Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[4570Man]

You do know that they have 2-ton and 3-ton aluminum jacks?

Search Results For "Aluminum Jack"

Yea but they’re not $59 and weigh a lot more. I wanted one I could easily pick up and carry. I’m not disappointed in the purchase but it’s not suitable for lifting full size vehicle. And I’d say 1.5 tons is pretty optimistic. My truck is 3400 pounds on the front axel and it struggled to lift just one tire.

 

[dragoneggs]

I had one of the harbor freight really cheap grinders. It survived about 10 minutes of tough use before it melted. My other grinders take the same use just fine. I知 not one to grind especially hard unless it痴 a big grinder that値l take it but this thing was junk.

Those $10 4.5in grinders? Yah, I have a small fleet of them. All outfitted with a different 'blade'. Yeah burnt a few until I realized you can't lean on them like one that costs 5+ times as much. But I am lazy and like to grab a grinder without having to swap a wheel. For hard work I don't even bother grabbing my HF. My Makita and PC grinders have to suffer the abuse.

Oh but if and when you get 'suckered' and buy a few HF grinders, be sure to pop the drive box cover and swap the Crisco with real grease. I think I have 5 in action that I have performed this pre tune up. Again, you can't lean on them but for light fabrication... they work.

 

[hunt4570]

I had one of the harbor freight really cheap grinders. It survived about 10 minutes of tough use before it melted. My other grinders take the same use just fine. I’m not one to grind especially hard unless it’s a big grinder that’ll take it but this thing was junk.

Yep, I bought one of their grinders also a few years ago, it didn't make it through the first job!! I've not bought a HF power tool since! The Hitachi I bought to finish that job is still with me and doing fine.

 

[5030]

Are u especially hard on tools? I have found that if I take care of my tools and don't abuse them, they take care of me. Yes, my first power tools were cheap because that was all I could afford and I killed my share. Most all of my second time around tools are still with me after a decade or two... or three in some cases, because I learned how not to use them.

Depends, sometimes yes, most times no.

 

[5030]

Update... The Bauer corded shop vac takes Shop Vac branded 10 gallon bags just fine and pleated filters too. HF don't sell either, just the vacuum. Good vacuum so far, plenty of suck and quite a bit of blow too.:laughing:

 

[Threepoint]

I bought one of the benches Oaktree linked thinking it'd be faster than building one myself; it probably was, by at least a few hours. Included light was crap, so I cut the ends of the top pieces out to fit a 4' LED shop lamp.

the ONLY thing that's worth saving when I get time to build my own, is that (not even HF) shop lamp. Other than that, it should be sold as a "flat surface for lightweight stuff" - The drawers FALL OUT if you put more than a couple pencils in 'em, it's my own fault for the temporary insanity of swallowing HF's "industrial, heavy duty, professional, etc, BS.

If/when I get time, I'll build one. When I do, I'll probably just fold the pieces of this one up (yeah, they really ARE that thin) and toss 'em in the garbage. Either that, or maybe keep it for working on electronics stuff.[snip] Steve

Hmm. Maybe I should qualify my comments in post #12548, as it sounds like the current construction quality may be different. My 15 y/o version did not come with a light, or a wired receptacle. Otherwise, the artwork and website description for the bench looks and sounds a lot like mine. But mine is quite durable, and I think the two drawers are all metal and well made. I'll check mine again when I'm at the barn this evening, and also check the current version next time I'm at HF.

 

[reb]

... Chinese motors and me don't get along too well...

Based on something I read a while back, you might be hard pressed to find a new motor not made there.

 

[Smokepole62]

candidly, they are nice jacks at a good price but I don't see the need for an aluminum one. I have a steel one and it stays on the concrete floor 99% of the time getting rolled around so why worry about a few pounds of weight anyway. Just curious.

I'm with you on this. Can't remember the last time went over the pit wall in a firesuit and helmet needing a lightweight jack to change right-side tires. Kinda like tractors, the heavier the better.

 

[PJSprog]

I'm not minding my HF portable welding table. I like easy fold up with two levers and it is sturdy enough for light duty and easy to toss in the truck for remote use.

Adjustable Steel Welding Table

I bought one of those about a year-and-a-half ago. It's still in its box in the garage. Haven't used it yet. :confused3:

 

[5030]

Based on something I read a while back, you might be hard pressed to find a new motor not made there.

Lincoln Electric Motors are (Eastlake, Ohio), so is Marathon. In reality, an offshore motor built to SAE standards is fine as well. It's the marginal Chinese motors that like to stink.