Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[PhysAssist]

I bought an XL kindling cracker on Amazon and wanted a dedicated hammer to keep with it.

https://www.amazon.com/Mighty-Hand-Kindling-Splitter-Firewood/dp/B07NQJ8PKG

Saw this one at HF and it looked perfect for my needs.

4 Lb. Drilling Hammer

$9.59 after 20% coupon. Cheapest I致e ever gotten out of a HF.

I made a kindling splitter using 2X6's on-edge to make a box approx. 12x12", mounting the blade from a straight draw knife across the top, sharp edge up, with lag screws through the bolt-holes fro m the handles and into the top of the box, and adding a second 2x6 box layered on top with the tops of the side boards flared out, and notches in the underside of them to fit over the screw heads.

We mount it on top of couple of milk crates for splitting our kindling.

We bought a 2.5# rubber mallet to avoid striking the blade with hardened steel.

I thought I had a picture of it, but I can't seem to find it,so if anyone is interested, please let me know, and I will take some pics and post them.

 

[tookielee]

I'm thinking of heading over during the sidewalk sale for one of these rotary tools for when my Dremel packs it in. It's the same lineage as the multi-tool I picked up a while back and seems like a pretty good deal.

I had a Black and Decker RTX rotary tool for over 10 years, that really got abused and held up great.
It was getting old so I decided I would get a Dremel to replace it. I used the Dremel for about a month
and went back to the RTX gave the Dremel away. Used my old RTX for about another year, finally
bought a new one, gave the old one to my brother-in-law he is still using it.

 

[Diggin It]

None of my socket sets, including those from Craftsman and Snap-on, had an 18 mm socket, which I needed to work on my 2001 Ford F-350's brakes- so I bought one 18 mm socket at Lowes.

Oddly though, the sets at TSC seem to have those sizes.

 

[5030]

Been looking at the Icon 1/2" drive torque wrench. Any comments on that? I know they sell much less expensive ones but none of them will torque left hand threads.. I have a Blackhawk 3/4 drive dial wrench and a Snap-On 1/4 drive dial wrench as well but no 1/2 drive LH-RH wrench and I need one for spindle nuts.

 

[tookielee]

Been looking at the Icon 1/2" drive torque wrench. Any comments on that? I know they sell much less expensive ones but none of them will torque left hand threads.. I have a Blackhawk 3/4 drive dial wrench and a Snap-On 1/4 drive dial wrench as well but no 1/2 drive LH-RH wrench and I need one for spindle nuts.

How high do you need it to go? Digital torque adapter will go to 147 lb/ft
This does not specifically say it works in reverse, but most of the other brands do.. 1/2 in. Drive Digital Torque Adapter
This is an ACDelco one, and it does say it works counter clockwise...1/2 in. Drive Digital Torque Adapter

 

[5030]

How high do you need it to go? Digital torque adapter will go to 147 lb/ft
This does not specifically say it works in reverse, but most of the other brands do.. 1/2 in. Drive Digital Torque Adapter
This is an ACDelco one, and it does say it works counter clockwise...1/2 in. Drive Digital Torque Adapter

The digital one don't (states only tightening torque in the blurb), the Icon one does and states that, 4% tightening, 6% counterclockwise error. I prefer a clicker wrench anyway over digital. You get to get to the preset value and it 'clicks'. I need around 200 pounds feet both directions for spindles and harmonic dampers. The Icon does 250.

 

[California]

An old fashioned beam torque wrench will serve, if your use is very seldom.

I have two - including the Craftsman I bought new in 1960 - that I use to verify the $9.95 HF click torque wrench a couple of times per project. So far all three show the same.

 

[Fallon]

I have a pretty old Craftsman clicker type. Picked up a cheap Chinesium (not HF, got it off Amazon, but probably very similar to HF if they have one) electronic one with a 1/2" male & female socket on it. It's about 4" long & goes on a standard ratchet. I occasionally verify the 2 against each other & they always match.

 

[5030]

I have a pretty old Craftsman clicker type. Picked up a cheap Chinesium (not HF, got it off Amazon, but probably very similar to HF if they have one) electronic one with a 1/2" male & female socket on it. It's about 4" long & goes on a standard ratchet. I occasionally verify the 2 against each other & they always match.

Is 'Chinesium' and 'Unobtanium' made by the same outfit? Or is the Chinesium tools made form unobtainum?

 

[Alan W.]

Went to HF today to get some more shop towels and saw one package that was noticeably thicker than the others.
I know they source from numerous suppliers but the supplier that makes the #64730 is way better than the others.
First time I saw these, always before the thin usual ones, and they only had the one package.