Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[California]

The 2 ton Pittsburgh hf cherry picker is good, had it for 4+ yrs no problems I did buy the hf air over hydraulic long arm jack for it, has worked flawless as well.

One-ton version here. Works great. Recommended.

 

[jjeff]

I'd be curious to know how well the hf icon line of snap/ retaining ring pliers are? Personally I used to hate removing snap rings had a drawer full of cheap ring pliars best one I had was a cheap long nose needle nose one I ground down and bent it to work I eventually broke it on a L 2850 front end rebuild, went out spent some money on a knipex kit now I laugh and look forward to removing/ installing those rings.

 

[sd455dan]

I'd be curious to know how well the hf icon line of snap/ retaining ring pliers are? Personally I used to hate removing snap rings had a drawer full of cheap ring pliars best one I had was a cheap long nose needle nose one I ground down and bent it to work I eventually broke it on a L 2850 front end rebuild, went out spent some money on a knipex kit now I laugh and look forward to removing/ installing those rings.

I bought the large Icon snap ring pliers to remove pin retainers on the TLB- haven't tried them yet though. I gave up on the lower end snap ring pliers HF sells.
These large pliers have some weight and seem to be well made.
If any more problems I will be replacing with some more Klein tools.

 

[fatjay]

5 years later, my bauer 70lb jackhamer from HF that I bought for $400, runs off 15a electric, is still going strong. It has been run for hours on end and there has never been an issue. It has a bit of surface rust and some areas the sun is bleached the plastic, but it has always gotten the job done.

 

[KubotainNH]

I'd be curious to know how well the hf icon line of snap/ retaining ring pliers are? Personally I used to hate removing snap rings had a drawer full of cheap ring pliars best one I had was a cheap long nose needle nose one I ground down and bent it to work I eventually broke it on a L 2850 front end rebuild, went out spent some money on a knipex kit now I laugh and look forward to removing/ installing those rings.

Care to share which Knipex set you bought?

 

[Pixguy]

5 years later, my bauer 70lb jackhamer from HF that I bought for $400, runs off 15a electric, is still going strong. It has been run for hours on end and there has never been an issue. It has a bit of surface rust and some areas the sun is bleached the plastic, but it has always gotten the job done.

and you can run it with only one hand? Wow impressive!

 

[jjeff]

Care to share which Knipex set you bought?

Sure can't any more I've had them almost a decade, bought from a dedicated tool supply website

 

[jjeff]

The medium/larger sized ones with the tips going at 45 and 90 degrees are used the most/ for both internal and external rings

 

[5030]

I bought the large Icon snap ring pliers to remove pin retainers on the TLB- haven't tried them yet though. I gave up on the lower end snap ring pliers HF sells.
These large pliers have some weight and seem to be well made.
If any more problems I will be replacing with some more Klein tools.

Sure can't any more I've had them almost a decade, bought from a dedicated tool supply website

How about those wire strippers next to them? Look like HF to me..

 

[jjeff]

How about those wire strippers next to them? Look like HF to me..

To the right is a cheaper cv boot banding tool back of the drawer is a reversible channel lock retaining ring tool with interchangeable tips, good idea bad design imo there's a really cheap hf orange handle retaining ring tool and I think theres still a northern tool brand ring tool pliars, and my old broken homemade one. Really need to clean that drawer out again .