Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

hunt4570 · Oct 23, 2019

California said:
They core the apples at the plant where my apples get trucked down to. It's the last apple processing plant in the region.

They have a mix of ancient mechanized equipment, and now modern, after the plant was bought by a big international corporation. Output is all cooked product - primarily applesauce and pasteurized apple juice. I see they are now adding pouch packaging, I suppose for kids juice boxes.

Processing plant description.

When I toured the plant 20 years ago they were still using old core/peeling machines similar to this but much faster with long lines of ladies turning apples upright and setting them on spikes for the machine to peel/core/quarter. It looked hazardous.

Modern equipment. The machinery I saw was nearly this fast. The factor limiting speed was how fast the ladies could turn the apples upright and feed them in.

Just got done doing a batch of applesauce myself.. mmm mmm good stuff

California · Oct 23, 2019

hunt4570 said:
Just got done doing a batch of applesauce myself.. mmm mmm good stuff

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Nice!

Standard canning process, sealed then 10 minute boil? I put up wild blackberry jam like that. Awesome flavor!

My wife serves country style applesauce occasionally as long as she has apples in the refrigerator, clear into spring. Not peeled, just quartered and cored, heated in a small amount of water, mashed and stirred with a fork, served hot. Apple pie similar, slices with the peel still on. She says most of the nutrition is in the peel. (That might only apply to potatoes but I'm not going to argue with her.

)

We should try canning like you are doing.

tookielee · Oct 23, 2019

My favorite is the free tape measure, don't have to be as careful when it's free

Travelover · Oct 23, 2019

tookielee said:
My favorite is the free tape measure, don't have to be as careful when it's free

But you need to be careful as the tape measures are pretty crappy, LOL. I really like the oval blue lights.

5030 · Oct 23, 2019

Travelover said:
But you need to be careful as the tape measures are pretty crappy, LOL. I really like the oval blue lights.

So do I. Just got another today. I need to stay away from HF, their tools are addicting, at least the good ones are..

Grabbed another Bauer 20 volt too, the 1/4" hex impact driver, on sale for $59.99 and an Icon 1/2" drive torque wrench (the one that beats Snap-On for 109 bucks (they went up 10 bucks from last month even though they beat the Snap-On by 400 bucks),, I have a Snap-On 1/2" Torque wrench and side by side, the Icon has a nicer finish. Only difference between my Snap-On and the Icon, besides the price is the Snap-On is a bit shorter (about an inch overall) and the Snap-On has etched in scales (Fp and Nm) while the icon has engraved scales. The scales on both line up perfectly with the rotating handles and the rotating handle in both positive locks with a sliding collar.

Think I'll put my Snap-On on Flea Bay for 200 bucks, will more than cover the cost if the Icon. I'm impressed.

Wife and I stopped at Lowes (needed a sink stopper) and looked at the 'Craftsman' 1/4" Hex impact driver. It's a dead wringer look alike to the Bauer except for the price. $119.99 at Lowes versus $59.99 at HF. Same color, same grip panels just almost 2 times the price. No brainer for me. The DeWalt one was even more, $159 bucks or 3 of the HF version.

Oog · Oct 24, 2019

Need a big compressor? I recommend their 60 gallon 2 stage compressor. Has a 5 hp motor made in the US, the tank is made in the US, and the compressor pump is made in Italy. No China parts, no leaks, and I can't overpump it. Worth every nickel if you need a big capacity unit. Plumbed my shop with a 3/4 inch airline kit from Northern Tool.

hunt4570 · Oct 24, 2019

California said:
Nice!

Standard canning process, sealed then 10 minute boil? I put up wild blackberry jam like that. Awesome flavor!

My wife serves country style applesauce occasionally as long as she has apples in the refrigerator, clear into spring. Not peeled, just quartered and cored, heated in a small amount of water, mashed and stirred with a fork, served hot. Apple pie similar, slices with the peel still on. She says most of the nutrition is in the peel. (That might only apply to potatoes but I'm not going to argue with her.)

We should try canning like you are doing.

Thanks...
Actually with the apple sauce its a 20 minute boil. I also can Blueberry jelly (to die for), Scuppernong jelly, tomatoes and salsa, jalapeno and banana pepper rings, and Mexican candy, oh, and I almost forgot.. canned pears...yummy.

Its not hard to do, just takes time and makes a mess! I'd like to set up an outdoor kitchen sometime to keep the heat out of the house!

Threepoint · Oct 24, 2019

5030 said:
[snip]
Wife and I stopped at Lowes (needed a sink stopper) and looked at the 'Craftsman' 1/4" Hex impact driver. It's a dead wringer look alike to the Bauer except for the price. $119.99 at Lowes versus $59.99 at HF. Same color, same grip panels just almost 2 times the price. No brainer for me. The DeWalt one was even more, $159 bucks or 3 of the HF version.

Do you know if the batteries are interchangeable between those brands, though? I think DeWalt, Makita and Milwaukee have been pretty careful about that.

aczlan · Oct 24, 2019

Porter Cable and Black and Decker 20v Lithium Ion batteries are interchangeable as long as you trim off the tabs, I would think that DeWalt 20v Lithium Ion batteries are similar.

Aaron Z

hunt4570 · Oct 24, 2019

aczlan said:
Porter Cable and Black and Decker 20v Lithium Ion batteries are interchangeable as long as you trim off the tabs, I would think that DeWalt 20v Lithium Ion batteries are similar.

Aaron Z

That's because Black & decker owns (and have ruined) Porter Cable!