Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[5030]

I'm always serious about welding as I fabricate and sell a product to the motorcycling public and it has to be right.

 

[jjeff]

Well Miller owns Hobart or at least their parent company does.

Hobart's like millers equivalent of snapons blue point line imo. I own a few Hobart's never had any problems with any of them.

 

[jjeff]

another TBN member recommended this, has a 95 percent 5 star rating. Not a cheap tool but clearly a good one.

1200 Lumen LED Rechargeable Underhood Work Light

Amazing deals on this 1200L Underhood Rechargeable Work Light at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

I like rechargeable battery work lights, another good alternative is this rechargeable led Menards "smart electrician" rebrand had it for a couple years always works, reasonably priced, I believe it has a built in smart usb charger meaning you can plug it in and forget about it when it needs a recharge.

 

[jjeff]

Isn't Craftsman tools made in China?

Probably these days, a decade or so ago just electric tools were Chinese made.
My old table saw, China,
Hand tools, wrenches, ratchets, most sockets , nut driver's, screw driver's "forged" in USA anyway.

 

[5030]

I have some of the old 'Made in USA Craftsman stuff as well. I believe Williams made them for Sears and Grabuck Craftsman.

I also have a lot of SK Wayne (Dresser) and Snap On and a smattering of Matco as well.

 

[Tinhack]

Isn't Craftsman tools made in China?

Yep. Same as many of the "Name Brand" tools. I've seen Korea, Vietnam, Tiwan, China and Thailand on DeWalt tools and accessories. The only Stanley tools I have are old and they were made in USA. All of my old Craftsman tools say made in USA too.

 

[Tinhack]

I have some of the old 'Made in USA Craftsman stuff as well. I believe Williams made them for Sears and Grabuck Craftsman.

I also have a lot of SK Wayne (Dresser) and Snap On and a smattering of Matco as well.

I have a list somewhere that identified the maker of tools and equipment based on the 3-digit prefix of the part number. As I recall, there were about 100 entries on that list. But that includes all tools and equipment. Even rulers. Appliances and other home goods were on a different list.

 

[jjeff]

Zr 13 obd scanner had for several years now, I'm not a mechanic so it does more than what I need it for and capable of but has multiple test parameters on top of scanning/ resetting check engine lights. Anyways it's paid for itself and then some especially when you have intermittent trouble lights that don't log the codes. In fact just 2 weeks ago I "fixed" my wife's car it has a capless fuel fill that I dislike, cleaned and lubricated inner and outer seals reset CE light and it's been off and stayed off ever since.

 

[John_Mc]

When looking at hand tools, which tends to be the higher quality HF tool, Quinn or Doyle. (There is no Icon version of what I'm looking for.)

 

[LouNY]

Well Harbor Freight got a bunch of my money today;
Just bought one of their Atlas 80 volt chainsaws and a battery and charger.
Been tossing things back and forth in my mind for quite awhile as I have quite a bit of Milwaukee M18 tools
and have used the little M18 saw it was good for small limbs and such.
I also have some of the Bauer 20 volt stuff which works decently.
But anymore I very seldom use my chainsaw, it will often sit for 6 months or more between uses, but then it will often get a workout
taking care of downed trees and I don't think the M18 would do the job if needed after a storm.
So went with a much more expensive setup of course the battery cost more then the saw did.
We shall see charging the battery tonight!