Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Rock Crawler]

I could go with 2 x 44" US General boxes at $430 each and 2 44" US General Top boxes at $299 each (no coupons for the tops). That would be $860 for the 2 bottom chests plus $600 for the 2 tops, essentially the same price as the 72" but getting 88" total width.

Oddly, when HF says 44" or 72" they aren't talking about the drawer width, they are talking about the outside frame width. So you subtract about 4" from a 72" and get about a 68" drawer. For the 88" you have to subtract 4" x 2 or 8" leaving you about 80"of drawer space.

The 44" does come in blue....
Me like blue lots and lots!

Can you apply a 20% coupon tip the US General boxes? I'm thinking that's a big no no. View attachment 575620View attachment 575621View attachment 575622

Dragon,

I also kind of do not like the look of 2 box sets since by side. I've been like that for about 15 years, I wanted one very large and professional looking box. But maybe I'll really consider doing 2 upper mid size boxes..... let me chew on that a while.... I really wanted rid of this look....

 

[Diggin It]

Scattershot post ...

Bar clamps with blue and grey adjusting handles are much better than the squeeze type with the orange tips.

39" metal 'yard' sticks are good.

6" digital caliper is good for what I do. Haven't tried the bigger ones.

How do we feel about the 4' levels? I need a new one.

 

[/pine]

...How do we feel about the 4' levels? I need a new one.

Go in lowes or HD and try to find two stick levels that read the same on all vials...it's about like the thermometers...hard to find two that read the same...!

 

[tjkubota93]

Go in lowes or HD and try to find two stick levels that read the same on all vials...it's about like the thermometers...hard to find two that read the same...!

I did that. I also flipped them over and none read the same. Then I spent alot on a set of stabila levels.

 

[dragoneggs]

Dragon,

I also kind of do not like the look of 2 box sets since by side. I've been like that for about 15 years, I wanted one very large and professional looking box. But maybe I'll really consider doing 2 upper mid size boxes..... let me chew on that a while.... I really wanted rid of this look....View attachment 575623

Me too. I got red stackable next to a silver (Costco) box. But there are other things I should be complaining about I suppose. :laughing:

 

[Rock Crawler]

Me too. I got red stackable next to a silver (Costco) box. But there are other things I should be complaining about I suppose. :laughing:

You know what's insane....? Back in the day, those were right around $1,200 per 3 piece stack and no bearings! That's about $2,400 of tool box purchase price back about 15 years ago.

Now I'm looking buying much bigger, much better built boxes with bearings for $1,400 + $300 add on side chest and im squirming like a fresh worm on a hook.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Today I stopped at HF and grabbed my daily gifts.

The outlet has a coupon for half price of $9.99. I just grabbed one, but I may get another tomorrow after work.

I also decided to start to reorganize sockets in preparation for the toolbox upgrade later. I actually like these, I'm going up buy a bunch more and clean up the socket mess. They are $9.99 and then I used the 20% coupon and grabbed another free tarp. I'm now at 21 tarps on the shelf.

 

[def38]

I guess I'm just not with it….I don't understand the toolbox thing for the rural home mechanic DIYer ...I've got one toolbox a four drawer Craftsman that I have had for 20 years. It is nowhere near full and I have no need for more tools. I have both metric and SAE 3/8 drive sockets plus a set of metric combination wrenches plus the necessary Torx and hex wrenches. I also have a set of 1/2 drive sockets. All together, about 150 lbs of tools. I work on my mower, my car (the 2000 Windstar was recently traded for a new RAV4), CAT powered motorhome, BMW motorcycle, Craftsman weedeater and the 2003 Massey Ferguson 231S. Am I missing out on some special tool(s) that would make my life easier? The shop is 1600 sq. ft. and I would likely not roll a big toolbox around even though the floor is concrete. Help me out here....

If any of you live closeby (Warrior, AL), I need some welding done on my box blade. I'll pay top $.

 

[California]

I guess I'm just not with it?I don't understand the toolbox thing for the rural home mechanic DIYer ...I've got one toolbox a four drawer Craftsman that I have had for 20 years. It is nowhere near full and I have no need for more tools. I have both metric and SAE 3/8 drive sockets plus a set of metric combination wrenches plus the necessary Torx and hex wrenches. I also have a set of 1/2 drive sockets. All together, about 150 lbs of tools. I work on my mower, my car (the 2000 Windstar was recently traded for a new RAV4), CAT powered motorhome, BMW motorcycle, Craftsman weedeater and the 2003 Massey Ferguson 231S. Am I missing out on some special tool(s) that would make my life easier?

Similar here. Maybe triple that weight considering chainsaw, handheld bandsaw, other large tools I keep locked up. Also an office filing cabinet full of nuts, bolts, hose, grease gun, etc. But nothing like the volume of tools I'm seeing in this thread. What does anyone do with fuel jugs past maybe six total? More than a couple gallons of antifreeze on hand? And I'm running 40 year old tractors (on a hobby basis). Does modern gear need more tinkering than these elderly beasts?

English cars and motorcycles from the 50's and before took about as many hours maintenance as hours spent on the Sunday Drive, and I suppose modern rockcrawlers, the kind that are trailered in, would be similar. But gear intended for real farmers? Why?

I was amused to see someone suggest an intervention! :laughing:

 

[bcp]

Didn't you know?

Bruce

 

[lennyzx11]

That's exactly what would happen if I had one. I would make it unusable as intended in about two weekends.

Mine currently is piled up but I do try to keep it cleaned off. It’s a battle.

It has been perfect for parking my mug welder cart (also from HF ), and two portable generators underneath.
It also has some longer boards laid across the top of the ladder ends to keep them out of harms way for now.

Mine has been a good buy. The decking is a little thin for my tastes but not bad enough for me to replace it.
Used it for insulation, lights, and paneling installation in my old shop.

 

[newbury]

I guess I'm just not with it?I don't understand the toolbox thing for the rural home mechanic DIYer ...I've got one toolbox a four drawer Craftsman that I have had for 20 years. It is nowhere near full and I have no need for more tools. I have both metric and SAE 3/8 drive sockets plus a set of metric combination wrenches plus the necessary Torx and hex wrenches. I also have a set of 1/2 drive sockets. All together, about 150 lbs of tools. I work on my mower, my car (the 2000 Windstar was recently traded for a new RAV4), CAT powered motorhome, BMW motorcycle, Craftsman weedeater and the 2003 Massey Ferguson 231S. Am I missing out on some special tool(s) that would make my life easier? The shop is 1600 sq. ft. and I would likely not roll a big toolbox around even though the floor is concrete. Help me out here....

If any of you live closeby (Warrior, AL), I need some welding done on my box blade. I'll pay top $.

For my life up to 2011 my official tool storage were two 24" Craftsman toolchests, one w/ 3 shallow drawers, one w/ no drawers. Plus numerous cardboard boxes w/ tools in original packaging or just piled into boxes. And my "workshop" was a 10x15 space in the basement.

We didn't have a cat but I'm sure there would not have been enough space to swing one.

In 2011 I added 5,500 sq feet concrete floored workshop. And started buying tools like they were toys.

I've added these toolboxes:



And they are half full, with still a lot of tools to be put away.

It is so NICE to be able to have a drawer for pliers, one for wrenches, one for screwdrivers, several for socket wrenches, etc. etc. A separate chest for air tools, one for chainsaw tools.

My best new addition was a good labeler to make easy to read labels for all the drawers, versus strips of tape with hand scrawled text.

 

[Diggin It]

In 2011 I added 5,500 sq feet concrete floored workshop.

That's bigger than my house (both floors), breezeway, garage and shed/shop combined.

And it wouldn't matter how many carts, toolboxes or cabinets I had, the tools would still end up in a pile where ever I used them last.

 

[Code54]

I find I have a lot of tools - interior trim tools, code readers, flare nut wrenches, vacuum brake bleeders, compression testers, and that is just a sample of the auto stuff, another couple drawers for electrical specific (sq drivers, 12v testsers, meters, etc), then one rolling cabinet with just sockets, deep, impact, reg. depth, shallow, etc...
Really ends up taking a lot of space and I personally like it all organized so that honestly takes up some extra space....

 

[crazyal]

I guess I'm just not with it?I don't understand the toolbox thing for the rural home mechanic DIYer ...I've got one toolbox a four drawer Craftsman that I have had for 20 years. It is nowhere near full and I have no need for more tools. I have both metric and SAE 3/8 drive sockets plus a set of metric combination wrenches plus the necessary Torx and hex wrenches. I also have a set of 1/2 drive sockets. All together, about 150 lbs of tools. I work on my mower, my car (the 2000 Windstar was recently traded for a new RAV4), CAT powered motorhome, BMW motorcycle, Craftsman weedeater and the 2003 Massey Ferguson 231S. Am I missing out on some special tool(s) that would make my life easier? The shop is 1600 sq. ft. and I would likely not roll a big toolbox around even though the floor is concrete. Help me out here....

If any of you live closeby (Warrior, AL), I need some welding done on my box blade. I'll pay top $.

I had the plastic organizers on a rack that mounts to the wall for things like screws but found that a tool box works better for me. The plastic bins either were too small or too large. With a drawer I could make stuff fit without wasting too much room. The drawers keep them covered when not in use. Plus the tools, like a pop rivet gun, that only get used with things like the rivets can stay together easier. Things like the solder gun stays with the solder and the wire in a drawer (along with other things like those standard 12v relays) and the staple gun and staples.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Harbor a freight buddies... Help me please.

How can I combine and organize 10 lbs of crap (wrenches) into a 5 lb bag (tool box drawer)? I hate and despise this particular drawer in my toolbox.

I have wrenches in the drawer, hanging from shelves and sitting on shelves.

Metric, standard, ratchet of each, 0 degree offset of each, 13 degree offset of each, line wrenches of each, stubby wrenches of each and I'm sure a couple doubles off each.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I had the plastic organizers on a rack that mounts to the wall for things like screws but found that a tool box works better for me. The plastic bins either were too small or too large. With a drawer I could make stuff fit without wasting too much room. The drawers keep them covered when not in use. Plus the tools, like a pop rivet gun, that only get used with things like the rivets can stay together easier. Things like the solder gun stays with the solder and the wire in a drawer (along with other things like those standard 12v relays) and the staple gun and staples.

How about peanutbutter jars?

 

[crazyal]

How about peanutbutter jars? View attachment 575793

My father used glass baby food jars. I bet he had 100s of them and seeing what was inside each one was kind of a pain. Some had the covers screwed to a board on the top of his work bench. Some were in those cardboard with wooden ends crate grapes were shipped to grocery stores in. Some were just laying around.

 

[dragoneggs]

And they are half full, with still a lot of tools to be put away.

It is so NICE to be able to have a drawer for pliers, one for wrenches, one for screwdrivers, several for socket wrenches, etc. etc. A separate chest for air tools, one for chainsaw tools.

My best new addition was a good labeler to make easy to read labels for all the drawers, versus strips of tape with hand scrawled text.

I found labeling my drawer pulls was key to me finally getting organized and actually putting stuff away. Try it! With a labeled drawer, I can never put something in the wrong place, I just can't do it.

I found it pleasurable to wipe off tools (put a paper towel dispenser next to my two tool chests) and put them away. Sometimes I don't do it right away but the next time I walk by, I will put it/them away if I am done with that project.

Might seem **** but I know I have saved so much time not having to dig for tools. Took me a half of a lifetime to learn this but so glad I did. A label maker ought to be in every workshop if you have a decent collection of tools IMHO.

 

[dragoneggs]

My father used glass baby food jars. I bet he had 100s of them and seeing what was inside each one was kind of a pain. Some had the covers screwed to a board on the top of his work bench. Some were in those cardboard with wooden ends crate grapes were shipped to grocery stores in. Some were just laying around.

I had a bunch of Gerber baby food jars for misc. screws, wire caps, etc. Even made a custom wood rack for the array of little jars. Am kicking myself that I let that go to the buyer of our house a few years back. Thought I would come up with a better tray system. But missing those baby food jars. I guess because they fed my son and daughter almost 30 years ago.