Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[dragoneggs]

OK, now you guys are scaring me ... I need to do a 3" hole saw for 2" PVC drain.

Hole saws are not nearly as bad as augers, forstners, etc. that chip out the entire hole vs. cutting a plug. Still though, a high torque drill that binds, can knock you and injure you so be careful. I don't use them on ladders.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I was in Houston yesterday and stopped by a Harbor Freight to look at and measure their 44" and 56" tool cabinets for addition to my shop.

My plan is to line them up against a wall and install a 10 ft. pre-built Formica kitchen counter top on top of them. I considered three of the 44" but, with handles removed they are still 42" wide. Three of them would be 10' 6" or 6" longer than the countertop. Alternatively I looked at two of the 56" cabinets. They would fit well under the counter top but are 2" higher than the 44" cabinets which would put the work surface at about 43", maybe higher than I like.

I then decided to go with just two of the 44" cabinets and two of the 18" wide matching drawer units that hang on the side of the 44" cabinet. So, I can put a 44" cabinet on each end with the two 18" drawer units in the middle. Perfect total of 120". The 10' countertops are usually about an inch longer than 10'.

Just as I was about to leave, the store manager rolled a 44" cabinet to front of the store with a $311.99 "open box" price tag on it. Regular price is $389.99. I looked it over and it had no visible damage so I snapped it up. Manager said it was just returned by customer that said it was to wide to fit the space he planned for it.

 

[bcp]

I've read that the ideal work height is at about elbow level (forearms level.) Not counter height, but counter plus project.

I find that working on small items on a common counter height is very tiring. Forearm level height for me is about 48 inches.

Bruce

 

[lostcreekranch]

The HF store manager told me the he expects a really good sale, on the 44" cabinets, in early June so, I will be patient for 3 weeks and see if I can save some more money on the 2nd one. Hope the $189 18" side cabinets go on sale too.

When completed, I plan to install my Rikon 10" bench top bandsaw, HF 12" disc sander, Ridgid oscillating belt /drum sander, and WoodRiver morticing machine on the countertop. I've already checked and 41" counter height will work well with all of them. I hate bending over to work on things.

Since these cabinets are about 18" deep and countertop is about 25" deep, I will have about 7" space behind cabinets to run dust collection and power.

Hampton Bay 1 ft. Tempo Laminate Countertop in Tumbled Roca-483538T1 - The Home Depot

I will pre-wire shallow power outlets into the rear vertical part of the countertop.

 

[hutchman]

I was in Houston yesterday and stopped by a Harbor Freight to look at and measure their 44" and 56" tool cabinets for addition to my shop.

My plan is to line them up against a wall and install a 10 ft. pre-built Formica kitchen counter top on top of them. I considered three of the 44" but, with handles removed they are still 42" wide. Three of them would be 10' 6" or 6" longer than the countertop. Alternatively I looked at two of the 56" cabinets. They would fit well under the counter top but are 2" higher than the 44" cabinets which would put the work surface at about 43", maybe higher than I like.

I then decided to go with just two of the 44" cabinets and two of the 18" wide matching drawer units that hang on the side of the 44" cabinet. So, I can put a 44" cabinet on each end with the two 18" drawer units in the middle. Perfect total of 120". The 10' countertops are usually about an inch longer than 10'.

Just as I was about to leave, the store manager rolled a 44" cabinet to front of the store with a $311.99 "open box" price tag on it. Regular price is $389.99. I looked it over and it had no visible damage so I snapped it up. Manager said it was just returned by customer that said it was to wide to fit the space he planned for it.View attachment 468200View attachment 468201

Nice score! Want to see pics of your final setup

 

[hutchman]

The HF store manager told me the he expects a really good sale, on the 44" cabinets, in early June so, I will be patient for 3 weeks and see if I can save some more money on the 2nd one. Hope the $189 18" side cabinets go on sale too.

When completed, I plan to install my Rikon 10" bench top bandsaw, HF 12" disc sander, Ridgid oscillating belt /drum sander, and WoodRiver morticing machine on the countertop. I've already checked and 41" counter height will work well with all of them. I hate bending over to work on things.

Since these cabinets are about 18" deep and countertop is about 25" deep, I will have about 7" space behind cabinets to run dust collection and power.

Hampton Bay 1 ft. Tempo Laminate Countertop in Tumbled Roca-483538T1 - The Home Depot

I will pre-wire shallow power outlets into the rear vertical part of the countertop.

Yea, I've already seen some of the prices ... the popular red stacked toolbox with roller drawers will be on sale for $298 again.

 

[PhysAssist]

Just picked up this beast, 1/2" right angle drill, while it was on sale plus used the 25% Mothers Day only coupon:

Right Angle Drill - Save on this Compact Right Angle Drill

I read up on a bunch of these and noticed the specs were suspiciously close to some "name brand" units so I figured it's basically a rip off with different clothes on. Doing a bathroom remodel and need to cut 3" holes in floor joist's for some plumbing drain.

Will post back how it works.

One thing funny I noticed in the manual was the electrical cord contains lead and you're supposed to wash your hands after handling the unit. I've never seen a warning on a cord like that before so I searched and basically all PVC based cords contain lead. Guess I learned something.

Another funny thing is a few of the reviews on HF say that they used it for mixing mortar/thinset for tile ... the right angle drill has a big fat red and white sticker on it that says "warranty void if used for mixing".

Speaking of mixing ... I killed my 20+ year old Crapsman drill that I had been using for mixing grout and mortar while working on my backhoe mount (which still isn't finished - long story) so I also picked up this drill for mixing ... has a picture of a dude mixing right on the box:
1/2" Heavy Duty Low Speed Drill

... so I'll report on that one too as it relates to mixing. I also have a few more holes to drill in my 1/2" steel backhoe mount so will use this one for that too ... supposed to have a double reduction gear box for mucho torque.

My new in box portable bandsaw has the same leaded cord warning from the Ca state regs.

Whatevs....

 

[PhysAssist]

This thread long ago became the combination suck/don't suck thread. The suck one is 4 pages long; this one is over 500.

OK, I just mostly follow along here- that may be why.

 

[PhysAssist]

Yea, this angle drill I've been talking about has that ... and handlebar grip on it too. My thought was it would be safer in my "condition" to use that rather than use a smaller drill with right angle attachment attempting to do the same job. At least that's how I justified the purchase (when the wife asks why I need yet another drill)

You might be better off to use one with a clutch you can set to slip if the torque suddenly gets too high.

When my left [dominant] arm was weak from the disk stuff going on in my neck, my DeWalt drill with the "screw-driving" clutch was super easy on my arm, I would just set it to a couple of clicks below the locked position to absorb the torque when the bit got caught, but unfortunately [apparently] none of the bigger/high torque drill motors have clutches...

 

[PhysAssist]

I've never posted and will never post on a safety forum. I have to put up with that crap at work and thats a big enough PITA for me. Between OSHA and the DEQ and ambulance chasing attorneys, I'm surprised we manufacture anything in this country today.

I did it to myself and I bore the brunt (hurt) of it. Nothing that 4 Motrin's and Ben -Gay didn't handle (with a couple Miller High Life chasers)....

Somebody manufactures stuff here???

 

[Illini22]

Always pull back on the drill when using the chip auger bits. It helps keep the hole clear and less chance of it binding

 

[5030]

Always pull back on the drill when using the chip (ship) auger bits. It helps keep the hole clear and less chance of it binding

I found out the hard way. It actually bored in real quick...to the point of stalling and I wasn't prepared for the result.

 

[JRobyn]

After 5752 posts, it's probably in here somewhere, but can someone please refresh me on just what the metric units are on the HF click torque wrenches? My 1/2" and 3/8" are marked; "(da. Nm) M. KGS.". I'm guessing this is deca newton-meter / meter-kilograms?

The 1/4" one is marked; "(cm. KPS.) cm. KGS.". The only metric reference I can find for KPS is kilometers per second. My wrench isn't that fast. "Cm. KGS.", I assume is centimeter-kilograms?

This is the only item I am aware of where "kilograms" is abbreviated "KGS" instead of just "KG". Or is it something else?

 

[sleepybozo]

The first thought I had was kilopascals, but that's pressure, not torque. Then a convertor led me to think that kiloponds was more likely.

"A kilopond (kp), also called kilogram-force (kgf), is an obsolete gravitational metric unit of force. It is equal to the force exerted by one kilogram of mass in a standard gravitational field. Therefore, one kilopond is by definition equal to 9.80665 N."

1 kilogram-force = 2.205 pound-forces

kp/m = 7.233 ft/lbf
1 kilopond meter = 115.72 ounce force foot
1 kilopond meter = 7.23 pound force foot
1 kilopond meter = 9.8 newton meter
1 newton meter = 0.73 pound force foot
1 newton meter = 0.1 kilopond meter
1 newton meter = 141.61 ounce force inch

Hope this is helpful, and what you were looking for.

 

[5030]

I must say the new red rubber air hose my wife got me on sale at HF is stinking up the shop. Starting to smell like an HF store.....lol

 

[sixdogs]

I must say the new red rubber air hose my wife got me on sale at HF is stinking up the shop. Starting to smell like an HF store.....lol

Yeah, be careful with anything that has that smell. It has to be the product deteriorating and you never know if it will let go under high pressure.

HF sells a high end red hose that I have bought in the past and it has no smell and a long life. I think it came in 50 ft and 100 ft lengths and might even have been made in the USA.

 

[lostcreekranch]

The 44" tool cabinet I bought earlier this week has drawer liners, which are fine but, the rubber mat for top of the cabinet has "that smell".

I am hanging it out in the sun for a few days.

 

[5030]

The 44" tool cabinet I bought earlier this week has drawer liners, which are fine but, the rubber mat for top of the cabinet has "that smell".

I am hanging it out in the sun for a few days.

I believe that HF has a copyright on that smell.... All the stores have it....

 

[California]

HF sells a high end red hose that I have bought in the past and it has no smell and a long life. I think it came in 50 ft and 100 ft lengths and might even have been made in the USA.

I bought that one maybe 5 years ago. I think it has 'Goodyear - USA' trademark on it.

I got that because the cheap blue HF PVC air hose was unreasonably stiff. I still have a couple of those but they are only useful for extensions, not for the working end.

From one of the reviews of an orange HF PVC hose:

Maybe 2 days into using it, I dropped my tape measure on it and the hose cracked violently

Caveat Emptor.

 

[5030]

I had one of the 'cheaper' ones I bought years ago. It finally suffered a 'blowout'......lol Don't run lots of pressure, maximum 135 psi. Son't need any more even for the 3/4" impact. It's CFM more than pressure.

Like water hose. I always buy Gilmour. They actually warrant them, I know, I've replaced a few over the years.

I'm wondering if anyone has purchased the HF replacement compressor pump (in any style / model)? One of my smaller units is in need of a new replacement pump and I was wondering if they are any good...

Anyone have one?