I could get by with the 39 buck hand crank one. I just need to get the hoses off the floor and out from under my feet.

 

[5030]

I tried a auto retract one from harbor freight, after a few years the hose fell apart and the retractor started getting finicky about where it wanted to stop. I replaced it with a hand crank one that was significantly cheaper and is still going strong. When we put up the new shop I put a hand crank one between the garage doors in there and it has been great.


For Phillips bits, nothing seems to beat the ones that go back to a full quarter inch hex, I use both the short ones and the longer ones that go directly into the impact and they seem to strip out significantly less screw heads than the smaller ones or the ones that go back to a "flex" section.
I have used both of these styles, they both seem to last about as well. One of the longer ones lives on my 18 volt impact:
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View attachment 642551

Aaron Z

If I was doing a ton of drive screws (which I don't but if I did, I'd go with the square head deck screws and the square drivers. I watched a contractor last summer do a deck with them and it was impressive.

 

[4570Man]

If I was doing a ton of drive screws (which I don't but if I did, I'd go with the square head deck screws and the square drivers. I watched a contractor last summer do a deck with them and it was impressive.

I’m probably in the driving a lot of screws category and I’ve found torx head screws to be far better then square ones.