Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[John_Mc]

You know B&D owns DeWalt and uses the DeWalt trademark for upscale product?

I can remember the days when B&D was considered a fairly upscale product.

Many wrongly claim "everything is the same! Made in same factory!" Even if made in the same factory there are deliberate differences. Consider how many different 20V DeWalt 1/2" drills are offered? Some brushless, some not. Must search carefully to distinguish between home grade and commercial. Same goes for car batteries. Many different brands from one factory, even using same battery cases. But the plates inside differ greatly, even the lead alloy differs.

Having worked in manufacturing for most of my life, I have to agree. There is no magic about "made in the same factory" or made on the same assembly line. All that shows is that the factory is capable of making a product at that quality level. Factories can and do build to customer spec. Some factories just may not have the ability to make high quality products on a consistent basis, but even the best factory is capable of making cheap junk, if that is all the customer is willing to pay for.

 

[dragoneggs]

Do you ever use them? They are all so clean and shiny!!

Yep there are two new ones, the router and palm sander but the rest used a fair amount. I am a bit **** with my tools. I clean them every time before I put them away. Same with my stationary tools as well. I wax the surfaces regularly. I live in a moist climate close to saltwater so everything gets my attention. Even my tractor after a muddy adventure.

 

[5030]

Yep there are two new ones, the router and palm sander but the rest used a fair amount. I am a bit **** with my tools. I clean them every time before I put them away. Same with my stationary tools as well. I wax the surfaces regularly. I live in a moist climate close to saltwater so everything gets my attention. Even my tractor after a muddy adventure.

Just stepping off the deck here is a muddy adventure right now.

 

[Handloader109]

update on the Lynx 40v chainsaw. I went out to use it and it had large puddle of chain oil under and around it. it had appeared to leak a bit after my first couple of uses. so we went on drive this afternoon and store swapped out with new saw with no issues. clerk offered 1 and 2 yr warranty, I did bite on the 1 yr for $21. cheap insurance as i was 2 plus months into 3 month warranty.
and I got totally new saw in box. so i received a second charger and battery. clerk didn't ask for old battery or charger and i had just taken in the saw. (they can't sell it separately as it is not in retail package anyway)

I'd check and if you have any excess leaks, take it back in if under warranty....
oh, it works great, trimmed a few small limbs and cut off 24 inch stump I'd left a couple of years ago when my gas saw died on me.

 

[crazyal]

update on the Lynx 40v chainsaw. I went out to use it and it had large puddle of chain oil under and around it. it had appeared to leak a bit after my first couple of uses. so we went on drive this afternoon and store swapped out with new saw with no issues. clerk offered 1 and 2 yr warranty, I did bite on the 1 yr for $21. cheap insurance as i was 2 plus months into 3 month warranty.
and I got totally new saw in box. so i received a second charger and battery. clerk didn't ask for old battery or charger and i had just taken in the saw. (they can't sell it separately as it is not in retail package anyway)

I'd check and if you have any excess leaks, take it back in if under warranty....
oh, it works great, trimmed a few small limbs and cut off 24 inch stump I'd left a couple of years ago when my gas saw died on me.

I just remove the cap and drain it out.

 

[California]

I solved the oil drip problem by abandoning the tank in the little Ryobi 18v chainsaw. Instead I oil the bar from a squeeze detergent bottle before a pruning cut. In 10 years I'm still on the first bar, showing only slight wear, and have a spare bar so not a problem. My use is mostly pruning plus hacking up rotted windfalls so this saw isn't worked as hard as what most chainsaws see.

 

[Oaktree]

I'd check and if you have any excess leaks, take it back in if under warranty....
oh, it works great, trimmed a few small limbs and cut off 24 inch stump I'd left a couple of years ago when my gas saw died on me.

I don't think I've ever had a chainsaw that didn't leak bar oil, though not generally right away. While I don't go as far as Crazyal and drain it after each use, I do store the saws on some sort of mat to keep it from getting all over where ever it's stored.

I bought the 1 year extended warranty on my Lynx pole saw. It IS an HF tool after all.

 

[PJSprog]

I just remove the cap and drain it out.

That's what I do. Used the Lynxx 40v pole saw yesterday to clean up some storm damage on one of our trees. Only put in enough oil to get through the job, then poured out the little that was left. I keep the saw hanging from hooks in the rafters above my garage workbench, so I prefer it be empty while hanging up there.

 

[bigtiller]

I store chainsaws on their side with the oil dribbler (orface), or what ever it is called, above the oil tank. That cured my oil leaks on every Stihl saw I ever owned.

 

[Ford850]

I bought one of those carts when they had the 25% off at July 4th. It is a very nice unit, heavy, drawers roll nice. I am thinking of putting a steel top on it for a welding table. I use it for my O/A tanks and stuff. I have one of the smaller ones to put my arc welder on. It is equally nice. waiting to see reviews on the new Vulcan line of welders.

Ron

How痴 that Vulcan welding cart #63179 holding up for you?

I decided to try one of these after reading a few decent reviews. I couldn't find follow up from any owners after they used them awhile, but they look like they're built well. I used a Vulcan coupon that has no expiration date from the HF Coupon site. That helped me make my decision.
It went together easily, and the fit and finish is excellent. The metal seems thicker than the other tool cabinets, but it might just be a thicker powder coating. The wheels are nice, and it maneuvers well. Overall :thumbsup:

 

[5030]

I store chainsaws on their side with the oil dribbler (orface), or what ever it is called, above the oil tank. That cured my oil leaks on every Stihl saw I ever owned.

Never had a Stihl pee when sitting.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Never had a Stihl pee when sitting.

Only ever owned one Stihl saw and it never leaks any oil. I just drain the gas, run the carb dry and store it with whatever oil is left in the tank, never had a leak in the 7 or so years that I have owned it.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Only ever owned one Stihl saw and it never leaks any oil. I just drain the gas, run the carb dry and store it with whatever oil is left in the tank, never had a leak in the 7 or so years that I have owned it.

My current Stihl is around 30 years young and still not leaking.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

My current Stihl is around 30 years young and still not leaking.

My Stihl leaks bar oil. I never drain the gas, I never switch to winter or summer oil as the seasons change and cycle through the twelve chains I have for it as they are sharpened.

 

[Rock Crawler]

My Stihl leaks bar oil. I never drain the gas, I never switch to winter or summer oil as the seasons change and cycle through the twelve chains I have for it as they are sharpened.

Same here, never drain fuel, use regular unleaded pump gas and Stihl oil... I don't treat it special. But it's always treated me special

 

[Jaylegger]

Expelling fuel to be replaced with o2 never made any sense to me. A thin film of fuel will varnish far faster on surfaces than a full bowl with less oxygen. Not too unlike paint in a can.

 

[dragoneggs]

Expelling fuel to be replaced with o2 never made any sense to me. A thin film of fuel will varnish far faster on surfaces than a full bowl with less oxygen. Not too unlike paint in a can.

Agreed. Fill it up is my standard operating procedure.

 

[5030]

Expelling fuel to be replaced with o2 never made any sense to me. A thin film of fuel will varnish far faster on surfaces than a full bowl with less oxygen. Not too unlike paint in a can.

I'm not concerned with the varnish, more concerned with ethanol coagulation. I drain my saws and run them dry as well. Yes, always use stihl 2 stroke oil and bar oil too. Did I say ethanol sucks? it does.

 

[Jaylegger]

I'm not concerned with the varnish, more concerned with ethanol coagulation. I drain my saws and run them dry as well. Yes, always use stihl 2 stroke oil and bar oil too. Did I say ethanol sucks? it does.

I was was about to post about the ethanol issue. Use ethanol free fuel or counteractive additives for storage but keep your fuel system full.

 

[5030]

Expelling fuel to be replaced with o2 never made any sense to me. A thin film of fuel will varnish far faster on surfaces than a full bowl with less oxygen. Not too unlike paint in a can.

Cute little tractor.......