Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[fatjay]

How is it as far as capability? As we all know, HF tends to be a bit optimistic about capabilities of their tools, and as it is 1.5 ton seems a bit light duty for anything but an ATV or a very small car.

I have that jack and I like it a lot. I've used it on my mini and jaguar without issue. I jacked up my shed with it and it fell over and bent the frame of the jack though. I went out and bought another, with coupon it was $55. I like it because it weighs nothing compared to my craftsman 3 ton and unless i'm jacking up one of my trucks the HF jack works great.

 

[Imold]

I'm on my second HF auto darkening helmet. The first one objected to the time I left it face down in the rain.

Do not think it was made as a water collector and just shows we are human and things happen.

 

[Fallon]

I have that jack and I like it a lot. I've used it on my mini and jaguar without issue. I jacked up my shed with it and it fell over and bent the frame of the jack though. I went out and bought another, with coupon it was $55. I like it because it weighs nothing compared to my craftsman 3 ton and unless i'm jacking up one of my trucks the HF jack works great.

Did it fall over because of a failure of the jack or a failure of the ground or foundation the jack was sitting on? Hard to blame the jack for bending when a building falls on it sideways after the ground gave out.

 

[Jim Nelson]

I have that aluminum jack too and it has done everything I expected and more. If I'm taking my trailer I always throw it in. I had pretty low expectations when I bought it several years ago but have never had it fail me.

 

[Oaktree]

If I have something of questionable weight I just use the three ton Craftsman. I bought it primarily for its light weigh and better portability ... but, I have used it to lift well over a ton many times. It will lift the corners of my F-350 KR easily.

I've left it loaded over night and no leak off at all.

I'm very pleased with it but ... YMMV.

Good to know. The older I get the less fun it is to wrestle a heavy jack.
No leak off is a good thing too...never seem to have much luck with jacks in that dept.

 

[stuckmotor]

Do not think it was made as a water collector and just shows we are human and things happen.

You're a kind person, Jim.
I've been absent minded all my life. One reason I buy from HF is because replacement cost is low when I leave something in the rain or where someone can steal it.

 

[Oog]

HF Welding Cabinet

To MPSmith60 - I have the same welding cabinet. Yes, it's a great unit, with one glaring exception. If you put a HF OmniPro (Omelet Master!) welder on it, the handle on the cabinet interferes with all the welder's front end connections. Need to either make an elevated platform for the welder on top of the cart, or else leave the handle off. You can't relocate it down, or it will interfere with the top cabinet drawer, and you can't relocate it higher or you get more welder interference. Anyone have a better idea?

 

[PILOON]

Do not think it was made as a water collector and just shows we are human and things happen.

LOL, your fault as U should have drilled water drain holes in it .

 

[Imold]

LOL, your fault as U should have drilled water drain holes in it .

I never read directions it takes to much time. Hahaha.

 

[stuckmotor]

LOL, your fault as U should have drilled water drain holes in it .

I never thought of that.

 

[5030]

Bought the Bauer 9 gallon Shop vac for 69 bucks the other day. Of course HF don't carry replacement filters or bags for it (no surprise there), but the 'Shop Vac' brand fits and Menards has them at a good price. Pretty powerful unit. It sucks and blows too......:laughing:

 

[lostcreekranch]

Good to know. The older I get the less fun it is to wrestle a heavy jack.
No leak off is a good thing too...never seem to have much luck with jacks in that dept.

The 1.5 ton aluminum jack is now on sale for $59.99.


1.5 Ton Aluminum Rapid Pump(R) Racing Floor Jack

 

[rangerfredbob]

Don't know if I've mentioned it before, but the mini bench grinder with the flex wand attachment thing, I've had one for like 12 years and I love that thing, the flex wand thing isn't worth buying it for but maybe it's better now... the variable speed kinda sucks as there's no grunt at less than 3/4 speed but the grinding wheel is fine so works good for sharpening and fine grinding and the fiber wheel is the reason I grab the thing the most, it's like sandpaper where it will go around contours but way faster, eats through corrosion or doing some light polishing like nothing. Well worth the $30...

 

[lostcreekranch]

Don't know if I've mentioned it before, but the mini bench grinder with the flex wand attachment thing, I've had one for like 12 years and I love that thing, the flex wand thing isn't worth buying it for but maybe it's better now... the variable speed kinda sucks as there's no grunt at less than 3/4 speed but the grinding wheel is fine so works good for sharpening and fine grinding and the fiber wheel is the reason I grab the thing the most, it's like sandpaper where it will go around contours but way faster, eats through corrosion or doing some light polishing like nothing. Well worth the $30...

Link?

 

[rangerfredbob]

Sorry about that, HERE you go. The flex shaft comes off easy, I just leave it off unless I decide to try it on something, it does have way more torque than a dremel for that thing but mine's bent at the output so cutoff wheels are kinda annoying... It's almost time to change the fiber wheel, I have one somewhere...

 

[lostcreekranch]

Sorry about that, HERE you go. The flex shaft comes off easy, I just leave it off unless I decide to try it on something, it does have way more torque than a dremel for that thing but mine's bent at the output so cutoff wheels are kinda annoying... It's almost time to change the fiber wheel, I have one somewhere...

Thanks much. Not in your case but ... I'm amazed how many folks ask about what everyone thinks about that "HF Doo Dad" without posting a link to it. Do they wonder why members don't drop everything, spend time researching the item, then respond?

That looks like a handy tool. I'd think the flex shaft would be pretty handy if it has lots of power.

How long do the fiber wheels last?

 

[rangerfredbob]

I'm still on the first one, don't use it all the time but it doesn't wear out all that fast... the only downside is the stone lasts way longer and the fiber only comes with a stone, but it's only $7 for both so not bad... I'm sure there's probably cheaper ones on amazon or something... Before I got a 6" grinder with wire wheel I used it for things it isn't great at like cleaning rusted threads on bolts and stuff which wore it down fast...

 

[lostcreekranch]

I'm still on the first one, don't use it all the time but it doesn't wear out all that fast... the only downside is the stone lasts way longer and the fiber only comes with a stone, but it's only $7 for both so not bad... I'm sure there's probably cheaper ones on amazon or something... Before I got a 6" grinder with wire wheel I used it for things it isn't great at like cleaning rusted threads on bolts and stuff which wore it down fast...

What is the hole diameter in your 3” wheels?

Here’s some on Amazon with 10 mm holes.

3" Replacement Fiber Wheels for Mini Bench Grinders (2 pack) 3" Replacement Fiber Wheels for Mini Bench Grinders (2 pack): Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

I bought two 8” bench grinders, like this one, about 20 years ago and put course and fine wire wheels on one of them. I’m close to replacing both wire wheels and still have the original grinding wheels to put on the other one then both will be like new again.

8 in. Bench Grinder with Gooseneck Lamp

 

[Threepoint]

[snip]
I bought two 8 bench grinders, like this one, about 20 years ago and put course and fine wire wheels on one of them. I知 close to replacing both wire wheels and still have the original grinding wheels to put on the other one then both will be like new again.

8 in. Bench Grinder with Gooseneck Lamp

Rick, is the grinder anchored to the floor, or on a heavy bench by any chance? I have several 8" and 6" bench grinders of different makes, and the HF grinders are a very good value. But when I tried to use the HF 8" wire wheels on the HF 8" grinder, mounted on the heavy HF pedestal stand Heavy Duty Bench Grinder Pedestal the whole thing started to rotate and walk around from the wind resistance! Even with the pedestal on friction pads. I didn't want to bolt the pedestal to the finished concrete floor, so now I only use 6" wire wheels on the 6" grinders! Much less noise and turbulence.

BTW, the pedestal stands are also a good value. If I'm doing heavy grinding that makes them want to walk, it's easy to prevent it just by stepping on one of the three feet.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Rick, is the grinder anchored to the floor, or on a heavy bench by any chance? I have several 8" and 6" bench grinders of different makes, and the HF grinders are a very good value. But when I tried to use the HF 8" wire wheels on the HF 8" grinder, mounted on the heavy HF pedestal stand Heavy Duty Bench Grinder Pedestal the whole thing started to rotate and walk around from the wind resistance! Even with the pedestal on friction pads. I didn't want to bolt the pedestal to the finished concrete floor, so now I only use 6" wire wheels on the 6" grinders! Much less noise and turbulence.

BTW, the pedestal stands are also a good value. If I'm doing heavy grinding that makes them want to walk, it's easy to prevent it just by stepping on one of the three feet.

Mine are mounted to a heavy work bench.

I looked at the HF Stands but, as I recall, they put the grinder at a working height, way too low for my liking. Maybe if they were bolted or welded to an old car wheel?