Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[newbury]

What is a good price post covid on the US General 44"x22" rolling tool cabinet?
I was looking for one of the 21"ers pre-covid but then they introduced the new one and jumped the price.
They are now on sale for $450 linky

 

[Mark P.]

Afetrmoom - currently 86° going to 89°

Had a great visit with mom. Had bbq for lunch and went to Outback for supper, probley won't go back to Outback it was just ok..

Don - prayers to your family and mom..

Wingsprd - thanks for pick on hornets nver seen one in a tree like that..

Have a good day..

Mark

 

[Pixguy]

Me thinks someone is on the wrong thread.

 

[California]

Me thinks someone is on the wrong thread.

"Dang! What happened to my post??? I'm sure I posted it, it was there until I went back to look at it again and it wasn't there!"



(BTDT)

 

[daugen]

Mark is in the Good Morning thread...
always nice to have him visit

I've done this before too....

 

[California]

Anybody else get todays Closeout Sale email?

Some surprises. Why would they closeout their flux core wire, and the (larger) wood furniture dolly?

$239.99 Closeout price on the one ton folding shop crane (cherrypicker)??? They must be real proud of them. I paid $99 for one there pre-covid.

EARTHQUAKE XT Impact Wrench, Extended Anvil, 1190 ft. lbs. - Might be a bargain at $100 closeout. I like my previous red long shank Earthquake.

Several other unexpected closeouts, some of them on things flagged NEW.

Obviously, they're making room for higher priced replacements.

 

[jyoutz]

Been my experience that anything made of Chinese rubber stinks at HF....

When you walk in the stores, first thing you smell is the odor...lol

There is something different about that Chinese rubber. One of the biggest HF disappointments are the black rubber bungie cords. The black rubber always cracks in about a year, whether exposed to the sun or indoors.

 

[jyoutz]

I recently bought a HF HVLP paint sprayer with regulator for about $30. After only using suction cup sprayers for years, I was amazed at how well the gun works. I repainted all of my metal patio furniture with rustoleum and the gun performed perfectly with very low overspray.

 

[5030]

One thing I learned pretty quick with HF and that is, so long as you don't buy the bargain basement / loss leader junk and stick with the middle of the road or top end stuff, you won't have any issues and if you do, HF will take it back, no questions asked.

 

[Alan46]

Years ago I bought the 6’ level. I checked it when I got home with a high $$ one and it was dead nuts on! Went with HF because it was something I only needed once in a while!

It didn’t suck!!!

 

[Grumpycat]

Years ago I bought the 6’ level. I checked it when I got home with a high $$ one and it was dead nuts on! Went with HF because it was something I only needed once in a while!

It didn’t suck!!!

You compared a level to another level?

You know if it says the surface is level then you turn the level around every which way and it sill says the surface is level, then the level is square and accurate.

 

[paulsharvey]

Years ago I bought the 6’ level. I checked it when I got home with a high $$ one and it was dead nuts on! Went with HF because it was something I only needed once in a while!

It didn’t suck!!!

I have the 6 ft level, and it's OK, but kinda light and I don't think it would survive much abuse; however; it was dirt cheap. So cheap, I didn't feel bad when I need a 6 ft straight edge to screed concrete... No way you would do that with a $100 Empire.

Yes, I agree; you shouldn't abuse the tool; however; let's face it; they do get abused. Stuff gets put on top of them; they get jammed in back seat of the truck, they get dropped, ect

 

[BigGG]

There is something different about that Chinese rubber. One of the biggest HF disappointments are the black rubber bungie cords. The black rubber always cracks in about a year, whether exposed to the sun or indoors.

I think they're compounding their hazardous waste in the plastic and rubber before shipping it out.

 

[5030]

You compared a level to another level?

You know if it says the surface is level then you turn the level around every which way and it sill says the surface is level, then the level is square and accurate.

You ought to watch me calibrate my Starrett Machinist levels. They read inclination in thousands of an inch. Exactly how I calibrate them as well. Just a bit finer adjustments. Actually, 90 degrees works just fine. I use the bed ways on one of the engine lathes. they can be a pizzer at times because temperature impacts them. At well over 200 bucks each, they don't get banged around either. They go back into their fitted case when not in use. I believe the clear vials are filled with alcohol and the graduations are chemically etched into the glass. Just a slight deviation from true causes a large deviation in the bubble.

 

[jjeff]

Thought I'd try something new and figured it would be easy so I bought a hf measuring wheel over 10 years ago when I was laying out stakes to rough clear and grade for a 24x36 pole barn. All I can say is I'm lucky I had a 100' tape with me lol. That series of measuring wheels was complete garbage and it ended up there, not remotely accurate within several feet.

 

[5030]

never used one. I do use a Ligmate for marking off distance on logs prior to bucking.

 

[Grumpycat]

You ought to watch me calibrate my Starrett Machinist levels. They read inclination in thousands of an inch. Exactly how I calibrate them as well. Just a bit finer adjustments. Actually, 90 degrees works just fine. I use the bed ways on one of the engine lathes. they can be a pizzer at times because temperature impacts them. At well over 200 bucks each, they don't get banged around either. They go back into their fitted case when not in use. I believe the clear vials are filled with alcohol and the graduations are chemically etched into the glass. Just a slight deviation from true causes a large deviation in the bubble.

When I was a wee lad, I had a child's toolkit with a real saw, a real but small hammer, and a wooden level. Something happened to break the bubble glass. Dad took me into a lab one Saturday at Virginia Tech and we worked on making a new bubble with glass tubing on Bunsen burner.

I don't recall my level was ever a very good level after that but every time I played with that level I remembered making multiple replacement bubbles until we thought we had one that was good enough.

 

[jjeff]

Thought I'd try something new and figured would be easy so I bought a hf measuring wheel over 10 years ago when I was laying out stakes to rough clear and level for a 24x36 pole barn. All I can say is I'm lucky I had a 100' tape with me lol. That series of measuring wheels was complete garbage and it ended up there, not remotely accurate within several feet.

never used one. I do use a Ligmate for marking off distance on logs prior to bucking.

Initially I figured it was off due to elevation changes and debris then I took it to my paved road measured 100' with a tape got almost 120 or so with that contraption in disbelief I trashed it. I do however have a few of those cheap plastic calipers they have come in handy for measuring bolts, fasteners , hoses, etc and are durable enough to throw in a tool bag and cheap enough to have a few lying around.

 

[Alan46]

You compared a level to another level?

You know if it says the surface is level then you turn the level around every which way and it sill says the surface is level, then the level is square and accurate.

Thanks for the feedback, I learn something new everyday!

That’s why I love TBN.

 

[paulsharvey]

When did HF stop selling individual large sockets/wrenches? This morning I went to get a 34mm/1-5/16" socket or wrench for a pitman arm nut. They had the 'front axle socket kit' which had it included, but I didn't want to buy the whole kit for $69.99, when I only needed one socket. Down side, TSC, had it, but only in 3/4" drive, and 100% sold out of 1/2" to 3/4" adapter...