Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[tjkubota93]

The quality of the Yukon mobile bench/tool cart is great. It was packaged very well too.

I agree HF is raising the bar with tool storage. Awesome value.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

The US General Series 2 looks very nice. I may have to pick one up soon.
Harbor Freight is really raising the bar.

And price

View attachment 546464using my harbor freight cart to unload the tool box I bought there. Is that how you know you have a problem?

 

[sixdogs]

And price

Yes, on the price. HF seems to price new items at a higher level than might eventually prevail. I think the price tends to work lower after the initial burst of enthusiasm is over.

 

[TractorGuy]

I have several of the Clamp/Spreaders in various sizes. Used a couple of the to hold a glued in wall panel in place while glue and caulk dried. They work good for light to medium projects. Easy to convert from clamp to spreader.

HF was giving these away as freebies a while ago and I can't say as I had much luck with them. Even used gently they seemed to crack and die. I guess they were worth what I paid.

Same results here. This is supposed to be the "Don't Suck" thread. I think there was another thread these spreaders go in.

 

[TractorGuy]

Just bought a OBD code reader that seems okay. I bought the cheap one.

 

[bigtiller]

Series 2 vs Blue-point

I tried to buy a 5 drawer box today but they didn't have any in stock. So I bought a 1 drawer, they had 3 the cashier said. They were nowhere to be found so they gave me a preassembled one. Their assembly crew sucks. They placed most of the washers on the bolt side rather than the nut side of a carriage bolt & nut. Oh well, it's good now.

 

[dragoneggs]

Made a HF run today... had to email my wife the 25% coupon so she could go through the line with me. Bought 50lb of Al Oxide grit. Saved $11.25 and she bought (for me ) a 20oz HLVP sprayer and she saved $4. Plus we each got a free item. She wanted the blue tarp, I grabbed the microfiber cloths. :thumbsup:

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Got one of the 20oz HVLP spray guns yesterday w/ a coupon for $9.99. Used it today to spray oil base enamel on my implements (see customization thread). Sprayed better than my $45 HVLP gun that I used for painting a couple jeeps. They have it advertised in the next parking lot sale for $7.99. I'm going to pick up another...can't be beat!

 

[TractorGuy]

Made a HF run today... had to email my wife the 25% coupon so she could go through the line with me. Bought 50lb of Al Oxide grit. Saved $11.25 and she bought (for me ) a 20oz HLVP sprayer and she saved $4. Plus we each got a free item. She wanted the blue tarp, I grabbed the microfiber cloths. :thumbsup:

I tried to use my 25% coupon on the OBD scanner and the guy said it was on the list I couldn't use coupons for. He went ahead and knocked 20% off claiming he could do that without dragging out a manager. I hate that fine print stuff but at least the cashier got me some savings.

 

[TractorGuy]

Got one of the 20oz HVLP spray guns yesterday w/ a coupon for $9.99. Used it today to spray oil base enamel on my implements (see customization thread). Sprayed better than my $45 HVLP gun that I used for painting a couple jeeps. They have it advertised in the next parking lot sale for $7.99. I'm going to pick up another...can't be beat!

I have two sizes of these I never took out of the box. I need to quit buying spray cans and use them huh.

 

[dragoneggs]

I have two sizes of these I never took out of the box. I need to quit buying spray cans and use them huh.

Yeah I just bought it today after buying four rattle cans from HD for a couple of pedestal stands I painted yesterday and this morning. So, I will try it next job. I will check out your thread, JD. Wondering about paint you buy, what you thin with, and how much thinning to do.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Made a HF run today... had to email my wife the 25% coupon so she could go through the line with me. Bought 50lb of Al Oxide grit. Saved $11.25 and she bought (for me ) a 20oz HLVP sprayer and she saved $4. Plus we each got a free item. She wanted the blue tarp, I grabbed the microfiber cloths. :thumbsup:

Great plan!

 

[crazyal]

I often ask the cashier if I need to go through the line multiple times to use the 20% coupon or if they will ring it up one sale at a time (when I've bought more than one expensive item). As long as they aren't busy they usually don't care and just allow me to pay for each item one at a time. I don't think they are paid on commission so they have no incentive to try and get you to pay full price.

 

[sixdogs]

Same results here. This is supposed to be the "Don't Suck" thread. I think there was another thread these spreaders go in.

This morphed into a combo "suck" and "don't suck" thread a number of years ago.

 

[sixdogs]

Got one of the 20oz HVLP spray guns yesterday w/ a coupon for $9.99. Used it today to spray oil base enamel on my implements (see customization thread). Sprayed better than my $45 HVLP gun that I used for painting a couple jeeps. They have it advertised in the next parking lot sale for $7.99. I'm going to pick up another...can't be beat!

The gun that can be bought for $20 on sale is a better deal in that it will last longer because of replaceable seals. The $10 has a couple seals that are just poured in place and aren't as durable. It's still a great gun but I get lots more life out of the $20 gun. Just my two cents.

 

[lostcreekranch]

The gun that can be bought for $20 on sale is a better deal in that it will last longer because of replaceable seals. The $10 has a couple seals that are just poured in place and aren't as durable. It's still a great gun but I get lots more life out of the $20 gun. Just my two cents.

That’s been my experience too LS.

 

[4570Man]

I bought a harbor freight tire changer. It works pretty decent. The list of improvements would be to throw away the 2x4 mount and bolt it to something solid. Maybe if that's not an option screw the 2x4s to a piece of plywood and weight it down. We had 3 people and made do by standing on the 2x4s. Next improvement is the bar needs to be longer. I'll probably cut it in half and weld 2 foot in the middle. Next improvement is the hook for rolling the tire back on the rim needs more hook. My spoon looking tire tool worked pretty good for doing that so I doubt I'll bother modifying it. And the reason for buying this was I got a set of car tires for free that were nearly new, the cost of having them mounted was about the same as the HF tool.

 

[4570Man]

I bought a harbor freight tire changer. It works pretty decent. The list of improvements would be to throw away the 2x4 mount and bolt it to something solid. Maybe if that's not an option screw the 2x4s to a piece of plywood and weight it down. We had 3 people and made do by standing on the 2x4s. Next improvement is the bar needs to be longer. I'll probably cut it in half and weld 2 foot in the middle. Next improvement is the hook for rolling the tire back on the rim needs more hook. My spoon looking tire tool worked pretty good for doing that so I doubt I'll bother modifying it. And the reason for buying this was I got a set of car tires for free that were nearly new, the cost of having them mounted was about the same as the HF tool.

 

[TractorGuy]

I bought a harbor freight tire changer. It works pretty decent. The list of improvements would be to throw away the 2x4 mount and bolt it to something solid. Maybe if that's not an option screw the 2x4s to a piece of plywood and weight it down. We had 3 people and made do by standing on the 2x4s. Next improvement is the bar needs to be longer. I'll probably cut it in half and weld 2 foot in the middle. Next improvement is the hook for rolling the tire back on the rim needs more hook. My spoon looking tire tool worked pretty good for doing that so I doubt I'll bother modifying it. And the reason for buying this was I got a set of car tires for free that were nearly new, the cost of having them mounted was about the same as the HF tool.

Never considered using 2x4s. I made spacers out of aluminum and drilled the garage floor and set anchors. When I use the changer I bolt it to the floor.

 

[4570Man]

Never considered using 2x4s. I made spacers out of aluminum and drilled the garage floor and set anchors. When I use the changer I bolt it to the floor.

That's what it needs to be of any use by yourself. I'll probably weld the base on a flat piece of steel and bolt it down.