Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[ddb123]

18 Gauge 2-in-1 Air Nailer/Stapler Don't know if this stapler has been mentioned but we love it so far. On sale plus 20% off I probably paid around $17 plus tax. That's a deal that's hard to beat even if it doesn't last that long. My wife made about 120 ft. of picket fence with it out of 1/4 x 2 lath and 1/2" staples. The stapler has already paid for itself 5 times over. Kevin

I second this! I've used mine to assemble several deep hive bodies and frames. It's great!

 

[dirtymartini]

Just picked up this beast, 1/2" right angle drill, while it was on sale plus used the 25% Mothers Day only coupon:

Right Angle Drill - Save on this Compact Right Angle Drill

I read up on a bunch of these and noticed the specs were suspiciously close to some "name brand" units so I figured it's basically a rip off with different clothes on. Doing a bathroom remodel and need to cut 3" holes in floor joist's for some plumbing drain.

Will post back how it works.

One thing funny I noticed in the manual was the electrical cord contains lead and you're supposed to wash your hands after handling the unit. I've never seen a warning on a cord like that before so I searched and basically all PVC based cords contain lead. Guess I learned something.

Another funny thing is a few of the reviews on HF say that they used it for mixing mortar/thinset for tile ... the right angle drill has a big fat red and white sticker on it that says "warranty void if used for mixing".

Speaking of mixing ... I killed my 20+ year old Crapsman drill that I had been using for mixing grout and mortar while working on my backhoe mount (which still isn't finished - long story) so I also picked up this drill for mixing ... has a picture of a dude mixing right on the box:
1/2" Heavy Duty Low Speed Drill

... so I'll report on that one too as it relates to mixing. I also have a few more holes to drill in my 1/2" steel backhoe mount so will use this one for that too ... supposed to have a double reduction gear box for mucho torque.

Let me know how it works...I was just looking at this drill for some electrical work I do on the side. It's this or the Milwaukee at double the price.

 

[PILOON]

Let me know how it works...I was just looking at this drill for some electrical work I do on the side. It's this or the Milwaukee at double the price.

Yep, but you just can't kill the Milwaukee. I made a yard find at $40.00 and that was years ago.
Installed a 4" self feeding auger on mine and bored thru a 4" beam making a pile of chips. Never even burped!
\But careful, do install a length of 3/4" pipe as an aux handle as those hogs can snap your wrist real fast.

 

[stuckmotor]

I was kind of surprised that both drills I mentioned didn't say anything about lube etc. in the manual.

I have one of the old orange low speed drills. It made a clicking sound which went away with use. I'd better check that gear box.

 

[hutchman]

Yep, but you just can't kill the Milwaukee. I made a yard find at $40.00 and that was years ago.
Installed a 4" self feeding auger on mine and bored thru a 4" beam making a pile of chips. Never even burped!
\But careful, do install a length of 3/4" pipe as an aux handle as those hogs can snap your wrist real fast.

The HF one comes with a long 3/4" handle. I figured it would allow me to better control the torque and be safer since I had major arm surgery several months ago.

edit: It looks like it's standard black pipe threads and there are 3 spots you can put the handle ... left, right and up top.

 

[hutchman]

Let me know how it works...I was just looking at this drill for some electrical work I do on the side. It's this or the Milwaukee at double the price.

With the sale and dropping the 25% coupon on it, I think it was $97 so I couldn't pass it up and talked myself into taking a chance on it.

 

[dragoneggs]

With the sale and dropping the 25% coupon on it, I think it was $97 so I couldn't pass it up and talked myself into taking a chance on it.

Go for it! Please report back... yes watch the torque when it bites! Gotta love the power. Good luck!

 

[PhysAssist]

Be careful of the stainless steel hose clamps.


View attachment 467791

There is, I think, a HF Tools That Suck thread here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/217054-harbor-freight-tools-do-suck.html

, not that I don't appreciate the information....

Just saying.....

...and not that I haven't posted off-thread posts here either....
Thomas

 

[sixdogs]

There is, I think, a HF Tools That Suck thread here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/parts-repairs/217054-harbor-freight-tools-do-suck.html

, not that I don't appreciate the information....

Just saying.....

...and not that I haven't posted off-thread posts here either....
Thomas

This thread long ago became the combination suck/don't suck thread. The suck one is 4 pages long; this one is over 500.

 

[5030]

Go for it! Please report back... yes watch the torque when it bites! Gotta love the power. Good luck!

I had an almost wrist breaking experience with my Bosch corded SDS drill the other day. I was boring holes in the stumps (trees I took down) to put in Epsom salts and Glyphosate to kill them for eventual roasting. I had my Inverter genny in the FEL and the Bosch plugged in with a large ship auger chucked. Started boring into a stump and the auger really bit in and the drill got away from me (hand slipped on the Tee handle and I found myself rotating with the drill. The ship auger was stationary and the drill motor was rotating with me attached as the cord had me captured. The only thing that saved me was the cord ran out and unplugged itself from the genny.

I got a very sore wrist and lost some skin and I had to back the auger out with a 1/2" drive socket and a breaker bar. Those reduction geared drill motors make some torque. Be careful.