Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[John_Mc]

I've burned up two of the $9.95 angle grinders. Their proper application is a wire brush wheel or similar that doesn't need huge torque and won't be run continuous. They are fine for that.

First one the plastic fan disintegrated after 20(?) years of infrequent use cleaning welds with a wire brush wheel. It still ran but I gave it away.

Second one I mounted in the 'cutoff saw mount' from Northern Tool that I described in this recent post:
https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...-freight-tools-dont-suck-528.html#post5287449

That worked well until it didn't. A couple of minutes running continuous slicing a 7/8" bolt and it faded away, smoking, just as it finished the cut.

I like that cutoff saw mount but I'm a little leery of putting a more expensive grinder in it. I think it needs a very light touch feeding the grinder into the cut.

I ordered one of those cut off saw mounts recently. It seems like a great setup, but unfortunately, it won't work with my ancient HF grinder. When I mount the grinder in the cutoff, part of the mount depresses the shaft lock (the one you use to hold the shaft when swapping out a grinding wheel), so the wheel will not turn when the grinder is in the mount.

 

[California]

https://www.hfqpdb.com/coupons/244_ITEM_700_LB._CAPACITY_BIGFOOT_HAND_TRUCK_1556215308.9088.png

I picked up a couple of these that are on sale all of May for $40. The tall tires are awesome on rough surfaces. I find them being blue makes them roll better.

Why does HF's website show that Bigfoot Hand Truck as 'clearance'? Likely to replace it with one similar with a new brand name at double the price. Buy it while you can!
700 Lbs. Capacity Bigfoot Hand Truck

Those are excellent. I've thought about pulling mine as a trailer for harvest ladders in the orchard.

One weakness, on mine the tires won't hold pressure indefinitely.

And for anybody who doesn't already have one, or several: The 12 x 18 hardwood dolly.

Not the larger one or the similar size all plastic one. I watched a couple of pro piano movers use one like this for a 600 lb upright Steinway and it was all they needed. Balance the object on the dolly and away they went. I used mine endlessly clearing out Mom's estate - cartons of books, furniture, garden pots, everything. It was even more useful than the big blue hand truck. Now I use them under 85 lb bins of apples and my welder is on one.

 

[4get gto]

Bought this little vise the other day. $16 with coupon and some other discount. I have a large vise but wanted something small. Always a pain to do small soldering work and such in a 6" vise.
Works perfectly for what I need it for. Mind you this isn't something you're going to use for anything heavy but I know that and I didn't buy it for such. It's a clamp on but had to modify a bit first. Glad I didn't buy their extended warranty :laughing:.

 

[von-mil]

Bought this little vise the other day. $16 with coupon and some other discount. I have a large vise but wanted something small. Always a pain to do small soldering work and such in a 6" vise.
Works perfectly for what I need it for. Mind you this isn't something you're going to use for anything heavy but I know that and I didn't buy it for such. It's a clamp on but had to modify a bit first. Glad I didn't buy their extended warranty :laughing:.

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How difficult was it to cut off the clamp portion? Band saw I presume?

 

[4get gto]

How difficult was it to cut off the clamp portion? Band saw I presume?

Actually used a sawzall. Wasn't bad. The clamp didn't work for me cause my work benches just don't have the ledges needed and it has 3 holes in it to bolt down permanently. Cute little vise. Turns in all directions..

 

[Oaktree]

One weakness, on mine the tires won't hold pressure indefinitely.

Don't feel bad, I bought a similar one at HD about 10 years ago and the tires kept going flat on that one too. Finally replaced them with some Tractor Supply tires and they've been fine since.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Why does HF's website show that Bigfoot Hand Truck as 'clearance'? Likely to replace it with one similar with a new brand name at double the price. Buy it while you can!
700 Lbs. Capacity Bigfoot Hand Truck

Those are excellent. I've thought about pulling mine as a trailer for harvest ladders in the orchard.

One weakness, on mine the tires won't hold pressure indefinitely.

And for anybody who doesn't already have one, or several: The 12 x 18 hardwood dolly.

Not the larger one or the similar size all plastic one. I watched a couple of pro piano movers use one like this for a 600 lb upright Steinway and it was all they needed. Balance the object on the dolly and away they went. I used mine endlessly clearing out Mom's estate - cartons of books, furniture, garden pots, everything. It was even more useful than the big blue hand truck. Now I use them under 85 lb bins of apples and my welder is on one.

HF is first and fore most a marketing company. Tools just happens to be what they market so they can sell extended warranties.

I used the first bottle of Green Slime in the old leaking rear tire on the Exmark and now 10 days later it is still tight. Going to buy a few cases for 100 small tires around the place. The house and shop we just bought came with 4-5 old wheel barrows and only one has a rim that is not on the ground.

 

[Threepoint]

https://www.hfqpdb.com/coupons/244_ITEM_700_LB._CAPACITY_BIGFOOT_HAND_TRUCK_1556215308.9088.png

I picked up a couple of these that are on sale all of May for $40. The tall tires are awesome on rough surfaces. I find them being blue makes them roll better.

Wish I needed another hand truck. The "fenders" over the tires look like a nice touch to keep wide loads like bags of feed, or boxes, from rubbing.

 

[California]

Bought this little vise the other day. $16 with coupon and some other discount.

View attachment 605173

Another thing I didn't know I need!

 

[Diggin It]

https://www.hfqpdb.com/coupons/244_ITEM_700_LB._CAPACITY_BIGFOOT_HAND_TRUCK_1556215308.9088.png

I picked up a couple of these that are on sale all of May for $40. The tall tires are awesome on rough surfaces. I find them being blue makes them roll better.

If you look down through the list of expired coupons, you'll see that it's been on coupons for $40 for most of the last year, maybe longer.

 

[rbstern]

I have the old small inverter stick welder. It's great for small stuff ... and by small stuff, I mean it won't burn anything over 3/32". Period. Every 1/8" rod I've tried just sticks. There's just not enough power there.

I picked one up last night and used it a bit today. It's pretty good. Produces a decent quality weld. And, yep, I'm only using 1/16 and 3/32 rods. Did a nice job on some 3/16" flat stock, repairing a knock down steel .22 target that had been shot off it's base because a guest thought .223 counted as a "22".

 

[PJSprog]

Why does HF's website show that Bigfoot Hand Truck as 'clearance'? Likely to replace it with one similar with a new brand name at double the price. Buy it while you can!
700 Lbs. Capacity Bigfoot Hand Truck

Those are excellent. I've thought about pulling mine as a trailer for harvest ladders in the orchard.

One weakness, on mine the tires won't hold pressure indefinitely.

And for anybody who doesn't already have one, or several: The 12 x 18 hardwood dolly.

Not the larger one or the similar size all plastic one. I watched a couple of pro piano movers use one like this for a 600 lb upright Steinway and it was all they needed. Balance the object on the dolly and away they went. I used mine endlessly clearing out Mom's estate - cartons of books, furniture, garden pots, everything. It was even more useful than the big blue hand truck. Now I use them under 85 lb bins of apples and my welder is on one.

Yup. I have to put air in those tires about twice a year. For what it cost, I can't complain about that. My Kia cost a lot more than that, and I have to maintain air pressure in those tires as well.

As for the dollies, I've used those to move several pianos over the last 10 years or so. As a "retired" piano mover (I keep saying that, yet people keep talking me into it), I very much approve of them. One of the better HF products for sure.

 

[bcp]

When buying a hand truck, squeeze the tires. Select the one with the hardest tires.

Bruce

 

[Zippster]

Drywall lift worked fine for me, had a job where they were all 10' ceilings and made life a whole lot easier.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Anybody with recent experience with the HF pallet jack? I found a TBN thread from 2011 that gave positive reviews but wonder if the current model is also good.

Got one a couple yrs ago, still works. I move ton pallets with it.

 

[downsizingnow48]

Got one a couple yrs ago, still works. I move ton pallets with it.

Thanks!

 

[tradosaurus]

Just bought the 5 drawer tool cabinet for $169 and the McGraw 20 gal oil lube air compressor for $169.

I donated my used 8 gal central pneumatic compressor to my son which is still going strong after 6 yrs.

I have the Harbor Freight app on my phone which has eliminated the need to carry coupons or use emails.

 

[Pixguy]

Just bought the 5 drawer tool cabinet for $169 and the McGraw 20 gal oil lube air compressor for $169.

I donated my used 8 gal central pneumatic compressor to my son which is still going strong after 6 yrs.

I have the Harbor Freight app on my phone which has eliminated the need to carry coupons or use emails.

Could you take a screen shot of the app icon? I looked on the apple store and found nothing.

 

[tradosaurus]

Could you take a screen shot of the app icon? I looked on the apple store and found nothing.

I don't have an Apple phone so couldn't say if there is an app for that.

 

[California]

On your pc search 'hf coupon database'. There are pc and android versions, I don't see apple mentioned.

This is the site for any recent and still valid coupon. Not hosted by hf but rather by a third party.

Often better prices than the coupons that hf emails to you.