Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[California]

.... the new style green electric pressure washer that's always on sale for $80. As far as an electric pressure washer goes, it's decent, I bought one not long after they came out so about 2 years, drain the hose after use but that's all the care I've put to it. ...

I bought Ryobi's small pressure washer for similar use, knocking off mud etc. The instructions require their 'storage fluid' when its idle. I looked at the MSDS, it's automotive antifreeze. So I pour some of that in the intake, run it an instant to get it in the pump, then cap the water inlet and outlet. This works fine. I ruined my previous pressure washer by doing nothing more than draining it. Its aluminum plumbing grew massive white 'rust', and after a while it would stall instead of start.

Antifreeze as 'pressure washer storage fluid' is ideal because it's a concentrated corrosion preventative and lubricant.

 

[ultrarunner]

Thanks for the tip...

 

[lostcreekranch]

This is even easier.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Briggs-Stratton-6151-Pressure-Washer-Pump-Saver/37468909

 

[dragoneggs]

I finally received my LED flashlight I ordered a couple months ago when it was on sale. I paid $19.99 for it and it is regularly $39.99. It seems to be built very well, metal housing, and it is very bright with 3 settings. My only complaint is I thought when it said 'folding' it would fold all the way against the handle (unless I'm doing something wrong), so it would store more easily in my glove box. Only 90deg bend... oh well.

39 Lumen Magnetic Slim Bar Folding LED Work Light

 

[sixdogs]

This is even easier.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Briggs-Stratton-6151-Pressure-Washer-Pump-Saver/37468909

Yes, with a pressure washer you need to add that fluid if you aren't going to use it for six weeks or so. You can buy it cheaper locally but the stiff works and preserves things. Blow the water out and drain first.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I finally received my LED flashlight I ordered a couple months ago when it was on sale. I paid $19.99 for it and it is regularly $39.99. It seems to be built very well, metal housing, and it is very bright with 3 settings. My only complaint is I thought when it said 'folding' it would fold all the way against the handle (unless I'm doing something wrong), so it would store more easily in my glove box. Only 90deg bend... oh well.

39 Lumen Magnetic Slim Bar Folding LED Work Light

This is my current favorite shop light. They fold +90°/-90° for a 180° motion.

 

[Code54]

I finally received my LED flashlight I ordered a couple months ago when it was on sale. I paid $19.99 for it and it is regularly $39.99. It seems to be built very well, metal housing, and it is very bright with 3 settings. My only complaint is I thought when it said 'folding' it would fold all the way against the handle (unless I'm doing something wrong), so it would store more easily in my glove box. Only 90deg bend... oh well.

39 Lumen Magnetic Slim Bar Folding LED Work Light

Same here, thought it would "fold? a bit more but for the money i'm still really pleased with it. We used it to do a bunch of wiring on a Jeep and a side by side and it fit a lot of tight spots, was very bright and had good battery life.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Same here, thought it would "fold? a bit more but for the money i'm still really pleased with it. We used it to do a bunch of wiring on a Jeep and a side by side and it fit a lot of tight spots, was very bright and had good battery life.

I bought 6 of them and a USB bank with 6 A ports, and I've stopped using the wired led drop lights. I can have 2 into use and just rotate them out every 4 hours or so and keep them charging.

 

[KubotainNH]

I like that light, neat idea with having 6 of them. My only complaint is it's easy to shut it off accidentally and then takes multiple clicks to get back to where you were.

I see the high-flow couplers below in the latest flier. Anyone try them? Worth the $10 bucks and really give better flow? I've contemplated replacing my cheapo not so high-flow couplers but the affordable ones mentioned in the past are no longer offered. The reviews seem good and supposed to be backwards compatible. $10 with a coupon.

4 Piece High Flow Aluminum Coupler Connector Kit

 

[TheDevilYouLove]

The yellow Super Duty Daytona jack is amazing. I just got it. Love it.

 

[Michael Aos]

I found that a year or two ago. I really like it too.

This is even easier.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Briggs-Stratton-6151-Pressure-Washer-Pump-Saver/37468909

 

[ch47dpilot]

Just got new flyer. Looks like ALL harbor freight tool boxes come in the rainbow of colors. Don't know how long they have been out but first time I'm seeing them

 

[California]

I see the high-flow couplers below in the latest flier. Anyone try them? Worth the $10 bucks and really give better flow? I've contemplated replacing my cheapo not so high-flow couplers but the affordable ones mentioned in the past are no longer offered. The reviews seem good and supposed to be backwards compatible. $10 with a coupon.

4 Piece High Flow Aluminum Coupler Connector Kit

I bought the previous version hi-flow couplers after I bought HF's cheapest impact wrench, then their next better model impact wrench. $19 then $29, as I recall. Both of those were weak but used huge amounts of air. They emptied my 10 gallon tank before getting very many lug nuts off, if they were able to break them loose at all. The hi-flow couplers helped some to get the torque I needed.

Then I bought the $75 Earthquake impact wrench and it doesn't use near as much air while it has 4x the torque. I think standard couplers would be sufficient to run it.

I wouldn't upgrade until you have something that is obviously starved for air.

 

[thepumpguysc]

The biggest problem I have w/ couplers is AIR LEAKS..
.. besides kicking on the compressor.. it drives me NUTS w/ the constant hissing.!!
IF these new hi-flo design couplers stopped the noise.. I'd buy 100 of'm..

 

[doneill127]

Don’t know about the HF couplers but I just had to replace my hose reel and when I did I decided to change out my mismatch of leaky fittings. I standardized on Milton Type V high flow couplers. Not a single leak. Got them in package sets from eBay. Not that expensive. The type v provides potentiall 70% more flow. In reality it only helps on high flow devices. Ie spray guns, cut off wheels, impact etc. They are also compatible with type M and A couplers

 

[Ford850]

^^ I'd be right behind you in line to get 100 of my own. It seems like every style I've tried ends up leaking.

 

[whitepine2]

It seems like the brass one's always leek. I found that the steel ones worked a lot better but you can't buy them at HF any more and the steel ones they sell now do not work with the older ones.

 

[Diggin It]

Picked up two of the small dollies today to try a platform for my BH.

Also a new Merlin style tire pumper-upper with the dial gauge and an 'open box' deal on the ratchet wrenches. Only one missing was the 13MM which I'm not sure I need, but for $10 off, I figured it would be OK. And if anybody is wondering the 'free' little black flashlights are now COB instead of discrete LEDs.

 

[crazyal]

It seems like the brass one's always leek. I found that the steel ones worked a lot better but you can't buy them at HF any more and the steel ones they sell now do not work with the older ones.

Which is why I threw all the Hf air connectors away. Milton has been making them for decades and their patents are long since expired. So other companies are copying them so you can always find the style you pick.

 

[downsizingnow48]

For the number of air connectors I use, maybe a dozen total, I have always just bought good quality. No leaks, no fitment problems. Saving one or two dollars and then suffering with bad fit and leaks does not make sense.