Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[California]

Went to a local HF today to buy the 105 pc tool set for my 14yo son. There were four different PN's! I bought 4030. Hope that's a good one!

That's the 105 piece set with four drawers, no? How do you like it?

I finally noticed I've moved near 100% of my quality tools out to the ranch. So I bought the 130 piece 'briefcase' set for the house in town. This set cost a few $ less than what you bought. Let's say the quality is sufficient for things you would take apart on the kitchen table. But any criticism of cheap tools from HF is applicable, these aren't 'Pittsburgh', warranted, quality. I wouldn't try applying a lot of force to anything in this set. One real advantage is all tools are in one easily carried container. That's an improvement over loading a bucket with the specifc tools for a project then going back for something forgotten.

This 130 pece set is ok for replacing faucet washers etcetra. In a year I've used it once to tighten a bolt that was falling out of something, and once loaned it to a neighbor who needed an Allen wrench for a tradesman working on her dishwasher who didn't have the size he needed. In this sort of light service it's sufficient. And I bought a similar but simpler set for my daughter when she lived in a 1-room studio apartment in NYC. She said that was ideal for hanging drapery rods, pictures, cuphooks etc while she furnished the place. The difference between no tools and cheap tools is a huge step up - assuming you won't need them very often.

For your 14 year old son - just replace anything he breaks, with better quality tools. The broad variety in your set will always be useful.

 

[John_Mc]

Has anyone had any experience with the Northern Tools 3500# Ironton Winch? They are currently on sale at $95 (for NT's "Advantage" members) it's normally $140.

I'm wondering how they compare to the Harbor Freight 3500# Badland Winch ($140).

I've used the HF 3500# Badland Winch in a couple of applications, and have one now that sees occasional use on an antique Coot UTV. It seems to have held up OK - It's no Warn, but for the price, I don't expect it to be. I may have a use for another, and was wondering about sticking with the HF unit vs the NT offering.

Both have the same gear ratio and duty cycle (5% at full load - not exactly impressive, but I'm not using it at full load anyway). The NT Ironton winch has a slightly larger motor (1.1 HP vs 1.0 for the HF Badland). However, the NT is slower and pulls less current (probably reflecting the slower speeds).

I'm curious if anyone has used the NT Ironton winches long enough to get a feel for their quality as compared to the HF Badland winches

 

[Rock Crawler]

I'd call 4WD.com and ask for Sara Oaks, tell her you want a price on the white box Smittybilt X20 winch and that Larry from the Willy's Wheeler Jeep club told you to call and get the hook up, you'll likely be amazed at the price of the white box version (same winch, but not retail boxed) and it's a Warn assisted design (Smittybilt had Warn help design it), is fully sealed and submersible, and I've been beating on mine hard since 2014 with a Jeep. I run the Jeep club, Sara is our club rep.

 

[California]

The 'Free With Purchase' multimeter - Worth every penny it cost! ullinghair:

I keep a license-plate-size solar panel on a tractor that is seldom used. I tested its battery with a different meter than usual and got an unexpected low reading.

So I got a couple more free meters, checked that there were good batteries inside each meter, and made a comparison by measuring a single 9 volt battery:

Newest multimeter a week old:
9.50v
red one from a few weeks ago
9.48v
red, a year (?) ago
9.61v
Yellow ones, in use for quite a while
9.69v
9.51v
9.50v
9.44v

That's a quarter volt range!

(The variance isn't from the meters internal batteries. I verified that each meter reads the same regardless of the battery inside it).

Conclusion: I was relying on a bad meter to judge the charge of a seldom-used tractor battery.

Anybody have advice for a multimeter that is inexpensive and accurate?

 

[Rock Crawler]

The 'Free With Purchase' multimeter - Worth every penny it cost! ullinghair:

I keep a license-plate-size solar panel on a tractor that is seldom used. I tested its battery with a different meter than usual and got an unexpected low reading.

So I got a couple more free meters, checked that there were good batteries inside each meter, and made a comparison by measuring a single 9 volt battery:

Newest multimeter a week old:
9.50v
red one from a few weeks ago
9.48v
red, a year (?) ago
9.61v
Yellow ones, in use for quite a while
9.69v
9.51v
9.50v
9.44v

That's a quarter volt range!

(The variance isn't from the meters internal batteries. I verified that each meter reads the same regardless of the battery inside it).

Conclusion: I was relying on a bad meter to judge the charge of a seldom-used tractor battery.

Anybody have advice for a multimeter that is inexpensive and accurate?

Fluke is the only multimeter to own. Buy it once, have it for life

 

[4get gto]

The 'Free With Purchase' multimeter - Worth every penny it cost! ullinghair:

I keep a license-plate-size solar panel on a tractor that is seldom used. I tested its battery with a different meter than usual and got an unexpected low reading.

So I got a couple more free meters, checked that there were good batteries inside each meter, and made a comparison by measuring a single 9 volt battery:

Newest multimeter a week old:
9.50v
red one from a few weeks ago
9.48v
red, a year (?) ago
9.61v
Yellow ones, in use for quite a while
9.69v
9.51v
9.50v
9.44v

That's a quarter volt range!

(The variance isn't from the meters internal batteries. I verified that each meter reads the same regardless of the battery inside it).

Conclusion: I was relying on a bad meter to judge the charge of a seldom-used tractor battery.

Anybody have advice for a multimeter that is inexpensive and accurate?

Went in a HF the other day to get a free multimeter and said they can't get them here anymore. Said some guy in California keeps getting them all! :laughing:

 

[John_Mc]

I'd call 4WD.com and ask for Sara Oaks, tell her you want a price on the white box Smittybilt X20 winch and that Larry from the Willy's Wheeler Jeep club told you to call and get the hook up, you'll likely be amazed at the price of the white box version (same winch, but not retail boxed) and it's a Warn assisted design (Smittybilt had Warn help design it), is fully sealed and submersible, and I've been beating on mine hard since 2014 with a Jeep. I run the Jeep club, Sara is our club rep.

Thanks for the tip. The Smittybilt winches certainly seem well made, but that X20 is way overkill for what I need. If I do end up with a need for a larger winch, do you know the duty cycle of the X20? I could not find any info on the web site.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Thanks for the tip. The Smittybilt winches certainly seem well made, but that X20 is way overkill for what I need. If I do end up with a need for a larger winch, do you know the duty cycle of the X20? I could not find any info on the web site.

Not sure about overkill, but okay. I don't do duty cycles on my rock crawler. If I'm screwed or another Jeep is screwed, my X2O Comp series 12,000 rings as hard, fast and long as it needs until we are moving again.

You don't need to use the X2O series, call Sara and ask about the non sealed version in 5k lbs, I'd expect it to be a couple hundred tops in the white boxed version. I've never said it heard... "Gee, I just have to much winch to do this job", but I've seen plenty of guys with stalled 8K winches that I've helped day that they really wish that they had went bigger.

The general rule is that the winch should be rated 2 times the vehicle, if your typically alone or the only winch in your group, or you mud (suctions the stick vehicle in)... You should go 3x the vehicle weight.

 

[sodamo]

Fluke is the only multimeter to own. Buy it once, have it for life

Unless it breaks. The battery terminals corroded off mine.

 

[tjkubota93]

Unless it breaks. The battery terminals corroded off mine.

They have a lifetime warranty.

I bought mine for $35 new. If you want one deals can be found California.

 

[newbury]

<snip> I've never said it heard... "Gee, I just have to much winch to do this job", but I've seen plenty of guys with stalled 8K winches that I've helped day that they really wish that they had went bigger.<snip>

Depends on what your doing -
I've a 12K rarely used and a 2.5K I carry around. The 2.5K is a heck of a lot lighter and gets used more.

 

[JRobyn]

I broke out one of my "spare" HF multimeters the other day (my regular one is at the church for a wiring/lighting project). Needed to get an accurate reading on the tractor battery. Hadn't been out of the toolbox in several years. I was very surprised that its internal battery was still alive. On the 20vdc scale, it read kinda erratic - bouncing around from 6 or 7vdc up to 14-16vdc. I switched it to the 200vdc scale - rock solid at 12.4. So I rotated the selector all the way around a few times, back to the 20vdc scale. Rock steady - 12.47vdc.

Evidently the selector switch contacts are not the finest of Chinese quality. But can be compensated for (some).

 

[John_Mc]

Not sure about overkill, but okay. I don't do duty cycles on my rock crawler. If I'm screwed or another Jeep is screwed, my X2O Comp series 12,000 rings as hard, fast and long as it needs until we are moving again.

You don't need to use the X2O series, call Sara and ask about the non sealed version in 5k lbs, I'd expect it to be a couple hundred tops in the white boxed version. I've never said it heard... "Gee, I just have to much winch to do this job", but I've seen plenty of guys with stalled 8K winches that I've helped day that they really wish that they had went bigger.

The general rule is that the winch should be rated 2 times the vehicle, if your typically alone or the only winch in your group, or you mud (suctions the stick vehicle in)... You should go 3x the vehicle weight.

As I mentioned, the Coot is an antique UTV it weighs about 1000#, so yeah, I'd say the X20 is overkill (what I'm seeing are rated 10,000# and up). Plus the 16 Amp alternator on the 16 HP Briggs V-Twin engine is going to have trouble keeping up.

I appreciate the lead on the smaller winches. They certainly seem to be a step up from the Harbor Freight (which I know is setting the bar rather low).

 

[sodamo]

They have a lifetime warranty.

I bought mine for $35 new. If you want one deals can be found California.

Thanks for the tip. I’ll check into it.

 

[California]

They have a lifetime warranty.

I bought mine for $35 new. If you want one deals can be found California.

A Fluke meter for $35?

After reading your advice I looked on Ebay. First thing I noticed is the the generic name for some cheap China multimeters is a fluke. I didn't see any genuine Fluke new or good used, until prices starting far above $35.

How do I find one?

 

[tjkubota93]

I bought a fluke 101 off amazon about a year ago. The new ones were about $70. Someone had one listed as used for $35 so I bought it. (Items i have bought listed as used on amazon are open box new)
Then I bought a fluke storage bag and an ex tech lead set so I probably doubled my investment.

 

[Midniteoyl]

We saying Flukes have a lifetime warranty? 'Cause I have 2 that I have had over the years that have quit..

 

[sodamo]

I don’t think I stand much chance with my more than 10 yo Fluke 117

LIMITED WARRANTY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
This Fluke product will be free from defects in material and workmanship for three years from the date of purchase. This warranty does not cover fuses, disposable bat- teries, or damage from accident, neglect, misuse, alteration, contamination, or abnor- mal conditions of operation or handling. Resellers are not authorized to extend any other warranty on Fluke’s behalf. To obtain service during the warranty period, contact your nearest Fluke authorized service center to obtain return authorization information, then send the product to that Service Center with a description of the problem.
THIS WARRANTY IS YOUR ONLY REMEDY. NO OTHER WARRANTIES, SUCH AS FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. FLUKE IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUEN- TIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES, ARISING FROM ANY CAUSE OR THEORY. Since some states or countries do not allow the exclusion or limitation of an implied warranty or of incidental or consequential damages, this limitation of liability may not apply to you.

 

[4get gto]

I broke out one of my "spare" HF multimeters the other day (my regular one is at the church for a wiring/lighting project). Needed to get an accurate reading on the tractor battery. Hadn't been out of the toolbox in several years. I was very surprised that its internal battery was still alive. On the 20vdc scale, it read kinda erratic - bouncing around from 6 or 7vdc up to 14-16vdc. I switched it to the 200vdc scale - rock solid at 12.4. So I rotated the selector all the way around a few times, back to the 20vdc scale. Rock steady - 12.47vdc.

Evidently the selector switch contacts are not the finest of Chinese quality. But can be compensated for (some).

I've had "better " multimeters do the same thing. Think it depends where they sit around unused for for any amount of time.

 

[4get gto]

I don’t think I stand much chance with my more than 10 yo Fluke 117

LIMITED WARRANTY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
This Fluke product will be free from defects in material and workmanship for three years from the date of purchase. This warranty does not cover fuses, disposable bat- teries, or damage from accident, neglect, misuse, alteration, contamination, or abnor- mal conditions of operation or handling. Resellers are not authorized to extend any other warranty on Fluke’s behalf. To obtain service during the warranty period, contact your nearest Fluke authorized service center to obtain return authorization information, then send the product to that Service Center with a description of the problem.
THIS WARRANTY IS YOUR ONLY REMEDY. NO OTHER WARRANTIES, SUCH AS FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. FLUKE IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUEN- TIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES, ARISING FROM ANY CAUSE OR THEORY. Since some states or countries do not allow the exclusion or limitation of an implied warranty or of incidental or consequential damages, this limitation of liability may not apply to you.

Definitely isn't lifetime. Even if it was sometimes it's more of a pain to send back and cost than it's worth. Then to have them tell you its your fault.