HF tools that don't suck

[ronsii]

Another tractor application is a flat magnet 1.5 inches square on top of each fender. Each end of the seatbelt will stick there when its not in use, instead of hanging down where the rear tires can slop mud on them.

Good idea Probably safer than welding them to the fenders

[Oscar]

https://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-2-...ine-33686.html this is a pretty good one however.

Who would wait 17 weeks for a harbor freight anything? lol I mean, it does have good reviews, but 17 weeks as a worst case scenario is crazy. :crazy:

[gmcdeadhead]

i buy the welding gloves from horror freight, you get 3 for 10$ , there really not that bad for the price, also if you get any of the hardware kits, like the o-ring kit or the lynch pin kit or the cotter pin kit , there not bad , a pretty good price for them also . the rest of the stuff , "buyer use your own judgment "

[metalman21]

The ground clamp is pretty good. $15 if I recall. Put one on two machines. Tractor Supply has the same exact unit, $25.

[Kilgorq]

Good or Descent.

Tool chests are good. US General ones. (I really like them. Much better than the red brand)
Sockets are good I have yet to break one. I have had the same 1/2 drive impact set for over a decade.
Pressure Pot sandblaster is excellent with some minor modifications. Added a regulator with water trap to mix valve and a separate regulator to pressure pot. I can control the mix now.
I ditched my junk CH Impact for the HF Earthquake. Nice Impact. No more stuck axle nuts.
I have had very good luck with most of the Air Tools (Central Pneumatic) except the inline sander. I have replaced it 3 Times.
I have the chop saw ( The cheapest one. 3.5HP ) I have had it for 7 years and burned through over 10 blades on it with no issues.
The Cheap Touch up paint gun works great.
I have the Mig170 and have been using it for 7 Years. Not the best but works quite well for the price. I weld mostly 16 gauge or thinner. (Usually auto body. Mostly stitch welding.)
The Screwdrivers Are Decent.
Transfer Punch set is a little soft but works.
Pry Bars are OK.
The 4lb Fiberglass hammer is not bad.
The Claw Hammers are decent.
The Body Dolly set is good.
Pickle Forks are descent.
Bar Clamps are Good. They do bend if you misuse them.
Vice grips with the orange handle are decent.
Heat sink is good.
Rivet tool is good
Rivnut tool is good just order better rivnuts (Threaded inserts) the one that come with it strip out easily.
C Clamps are OK but the thread ten to get stubborn after you use them for a while. I have bent a few too.

Not So Good.

Stepper bits suck.
Drill Bits break easily.
The Maddox Hammer set is OK but the heads fall off after a while.
The replacement Air Compressor pump is OK for the price but buy the warranty cause they only last about 2 Years before they start putting oil into your air.
Busted the 4 inch vice into pieces trying to bend some flat bar. Bent another vice trying to loosen a stuck pipe. (The Vices Suck)
Nitrile gloves are horrible. I use SAS for the extra $3.00 I can use the same pair all day. And toss at the end of the day because they are dirty not ripped.

[SlowBlues]

That's too bad about the step bits, I've gotten GREAT service out of them in my experiences, and I use them often on thicker metal. I understand there are bad batches and HF quality control being all over the place, but I've purchased quite a few and have never had a dud (knock on wood).

I think the key is using a pilot hole, especially if you can drill one big enough to clear the web/chisel tip on the bit. I've found the tip is always what gives out on step bits long before the hole edges get dull.

They can be sharpened also (as long as they haven't been overheated and lost hardness), the tip is sharpened like a regular drill tip, the hole cutting edge just needs the face brought down until the edge is sharp (google/youtube it).

I almost always use cutting oil, always go slow (low RPMs), and with as much downforce as I can safely apply.

Other than that though I agree with your list. Might be worth it for you to give the step bits another chance, you can always just get a refund (I've never had a problem returning a straight up crap tool out of sheer disappointment at my local HFs) if they still suck for you!

[California]

Harbor Freight Jack Stands Recalled.

item numbers 56371, (3 ton) and 61196, 61197 (6 ton).

a total of 454,000 jack stands made between 2013 and 2019.

[pidjones]

That's too bad about the step bits, I've gotten GREAT service out of them in my experiences, and I use them often on thicker metal. I understand there are bad batches and HF quality control being all over the place, but I've purchased quite a few and have never had a dud (knock on wood).

I think the key is using a pilot hole, especially if you can drill one big enough to clear the web/chisel tip on the bit. I've found the tip is always what gives out on step bits long before the hole edges get dull.

They can be sharpened also (as long as they haven't been overheated and lost hardness), the tip is sharpened like a regular drill tip, the hole cutting edge just needs the face brought down until the edge is sharp (google/youtube it).

I almost always use cutting oil, always go slow (low RPMs), and with as much downforce as I can safely apply.

Other than that though I agree with your list. Might be worth it for you to give the step bits another chance, you can always just get a refund (I've never had a problem returning a straight up crap tool out of sheer disappointment at my local HFs) if they still suck for you!

Not just HF's, but most step-bits are great for making ROUND holes. Love that about them.

[N2 Welding]

HF definitely stepping up the game not only with better tools but with store credit now available.

[N2 Welding]

Harbor Freight Jack Stands Recalled.

item numbers 56371, (3 ton) and 61196, 61197 (6 ton).

a total of 454,000 jack stands made between 2013 and 2019.

. Do the jack stands have the part numbers stamped into them? I have two different sets from them.

[Fnord5]

Last I heard they're taking all of them back for store credit, just to be safe
Neither of my sets were the recalled ones, so I didn't bother

[pidjones]

Picked up a Brauer electric (corded) impact a couple months ago. This week I have used it three times to remove nuts from RD400 motorcycle engine shafts. Worked great!

[yellowfin]

Just picked up one of their US General tool carts today for $150 and am very pleased. Can't beat that kind of price.

[hvw]

Someone mentioned putting a magnet on their drill press to hold the chuck key and that has come in really handy. I might steal this idea too.

I picked up one of the magnetic parts dishes they give away and put it on the side of my drill press head. Holds the chuck key perfectly.

[mbarasing]

Have a brother that bought many hand tools there while a diver. Said they'd end up at the bottom sooner than later so why lose the good tools.

[pidjones]

I picked up the stud welder/dent puller kit. Worked as advertized. The puller may not be as fancy as a pro twist grip model, but worked fine and released with a slight forward tap. Had a deep dent in the motorcycle tank. Too deep to Bondo and none of the shops around here will work on one. One over 100 miles away said they couldn't get to it until late Spring, and minimum charge was $250. I brought it out with the kit to where two thin coats of Bondo made it smooth.

[N2 Welding]

I use to buy these gloves for working on cars and such. Anything that was prone to getting grime under the nails. I remember paying less than $6.00 per box of 50 years ago. Then they stopped selling them and then restarted selling them again with a increase in price. I get a 30% off coupon today good for anything under $10 so I think I could use that on a box of gloves as I’m getting low. Huh think again. There is no way on God’s green earth am I paying $20+ for some cheap rubber gloves. Harbor freight has lots it’s mind on this one.

https://www.harborfreight.com/7-mil-...rge-68506.html

[California]

I use to buy these gloves for working on cars and such. Anything that was prone to getting grime under the nails. I remember paying less than $6.00 per box of 50 years ago. Then they stopped selling them and then restarted selling them again with a increase in price. I get a 30% off coupon today good for anything under $10 so I think I could use that on a box of gloves as I’m getting low. Huh think again. There is no way on God’s green earth am I paying $20+ for some cheap rubber gloves. Harbor freight has lots it’s mind on this one.

https://www.harborfreight.com/7-mil-...rge-68506.html

Until the price comes back down for those gloves, I'm using these cheap disposable gloves from Amazon for simple tasks - oil change, painting, and Covid barrier @ gas station touch screen.

$9 for 500 gloves. These aren't work gloves, just a skin protector. Use once and discard.

https://www.amazon.com/Magid-Glove-S.../dp/B08BSW4FDR

[jrporter]

Those Amazon gloves are like sticking your hand in a baggie

[N2 Welding]

Until the price comes back down for those gloves, I'm using these cheap disposable gloves from Amazon for simple tasks - oil change, painting, and Covid barrier @ gas station touch screen.

$9 for 500 gloves. These aren't work gloves, just a skin protector. Use once and discard.

https://www.amazon.com/Magid-Glove-S.../dp/B08BSW4FDR

thank you but those gloves would do nothing but piss me off trying to use them.

[Broccoli1]

I use to buy these gloves for working on cars and such. Anything that was prone to getting grime under the nails. I remember paying less than $6.00 per box of 50 years ago. Then they stopped selling them and then restarted selling them again with a increase in price. I get a 30% off coupon today good for anything under $10 so I think I could use that on a box of gloves as I’m getting low. Huh think again. There is no way on God’s green earth am I paying $20+ for some cheap rubber gloves. Harbor freight has lots it’s mind on this one.

https://www.harborfreight.com/7-mil-...rge-68506.html

Yeah, I noticed that huge price jump last visit .

[pidjones]

Scarfed up by the COVID horders, which drove supplies to zero and thus the prices stupid high. We can only hope for their prices to come down next year, when gasoline prices have doubled.

[jrporter]

I know last year when medical supplies were running low HF, or at least the stores in Western Washington, supposedly donated all their gloves and face shields to hospitals and emergency workers. At least that is what the sign on the empty shelves said

[California]

I know last year when medical supplies were running low HF, or at least the stores in Western Washington, supposedly donated all their gloves and face shields to hospitals and emergency workers. At least that is what the sign on the empty shelves said

An HF email asked for contacts in local hospitals, to donate their entire inventory of masks and gloves.

[N2 Welding]

I made a comment about the price of the gloves to the clerk at the register that no one is going to buy those gloves at that price and she simply said oh you would be surprised how many we sell at that price. I guess if you are using them to make money then it’s just another consumable that can be billed out as part of the cost of service but for home hobby guys it’s just too much money for 25 sets. $.40 per glove or $.80 per set is just ridiculous.

Shoot I was bitching when they went up from $7.00 to almost $10.00. I’m just a cheap a$$ I guess. I even wash the gloves while on my hands to reuse them when they don’t get holes or tear which is just about every time I do any mechanical repairs.