Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[crazyal]

I've thrown out several things like a 1/2" electric impact wrench and several 4 1/2" grinders. I think all of them came with spare brushes (I always see that as a bad sign since brand name tools don't come with spares). But I also bought a 10" tile saw with both an electric motor and electric water pump. That's about 5 years old now and has paid for itself 5 times over now and runs great. Maybe their electric tools are better now.

 

[California]

What is it with their 1/2" electric impact wrench? The one I got several years ago won't loosen the lugnuts on my trailer. The lugnuts have '85 ft-lbs' stamped on them and I use a torque wrench to final-tighten them precisely. This electric impact wrench should be able to loosen them, no?

Is there is a cordless impact wrench that can loosen these 85lb trailer lugs? That sure would be handy.

Does anyone have the cordless impact wrench in the Ryobi 18V Plus series? Is it any good?

 

[chopped]

Crazyal I know what you mean about the brushes.I always wondered if it was a bad sign or a consideration that the tool would outlast the installed brushes. Ive burned them out before the brushes have gone bad..

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Crazyal I know what you mean about the brushes.I always wondered if it was a bad sign or a consideration that the tool would outlast the installed brushes. Ive burned them out before the brushes have gone bad..

I've replaced a few sets of brushes on cheap chinese tools... Harbor Freight, Homier, Cummins, etc. But more than half of the cheap power tools don't outlast the brushes.

 

[k0ua]

What is it with their 1/2" electric impact wrench? The one I got several years ago won't loosen the lugnuts on my trailer. The lugnuts have '85 ft-lbs' stamped on them and I use a torque wrench to final-tighten them precisely. This electric impact wrench should be able to loosen them, no?

Is there is a cordless impact wrench that can loosen these 85lb trailer lugs? That sure would be handy.

Does anyone have the cordless impact wrench in the Ryobi 18V Plus series? Is it any good?

I have the little ryobi 18v cordless impact. It is pretty fair. I used it this summer to put in a bunch of large deck screws, and it worked really well, I have used it to loosen several bolts/nuts on machinery and it worked well. I dont know about the lugnuts though, remember it is just 1/4 drive.

James K0UA

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I have the little ryobi 18v cordless impact. It is pretty fair. I used it this summer to put in a bunch of large deck screws, and it worked really well, I have used it to loosen several bolts/nuts on machinery and it worked well. I dont know about the lugnuts though, remember it is just 1/4 drive.

James K0UA

There's a difference between an impact WRENCH and an impact DRIVER. The impact wrench is large, heavy, and meant to put LOTS of torque on a bolt or nut. The impact driver is small and light and actually limits the amount of torque to prevent stripping heads or holes.

 

[k0ua]

There's a difference between an impact WRENCH and an impact DRIVER. The impact wrench is large, heavy, and meant to put LOTS of torque on a bolt or nut. The impact driver is small and light and actually limits the amount of torque to prevent stripping heads or holes.

True but my little impact driver, will certainly twist screws in two if you let it hit too many times. It really sinks them fast. But I don't think it would torque up lug nuts on a wheel..I haven't tried, but I dont see how it could though the specs call for 1200 inch pounds. So 100 ft lbs I guess. Their 18 volt impact wrench (yellow green one) says it is 200 ft lbs.. i guess it probably would work for lugnuts if you can believe their specs. It apears to be 1/2 inch drive and accepts standard impact sockets.

James K0UA

 

[leeinMT]

I have always used HF's air impact wrench to change our summer rims to winter ones and it works great. I never thought about an electric version - it would be a little easier if it did work.

I have the 18v Li-Ion Milwaukee drill and driver set, and it is probably the best tool I have ever bought even though the two cost over $200. The batteries have a little set of LEDs that tell you the charge level, kind of like a little gas guage. So much better than my older 18v Dewalt. Made in China to Milwaukee's specs. I'm waiting for HF to come up with their version of equivalent quality.

HF's safty wire twist pliers are the exact same that Aircraft Spruce sells as their economy model, but for less than half not counting the 20% off.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I have the 18v Li-Ion Milwaukee drill and driver set, and it is probably the best tool I have ever bought even though the two cost over $200. The batteries have a little set of LEDs that tell you the charge level, kind of like a little gas guage. So much better than my older 18v Dewalt. Made in China to Milwaukee's specs. I'm waiting for HF to come up with their version of equivalent quality.

Did I understand this correctly that you are waiting for Harbor Freight to come up with a tool that is Milwaukee quality?

 

[deereman75]

Did I understand this correctly that you are waiting for Harbor Freight to come up with a tool that is Milwaukee quality?

I think thats what he said. Even if they did, I would still buy milwaukee.....