Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[dragoneggs]

I've had good luck using a 4 1/2" angle grinder with a diamond blade.

I've done that and then break it with a chisel if not a through cut. But sometimes blade depth is a problem if looking for a clean through cut.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I recently bought two EarthQuake brand Impact drivers, one in 1/2" drive rated at 1200 foot pounds of force and a 3/8" drive rated at 370 foot pounds. Both use the same 20 volt batteries. I bought the kits for each that came with battery and charger so now I have two batteries and 2 chargers. I also got the 20volt EarthQuake 4.5" grinder tool and it works as well as any of my Dewalt 4.5" grinders and since I now have 2 - 4 a.h. batteries, I can use any of the tools for an extended period.
I havent had them all long enough to give a long term evaluation but they are much better quality than the Bauer or Hercules brand also sold at HF.

The only con if have with them is I just have to be careful not to overtighten bolts with them since they dont have any setting to adjust for lower impact like some of the Dewalt units.

 

[5030]

Interesting. My Bauer stuff has been flawless but then when I need serious impact power I go air and my IR impact gun. Use the heck out of my Bauer hex drive impact. **** for driving deck screws Not a fan of electric impact tools, any brand.

 

[Diggin It]

I bought the kits for each that came with battery and charger so now I have two batteries and 2 chargers.

So where will you be in a couple of years when the batteries die (like all batteries do) and HF has moved on to the next latest and greatest idea they have for a brand? There are some places that replace the guts of battery modules, but at what cost?

Can you tell I'm beginning to get annoyed with HF's constant brand 'upgrading'?

 

[Oaktree]

So where will you be in a couple of years when the batteries die (like all batteries do) and HF has moved on to the next latest and greatest idea they have for a brand? There are some places that replace the guts of battery modules, but at what cost?

Can you tell I'm beginning to get annoyed with HF's constant brand 'upgrading'?

I share your concerns, not just with HF but store brands in general.
Planned obsolescence with name brands is bad enough...

 

[5030]

Self replacement is easy enough..... HF uses high quality Sanyo cells anyway.

 

[Pixguy]

Yeah, I don't think HF has one.

Evolution is the cheapest I found. I would think for light use, this would be the one I would try. Far less than the name brands. Don't know anything about this one, but many folks have said good things about the Evolution metal dry cut saw.

Evolution DISCCUT1 12" Disc Cutter, Orange - Power Circular Saws - Amazon.com

Thank you, I've purchased it and now ready to test. The reviews were mostly great so it's worth a shot. I could be one of those guys who returns it after finishing the Jon pub and says it never worked well. Haha. Jk

My bil was a Home Depot mgr in Florida for years and people would do that all the time. Bring the lawn mower back in April after using it all winter and says it was a pc of junk, I want my money back. Crazy people.

 

[buck12]

Does anyone have one of the HF Franklin stud finders? My 25 year old Craftsman gave up the ghost.

 

[crazyal]

Self replacement is easy enough..... HF uses high quality Sanyo cells anyway.

The batteries are usually welded together. Solder would work but adds resistance.

 

[John_Mc]

The batteries are usually welded together. Solder would work but adds resistance.

A poorly executed solder joint can be a problem. A good solder joint on clean materials is seldom a problem. It makes for a far more reliable contact than just the spring loaded mechanical contact in a typical, user-accessible battery holder. The replacement batteries for power tool battery packs usually come with the little metal tabs already welded to the batteries. They are designed to be soldered to make the connections.