Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[hutchman]

Here is the build thread for that workbench: HF Toolboxes Workbench - Phase 3 - The Garage Journal Board

Aaron Z

Oh my goodness, that's even better tool p0rn!

 

[lostcreekranch]

Here is the build thread for that workbench: HF Toolboxes Workbench - Phase 3 - The Garage Journal Board

Aaron Z

Thanks Aaron, saw the GJ threads last weekend.

 

[Garandman]

Gosh some of the HF reviews are scary

Modifications may be necessary :laughing:


I guess it all depends on what your lifting.

So I just spent some time online looking at bike lifts. The choices are pretty limited it does seem, either HF and similar branded variations or the bigger and better lifts (but of course much more expensive).

I was searching to see if I could find the "BlackJack" bike lift I have had just about 20 years now but no luck.

But it is virtually identical to a PitBull bike lift. I got my lift at Laconia Bike Week with special show pricing. The sales pitch was pretty impressive a dressed Harley bagger fully lifted and a person hanging off of the side while another moved it around. I wanted the xtra height for easily removing the rear tire with a full fender. Ahh to long for the days of hinged rear fenders.

Overall the floor frame on these are 42" long and 24" wide and 4 inches closed, and the frame contact point width is 16 inches and can lift almost 24inches high where as the import versions are only 32" long and 16" wide, a 14" frame contact width and 16 inch lift. The length of the contact arms are both the same @ 12".

I have my shovel on it right now

I also see some of the newer model motorcycles have issues usings jack lifts without shims and adapters or some sort of modification. //

While Harleys may fit on those lifts, most sportier bikes cannot be used with them as that's where the exhaust system lives. * Paddock stands are used, which have plusses and minuses. HF makes one for the rear wheel. Don't know anyone that uses one. Their dirt bike stand is OK.

I have a Condor wheel chock and it's beautifully made of aluminum. They're also $200. When I had to transport a second bike in our van, I bought the steel HF wheel chock, which is clunky, heavy, and $70.

* Of course if you buy a British bike, they don't leave mounting holes to put spools [except through the rear axle]. So while the front Woodcraft works slick, to take both wheels off at the same time you have to get creative.....Being creative with a 400+ lb $10,000+ motorcycle is not as fun as it sounds.....

 

[newbury]

I'm considering a couple of their 44" tool drawers. Anyone with good or bad experience with them?

Roller Cabinet - 44" Red Rolling Tool Cabinet w/ 13 Drawers

I'm think of installing 2-3 of them side by side, one wall of shop, with a work surface on top to time together. Remove side handles so they can be pushed together.

Something like this.

View attachment 465023

View attachment 465024

That picture has about put me over the edge for buying a bunch next time they go on sale.

BUT I've four "workshops"

I've managed to line most of the interior walls with pallet racking

And I've got about 100 linear feet of what I use for "project surfaces", all have 3/4 PT plywood topped by 3/4 Masonite, and as in the pics the project surface level is about waist high. Clearance under the beams is 31.75 inches for about half of them, and 36" for the rest of them.

This is where the BUT comes in, reading the HF web site the height of the 44" (and up) wide cabinets is 40 inches plus. Not enough clearance

I would really like to be able to put a bunch in and still have the capability to roll them in and out from under the project surfaces. All the shops have nice concrete floors

However I've got one of the old HF 2 piece 27" wide combos on casters and the base unit on that is only about 28 inches high.

So my question is - does anyone know of similar rolling cabinets that are fairly wide but not higher than 36"? Northern Tool sells a 41" wide that's 38.75 inches high, close but not low enough.

I'd prefer NOT to buy a bunch of 2 piece unit just so I could slide the lower piece under.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

That picture has about put me over the edge for buying a bunch next time they go on sale.

BUT I've four "workshops"

I've managed to line most of the interior walls with pallet racking

And I've got about 100 linear feet of what I use for "project surfaces", all have 3/4 PT plywood topped by 3/4 Masonite, and as in the pics the project surface level is about waist high. Clearance under the beams is 31.75 inches for about half of them, and 36" for the rest of them.

This is where the BUT comes in, reading the HF web site the height of the 44" (and up) wide cabinets is 40 inches plus. Not enough clearance

I would really like to be able to put a bunch in and still have the capability to roll them in and out from under the project surfaces. All the shops have nice concrete floors

However I've got one of the old HF 2 piece 27" wide combos on casters and the base unit on that is only about 28 inches high.

So my question is - does anyone know of similar rolling cabinets that are fairly wide but not higher than 36"? Northern Tool sells a 41" wide that's 38.75 inches high, close but not low enough.

I'd prefer NOT to buy a bunch of 2 piece unit just so I could slide the lower piece under.

Put on smaller casters?

 

[lostcreekranch]

Put on smaller casters?

Small casters on heavy box = hard to roll.

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

Small casters on heavy box = hard to roll.

O
Prohibitively on concrete? :confused3:

 

[Pixguy]

Arrived today via email

 

[lostcreekranch]

Arrived today via email

Is that the ITC Price?

 

[Pixguy]

Is that the ITC Price?

I was once a ITC member but not for over a year. The coupons should work either way, right?

PM me if you'd like a particular coupon emailed to you.