Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[dragoneggs]

Not automatic. You had to file before the deadline more than a year ago. No filing, no claim.


It was 18% of the qualifying purchases I filed.

I can't remember if I did!

 

[Michael Aos]

That reminds me. The last time I was in HF, the checkout lady mentioned "you're here a lot".

The store is about 9 minutes from my house, and not too far out of my way home from the office.

You must buy a ton of stuff there.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I took some pictures this evening if the finished project with 16 you-all of the 4 foot long, 4,500 lumens shop lights.

I love the new shop lighting, now let's see how many years they last.

 

[dragoneggs]

I took some pictures this evening if the finished project with 16 you-all of the 4 foot long, 4,500 lumens shop lights.

I love the new shop lighting, now let's see how many years they last.View attachment 578823View attachment 578824View attachment 578825View attachment 578826View attachment 578827View attachment 578828View attachment 578829View attachment 578830

Looks nice and bright... still can't get over all those stickers. My stickers went/go on one at a time over the years.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Looks nice and bright... still can't get over all those stickers. My stickers went/go on one at a time over the years.

I've built so many sled pulling Drag racing and street performance vehicles in the last 15 years that I have a box full of stickers on the shelf. I've got hundreds of stickers that are going to waste.

 

[Overtaxed]

Egh, I may as well add to this list.. Some already mentioned. The wheelbarrel gas air compressor has treated me pretty good. I had to change a carb on it, but that's the gas's fault, not the compressor. It runs strong, and it produces enough air to use a spray gun away from electricity. I also use it with my nailers when I'm around the farm (I mounted it to a pallet, that was a stroke of genius! It's heavy, but I just pick it up with the tractor and put it wherever I need it).

I recently bought the plate compactor, that works pretty well. Sounds a little like it's breaking itself, but I think that's just how it sounds. You need to drill a hole in it to be able to grease one of the fittings. Gotta love it!

I have their SDS Max rotary hammer. That's a great tool. It's also expensive. The SDS max chisels I got there are good too, I have to use it to bang a pin out of a backhoe, steel on steel, just banging away for close to an hour. The pin didn't look so good, but the chisel was fine.

Also, another tool I really like, the portable bandsaw is great. I thought it would be a one time use tool, but I find all kinds of things I use that for (just used it to cut about 25 10' rebars into 2' sections, sure, my sawzall could have done it, but man, the bandsaw is SO much nicer). The Bauer tools have been consistently good for me.

 

[Travelover]

I've had the little 2 HP compressor for years and it has been great for filling the odd tire or light pneumatic tool use. My new house has a sprinkler system and I was using the compressor to blow out the sprinklers, which meant that it ran for about an hour straight. After I was done with the sprinklers, I went to fill up a bike tire and - nothing. Turns out the set of contacts in the pressure switch got so hot they melted themselves into the plastic bracket that holds them in place. Really crappy choice of material - should have been something like Bakelite or other high temperature plastic. At any rate, I pried them loose and got it working again.

 

[dragoneggs]

Also, another tool I really like, the portable bandsaw is great. I thought it would be a one time use tool, but I find all kinds of things I use that for (just used it to cut about 25 10' rebars into 2' sections, sure, my sawzall could have done it, but man, the bandsaw is SO much nicer). The Bauer tools have been consistently good for me.

Yeah, I have sawed up a bunch of rebar for stakes, etc. My port-a-bandsaw (not HF but...) makes it much more pleasurable than my sawzall for some reason. I think it is the continuous smooth cutting action vs. the back and forth hacking. Faster too! :thumbsup:

 

[California]

I've had the little 2 HP compressor for years ...Turns out the set of contacts in the pressure switch got so hot they melted themselves into the plastic bracket

If it takes this kind of control, or similar, it's inexpensive to replace the control.
Psi Compressor Air Metal Pressure Control Switch Knob Duty Quality 9 -12 Kit | eBay

 

[KubotainNH]

Any one try one of these? For this price it may be good to leave it and a battery terminal cleaner in each car.

1mm Side-Terminal Battery Ratchet Wrench

 

[Diggin It]

^^ Is that a typo? I have both the 10MM and 5/16" versions and they work well in my view.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I just went and grabbed that automatic compressor moisture drain. I hope it works at 135 PSI, I see comments from some that it's only good to 100, but I have an older Kobalt 60 gallon 135 PSI. Of course I'll toss out the plastic line and use copper.

 

[crazyal]

I just bought some deep sockets.

Next day, I was in Lowes. Their deep sockets are identical, down to the packaging.

When I was traveling I stopped in a Northern tool and their inverter generator was almost identical to the HF one (just different color plastic. So when I got home I looked at the two on-line. The panel looks different but if you look at the plastic it came from the same mold. If these two didn't come from the same factory I'd be very surprised.

 

[dragoneggs]

When I was traveling I stopped in a Northern tool and their inverter generator was almost identical to the HF one (just different color plastic. So when I got home I looked at the two on-line. The panel looks different but if you look at the plastic it came from the same mold. If these two didn't come from the same factory I'd be very surprised.
View attachment 578958View attachment 578959

Could be... or they both source the shell from the same blow molding shop.

 

[California]

It appears the generators came off the same assembly line. Similarly, my Skil table saw from HD was less expensive than the identical saw at HF.

 

[KubotainNH]

^^ Is that a typo? I have both the 10MM and 5/16" versions and they work well in my view.

It is 10mm, this site seems to delete the "0" in the link descriptions.

 

[Diggin It]

How does the Collective feel about the $50 A/C manifold?

Has anyone used it on a refrigerator?

 

[newbury]

When I was traveling I stopped in a Northern tool and their inverter generator was almost identical to the HF one (just different color plastic. So when I got home I looked at the two on-line. The panel looks different but if you look at the plastic it came from the same mold. If these two didn't come from the same factory I'd be very surprised.
View attachment 578958View attachment 578959

They have the "parallel kit terminals" located differently.

/edit - Also the price - NT - list $999, HF list $769

The "sleeper" (or not ) may be the Generac GP3500 inverter, parallel capable, for $700 at NT

 

[Tractor Seabee]

How does the Collective feel about the $50 A/C manifold?

Has anyone used it on a refrigerator?

I have the whole set, manifold, leak detector, and 2 stage vacuum pump. Bought when I was flush, used it once and it worked fine. For anything other than automotive you will need to change the hoses as Auto AC uses special test valves. The refrigerant scales are only for the automotive refrigerant. Just get a multi refrigerant P/T chart.

If you are going to use the set for more than Auto AC recommend you get a regular gauge set. Amazon has several that come with the adapters and one has a digital scale. Prices comparable to HF. HFs pump seems to be good, never seen one cheaper. Get the 2 stage; it works better for removing moisture.

I have my set for sale; $100 you pay for shipping. Used only once.

Ron

 

[KubotainNH]

They have the "parallel kit terminals" located differently.

/edit - Also the price - NT - list $999, HF list $769

The "sleeper" (or not ) may be the Generac GP3500 inverter, parallel capable, for $700 at NT

No electric start or wheels so you have to factor that in. The wheels on the ones mentioned are pretty useless anyway except for concrete/tar areas. I added HF pneumatic wheels to my gen. My shoulder no longer likes pulling a recoil starter.