Harbor Freight Tools that DO SUCK II

[stuckmotor]

5030,
When have you ever seen me post about politics?

 

[5030]

Never and that was a general statement and not directed toward anyone in particular.

 

[rbstern]

Not sure why the HF Predator auger doesn't get more love. I've drilled scores of fence post and planter holes with that thing. Use it with ethanol free gas and SuperTech synthetic 2 stroke oil (25-1 during break in with the HF supplied oil, now 40-1 with the Walmart branded oil). After sitting for a couple of months, it typically starts in four or five pulls. Less, if I remember to flip the ignition switch. And nearly always one pull when warmed up. Yes, it will smack you around if it grabs a root or a rock. You learn quickly to hang on tight and ease into the throttle. I sometimes brace it against my thigh in tough holes with a lot of roots.

Very happy to have that thing hanging in my shed.

 

[rgr33]

Another vote here for the HF auger. The first thing I demand from a gas powered tool is that it has to start right up, with no monkeying around to find the sweet spot it takes to get going.

I have a vineyard, and there are at least a couple thousand posts in it supporting the vines. Each spring I have to replace about a dozen or more rotten posts. I don’t think I could do it by myself without the gas powered auger. No rocks here, but plenty of roots to cut through.

I’ve had it about 6 or 7 years, still working well. I do drain gas and run it dry after using it.

 

[rangerfredbob]

I'd heard bad things about the cheap tap kits but had had the older ones with decent luck. Picked up a set of metric and standard and was severely disappointed with at least the 8-32 tap, it would barely tap aluminum...

 

[California]

Not a specific Do Suck tool, but rather another step toward everything more expensive:

Take a look at the HF home page. The Clearance section has a lot of the common inexpensive items that most of us have bought, for example the smaller and larger wood-frame furniture dollies. Half inch impact sockets. Moving blanket-(SUV floor protector). Several hand trucks. $19 swing-down trailer jack closed out at $29!

Surely everything on clearance will be replaced by more something more expensive that does the same job.

 

[5030]

Their impact sockets (the black oxide ones) are wicked strong. I've beat on them with no let up and never broke one yet.

 

[the old grind]

None of HFTs 'impact guns' will produce max torque running on 3/8" air lines and QAs with 3/16" ID male fittings, and none clarify that limitation.

 

[bmaverick]

Their impact sockets (the black oxide ones) are wicked strong. I've beat on them with no let up and never broke one yet.

Same here. Got an impact Rigid that would bust brand name impact sockets. Still beating on the H-F ones for over 4 years and not one fracture yet.

Now, to keep in tune with the SUX thread ....

Their ZIP-TIES do not last a whole summer like the Menards ones do. Bet the summer heat has something to do with it or the ZIP-TIE is just a tad thinner that they break.

They do have those CHEAP yellow/black AAA and AA batteries that are basically a one time use. Can't recharge them either.

 

[California]

They do have those CHEAP yellow/black AAA and AA batteries that are basically a one time use. Can't recharge them either.

I finally found an application those batteries can do, and I'm still using up the freebies from a couple of years ago.

In my cordless computer mouse.

They aren't much use for anything that draws measurable current.

 

[bmaverick]

I finally found an application those batteries can do, and I'm still using up the freebies from a couple of years ago.

In my cordless computer mouse.

They aren't much use for anything that draws measurable current.

You are correct. The batteries are Zinc+Carbon types. Slow drawing currents they can handle.

 

[California]

None of HFTs 'impact guns' will produce max torque running on 3/8" air lines and QAs with 3/16" ID male fittings, and none clarify that limitation.

Yeah. HF's 3/8 'Automotive' fittings have 2.25 times the cross section area. See this old post in the Don't Suck thread.

 

[5030]

Same here. Got an impact Rigid that would bust brand name impact sockets. Still beating on the H-F ones for over 4 years and not one fracture yet.

Now, to keep in tune with the SUX thread ....

Their ZIP-TIES do not last a whole summer like the Menards ones do. Bet the summer heat has something to do with it or the ZIP-TIE is just a tad thinner that they break.

They do have those CHEAP yellow/black AAA and AA batteries that are basically a one time use. Can't recharge them either.

We got a bunch a while back and went to use some and they were DEAD in the wrappers. I'll stick with Dura Cell or Ray-O-Vac.

 

[5030]

None of HFTs 'impact guns' will produce max torque running on 3/8" air lines and QAs with 3/16" ID male fittings, and none clarify that limitation.

Don't have any. I use an IR 1/2" drive and an IR 3/4" drive impact. Not cheap but they deliver plenty of power. Air power is a non issue in my shop. Have a rotary screw Sullair screw compressor. 135 psi at 30 cfm.

 

[Frankenkubota]

i bought a simple cats paw.....cats claw? for pulling nails.

first try the claws bent

 

[Oaktree]

You are correct. The batteries are Zinc+Carbon types. Slow drawing currents they can handle.

I'm surprised anyone bothers with carbon-zinc batteries anymore. Alkalines aren't that much more expensive, and are a lot easier to find. Pretty much only place I see them is dollar stores, etc. (and apparently HF).
I've used the old Thunderbolt alkalines, and they're not a whole lot better than c-z...OK for remotes, LED flashlights, etc. but that's about it. They don't even work very well in clocks.

I looked at their new line of alkalines, but for the same or less money you can get Energizer of Duracells.

 

[grsthegreat]

i bought a simple cats paw.....cats claw? for pulling nails.

first try the claws bent

My BIL purchased a drill bit case assorted sizes. First use they twisted like pretzel. I guess they didnt remember to harden them.

like i said earlier, the only thing good from that store are the rolling tool boxes and their hammers. Rest is junk.

 

[PuffyC]

This was posted last spring...not sure by whom...FWIW...
Power Tool Manufacturers and Who Really Owns Them | PTR

In the not too distant future everything we consume will be made by 2 or 3 companies and the only differentiation will be the name of the brand and the packaging. Feels like we're almost there now.

Not sure why the HF Predator auger doesn't get more love. I've drilled scores of fence post and planter holes with that thing. Use it with ethanol free gas and SuperTech synthetic 2 stroke oil (25-1 during break in with the HF supplied oil, now 40-1 with the Walmart branded oil). After sitting for a couple of months, it typically starts in four or five pulls. Less, if I remember to flip the ignition switch. And nearly always one pull when warmed up. Yes, it will smack you around if it grabs a root or a rock. You learn quickly to hang on tight and ease into the throttle. I sometimes brace it against my thigh in tough holes with a lot of roots.

Very happy to have that thing hanging in my shed.

Same here. That auger is a wristbreaker if you don't know what you're doing but with a little practice and patience it works great. Built many fences and bridge footers with mine over the years. The last time I used mine it had been sitting in the shed half full of Trufuel for well over a year. A couple pumps of the priming bulb and it literally started on the first pull. Compare that with my name brand Stihl chainsaw where just getting it started the very next day is a legitimate workout.

 

[PuffyC]

If you're looking for HF tools that do suck:

- Pittsburgh portable inflator: Simply a box of trash. Avoid.
- Quinn 7 In. Diagonal Cutters: OK if you need a disposable tool but they're soft and dull quickly. If you plan on using them on a regular basis, invest in something better.
- Pittsburgh 300 Lb. ATV/Lawn Mower Lift: This is actually not terrible if you consider the price (I got mine for $49), but it's a project that will likely need modifications to work reliably. If you plan on using it a lot and value your life, I'd get something better.
- Any of those nut/bolt/hardware collections in a box they sell. Not really a tool but I bought a couple to keep in places where I didn't have close access to my main garage. The steel is so cheap you could convince me those nuts and bolts are made of aluminum.

I will say that after giving it a lot of thought, most stuff I got from Harbor Freight has been pretty serviceable. Most wouldn't be suitable for a pro but for a home or farm owner it's typically good enough.

 

[5030]

My BIL purchased a drill bit case assorted sizes. First use they twisted like pretzel. I guess they didnt remember to harden them.

Went from a twist drill to a 'untwist drill. Should have reversed the rotation of the drill motor and re-twisted it...lol

I agree, the HF drills are basically junk. So are their tap and die sets, totally worthless.