Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[John_Mc]

Hey! There is no reason to bring Kioti into this!

The difference is that Kioti makes some decent stuff, and doesn't try to pass it off as someone else's. (They don't slap a label on it that amounts to a misspelled "Kubota", for instance.)

 

[IslandTractor]

The difference is that Kioti makes some decent stuff, and doesn't try to pass it off as someone else's. (They don't slap a label on it that amounts to a misspelled "Kubota", for instance.)

No label but there is that "K" sound and that orange color business. As a Kioti owner I'm not shy about defending them as they put out really excellent bang for the buck and reliable tractors but I'd never argue that they didn't look over Kubota's shoulder to see how it's done. In fact Kioti got into the business by building some Kubota tractors as a subcontractor as I recall. Of course Kubota didn't invent tractors either and simply adapted well proven engineering to a smaller frame. They also had the decency to choose a unique color rather than copy green or blue. Kioti's problem was picking exactly the same shade of Kubota orange. After a decade or so and a lawsuit from Kubota, Kioti finally decided to find another "unique" color and chose Chevy Engine Orange. As far as I know Chevy hasn't had any problem with that and, it's a much cooler orange than Kubota has.

 

[94BULLITT]

White? I thought the grease used in export tools, machinery, tractors was China's means for disposing of their hazardous waste.

So I probably should not be cooking with it?

 

[Midniteoyl]

So I probably should not be cooking with it?

Makes a great hand cream..

 

[Oaktree]

One advantage of standardizing on Ryobi Li-Ion gear is the blue (Nicad generation) drills show up at the flea market for $5. These take the current Li-Ion batteries so they aren't obsolete.

Yeah, I got a blue circular saw & roto-zip for free because the batteries were missing and no one knew what it took.
Gotta give kudos to Ryobi for that. Seems like 'most everyone else makes the batteries non-interchangeable with each tool generation.
I would imagine lotsa luck finding replacement batteries for HF stuff. Do they even have 'em for current models? Don't ever recall seeing any. Maybe it's the New England yankee (the only kind) in me, but it pains me to toss a functional tool "just because" you can't get batteries for it.

 

[lexluther]

First thing I do is open up my HF grinders, wipe out the crap and pack with red grease. They still make questionable noises but better than new!

Help me out... where /what do you pack?

 

[DFB]

You know what's really scary...I have a 5 3/8 HF 18V cordless circular saw. And it came with a single Ni Cad battery and a fast charger. (I assume Ni Cad they really don't say. I also have a second battery that came with a 18V drill also from HF that matched the saw in color. The drill crapped chuck broke and has been gone for a long long time.

But I still use the saw..often! And both batteries still work these things are way more than 10 years old. And probably more like 12 -14 easy. Don't get taken care of for squat either sit till I need them recharge them and away I go. Charger is labeled SHANGHAI XING TE HAO INDUSTRIAL CO. LTD

They have now outlived 2 full sets of OEM Makita NiMH costing 100's of dollars. In fact I was recently joking about how I hoped they gave it up over my off time this winter so I could get a new Milwaukee Fuel instead. :laughing:

I still have the Makita tools but I'm buying Chinese knockoff batteries for them now for less $20 apiece. In fact just got two last week.

Oh for you other guys these early HF tools are like almost the same color as a Dewalt yellow so maybe that's kind of related to that color/name recognition thingy being discussed!

 

[PILOON]

Rather suspect it is plain unadulterated cra-!

 

[PILOON]

Have a Makita 9.6 volt that installed many 1000's of tin roof screws that is , like 15 years old and darn thing still is using the 2 original batteries.(do have to charge a day B4 using).
Buddy gave me an 18 v Makita as he had no batteries or charger for it.
Since a 12 volt fitted I proved that the drill was OK and cruised Kijji and located a guy that had 2 18 v batteries for $25 from a set that his drill was stolen from 2 years back.
Plugged in his batteries, both of which still had power, and gladly handed over the $25. as both still had plenty of power even after all that time.
Makes me a nice back up set.

 

[AchingBack]

I think our fore fathers would be laughing themselves silly about modern day men and their powered equipment woes. It makes me wonder, in a hundred years from now, what will people look back at us and laugh about.

Has anyone bought this Viking power/jump starter pack? Lithium Ion Jump Starter and Power Pack

I see good reviews for it. The main reason I would buy one is to start my DR field and brush mower. Even though I keep the battery on a maintainer, I only get about 3 years use. The batteries are about $65.00. The Viking power pack is now on sale for $65.00. It seems to me, buying this will eliminate the need for buying new batteries.