Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[paulsharvey]

Ok, so this is the Doesn't suck thread, but move that McGraw 3 gal pancake to the Sucks tab... Unboxed it to air up a trailer tire, and grease the bearings with an air grease gun. It eventually did air up the single trailer tire, but it took Forever, and it must take 5+ minutes to build upto a tank pressure of 110psi. It's already back in the box to return; wasn't worth the $50

 

[2manyrocks]

They had a 20v inflator on sale for $19 if you already have their battery system. Beats carrying an air tank, IMO.

Bought their Bauer concrete mixer. Does a good job of mixing, quiet, and the poly tub is easy to wash out.

 

[LouNY]

Ok, so this is the Doesn't suck thread, but move that McGraw 3 gal pancake to the Sucks tab... Unboxed it to air up a trailer tire, and grease the bearings with an air grease gun. It eventually did air up the single trailer tire, but it took Forever, and it must take 5+ minutes to build upto a tank pressure of 110psi. It's already back in the box to return; wasn't worth the $50

At only 0.6 scfm it's not any more volume then some of the cordless and many of the 12 volt ones.

 

[paulsharvey]

At only 0.6 scfm it's not any more volume then some of the cordless and many of the 12 volt ones.

I knew I wasn't buying a really high outpit compressor, bit my thought was, use it for now, repair the old one, and maybe give the McGraw to son. It just isn't going to suit my needs

 

[bigtiller]

Initial cost is high but ROI makes them a good investment. My Quincy has a life expectancy (before a major rebuild) of 5000 hours.

I think you may have cheated your self out of a zero. Shouldn't it be 50,000 hours?

 

[paulsharvey]

Yeah, I dont need that level of compressor. Just airing tires, blow gun, grease gun, roofing nailer, air chisel, ect. For commercial use, those are great. I could buy and throw away a dozen 30 gal Husky compressors before a Quincy paid for itself. If each one lasted 5 years, it would be past my life time before you got any ROI

 

[5030]

I think you may have cheated your self out of a zero. Shouldn't it be 50,000 hours?

Could be. All I know is my 30 year old Quincy runs like a top (with regular oil changes). I decarbonized the reed valves last fall, a 30 minute job though I did have to purchase a new head gasket.

 

[LouNY]

A high volume compressor of any design is nicer and quicker then a low volume one when someone is waiting on it to air up tires or run pneumatic tools but on many homes and even many farms you only have a 200 amp service and a 5 hp is getting high for small services and a 7.5Hp unit is about max for a single phase 240 volt compressor. A 10 hp unit requires an 80 amp starting current and a 40 amp running load with a 60 amp breaker.

 

[5030]

Very true Lou... However, no matter what the circumstances may be, I'd always purchase the largest compressor I could run and certainly not a direct drive oilless compressor. In reality, they have a very limited lifespan. Even a small piston driven unit will handily outlast them.

 

[California]

For the small amount of painting I do, a rattle can works fine and no moisture to deal with either.

Photo - the last time I painted at a scale larger than a spray can. HF's (then) $10 spray gun, HF 10 gallon compressor, HF regulator/water separator. Rustoleum prime and finish coat. 'Good enough for the girls I go with', to quote an old Carpenter buddy.