Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[5030]

I’m glad you already own plenty of wrenches, I believe most of the wrenches sold at Menards are made by the same outfit that makes the Harbor Frieght tools.
The only real reason I posted about this particular kit was because $90 seems like an almost unbelievable price for the 20 piece kit.

Could be, I have no idea. I do know the Kobalt wrenches that Lowes sells used to be Snap-On seconds. That has probably changed because that was years ago. In todays inflationary economy it is a good price.

 

[5030]

I really like right angle drills remember when I bought my first cheap corded one it was one of those tools I wondered how I did stuff with out it, for me anyway. I can say if I wasn't so invested in DeWalt cordless tools I'd probably give hf (Bauer) a try due to yours and a few others reviews on them.

Next time I go up to Big Rapids to our property there I can swing by and let you fondle it.....

 

[jjeff]

Next time I go up to Big Rapids to our property there I can swing by and let you fondle it.....

I may let you "fondle" my dewalts .

 

[sea2summit]

Was looking for a belt sander to sharpen disc mower blades as I’ve built up quite the stash of dull ones with lots of life left. Wanted the cheapest one that would work I could find and was looking at the central machinery 6x36 but the reviews said it didn’t have enough power, so went with the on sale bauer for not much more. Did about 70 blades (both sides so ~140 edges) and had it running for several hours yesterday. Pretty pleased, light work but didn’t notice any power or quality issues.

 

[5030]

I may let you "fondle" my dewalts .

I have one (De Walt cordless hammer drill). My issue with them is mainly the cost of replacement batteries. Had 4, down to 2 now. When those expire, I'll be giving it away, maybe to you, who knows.

 

[Cycledude]

Was looking for a belt sander to sharpen disc mower blades as I’ve built up quite the stash of dull ones with lots of life left. Wanted the cheapest one that would work I could find and was looking at the central machinery 6x36 but the reviews said it didn’t have enough power, so went with the on sale bauer for not much more. Did about 70 blades (both sides so ~140 edges) and had it running for several hours yesterday. Pretty pleased, light work but didn’t notice any power or quality issues.

Would be nice to see some before-during-after pictures

 

[jjeff]

I have multiple dewalt 18 volt nicad battery powered hammer drills when I used to do stuff to make cash with them, one still works sort of. Waiting on DeWalt promotion for 18 volt tool trade in promotion for more 20volt upgrades. Most of my infrequently older 18 volt dewalts found a retirement home in my cabins shop lol. If Bauer stuff works when it's needed all the time every time at a non commercial level and I wasn't bleeding black and yellow I'd be sold they do have quite the assortment of tools for there batteries. 5 yrs or so now still have all the batteries in decent working condition from my DeWalt 20 volt upgrades

 

[5030]

Was looking for a belt sander to sharpen disc mower blades as I’ve built up quite the stash of dull ones with lots of life left. Wanted the cheapest one that would work I could find and was looking at the central machinery 6x36 but the reviews said it didn’t have enough power, so went with the on sale bauer for not much more. Did about 70 blades (both sides so ~140 edges) and had it running for several hours yesterday. Pretty pleased, light work but didn’t notice any power or quality issues.

Built a fixture for my surface grinder to sharpen disc mower knives. I had a pile of them as well. One thing I do is, I weigh each knife pair after grinding to make sure they are of equal weight and segregate them in pairs with a zip tie so each pair stays matched. Easier on the cutterbar bearings that way.

The price of new knives has went way up, just like everything else. I buy new knives from Shoup btw.

 

[sea2summit]

Would be nice to see some before-during-after pictures

Don’t have any before pictures. None of them had eaten rocks or anything. Here’s the left turning ones in my spares on the mower.

 

[sea2summit]

Built a fixture for my surface grinder to sharpen disc mower knives.

Yeah, thought about building a jig yesterday but decided just to see how it went mostly testing the grinder. I’ll absolutely set up a jig for the next round.

I buy new knives from Shoup btw.

Yeah, if it doesn’t come from Shoup, Messicks, or AgZaga it’s probably not going on my tractor.

 

[KubotainNH]

I have multiple dewalt 18 volt nicad battery powered hammer drills when I used to do stuff to make cash with them, one still works sort of. Waiting on DeWalt promotion for 18 volt tool trade in promotion for more 20volt upgrades. Most of my infrequently older 18 volt dewalts found a retirement home in my cabins shop lol. If Bauer stuff works when it's needed all the time every time at a non commercial level and I wasn't bleeding black and yellow I'd be sold they do have quite the assortment of tools for there batteries. 5 yrs or so now still have all the batteries in decent working condition from my DeWalt 20 volt upgrades

Have you tried the adapters you can buy so you can use the newer batteries on your old tools? I got one for my son, amazing what a new style battery will do in the older style circular saw. Below is an example of one.

Amazon.com

 

[TractorTYMe]

I bought this Vulcan 215 Migmax welder in February for $680.00 and change with coupons. It is a darn nice welder for the money and hobby use.

MIGMax™ 215 Industrial Welder with 120/240V Input

Amazing deals on this Migmax 215 Industrial Mig Welder at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[jjeff]

Have you tried the adapters you can buy so you can use the newer batteries on your old tools? I got one for my son, amazing what a new style battery will do in the older style circular saw. Below is an example of one.

Amazon.com

Yes have a few for 18 volt tools to newer 20 volt batteries earlier adapters had an issue if you didn't take the battery out it would drain the battery unsure if it's been resolved. For me anyways these days money saved and then some on one medium sized repair or project justifies my pricey tool hoarder issues lol.

 

[5030]

Yeah, thought about building a jig yesterday but decided just to see how it went mostly testing the grinder. I’ll absolutely set up a jig for the next round.

Yeah, if it doesn’t come from Shoup, Messicks, or AgZaga it’s probably not going on my tractor.

No Messicks for me. Just Shoup. LIke I said, I built a jig for my surface grinder so I can hold the cutting angle exactly.

 

[Grumpycat]

Have you tried the adapters you can buy so you can use the newer batteries on your old tools? I got one for my son, amazing what a new style battery will do in the older style circular saw. Below is an example of one.

Amazon.com

That is interesting in how it says not to use with a DC970. I think the 18v tool I most want to keep running is a DC970, will have to check.

The genuine Dewalt adapter is infamous for running the battery down when not in use.

 

[5030]

I bought this Vulcan 215 Migmax welder in February for $680.00 and change with coupons. It is a darn nice welder for the money and hobby use.

MIGMax™ 215 Industrial Welder with 120/240V Input

Amazing deals on this Migmax 215 Industrial Mig Welder at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Just sold (3 weeks ago) My Lincoln Wed Pak TIG stick machine and my Hyper Therm 65 amp plasma cutter and bought the Vulcan multi process (TIG, MIG and Stick (low hydrogen) machine and the Titanium 65 amp plasma and walked away with 300 bucks.

Not that I didn't like the Lincoln or the Hyper Therm but one of my customers stopped by and we were talking machines and he asked me if I wanted to sell any so I did and pocketed 300 bucks and got new inverter machines and the 65 amp Titanium cables right up to my plasma table as well. Now the Titanium don't have the 'Fine Cut' consumables but the cut kerf isn't any wider so I'm good with that.

I still have the Hobart MIG but that is also going down the road. I'll keep the ESAB pulsed arc MIG welder because I can do spray arc with it and it lays down a TIG looking bead which is asthetically nice and my customers like pleasing welds and so do I.

Bought the Vulcan welding cart as well, 50 bucks off with my ITC card.

Getting to be a rea HF junkie.

FYI, the Mig Max is capable of spray arc transfer as well.

 

[KubotainNH]

That is interesting in how it says not to use with a DC970. I think the 18v tool I most want to keep running is a DC970, will have to check.

The genuine Dewalt adapter is infamous for running the battery down when not in use.

Yes have a few for 18 volt tools to newer 20 volt batteries earlier adapters had an issue if you didn't take the battery out it would drain the battery unsure if it's been resolved. For me anyways these days money saved and then some on one medium sized repair or project justifies my pricey tool hoarder issues lol.

I've read that too and we've just made sure the battery was removed from the adapter. Not sure about the DC970 as I just picked one that explained what I was talking about. Cheap way to use those older tools that brings new life to them.

 

[daugen]

this is called trusting your Harbor Freight jack.
actually...there are other air jacks really doing the lifting
but a good ad for HF...

BIL and his son installing new HD rear sway bar on my motorhome.
we used the hydraulic leveling jacks to help get us up higher.
I would have been happier with belt, suspenders and two jackstands...
but it wasn't my head going under there

 

[paulsharvey]

Not sure about long term quality, but the $9.99 pickle fork bailed me out over the last week. Had a ball joint that would Not hammer out. My old pickle fork really wasn't wedge shaped, and just used leverage to separate. That did nothing, 5# sledge just mushroomed bolt, and the 6 ft heavy pipe bar just slipped. $10, and some aggressive tapping, and it popped right off. For something that I Hopefully won't use any time soon again, I'm happy.

 

[Oaktree]

I have the Bauer heat gun and love that thing

+1 on that. Was in the middle of a project last summer stripping about 37 layers of old paint and my 50 year old Ungar's heating element failed. Bought this as a replacement, and was impressed. Much quieter and more heat levels.