Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[IslandTractor]

SWAG Web Site says it does. See picture #4.

SWAG V3.0 Portaband Table

I believe you are thinking of their version 4.0?

You are right. I must have the V4.

 

[Pixguy]

Years ago I bought the smaller 6x8 greenhouse ordered it online and had it shipped as that was pretty much the only option at the time. It came truck freight and was damaged when I opened the box. Several of the longest aluminum pieces were bent and the corners crushed on a lot of the longer polycarbonate panels. They wanted it returned first before they would ship a replacement. This all would have been about a months worth of lost time for me so I just ordered second one (that got delivered quicker it was better but not perfect either) then I took the best parts from both to assemble it and threw al the leftovers in box shipped it back and got my refund credit. I just got another one but at the store this time. It was worth the trip. I didn't actually open there though I was tempted but the box looked undamaged, and everything was ok. I put most of it together yesterday it rained all day so I assembled it in the garage. The instructions are pretty bad like everyone says but I was familiar with it anyways. And the foundation layout measurements they give are wrong (there are several videos online about that too) so now I have go back to slightly modify the box frame I had prebuilt and set a couple of days ago. :confused2: <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=466383"/>

You do realize that the plants will grow better by bringing that greenhouse outdoors?

Yes, I saw you assembled it indoors due to the rain but a smartazz must do what he must.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Hey now don't go talking him out of upgrading. I'm hoping he'll give me a good deal on his existing setup.

Start the bidding!

 

[Threepoint]

Just came across this Youtube video from Swag that shows both the V1 and V3 tables as compatible with the new HF deep throat version (#62800). Very nice. :thumbsup:
SWAG V3. Portaband Table, Milwaukee VS Harbor Freight VS Grizzly - YouTube

 

[DFB]

You do realize that the plants will grow better by bringing that greenhouse outdoors?

Yes, I saw you assembled it indoors due to the rain but a smartazz must do what he must.

Won't be there for very long...it's right in the way of getting my Harley out!

 

[5030]

My feeble mind tends to forget things until I use them and then I remember....:thumbsup:

The Harbor Freight stick on (adhesive) wheel weights are excellent, I used them yesterday to balance a new set of tires that I mounted with the Harbor Freight manual tire changer (it will do lawn tractor tires too...) and balanced on the Harbor Freight bubble balancer...

Weights: Come in a blister pack for 8 bucks. Hard to find, even Auto Zone don't have them. Make sure your rim is clean (I clean mine with acetone where I stick the weights). I also take a heat gun and heat them after I stick them on to make sure the adhesive grips well. Never lost any yet...

Tire changer: Pretty basic manual tire changer. Must be bolted (with lag screws and expanding anchors to your concrete floor). Works well but I'd suggest buying a 'No Mar' tire mount-dismount bar from the net. The HF mount-dismount bar is hard on alloy rims, okay for steel though. I bought the motorcycle changer attachment as well. Works good too but you need to use a different center axle as the HF supplied one won't fit every center holes. You also need to weld the right angle top bracket solid. The bolted sections are too unstable. Use plenty of tire lube or dishwashing detergent. The more the tire is lubed, the easier it is getting off and on.... Never pinched a tube yet on a motorcycle or atv tire....

You'll need a valve stem remover too and of course compressed air and a tire chuck.

The HF bubble balancer works very well. I've had one for a couple years and balance all my own tires for all my vehicles. It has to set on a level concrete floor but the bubble is adjustable. Great tool. The base is cast aluminum with a steel upright ending in a hardened pin that supports the balancer attachment. The tire and rim sit atop the attachment supported by the pin and hardened socket in the attachment. It's very accurate and easy to use.

Tire jockeys at repair shops and garages don't have a clue and mount tires with no regard for the factory imprinted weight mark (all new tires are spun and the heavy point is marked on the sidewall. You want to put that mark on the valve stem when you mount it. Most jockeys never look and compensate with wheel weights instead. I mount my tires according to the sidewall mark and use very little weight to get them balanced.

Sometimes I forget that I have HF stuff in the shop until I use it....

 

[PhysAssist]

Thomas, I love my original (6 amp) version, and it has done everything I've asked. Including zipping through 12 consecutive cuts of solid 1" mild steel rod recently with ease. And that was using a single HF blade that still has lots of life in it. It is truly one of the real HF gems. But, for another $20, I'd sure go ahead and get the newer 10 amp version with the slightly deeper throat and a case. That way you'll never be second guessing yourself. Especially if you plan on transporting it.

Thomas, if you wanted to get one of the SWAG version 3.0 tables that have miter gauge slots the new BS would work. Only the version 1.0, no miter slots, works on the previous model.I've mounted my V 1.0 table to my HF band saw and working on a stand for it now. This stand will be 3/4" birch plywood but, want to build another one later with some steel square tubing.I'd really like a table with miter slots for greater accuracy so, the $99 coupon on the new HF BS is very enticing. If I do succumb and go get it I'd order the Swag V 3.0 and make someone a great deal for the one I have now.

Thanks guys, I was leaning towards the upgrade, and your points both make a lot of sense- I was looking at the Swag-Offroad tables today during downtime at work, and thought that I'd either like to buy or copy/fake one, but I wasn't sure of they were worth the $'s or whether having the mitering slides was worth the upgrade.

I am going for it.

Any hints on the best blades to buy?

 

[IslandTractor]

Mitered slides are very useful. The miter slide sold by swag is a good one too.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Mitered slides are very useful. The miter slide sold by swag is a good one too.

I already have an Incra V-120 but, $60 for the V-27 is a good price.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Here's the $99 coupon for the HF 10 amp bandsaw if anyone is interested.

Coupon Display

 

[IslandTractor]

I'll give a 4/5 star review for the HF pipe/tube notcher, model 42324. Tubing Notcher & Pipe Notcher. About $32 with coupon.

It's a copy of a US made notcher that sells for about 4x the price. Main body is 0.223" steel and sturdy enough. Base needs to be bolted to a workbench or drill press. Adjustment range from perpendicular is 0-60 degrees left. The pipe clamp hold up to 2.25" pipe. The spindle is 3/4" with 1/2"-20 threads and a 5/8" adapter is included. Worked fine with my HF Warrior bimetal hole saw set although you need a skinny 7/8" wrench to dismount the adapter once the hole saw is tightened. There isn't enough space to fit a standard thickness wrench between the mounted hole saw and the washer. I ended up using pliers.

The spindle support is machined aluminum. The machining seems true but there is more play than desirable.

I used a HF 1/2" low speed drill and it had way more power than needed to notch 16g tube. Virtually any drill press would have even more power.

I used it to notch the ends of 1 3/8" 16g fencing tube. The notches were consistently slightly off center and after examining the tool I can see that the clamp requires shimming (such a surprise with a fine quality HF device!!). Needs about a half to one millimeter shim which will be easy to insert. Otherwise the tool functioned fine. No plastic bits to break and nothing much to wear out except the aluminum block which seems beefy enough though a bit sloppy. I'd imagine the tool will last quite a number of cuts.

Overall a useful device for non critical notching though in typical HF fashion it isn't true right out of the box.

 

[ripHST]

For those that have bikes, their motorcycle lift is awesome for the money. Get the coupon for $299 and one of their wheel chocks (the wheel clamp that comes with it is no good) for $35 and you've got a good lift for less than half it would cost from the cheapest competitor.

I'm also really happy with the bench mount drill press I got from HF.

 

[5030]

For those that have bikes, their motorcycle lift is awesome for the money. Get the coupon for $299 and one of their wheel chocks (the wheel clamp that comes with it is no good) for $35 and you've got a good lift for less than half it would cost from the cheapest competitor.

I'm also really happy with the bench mount drill press I got from HF.

The issue with the bike lift is stability when the bike is raised on the stand. I know, I have one and I use it for the zero turn to clean the deck, not the bikes. Nothing like getting a Dresser up on the stand and have it wobble. The thught of a 700 pound plus bike falling off.... and the collaterial damage to the bike or you if it falls on you, is just too much risk for me.

 

[5030]

had my wife stop by HF today and pick me up a 50 foot rubber airhose on sale. I used the heck out of my last one (5 years) and it finally had a blowout after countless kinks and run overs....

She also got me a package of shop towels on sale, real cotton ones. No more cut Tee shirts as rags now.

2 more packages of wheel weights too.

 

[lostcreekranch]

The issue with the bike lift is stability when the bike is raised on the stand. I know, I have one and I use it for the zero turn to clean the deck, not the bikes. Nothing like getting a Dresser up on the stand and have it wobble. The thught of a 700 pound plus bike falling off.... and the collaterial damage to the bike or you if it falls on you, is just too much risk for me.

I think he is talking about this one?

Motorcycle Lift Table, 1 Lb. Capacity

 

[5030]

I think he is talking about this one?

Motorcycle Lift Table, 1 Lb. Capacity

Could be. The roll around one (Sears sells a similar one) is very unstable, especially with a heavy bike. When I change my oil in the bikes I just use 2 nylon web slings and the overhead hoist in the shop. I can lift the bike to eye level that way, but not everyone has an air hoist in their garage.

 

[ripHST]

The issue with the bike lift is stability when the bike is raised on the stand. I know, I have one and I use it for the zero turn to clean the deck, not the bikes. Nothing like getting a Dresser up on the stand and have it wobble. The thught of a 700 pound plus bike falling off.... and the collaterial damage to the bike or you if it falls on you, is just too much risk for me.

The key there is to not have a 700# bike. Yeah, I wouldn't feel good about that either but it works great for my bikes even at full lift....never a wobble that worried me. Of course, my bikes are all 400#s...give or take.

 

[ripHST]

I think he is talking about this one?

Motorcycle Lift Table, 1 Lb. Capacity

Yeah, that's the one I have. They put coupons in the bike magazines for $299. That wheel clamp you see in the picture is *****, but easily and cheaply replaced....otherwise it's great. As soon as I get my new shop built, I'll be getting a couple more. I think they have an air lift as well (just hooks to your house air), but the hydraulic one works great and goes up fast enough for me.

 

[California]

Was there a post here comparing the version 1 / version 2 180A mig welders?

(#68886 vs #62181).

 

[bcp]

3 day sale on these items recently mentioned.



Bruce