Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[5030]

Like I said, only drawback with the HF changer is, you'd better be changing steel rims only. It will eat up alloy rims, right now. Steel is no issue. If you want to do aluminum / alloy rims you need either the No-Mar tool or the Lucid Autowerks unit. I myself prefer the Lucid over the No-Mar because the only wear part is the duckbill which you can buy anywhere. With the No-mar, you have to purchase the wear parts from them. The Lucid costs a bit more and you need to be a fairly good welder because it comes unassembled but if you can operate a glue gun ad have rudimentary jigging capabilities it's not an issue welding it up.

Either way, I suggest getting a tub of No-mar tire lube and bead grease. makes the task immeasurably easier.

 

[rangerfredbob]

I dealt with those 8 tires last weekend, two on aluminum wheels and it didn't do too much to the aluminum wheels, I think the bead breaker made more marks than the bar did... but I used the spoon end of the bar for everything, couldn't make sense out of the other end, spoon end made quick work out of the job and only scratched some of the clearcoat off the aluminum wheels... It was raining while I was doing all that so that might have helped?

 

[5030]

I dealt with those 8 tires last weekend, two on aluminum wheels and it didn't do too much to the aluminum wheels, I think the bead breaker made more marks than the bar did... but I used the spoon end of the bar for everything, couldn't make sense out of the other end, spoon end made quick work out of the job and only scratched some of the clearcoat off the aluminum wheels... It was raining while I was doing all that so that might have helped?

Where the stock HF changer really boogers alloy wheels is in the center where the steel spider gouges them between the lug holes, not so much on the edge of the rim but the Lucid adapter uses an aluminum tapered centering cone so no gouging at all and the duckbill removes the bead so nothing touches the rim either. Like I said it's as good as my ancient Coats 1010, maybe a bit better and certainly lots cheaper than a new mechanical tire machine. Of course you do have to weld the Lucid together before you can use it. Comes unassembled.

 

[crazyal]

I modified my HF tire changer so the part of the tool that removes the tire has a piece of teflon on it where it runs against the wheel. As long as there's no dirt on the wheel and a little dish soap it doesn't do any damage. As for the part that holds the wheel down I made mine have 5 points, not four since my wheels have 5 lug nuts. I have a piece of rubber conveyor belt and a piece of carpet below that between the steel part and the wheel. The steel pin that keeps the wheel from spinning broke off so I now have a broken 3/8" extension for a socket set. It fits nicer than the smaller diameter pin.

I've looked at the Lucid adapter but it seams overpriced for what you get. I'm not sure if there's $50 worth of steel there. The aluminum spacer seems useful and without a lathe making it would be hard.

I put some 1/2" cement anchors into the floor of my garage. I keep bolts in them at all times to keep dirt out of them. I remove the short ones that plug the hole, put the tire changer on top, and use longer bolts to hold it down.

 

[5030]

Pre Lucid, I used a solid bronze thrust disc from a Class 8 truck king pin kit to cushion the cheap adapter and that worked. I don't know if the Lucid unit is overpriced or not. it's free shipping which is worth 20 bucks right there and steel has tripled in cost (I know I buy mill lengths of various shapes and sizes for the fab shop). I'd say he's making a few bucks and why not, it is a good design and it's his. I don't expect anyone to give stuff like that away for free. The duckbill is good for another 20 and he has thrust bearings and bronze spacers too. It all adds up. The Lucid makes dismounting and mounting a one hand job. Little bit of bead lube (I don't use dishwash detergent), I use the No-Mar stuff. and off they come or on they go. One handed.

Mine is lag bolted to the floor as well. I tried the pallet thing, didn't play very well.

 

[Diggin It]

Grout removal ... need to do a small section, about one 12" tile. Looked at the multi-tools and diamond blades today, but couldn't choke up the $40 or so for such a small section. Ended up with some diamond rotary cutters for a Dremel tool I already have. Gonna give those a shot first, then see where I go.

 

[Ford850]

Grout removal ... need to do a small section, about one 12" tile. Looked at the multi-tools and diamond blades today, but couldn't choke up the $40 or so for such a small section. Ended up with some diamond rotary cutters for a Dremel tool I already have. Gonna give those a shot first, then see where I go.

Grout saw Grout Saw $4.99 full price.

 

[lostcreekranch]

Grout saw Grout Saw $4.99 full price.

I’ve got one of those .. and they work very well. You can use your 20% coupon too.

 

[Diggin It]

Interesting. Reviews seem mixed, but for $5 and 8" of grout, why not? Not sure when I'll get back to town though.

 

[Ford850]

Interesting. Reviews seem mixed, but for $5 and 8" of grout, why not? Not sure when I'll get back to town though.

Used reciprocating saw blades, partially wrapped in tape for a handle, work too.