Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Gale Hawkins]

Sorry I have the 20v rechargeable Earthquake. It has reverse but that is all I have seem but will look at it agains

 

[kenmac]

I have this one;

View attachment 587549

Like Aaron notes, reverse and three torque settings. I've never needed the highest setting.

View attachment 587551

1/2 in. Aluminum Air Impact Wrench

that one is newer than mine. Mine is a slide type switch but it is adjustable

 

[aeblank]

So should I buy the 2k inverter generator this weekend at $450? Or will it go down to $430 soon?

It'll be a camper generator, so I don't need it yet (in MI, it's like 0 out)... Hate to get it too early, but don't want to miss a sale.

 

[rangerfredbob]

They have a coupon for $450 for superbowl weekend, so you don't have to rush... was just at a store today and they had those little coupon things at checkout... I haven't watched the prices on those close enough to tell...

 

[aeblank]

They have a coupon for $450 for superbowl weekend, so you don't have to rush... was just at a store today and they had those little coupon things at checkout... I haven't watched the prices on those close enough to tell...

I'll wait then. I just don't want to pay $50 more by putting it off too long...

 

[PJSprog]

Wonder if yours didn't auto-off correctly or something? But they are "hit or miss" - I've gotten plenty that were real gritty, wouldn't return to zero, would always start up in mm and need changed to in every single time, or simply were off 3-5 thou and wouldn't calibrate to a reference.

Yeah, I've read others comment on the auto-off issue with the HF calipers. Probably the issue with the two I had (still have one of them somewhere). It was suggested I just remove the battery when not in use, but I'm not really interested in all that fiddling when I just want to measure something. Analog works fine for me. Not afraid of a dial or vernier scale (been a professional Quality Jerk for the last 20 years). I never had any issues with the accuracy of mine. They always verified to a standard and zeroed just fine. It was the reliability of the power source that turned me away.

 

[millsan1]

Or turn it down, mine has 3 settings:
1. "Hand tight"
2. "3/8 ratchet tight"
3. "Did you want the threads pulled out of the nut" tight

I generally use the middle setting to snug down lug nuts, then tighten them with a torque wrench.

Aaron Z

WHen tightenting fasteners, I have several carfully calibrated settings I use.

Tight
Grunt
Loud Grunt
GRRRRRRRRRR
and jump up and down on the breaker bar

 

[TMGT]

WHen tightenting fasteners, I have several carfully calibrated settings I use.

Tight
Grunt
Loud Grunt
GRRRRRRRRRR
and jump up and down on the breaker bar

Just make sure you say "click" when you get to the proper torque!

 

[Rock Crawler]

Tight is tight. Too tight is broken.

 

[Handloader109]

I see that HF is now selling the new ultra quiet oil free compressors rated at 60 db. Wonder if anyone has tried one of them. They look the same as my California Air Tools quiet oil free compressor. I can put it in the entryway, run hose to the back bedroom to do trim, and can hardly tell if it is on or off. Some oil free compressors are very loud, but these new models are not.

2 gallon 1.2 HP 135 PSI Ultra Quiet Oil-Free Professional Air Compressor

Well, I need a compressor to replace my pancake that is about to die. Don't want another super loud compressor. I've had a HF vertical, the $149 oil type in the past and it was good for a few years. Looking at the quiet compressors, the 1hp is at the min usable for me as far as cfm output. And for that matter price. I'll not go $499 for a 2hp. With new coupon, the 1hp is just above the California air brand from Amazon or Ebay. I'd rather not order and deal with shipping damage potential. Seems like a 10 percent chance based on reviews. At least with HF I take back and swap in first 90 days.
So, get larger old style or quiet? Same price.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Well, I need a compressor to replace my pancake that is about to die. Don't want another super loud compressor. I've had a HF vertical, the $149 oil type in the past and it was good for a few years. Looking at the quiet compressors, the 1hp is at the min usable for me as far as cfm output. And for that matter price. I'll not go $499 for a 2hp. With new coupon, the 1hp is just above the California air brand from Amazon or Ebay. I'd rather not order and deal with shipping damage potential. Seems like a 10 percent chance based on reviews. At least with HF I take back and swap in first 90 days.
So, get larger old style or quiet? Same price.

They are so quiet that it's shocking. You could run in the dining room during Thanksgiving dinner and the sound of forks scraping plates would drown out the compressor sound. I was amazed and shocked.

 

[rangerfredbob]

Just make sure you say "click" when you get to the proper torque!

That's usually supplied by by my wrist or shoulder when the torque is reached

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Sorry I have the 20v rechargeable Earthquake. It has reverse but that is all I have seem but will look at it agains

It has no power settings that I could see today.

 

[thepumpguysc]

Concerning the Caliper battery, I take the battery out after every use..
Mine came w/2 batteries & I'm still on the 1st 1.. after 2-3 years.
If u don't use it every day.. take the battery OUT. Its not like u need TOOLS to put it in or take it out..
AND it has a cut-out in the foam protective case FOR IT..
I found myself taking it in & out so often, I cut a relief slot in the foam, to make it easier for my finger to grab it..

 

[ronjhall]

I have one of the battery calipers and 2 dial type. The battery is always dead when I need to use the battery model. Dial ones work everytime.

 

[D2Cat]

I somehow lost the little black plastic cover/holder for the battery on the caliper, which makes it useless. I took it back in and the manager went and got another one and said. "Here, they have a lifetime warranty."

 

[Sysop]

Safety Recall

 

[Diggin It]

80 LUMEN 12V RECHARGEABLE MINI FLASHLIGHT SKU #64109

The flashlight can overheat while charging, posing an injury hazard for users.

Stop using these flashlights immediately and return to your local Harbor Freight Tools retail store for a refund in the form of a store gift card.

The 80 Lumen 12V Rechargeable Flashlight was sold at Harbor Freight Tools stores nationwide from August 2018 until January 2019.

https://images.harborfreight.com/hftweb/recalls/Flashlight-Recall-64109.pdf


Bought one. Didn't work right. Exchanged it. No idea where the new one is.

 

[Threepoint]

Concerning the Caliper battery, I take the battery out after every use..
Mine came w/2 batteries & I'm still on the 1st 1.. after 2-3 years.
If u don't use it every day.. take the battery OUT. Its not like u need TOOLS to put it in or take it out..
AND it has a cut-out in the foam protective case FOR IT..[snip]

+1 :thumbsup: Since I started doing this a few years ago, I rarely need a new battery. For me, the ease of use of the digital calipers over my analog dial and vernier models well outweighs the nuisance factor of this.

 

[Threepoint]

I have one of the battery calipers and 2 dial type. The battery is always dead when I need to use the battery model. Dial ones work everytime.

Yep, the dial ones are dependable for sure. My only digitals are from HF. Curious if the batteries last longer in the high-end brands without removing them.