Harbor Freight Tools that DO SUCK II

[bcp]

When the calipers are closed, the "OUT" line lines up with the zero.

Cut and paste to show it:

Bruce

 

[California]

When the calipers are closed, the "OUT" line lines up with the zero.

Cut and paste to show it: ....

Yeah but:

Sooner or later that offset would lead to an error . This photo illustrates my point more clearly.

At a casual glance it seems the jaws are open about 0.9 mm.

Nope, 2.6. For a tool I pick up only occasionally, I don't need that sort of unnecessary ambiguity to make a project more complicated.

 

[Frankenkubota]

i got a free cheap tape measure at a trade show once, probably from a competitor.

it had the 8 inch mark twice. in other words, it went from 5 to 6 to 7 to 8....then 8 again.

took a while to figure that one out.

 

[5030]

yup

i worked in T&D, fab, precision machining, foundry's, assembly houses, screw machines, N.C. etc etc etc

Brown and Sharpe was the standard.

i just bought a plastic caliper from hf for $3.00.

i have been looking for a caliper with the old slide rule calibrations. i found one at an auction but i'd have to sit around 6 hours to get to it.

Anybody out there can still read a slide rule etc?

I can and do and I have a couple pairs of Verner calipers in my toolbox and a nice Kueffel & Esser slide rule I got from my dad.

If you want a pair of Vernier inside-outside calipers, shoot me a pm and I suspect we can work something out. I have a couple pairs with either 30 or 60 division scales on them.

 

[5030]

HF is definitely changing, in product quality I think for the better.

One thing I've found with HF and that is, you can buy their cheapo stuff (Pittsburg or Warrior or what ever and chances are it's a one use time toll that expires quickly or, you can buy the top of their line stuff (Icon or Cheif) and it's as good as or better than the current 'brand name' tools and it costs less anyway.

Case in point, I have an Icon 1/2" drive clicker torque wrench. it's as accurate in both left hand and right hand torque as my Snap on wrenches are and I had it tested on a torque master just to see. Cheap torque wrench's only indicate tightening torque (right hand), never left hand torque. The Icon indicates in both directions, something I require because I use left hand torque on heavy truck rear and front drive axles.

If I put the Icon next to the Snap-on the only difference is the laser etched name on the body. Same finish, same ratchet head, in fact, if it didn't have 'Icon' etched in the body, you cannot tell the difference other than price. The Snap-On wrench is 600 bucks. The Icon is 110 bucks.

With HF, it all depends on what you want to spend for tools. You buy the cheap stuff, you get the cheap stuff. You buy their top of the line tools, you get quality tools at better prices than the other brands.

I have to say as well that I have the 'Pittsburg' 1/2" drive impact sockets in SAE and Metric sizes (all of them actually) and I have yet to break one and I use them hard. I've split Snap-On, SK Wayne and Crapsman impact sockets, never split one of the HF Pittsburg sockets and I regularly use them to remove plow steels from snow plows which are most times extremely corroded (fasteners). Plow wear steels are held on with grade 8 Dome head plow bolts and even with repeated soaking with PBlaster and using heat, most times I twist off the nuts. My SOP is put the impact wrench on the nut and just keep pounding until something gives.

I usually use my IR Thundergun (750 pounds feet torque) but I have a new Astro Pneumatics Icon Thor wrench on order that makes a tad over 1000 pounds feet of loosening torque. I'll see if it can split one of the HF impact sockets, don't know at this point but I do know that they have a lifetime replacement guarantee so if I do split one, the replacement is just trip to HF down the road.

I also have a Chief 4.5" air angle grinder (101 bucks). it's identical to the IR 4.5 air angle grinder right down to the grease fittings on the body, is quiet as a mouse, has a paddle style throttle and structural fiber body, just like the IR. I bet both are made in the same factory only difference is the price. The IR on MSC's website is 269 bucks. the Chief is 101 bucks everyday.

 

[5030]

Additionally, none of the HF impact wrenches (air, corded or cordless) make anywhere near the torque values listed on the box. You can actually see what they put out on the Torque Test You Tube channel, very informative and very unbiased too.

Why I bought an Astro Pneumatic Thor. Torque Test Channel rates them number one in power delivered and like IR, they are made in the USA. The Thor is priced right with the comparable IR wrenches too. I gave $180 bucks for the Thor which is within a few bucks of what my IR cost me. Don't have it yet, it's on backorder, coming this month hopefully. Summit Racing has the best price btw.

I use air impact wrenches extremely hard, always have.

 

[the old grind]

3/8" air hoses and common QAs with 3/16" restrictions in male fittings will hamper getting full torque from an impact gun. Doing brake and suspension work the HFT electric impact gets 'er done when the air-powered ones won't. (CP, HFT, Ingersol) A 12 Ga extension cord is easier to manipulate than even a 1/4" air hose & getting out the blue wrench isn't needed as often.

 

[5030]

Air delivery has never been an issue with me. I run 1/2" hose and my CFM delivery is over 30 CFM. The Thor comes with high delivery fittings included.

Unlike most folks, I have my compressor (Sullaire screw) cut back to 135 psi versus the usual 175. It's CFM air delivery that determines how much an air motor in any air tool can deliver in power, not so much the static pressure. Having said that 175 psi will deliver a bit more power, but not all that much and the higher the pressure developed by any compressor, the shorter the life of that compressor and the more condensate produced as well. I run electromechanical timed condensate drains on all 3 of my compressors (2 are standby when I run my plasma table). Worst enemy of any compressor is standing water (condensate) in any receiver. Condensate rusts the receiver from the inside out.

Rule of thumb on most compressor failures isn't the compressor head but the receiver failing from lack of draining condensate regularly. Auto timed drains eliminate that.

 

[5030]

Like I said previously, especially with HF air impacts and corded and cordless ones is, what it states on the box and what they actually produce is 2 distinctly different things. Kind of applies to all impacts, called creative advertising.

The Torque Test channel will show you that. I recommend them actually. Very unbiased tests and they test them all...

I own an IR 1" air impact extended anvil gun as well (2900 pounds feet of left hand loosening torque) but it's heavy and very cumbersome and it's certainly a 2 hander too. Better have a firm grip on the buddy handle, it's a wrist breaker.

 

[5030]

I'm trying to decide whether I'd rather have two good pistols or one excellent one. Even that would be a tough choice.

Just buy multiple ones like I have, just not cheap ones. I'm a Kimber and S&W person myself.