Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[IslandTractor]

I have the Makita LXT 18v which is remarkably capable. 325ft/lbs. It ain't cheap but I already was committed to Makita LXT system so it made sense. Only difficulty is that final torque is determined by time you hold the trigger. Need to refer to the chart in the manual to determine how long to hold the trigger. A simple chart inscribed on the tool would be more useful.

 

[California]

Seeing this [thread] has taken a turn slightly towards a decent and economically priced impact wrench right now I think the RYOBI P1830 kit is a serious bargain when it comes to a cordless battery impact wrench. It is $50 more than the HF cordless wrench kit and is lithium ion powered where as the Chicago Electric is still a Ni Cad unit. Of course it is nowhere as powerful as the big High Torque cordless wrenches on the market but amazingly it is listed for even more ft lbs of torque than the similar sized Milwaukee Fuel or Makita LXT 3 speed compact 1/2" brushless impact wrenches...go figure!

I like Ryobi tools. They are one step up from HF, sometimes a big step, and still reasonably priced.

I admire that Ryobi impact wrench but I would seldom use it. I bought the similar, smaller Ryobi 1/4 hex drive P236 impact driver. $60 bare at Amazon but I recommend a kit including a battery since that's the only way to get a better price on their batteries. Claimed 1600 in/lbs (=133 ft lbs) but my comparison with a beam torque wrench showed about 60 ft lbs at stall. This is sufficient for removing dirty lug nuts etc after breaking them loose with a breaker bar. It's so light that it's a pleasure to use. Here's a photo where I'm running 11 inch lag bolts into pre-drilled holes on a foundation repair. (project description.) It's just right right for anything that's going to need many turns to tighten.

After I gave up on the HF electric 1/2" impact wrench (only a little more torque than the Ryobi impact driver) I bought the HF Earthquake air impact wrench and HF's large-id air couplings. This will break loose anything I'm likely to see on my farm equipment.

But it's still more convenient usually to use the adjustable-length 1/2" ratchet or breaker bar then the lightweight Ryobi impact driver, (with the adapter to put 1/2" drive sockets on it) compared to firing up the compressor and dragging an air hose around. The Earthquake is for when I've run out of simple solutions.

 

[94BULLITT]

I like Ryobi tools. They are one step up from HF, sometimes a big step, and still reasonably priced.

I admire that Ryobi impact wrench but I would seldom use it. I bought the similar, smaller Ryobi 1/4 hex drive P236 impact driver. $60 bare at Amazon but I recommend a kit including a battery since that's the only way to get a better price on their batteries. Claimed 1600 in/lbs (=133 ft lbs) but my comparison with a beam torque wrench showed about 60 ft lbs at stall. This is sufficient for removing dirty lug nuts etc after breaking them loose with a breaker bar. It's so light that it's a pleasure to use. Here's a photo where I'm running 11 inch lag bolts into pre-drilled holes on a foundation repair. (project description.) It's just right right for anything that's going to need many turns to tighten.

After I gave up on the HF electric 1/2" impact wrench (only a little more torque than the Ryobi impact driver) I bought the HF Earthquake air impact wrench and HF's large-id air couplings. This will break loose anything I'm likely to see on my farm equipment.

But it's still more convenient usually to use the adjustable-length 1/2" ratchet or breaker bar then the lightweight Ryobi impact driver, (with the adapter to put 1/2" drive sockets on it) compared to firing up the compressor and dragging an air hose around. The Earthquake is for when I've run out of simple solutions.

That has been my experience with impacts too. The rarely torque what they claim. On your 1/4 impact you may be loosing a little torque through the adapter. A good impact adapter will help a little. https://store.snapon.com/Hex-To-Square-Adaptors-Adaptor-1-4-Hex-To-3-8-Square-2-long-P744971.aspx

 

[Wilky]

I need to also post this one over in the "do suck" thread or the "sucks worse than anything I ever bought from anyplace thread" if that exist? Electric Die Grinder with Long Shaft Had some rust removal work to do that was beyond where I could use pneumatic tools so bought one of these electric die grinders and an HF wire brush set using a 20% coupon. Wire Wheel/Cup Brush Set 6 Pc Got home and plugged it in without wire brush. Very smooth, no vibration, lots of power. I installed the large wire brush and got some vibration but assumed that Chinese wire brushed would not be perfectly balanced. Started removing rust and in less than 15 minutes I felt heat on right hand and realized that motor was on fire which had set my work glove on fire. Thru the POS on the ground, put out glove and yanked the cord from power. Took it back to HF the next week, when I was in Houston, and traded it our for a replacement. Got home and powered it up, again with nothing attached. Once again, very smooth and no vibration. Reinstalled a different wire brush and powered it up again. The high speed vibration was so bad I couldn't continue to use it as was rattling my teeth. Installed a small grinder bit and same result, a really aggravating vibration. Took it back to HF and got my refund. This was the suckiest tool I ever bought from anywhere! I plan to submit this review on the HF web site when I have time.

Catalog says brushes have a max speed of 4500 die gender says use only accessories rated 25000. Could this be the problem that made it a POS

 

[SPYDERLK]

Love their digital calipers. I usually don't reach for them often, so I just pop the battery out and keep it in the same case. Seems to last much longer, that way, even though I always turned them off before I started doing that. Not sure why.

Because they arent OFF. Only the display is off and that takes no power anyway when the digits arent changing. The caliper has a sensor that is always active to monitor motion and automatically turn on the display. This sensor is a constant drain.

 

[sixdogs]

Because they arent OFF. Only the display is off and that takes no power anyway when the digits arent changing. The caliper has a sensor that is always active to monitor motion and automatically turn on the display. This sensor is a constant drain.

How come I'm on my original battery? Mine are 3 or 4 years old and not frequently used.

 

[DK35vince]

How come I'm on my original battery? Mine are 3 or 4 years old and not frequently used.

Mine are too.
At least 3 or 4 years old, and I never take the batteries out.

 

[IslandTractor]

Mine are too. At least 3 or 4 years old, and I never take the batteries out.

Mine's older than that and still on original battery.

 

[sixdogs]

Actually, the battery deserves a "don't suck" review.

 

[Wilky]

Because they arent OFF. Only the display is off and that takes no power anyway when the digits arent changing. The caliper has a sensor that is always active to monitor motion and automatically turn on the display. This sensor is a constant drain.

that would explain why I kept thinking I had forgotten to turn mine off. Finally started taken my battery out