Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[RobJ]

Originally Posted by Red55

Thanks Rob- I have two of those cheapo air impact guns that I haven't used yet and if I ever get around to setting up my compressor/air lines in the garage. That's why I was looking at electric -quick and easy but useless if it doesn't work -Ed

to be fair I am talking about those cheap air impacts. Don't know I'd pay $270 bucks for about anything at HF(that small that is).

[Red55]

Originally Posted by RobJ

to be fair I am talking about those cheap air impacts. Don't know I'd pay $270 bucks for about anything at HF(that small that is).

Ditto here -just wouldn't use it enough to justify it. Did see a IR impact gun @ Sears on sale for about $160 and it was sweet walked away twice and it was one of those rare occasions that I had enough money in my pocket! Bird was talking about IR impact guns and liked this particular model.. Thanks

[Dargo]

Originally Posted by RobJ

to be fair I am talking about those cheap air impacts. Don't know I'd pay $270 bucks for about anything at HF(that small that is).

Yeah, I understand. I mentioned that because I have a very strong dislike for Hardly Freight and 90% of their junk products. I thought everyone could have a laugh at my expense since I did buy what I consider a high end impact wrench from HF. However, I would mention that HF's best "no-name" impacts are a waste of money IMHO. I have several heavy duty pickups and a dump truck. With the off brands, a guy has to break the lug nuts loose by hand first before using the impact wrench. If I have to break them loose by hand and then tighten them the rest of the way by hand, I see no value in such an impact wrench. Heck, the no-name brands won't even take lug nuts off of my Excursion or light duty pickup trucks without having to manually break them loose first. So, with the "fleet" I have, I use the heck out of that IR impact and it has performed as advertised.

[patrick_g]

My aftermarket Alcoa 19.5 wheels on my 1 ton dodge take 450 lb ft of torque. Many shops can't take the lugs off. I bought a HF 600 ft lb torque wrench and use it for taking off and putting on.

Pat

[Dargo]

Originally Posted by patrick_g

My aftermarket Alcoa 19.5 wheels on my 1 ton dodge take 450 lb ft of torque. Many shops can't take the lugs off. I bought a HF 600 ft lb torque wrench and use it for taking off and putting on.

Pat

Oh, c'mon now, I'm being serious. That is why I admitted that I bought my IR impact from Horrible Freight. I've never seen any tire shop using any impacts that can't take off lugs with 450 lbs of torque on them. I don't know of any professional tire shop that buys $25 impacts from HF. That is positively nothing for even a halfway decent 1/2" impact to handle. I also own a 1 ton Dodge Dually 4X4 and I can buzz off all eight lugs on a wheel with the IR impact in less than 20 seconds. As I said previously, if a 1/2" impact can't handle that I have no use for it.

[patrick_g]

"Oh, c'mon now, I'm being serious. "

Me too Dargo. I have found several that couldn't do it. I carry my 600 lb-ft wrench (named Excalibur) with me and let them use it. The Alcoa aluminum rims are adapted to my Dodge with CNC billet adapter plates since at the time I did the upgrade there were no rims to fit the pattern available. Therefore the standard Dodge lugs are not what you use to change a tire. I bought through a TDR advertiser back in '97.

I also have found several brake shops, a tranny shop, and various others that can't lift my truck. It is fitted with a Stahl Grand Challenger service body and an aftermarket 65 gal tank. It is NOT light, especially when it has the largest Lance brand cab over camper on it.

I carry Excalibur at all times, just in case.

P.S. the 450 lb-ft should have been a clue as that is not Dodge specs.

Pat

[Dargo]

Alcoa part number 160231 myself .

My Bend Pak 2 post lift is a 12,000 pound lift too.

Sorry, I'll not veer off subject further...

[patrick_g]

Originally Posted by Dargo

Alcoa part number 160231 myself .

Did you know there was a recall of that part number?

Alcoa Wheel Products: North America: Heavy Duty

Pat

[Dargo]

Originally Posted by patrick_g

Did you know there was a recall of that part number?

Alcoa Wheel Products: North America: Heavy Duty

Pat

Yeah, unfortunately mine were manufactured after the date they corrected the problem. Although mine aren't in bad condition, I certainly would have jumped at getting a brand new set. I think the cut off date was something like 6/96 (or something like that - I called their number at Alcoa) and mine were made in 11/96 or so. Basically I missed getting a new set by about 3 months.

[Pooh_Bear]

Originally Posted by patrick_g

I always liked "Home Time" better. Something about "eye candy" in a construction venue wearing boots and tool belt...

Pat

My favorite was Your New House with Teresa Garrett.
Also there was Robin Kipp from the TV show Gimme Shelter.

I bought a Harbor Freight Hobby Arc 110 off ebay for $5
and I have been real happy with it. Except I can't weld.
But it does a real good job of burning rods.
If there was a market for blobs of steel with
slag inclusions I would be rich by now.

Today I got one of those portable garage/tent setups.
Hope to put it up tomorrow. I have several items
from Harbor Freight that have been just fine for me.
Auto dark welding helmet, multimeter, tractor lights, and other stuff.
Got a 6in1 framing nailer that works great. Can't remember what else.

Pooh Bear