opinion on tools

[SPYDERLK]

I already have a 3/8 socket set with a complete set of small metric sockets. It is the larger sockets I am lacking. I also have a HF 1/2" heavy duty drill that has turned out to be my favorite drill. Cost just under $30 and it is the ONLY drill I've used that can penetrate the ancient oak my house and old barns are built of. I had borrowed my neighbor's nice Makita hammer drill and it would not put screws in these studs with or without the hammer feature but that cheap Chicago drill does it. If it breaks, I will buy another one. From looking online tonight at 1/2" socket sets it appears the sockets those come with are mostly included in my 3/8" set. So I think a 3/4" set is in order after all.

Get 1/2 and 3/4. Youll need both. 1/2 will be your workhorse, but the 3/4 is a must for high strength bolts 14mm &above that you often find on tractors and implements. HF is ok. I have a 3/4 set that I often abuse with IR 3/4 impact. No problems.
Larry

 

[midlf]

I agree with spyderlk, get both. If your neighbor is good with tools I would relay on his "hands on knowledge" of your needs for a lot of advise, definitely start with the 1/2". There is a lot of difference between the strength of a, say, 3/4" socket for 3/8" drive vs 1/2" drive. Some things I have leaned on with the 1/2" drive sockets would have shredded the 3/8" drive socket of the same size. So why not a 3/4" socket set before the 1/2" drive? The 3/4" set is big, heavy and clumsy and will not fit where the 1/2" set will. There will be many many applications where the 3/8" is too light duty and the 3/4" will be just too big to be practical.

I used to have access to a 3/4" socket set I could check out from the work tool crib. I have not had that access available for 8 years and have only missed it very occasionally.

 

[frank_z]

I am fortunate to live in a town that has a Harbor Freight store, and cannot resist the joy of wandering up and down the isles looking at all of the Chinese merchandise. There seems to be a lot more on the shelves than in the catalog ! Some high quality and some ---well--- wanting, but it's all cheap! If I had the money, I would support domestic businesses and workmen, but the Social Security check doesn't always allow that, especially when is something needs fixing. One thing I can say is that the store sure stinks (smells). It could be the Chinese cosmolene.

About the inch vs the metric system. I read somewhere that the inch system is based on "halving the half". Its relative easy for a craftsman to estimate a half of an interval accurately. The metric system always comes down to breaking an interval into 3 0r 5 -- something that is not done accurately. The inch system was develope in England by the fine Enlish craftsmen during the industrial revoluton. The metric system was developed by the smart folk (a.k.a. scientists) in France. Question -- What would the "continental metric system" be if Napoleon had 11 fingers? Interesting story if true.

 

[MossRoad]

H.F. Tools.... Like others have said, some are hit and miss with quality. I have lots of their stuff, some is great, some is good and some is pretty junky.

But that didn't stop me from spending another $150.00 there today ... picked up an auto darkening welding helmet, a tap and die set, a 10 pack of grinding wheels for that 4.5" grinder and 4 small tires, with tubes on rims for a couple projects.

If you really want hand tools that last and are backed by a proven track warranty, are not outrageously priced and can be passed on to your heirs... Craftsman fit the bill well for homeowner use. I have a few of their basic ratchet and socket sets as well as some wrench and screwdriver sets that I started buying when I was 14 or 15 yeras old. I have broken maybe two or three sockets in 30 years as well as a couple ratchets and screwdrivers. All were replaced with no questions asked.

I do have an impact socket set from H.F. that seems to be O.K. but have none of their regular sockets.

 

[3RRL]

I would go ahead and get the larger Harbor Freight socket set...especially if you already have a 3/8" set now.
I use the larger ones only for the really big nuts and bolts...when you need it. Of course I also have a 1/2 drive, 3/8 and 1/4 inch too...can't have too many tools you know. They are also a spare set that I use for my tractor only and keep everything at camp. So if your getting it for the tractor use, I recommend that they will be a good value for that use.
I agree about metrics because it's hard to multiply every metric size by .03937 in your head.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Quote: I agree about metrics because it's hard to multiply every metric size by .03937 in your head.

Multiplying by 4 and adding a zero is usually close enuf. I find that a metric set with all sizes will fit nearly all nuts acceptably with the exception of 1/2" - - too much slop for a little hex. Grey Pneumatics sells 1/2" drive 10 to 36mm all inclusive sets, reg and impact. Good quality flank drive, laser etched size marking, good price~ 2x HF. I think 31mm is skipped.
Larry

 

[Soundguy]

I have a 1/2" and 3/4" set from HF. 1/2 set has a ratchet, 18" breaker bar.. was 2? odd bucks. That did me fine till I got into playing with tractors bigger than 30hp. The 3/4 set has a massively beefy breaker bar, and ratchet.. lotsa sockets.. I do think it was 30-40 bucks. It came in real handy working on my 10' and 15' mowers. I don't have a long enough cheater pipe or strong enough arm to break the 3/4 set.. by a fair margin I'd say.. chinese or not...

For the few times I'me gonna need a 2.5" socket and breaker bar as big around as a broom stick... chinese cheap set is 'ok' by me..

Soundguy

I am in need of larger metric sockets and wrenches for my tractor. I received a flyer from Harbor Freight last week that had a 3/4 inch metric socket set for $49. My neighbor says I don't need a 3/4" socket set, to look for a 1/2" set. HF doesn't have one. I liked the price but then again the tools may be junk? Does anyone have an opinion about the quality of the HF set (said the make is Pittsburg) or whether a 3/4" socket set is too big? I should probably start accumulating my own tools for my tractor. So far I've been using the neighbor's, though of course his are really nice Snap-On ones

 

[goodoleboy]

HF makes good stuff and handtools have a lifetime warranty.

Does not make sense to spend $250+ on a similar set at sears for home use. You gotta draw a line somewhere.

 

[Richard]

I own a full sized industrial backhoe/loader.

I use 1/2" drive for my needs. I DO have (I think) two sockets that I bought that were 3/4". I just bought the specific sockets I needed for the job and their step up adapter.

My guess is, for a "regular tractor" (how ever we're defining that), a 1/2" set would suffice very nicely for almost everything.

 

[buppy69]

Roxy

You don't need a 3/4" set for the size of your tractor. My tractors are twice the size and I just have the 1/2" set. Most all of my tools now are from Harbor Freight. I have the 1/2" impact wrench ($19) that I have used for 6 years on these tractors and my show cars and 2 trucks. The only tools I don't like from there are the cutting and drilling tools (blades and bits) but when I've had a problem with thwm they've taken them back no questions asked.

Eugene