Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[jjeff]

Anyone have any experience with the harbor freight brand oil based uv leak detector fluid you use with the hf Braun brand uv light?

Lol uv lights all hf Braun brand uv lights and any brand at any store up north are sold out apparently everyone's buying them to search for these things locals call "yooper stones" on the beaches up here. They do have a massive surplus of oil based uv leak finder oil everywhere here hough. Meanwhile I just want to find one uv light somewhere to check for hydraulic leaks and actually see newer hydraulic fluid in a sight glass .

 

[rangerfredbob]

It looks like these are cheaper on Amazon. Hmm...

I got the Dawnroad version that's going for $60 now, I've only used my lowish torque 1/2" Bauer impact on it but it's held up fine so far (if you try really hard you can apparently shear the roll pin). Just watch the reviews as per normal on the bamazons...

 

[AntiqueIron]

dunno if it’s been posted already, but those cheap orange picks there are a great asset. I have a nice set of USA made channellock picks that I use for O rings and precision work of that sort, but the HF ones are great for pulling seals, cleaning grooves, basically anything you’d need a small tool that you can beat the snot out of like that. I keep a set around all the time, and they’ve been surprisingly hard to break.

I definitely recommend splurging on icon or something else for impact sockets- my Pittsburgh set got rounded off and beat up after a while. Good to keep in the truck though.

 

[KubotainNH]

dunno if it’s been posted already, but those cheap orange picks there are a great asset. I have a nice set of USA made channellock picks that I use for O rings and precision work of that sort, but the HF ones are great for pulling seals, cleaning grooves, basically anything you’d need a small tool that you can beat the snot out of like that. I keep a set around all the time, and they’ve been surprisingly hard to break.

I definitely recommend splurging on icon or something else for impact sockets- my Pittsburgh set got rounded off and beat up after a while. Good to keep in the truck though.

Those cheap orange handled picks certainly are nice to have around as is the 6 in 1 (I think it's called that) screwdriver.

I have 10 year old Pittsburgh impacts and those have been great, I have yet to ruin one after years of beating on them. Maybe the newer ones are not as good?

 

[KubotainNH]

I got the Dawnroad version that's going for $60 now, I've only used my lowish torque 1/2" Bauer impact on it but it's held up fine so far (if you try really hard you can apparently shear the roll pin). Just watch the reviews as per normal on the bamazons...

Thanks for that. I don't mind shearing a pin, I seem to end up modifying the cheaper tools to be better unless total junk.

 

[AntiqueIron]

Those cheap orange handled picks certainly are nice to have around as is the 6 in 1 (I think it's called that) screwdriver.

I have 10 year old Pittsburgh impacts and those have been great, I have yet to ruin one after years of beating on them. Maybe the newer ones are not as good?

To be fair I was using them hard as an ag mechanic at the time. For a DIYer or shade tree guy there’s nothing wrong with em.

 

[jjeff]

This little hf central machinery electric 5 ton log splitter works as well as my other Ryobi brand 5 ton I use down state I bought this one for up north to make kindling for wood stove and split softer wood for campfires sure beats previous more dangerous methods I used and I'm comfortable with the kids using it so they get off there screens and do something. Takes aw32 hydro fluid or dexron 2 but not recommended to mix both and comes out of box filled adequately, has recommended fluid changes every 100 hrs and will take about a gallon.

 

[Tinhack]

I have 10 year old Pittsburgh impacts and those have been great, I have yet to ruin one after years of beating on them. Maybe the newer ones are not as good?

I've got a set in it's original metal case from about 30 years ago. I haven't ruined any of those either. They're tough as nails. I did however wear out my Ingersoll-Rand 1/2" air impact wrench of the same vintage. And break a 1/2" Craftsman Breaker Bar using the same sockets.

 

[Tinhack]

Meanwhile I just want to find one uv light somewhere to check for hydraulic leaks and actually see newer hydraulic fluid in a sight glass .

I got a thumbnail sized UV light with some reading glasses I bought. It came with a UV sensitive card as well. It shows how effective the glasses are in filtering "BLUE" light. The small UV light is very bright but eats up it's battery pretty quick. It's still fun to play with.

 

[bmaverick]

I did that with mine at first, then put in some concrete anchors. Just find them, blow them out when ready to use it.

View attachment 3842909

Bruce

I'm off to Menards for these anchors in 1/2bolt x 20thd x 2-deep.

Anyone know off hand the bolt length needed? Would 3-inch or 2-3/4 work?