Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

newbury · May 26, 2020

patrick_g said:
I have an older HF unit similar to the OP's unit and it works well enough. I also have an HF unit that is a small carpenters level wth regular bubbles B U T it has a laser built in too that you can turn on and off. It is the handiest of the lot. I also like using water hoses (regular garden hose) of any length as a level and can get things level over hundreds of feet away within 0.1 inches or less. Better than many of the less expensive laser levels that don't have really bright pinpoint beams out at a distance. All it costs is the hassle of dealing with however many garden hoses it takes to span the distance in question and a few inches of clear hose to go at each end of the hoses.

I do similar, either lengths of aquarium tubing for short runs, garden hose for long. I had a LOT of aquariums and a lot of tubing. I put together tubing, a jug of water AND some food coloring for leveling a shed. It doesn't work well in below freezing temps

A few drops of dark food coloring (or any dye) sure helps.

hunt4570 · May 26, 2020

newbury said:
I do similar, either lengths of aquarium tubing for short runs, garden hose for long. I had a LOT of aquariums and a lot of tubing. I put together tubing, a jug of water AND some food coloring for leveling a shed. It doesn't work well in below freezing temps A few drops of dark food coloring (or any dye) sure helps.

I've actually got an old water level, it has device at one end that chimes when the other end of the tube gets to the level its set at. One person operation.

lostcreekranch · May 30, 2020

I was looking for a new shop stool on the Internet and the one from HF popped up, with a nice coupon price of $19.99 instead of $27.99 so .. almost 30% off.

Pneumatic Roller Seat

Assembly was easy .. you insert the top of the gas cylinder into the underside of the seat and bottom end presses into the already assembled base with casters. The seat has some padding and materials seem to be pretty good. The gas cylinder gives you about 5" of height adjustment.

Fallon · May 30, 2020

lostcreekranch said:
I was looking for a new shop stool on the Internet and the one from HF popped up, with a nice coupon price of $19.99 instead of $27.99 so .. almost 30% off.

Pneumatic Roller Seat

Assembly was easy .. you insert the top of the gas cylinder into the underside of the seat and bottom end presses into the already assembled base with casters. The seat has some padding and materials seem to be pretty good. The gas cylinder gives you about 5" of height adjustment.

I've had one for a few years. A little spindly, but it holds my 210lbs fine & has lasted a few years at least. I just don't lean much on it. It rolls easily so you can just scoot it over so you don't have to lean anyway.

5030 · May 30, 2020

I was at HF yesterday and I too noticed a lot of empty spaces on the various shelves. Must be an issue with getting their doses of Chineseum in lately. I 'm wanting one of the new Bauer 20 volt transfer pumps but twice now my local HF don't have it. I left without anything. Unusual for me.:laughing:

MinnesotaEric · May 30, 2020

Since the store didn't have any in red and red is back-ordered for a few weeks, I ordered a new 42" Generation 2 roll-away to hold my 3/4" and 1" drive sockets in the top drawer since my primary toolbox socket drawer is way, way over-populated. I have a 42" Generation 2 top box and although I think the plastic detents would quickly fail in pro-use, I like the new drawer detents way, way better than the old pusher-type locks on the prior generation boxes. I'll see how the 42" likes holding up 50 pounds of sockets. The rest of the drawers will be used to hold hardware and smaller special tools that I don't often need.

5030 · May 30, 2020

Just got another nice Kennedy roll around, top box and bottom box at a garage sale for 50 bucks. That makes 3 now. All full. One is just metric stuff.

newbury · May 30, 2020

Any feedback on the "new" red 6 ton floor jacks? I've gone 3 times to get an old model gray pair this year and they've been out at the store and now it's clearance and "in store only". The only difference seems to be color and $10.

lostcreekranch · May 31, 2020

Fallon said:
I've had one for a few years. A little spindly, but it holds my 210lbs fine & has lasted a few years at least. I just don't lean much on it. It rolls easily so you can just scoot it over so you don't have to lean anyway.

This is what mine replaced .. see the crack? That bucked me off. But the red one lasted about 30 years.

Diggin It · May 31, 2020

This is the paint sprayer I just mentioned on another thread: 64 oz. Professional Air Spray Gun Kit

I haven't decided yet if it does or doesn't or if it's just me being new to it.