Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[TomSeller]

And for a lot more money:

BESSEY Tools North America

Bruce

I wondered where HF/China came up with the idea to knock off for that tool.

 

[txdon]

Here's a tool that HF *doesn't* sell but they should! HF are you listening?

It was in the $10 tray at Tractor Supply. Link to TSC description.

I used it to clamp down a large object to my welding table. This was much simpler than a screw clamp. It will be equally good as a drill press hold down.

This is the handiest new tool I've bought recently.

View attachment 515885

After shipping $70 from Amazon - the Bessey model -
8" x 2-1/2" SuperGrips with Profiled Rail - Locking Jaw Pliers - Amazon.com

 

[DFB]

TSC always seem to be moving thru different cheap tool specials...things do seem to change several times over the course of the year.


And earlier this Spring they had a lot reg. stock as clearance items at marked down prices too.


Often pays off to look around when your there, many times they often have a bin of tools marked down somewhere else in the store.

Last summer I got several sets of SAE 1/2 drive impact sockets in a hinged storage case, was a mix of deep and shallow sizes labeled under their Job Smart store brand for $7.50 each. They had display on the edge of aisle near the tool section.

A bit different than most 1/2 drive sets they had 3/8" socket on the low end both deep and shallow and the shallow topped out at 3/4" but the deep only went to 11/16" no 3/4" Very weird sizing.

Really should have had a deep 3/4 and dropped the 3/8 deep

 

[DFB]

So I suppose it been discussed more times than we can count anymore but I just got a coupon email where they are having a "welding sale" welders and accessories with the 90 amp flux core welder for $89.99.

Just got me thinking about having something again. I broke both the seat brackets on my MTD mower last night for the second time. Scenario I think is one starts a crack and bends, then the other soon follows with added stress.

Years ago I had cheap sub $100 stick welder never really used though I had bought a spot welding attachment that was the whole point of it really though lost all that as divorce casualty.


With internet shopping cost me $21.50 for two new brackets with $5.95 shipping ( other options where up to almost $40 )

Oddly enough I did a second singular order with the same company from a different marketing source (not direct website) but thru WallyWorld marketplace and got me belt idler pully for $10 and free shipping. The bearing froze up after all these years of being rode hard and put away wet its an original part too the mower is a '98.

Seems the pulley is nylon reinforced plastic or something not metal and the heated bearing melted the center hole till it let go ;laughing:

Seat brackets will be my second set in almost 20 years...I remember I replaced a set about 10 years ago soon after my divorce.

 

[hutchman]

Here's a tool that HF *doesn't* sell but they should! HF are you listening?

It was in the $10 tray at Tractor Supply. Link to TSC description.

I used it to clamp down a large object to my welding table. This was much simpler than a screw clamp. It will be equally good as a drill press hold down.

This is the handiest new tool I've bought recently.

View attachment 515885

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

 

[hutchman]

TSC always seem to be moving thru different cheap tool specials...things do seem to change several times over the course of the year.


And earlier this Spring they had a lot reg. stock as clearance items at marked down prices too.


Often pays off to look around when your there, many times they often have a bin of tools marked down somewhere else in the store.

I recently learned that lesson. I had seen complete wing mirror kits there last summer so when driving my dump truck on the highway recently, a bracket on my mirror let go from rusting thru. I couldn't find any mirrors the same style and at first thought I was going to have to replace the entire assembly and went to Northern looking for what I had seen there before and they were gone. Lady said they recently clearanced them out.

 

[PJSprog]

This is the handiest new tool I've bought recently.

View attachment 515885

Wow ... yeah, I can think of several uses for such a clamp. Thanks for the heads-up, CA.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I wondered where HF/China came up with the idea to knock off for that tool.

Perhaps in a detailed license agreement?

 

[Big Barn]

Perhaps in a detailed license agreement?

Good one!

 

[California]

Note I found that pliers clamp tool at Tractor Supply, not HF. See my post #7616 above.