Harbor Freight tools that DO suck

[CADplans]

OK, this is different,, the thing that makes a Harbor Freight tool suck,,
is the reason this tool is perfect for the job,,

Rotary Tool Kit, 8 Pc.

When I cut my nails on my fingers, the clipper leaves them sharp,,
Well the HF Rotary Tool has almost zero power,, so, when I used it to smooth my nails,,
if I pressed the sanding drum too hard, the drum would instantly stall rather than doing damage to my hand! :thumbsup:

The tool even removed a callus from my big toe,, it was amazing!!

The nail salon is closed due to COVID, my wife is on the porch right now shortening her nails,, using the HF Rotary Tool
What a GREAT tool, and all because the tool sucks at what it was designed to do!! :cool2:

 

[California]

Rotary Tool Kit, 8 Pc.
Well the HF Rotary Tool has almost zero power,, so, when I used it to smooth my nails...

That's the $10 Drillmaster version, junk. Maybe it was made for manicures.

In contrast the $25 rotary tool is worthwhile, it will do what you expect. Rated 160 watts (1.3A).
I put a long shank third-party wire wheel in it, then pressed so hard (without bogging down) that the shank bent to 90 degrees. This caused vibration so severe that it was all I could do to hold onto the tool and reach the switch with my other hand. Plenty of power! It's not an air powered die grinder but its fine for what it is.

 

[5030]

I hate all the HF hoses, bought one of the "higher end" hoses a couple years ago and don't like it, kinks way too easy.

Northern Tool sells USA made goodyear hoses for about the same price as the HF hose, even cheaper if you get them on sale.

For me, the STINK is worse than the KINK. HF air hoses all stink, literally. Just like their tarp straps.:laughing:

 

[TMGT]

For me, the STINK is worse than the KINK. HF air hoses all stink, literally. Just like their tarp straps.:laughing:

The one I have doesn't have a smell.

 

[5030]

The one I have doesn't have a smell.

Sure you aren't Covid positive? I heard that if you are asymptomatic, one of the first things to go is your sense of smell?....

 

[5030]

Do not purchase the air powered (venturi) vacuum pump from HF, it's total trash. Won't pull even close to 30" of mercury vacuum, might pull 20 which isn't enough to evacuate any ac system, let alone extract any moisture (you need 30" at least) and it's cheap plastic junk that fails almost immediately. Get the single stage motor driven one or the 2 stage (which is faster pull down). The manifold set isn't too bad but the plastic knobs kinda suck.

 

[3Ts]

It's my understanding that if you're doing HVAC work you'll need to get down to something on the order of 300um of vacuum (for the mini splits) and to hold it there for awhile. That means you'll need a decent quality pump and a digital (not analog) vacuum gauge. And that a slow pump down is better than a quick pump down because it allows air/moisture to come out of the walls of the pipe that has been absorbed into the copper matrix over time.

 

[Bullwinkle123]

For me, the STINK is worse than the KINK. HF air hoses all stink, literally. Just like their tarp straps.:laughing:

I have some of their cheap air hoses, which didn't stink when I bought them. The smelliest HF thing I bought was a cheap set of screwdrivers, and they stunk up the workshop for a couple of years. I think it was some cheap plasticky grip material.

 

[5030]

It's my understanding that if you're doing HVAC work you'll need to get down to something on the order of 300um of vacuum (for the mini splits) and to hold it there for awhile. That means you'll need a decent quality pump and a digital (not analog) vacuum gauge. And that a slow pump down is better than a quick pump down because it allows air/moisture to come out of the walls of the pipe that has been absorbed into the copper matrix over time.

30 inches of mercury vacuum for at least 30 minutes is necessary for automotive and ag units. Never did a residential init so I don't have a clue about them. All I know is the cheap HF air powered pump is junk. The single stage powered one is ok for what I do as is the 2 stage. Analog is fine for my uses. Just so long as the gauge shows vacuum to 30" or better.

 

[Alan W.]

Had one of the orange air hoses and the end blew off from it. Bounced off the concrete wall hard, glad it wasn’t my noggin.

The last two freebie blue lights I have gotten have really weak magnets.

 

[5030]

Had one of the orange air hoses and the end blew off from it. Bounced off the concrete wall hard, glad it wasn’t my noggin.

The last two freebie blue lights I have gotten have really weak magnets.

10-4 on that but free is free.

 

[Travelover]

........The last two freebie blue lights I have gotten have really weak magnets.

I noticed that they cheapened up the magnets a long time ago. The original ones had a great magnet it would pull out of the glue that held it to the light.

 

[Deere Dude]

I am having fits with replacement electrical cord ends. Those yellow ones. I made the huge mistake of buying a lot of them to fix all my extension cords. All are junk in that I need to plug them in just right to make a connection and most times if it moves a little bit the connection is lost. They weren't cheap by any means and look nice but they sure don't have a firm connection. Or is there a fix of some sort?

When I connect a two pronger to it, it is really annoying. Three prongers are almost as bad.

 

[TMGT]

30 inches of mercury vacuum for at least 30 minutes is necessary for automotive and ag units. Never did a residential init so I don't have a clue about them. All I know is the cheap HF air powered pump is junk. The single stage powered one is ok for what I do as is the 2 stage. Analog is fine for my uses. Just so long as the gauge shows vacuum to 30" or better.

Max vacuum that can be achieved if altitude dependent, so dependent on elevation, you might not be able to reach 30" (well 29.92") unless you're below sea level.

 

[TMGT]

Sure you aren't Covid positive? I heard that if you are asymptomatic, one of the first things to go is your sense of smell?....

I might, I'm considered essential and have a number of coworkers that have tested positive, most recovered but some I haven't heard anything for a while since they've been on ventilators.

Actually waiting to hear if I was in the contact trace for the latest coworker case that was confirmed positive today.

But I've had this hose for a couple years so pretty sure it doesn't stink.

 

[defranks]

"I am having fits with replacement electrical cord ends. Those yellow ones. I made the huge mistake of buying a lot of them to fix all my extension cords. All are junk in that I need to plug them in just right to make a connection and most times if it moves a little bit the connection is lost. They weren't cheap by any means and look nice but they sure don't have a firm connection. Or is there a fix of some sort?

When I connect a two pronger to it, it is really annoying. Three prongers are almost as bad."

That's interesting. I bought several of them to replace damaged connectors on some tools and extension cords, and they've worked perfectly. I wonder if HF buys from multiple sources.

 

[5030]

I might, I'm considered essential and have a number of coworkers that have tested positive, most recovered but some I haven't heard anything for a while since they've been on ventilators.

Actually waiting to hear if I was in the contact trace for the latest coworker case that was confirmed positive today.

But I've had this hose for a couple years so pretty sure it doesn't stink.

Essential until you 'essentially expire'. That essential stuff is BS in my opinion. Got a bunch of HF tarp straps hanging in the garage that have slowly degraded all winter. The stink and won't stretch anymore without snapping. Good stuff there....

 

[TMGT]

Essential until you 'essentially expire'. That essential stuff is BS in my opinion. Got a bunch of HF tarp straps hanging in the garage that have slowly degraded all winter. The stink and won't stretch anymore without snapping. Good stuff there....

So you don't think police/fire/medical is essential?

Maybe you should just throw away those tarp straps if you hate them so bad.

 

[5030]

So you don't think police/fire/medical is essential?

Maybe you should just throw away those tarp straps if you hate them so bad.

I'm not gonna comment about that except to say it's a personal choice. Out here we handle our own 'protection' but then you are living in 'that state'. I'm not. They are headed to the trash 'burn pile', minus the hooks. I can use them for other things.

 

[TMGT]

I'm not gonna comment about that

Guess there's a first for everything!