Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

Oaktree · Apr 24, 2021

^^^
Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather read a review rather than sit thru a video. Anyone else?

buck12 · Apr 24, 2021

Oaktree said:
^^^
Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather read a review rather than sit thru a video. Anyone else?

Depends for me. I usually do not like a lot of chatter. If the video focuses on the subject at hand and not a lot extra chatter then a video is fine.

5030 · Apr 24, 2021

Never has a lick of issue with the Bauer cordless 20 Volt tools. I have just about all of them. Not for professional garage use but for home shop use, the are just fine. Heck of a bunch cheaper than Milwaukee or Dewalt for sure.

Cougsfan · Apr 24, 2021

Oaktree said:
^^^
Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather read a review rather than sit thru a video. Anyone else?

I find it amazing that people spend this much time to do comparisons such as this. It must have taken days to do.

But it is probably useful information for some. It tells me that most any bit will probably do, unless you are driving hundreds of screws day in and day out (I got a pack of Hercules bits with my Hercules impact driver a couple years ago. I'm not sure, but I think I am still on my original bit and I use it fairly often). Yes a brief written review and a table of results would be quicker and just as informative. But some people are visual and this type of presentation would sink in better. All in all, I find it kind of ****.

5030 · Apr 24, 2021

Cougsfan said:
I find it kind of ****.

So do I and I find the 'Project Farm guy a bit tedious too. He appears to have a bit of bias against HF stuff which gives him an air of non objectiveness so I don't watch is stuff. Like the other Canadian who uses the words like schmmozle and swears a lot will intentionally destroying a tool. I find him crude and I don't bother watching his drivel either.

I've had very good results with almost every HF tool I've purchased but having said that I stay away from the cheaper stuff anyway.

rbstern · Apr 24, 2021

Slightly tangential: I have the HF 2hp dust collector in my basement shop. Decided to put it in a corner with dedicated PVC piping to two different tools (cabinet saw and sliding miter saw). The necessary orientation in a tight corner meant dust collector power switch was going to be hard to reach.

Added a wireless remote plug controller for a whopping 15 bucks. It's terrific. Turns the dust collection system on from anywhere in the shop. Really good upgrade to the HF dust collector, or any device you might want to turn on remotely.

Fosmon C-10683 Wireless Remote Control Outdoor Electrical Outlet Switch Weatherproof Heavy Duty 3-Prong Plug-in ETL Listed (Battery Included), 1 PACK - - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

BravoXray · Apr 25, 2021

daugen said:
I admit this guy's voice wears on me a little but his content is excellent. And he rigs up some very interesting test equipment.
For a tool guy I think this is some of the best content on the internet
Using the better cut off blade for example can sure save some hard work.

And here I thought it was just me, but he is a little like listening to finger nails on a blackboard.
He does a lot of excellent videos though.
But, I think he has pretty much exhausted the "will running this instead of oil destroy the engine," and "will and engine run on this" topics. Most times the results are going to be pretty obvious.

California · Apr 25, 2021

That tweaker-style editing to speed up presenting his results is irritating but the information is valuable. I'll keep watching. And criticizing.

John_Mc · Apr 25, 2021

It's brand new, so I'm guessing not a lot of you have seen this yet, but I'm curious if any of you have seen HF's new VIKING 3400 Peak Amp 12/24 Volt Jump Starter: 3400 Peak Amp Pro Portable Jump Starter and Power Pack

The information is scarce on their website: no indication on whether it can recharge from a 12 or 24V source or needs to be plugged in to 120V AC. No info on what type of battery (It does say "Lead Acid" but that could be either a sealed flooded lead-acid or an AGM battery.) No info on whether the battery is replaceable or not.

At $299.99 the price is good compared to the other options out there, but I'd really like to know more about it before shelling out $300. (I may try to hold out until it goes on sale.)

crazyal · Apr 26, 2021

rbstern said:
Slightly tangential: I have the HF 2hp dust collector in my basement shop. Decided to put it in a corner with dedicated PVC piping to two different tools (cabinet saw and sliding miter saw). The necessary orientation in a tight corner meant dust collector power switch was going to be hard to reach.

Added a wireless remote plug controller for a whopping 15 bucks. It's terrific. Turns the dust collection system on from anywhere in the shop. Really good upgrade to the HF dust collector, or any device you might want to turn on remotely.

Fosmon C-10683 Wireless Remote Control Outdoor Electrical Outlet Switch Weatherproof Heavy Duty 3-Prong Plug-in ETL Listed (Battery Included), 1 PACK - - Amazon.com

Fosmon C-10683 Wireless Remote Control Outdoor Electrical Outlet Switch Weatherproof Heavy Duty 3-Prong Plug-in ETL Listed (Battery Included), 1 PACK - - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

I have their 1hp model. It sucked at first (actually it didn't). They put a plastic guard on both the inlet and outlet to prevent fingers from reaching in. The problem is that anything larger than sawdust will get caught on it. Once removed it works great. I tell anyone who is using a shop vac to switch over. Just the noise reduction alone is worth it. I got it because I have enough tools that just don't make a lot of dust, like my bandsaw, so I don't bother having it plumbed to the big DC.

lostcreekranch · Apr 26, 2021

crazyal said:
I have their 1hp model. It sucked at first (actually it didn't). They put a plastic guard on both the inlet and outlet to prevent fingers from reaching in. The problem is that anything larger than sawdust will get caught on it. Once removed it works great. I tell anyone who is using a shop vac to switch over. Just the noise reduction alone is worth it. I got it because I have enough tools that just don't make a lot of dust, like my bandsaw, so I don't bother having it plumbed to the big DC.

I added a cartridge filter and a 30 gallon pre-separator to mine. I built a base, using two layers of 3/4" plywood. I'm about to upgrade the 3" casters to 5" locking.

GloEra 5 Inch Swivel Caster Wheels Heavy Duty 1500 LBS Capacity with Safety Dual Caster, 4 Pack All with Brake No Noise Lockable Wheels (Black): Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

smile.amazon.com

Cougsfan · Apr 27, 2021

I'd really like one of them but they just take up too much room and the ductwork is a pita. I guess I shoulda built my shop larger

rbstern · Apr 27, 2021

Cougsfan said:
I'd really like one of them but they just take up too much room and the ductwork is a pita. I guess I shoulda built my shop larger

Ceiling space? Outside wall space? Exhaust direct to outside?

I've done it three times now, in three different shops, with varying levels of integration/complexity. Implementation #2, my wife's shop for her art business, has four drops, a floor sweep, custom made blast gates with integrated switches that turn on the collector from any station.

It's a huge difference maker in terms of ease of use, and keeping the dust under control.

KubotainNH · Apr 28, 2021

BravoXray said:
And here I thought it was just me, but he is a little like listening to finger nails on a blackboard.
He does a lot of excellent videos though.
But, I think he has pretty much exhausted the "will running this instead of oil destroy the engine," and "will and engine run on this" topics. Most times the results are going to be pretty obvious.

I don't generally watch the "run on this" videos. I do watch most of his tool stuff if it's something I will use but I often set youtube to play at 1.25x speed. I can deal with his voice, I have coworkers that are more annoying.

Travelover · Apr 29, 2021

Some of his tests on glues, like two part epoxy, are the best I've seen anywhere. Some stuff is silly, but he puts a good effort into making his tests valid and repeatable.

California · Apr 30, 2021

John_Mc said:
It's brand new, so I'm guessing not a lot of you have seen this yet, but I'm curious if any of you have seen HF's new VIKING 3400 Peak Amp 12/24 Volt Jump Starter: 3400 Peak Amp Pro Portable Jump Starter and Power Pack

... I'd really like to know more about it before shelling out $300.

At 38 lbs that seems more like something a tow company or heavy-equipment service truck would carry for multiple service calls before they have a chance to recharge it. It's considerably beyond the capacity of jump starters advertised for cars and light trucks.

Project Farm's Youtube comparison of several modern Li-Ion tiny jump starters found several that were sufficient for a 4.2 L Ford 5000 tractor with its battery removed entirely. And most were under $100. (HF's Viking was among the weakest in his tests).

5030 · Apr 30, 2021

The Viking hand held Li-Ion starter didn't do squat in his test but fail. Not at all impressed and for 300 bucks, think I'd take it home and use it real hard and if it didn't pan out, return it. Remember, HF has a 30 day return (no questions asked) policy. I've used to before.

5030 · Apr 30, 2021

Far as I can tell, the 'project farm guy has a hardon for HF stuff. He gives the Bauer cordless 20 volt stuff very low marks consistently but my personal experience tells me just the opposite. I've had no failures on any of them in 2 years and I run the snot out of them. I do find his voice borderline irritating but better than the Canadian guy with the foul mouth. I'm not sure if he's even around anymore.

John_Mc · May 1, 2021

California said:
At 38 lbs that seems more like something a tow company or heavy-equipment service truck would carry for multiple service calls before they have a chance to recharge it. It's considerably beyond the capacity of jump starters advertised for cars and light trucks.

Project Farm's Youtube comparison of several modern Li-Ion tiny jump starters found several that were sufficient for a 4.2 L Ford 5000 tractor with its battery removed entirely. And most were under $100. (HF's Viking was among the weakest in his tests).

When one of them makes a 24 Volt version, I'll consider it. I'm looking for something to keep in my 1951 Dodge M37 Truck (Korean War military pickup). It has a 24V electrical system. Not likely I'll be able to get a jump from a random passerby.

Northern Tool has a 12/24V jump starter (same technology as the HF unit: AGM batteries). Their list is $580. Currently on sale for $480 if you are a NT "Advantage member". I had ruled that one out based on price, but have since found it on Amazon for about $320 (Truck Pac ES1224), so it's back in the running again.

I sent an email to one of the Lithium Ion jump start manufacturers asking if they had a 24V version in their plans. The answer was "No". Unfortunately, they never did answer my question about whether they have concerns about connecting two 12V jump starters in series to jump my truck. I can't see why it would be a problem, but would feel better about doing so if I actually heard back from them.

... and yeah, the HF Viking Lithium Ion jump starter is not it the running for connecting two in series if I go that way. It's on the wimpy side compared to other options. Noco makes some good ones.

California · May 1, 2021

John_Mc said:
When one of them makes a 24 Volt version, I'll consider it. I'm looking for something to keep in my 1951 Dodge M37 Truck (Korean War military pickup). It has a 24V electrical system.

That's the Chrysler 230 or 251 cubic inch flathead six, no?

When you're feeding 24 volts to the starter then it only needs half the amps of a 12 volt starter for the same cranking power.

So ... it seems to me two moderate price Li-Ion jump starters in series would be more than enough.