Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[sixdogs]

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.

That has taken me a long time to learn. One day about 10 years ago I got tired of all the leans and one Saturday morning snapped and replaced every one with USA made Milton parts. No more leaks since and problem fixed. I saved a whole few dollars to do it the right way.

 

[IXLR8]

I am looking at either the 3100 psi pressure washer or the 4400 psi pressure washer. Does anybody have any experience with either of these? I have spend a good deal of time searching and I have only found one comment on the 3100 psi unit.
TIA

 

[bigtiller]

I am looking at either the 3100 psi pressure washer or the 4400 psi pressure washer. Does anybody have any experience with either of these? I have spend a good deal of time searching and I have only found one comment on the 3100 psi unit.
TIA

I don't have experience with either of them but have an opinion.
PSI is cheap, spend your money on GPM.

 

[rbstern]

Just picked up the Predator Power Auger yesterday. Drilled 8 fence post holes in 30 minutes. Great tool.

Question: Anyone know if there are 8" bits that will work with this auger? The shaft size is supposedly 7/8", most single person power augers seem to be specified at 3/4", but the bit 6" that came with the auger is slightly loose. Wondering if other manufacturers' 3/4" bits will work.

 

[rbstern]

Just picked up the Predator Power Auger yesterday. Drilled 8 fence post holes in 30 minutes. Great tool.

Question: Anyone know if there are 8" bits that will work with this auger? The shaft size is supposedly 7/8", most single person power augers seem to be specified at 3/4", but the bit 6" that came with the auger is slightly loose. Wondering if other manufacturers' 3/4" bits will work.

Answered my own question:

https://www.amazon.com/Southland-Outdoor-Power-Equipment-SEAB8/dp/B00KYUH78O

 

[WVH1977]

Has anyone used the cordless circular 20v circular saw? Are they any good? How long will they last before having to be recharged? Already own several Dewalt 20v cordless tools but wanted to see if I could save some money with the cordless saw from Harbor Freight.

 

[downsizingnow48]

Anybody with recent experience with the HF pallet jack? I found a TBN thread from 2011 that gave positive reviews but wonder if the current model is also good.

 

[Threepoint]

Has anyone used the cordless circular 20v circular saw? Are they any good? How long will they last before having to be recharged? Already own several Dewalt 20v cordless tools but wanted to see if I could save some money with the cordless saw from Harbor Freight.

The HF Bauer lithium tools look to be the successor to the Chicago Electric line, with some improvements. I have the Chicago Electric 18v nicad version of this saw and it works well, so I'd be confidant that the Bauer will be fine. But, since you already have several DeWalt 20v tools, I'd be reluctant to commit to yet another battery design just to save on the initial tool cost.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Anybody with recent experience with the HF pallet jack? I found a TBN thread from 2011 that gave positive reviews but wonder if the current model is also good.

We bought one for warehouse work at my company about a year ago. Still no problems with it. We only use it for bulky pallets, not really anything heavy. I doubt we've ever come close to it's max weight. But it still works fine for our use. No issues with the hydraulics or casters so far.

 

[downsizingnow48]

We bought one for warehouse work at my company about a year ago. Still no problems with it. We only use it for bulky pallets, not really anything heavy. I doubt we've ever come close to it's max weight. But it still works fine for our use. No issues with the hydraulics or casters so far.

Thanks very helpful!

 

[rbstern]

Anybody tried the new Titanium 225 stick welder yet? Or have experience with the small, portable inverter stick welder?

Thinking about getting one of those, wondering if the new model is worth the extra $100.

 

[dragoneggs]

Anybody tried the new Titanium 225 stick welder yet? Or have experience with the small, portable inverter stick welder?

Thinking about getting one of those, wondering if the new model is worth the extra $100.

There is a youtube video comparing the Vulcan and Titanium HF welders. Did a decent job of explaining the differences IIRC.

 

[fxrupr]

As far as harbor freight tools go the $15 dollar grinders are a heck of a deal. And just for grins after one finally ate its first set of carbon brushes which are pretty short to start with, I decided to see if I could get parts to fix it with. Chicago Electric ie Harbor Freight was NO help. After getting the 3rd call back Monday type message, I decided to Google it.
I ended completely disassembling it. I turned the armature on the lathe polished and undercut the commutator and greased the bearings and drive gears. After measuring the brushes I found a source who was selling the right dimension ones on line. When I got the 2 pairs of brushes for $3 dollars I had to use my old brush springs because the ones that came with the new ones were too long. Price was right. Hope they weren稚 radioactive.
Put it back together the thing runs almost perfectly vibration free way better than my Ryobies. I will use it until the gears finally go out. Perhaps by then I値l have another donor machine to use the armature in since it痴 so well balanced now.
I may try tuning up my Ryobies next. I think they actually will sell you name brand brushes for those. They come out of Seattle or Portland.

 

[fxrupr]

Almost forgot. I bought one of their big 2 cylinder compressor pumps when I built my portable air compressor. After probably 5 years of use it still pumps just fine.
And as an added opinion their $14 1 pint gravity feed paint spray gun works great when you first buy it. Only after you try to clean it and find that they designed a couple fittings with reverse threads that shear off when you turn them the wrong way will you know that the thinner you use costs more than a replacement.

 

[thepumpguysc]

My cheapo grinder from HF CAME WITH extra brush's..
I used it for the 1st time to cut open a seized head & rotor on an injection pump.. SOLID STEEL..
It worked flawlessly.. I was impressed.. & their grinding wheel that goes on it {4-1/2"}held up great too..

 

[PJSprog]

Anybody tried the new Titanium 225 stick welder yet? Or have experience with the small, portable inverter stick welder?

Thinking about getting one of those, wondering if the new model is worth the extra $100.

I have the old small inverter stick welder. It's great for small stuff ... and by small stuff, I mean it won't burn anything over 3/32". Period. Every 1/8" rod I've tried just sticks. There's just not enough power there.

 

[stuckmotor]

My cheapo grinder from HF CAME WITH extra brush's..
I used it for the 1st time to cut open a seized head & rotor on an injection pump.. SOLID STEEL..
It worked flawlessly.. I was impressed.. & their grinding wheel that goes on it {4-1/2"}held up great too..

Out of all the extra sets of brushes I've got lying around, I've only replaced one set. The old ones weren't worn out, then. I replaced them because I didn't know what else to do and I had the brushes. They didn't solve the problem.

 

[California]

I've burned up two of the $9.95 angle grinders. Their proper application is a wire brush wheel or similar that doesn't need huge torque and won't be run continuous. They are fine for that.

First one the plastic fan disintegrated after 20(?) years of infrequent use cleaning welds with a wire brush wheel. It still ran but I gave it away.

Second one I mounted in the 'cutoff saw mount' from Northern Tool that I described in this recent post:
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...-freight-tools-dont-suck-528.html#post5287449

That worked well until it didn't. A couple of minutes running continuous slicing a 7/8" bolt and it faded away, smoking, just as it finished the cut.

I like that cutoff saw mount but I'm a little leery of putting a more expensive grinder in it. I think it needs a very light touch feeding the grinder into the cut.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I've burned up two of the $9.95 angle grinders. Their proper application is a wire brush wheel or similar that doesn't need huge torque and won't be run continuous. They are fine for that.

First one the plastic fan disintegrated after 20(?) years of infrequent use cleaning welds with a wire brush wheel. It still ran but I gave it away.

Second one I mounted in the 'cutoff saw mount' from Northern Tool that I described in this recent post:
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...-freight-tools-dont-suck-528.html#post5287449

That worked well until it didn't. A couple of minutes running continuous slicing a 7/8" bolt and it faded away, smoking, just as it finished the cut.

I like that cutoff saw mount but I'm a little leery of putting a more expensive grinder in it. I think it needs a very light touch feeding the grinder into the cut.

So, y'all smoke grinders too out there in Californey?

 

[Gale Hawkins]

https://www.hfqpdb.com/coupons/244_ITEM_700_LB._CAPACITY_BIGFOOT_HAND_TRUCK_1556215308.9088.png

I picked up a couple of these that are on sale all of May for $40. The tall tires are awesome on rough surfaces. I find them being blue makes them roll better.