Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Grumpycat]

Years ago I bought the 6’ level. I checked it when I got home with a high $$ one and it was dead nuts on! Went with HF because it was something I only needed once in a while!

It didn’t suck!!!

You compared a level to another level?

You know if it says the surface is level then you turn the level around every which way and it sill says the surface is level, then the level is square and accurate.

 

[paulsharvey]

Years ago I bought the 6’ level. I checked it when I got home with a high $$ one and it was dead nuts on! Went with HF because it was something I only needed once in a while!

It didn’t suck!!!

I have the 6 ft level, and it's OK, but kinda light and I don't think it would survive much abuse; however; it was dirt cheap. So cheap, I didn't feel bad when I need a 6 ft straight edge to screed concrete... No way you would do that with a $100 Empire.

Yes, I agree; you shouldn't abuse the tool; however; let's face it; they do get abused. Stuff gets put on top of them; they get jammed in back seat of the truck, they get dropped, ect

 

[BigGG]

There is something different about that Chinese rubber. One of the biggest HF disappointments are the black rubber bungie cords. The black rubber always cracks in about a year, whether exposed to the sun or indoors.

I think they're compounding their hazardous waste in the plastic and rubber before shipping it out.

 

[5030]

You compared a level to another level?

You know if it says the surface is level then you turn the level around every which way and it sill says the surface is level, then the level is square and accurate.

You ought to watch me calibrate my Starrett Machinist levels. They read inclination in thousands of an inch. Exactly how I calibrate them as well. Just a bit finer adjustments. Actually, 90 degrees works just fine. I use the bed ways on one of the engine lathes. they can be a pizzer at times because temperature impacts them. At well over 200 bucks each, they don't get banged around either. They go back into their fitted case when not in use. I believe the clear vials are filled with alcohol and the graduations are chemically etched into the glass. Just a slight deviation from true causes a large deviation in the bubble.

 

[jjeff]

Thought I'd try something new and figured it would be easy so I bought a hf measuring wheel over 10 years ago when I was laying out stakes to rough clear and grade for a 24x36 pole barn. All I can say is I'm lucky I had a 100' tape with me lol. That series of measuring wheels was complete garbage and it ended up there, not remotely accurate within several feet.

 

[5030]

never used one. I do use a Ligmate for marking off distance on logs prior to bucking.

 

[Grumpycat]

You ought to watch me calibrate my Starrett Machinist levels. They read inclination in thousands of an inch. Exactly how I calibrate them as well. Just a bit finer adjustments. Actually, 90 degrees works just fine. I use the bed ways on one of the engine lathes. they can be a pizzer at times because temperature impacts them. At well over 200 bucks each, they don't get banged around either. They go back into their fitted case when not in use. I believe the clear vials are filled with alcohol and the graduations are chemically etched into the glass. Just a slight deviation from true causes a large deviation in the bubble.

When I was a wee lad, I had a child's toolkit with a real saw, a real but small hammer, and a wooden level. Something happened to break the bubble glass. Dad took me into a lab one Saturday at Virginia Tech and we worked on making a new bubble with glass tubing on Bunsen burner.

I don't recall my level was ever a very good level after that but every time I played with that level I remembered making multiple replacement bubbles until we thought we had one that was good enough.

 

[jjeff]

Thought I'd try something new and figured would be easy so I bought a hf measuring wheel over 10 years ago when I was laying out stakes to rough clear and level for a 24x36 pole barn. All I can say is I'm lucky I had a 100' tape with me lol. That series of measuring wheels was complete garbage and it ended up there, not remotely accurate within several feet.

never used one. I do use a Ligmate for marking off distance on logs prior to bucking.

Initially I figured it was off due to elevation changes and debris then I took it to my paved road measured 100' with a tape got almost 120 or so with that contraption in disbelief I trashed it. I do however have a few of those cheap plastic calipers they have come in handy for measuring bolts, fasteners , hoses, etc and are durable enough to throw in a tool bag and cheap enough to have a few lying around.

 

[Alan46]

You compared a level to another level?

You know if it says the surface is level then you turn the level around every which way and it sill says the surface is level, then the level is square and accurate.

Thanks for the feedback, I learn something new everyday!

That’s why I love TBN.

 

[paulsharvey]

When did HF stop selling individual large sockets/wrenches? This morning I went to get a 34mm/1-5/16" socket or wrench for a pitman arm nut. They had the 'front axle socket kit' which had it included, but I didn't want to buy the whole kit for $69.99, when I only needed one socket. Down side, TSC, had it, but only in 3/4" drive, and 100% sold out of 1/2" to 3/4" adapter...