Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[PJSprog]

Isn't Princess Auto kind of similar to HF?

 

[California]

Isn't Princess Auto kind of similar to HF?

Beat me to it. I've seen photos of shelf price tags at PA identical to HF. Maybe related?

 

[newbury]

seems John Deere thought everyone one has tiny hands to work on there 200 series lawn tractors, I do not. Quick hack to hold a screw on a screwdriver in hard to reach places most notably replacing the consumable points , use HF heat shrink, used to have a metal spring to hold screw but misplaced awhile back. Anyways worked better than grease, lanocote, or tape.

I usually have tape nearby and stick the screw thru a piece of tape big enough to run up the screwdriver and tape it to the screwdriver.

 

[WVH1977]

I bought a Chicago Electric Hand Planer and it did the job. It did start making noises after 10 minutes of use but kept going. We will see how long it lasts. It was a lot cheaper than Dewalt/ Milwaukee/Makita, etc. Only needed for a few boards and maybe one more job. I hope it will last that long.

 

[jjeff]

I usually have tape nearby and stick the screw thru a piece of tape big enough to run up the screwdriver and tape it to the screwdriver.

That works great if the screwdriver and screw is somewhat clean not to mention my hands are usually pretty greasy in my experiences when I need it to secure a screw or bolt. When I buy a pack of hf heat shrink I usually have a lot of diameters I never need or use so I made the unused ones work for fastener holding.

 

[California]

What's everyone's experience with HF's $8 'Super Deluxe' 62470 hose nozzle? A good replacement for the broken pistol nozzle that I described above?

Followup: I bought two. I like them but ...

This is a real firehose-type nozzle. Quick to go from off to large volume, greater volume than the pistol-type. Near instant good focus to a narrow point, to general high-volume spray, or to the fogging vapor that a firefighter sometimes uses.

But - not very useful for watering my wife's flowerpots on the patio. Too much instant pressure and volume when you turn it on. The pistol-type works better for that. Set that one on 'shower' and modulate the volume with the trigger.

Southern California is now desperately short of water. Here in NorCal things are better (its where their water comes from ) but we are asked, sometimes required, to use any water saving methods available. One requirement [in town] is when washing the car, to use a hose nozzle that can be shut off when not putting water on the car. Washing a car with this will waste more water than a pistol-type that has the right spray pattern the moment it starts.

I'll use this for cleaning farm equipment, the pressure is useful. And in town, for blasting the windshield clean from a distance, on a car I drive infrequently. The pistol-type will remain the preferred choice for washing a car with a soap bucket & brush.

Summary: This and the pistol type are each specialized to different tasks. Lots of water as fast as possible, vs a more gentle and controlled delivery for the garden, car wash, general use.


Thanks Aaron for your comments!

 

[stuckmotor]

Thought I'd check out this long running thread ... no HF stores here, so I never had the need.
Good Day All

Sometimes, I browse the tools at Princess Auto and Canadian Tire..

 

[scaredychicken]

Canadian Tire ? (not sure I've heard of Canadian Auto). Here in the west there are also a few Peavey Marts that are pretty good.

Tool / supply inventory is largely manufactured in China, I pick and choose the tool depending on my intended usage.

 

[Cougsfan]

I haven't gone through the 1500 pages of this tread to see if someone already talked about this. But I have been using my HF chain saw blade sharpener a lot lately and am pleasantly surprised on how easy it is to use and how well it works. Much better and quicker than the hand file and jig that I used to use.

 

[Cougsfan]

The Canadian Tire stores I have been in sell almost everything imaginable. My kids even used to buy some of their hockey gear there. Doesn't seem like they are anything like HF to me.