Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Diggin It]

I have been buying from HF for a long time. I can remember when they only had catalog sales in my area.
They use to have free shipping for orders over $50.00 and no sales tax.

Even after they started web sales, they would run coupons for free shipping over a certain amount. That's how I got my cast iron wood stove. I don't think they even sell this model anymore, though you can still get it from other sources.

 

[Diggin It]

Feedback on the yellow tow and recovery straps .....


I have three different ones. I've never used any to pull vehicles. I use them for tree work and log moving. Wrap one end around a standing tree, then use a come-a-long to help guide the tree down where I want it. Also use them to lift trunks as shown below. At least one is now showing some stress frays, probably from hanging it over the FEL bucket. Not clear enough to show in pictures though. How risky is that? I'm thinking it's time to retire it from lifting and pulling.

 

[4570Man]

You should really consider getting some chains for that kind of work. And consider getting some axel straps. They’re about $5 and really cut down on the abuse on tow straps. Here’s 2 other heavy duty straps I bought that I thought were a good price for what they were. 30,000 breaking strength and I got the 8’ one for $13 and the 20’ one for $22.

 

[California]

I found bolt holes along the top edge of my bucket so I bolted on four cold-shuts (chain splices) that I already had. I put them on temporarily for a project and thought they were too light, and would bend under heavy load, but I've never bent one in 15 years.

I like these better than chain hooks because they don't chafe rope. Another use is to hook and carry the plastic bucket that holds my chainsaw.

And yes, chain is preferable for lifting anything that can chafe.

 

[sixdogs]

harbor freight 1/2 drive earthquake impact wrench 700 ? ft lbs tq
Be careful, you will break the wheel studs with this impact !

On the flip side of that, I can just snap off rusty bolts on old farm equipment and save a lot of time disassembling. Just spray oil on the outside of the bolt head or nut so it's easier to get out of the socket. Impact wrench is really powerful.

 

[Diggin It]

On the flip side of that, I can just snap off rusty bolts on

HF should use that for the stage name of a Tool Time Girl kind of spokesperson, Rusti Boltz.

 

[aczlan]

On the flip side of that, I can just snap off rusty bolts on old farm equipment and save a lot of time disassembling. Just spray oil on the outside of the bolt head or nut so it's easier to get out of the socket. Impact wrench is really powerful.

I have been known to do the same thing. Something along the lines of "I dont care of you come loose, or snap off, but either way, a new bolt is going back on"

Aaron Z

 

[California]

I have been known to do the same thing. Something along the lines of "I don't care of you come loose or snap off, but either way, a new bolt is going back on"

Aaron Z

Yeah, BTDT. :thumbsup:

 

[LouNY]

Back when I first got out of the Marines I worked for a small Ford farm equipment dealer,
I would have loved to have a cordless impact as are available today, mine supposedly will develop 1200 ft/lbs.
One of my jobs was stripping down old surplussed NYC fire trucks that he would buy to strip for parts and pieces.
It was faster to tighten bolts to snap them then remove them, so a long MAC breaker bar and lots of sockets to
turn into the tool trucks every week.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

harbor freight 1/2 drive earthquake impact wrench 700 ? ft lbs tq
Be careful, you will break the wheel studs with this impact !

Something is going to give for sure.

One wheel on the F150 was pulled off at the body shop and I think they put it back on with an EarthQuake. When trying to remove it the socket spilt and chewed up the lug nut. The socket was on the light side but worked fine removing the other three wheels. I finally got it off using a nut extractor, 1 1/4" socket and breaker bar out out our 3/4" drive set with a 4 ' pipe, jack stand to support the pull handle along with a 6' step ladder so I could jump on the extended pipe.

This sucker needs to be used with torque sticks for sure to not overtighten.