Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[MossRoad]

Electric space heaters should NEVER be on any type of extension cord, let alone a discount outlet strip.

That reminds me of my old job. Several times a year we'd get a call that a computer wasn't working. Inspection would reveal a power strip with a tripped breaker and one of the outlets burnt and melted, yet no space heater anywhere....

We could usually find them in a coat closet. They know they weren't supposed to have them in the building. :laughing:

 

[Oaktree]

That reminds me of my old job. Several times a year we'd get a call that a computer wasn't working. Inspection would reveal a power strip with a tripped breaker and one of the outlets burnt and melted, yet no space heater anywhere....

Not a space heater, but just as bad. A couple years ago I found an air conditioner plugged into the socket on a cheap-o drop light (with a 3 prong "cheater" plug). I'm surprised something didn't catch fire...the handle on that light was too hot to hold.

 

[stuckmotor]

Not a space heater, but just as bad. A couple years ago I found an air conditioner plugged into the socket on a cheap-o drop light (with a 3 prong "cheater" plug). I'm surprised something didn't catch fire...the handle on that light was too hot to hold.

I watched my shop teacher melt a tiny extension cord in two by using it with a belt sander. He couldn't have taught a better lesson if he'd done it on purpose.

 

[daugen]

this is why I make sure my extension cords are made in USA and my surge protector strips are all by Tripplite.
But even Tripplite appears to have a few problems, I read the bad reviews too and there are a few of them complaining of surge protectors not lasting
long or burning up. Not lasting long I can appreciate, they are supposed to die to protect other devices, but burning up? Circuit breaker should have shut down first,
and internal wiring heavy enough not to be first point of failure. That you clearly don't get for four bucks from Hunan province...

 

[LouNY]

I had several surge suppressors go earlier this spring, several different brands and models.
They were over heating and smoking then tripping the panel breakers.
None of them tripped the internal breakers.
The issue was the neutral in my meter base, we knew it had issues National Grid had done a repair and we were waiting for the electrician to
come out and replace the meter base and add a disconnect at the meter (not required when the original install was done).
Ended up having to run on the generator for 2 1/2 days.

 

[Popgadget]

The active ingredient in most surge suppressors is a MOV, a metallic oxide varistor. They are wired in the circuit as a short between legs as well as to ground. At a threshold voltage which is above the normal operating voltage they will conduct, creating a short that redirects the surge from the protected equipment. They are generally a sacrificial part, and smell bad when they give their life doing their duty.

It is the shorted MOV that typically trips the breaker in the panel. They are inexpensive and easily replaced if you are a cheapskate and don’t want to pitch your favorite power strip.

Better units like the Tripp-Lite often have multiple layers of protection as well as some filtering for noise. But most power strips use only an MOV or three for protection.

But I’d never use a power strip for an extension cord, and it would be very rare for me to use a cord smaller than 14ga. Most of my cords are 10 or 12.

 

[rangerfredbob]

Just got my 56" tool box top and bottom today and I'm still a fan on the US General stuff... this thing is as nice as my smaller version that I've had for a few years. I thought the drawer latches had multiple finger loop things instead of just one angle but whatever... I'm not convinced I'll need them so might bypass once I get the box in a final location anyway.

Of course they nicked a corner of the top box, right under the trim thing between the two drawers at the bottom, it's not creased so I'll just massage it back into place with a dead blow hammer or something, I don't feel like dealing with a return or waiting for 2 weeks for a replacement even though I don't have a floor yet for the shop...

 

[crazyal]

Has anyone actually bought a tool box from HF that didn't have a dent somewhere on it? Both of mine did. I straightened them myself but it seams like a common theme.

 

[KubotainNH]

Has anyone actually bought a tool box from HF that didn't have a dent somewhere on it? Both of mine did. I straightened them myself but it seams like a common theme.

I bought the 4 drawer tech cart and it did not have any dents. Maybe because it's way less weight than the big ones. I really like the cart. If I did get one with a blemish I would ask for some money off instead or even a gift card as that saves everyone hassle in the long run and lets face it, the unit is gonna get marked up.

 

[rangerfredbob]

I got the boxes on sale, for top and bottom I was already at $1049 with regular price being almost $1400 I think...

My 44" box was undamaged but wasn't special order, and I have a friend with several of the older black carts that were fine, his 56" box took two tries I think though...