Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Mendonsy]

I also have an older HF caliper that seems to get around 2 years per battery. The accuracy seems reasonable, but I doubt you can believe the 3rd decimal place.

 

[PJSprog]

This is the one I've been using at my loading bench. The one they sell now is the Pittsburgh version, which may very well be the exact same one for all I know.

By the way, I just ran across a listing on eBay for this 6" dial caliper ... and the pictures are of the 6" digital caliper. Nice try, fella. :laughing:

 

[John_Mc]

If you have my experience, the battery will be dead the next time you pick it up. I take the battery out once I知 done using it.

I did not find the accuracy issue though.

I leave the batteries in my Pittsburgh 6" caliper all the time. I've had it for about 2 years now, and it's still working. I don't use it frequently, but it doesn't seem to be getting drained. The one I bought for a local elementary school teacher to use in her class died after a couple months. Turns out they were storing the owners manual in the case with it. When they closed the case, it was pressing the "on" button.

 

[KubotainNH]

I have one that looks just like the HF one, bought it online before HF was in the area. Same deal, battery didn't last installed. I started removing the battery and haven't bought one for it in 8 years or so. Bought a 2 pack and haven't even removed the 2nd battery from the package. Seems quite accurate for my needs.

 

[sixdogs]

If you have my experience, the battery will be dead the next time you pick it up. I take the battery out once I知 done using it.

I did not find the accuracy issue though.

Isn't that odd. I use mine once or twice a month and sometimes a lot over one day, have never taken the battery out and it's been used for three years on the original battery. Typical HF luck of the draw.

 

[sixdogs]

I'm a HF fan. They just opened one in the town near where I live. Awesome.

I'm new here so I didn't really read the 834 previous pages of posts to see if any of these have been mentioned, but...

I have one of the big HF US General tool boxes (72" cabinet with 56" chest on top, and the upright side-hanging cabinet) that I'd put up against any of the big and REALLY expensive brands. Thing is fantastic. I got a cheap bandsaw at the grand opening for something like $149 that actually works really well for anything I need. Some of the stuff I get there I assume is just disposable. But some of the other stuff is actually surprisingly well made and durable.

Latest purchase was a Vulcan welding cabinet. Holds my welder, plasma cutter, oxy bottles and torches, helmets, consumables...everything in one place. And it's one of those items that just amazes me with the quality/price.

Just chance but you picked two of the best products HF has. Any of the red US General tool cabs are top shelf and arguably better than comparables costing much more. And the Vulcan welding cab--either of the two models--are first class. HF is figuring things out.

Other good--make that great-- items are their better HVLP paint guns.

 

[thepumpguysc]

When I was in HF I looked for a DIAL caliper.. no go.. All they had were the digitals..
The 1st time I used the digital, the little cover for the "battery box" BROKE.. The thing still worked tho..
I take the battery out after every use..
I found a Craigs List seller who had some work bench's I wanted.. While I was there getting the bench's, I bought a crapsman tool box & I asked him about a 6" DIAL caliper.. He said, HE JUST SOLD IT [starrett] on Ebay for 75.00 !!!!

 

[PhysAssist]

Yeah, really you shouldn't walk into HF without one of these. Take a picture on you phone and show it to the cashier... over and over. If they can't scan it... sometimes doesn't work, they will type in the code number. Might only save you a few bucks but it will... over and over again.

When I see people wandering around the HF store obviously shopping w/o the benefit of coupons, I usually offer them whichever ones I'm not going to be using that shopping trip, and they are invariably both surprised and grateful.

 

[PJSprog]

When I see people wandering around the HF store obviously shopping w/o the benefit of coupons, I usually offer them whichever ones I'm not going to be using that shopping trip, and they are invariably both surprised and grateful.

Yeah, last summer I had a guy in front of me at checkout with a cartload of stuff. I hooked him up with the coupon database, and he saved about $15 that trip. Several other people started asking about that site right away.

 

[PhysAssist]

Yeah, last summer I had a guy in front of me at checkout with a cartload of stuff. I hooked him up with the coupon database, and he saved about $15 that trip. Several other people started asking about that site right away.

I hadn't thought of that- I'll have to remember it next time.