Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[rangerfredbob]

I only pulled a couple T posts with the cherry picker, turns out a T post puller is WAY easier

 

[Wasmeneh]

I have a question a out the HF shop lights. Are you all saying that thw single light setup is brighter than the double lights like Costco at al?

 

[Threepoint]

Why? Its a replaceable bulb set up.

[snip]

Is this correct? HF's website says: "The long-lasting LEDs deliver 30,000 hours of light, meaning you never have to replace a bulb."

Knowing how HF doesn't seem to miss an opportunity to puff up its products, I'm pretty sure they'd say if you could. And for sure wouldn't point out that you couldn't if you wanted to. :laughing:

 

[hunt4570]

I have a question a out the HF shop lights. Are you all saying that thw single light setup is brighter than the double lights like Costco at al?

I do not have any of the Costco lights, but definitely brighter than the lowes 2 bulb fixture!

 

[hunt4570]

Is this correct? HF's website says: "The long-lasting LEDs deliver 30,000 hours of light, meaning you never have to replace a bulb."

Knowing how HF doesn't seem to miss an opportunity to puff up its products, I'm pretty sure they'd say if you could. And for sure wouldn't point out that you couldn't if you wanted to. :laughing:

Ok, I'll check tomorrow to be sure, but they looked like it.. I'll let you know. But at 30,000 hrs that's like 7 years.. not bad.

 

[dragoneggs]

I do not have any of the Costco lights, but definitely brighter than the lowes 2 bulb fixture!

Agreed. I have a bunch of Costco lights, definitely brighter than the Lowe's I returned. Will stick with them (Fein brand) unless someone can convince that HF single bulb throw more light for the same price ($19.99) when both on sale.

 

[tookielee]

How easy is it to move on something other than a concrete floor? Seems like it would be kind of heavy/awkward to move out in a field, etc. to pull posts.

If I had a need to use one of these to pull posts, or just move it a significant distance regularly,
it looks like it would be easy to weld some pins and a top hook on the rear of it,
then just move it with the tractor

 

[Threepoint]

Heads up: New-style safety feature in 5-gal fuel cans

A couple of weeks ago I picked up another 5-gal diesel can from HF. It is made by Midwest Can Company, in Franklin Park, IL. Home It is the only style 5-gal fuel container (diesel or gasoline) now being stocked in the local HFs, around here anyway.

Tractor Supply Company has also started stocking the same brand as well, although not exclusively.

When I tried to insert a nifty HF battery-operated fuel transfer pump Battery Operated Liquid Transfer Pump , the wand would only go about 7" into the can before hitting an obstruction. That's when I discovered the "Flame Safety Shield" system that Midwest Can is now shipping all its poly 5-gal cans with. Safer it may well be, but it is impossible to use a wand-style transfer pump with them.

The "Flame Safety Shield" is a molded, perforated plastic sleeve/tube that is inserted at the factory and locked into the can with non-releasable polymer tabs.

Puzzled about it, I called Midwest Can and learned that the change is an early response to federal consumer safety requirements for all consumer portable fuel containers that go into effect in 2020. I've done a little reading on this. While the new fuel container requirements are technically administered by the EPA, I think that this particular feature is a new flame-arresting device in response to changes in the federal Children's Gasoline Burn Prevention Act. The idea is to limit explosion risk due to sudden, uncontrolled "sloshing" of fuel, either accidentally by children, or even intentionally by a clueless adult, for example trying to enhance a burn pile that has an open flame. Yep, apparently there are adults as well as youngsters that do this. The new safety regulations do not apply to OSHA-approved metal safety containers.

In my case, no youngsters or clueless adults have access to my diesel and gas fuel cans, so after a bit of trial and error I've removed the plastic tube with pliers without damaging the can, after getting things started with a screwdriver. If you don't need to use a wand-style transfer pump, there's no need to do this, as the insert does not seem to impair the flow rate when poured normally using the equipped spout.

See pics.

 

[5030]

I went in with a pair of needle nose pliers and popped it out and landfilled it.

 

[California]

Now that I use the 'wand pump' I take along a couple of empty UTF 5 gallon buckets to fill, along with my plastic jugs. The wand fits in them fine.