Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[IndyJay]

Years ago some other outfit sold angle grinders on the WWW for something like $4.95 a pop. I ordered five. I was lucky to get two hours of light intermittent use out of them. One failed in less than two minutes. After a while I quit bothering with them. There's probably an unopened one around here somewhere now.

A great stocking stuffer... (for someone you don't particularly like).

 

[stuckmotor]

A great stocking stuffer... (for someone you don't particularly like).

Someone said that when they wanted a quote on a run of a product to be manufactured in China, the factory representative asked how good he wanted it on a scale of one to ten. Those junk grinders have to have been a one.

 

[IndyJay]

Someone said that when they wanted a quote on a run of a product to be manufactured in China, the factory representative asked how good he wanted it on a scale of one to ten. Those junk grinders have to have been a one.

Maybe it lost something in translation...
"Do they want us to make #1 quality"?
"No, they said they want #10".

 

[BravoXray]

You have the patience of a saint!

Those are throwaway tools, I would make a first repair myself but replace it with another cheap one if it failed again. Then retire the new one to lighter-duty work, a wire brush wheel to clean finished welds or something.

Hey, $29 is $29.

I got about $5 in it in parts for repairs, and about $200 in labor.

 

[stuckmotor]

Maybe it lost something in translation...
"Do they want us to make #1 quality"?
"No, they said they want #10".

I took one to be worst quality and ten best.

 

[California]

Today I bought the Earthquake (version 1) long-nose impact wrench (62746) that is on Closeout for $52. Claimed 800 ft. lbs. of bolt breakaway torque.

I like it! I tried it out today, ten lug bolts - to grease the wheel bearings in the utility trailer.

I check the lugs every year or so with a beam torque wrench so they had to have been close to the '85 to 95 ft lbs' molded on the heads of the bolts.

Zip and it was off. Every lug. Far better than the HF $29 impact (claimed 250 ft lbs, ya sure) that couldn't start some of these lugs the last time I used it.

Tightening, same. At lowest of 3 settings, it easily did 100 ft lbs if I let it hammer for an instant after the socket quit spinning. I used a gentler touch and finished torquing the lugs with the beam torque wrench so as to not overtighten them.

HF got this one right, it's a keeper. I don't own anything that this tool can't do.

 

[Oaktree]

HF got this one right, it's a keeper. I don't own anything that this tool can't do.

Which means that by this time next year it'll be discontinued...

 

[jthibodeau89]

As already discontinued and on closeout.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Which means that by this time next year it'll be discontinued...

They already are. These have been around for quite a few years. Not sure if the replacements are as good or not.

 

[IndyJay]

I took one to be worst quality and ten best.

I guess it lost something in translation...

 

[sodamo]

I took one to be worst quality and ten best.

I have to wonder. Being #10 was an insult, being the worst when I was in Vietnam.

 

[stuckmotor]

The person who explained the scale was selling or had sold a product and said his products were #8. If the higher numbers had been the worst he wouldn't have said that.

 

[Oaktree]

They already are. These have been around for quite a few years. Not sure if the replacements are as good or not.

Huh. Shows how often I get to HF these days.
Since they discontinued the paper catalogs & coupons I guess I haven't kept up. I still get their emails, but the pictures don't always load.

 

[IndyJay]

I bought a new jig saw to replace my 30 year old Craftsman that was still working, but the screw to secure the blade was rounded out so bad that I could no longer tighten it enough. Or at least that was as good excuse as any...

After some comparison shopping of "big brands" I bought a 6.5 Bauer corded saw ($59.99), so far seems like a nice saw. Has laser guide which the others did not. All other features similar to much more expensive saws. I usually buy DeWalt but they seem to keep escalating their prices (Their 6.5 amp corded is $149.99 with no laser).

Since the new saw uses t-shank, I had to buy some blades as well. HF had a 30 piece set from Bauer ($14.99) that basically comes out to ~$0.50 per blade. Judging by the markings on the blades, they appear to be relabeled Bosch blades (assuming that the numbers are not universal).

I consider this a great deal for both the saw and the blades.

6.5 Amp Orbital Variable Speed Jig Saw with Laser

Amazing deals on this 6.5A Variable Orbital Jig Saw W/Laser at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

T-shank General Purpose Jig Saw Blade Set, 30 Piece

Amazing deals on this T-Shank Gp Jig Saw Blade Set, 30Pc at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[Rock Crawler]

My daughter's boyfriend works on medium duty diesel trucks for a living. His 3/4" drive HF Earthquake impact blew apart while using it today.

Place a mark down in the suck category.

 

[IndyJay]

Wow, you were not exaggerating when you said it "blew apart"... it literally fragged!

 

[stuckmotor]

My daughter's boyfriend works on medium duty diesel trucks for a living. His 3/4" drive HF Earthquake impact blew apart while using it today.

Place a mark down in the suck category. View attachment 716858

Looks like the snout blew out. I hope he wasn't hurt.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Looks like the snout blew out. I hope he wasn't hurt.

He was removing lugs on the wheel of an international straight frame truck when it grenaded on him. No injury. He's going to buy an IR 621 to replace it, that 3/4" Earthquake was just over 3 months old.

 

[IndyJay]

He was removing lugs on the wheel of an international straight frame truck when it grenaded on him. No injury. He's going to buy an IR 621 to replace it, that 3/4" Earthquake was just over 3 months old.

I dunno... maybe he can get parts for it...

 

[stuckmotor]

He was removing lugs on the wheel of an international straight frame truck when it grenaded on him. No injury. He's going to buy an IR 621 to replace it, that 3/4" Earthquake was just over 3 months old.

I'm glad he's OK and hope he has better luck with the IR.