Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Oaktree]

I really like the Kennedy led trailer lights. Nice and bright, water sealed. Installed a set almost a year ago on my flat trailer, and a set tonight on a little single axle trailer.

I hope they're better than the ones I got a couple years ago. Lights themselves were OK, but the cheap Chinesium wire totally disintegrated in less than a year. Insulation got very brittle and the tinsel that passed for a conductor was just gone. Re-wired them using real wire and they still work fine.

 

[KubotainNH]

Unfortunately, poison is not an option for me. Our cat is a mouser (but doesn't go in the shop), and I like the collection of owls and hawks around here. I'd like to keep them all around. If the mice stayed in the shop and died, it would be easier: I'd just dispose of the bodies. Since they are driven out by the poison, looking for water, I'd also be poisoning the animals I want around.

How about a cat door so he can get in to keep the mice population down in the shop?

 

[KubotainNH]

Unfortunately, all of those designs require storing the sockets standing up. Not a big deal for the short sockets, but with the deep well sockets it forces me to store them in a taller drawer. I don't have a lot of storage space, and I need the taller drawers for tools that actually need that height.



I have some of these for my 3/8" drive sockets. I really like them. Unfortunately, when I went looking for one for my 1/2" sockets, I just can't find them anymore.

I'm considering some of the Husky socket organizers at Home Depot:

1/2 in. Drive Socket Rail
View attachment 678761

or

1/2 in. Swivel Magnetic Socket Rail
View attachment 678763

I'm not too nuts about all the plastic, but they do have a lifetime, no receipt required warranty.
Not sure why I would need the swivel feature or the magnet of the second one (I have a hard time believing the magnet will hold my collection of deep well sockets in place on a vertical surface). I'll probably go with whichever one seems sturdier.

I bought some Icon deep well 1/2" drive sockets a while ago. I like the sockets, and the display case seemed handy, but it turns out it's worthless as a carrying case: There is a handle which would work for easy carrying, but there is no latch or clip to hold the lid closed. As so as you pick it up by the handle, the lid comes off, and all the sockets spill out.

I like these, the bar is metal and the socket clip itself is quite rugged. You can also get different colors so you can easily distinguish between metric and SAE by using a particular color. They stand up well in the top of my tool box so the deep ones do not take too much space. I like being able to grab the hole rail when doing some work away from the toolbox. There are multiple companies that make this design and they seem to be very similar but I do prefer the ones with the clip on ends and the rubber ends tend to fall off.

Amazon.com: Olsa Tools 3/8-Inch Drive Aluminum Socket Organizer with Locking End Caps | Premium Quality Socket Holder (RED): Automotive

 

[KubotainNH]

I hope they're better than the ones I got a couple years ago. Lights themselves were OK, but the cheap Chinesium wire totally disintegrated in less than a year. Insulation got very brittle and the tinsel that passed for a conductor was just gone. Re-wired them using real wire and they still work fine.

They seem to really skimp on the wire. At this point I try to buy them without the wire and use my own spool of trailer wire that is much better quality.

 

[dragoneggs]

They seem to really skimp on the wire. At this point I try to buy them without the wire and use my own spool of trailer wire that is much better quality.

They also skimp on quality plastics that are resistant to UV.

 

[KubotainNH]

They also skimp on quality plastics that are resistant to UV.

Absolutely but the wire is just awful. Turns green inside in no time. Some things are not worth cheaping out on.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I got an HF email about their GEENI home smart technology products. Interesting?

Geeni Smart Home

 

[MossRoad]

Their security product page had all the cameras, lights, sirens, and a can of WD40. :laughing:

 

[Ford850]

Their security product page had all the cameras, lights, sirens, and a can of WD40. :laughing:

WD40 can with smart straw. And it also had a smart BBQ propane smart level gauge, and a battery smart charger. :laughing: Their link to all Geeni products apparently searches for the word "smart".

 

[Diggin It]

Looks like they might have bought into the Vivitar line of products:

Smart Home – Vivitar.com