Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[RobertEH]

Doyle hand tools are fantastic!

I love their hitch vise as well.

https://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-hitch-vise-58880.html

 

[kenmbz]

Doyle hand tools are fantastic!

I love their hitch vise as well.

https://www.harborfreight.com/6-in-hitch-vise-58880.html

View attachment 876517

I also have this and love it, for hitch and non hitch use.

 

[Cycledude]

Couple weeks ago I used my brothers 18 volt Milwaukee pruning saw and really liked it. It’s pretty much like a Saws-all but it’s designed to be easy to operate with one hand.
Today at the local Harbor Freight store they had a returned 20 volt Bauer pruning saw, it looks like new and the price was $23.18 after the 20% discount so I bought it, also bought the 2 year free replacement warranty for another $23.99 and 5 pruning blades, grand total came to $59.25 . I already own a 20 volt Bauer battery and charger so I didn’t need to buy that.
Changing blades is almost unbelievably easy with this thing, no tools needed.

https://www.harborfreight.com/20v-brushless-cordless-compact-reciprocating-saw-tool-only-58458.html

A new 18 volt Milwaukee pruning saw would cost $169 plus tax without a battery or charger or blades.
I have owned a Milwaukee Saws all for many years, it’s a handy tool but the new cordless stuff is so much nicer especially the no tool required blade changing feature.

 

[California]

Couple weeks ago I used my brothers 18 volt Milwaukee pruning saw and really liked it. It’s pretty much like a Saws-all but it’s designed to be easy to operate with one hand.
Today at the local Harbor Freight store they had a returned 20 volt Bauer pruning saw,

https://www.harborfreight.com/20v-brushless-cordless-compact-reciprocating-saw-tool-only-58458.html

Please come back to describe how well this works for pruning. I tried a cordless reciprocating saw for pruning in my orchard, mostly for clearing out unwanted suckers and rotten limbs too big for the long handle pruner, and didn't like it.

My favorite now is something I saw recommended somewhere (here?) by a pro arborist, the Silky PocketBoy folding pruning saw from Japan. This thing is incredibly sharp, it cuts twice as fast as anything else I've used while using less force. Folded it's no longer than pruning shears, so it drops right into the small tool holster on my belt. There's a longer folding pruning saw on the tractor but I nearly never climb down to fetch that, I can get more work done with the PocketBoy. Then a Ryobi battery chainsaw for larger cuts.

I'll be interested to hear your results. I might be persuaded to get one.

 

[Cycledude]

Well I used the 20 volt Bauer Pruning saw for about 10 minutes, then it started pouring rain so I quit, it does cut excellent but it does seem like maybe it vibrates a little more than the Milwaukee Pruning saw I used a couple weeks ago. But I was cutting different wood this time so that might have something to do with it.
Sounds like you probably do a lot more pruning than I plan to do.
Your Silky tool sounds interesting but I probably won’t be buying one.

 

[kenhar]

Bought wrenches both sae and metric, 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2", screw drivers, nut drivers for the farm truck. Didn't want to lose my good stuff on the farm. After 10 years, the screw drivers are junk. No problems with anything else and they have been well used and abused. 3/8 ratchet broke after 5 years, they replaced it no problem. A tool is no better than the warranty, all of them will break.

 

[Oaktree]

Please come back to describe how well this works for pruning. I tried a cordless reciprocating saw for pruning in my orchard, mostly for clearing out unwanted suckers and rotten limbs too big for the long handle pruner, and didn't like it.

My experience is similar to yours. The "pruning blades" didn't do a very good job cutting branches, etc.

 

[California]

Sounds like you probably do a lot more pruning than I plan to do.
Your Silky tool sounds interesting but I probably won’t be buying one.

The Silky Pocketboy is an expensive pro tool, helpful to lessen fatigue for someone pro pruning all day. But I bought it just to make pruning easier.

It's wicked sharp, 7 years now and it feels 99% as sharp as it was on the first day. Claimed induction hardened so the blade can't be sharpened.

 

[California]

Bought wrenches both sae and metric, 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2", screw drivers, nut drivers for the farm truck. Didn't want to lose my good stuff on the farm. After 10 years, the screw drivers are junk. No problems with anything else and they have been well used and abused. 3/8 ratchet broke after 5 years, they replaced it no problem. A tool is no better than the warranty, all of them will break.

I bought the cheap briefcase tool set to keep in the house, where little force is needed for most repairs. Its ok so far, in a few uses over several years. I go fetch my real shop tools for heavier stuff - nailing, plumbing etc.

And I got the cheap $10 combo socket set, to leave in the open-air shop workbench where various farm laborers eat lunch and I thought something might disappear. It has served ok for light work except the ratchet which was junk. I took the first set back for exchange, when that second ratchet failed immediately I substituted in an old Taiwan ratchet that continues to work fine. This set is used mostly with the Ryobi 1/4" hex mini-impact driver, it's convenient for that. But I get out the real tools for heavier work.

Incidentally I never realized how much I was missing without an air nailgun before I bought an old Porter-Cable at the flea market. Wow. I don't know if HF's are as good but I would buy one today if I didn't already have this. Photo of a recent project. Nailing in tight spaces, as I scabbed on doublers to the rotted stair stringers, would have been impossible without this. Everybody needs a nailgun!

 

[QRTRHRS]

I bought the cheap briefcase tool set to keep in the house, where little force is needed for most repairs. Its ok so far, in a few uses over several years. I go fetch my real shop tools for heavier stuff - nailing, plumbing etc.

And I got the cheap $10 combo socket set, to leave in the open-air shop workbench where various farm laborers eat lunch and I thought something might disappear. It has served ok for light work except the ratchet which was junk. I took the first set back for exchange, when that second ratchet failed immediately I substituted in an old Taiwan ratchet that continues to work fine. This set is used mostly with the Ryobi 1/4" hex mini-impact driver, it's convenient for that. But I get out the real tools for heavier work.

Incidentally I never realized how much I was missing without an air nailgun before I bought an old Porter-Cable at the flea market. Wow. I don't know if HF's are as good but I would buy one today if I didn't already have this. Photo of a recent project. Nailing in tight spaces, as I scabbed on doublers to the rotted stair stringers, would have been impossible without this. Everybody needs a nailgun!

If that PC nailer breaks down, you may still be able to get parts online. I have two PC bradnailers and a roofing nail gun, all have had the plastic pistons replaced. As for HF. I have the Bauer 20V narrow crown stapler and a standard size air stapler for chores like securing insulation.