Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[sodamo]

I lined my drawers with that black foamy shelf liner stuff. Comes in rolls, looks like a net with holes. Has good grab, stuff doesn't slide around.

 

[aczlan]

Would any of you use their chains to chain your tractor? I'm looking for two chains but I don't know there cheaper then Menard or any where else but I'm more concerned about quilty.

Get the 5/16 G70 chains from Lowes. Made in the US and IIRC cheaper than the HF ones.

Aaron Z

 

[hutchman]

Last Saturday I picked up their 7000W/8750W generator.

I have a 20+ yr old DeVilbiss 5000W generator with a little over 300 hrs on it but it is so loud it will wake the dead. I don't have power at our land yet so I got it for that.

It's very quiet and a lot better on gas than the old one. I did a bunch of reading and they are basically Generacs. Same engine etc. I've been pretty impressed with it so far. I've almost got 10hrs on it trying to break it in with light to moderate loads to get to the first oil change.

I got it when they offered the $549 super coupon.

The old Briggs doesn't have electric start so with my recent bicep tendon rupture, the electric start is so nice. I was kind of on the fence at first telling myself I didn't need it but now that I have it and have used it I'm glad I bought it.

I'm going to be brave and run my Inverter based welder and plasma cutter off it. I looked for a line conditioner but couldn't find much that did 240V 30A. I read that all of these have less than 5% THD so hopefully it will be OK. Of course the HF spec doesn't give that number out but the Generacs do.

The outlets have very generous current ratings unlike my dad's 3250W generac that has a 14A circuit breaker that's shared by the 240V and 120V legs. So that means the 120V side can only do 1680W which is such a rip off!

I also picked up the L14-30 cord they sell on sale and dropped a 20% super coupon on it. So that means that you can get a 10ga 25ft. nice service cord for about the same price of a L14-30 plug (just the plug only) you would by at Lowes or Home Depot ... so the 25ft. of service cord was basically free. For anyone that's recently priced out service cord you know what I mean.

I lopped off the end of the cord and wired up a NEMA 6-50 receptacle.

I forgot to mention this unit has an AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator). It is item 147 in the parts list and parts breakdown diagram. It's a feature that isn't advertised but it's there.

When I was researching I read most modern/new gensets have them.

 

[Garandman]

Would any of you use their chains to chain your tractor? I'm looking for two chains but I don't know there cheaper then Menard or any where else but I'm more concerned about quilty.

I've been using two of the grade 70 5/16 X 20' chains, no problems. $50.

 

[DFB]

Now I had to go look up the Boss man early today with my all weekend flower sales money as he was headed out on vacation for the rest of the week (figured he could use it. )

And darn if the HF store isn't right nearby the main business front!

So the Harbor Frieght haul of the day is...

#61471 tool tote with 20% off

I liked the bar handle design of it, and similar larger totes at HD are more money. Looks to be decent though a bit small...12 outside pockets and 6 inside, heavy duty nylon stitching seems okay guess time will tell. I pulled on every pocket to see if it would fall apart.

Pretty neat the way the inside flaps fold up and attach securely to the ends to support the bag wide open (pushed back down inside the bag folds flat)




Plus a pair of the cheapie $1.99 #97404 Hardy coated nylon gloves . Similar ones sell 2 pr for $5.00 at flea mkt. The tag says they are 60/40 nitrile/nylon but the ad says polyurethane coated :scratchchin:. They do seem to have more rubber coated feel than either my Gorilla Grips or the micro foam nitrile Liberty G Grip F4600 gloves I have. I really like both of those the Liberty is great for garage work and the lightweight GG are perfect for greenhouse type work with constant water and dirt as they dry super fast

So I figure they be ok for doing things like oil changes.

And then added the freebie led flashlight

Total 3 items out the door was less than advertised price on the bag

 

[hutchman]

Last Saturday I picked up their 7000W/8750W generator.

I have a 20+ yr old DeVilbiss 5000W generator with a little over 300 hrs on it but it is so loud it will wake the dead. I don't have power at our land yet so I got it for that.

It's very quiet and a lot better on gas than the old one. I did a bunch of reading and they are basically Generacs. Same engine etc. I've been pretty impressed with it so far. I've almost got 10hrs on it trying to break it in with light to moderate loads to get to the first oil change.

I got it when they offered the $549 super coupon.

The old Briggs doesn't have electric start so with my recent bicep tendon rupture, the electric start is so nice. I was kind of on the fence at first telling myself I didn't need it but now that I have it and have used it I'm glad I bought it.

I'm going to be brave and run my Inverter based welder and plasma cutter off it. I looked for a line conditioner but couldn't find much that did 240V 30A. I read that all of these have less than 5% THD so hopefully it will be OK. Of course the HF spec doesn't give that number out but the Generacs do.

The outlets have very generous current ratings unlike my dad's 3250W generac that has a 14A circuit breaker that's shared by the 240V and 120V legs. So that means the 120V side can only do 1680W which is such a rip off!

I also picked up the L14-30 cord they sell on sale and dropped a 20% super coupon on it. So that means that you can get a 10ga 25ft. nice service cord for about the same price of a L14-30 plug (just the plug only) you would by at Lowes or Home Depot ... so the 25ft. of service cord was basically free. For anyone that's recently priced out service cord you know what I mean.

I lopped off the end of the cord and wired up a NEMA 6-50 receptacle.

I forgot to mention this unit has an AVR (Automatic Voltage Regulator). It is item 147 in the parts list and parts breakdown diagram. It's a feature that isn't advertised but it's there.

When I was researching I read most modern/new gensets have them.

... stick welded with it tonight using my inverter welder. All went well.

 

[Wa11banger]

Ditto on the 10" cutters.. Dont know about bike cable but they cut HG fence wire and 1G service wire with relative ease.. Good purchase.

I have a pair of them they do what I want them to do ok.

Mine are orange

Have some a couple of pairs of small (9" maybe?) boltcutters style that are also pretty handy for heavy fencing wire or small rod.


View attachment 472149


Funny how I keep being reminded of my old HF purchases

 

[Wa11banger]

Shouldnt have any problems with it.. We used a LOTOS 50A plasma cutter and a small dewalt air compressor to cut the idle pulley mount off the tracks for a T7 dozer.. Then after the shaft was repaired turned right back around and used it to with a hobart 220v wire welder to reattach the idler pulley mount.. I only bawked at us once when the compressor came on exactly a light of the pilot arc for the plasma cutter. Had no problems running the rest of the equipment. that generator although louder than hondas and the like is a really good deal. Does slightly better than advertised on GPM as well for us also.

... stick welded with it tonight using my inverter welder. All went well.

 

[jack707]

Thanks Aaron z about the chains qustio

 

[hutchman]

Shouldnt have any problems with it.. We used a LOTOS 50A plasma cutter and a small dewalt air compressor to cut the idle pulley mount off the tracks for a T7 dozer.. Then after the shaft was repaired turned right back around and used it to with a hobart 220v wire welder to reattach the idler pulley mount.. I only bawked at us once when the compressor came on exactly a light of the pilot arc for the plasma cutter. Had no problems running the rest of the equipment. that generator although louder than hondas and the like is a really good deal. Does slightly better than advertised on GPM as well for us also.

Thanks! I have enough hours on it to start testing of it being loaded down more. I've not tried to start my 2HP air compressor with it yet. My concern is it starting while the plasma (mine is 50A too) is going since start current can be 4-5x running current. I guess I'll find out here pretty soon. Maybe this weekend depending on weather.