Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[roadhawk]

I took advantage of a pretty sweet sale and have two new HFT purchases. I guess I'll be able to update this thread in a while as to whether either of these are worth a crud . I've read good things about both of them, reviews are promising on YouTube and forums, etc, and specs are good. I'm going to use the pump to drive sprinklers from a tank, and the generator is for backup power at home in the house, pool house, or camper as well as using my welder around home.

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Grabbed a 50' soaker hose while I was at it and one of their garden hose quick connect kits. I think their quick connects are actually really great along with the soaker hose, and both are quite cheap.

What was the price of the pump?

 

[daugen]

I bought that pressure washer a year ago for 79 bucks and it has worked remarkably well. Just have to be careful not to kink the inexpensive hose that comes with it.
Otherwise it's a great low pressure washer. And yes I used the antifreeze in it over the winter since it sat in my unheated garage.

 

[mwemaxxowner]

What was the price of the pump?

My inside track club price was $170, but I got 10% off for my first purchase with the HFT credit card and it came out to $152.99.

The HFT card gives 10% off the first purchase, which I opened just for getting this generator a little while back. I get the option for 12 month interest free financing but I think I'll just pay it all off now. I don't need to finance it, I just wanted the 10%.

I picked up the Genny, the pump, the garden hose quick connect set, and the 50' soaker hose for $855 with taxes, all said and done.

I feel like I basically got the pump for free.

 

[bmaverick]

It's good to see the click torque wrench back down to the 20 years ago price of $10! Mine always tests accurate compared with two beam torque wrenches. But I wouldn't use it without this verification. It is HF, after all.

Yes, it works really remarkable and reliable. I was surprised.

 

[gstrom99]

I bought a $125 electric pressure washer but then ruined it over several years of occasional use, from storing it dry. Eventually it froze up. Don't do this.

Then I bought a small Ryobi pressure washer. My application realistically is just washing off mud. And I started a rigorous storage procedure - fill the pump with automotive antifreeze and run it for an instant, then pour antifreeze into the ports. No problems with this one, over several years.

I read the MSDS spec sheet for special 'pressure washer storage fluid' or whatever its called, its just antifreeze.

It's good to see the click torque wrench back down to the 20 years ago price of $10! Mine always tests accurate compared with two beam torque wrenches. But I wouldn't use it without this verification. It is HF, after all.

I've got a HF pressure washer out in the (unheated) barn, somewhere... No "storage fluid" ever used. I haven't used it in a few years. I wonder if it still works?

Where/how do we test the calibration on a torque wrench? I have two Craftsman clicker types, which only get occasional use.

 

[Fallon]

I've got a HF pressure washer out in the (unheated) barn, somewhere... No "storage fluid" ever used. I haven't used it in a few years. I wonder if it still works?

Where/how do we test the calibration on a torque wrench? I have two Craftsman clicker types, which only get occasional use.

Use the other torque wrench. Put one end of one wrench in a vice. Make an adapter socket. Put them together & they should both click at about the same time.

Even easier with one of the digital adapters. Just put it on the wrench & set them to the same value. They should click & beep atvthe same time.

 

[bmaverick]

I've got a HF pressure washer out in the (unheated) barn, somewhere... No "storage fluid" ever used. I haven't used it in a few years. I wonder if it still works?

Where/how do we test the calibration on a torque wrench? I have two Craftsman clicker types, which only get occasional use.

I bring my tools into work to the metrology lab. They have a calibrated torque pressure transducer device. The socket cap head screw used is an M8. I then set the H-F torque wrench to a setting and turn till it clicks. Then look at the machine's readout. Remarkably it's right within calibration of many of the higher priced named brands. This is why I mentioned 'reliable' in my past post.

For the price of $10 it's a real steal. These things are all mechanical inside. Long as they keep making them with the same quality hardware I'll keep recommending it.

I've had a few rare duds from H-F, but most of the time the items I had purchased are still going strong.

 

[California]

Where/how do we test the calibration on a torque wrench? I have two Craftsman clicker types, which only get occasional use.

I compare mine against my beam-style versions. Like this:

One, Craftsman, that I bought new for my first engine work in 1960. Second one Thorsen, similar age, from a yard sale. These two and the HF clicker torque wrench always test equal.

 

[jjeff]

This little contraption Is used a lot for lots of various lifting for smaller stuff a lot more than my floor and bottle jacks it's one of those things you don't realize how handy it is until you own one. Unfortunately Price has went up some on recent years.

 

[newbury]

Anyone have the Bauer 4x24 belt sander? I was thinking of getting a Makita but I do have a Bauer jigsaw that has worked just fine.

I picked one up this weekend after returning the Central Machinery one. It blows the doors off the CM unit as far as user friendliness and overall operability. Belts are a snap to change if you do sharpening whereas the CM unit makes you take half the machine apart, the Bauer it just slips off the side nothing to undo just flip the belt tightener to loose.

Used it for a bout an hour this weekend on various woods and metals. Very happy with it so far.

Well I'm in the market for a 4x24 belt sander to do my pool deck.
I had a Craftsman 4x? which I did 3 floors (~400 sq ft total) back about 1986 and a ton of odd jobs since.
Someone let the smoke out
So I was looking at reviews and it seems Makita 9403 is what I need. But the Bauer might be a runner up at <1/2 the price.
I liked the Craftsman, I taped about 6 lbs of diving belt weights on the top then could just let it run out along the floor and drag it back. That was when I was more limber.
So @erikjohn67 (or anyone else that has one) do you think this will last well?