Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[newbury]

That's exactly how I ended up with my HF 10" tile saw. I could have rented one but HD charged like $50/day. For $170 (before the 20% off) plus the cost of a blade it cost less than 4 days rental. I've done a dozen jobs with it over the last 8 years plus lent it out to friends and co-workers. I have thought about buying the compactor simply because it's a pain to rent one. By the time you add in your time to get it and then return it what could be an hour job turns into better part of a day. But, like you said, it's bulky and heavy. I've had real good luck with HF motors as long as I drain the gas out of them before storing for any length of time. As for selling it. If I came across one on Craig's list that had been used a dozen times for $200 I would jump right on it.

That's been my modus operandi for a long time but starting to run out of storage space.

I have the HF welding table as well. I've used it a couple of times for various things, but not at all yet for actual welding.

I only have two. They make great TV trays. Probably should get a couple more before the price jumps, noticed the last coupon for them for $55 expired May 27th.

 

[Threepoint]

Anyone have the hardwood workbench? I've seen a few reviews and it seams good. I'm looking for something for the wife for doing small projects on that she can mount a magnifying glass on. It's not going to see much weight but I would like to mount casters to the bottom so she can roll it around. The vise wouldn't be used. I'm just looking for something nicer than a folding table. I would most likely fill in the holes on the top for the pegs.

View attachment 554683

Crazyal, I missed your post, so events may have overtaken your question by now. I think your wife would like the bench a lot. They are not for heavy-duty work of course. I've had two for two or three years, arranged back to back to form a large work island behind me when I'm at my wood lathes. Here's a link to a super coupon for them for $129.99. That's the lowest I've seen. https://www.wantaddigest.com/images/harborfreight/Harbor_Freight.pdf

The holes for the bench dogs aren't a problem for me; I just keep the short dogs in place to keep debris from falling into the top drawers. If the dogs would get in her way, I'd just add a thin sheet of tempered hardboard or 1/4" lauan plywood to cover the holes, rather than go to the trouble of filling. Easier, and if she ever wanted to use the dogs in conjunction with the wood vise, as intended, she could just pull off the topper, then put it back when she wishes.

 

[Garandman]

Bought the 1,000 lb motorcycle lift a few weeks ago with coupon for $300.

Brought it home and tested it out: it wouldn稚 go down! It went up OK, and was big and heavy enough that I wasn稚 in a rush to return it.

Bottom line, adjusted the release linkage and it works fine. HUGE timesaver for most motorcycle maintenance tasks.

 

[Oldpath05]

My HF torque wrench is dial adjustable and can be used for a ratchet handle for 3/4 inch sockets. It goes up to 600 lb-feet. My 19.5 inch Alcoa aluminum wheels on my DRW Dodge Diesel Ram 3500 4x4 takes 450 lb-ft of torque on the lugs. Lots of garages can't get there with their air tools so I carry it in the service body cabinet in case it is needed. It is a big sucker. I named it Excaliber!

Patrick

Must of been a limited torque wrench sale, don't see that on HF page, and dont see their Icon 1/2' drive either that was there a month ago. I noticed after I bought the 150lb my rear tractor lugs are 160lb, thought they was 140lb, later on I might buy the 3/4 drive torque 50-300lb if they dont bring back the 1/2 drive Icon. The Pittsburgh brand I bought is good for everything else I have, I just bought alloy wheels for my Jeep Liberty and the torque on those I was told is 100lb, no wheres near 450lb.
3/4 in. Drive Click Type Torque Wrench

 

[bcp]

HF store today had a trailer display and prices posted for a variety of trailers, some on clearance.

The little one, about 4x4 with 8 inch wheels was $129. The 4x8 folding with 8 inch wheels was $199. I forget the other clearance one.

Still can't find any on the web site.

Bruce

 

[crazyal]

Crazyal, I missed your post, so events may have overtaken your question by now. I think your wife would like the bench a lot. They are not for heavy-duty work of course. I've had two for two or three years, arranged back to back to form a large work island behind me when I'm at my wood lathes. Here's a link to a super coupon for them for $129.99. That's the lowest I've seen. https://www.wantaddigest.com/images/harborfreight/Harbor_Freight.pdf

The holes for the bench dogs aren't a problem for me; I just keep the short dogs in place to keep debris from falling into the top drawers. If the dogs would get in her way, I'd just add a thin sheet of tempered hardboard or 1/4" lauan plywood to cover the holes, rather than go to the trouble of filling. Easier, and if she ever wanted to use the dogs in conjunction with the wood vise, as intended, she could just pull off the topper, then put it back when she wishes.

Last month we were driving by so we looked at it, she likes it, but we didn't have room to take it home. It's $10 cheaper at the store than on-line. With the 20% off coupon it comes to $120, cheaper than the coupon.

 

[Michael Aos]

My local store stopped selling the trailers. Said DOT recently decided the tires were not road-worthy.
--

HF store today had a trailer display and prices posted for a variety of trailers, some on clearance.

The little one, about 4x4 with 8 inch wheels was $129. The 4x8 folding with 8 inch wheels was $199. I forget the other clearance one.

Still can't find any on the web site.

Bruce

 

[sixdogs]

Everyone that rotates their own truck tires should have one of these pry bars.



32-3/4 in. Jumbo Pry Bar


My truck tires weigh a LOT and are a bear to get back on when rotating but not with this giant screwdriver with a curved end. It's around 3 ft long and often on sale and with a coupon for around $11.

When putting the wheel back on I just roll it into position and stick the curved blade under the tire and slightly to one side or the other if the holes don't quite line up. The curve and lever does the lifting by pushing the tool down. Rotating now is no problem.

 

[Mendonsy]

Everyone that rotates their own truck tires should have one of these pry bars.

View attachment 558677

32-3/4 in. Jumbo Pry Bar


My truck tires weigh a LOT and are a bear to get back on when rotating but not with this giant screwdriver with a curved end. It's around 3 ft long and often on sale and with a coupon for around $11.

When putting the wheel back on I just roll it into position and stick the curved blade under the tire and slightly to one side or the other if the holes don't quite line up. The curve and lever does the lifting by pushing the tool down. Rotating now is no problem.

Those originally were sold as a set of four from a small 6" one up to the large one you have. Very handy to have the full set.

 

[Rock Crawler]

What I do not like at all about that type of pry bar compared to my Craftsman Professional set is that those are not steel from tip to handle butt. You can not beat those with a mini sledge to drive them in. The better brands have a steel strike plate at the butt of the handle, and the steel bar passes totally through the handle to where the strike plate is attached.