Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[John_Mc]

I've burned up two of the $9.95 angle grinders. Their proper application is a wire brush wheel or similar that doesn't need huge torque and won't be run continuous. They are fine for that.

First one the plastic fan disintegrated after 20(?) years of infrequent use cleaning welds with a wire brush wheel. It still ran but I gave it away.

Second one I mounted in the 'cutoff saw mount' from Northern Tool that I described in this recent post:
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...-freight-tools-dont-suck-528.html#post5287449

That worked well until it didn't. A couple of minutes running continuous slicing a 7/8" bolt and it faded away, smoking, just as it finished the cut.

I like that cutoff saw mount but I'm a little leery of putting a more expensive grinder in it. I think it needs a very light touch feeding the grinder into the cut.

I ordered one of those cut off saw mounts recently. It seems like a great setup, but unfortunately, it won't work with my ancient HF grinder. When I mount the grinder in the cutoff, part of the mount depresses the shaft lock (the one you use to hold the shaft when swapping out a grinding wheel), so the wheel will not turn when the grinder is in the mount.

 

[California]

https://www.hfqpdb.com/coupons/244_ITEM_700_LB._CAPACITY_BIGFOOT_HAND_TRUCK_1556215308.9088.png

I picked up a couple of these that are on sale all of May for $40. The tall tires are awesome on rough surfaces. I find them being blue makes them roll better.

Why does HF's website show that Bigfoot Hand Truck as 'clearance'? Likely to replace it with one similar with a new brand name at double the price. Buy it while you can!
700 Lbs. Capacity Bigfoot Hand Truck

Those are excellent. I've thought about pulling mine as a trailer for harvest ladders in the orchard.

One weakness, on mine the tires won't hold pressure indefinitely.

And for anybody who doesn't already have one, or several: The 12 x 18 hardwood dolly.

Not the larger one or the similar size all plastic one. I watched a couple of pro piano movers use one like this for a 600 lb upright Steinway and it was all they needed. Balance the object on the dolly and away they went. I used mine endlessly clearing out Mom's estate - cartons of books, furniture, garden pots, everything. It was even more useful than the big blue hand truck. Now I use them under 85 lb bins of apples and my welder is on one.

 

[4get gto]

Bought this little vise the other day. $16 with coupon and some other discount. I have a large vise but wanted something small. Always a pain to do small soldering work and such in a 6" vise.
Works perfectly for what I need it for. Mind you this isn't something you're going to use for anything heavy but I know that and I didn't buy it for such. It's a clamp on but had to modify a bit first. Glad I didn't buy their extended warranty :laughing:.

 

[von-mil]

Bought this little vise the other day. $16 with coupon and some other discount. I have a large vise but wanted something small. Always a pain to do small soldering work and such in a 6" vise.
Works perfectly for what I need it for. Mind you this isn't something you're going to use for anything heavy but I know that and I didn't buy it for such. It's a clamp on but had to modify a bit first. Glad I didn't buy their extended warranty :laughing:.

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How difficult was it to cut off the clamp portion? Band saw I presume?

 

[4get gto]

How difficult was it to cut off the clamp portion? Band saw I presume?

Actually used a sawzall. Wasn't bad. The clamp didn't work for me cause my work benches just don't have the ledges needed and it has 3 holes in it to bolt down permanently. Cute little vise. Turns in all directions..

 

[Oaktree]

One weakness, on mine the tires won't hold pressure indefinitely.

Don't feel bad, I bought a similar one at HD about 10 years ago and the tires kept going flat on that one too. Finally replaced them with some Tractor Supply tires and they've been fine since.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Why does HF's website show that Bigfoot Hand Truck as 'clearance'? Likely to replace it with one similar with a new brand name at double the price. Buy it while you can!
700 Lbs. Capacity Bigfoot Hand Truck

Those are excellent. I've thought about pulling mine as a trailer for harvest ladders in the orchard.

One weakness, on mine the tires won't hold pressure indefinitely.

And for anybody who doesn't already have one, or several: The 12 x 18 hardwood dolly.

Not the larger one or the similar size all plastic one. I watched a couple of pro piano movers use one like this for a 600 lb upright Steinway and it was all they needed. Balance the object on the dolly and away they went. I used mine endlessly clearing out Mom's estate - cartons of books, furniture, garden pots, everything. It was even more useful than the big blue hand truck. Now I use them under 85 lb bins of apples and my welder is on one.

HF is first and fore most a marketing company. Tools just happens to be what they market so they can sell extended warranties.

I used the first bottle of Green Slime in the old leaking rear tire on the Exmark and now 10 days later it is still tight. Going to buy a few cases for 100 small tires around the place. The house and shop we just bought came with 4-5 old wheel barrows and only one has a rim that is not on the ground.

 

[Threepoint]

https://www.hfqpdb.com/coupons/244_ITEM_700_LB._CAPACITY_BIGFOOT_HAND_TRUCK_1556215308.9088.png

I picked up a couple of these that are on sale all of May for $40. The tall tires are awesome on rough surfaces. I find them being blue makes them roll better.

Wish I needed another hand truck. The "fenders" over the tires look like a nice touch to keep wide loads like bags of feed, or boxes, from rubbing.

 

[California]

Bought this little vise the other day. $16 with coupon and some other discount.

View attachment 605173

Another thing I didn't know I need!

 

[Diggin It]

https://www.hfqpdb.com/coupons/244_ITEM_700_LB._CAPACITY_BIGFOOT_HAND_TRUCK_1556215308.9088.png

I picked up a couple of these that are on sale all of May for $40. The tall tires are awesome on rough surfaces. I find them being blue makes them roll better.

If you look down through the list of expired coupons, you'll see that it's been on coupons for $40 for most of the last year, maybe longer.