Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[5030]

The black deep 1/2" impact socket set with metal case is excellent.

Beyond excellent. I've tried really hard to break them even using a 3/4" drive IR impact gun with the 1/2" drive sockets. No break.

 

[John_Mc]

... HF's big push is to get you to join their Inside Track Club, which does offer better prices or coupons still. Maybe that's their plan to get more memberships, by limiting deals to everyone else and forcing you to pay to play. No thanks.

Anyone here belong to that? Do you really save enough to pay for the membership?
I used to have a BJ's membership, but realized I didn't buy enough there to justify the $60 (?)/yr.

My brother used to belong, but dropped out once he stopped buying as much and it was no longer worth it.

I belong to Northern Tool's "Advantage" club. They have no stores in my area, and it gets free shipping a lot of the time, and some decent sales. Most years, I've bought enough for it to pay for itself with enough extra to pay for the occasional year where I don't buy much.

I don't go out of my way to buy NT stuff, since I prefer to support local businesses. I also avoid their "clone" products where they seem be trying to leave the impression that their clones are the real thing (in the past, they've duplicated the add copy of the original product almost word-for-word).

 

[Buggs67]

'In-Store Special Order'

Can't depend on that being accurate. I wanted the 2hp dust collector, on line said "in store special order". I stopped at the store, knowing they had one on display.Said I wanted to buy one. Girl said she'd check to see if they had it. Said they did, but would take a few minutes to dig it out.

X2. I called about the Titanium 125 and they had them in stock, even tho the computer said it was special order only.

It's my first welder and right out of the box I was making welds that were not totally embarrassing. I got a coupon (out of American Rifleman) and got it for $140. It only comes with .o30 tips but it uses a common tip. My BIL gave me a .035 and TSC had .035 Hobart wire for $20.

 

[Buggs67]

Thanks! Are you doing the wrought iron look? I say "look" because you'll want to make the distinction when discussing with wrought iron guys.

Hahaha. I did see one guy go off on someone for saying "Wrought Iron" like it was a big deal.

 

[Buggs67]

'free America businesses.' are 'free' to set their own rules about mask wearing, or any other rules, e.g., 'No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service'.

As Aaron mentioned, some of these rules are set by local/state health departments which the stores have to follow.

I've noticed some stores are mask-optional and posted. Some will not let you in w/out a mask and then people remove them once inside. Or wear it with their nose hanging out.

Personally I don't know if they are effective or not. I don't know if a mask on me protects ME (because Rachael Lavine says my mask protects YOU). But if a store has a mask policy I wear one. Or I wear my faceshield Full Coverage Safety Eyewear Face Shields With Glasses Frame | Safety Face Shields - 24HourWristbands.Com

I think there is more hype than truth being distributed by the Gov't and MSM

 

[txhawg]

I am medically exempt from wearing a mask. Thanks to HIPPA I m not required to explain to anyone why I am exempt, and they cannot refuse me service because I am not wearing a mask.

 

[MossRoad]

The black deep 1/2" impact socket set with metal case is excellent.

Beyond excellent. I've tried really hard to break them even using a 3/4" drive IR impact gun with the 1/2" drive sockets. No break.

I'll agree on that. I've had mine for quite a while. Pretty tough.

 

[stuckmotor]

I haven't found straight silver 3/8" extension sets in years, only wabbles. I bought black ones instead. They're a little harder for my old eyes to see and easier to loose.
It also helps to write the socket size on the sides of black ones with a light colored Sharpie.

 

[rangerfredbob]

The deep 1/2" drive sockets haven't come in the metal case in many years, but yes, they are good sockets with extremely thick walls...

The longer loppers I was talking about are the standard ones since we mainly have Himalayan blackberries around that are annoying... If I needed ratcheting pruners for trees I'd just use the battery pole saw...

 

[lostcreekranch]

I had to look up yaupon, I'd never heard of it. I see the range is coastal east Texas to NC. It is the only native plant that makes decent tea! Is it tough to cut?

My use for hand pruners, minor pruning of apple branches, doesn't dull pruners so a touch-up with a tiny file a couple of times a year for these and the long handle loppers (ancient Corona, not HF) has been sufficient.

I'm trying something new, the AccuSharp pair of sharpeners. The one for scissors (bevels one side) seems to work well for shears and loppers, with only a couple of passes. I saw these recommended in a thread here and I'm glad I bought them.

We've got plenty of yaupon here in Colorado County. It grows up around the base of oak trees.





Cutting it out .. is a combination of pruners, loppers, and chain saw. It's slow work because you have to treat each and every cut stem with a mix of 20% Remedy (Tryclopyr) / 80% diesel mix to keep it from re-sprouting and .. for best results you need to treat as you cut.