Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[flyerdan]

And a dog, a frustration-maker:
The red pistol-grip hose nozzle 92398.

I couldn't rotate the front from Jet to Rain. This isn't that old, maybe 3-4 years.

Had to put it in the shop vise, still couldn't rotate it using both hands.
Got out the HF rubber-strap wrench, the larger one. That moved it but didn't loosen it up. It's still too stiff to rotate by hand.

I'll have to dedicate this nozzle to watering flowerpots now that its stuck on Rain and use something else for washing the car.

Have you taken it apart yet? There is just 1 screw in the middle of the dial, it could be that the o-ring collapsed a bit and it's binding on the ports. I've had to do a couple of similar (not from HF nozzles).
There could be a spring loaded indent ball to hold it in position, they can be problematic as well, especially if they set over winter in hard water areas.

 

[California]

Keep in mind, I bought the Lynxx chainsaw and they have dropped it.
Now I can't even buy another battery for it. NOTHING else fits it.

I found an as-new Remington pole saw at Goodwill for $10. Battery and charger NLA.

Its battery slid in on rails, to a power socket same as a 110v wall socket. So I made a power adapter to feed it using a Ryobi 18v battery in a Ryobi flashlight shell ($1, also Goodwill ). This mess actually fit in the Remington's battery area. But later I found it more convenient to carry the power supply externally in a carpenter's nail apron, this made the pole saw lighter.

The tool apparently had never been used. The chain was wicked sharp. Ugly, but a lot better than a manual pole saw! I did some good work with it.

I found this so handy that the following year I bought a Ryobi 18v pole saw. I don't recommend this, its not as good as I expected.

Hack power supply, and the description I posted in 2017.

This might be a solution for that orphan Lynxx. Or, there may be replica batteries on Ebay for several years.

 

[LD48750]

Some have said the Litheli batteries work for some Lynxx stuff as a direct replacement, some others with a little filing. Needs researching, and I dont have anything but some posts here and there, but maybe something to look in to.

The Litheli batteries look the same but the connections are reversed.
+ - switched.

 

[Midniteoyl]

The Litheli batteries look the same but the connections are reversed.
+ - switched.

Dunno about that. Main thing people say is the Litheli batteries are too big to fit some tools, but that the power hookups are the same...

Very short example @8:25 (should start there)

 

[IndyJay]

Dunno about that. Main thing people say is the Litheli batteries are too big to fit some tools, but that the power hookups are the same...

Very short example @8:25 (should start there)

In that case you should be able to switch out the batteries in battery case fairly easily.

 

[aczlan]

What's everyone's experience with HF's $8 'Super Deluxe' 62470 hose nozzle? A good replacement for the broken pistol nozzle that I described above?

I have had one for years and it has been great. It's currently misplaced, but it will be getting put back into use as soon as I can find it (or I may just replace it).

Aaron Z

 

[Gregster613]

Keep in mind, I bought the Lynxx chainsaw and they have dropped it.
Now I can't even buy another battery for it. NOTHING else fits it.
After the 4th charge today, it made 2 cuts before it quit on me.
Don't expect it to last much longer.

LD, Yes that thought was/is in my mind; can never tell when HF is going to drop an item. But they were well stocked on Bauer tools and had multiples of batteries available. I'm going to run this for a while and if it seems to hold up well I'll add several batteries to the collection. Batteries were not that super expensive.

 

[daugen]

fun that this thread has continued for over 14 years.
Show the impact HF has on us all, the availability of lots of useful tools nearby.
And cheap enough we always seem to find something extra to walk out of there with.
Pretty sure most of us love tools.

 

[jjeff]

seems John Deere thought everyone one has tiny hands to work on there 200 series lawn tractors, I do not. Quick hack to hold a screw on a screwdriver in hard to reach places most notably replacing the consumable points , use HF heat shrink, used to have a metal spring to hold screw but misplaced awhile back. Anyways worked better than grease, lanocote, or tape.

 

[scaredychicken]

Thought I'd check out this long running thread ... no HF stores here, so I never had the need.
Good Day All

 

[PJSprog]

Isn't Princess Auto kind of similar to HF?

 

[California]

Isn't Princess Auto kind of similar to HF?

Beat me to it. I've seen photos of shelf price tags at PA identical to HF. Maybe related?

 

[newbury]

seems John Deere thought everyone one has tiny hands to work on there 200 series lawn tractors, I do not. Quick hack to hold a screw on a screwdriver in hard to reach places most notably replacing the consumable points , use HF heat shrink, used to have a metal spring to hold screw but misplaced awhile back. Anyways worked better than grease, lanocote, or tape.

I usually have tape nearby and stick the screw thru a piece of tape big enough to run up the screwdriver and tape it to the screwdriver.

 

[WVH1977]

I bought a Chicago Electric Hand Planer and it did the job. It did start making noises after 10 minutes of use but kept going. We will see how long it lasts. It was a lot cheaper than Dewalt/ Milwaukee/Makita, etc. Only needed for a few boards and maybe one more job. I hope it will last that long.

 

[jjeff]

I usually have tape nearby and stick the screw thru a piece of tape big enough to run up the screwdriver and tape it to the screwdriver.

That works great if the screwdriver and screw is somewhat clean not to mention my hands are usually pretty greasy in my experiences when I need it to secure a screw or bolt. When I buy a pack of hf heat shrink I usually have a lot of diameters I never need or use so I made the unused ones work for fastener holding.

 

[California]

What's everyone's experience with HF's $8 'Super Deluxe' 62470 hose nozzle? A good replacement for the broken pistol nozzle that I described above?

Followup: I bought two. I like them but ...

This is a real firehose-type nozzle. Quick to go from off to large volume, greater volume than the pistol-type. Near instant good focus to a narrow point, to general high-volume spray, or to the fogging vapor that a firefighter sometimes uses.

But - not very useful for watering my wife's flowerpots on the patio. Too much instant pressure and volume when you turn it on. The pistol-type works better for that. Set that one on 'shower' and modulate the volume with the trigger.

Southern California is now desperately short of water. Here in NorCal things are better (its where their water comes from ) but we are asked, sometimes required, to use any water saving methods available. One requirement [in town] is when washing the car, to use a hose nozzle that can be shut off when not putting water on the car. Washing a car with this will waste more water than a pistol-type that has the right spray pattern the moment it starts.

I'll use this for cleaning farm equipment, the pressure is useful. And in town, for blasting the windshield clean from a distance, on a car I drive infrequently. The pistol-type will remain the preferred choice for washing a car with a soap bucket & brush.

Summary: This and the pistol type are each specialized to different tasks. Lots of water as fast as possible, vs a more gentle and controlled delivery for the garden, car wash, general use.


Thanks Aaron for your comments!

 

[stuckmotor]

Thought I'd check out this long running thread ... no HF stores here, so I never had the need.
Good Day All

Sometimes, I browse the tools at Princess Auto and Canadian Tire..

 

[scaredychicken]

Canadian Tire ? (not sure I've heard of Canadian Auto). Here in the west there are also a few Peavey Marts that are pretty good.

Tool / supply inventory is largely manufactured in China, I pick and choose the tool depending on my intended usage.

 

[Cougsfan]

I haven't gone through the 1500 pages of this tread to see if someone already talked about this. But I have been using my HF chain saw blade sharpener a lot lately and am pleasantly surprised on how easy it is to use and how well it works. Much better and quicker than the hand file and jig that I used to use.

 

[Cougsfan]

The Canadian Tire stores I have been in sell almost everything imaginable. My kids even used to buy some of their hockey gear there. Doesn't seem like they are anything like HF to me.