Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[5030]

Bought the Bauer 9 gallon Shop vac for 69 bucks the other day. Of course HF don't carry replacement filters or bags for it (no surprise there), but the 'Shop Vac' brand fits and Menards has them at a good price. Pretty powerful unit. It sucks and blows too......:laughing:

 

[lostcreekranch]

Good to know. The older I get the less fun it is to wrestle a heavy jack.
No leak off is a good thing too...never seem to have much luck with jacks in that dept.

The 1.5 ton aluminum jack is now on sale for $59.99.


1.5 Ton Aluminum Rapid Pump(R) Racing Floor Jack

 

[rangerfredbob]

Don't know if I've mentioned it before, but the mini bench grinder with the flex wand attachment thing, I've had one for like 12 years and I love that thing, the flex wand thing isn't worth buying it for but maybe it's better now... the variable speed kinda sucks as there's no grunt at less than 3/4 speed but the grinding wheel is fine so works good for sharpening and fine grinding and the fiber wheel is the reason I grab the thing the most, it's like sandpaper where it will go around contours but way faster, eats through corrosion or doing some light polishing like nothing. Well worth the $30...

 

[lostcreekranch]

Don't know if I've mentioned it before, but the mini bench grinder with the flex wand attachment thing, I've had one for like 12 years and I love that thing, the flex wand thing isn't worth buying it for but maybe it's better now... the variable speed kinda sucks as there's no grunt at less than 3/4 speed but the grinding wheel is fine so works good for sharpening and fine grinding and the fiber wheel is the reason I grab the thing the most, it's like sandpaper where it will go around contours but way faster, eats through corrosion or doing some light polishing like nothing. Well worth the $30...

Link?

 

[rangerfredbob]

Sorry about that, HERE you go. The flex shaft comes off easy, I just leave it off unless I decide to try it on something, it does have way more torque than a dremel for that thing but mine's bent at the output so cutoff wheels are kinda annoying... It's almost time to change the fiber wheel, I have one somewhere...

 

[lostcreekranch]

Sorry about that, HERE you go. The flex shaft comes off easy, I just leave it off unless I decide to try it on something, it does have way more torque than a dremel for that thing but mine's bent at the output so cutoff wheels are kinda annoying... It's almost time to change the fiber wheel, I have one somewhere...

Thanks much. Not in your case but ... I'm amazed how many folks ask about what everyone thinks about that "HF Doo Dad" without posting a link to it. Do they wonder why members don't drop everything, spend time researching the item, then respond?

That looks like a handy tool. I'd think the flex shaft would be pretty handy if it has lots of power.

How long do the fiber wheels last?

 

[rangerfredbob]

I'm still on the first one, don't use it all the time but it doesn't wear out all that fast... the only downside is the stone lasts way longer and the fiber only comes with a stone, but it's only $7 for both so not bad... I'm sure there's probably cheaper ones on amazon or something... Before I got a 6" grinder with wire wheel I used it for things it isn't great at like cleaning rusted threads on bolts and stuff which wore it down fast...

 

[lostcreekranch]

I'm still on the first one, don't use it all the time but it doesn't wear out all that fast... the only downside is the stone lasts way longer and the fiber only comes with a stone, but it's only $7 for both so not bad... I'm sure there's probably cheaper ones on amazon or something... Before I got a 6" grinder with wire wheel I used it for things it isn't great at like cleaning rusted threads on bolts and stuff which wore it down fast...

What is the hole diameter in your 3” wheels?

Here’s some on Amazon with 10 mm holes.

3" Replacement Fiber Wheels for Mini Bench Grinders (2 pack) 3" Replacement Fiber Wheels for Mini Bench Grinders (2 pack): Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

I bought two 8” bench grinders, like this one, about 20 years ago and put course and fine wire wheels on one of them. I’m close to replacing both wire wheels and still have the original grinding wheels to put on the other one then both will be like new again.

8 in. Bench Grinder with Gooseneck Lamp

 

[Threepoint]

[snip]
I bought two 8 bench grinders, like this one, about 20 years ago and put course and fine wire wheels on one of them. I知 close to replacing both wire wheels and still have the original grinding wheels to put on the other one then both will be like new again.

8 in. Bench Grinder with Gooseneck Lamp

Rick, is the grinder anchored to the floor, or on a heavy bench by any chance? I have several 8" and 6" bench grinders of different makes, and the HF grinders are a very good value. But when I tried to use the HF 8" wire wheels on the HF 8" grinder, mounted on the heavy HF pedestal stand Heavy Duty Bench Grinder Pedestal the whole thing started to rotate and walk around from the wind resistance! Even with the pedestal on friction pads. I didn't want to bolt the pedestal to the finished concrete floor, so now I only use 6" wire wheels on the 6" grinders! Much less noise and turbulence.

BTW, the pedestal stands are also a good value. If I'm doing heavy grinding that makes them want to walk, it's easy to prevent it just by stepping on one of the three feet.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Rick, is the grinder anchored to the floor, or on a heavy bench by any chance? I have several 8" and 6" bench grinders of different makes, and the HF grinders are a very good value. But when I tried to use the HF 8" wire wheels on the HF 8" grinder, mounted on the heavy HF pedestal stand Heavy Duty Bench Grinder Pedestal the whole thing started to rotate and walk around from the wind resistance! Even with the pedestal on friction pads. I didn't want to bolt the pedestal to the finished concrete floor, so now I only use 6" wire wheels on the 6" grinders! Much less noise and turbulence.

BTW, the pedestal stands are also a good value. If I'm doing heavy grinding that makes them want to walk, it's easy to prevent it just by stepping on one of the three feet.

Mine are mounted to a heavy work bench.

I looked at the HF Stands but, as I recall, they put the grinder at a working height, way too low for my liking. Maybe if they were bolted or welded to an old car wheel?