Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[dragoneggs]

My over $100 purchases at HF:

1. Floor standing blast cabinet (heavy modifications made but it is great now)
2. 20T Press (installed an air/hydralic jack and love it)
3. Engine puller

and my biggest purchase:

The 8ft by 10ft greenhouse. Heavily modified to stiffen up, added power/water, sink, lights, outlets, auto-opening roof vents, automatic drip watering, misters, and a thermostat controlled fan!

I'm having to replace most of the panels after about 6 years as they don't seem to be the best in holding up to UV becoming yellow and brittle.

 

[Fallon]

I've only used my badlands 12,000lbs winch a few times, but it's been good so far.

The 2" reciever mount winch cradle is ok, but not great. It's only rated for up to a 9,000lbs winch. It probably would have held up, except I haven't put a 2" reciever on the trailer yet. Chain around the light tube cary handles to the sides of the trailer held up once loading a busted SUV. Winching a 2,000lbs log on recently pretzeled the tubes. Tubes were always awkward & welded in place anyway.

Picked up a new cradle off Amazon for $50. Its rated for at least a 12k winch. The cary handles are bolted on & adjustable. Much better fit. Spent today cutting a hole in the front of the trailer to weld in the reciever. Will see how everything holds up.

My fleet of disposable HF grinders did well. I'm definitely a believer in having a few so you always have one handy with the right wheel on it. Or not having to cry over a $20 grinder you just dropped. My ryobi is my go to just because its cordless. It has the same oomph as the corded ones though.

 

[5030]

My over $100 purchases at HF:

1. Floor standing blast cabinet (heavy modifications made but it is great now)
2. 20T Press (installed an air/hydralic jack and love it)
3. Engine puller

and my biggest purchase:

The 8ft by 10ft greenhouse. Heavily modified to stiffen up, added power/water, sink, lights, outlets, auto-opening roof vents, automatic drip watering, misters, and a thermostat controlled fan!

I'm having to replace most of the panels after about 6 years as they don't seem to be the best in holding up to UV becoming yellow and brittle.

Which one did you get? Been kicking that around but I'd make it portable on a .40 retention plywood base with 6 x 6 skids underneath and pull eyes so I can move it as needed.

 

[dragoneggs]

Which one did you get? Been kicking that around but I'd make it portable on a .40 retention plywood base with 6 x 6 skids underneath and pull eyes so I can move it as needed.

Not sure which one you are asking about?

20T Press 20 Ton H-Frame Industrial Heavy Duty Floor Shop Press

Blast Cabinet 40 Lb. Capacity Floor Blast Cabinet

I put both on swivel casters to easily move them around... along with about everything in my cramped shop!

 

[5030]

Neither, the greenhouse?

 

[Oaktree]

The 8ft by 10ft greenhouse. Heavily modified to stiffen up, added power/water, sink, lights, outlets, auto-opening roof vents, automatic drip watering, misters, and a thermostat controlled fan!

I'm having to replace most of the panels after about 6 years as they don't seem to be the best in holding up to UV becoming yellow and brittle.

What did you use for replacement panels? I've been thinking of building a greenhouse (about that size) myself.

 

[Diggin It]

What did you use for replacement panels? I've been thinking of building a greenhouse (about that size) myself.

Can't speak for him, but I picked up some clear polycarbonate skylight panels for my metal roof. Matches the 5 rib pattern and is supposed to be UV safe. I suppose you could use something like that since all the trim pieces in metal would fit. At $5/linear foot, they're not cheap though.

Big box stores also have something in a ripple pattern similar to old style tin roof panels. Not sure of the pricing on those.

 

[bcp]

I have the HF 6x8 greenhouse.. I haven't found replacement panels for a lower price the the whole HF greenhouse. When I have to replace, I may get another greenhouse, use its panels, then use the frame for a screen house.

Bruce

 

[dragoneggs]

Neither, the greenhouse?

Aha... was confused when you said 6x6 skids, now I get it.

Oops, 10' by 12'. Garden Greenhouse - 1 Ft. X 12 Ft. Greenhouse With 4 Vents

This greenhouse is flimsy. I used 4x6 pressure treated beams for the perimeter base frame. You will need a rigid platform if you want to skid it otherwise it will blow apart if it is racked even a little bit. I used electrical conduit to stiffen the structure along with other mods.



I would love to relocate mine but I don't think it would survive not to mention I ran power and water underground to it so it would be a pain.

 

[dragoneggs]

What did you use for replacement panels? I've been thinking of building a greenhouse (about that size) myself.

I have the HF 6x8 greenhouse.. I haven't found replacement panels for a lower price the the whole HF greenhouse. When I have to replace, I may get another greenhouse, use its panels, then use the frame for a screen house.

Bruce

Replacement panels from Greenhouse Megastore | Greenhouses, Greenhouse Supplies, Garden Supplies

Yes, these panels are expensive and now there are minimum qty requirements. But the panel quality is far superior to the HF that don't hold up to UV.

Here is a fairly extensive thread on the build...

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...nhouse-construction.html?highlight=greenhouse

 

[Oaktree]

I haven't found replacement panels for a lower price the the whole HF greenhouse. When I have to replace, I may get another greenhouse, use its panels, then use the frame for a screen house.

Funny how that works. Ran into the same thing with one of those ShelterLogic "portable" garages. Cheaper to buy a whole new one than to get a replacement cover.

 

[rangerfredbob]

Now that I got replacements I'll share a story...

Was out on a boat with the "workshop blower" from Bauer HERE is a great little blower, we were using it to inflate floaties which worked good for "raft valve" stuff but not good for the small valve ones since it doesn't make enough pressure. Anywho, it got splashed with the battery on it and the speed control apparently shorted out and it was full on no matter what. Also the 3ah battery test button shorted so the light was on for 4 days...

So, moral of the story, keep the Bauer 20V stuff dry, they don't have much in the way of waterproofing... There's some conformal coating at work, will probably take some of this stuff apart and give it a coat on the circuit boards...

 

[3Ts]

There's some conformal coating at work, will probably take some of this stuff apart and give it a coat on the circuit boards...

How does one remove the conformal coating? or maybe potting is more correct in my case. I have a control board that is no longer made and has a grey rubbery compound about 1/2" thick covering all the components. I want to try to repair it, but can't figure out how to get to the components.

 

[rangerfredbob]

Nothing really eats away at silicone, which is why it's used, the only way is careful manual scraping I believe. The stuff we have is just the spray on shellac type stuff that's yellowish when dry (and apparently extremely toxic/poisonous before it dries), what you have is more of a potting like you said.

 

[5030]

Replacement panels from Greenhouse Megastore | Greenhouses, Greenhouse Supplies, Garden Supplies

Yes, these panels are expensive and now there are minimum qty requirements. But the panel quality is far superior to the HF that don't hold up to UV.

Here is a fairly extensive thread on the build...

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...nhouse-construction.html?highlight=greenhouse

Nice links, thank you. I see their kit greenhouses are in line with HF. I may purchase one of theirs instead.

 

[5030]

"I would love to relocate mine but I don't think it would survive " Why I want to mount the frame on .40 retention 3/4" marine grade plywood with 6 x 6 .40 retention runners and 4x4 .40 retention cross struts with pull eyes on each end so I can move it as needed. Probably provide supplemental heat (winter) with a radiant LP heater and a 100 pound bottle. Of course all the floor fasteners will be stainless too.

I need a nice grow room in the back.....

 

[dragoneggs]

"I would love to relocate mine but I don't think it would survive " Why I want to mount the frame on .40 retention 3/4" marine grade plywood with 6 x 6 .40 retention runners and 4x4 .40 retention cross struts with pull eyes on each end so I can move it as needed. Probably provide supplemental heat (winter) with a radiant LP heater and a 100 pound bottle. Of course all the floor fasteners will be stainless too.

I need a nice grow room in the back.....

If I had to do it all over again, I might have thought about a skid but in my case, even if I uprooted mine and built a skid under it, the place I want to move it to is down a very steep uneven bank to a lower area in the yard. Not gonna happen unless I use a crane.

 

[5030]

If I had to do it all over again, I might have thought about a skid but in my case, even if I uprooted mine and built a skid under it, the place I want to move it to is down a very steep uneven bank to a lower area in the yard. Not gonna happen unless I use a crane.

Either of my large frame Kubota's can move one dressed out or devoid of stuff, no issue. My impetus for building it to be portable is placement during different seasons. Winter placement would differ from summer placement in my situation.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Either of my large frame Kubota's can move one dressed out or devoid of stuff, no issue. My impetus for building it to be portable is placement during different seasons. Winter placement would differ from summer placement in my situation.

Do you know what a "chicken tractor" is? It's a portable chicken house / pen, that can be moved around. Might be some good ideas there for a portable green house?

chicken tractor - Google Search

 

[5030]

Do you know what a "chicken tractor" is? It's a portable chicken house / pen, that can be moved around. Might be some good ideas there for a portable green house?

chicken tractor - Google Search

I didn't. I know what a 'chicken choker' is but I cannot say on here as it's a PG forum....