Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Dargo]

Yes. What size air hose and connectors? How long was the hose? How large was the supply tank?

I'll pass on going into any further discussions concerning the "Earthquake" air impacts. This thread is for tools from HF that don't suck. I have quite a few little jewels that are well worth their low price I paid for them at HF. Unfortunately, nothing with the name "Earthquake" fits that definition and I just get ticked that I fell for their misleading (not HF's, but Earthquake's) claims about their tools. I hope you understand. Without a doubt, I have to place the "Earthquake" brand in the "loser" basket.

But, hey, the GearWrench kind of hand tools they sell at HF seem to work well. I've mentioned before that I get tired of running from one barn to another for tools, so I'm trying to stock my larger barn (not heated or cooled) with some tools for convenience. That means that I'm trying to find the 'winners' at HF for my toolbox there. Here is a link to them - Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices I bought a set in SAE and metric. Sure, they are not quite as smooth as brand name ones, but so far they seem to work plenty well for me and I'm well pleased with them.

 

[20 20]

I have an earthquake 1/2" impact and IMO it works great. I do need to get a bigger impact for my dump truck was planing on the earthquake 1". Has anyone had good results with the earthquake impacts? Like I wrote my 1/2" is very strong even had enough power to strip a couple of smaller lugs{oops}.

Dargo what is your reason for a bad review, what happened?

 

[Dargo]

Dargo what is your reason for a bad review, what happened?

They are just very weak impacts. Literally, my good quality 1/2" impact easily outperforms the 1" strongest impact Earthquake makes. I even returned the 1st 1" Earthquake thinking it was defective. It wasn't defective, they simply are weak impacts. For a 1/2" impact to remove lug nuts that the 1" Earthquake cannot is just flat embarrassing for the Earthquake brand. Like I mentioned before, I've found some good values at HF. Tools made by "Earthquake" simply don't fall into the 'winner' category. My hands on experience with them put them firmly in the "pass" category.

But, hey, if you don't have any of those ratcheting wrenches I linked earlier, I firmly believe you'd be quite pleased with them!

 

[SpringHollow]

The diameter and length of the hose can make a huge difference. I can not run my impact on a 1/4" line.

Just looked at the HF web site: Earthquake 1/2" 4.7 CFM, 1/4" fitting
Earthquake 1" 8 CFM, 1/2" fitting
Doesn't say at what pressure.

Ken

 

[patrick_g]

safety sites and Gemplers: Nitrile Gloves, Safety Gloves, Safety Supplies - Outdoor Work Supplies

They have all kinds of neat gloves.

Ken

I recently tried there insulated (Thinsulite) waterproof gloves with traction stuff in the palms and finger surfaces for good rope handling. I use their cheap blue mechanic's gloves and they are fine except in wet or winter (or both.) The waterproof ones don't seem to be proportioned correctly as to finger lengths etc BUT they are good enough for the price and well, they are water proof, insulated, and give good rope gripping.

Pat

 

[patrick_g]

I had one. I never could get it to work like I wanted it to. I finally paired it with an old AD helmet and sold it on Craig's List. I went back to welding with my ancient AC stick welder. The wire welder is not one of Harbor Freights best items.

Keep in mind: I am a BIG Harbor Freight fan. It pains me to say it, but you're better off saving your money.

A couple electricians working on my house were going to come back the next day as they were stuck on an installation till they welded a thingy. I suggested they could use my welder. I have a Lincoln AC-DC tombstone and a Lincoln Weld Pak 100 MIG that I use with Innershield (flux cored welding wire.) Well they were apprehensive because they have a brand X from an ag store MIG at their shop and it was marginal at best. I encouraged them to at least try my little 120 volt powered unit. They did and were amazed at how much easier and better it welded than their unit.

Take home lesson: cheap junk is more likely to be marginal than superior.

One of my neighbors has a Century brand inner shield wire welder rated for more output than mine but doesn't do as much as good or as fast. Yet another data point of a name brand unit versus a brand x unit.

I think if you lump all the user reports and comparisons together you will find that a good welding craftsman can weld with nearly anything (he might not like it but may be able to git 'er done) but those of us with lesser skills need a good tool and the top brands like Lincoln, Hobart, and Miller are far better than the typical brand x. You don't find many good welders choosing brand x machines.

I too am a fan of and buy lots of stuff from Harbor Freight B U T a wire feed welder is not one of the things I would want to get there. I like there auto-darkening helmets, gloves, electrode holders, ground clamps, etc.

Pat

 

[20 20]

They are just very weak impacts. Literally, my good quality 1/2" impact easily outperforms the 1" strongest impact Earthquake makes. I even returned the 1st 1" Earthquake thinking it was defective. It wasn't defective, they simply are weak impacts. For a 1/2" impact to remove lug nuts that the 1" Earthquake cannot is just flat embarrassing for the Earthquake brand. Like I mentioned before, I've found some good values at HF. Tools made by "Earthquake" simply don't fall into the 'winner' category. My hands on experience with them put them firmly in the "pass" category.

But, hey, if you don't have any of those ratcheting wrenches I linked earlier, I firmly believe you'd be quite pleased with them!

Thanks it looks like I'll be doing some more research :thumbsup: I did check out the wrenches and probably will get some when I have the extra $$

 

[BigE_]

Hi Just wondering if anybody has a wire welder from HF , and if they are any good? Or are you getting what you paid for? They had them on sale last week just about bought one but didn't know any thing about them.

I've got the little 90A model and have had it for several years. I don't know if I've just gotten used to it, but I can lay a decent weld with it now. (No, not an excellent bead, but a decent one).

Here are a few tips for using it:

1. The first thing you need to do is take the wire they sell with it, pull it out, and either toss it or use it for hanging pictures, whatever. Just don't use it for welding. Get some quality welding wire from your Miller or Hobart supplier. I use 0.030".
2. The second thing you need to do is really crank down on the drive tension on that wire. I know, not very clear, but inside the box there is a tensioning mechanism for the drive, and you want it to be tight. Loose, and the wire slips, and your weld suffers.
3. Keep the hose as straight as you can. This helps the wire feed better.
4. Learn what wire speeds and hi/lo settings you need for the thicker and thinner materials.
5. Really clean the metal first. Get a grinder ($10 at HF!) and a wire knot wheel to help clean up the weld. Prep is the key to a good weld using any welder, but with this marginal welder, you really need to prep.
6. I do all my welding outside, but you need to make sure you're out of the wind. Welding outside on a windy day makes for bad welds.
7. Don't use extension cords with this! Or if you do, use 12 gauge. Trust me, the weld is better, especially on the thicker stuff. Oh, and "thick" stuff for this welder is 3/16".
8. Last but not least, don't expect $500 performance from a $90 welder!

 

[SPYDERLK]

I'll pass on going into any further discussions concerning the "Earthquake" air impacts. This thread is for tools from HF that don't suck.

Alright then, Ill venture that you screwed up by trying to run the 1" EQ from the same airline that you had used for the 1/2" IR... Probably a 3/8" x 50" long hose with small couplers. Fine for the small tool, but the big one ends up with 30psi under flow. I wouldnt expect it to work well.
larry

 

[Dargo]

The diameter and length of the hose can make a huge difference. I can not run my impact on a 1/4" line.

Just looked at the HF web site: Earthquake 1/2" 4.7 CFM, 1/4" fitting
Earthquake 1" 8 CFM, 1/2" fitting
Doesn't say at what pressure.

Ken

Since I don't have any really large air tools that require a lot of CFM (my plasma cutter seems to draw the most and technically it only calls for about 7 cfm at 90 psi), my main compressor is just an Eaton EC5T1PH60V. It only does about 18 SCFM @ it's current 150 psi setting. I don't have a decent hose reel that I can tout, but I do use Goodyear 1/2" Premium Red Air Hose regular ole Aeroquip 1/2" fittings. The hose and fittings were sort of what you'd call a job perk when a job in my past life ended. I couldn't tell you how they rate compared to any other fittings, but when the day shift foreman put a box of them in my pickup and told me it was nice working with me, they seemed like a great deal to me.