Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[IslandTractor]

Thanks for finding the official word Ford850.

Now that is settled, I will bring us back towards the HF topic by saying that I have a Swagoffroad press brake for my HF 20t press. It comes as a kit you weld together or fully assembled. I got the original kit. Easy to weld up even for someone with 0.01% of ShieldArc's skill.

My version is the original and doesn't have the finger brake capability. If I were doing it again I would CLEARLY pay a bit extra for the fingered version.

The press brake kit combined with the HF 20t press is pretty clearly the least expensive 20t press brake in the market. The SWAG portion is well engineered and ?laser cut. Everything fits exactly and directions are clear. Well worth the price if you need to bend up to 1/4" x20" or even thicker steel if narrower.

Recommended without reservation but do get the fingered version.

 

[PhysAssist]

Thanks for finding the official word Ford850.

Now that is settled, I will bring us back towards the HF topic by saying that I have a Swagoffroad press brake for my HF 20t press. It comes as a kit you weld together or fully assembled. I got the original kit. Easy to weld up even for someone with 0.01% of ShieldArc's skill.

My version is the original and doesn't have the finger brake capability. If I were doing it again I would CLEARLY pay a bit extra for the fingered version.

The press brake kit combined with the HF 20t press is pretty clearly the least expensive 20t press brake in the market. The SWAG portion is well engineered and ?laser cut. Everything fits exactly and directions are clear. Well worth the price if you need to bend up to 1/4" x20" or even thicker steel if narrower.

Recommended without reservation but do get the fingered version.

And if you have any questions, just email Troy, her answers them himself and was very helpful for me.

BTW, they also sell on Amazon, but the prices are marked up to pay for Amazon, and the product line is generally older and more limited, so you're better off going directly to their web site.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I just sent a message to eBay seller to see what steel he uses. At least they're made in USA?

The HF steel arbor plates still come from China so, how do we know what they are?

SWAG has good products but, not sure they are from $60 to $160 better?

Response from eBay seller;

"It will be A-36 or A514 we use scraps from other projects that's how we keep the cost down. thanks Scott"

Plenty good for a 20 ton press and way better than cast iron plates.

 

[IslandTractor]

Response from eBay seller; "It will be A-36 or A514 we use scraps from other projects that's how we keep the cost down. thanks Scott" Plenty good for a 20 ton press and way better than cast iron plates.

I totally agree that the swag plates are overkill for most uses but if you compare prices on a per cubic inch of steel basis their prices are not out of line with the eBay sellers. Swag plates are 1.5 X 8 X 10 = 120 cubic inch of high strength steel. Most of the eBay plates are 7x7x1 = 49 cubic inches. Swag plates may well be overkill but the pricing, especially for guaranteed high strength steel isn't bad.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I totally agree that the swag plates are overkill for most uses but if you compare prices on a per cubic inch of steel basis their prices are not out of line with the eBay sellers. Swag plates are 1.5 X 8 X 10 = 120 cubic inch of high strength steel. Most of the eBay plates are 7x7x1 = 49 cubic inches. Swag plates may well be overkill but the pricing, especially for guaranteed high strength steel isn't bad.

Respectfully, that's not how engineering a product works. Would you buy a 1200 lb., 120", quad lid grapple, for your tractor because it was less cost / lb. ???

You also made no allowance, in cubic inches, for the "V" and "C" cutouts in any of the plates?

My post did not try to address "most uses". The presently supplied 1 inch "steel" arbor plates, shipped with new gray HF 20 ton press, are more than adequate in mild steel, for the 20 ton application. I looked for steel replacements, for the previously supplied cast plates, for other TBN members who had the cast plates. If they are so inclined to spend an extra $100, no problems here.

 

[Pixguy]

..... Not sure why it didn't save the whole image so I took a screen shot of my tablet.

 

[NoTrespassing]

18 Gauge 2-in-1 Air Nailer/Stapler

Don't know if this stapler has been mentioned but we love it so far. On sale plus 20% off I probably paid around $17 plus tax. That's a deal that's hard to beat even if it doesn't last that long. My wife made about 120 ft. of picket fence with it out of 1/4 x 2 lath and 1/2" staples. The stapler has already paid for itself 5 times over.

Kevin

 

[5030]

At least I now know why all HF stores stink. It's the rubber airhose. My new red rubber one smells EXACTLY like the store does..........

 

[dragoneggs]

At least I now know why all HF stores stink. It's the rubber airhose. My new red rubber one smells EXACTLY like the store does..........

My wife won't go into the HF store if only for a few minutes when I insist she look at something. I bought the red rubber air hose hoping it would have the same effect in my garage/shop. It doesn't! I need more HF plastic stuff.

 

[California]

That's the smell of the uncured rubber hose rotting away before it even leaves the store.

I bought the little portable sandblaster kit the year I had Inside Track Club and it appeared at a good price. I put it away for future use and within a year - never used! - the rubber hose crumbled in a couple of places.