Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Fallon]

One thing I've found - the oval Fresh Step buckets are intentionally biodegradable. After a few years a chunk will break off if you pick it up by the edge.

Most of my plastic buckets do that after sitting outside in the Colorado sun for a couple years.

 

[Threepoint]

I wish hey still sold it in those buckets.

Sam's Club's private label cat litter still comes in buckets.


I agree with California, though, that bags make more sense for this type of product.

 

[California]

re Kitty Litter in buckets or bags - I just got Amazon Prime for free with five $30 Metro-by-TMobile lines. Amazon notes that Prime's free delivery includes big heavy bags of pet food and presumably kitty litter. I expect many people will take advantage of this free delivery.

Amazon and Harbor Freight's new methods illustrate the most important thing I learned in business school: 'Expect constant change so surf the inevitable wave of change instead of being dunked by it'. These two recent businesses illustrate this as they replace, for example, Sears and Craftsman.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

They have cat litter on prime. Smaller containers, I’m not sure the cost advantage is there.

Amazon costs more than Costco. And the exact same size and type is not on prime.

 

[stuckmotor]

I'm in charge of buying the cat litter and hauling it home. Walmart has Purina Tidy Cats in buckets. They seem to alternate between those with a one piece lid that keeps rain out well, and a hinged lid that leaks. Next time they have the one piece jobs, I think I'll get enough to last through the hinged lid cycle.

 

[stuckmotor]

I got a Ryobi 1/4" impact that seems to work well on Phillips, Square and Torx. Put some 3" drywall screws through 2xs into 4x4s with no effort. I've taken a few out and put them back in with no head damage.

Thank you. I'll check them out.

 

[California]

I got a Ryobi 1/4" impact that seems to work well on Phillips, Square and Torx. Put some 3" drywall screws through 2xs into 4x4s with no effort. I've taken a few out and put them back in with no head damage.

Thank you. I'll check them out.

Ditto. The little Ryobi impact driver did fine when I replaced 2x6 planks in a deck driving in 3.5" 'square' (Robertson?)-bit deck screws. The Ryobi also worked well taking out the old Phillips screws after I learned to put all my weight on it. But I snapped off as many screws as I stripped, about 10% overall.

After a while I tried something different. A lot of weight on an 18 inch Phillips screwdriver worked better to loosen the old Phillips deck screws delicately without destroying their slots or snapping them. Then after that first quarter turn, I switched to the Ryobi to back the screws out quickly. Far fewer stripped or snapped screws after that.

 

[John_Mc]

Kitty Litter in biodegradable bags instead of plastic buckets makes more sense when you think about it.

Maybe for the seller, but if you have a use for buckets, it makes sense to package in something reusable.

 

[hunt4570]

Sam's Club's private label cat litter still comes in buckets.
View attachment 629203

I agree with California, though, that bags make more sense for this type of product.

Sure, and no plastic straws to go in the plastic cups!!???

 

[Threepoint]

I got a Ryobi 1/4" impact that seems to work well on Phillips, Square and Torx. Put some 3" drywall screws through 2xs into 4x4s with no effort. I've taken a few out and put them back in with no head damage.

My problem is that I have a maroon Chicago Electric 1/4" impact (18v nicad) that's several years old that does this, too. Also have the matching reciprocating saw and circular saw, and the batteries and chargers that came with them. When I recharge, I plug into mechanical timers to prevent overcharging. The tools just keep going and going. It's a bit frustrating, because I just can't seem to justify switching them out for the new 20v lithium tools, like the Bauer and the Hercules. :laughing: And yesterday HF sent me an email proclaiming "Bauer Days Going On Now," with a coupon for an additional 10% off for any Bauer Tool.

I have all the Lynxx 40v lithium outdoor tools, so I know how good the lithium-powered tools are. But I'm staying strong, for now.