Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[PJSprog]

It is EASY!
Every laborer is paid $1 per day to make everything, from the basic ingredient material used, to the finished product.

Pretty much. When I worked in the professional music electronics industry, the company I worked for built a small guitar amp that cost us $44 to build in St. Louis. When they went oversees, a Chinese company was building them and selling them back to us for $29 each ... a landed price that included shipping to a port in Seattle. They were able to do this because the facility there had two buildings; one was the factory, and the other next door was a giant apartment building. Everyone who worked at the factory lived next door. For their work, they essentially got an apartment, three meals a day, a clothing allowance, and a small amount of spending cash. We joked that they were building them for "a bowl of rice a day," but it was not too far from true.

Our production rate on those little amps was 60 units/hr off the line. I can only imagine what their production rate was over there.

 

[newbury]

Three thoughts:
1. Those itty-bitty HF snatch blocks are intended for getting your ATV unstuck, but NOT for situations where life and limb are at risk
2. For about $65 you can buy a real 1 ton rated snatch block that will be safer to use sand last for a lifetime.
3. Running your cable through a block will reduce the breaking strength of your line. About 20% for a 90 degree corner and 35% for a 180 degree fall-block like you describe.

Are you discussing the "4000 lb. Capacity Lifting Block" for about $7 or the Badland Snatch Block Load tested to 20,000 lb (currently $20 Harbor Freight Tools Coupon Database - Free coupons, 25 percent off coupons, toolbox coupons - SNATCH BLOCK )?

 

[dragoneggs]

Pretty much. When I worked in the professional music electronics industry, the company I worked for built a small guitar amp that cost us $44 to build in St. Louis. When they went oversees, a Chinese company was building them and selling them back to us for $29 each ... a landed price that included shipping to a port in Seattle. They were able to do this because the facility there had two buildings; one was the factory, and the other next door was a giant apartment building. Everyone who worked at the factory lived next door. For their work, they essentially got an apartment, three meals a day, a clothing allowance, and a small amount of spending cash. We joked that they were building them for "a bowl of rice a day," but it was not too far from true.

Our production rate on those little amps was 60 units/hr off the line. I can only imagine what their production rate was over there.

Times are a changing. My company bids some of our commercial product manufacturing to China and compares to in-house costs and with certain quality level expectations... the cost, factoring in shipping unless your demand requires a full container and you can afford the 6 month wait, is a push and not worth the risk. Yeah there is still Chinese junk made on dirt floors but quality product competing with US manufacturing isn't the cost gap people assume these days.

I visit China and other parts of Asia about 6 times a year. Mostly to sell but we also explore JV's, build to print opportunities, etc. Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are becoming players too.

 

[California]

...quality product competing with US manufacturing isn't the cost gap people assume these days.

I visit China and other parts of Asia about 6 times a year. Mostly to sell but we also explore JV's, build to print opportunities, etc. Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are becoming players too.

How is India doing? Competitive, in some fields?

 

[dragoneggs]

How is India doing? Competitive, in some fields?

Not to derail this thread... I can speak primarily to aerospace. India is not in the same league manufacturing wise compared to US/China. Maybe not too difficult to read the future, but they are still very dependent on agriculture and the services industry to drive their economy. Manufacturing is not their strength... yet! But that is part of their mission to raise their GDP per capita.

I have dealt with Tata Motors. They are one of the largest Indian companies and are big time in the auto industry. From my knothole, Tata and India as a whole, are struggling to get a significant foothold in high tech manufacturing despite their huge efforts in aerospace and a well funded space program. Just my two cents... circling back to getting quality at a competitive price. US and China are King.

Now back to the original programming...

 

[sodamo]

If I were offered 2 tools sight unseen, 1 made in India, 1 from Harbor Freight, I ‘d take the HF tool without hesitation. I had a Craftsman saw made in India - POC. Burnt up 2nd use.

 

[Threepoint]

Are you discussing the "4000 lb. Capacity Lifting Block" for about $7 or the Badland Snatch Block Load tested to 20,000 lb (currently $20 Harbor Freight Tools Coupon Database - Free coupons, 25 percent off coupons, toolbox coupons - SNATCH BLOCK )?

Was wondering that as well. Their large snatch block for $28 is supposedly tested at 20,000 lbs and 9mm cable. Doubt they would post that without confirmed data.

If I were offered 2 tools sight unseen, 1 made in India, 1 from Harbor Freight, I ‘d take the HF tool without hesitation. I had a Craftsman saw made in India - POC. Burnt up 2nd use.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I've head the larger the radius of the block, the less it stresses your cable. I've not seen anything "official" on that, however.

Some info on it:

http://www.gunnebojohnson.com/wp-content/uploads/Rigging-Combined1.pdf

 

[Threepoint]

Pretty much. When I worked in the professional music electronics industry, the company I worked for built a small guitar amp that cost us $44 to build in St. Louis. When they went oversees, a Chinese company was building them and selling them back to us for $29 each ... a landed price that included shipping to a port in Seattle. They were able to do this because the facility there had two buildings; one was the factory, and the other next door was a giant apartment building. Everyone who worked at the factory lived next door. For their work, they essentially got an apartment, three meals a day, a clothing allowance, and a small amount of spending cash. We joked that they were building them for "a bowl of rice a day," but it was not too far from true.

Our production rate on those little amps was 60 units/hr off the line. I can only imagine what their production rate was over there.

Coincidently, saw today that Gibson guitars just filed Ch. 11 to reorganize. Way over leveraged. Word is they plan to ease out of the electronic accessories like speakers, headphones, etc (amps?) and concentrate more on their excellent musical instruments, including Baldwin pianos. Didn't know they own Baldwin.

 

[John_Mc]

I've head the larger the radius of the block, the less it stresses your cable. I've not seen anything "official" on that, however.

Some info on it:
http://www.gunnebojohnson.com/wp-content/uploads/Rigging-Combined1.pdf

Thanks, Spyderlk. To make a long story short: using a pulley diameter of at least 16 times the wire rope diameter preserves 90% of the cable's strength under load.

So for the 3/8" cable on my logging winch, I should have a 6" pulley. My self-releasing snatch block is a bit smaller than that (I'm guessing 5"?), so I don't quite have 90% strength, but the cable is rated for a whole lot more than my winch can pull, so I'm probably still in good shape.