Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[5030]

I have a friend who’s a welder. He buys the HF angle grinders. He says they last half as long as the Milwaukee brand, but they cost only 25% of the better brand, so he’s ahead.

How I view the Bauer cordless tools. Upfront cost is about 1/4th to 1/3rd of the comparable Milwaukee or DeWalt tools and believe it or not, I have not found the smoke in any Bauer cordless tool yet. I use them too, especially the Bauer 20 volt 4.5" angle grinder. Only thing with the grinder is it really needs the large Li-Ion battery HF sells. The puny one lasts about 3 minutes and is done. The big one will go about 30 minutes.

 

[Rich B1]

I'll check that out today. Amazon has them as well but the quality is always suspect. Wish I had bought one years ago. My only issue with it is, it don't come with a drill size chart for the pilot holes but I have one of those continuous step drills I use for the holes and it fits nicely in the case.

i just used a set of dial calipers and measured the OD of the rivnut. Then picked an appropriate drill bit.

 

[California]

Not HF, but this might be the audience who would like to know this:

I'm considering an over $100 purchase on Amazon. Chinese-made electronics and a new vendor. So I researched the Asurion warranty that Amazon offers alongside the purchase.

I asked Asurion if their warranty will take responsibility for repair/refund if the Amazon vendor disappears during the term described in the vendor's warranty. Asurion refuses to answer that question. They won't explain anything beyond 'assist in contacting the vendor'.

So the Asurion warranty apparently doesn't become useful until after the expiration of manufacturer's warranty, and non-performance by the vendor before that expiration date isn't covered. Not exactly 'insurance'!

 

[California]

Update - 'Chat' last night didn't know if Asurion will step in if the vendor disappeared during the term of the vendor warranty.

This morning, a new email, they explicitly said that is covered.

So it's worth the $29 for 4 year coverage from them.

 

[Diggin It]

Fair batch of coupons this time:

HARBOR FREIGHT

Anywhere from 10-25% off certain brands with 'no exclusions'.

 

[John_Mc]

Where do "Warrior" power tools fit in the Harbor Freight Line up of quality levels?

In fact does anyone have a lineup showing the naming lineup of "good/better/best" (i.e. cheap disposable crap / OK / Good) for the various Harbor Freight lines - both in hand tools and power (electric or pneumatic) tools? I'm constantly forgetting what fits where in their lineup.

I can mange to remember that Icon is their premium line of hand tools, and Hercules tops their power tool line up. I can't remember the rest. Do the air compressors run Central Pneumatic / McGraw / Fortress? (and where does their one small Bauer compressor fit in?) For welders, does it run Chicago Electric / Titanium / Vulcan?

 

[Travelover]

Where do "Warrior" power tools fit in the Harbor Freight Line up of quality levels?

In fact does anyone have a lineup showing the naming lineup of "good/better/best" (i.e. cheap disposable crap / OK / Good) for the various Harbor Freight lines - both in hand tools and power (electric or pneumatic) tools? I'm constantly forgetting what fits where in their lineup.

I can mange to remember that Icon is their premium line of hand tools, and Hercules tops their power tool line up. I can't remember the rest. Do the air compressors run Central Pneumatic / McGraw / Fortress? (and where does their one small Bauer compressor fit in?) For welders, does it run Chicago Electric / Titanium / Vulcan?

Warrior is the cheapest. You can figure out the line up just by looking at a common tool like an angle grinder and seeing the price stack up.

 

[California]

For welders, does it run Chicago Electric / Titanium / Vulcan?

For welders, correct.

But I went to buy a Titanium 125 Flux (Not the awful AC-only Chicago Electric 125) and the website showed none in a 200 mile radius so order now for next June delivery. (!)

Amazon lists similar welders. One is dual voltage. When CamelCamel (price monitoring) showed it dropped from $199 to $149, I bought one.
Amico MIG-130A, 130 Amp Flux Cored Wire Gasless Welder, 110/230V Dual Voltage

I like the Amico. Running 240v input I think its claimed 130A output is realistic. I burned through a 1/8" scrap I tried it on. However output of 130A from any 110V welder would need 30A input - not realistic. Quality seems at least as good as HF. I got the third party 4 year repair warranty, $30, that Amazon lists alongside the welder listing. Just in case ...

 

[IndyJay]

Where do "Warrior" power tools fit in the Harbor Freight Line up of quality levels?

In fact does anyone have a lineup showing the naming lineup of "good/better/best" (i.e. cheap disposable crap / OK / Good) for the various Harbor Freight lines - both in hand tools and power (electric or pneumatic) tools? I'm constantly forgetting what fits where in their lineup.

I can mange to remember that Icon is their premium line of hand tools, and Hercules tops their power tool line up. I can't remember the rest. Do the air compressors run Central Pneumatic / McGraw / Fortress? (and where does their one small Bauer compressor fit in?) For welders, does it run Chicago Electric / Titanium / Vulcan?

I have had good experience with the two Bauer tools that I have bought. The 1641E-B SDS Hammer Drill performed very well tearing out a brick hearth and wall, and the 1873E-B Jig Saw was comparable to much more expensive manufacturers offerings. I think Bauer is top or near top of their line, I saw pictures of a cordless Warrior Impact Gun that had grenaded. I now think of "Worrier" instead of "Warrior" when I see that brand...

 

[stuckmotor]

For welders, correct.

But I went to buy a Titanium 125 Flux (Not the awful AC-only Chicago Electric 125) and the website showed none in a 200 mile radius so order now for next June delivery. (!)

Amazon lists similar welders. One is dual voltage. When CamelCamel (price monitoring) showed it dropped from $199 to $149, I bought one.
Amico MIG-130A, 130 Amp MIG/Flux Cored Wire Gasless Welder, 110/230V Dual Voltage

I like the Amico. Running 240v input I think the claimed 130A output is realistic. I burned through a 1/8" scrap I tried it on. While output of 130A from any 110V welder needs 30A input, not realistic. Quality seems at least as good as HF. I got the third party 4 year repair warranty, $30, that Amazon lists alongside the welder listing. Just in case ...

Can you adjust the Amico low enough to weld thin metal without burning through? If so how thin is the metal you've welded?

 

[California]

Can you adjust the Amico low enough to weld thin metal without burning through? If so how thin is the metal you've welded?

I didn't test that. I have a panel of scrap 1/8" steel I use for trying welder settings. The Amico turned down to about 20% made a thin, tall bead and wouldn't keep an arc below that setting.

I've read flux-core runs hotter than the .023 wire and gas that is is recommend for thin work.

I was mostly testing maximum output, because reviews for this and for Titanium both include a few 'died immediately' responses. And, I'm trying to decide if this could replace my Chicago Electric MIG-180 (Like the MIG-170 they still sell, but better). I have two other stick welders so I may slim down to this Amico plus using a stick welder for heavy work. The 18 lb portability of this Amico is a huge convenience improvement over rasseling the 65 lb MIG-180 and its longer (upgraded) leads out of secure storage, to start a project.

 

[stuckmotor]

I didn't test that. I have a panel of scrap 1/8" steel I use for trying welder settings. The Amico turned down to about 20% made a thin, tall bead and wouldn't keep an arc below that setting.

I've read flux-core runs hotter than the .023 wire and gas that is is recommend for thin work.

I was mostly testing maximum output, because reviews for this and for Titanium both include a few 'died immediately' responses. And, I'm trying to decide if this could replace my Chicago Electric MIG-180 (Like the MIG-170 they still sell, but better). I have two other stick welders so I may slim down to this Amico plus using a stick welder for heavy work. The 18 lb portability of this Amico is a huge convenience improvement over rasseling the 65 lb MIG-180 and its longer (upgraded) leads out of secure storage, to start a project.

Thanks Califofnia. I'll keep that one in mind for thin metal. I have a couple of stick welders but no mig.

 

[California]

Thanks Califofnia. I'll keep that one in mind for thin metal. I have a couple of stick welders but no mig.

I should clarify that while Amazon lists this Amico welder as 'mig/flux', it is flux wire only. Same as the Titanium 125. No gas capability.

 

[stuckmotor]

I should clarify that while Amazon lists this Amico welder as 'mig/flux', it is flux wire only. Same as the Titanium 125. No gas capability.

Thanks California. I think I'll wait until I get a proper shed and buy a gas mig setup.

 

[hornett22]

My Titanium 170 mig welder has been great. Use it often.

 

[hornett22]

Daytona floor jack as well. Money well spent. Even before they dropped the price.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I've been using these cheap HF dollies for years:

https://go.harborfreight.com/coupons/2020/01/63098-76710290/

They're rated for 1000# and at $8 apiece, are a great value. I have around a dozen that I use under small implements like FEL buckets, counterweights, pallet forks, etc. I have yet to break one.

 

[jyoutz]

Where do "Warrior" power tools fit in the Harbor Freight Line up of quality levels?

In fact does anyone have a lineup showing the naming lineup of "good/better/best" (i.e. cheap disposable crap / OK / Good) for the various Harbor Freight lines - both in hand tools and power (electric or pneumatic) tools? I'm constantly forgetting what fits where in their lineup.

I can mange to remember that Icon is their premium line of hand tools, and Hercules tops their power tool line up. I can't remember the rest. Do the air compressors run Central Pneumatic / McGraw / Fortress? (and where does their one small Bauer compressor fit in?) For welders, does it run Chicago Electric / Titanium / Vulcan?

I was in the store recently and actually saw the products displayed with signs reading “good, better, best.”

 

[beowulf]

This may have been mentioned before on this thread - too many posts to check back for that. There are a number of HF items that I buy - some because I know I will only use them infrequently, or the price is such that I will get enough use out of them for the price.

But the one thing that pops into my mind as a really good purchase is one of their rechargeable spotlights. I have four of them (house, barn, garage, pickup) and they have proven to be really reliable.

I also had a number of name brand and expensive spotlights that were junk - stopped working and tossed in the trash after I got tired of trying to make them work.

I just hope the quality does not go down hill like some products do after they become popular.
The link: https://www.harborfreight.com/3-watt-led-rechargeable-cordless-spotlight-61960.html

 

[John_Mc]

Daytona floor jack as well. Money well spent. Even before they dropped the price.

Agreed. I have one of their 3 Ton Low Profile Super Duty jacks, and it's been working well. Low profile, yet still lifts to 23+" high. My only issue was that it shipped a little low on hydraulic fluid. I went into my local HF and mentioned the problem to the manager. He gave me a bottle of hydraulic jack fluid for free - even though I had bought it via mail order.

I've been using these cheap HF dollies for years:

https://go.harborfreight.com/coupons/2020/01/63098-76710290/

They're rated for 1000# and at $8 apiece, are a great value. I have around a dozen that I use under small implements like FEL buckets, counterweights, pallet forks, etc. I have yet to break one.

I have a few of those that I keep my 3 pt hitch snowblower on in the off season. It saves me from having to drive my tractor into the shop to pick it up when I have my studded chains on. I just roll the snow blower over to the garage door and hook it up.

I did have one of the carpeted cross boards crack on one of mine. At least on the one I had, those boards were cheap, lightweight. The carpeted boards seem significantly stronger.

My others have held up well. I do make a point to make sure the load is on the carpeted boards and distributed evenly. even then, I don't think I'd trust a single dolly to reliably hold 1000#