Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[crazyal]

Anyone know anything about the "drywall lift"??
I think its 11' reach.. Is that from the ground to max height or its normal relaxed position,{about 4'}, THEN 11' ??

A coworker bought one and said it works great. The problem is it's kind of bulky to store and once you have one and people find out they will want to borrow it. It's like my HF 10" tile saw. Just when I put it away out of the way someone wants to borrow it.

 

[Oaktree]

This is a cool little flashlight for $4 on coupon. Brighter than you'd expect and durable.

I got this one a couple months ago with a 25% off coupon. Incredibly bright.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Dip any of you guys have the $1,100 Harbor Freight US general version 2 72" roll chest? I'm thinking about going for that with the 56" upper chest on it and the ad on side piece. It's $999 with coupon.

But I also see that Rural King also has a 72" bottom chest and it's $850, so do any of you have that one or have a comparison of why you'd go worth inte over the other?

 

[Threepoint]

Dip any of you guys have the $1,100 Harbor Freight US general version 2 72" roll chest? I'm thinking about going for that with the 56" upper chest on it and the ad on side piece. It's $999 with coupon.

But I also see that Rural King also has a 72" bottom chest and it's $850, so do any of you have that one or have a comparison of why you'd go worth inte over the other?

From the info available on the RK and HF websites (RK details are sparse, check the Q & A), the new HF ver. 2 unit looks like the better buy to me, even at the $149 difference. It weighs 108 lbs more, bigger casters, and the drawer length configuration gives more storage flexibility. As of now, all the RK reviews predate the roll-out of the HF ver. 2. I've inspected the units first hand, and they are impressive. Rock Crawler, if you have both RK and HF stores near you, maybe you could kick the tires of both and report back.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I haven't looked at them in person at Rural King, but I do in fact have a Rural king and a Harbor freight sitting nearly together at the Beaver Vally Mall in Monaca Pa. that is about 10 miles from me.

Trust me I have been fingering up the Harbor freight US general 72" tool Box for weeks.

My current situation is that I have 2 x the old Craftsman 3 piece 26" stacks. They are stuffed, rolls hanging on balls, on shelves and generally stacked everywhere. I'm going crazy with the tool overload and lack of space.

I have 7 garage bays, 4 on top and 3 under. I'm out of room.

 

[Threepoint]

[snip]
My current situation is that I have 2 x the old Craftsman 3 piece 26" stacks. They are stuffed, rolls hanging on balls, on shelves and generally stacked everywhere. I'm going crazy with the tool overload and lack of space.[snip]

Yes, but remember the axiom: More tool chests > more space> more tools. Same phenomenon as adding a lane to the Interstate to relieve the commuter congestion. :laughing:

 

[Rock Crawler]

Or doing a 2 story, 5 bay garage addition. When I did this and added 5 more bays to the 2 that were in the house.... everyone said I was crazy, I was wasting money, I would never need 7 garages.

Even with 7 bays, I have things on things, I have things under things, and I have things hanging from things.... on all 7 bays. And I have 4 vehicles sitting outside because 7 bay's is just not nearly enough.

Now I want to put up a 40' x 80' building..... because I'll never fill that up..... right?

I'm out of space.

 

[Code54]

Very nice! Nope can never have enough storage. I like the 7 bay idea - that would be a big selling point for someone like me if we were looking for a house. Around us, it seems most have 3 very small bays if you are lucky.

 

[TractorGuy]

Bought a wire brush set the other day that came with a crimped brush and twisted brush to fit a 4-1/2" grinder. Have only used the crimped one so far but was very impressed with how well the wires stayed in the cup. Last time I used something like this the wires would come out and stick all in you.

 

[PJSprog]

I have the wire brush set, too. I've used a couple of them, and no porcupining yet.

 

[D2Cat]

RC, based on your pictures a rolling tool chest will be of little help!

 

[Rock Crawler]

RC, based on your pictures a rolling tool chest will be of little help!

The rolling aspect of it is meaningless to me, if that is what you're hinting at. But the taller up and down drawers, deeper front to back, and wider with just flat out massively more overall space will be huge.

Many of the drawers on my blue Craftsman boxes are 1.5" tall, that really screws me.

 

[Travelover]

........I'm out of space. ......

You don't need more space,you need an intervention...:laughing:

 

[sixdogs]

Bought a wire brush set the other day that came with a crimped brush and twisted brush to fit a 4-1/2" grinder. Have only used the crimped one so far but was very impressed with how well the wires stayed in the cup. Last time I used something like this the wires would come out and stick all in you.

Maybe it's inconsistent quality control, but I have those brushes and may I say to be careful. The wires flew out of them without warning. Wear goggles and guard your face, etc. I've had them stick in my face and fingers. Very painful.

 

[charlton289]

I got one the harbor freight 4.5 grinder and it come with a wire wheel my son was using it the other day and several of the wires flew out a stuck in his jeans and hands thru gloves so be careful and make sure everyone is out of the area don't need one in some ones eye.

 

[dragoneggs]

I got one the harbor freight 4.5 grinder and it come with a wire wheel my son was using it the other day and several of the wires flew out a stuck in his jeans and hands thru gloves so be careful and make sure everyone is out of the area don't need one in some ones eye.

Eye protection... can't say it enough. Had a few close calls before I wised up. Now it is automatic for me when in the shop.

 

[thepumpguysc]

AMEN to THAT, Dragoneggs.!!! Now that I work from home, its automatic..
The glasses go on, before the wheel starts spinning..!!!
I work w/ mostly aluminum so I had to change my wheel from the git-go..
I've had the new one for about 1 year & it still have about another year left in it..
I wish/hope I can remember where I got it..

 

[Oaktree]

Maybe it's inconsistent quality control, but I have those brushes and may I say to be careful. The wires flew out of them without warning. Wear goggles and guard your face, etc. I've had them stick in my face and fingers. Very painful.

Yeah, I'm leery about using cheap wire brushes, cutoff wheels, grinding discs, etc that could cause serious body pain if they come apart while in use. IMHO it pays to get good ones for something like that.

 

[Rock Crawler]

The floor jacks appear to be good to go, at least in the short term. I bought it a couple months back and have used it a handful of times. No leak down, fast unloaded rise, controlled descent. So fast im very pleased.

 

[TractorGuy]

I think I posted a while back that HF has a pretty good deluxe face shield. Glad I bought one and I make sure and use it. I store the face shield over the grinder so it can't be forgotten.