Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[rbstern]

We use to use one (not the HF version but looked identical) on a older toyota pickup, it's been awhile but I believe we cut it down to fit. Worked great at unloading gravel and sand. If you have a plastic bedliner they work really well!

I'm using it with a Ford Explorer Sport Trac. Cut mine down to fit, too.

 

[John_Mc]

Does anyone know what happened to the 1/2" Icon torque wrench? It was on the HF site a while ago, but now all I see is the 3/8" Icon. They have the $20 Pittsburgh 1/2", but no Icon in that size.

I've used the Pittsburgh 3/8" extensively, and was not impressed Two days into a 50KW solar PV installation, the screws over the ratchet cover backed out and fell to the ground. I found one, but the threads would no longer grab. To HF's credit, they replaced the wrench with no hassle. Unfortunately, I had nothing to finish out the day with on the job. I'd rather not go with the Pittsburgh for my 1/2" wrench.

I'm also curious if anyone has used both the Pittsburgh and the ICON torque wrenches and can comment on the quality difference between the two.

Just checked: Amazon has the Icon 1/2", but no reviews on it yet.

 

[sixdogs]

This is a Harbor Freight winner but you don't see it all the time. I think it's a blacksmith hammer because of it's sharp edges. I use it for lots of things but it's best when hammering out metal pieces or sheet metal that has dents and needs to be straightened. I can bend or shape steel and get good edges because of the flat faces and sharp corners.

I've had this one for maybe 20 years but see them at HF every now and then.

 

[aczlan]

Does anyone know what happened to the 1/2" Icon torque wrench? It was on the HF site a while ago, but now all I see is the 3/8" Icon. They have the $20 Pittsburgh 1/2", but no Icon in that size.

I've used the Pittsburgh 3/8" extensively, and was not impressed Two days into a 50KW solar PV installation, the screws over the ratchet cover backed out and fell to the ground. I found one, but the threads would no longer grab. To HF's credit, they replaced the wrench with no hassle. Unfortunately, I had nothing to finish out the day with on the job. I'd rather not go with the Pittsburgh for my 1/2" wrench.

I'm also curious if anyone has used both the Pittsburgh and the ICON torque wrenches and can comment on the quality difference between the two.

Just checked: Amazon has the Icon 1/2", but no reviews on it yet.

I have a half inch Pittsburgh one that I got with a coupon for $15 or $20.
It has worked well for my purposes (mostly putting car tires on) and I would buy it again without hesitation. Is it accurate? Possibly not as accurate as a Snap-On, but for my purposes it is good enough...

Aaron Z

 

[sixdogs]

I have a half inch Pittsburgh one that I got with a coupon for $15 or $20.
It has worked well for my purposes (mostly putting car tires on) and I would buy it again without hesitation. Is it accurate? Possibly not as accurate as a Snap-On, but for my purposes it is good enough...

Aaron Z

I checked my same 1/2" HF torque wrench against a high dollar one and they both read the same. Go figure.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I checked my same 1/2" HF torque wrench against a high dollar one and they both read the same. Go figure.

I did the same, bought mine on coupon for $10 and took it home, tested against a $280 Craftsman Pro 1/2" one that I get calibrated/verified at work. It was horrible. I returned it and got a second one, tested it and it's about dead nuts on par with my Beta Labs calibrated one. I use this one for wheels only and use my subjectively better one for engines and things that I consider more sensitive/important.

It appears based on my limited sampling of 2 units that the consistency is the typical crap-shoot that one expects from HF. But if you verify it and have a good one, it seems to stay calibrated good enough. Always back off your torque wrench as soon as the job is completed, do not store it with sitting pressure dialed into it.

 

[sixdogs]

…

Always back off your torque wrench as soon as the job is completed, do not store it with sitting pressure dialed into it.

Excellent advice I learned long ago and I always return to zero after use. Now have decades old torque wrenches that are spot on.

 

[California]

I checked my same 1/2" HF torque wrench against a high dollar one and they both read the same. Go figure.

Likewise. As I've noted here a couple of times I check mine against a Craftsman and then a Thorsen beam torque wrench a couple of times per project and they all agree.

 

[crazyal]

Anyone have the 30" 5 drawer tool cart? I was going to make something to put a tool box I have that I cam roll near my wood lathe to hold odds and ends. With a coupon it's only $10 more than their 4 drawer cart but seams a little stronger. I was hoping to put the folding flat side try on it at the height I would like so I could put a grinder on it. If needed I could beef up the side tray and make the base of the cart wider to make it more stable. Next week I could be passing by HF so I was thinking of stopping in and picking up a few things (like the T-handle allen wrenches). The Yukon work bench looks like an option but I think it would be a little too high (37") for the grinder to sit on and it's kind of wide for where it'll sit even without a side tray. I could just not put the casters on it to lower it down but it's not going to be mobile (it weights almost 150 lbs).

 

[stuckmotor]

This is a Harbor Freight winner but you don't see it all the time. I think it's a blacksmith hammer because of it's sharp edges. I use it for lots of things but it's best when hammering out metal pieces or sheet metal that has dents and needs to be straightened. I can bend or shape steel and get good edges because of the flat faces and sharp corners.

I've had this one for maybe 20 years but see them at HF every now and then.


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Sixdogs,
Is that a hand drill driving hammer. Here's a link to a Chraftsman Welcome to Sears.com - Sears