Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Threepoint]

Well, being a Canuk I don't have a harbor freight to visit but I do follow the posts mainly to hear about the ratings.
Up north we rely on Canadian Tire, Summit and Northern Tools as the similar sources for import tools.

[snip]

Piloon, Princess Auto seems like it would be another option.

 

[wassup8687]

[QUOTE
Wassup8687, which miter saw stand did you get? The Hercules one or the grey ($100) one. I was needing to replace my old HF stand from 20 years ago. When I was looking at the cheaper grey one ($100) the box said it had 'rollers', but the display had fixed round tubes welded to the mount on the extensions. The Hercules stand actually had rollers. I was wondering if the display was a different style.[/QUOTE]

I went with the Chicago Electric one. They had them both out on the floor. They both looked to have the same style of rollers on the demos except the Hercules were wider. I figured if I need wider I could Fab the $99 model. The Hercules stand was $184 I believe and with the amount of times I'll use it the older version seemed fine.

 

[PJSprog]

Wassup8687, which miter saw stand did you get? The Hercules one or the grey ($100) one. I was needing to replace my old HF stand from 20 years ago. When I was looking at the cheaper grey one ($100) the box said it had 'rollers', but the display had fixed round tubes welded to the mount on the extensions. The Hercules stand actually had rollers. I was wondering if the display was a different style.

I have the gray one, Ted, bought last summer, and it does not have rollers.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I have the gray one, Ted, bought last summer, and it does not have rollers.

Thanks. Not that it really matters, sometimes the rollers make it too easy to slide a piece, other times when cutting a heavy piece, they would make it easier.... Don't know if that extra $85 is worth it.

 

[Diggin It]

I purchased both sets of the ratcheting wrenches about 6 months ago. They have become my 'go to' wrenches. My old REAL Craftsmen wrenches sit in the drawer ! I have used the ratchet side and beat on them to loosen rusted nuts and haven't broken one yet. I think I got them for $15.99 or $19.99 plus the 20% off. I have been thinking of getting another 2 sets...

I'll try to pick up a set one of these days. Having some other issues for now.

 

[kenmac]

harbor freight 1/2 drive earthquake impact wrench 700 ? ft lbs tq
Be careful, you will break the wheel studs with this impact !

 

[4570Man]

harbor freight 1/2 drive earthquake impact wrench 700 ? ft lbs tq
Be careful, you will break the wheel studs with this impact !

700 FP might be a bit of a stretch but it’s pretty stout. It’ll easily take lug nuts loose. I’ve pulled the steering box and leaf springs off a 2 ton truck with it which was all 30mm bolts.

 

[4570Man]

I bought a HF tool box used. The sheet metal construction is pretty heavy duty and the drawer slides are pretty smooth. Overall I’d rate it as a first class product. I think HF has really stepped up their game at least with tools.

 

[California]

harbor freight 1/2 drive Earthquake impact wrench 700 ? ft lbs tq
Be careful, you will break the wheel studs with this impact !

Its "Good enough for the girls I go with!" - favorite expression of an old Carpenter buddy.

In other words the classic Earthquake is more than sufficient for anything I expect to encounter on a 24hp tractor.

The hardest thing I have put my Earthquake up against was decades-rusted nuts securing the 3-point pins on my implements. No problem, they spun right off, no strain. These were nuts I couldn't budge using a 25 inch breaker bar with a pipe extending it, stressed to what seemed just short of breaking the tool.

I bought the Earthquake before HF released their new models. Today I would pay a little more for the similar version that weighs 1/3 less, because the classic Earthquake is unnecessarily heavy in comparison. No other complaints! It certainly has all the torque I expect I could ever need.

 

[dragoneggs]

I bought a HF tool box used. The sheet metal construction is pretty heavy duty and the drawer slides are pretty smooth. Overall I’d rate it as a first class product. I think HF has really stepped up their game at least with tools.

Agreed. But still having a hard time swallowing US General. A Chinese brand. Gotta love Marketing!