Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[KubotainNH]

For driving nails in tight spaces, I have found that the Harbor Freight Compact Palm Air Nailer is a great tool for the job and a good value for about $20. I recently did a review and demo video on it. It has come in handy in a lot of tight situations and I recently found out it's great for nailing wiring staples into studs.

I've contemplated getting one of those. Thanks for the video, it helps to see how it works. Looks more like a hammer chisel effect that a normal nailgun.

 

[KubotainNH]

You ought to think about rechargeable batteries and a good charger. I switched a few years back and I love it... a little investment at the start, but I always have batteries on hand and hardly ever buy them anymore..

If these are the heavy duty batteries that are often free they are not worth installing in anything in my opinion. They don't last 10 minutes in my hair trimmer before the speed drops. Any other battery lasts 10 times as long of not more. I've never tried the alkaline ones so no opinion on those.

 

[FredH]

Don't have the Harbor Freight compressor , Was thinking of getting one of those but instead got this one from Home Depot :



When I bought it a few years ago , it was less than $500 . Recently spent $139 and bought the pistol grip 1" air gun . Compressor handles the gun fine . Removed lug nuts on my semi and replaced the brakes on both drive axles .

Fred H.

 

[Grumpycat]

My favorite Harbor Freight tool sucks! Air-compressor powered brake bleeder: Brake Fluid Bleeder

 

[Gregster613]

FredH, Hi, I've got a Husky from Home depot also; not nearly as large as that nor two-stage either but 150 psi and does all I need it to do.

"EXCEPT" - it leaks like a sieve and I cannot get it to stop. I've tried replacing rubber washers, used Teflon tape, and nothing seems to work. Fix one area that leaks and another just pops right up and they are rarely easy to locate anyhow. It's extremely frustrating to me. I don't need it to hold air for days or weeks, but for the duration of a day would be nice.

I am seriously considering trying one of the HF McGraw compressors simply because mine won't hols air pressure very long. If I had 220 electricity in my garage I'd already have a two-stage; but I don't. So it's a single stage for me for now. Eventually I'm going to try the McGraw though. Can't handle a constantly running compressor to simply blow grass off my lawn mower or the radiator of the tractor.

I don't think I'd care to try another Husky due to this leakage though. YMMV. Greg

 

[hunt4570]

If these are the heavy duty batteries that are often free they are not worth installing in anything in my opinion. They don't last 10 minutes in my hair trimmer before the speed drops. Any other battery lasts 10 times as long of not more. I've never tried the alkaline ones so no opinion on those.

Yeah, sorry.. I was not talking about HF rechargeable batteries, never tried one of those. I use mostly Tennergy LSD rechargeables.

 

[Imold]

I picked up a good sized Craftsman Electric impact in the $5 bin at a local Sears store back in the early 1970's. Turned out the the strain relief, on the power cord had come loose and one wire pulled in two. It took about 10 minutes to fix and it still works great today. Retail on it was nearly $100 back then.

I've looked at that compressor and it is a 2 stage with good specifications. It's rated at 15.8 CFM @ 90 PSI, 16.4 CFM @ 40 PSI.

Less than a year ago it was $799 and would go on sale often for $749. At $899 it getting into Ingersoll-Rand price territory.

I used to sell Saylor-Beall compressors, that痴 what our store stocked and we were a authorized repair shop. That痴 what I would really like but to spendy for how much I would need it.


Jim.

 

[Imold]

I have had a 5hp 20 gal oil less craftsman compressor for last 15 years but it is not enough air to run air sanders or hammer and the 1/2 inch impact basically burps a few times and is out of air, I need the 60 gallon air tank and yes I have thought of buying one and switching everything over but I would like a 2 stage in my new shop and i will run power for it and a welder even though I cannot use a welder due to my pacemaker.


Jim.

 

[bigtiller]

FredH, Hi, I've got a Husky from Home depot also; not nearly as large as that nor two-stage either but 150 psi and does all I need it to do.

"EXCEPT" - it leaks like a sieve and I cannot get it to stop. I've tried replacing rubber washers, used Teflon tape, and nothing seems to work. Fix one area that leaks and another just pops right up and they are rarely easy to locate anyhow. It's extremely frustrating to me. I don't need it to hold air for days or weeks, but for the duration of a day would be nice.

I am seriously considering trying one of the HF McGraw compressors simply because mine won't hols air pressure very long. If I had 220 electricity in my garage I'd already have a two-stage; but I don't. So it's a single stage for me for now. Eventually I'm going to try the McGraw though. Can't handle a constantly running compressor to simply blow grass off my lawn mower or the radiator of the tractor.

I don't think I'd care to try another Husky due to this leakage though. YMMV. Greg

Try using a leaf blower. I used compressed air for years until I tried my leaf blower, it does a better job.

 

[California]

If these are the heavy duty batteries that are often free they are not worth installing in anything in my opinion. They don't last 10 minutes in my hair trimmer before the speed drops. Any other battery lasts 10 times as long of not more.

I got one batch of free batteries that was a joke, some wouldn't light a flashlight more than a minute or so. More recently I've been using the free AAA's in a cordless computer mouse. Those last 3 weeks. No complaints.

I've never found another application for the free batteries. They are too weak plus I don't trust them to not leak if they were left a long time in emergency storm lanterns etc.