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Re: HF tools that don't suck I am amazed at their Titanium 125 welder. Put in over 3000 feet of fence and working pens and chutes for the critters. And when it dies, it's very cheap to replace.
Re: HF tools that don't suck
Re: HF tools that don't suck https://www.harborfreight.com/lighti...ght-59350.html
Re: HF tools that don't suck I bought one of the little Bauer 3" cutoff tools. Lots of reviews bashed it, but I wrap a velcro strap around the paddle switch & clamp it in a vise. Makes cutting / trimming on small parts a breeze. Attachment 1785159
Re: HF tools that don't suck Bought this demolition hammer to repair some cast iron drain line in the slab of my daughter's house! Also used it to break off the concrete on some fence posts I pulled up so I could reuse them. I have no experience with other demo hammers, but this one was a beast! Case was really nice also. https://www.harborfreight.com/power-...rol-56845.html
Re: HF tools that don't suck I bought this shop vac because I was tired of leaning over(bad back) to move it around. The plastic mouldings are surprisingly good quality and precise. Not only does it have strong suction but really high flow! The "muffler" on the exhaust port is a plus also. https://www.harborfreight.com/16-gal...art-59850.html
Re: HF tools that don't suck I'm hoping this one holds up better than the aluminum jack I bought over 20 years ago. Was on sale at $130. Pretty heavy low profile 3 Ton jack Attachment 1783863Attachment 1783865
Re: HF tools that don't suck Originally Posted by smithdoor The tools that does suck now you buy at Amazon and Walmart at lower prices. Dave Especially Amazon which has become the Chinese retailer of note. Gotta keep them Chinese companies in the black.
Re: HF tools that don't suck Rule of thumb for me as far as suck or not, entirely depends on the cost. The cheapo stuff usually sucks but the mid priced stuff don't usually and their top end stuff rarely sucks. One thing about HF is, they have really 'gotten on their game' from what they were 10 years ago when most everything sucked. Having said that, I'm very impressed with their top tier welders, especially their Pro-Tig 205 and their top tier plasma cutters, in fact I own 2 of them a Titanium 45 and the 65. Flawless Plasma cutters and the consumables are reasonably priced, unlike Hypertherm or Lincoln.
Re: HF tools that don't suck I had a stash of BD7750 I was quite impressed with. I started off with 100$ grinders and by sheer luck stumbled on to those and was some of our first real steps in to econo power tools. While there are success stories about the 15$ HF grinder its not really work worthy, it can be but its not the same tool as the next step up. HF had a whole lineup and their best one is 70$ and I like it better than the one I paid several back in the day in yellow and red and Metabo for that matter. The Bauer has about 8A rating which is plenty, so much of our stuff is out of position and it will tire a guy out on a brush hog blade if he dont know what he is doing and get it done if he does. We were paying 30 for a long time at Walmart for the BD, the same class grinder still about the same at HF and for 45 can get paddle which I would go for. I believe I have used about 5 in the last 20 years and put them on the bench pretty much 1 and sometimes 2 at a time, maybe 6 of them, repaired a couple and they ran again couple years. I bought a Toolshop at Wally for 22 but I tossed it under the seat of the van and havnt had a chance to run it, was curious about how god it might be. I think we got a Skil for about 30, works well but its not been tested hard.
Re: HF tools that don't suck The tools that does suck now you buy at Amazon and Walmart at lower prices. Dave
Re: HF tools that don't suck Originally Posted by upand_at_them Other plusses to that unit: * Surprisingly good cord. Nice and flexible, not cheap stiff PVC. * The grinder body is quality plastic, not brittle and slippery like my much older Chicago Electric unit. * Easy access to motor brushes if you put a lot of miles on it. Not familiar with that grinder but those are all good points. Especially the flexible quality power cord.
Re: HF tools that don't suck Other plusses to that unit: * Surprisingly good cord. Nice and flexible, not cheap stiff PVC. * The grinder body is quality plastic, not brittle and slippery like my much older Chicago Electric unit. * Easy access to motor brushes if you put a lot of miles on it.
Re: HF tools that don't suck I like that and it is on my short list if it goes on sale.
Re: HF tools that don't suck Picked this up last week: https://www.harborfreight.com/8-amp-...der-64742.html Attachment 1783219 I like it. Way more powerful than my very old HF corded grinder and my cordless Makita (which is pretty weak). The guard is a bit clunky to get on, but I powered through some welds today. Great deal when I got it for $30. Still good at $45, but when another discount comes up I'll grab another one. Mike
Re: HF tools that don't suck Last time I visited the local HF emporium, the tarp straps still stink but at least they are in sealed packs now so the entire store don't stink...lol HF rubber tarp straps sure do stink, even today. That odor is enough to gag a maggot.
Re: HF tools that don't suck If you use an HVLP paint gun to make your welding work look great I recommend getting the Spectrum disposable paint cup kit and adapter fitting. This product includes cups, filter caps and measuring cup. When done painting just toss the cup liner and cap and clean the gun. Cuts cleanup time in half and they're a fraction of the cost of the 3M kits. Attachment 1766539
Re: HF tools that don't suck Originally Posted by California HF MIG-170 or -180? I can do decent work (for an amateur) with my MIG-180. But HF's cheapest flux welder, AC-only, is pretty much useless in my experience. After using an ancient stick welder for years I tried an HF-90 'mig 100' and it was nothing but a frustration maker. I got some broken things stuck back together and back in service but it wasn't really a useful tool. 180. Sent from my Lincoln Buzzbox using Tapatalk
Re: HF tools that don't suck Originally Posted by 52 Ford Here's the first "real" weld I made with a Harbor Freight transformer MIG a few years ago. That's some old Harbor Freight flux core wire. 0.035, I think. HF MIG-170 or -180? I can do decent work (for an amateur) with my MIG-180. But HF's cheapest flux welder, AC-only, is pretty much useless in my experience. After using an ancient stick welder for years I tried an HF-90 'mig 100' and it was nothing but a frustration maker. I got some broken things stuck back together and back in service but it wasn't really a useful tool.
Re: HF tools that don't suck Here's the first "real" weld I made with a Harbor Freight transformer MIG a few years ago. That's some old Harbor Freight flux core wire. 0.035, I think. I had split a piece of galvanized gas pipe (3/4" or 1". 3/4" going by the picture) to make a bevel to weld up. I know it isn't the same as welding solid stock, but maybe it's like welding pre-heated. Anyway, aside from making tack welds and using the wire welder like a flux-core hot glue gun, that was the first long weld I ever made with one. I'm sorta proud of it. [emoji1745][emoji4]https://images.platforum.cloud/uploads/202...c80de59569.jpg Sent from my Lincoln Buzzbox using Tapatalk
Re: HF tools that don't suck Originally Posted by N2 Welding I guess if you already have a nice powerful bench grinder one of those add on units would be a nice option. I still like how I was able to get a nice consistent bevel on just about 4” of material with out having to move it back and forth on a smaller 1” to 2” belt. Sure if I was making stuff every day or at least all the time then I would probably desire a real one with some grunt to it along with getting the band saw working. Not in a hurry. I got plenty of other projects waiting to drain my wallets. I made ae 1X42" sander/grinder to go on one side of a bench grinder. I love it. I used the wheels from a 1X30" sander and made the arm that holds the two idler wheels (one idler has the tracking adjustment on it). I used a gas spring to tension everything. The only reason I haven't posted pictures of it on here before is 'cause I never finished making the guards and I need to epoxy the platen back on. I just made it out of stuff I had laying around. Knifemakers like to use fireplace glass as a platen so they can get crisp grind lines. I didn't have fireplace glass, so I made the platen out of 3/8" steel with a piece of 1-1/4" polished granite slab on it.
Re: HF tools that don't suck I guess if you already have a nice powerful bench grinder one of those add on units would be a nice option. I still like how I was able to get a nice consistent bevel on just about 4” of material with out having to move it back and forth on a smaller 1” to 2” belt. Sure if I was making stuff every day or at least all the time then I would probably desire a real one with some grunt to it along with getting the band saw working. Not in a hurry. I got plenty of other projects waiting to drain my wallet.
Re: HF tools that don't suck Originally Posted by Broccoli1 Files work. Old leaf springs too. I just annealed them in my Fire Pit. I was sitting around the fire anyway so just put the pieces in the fire and then let them sit over night in the ashes. Totally workable the next day. Putting the hardness back in was a trial an error but not too bad. Just used cooking erl for the quench. Anyhoo- I went down the wood sander road, I already had one but they just dont have enough grunt for the metal work. Went ahead and purchased one of these for my grinder https://www.trick-tools.com/Multitoo...BoCLt4QAvD_BwE Leaf springs should work really well. I forgot what they're usually made of, though.... I usually treat it like a high carbon steel when I forge it Sent from my Lincoln Buzzbox using Tapatalk
Re: HF tools that don't suck Originally Posted by N2 Welding I’ve heard that before, I think here... scratches head... It sounds like a good use for an old dull file. Files work. Old leaf springs too. I just annealed them in my Fire Pit. I was sitting around the fire anyway so just put the pieces in the fire and then let them sit over night in the ashes. Totally workable the next day. Putting the hardness back in was a trial an error but not too bad. Just used cooking erl for the quench. Anyhoo- I went down the wood sander road, I already had one but they just dont have enough grunt for the metal work. Went ahead and purchased one of these for my grinder https://www.trick-tools.com/Multitoo...BoCLt4QAvD_BwE
Re: HF tools that don't suck Originally Posted by Insaneride Looks good from my monitor. You gonna rivet the handle on? It's epoxied on. If I had drilled the tang it would've weakened it. Little more forethought and I would've left more material on the tang. Sent from my Lincoln Buzzbox using Tapatalk
Re: HF tools that don't suck Originally Posted by Insaneride A knife maker I know uses files. He anneals them first. I think tempers after shaping. I’ve heard that before, I think here... scratches head... It sounds like a good use for an old dull file.
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