Harbor Freight tools and stuff you like.

SidecarFlip

SidecarFlip

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*Like the 1/2" drive impact socket sets for 20 bucks each. Haven't busted one yet
*Like the Predator gas engines, cheap and reliable. Have 2.
*Don't like the corded angle grinders, found the smoke in the motors right away.
*Like the HF Hydraulic gear pullers. Super strong, just the ticket for rusted on disc brake rotors. Pops them right off.
 
johnjk

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Re: Harbor Freight tools and stuff you like or dislike...

I've broken a couple of the 1/2 impact sockets. Will be buying Kobalt or Snap on for replacements

Have a wet saw for doing tile work. Love it. Have done two kitchen back splashes and it is going strong.

Breaker bars. Have 3/8 and 1/2. Great products no issues

Nail guns, Framing nailer and brad nailer. They just keep going.

Lastly HF is one of the few places around me where I can get Goodyear rubber air hoses. I'll take those any day over plastic lines
 
S

shootem604

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Re: Harbor Freight tools and stuff you like or dislike...

I wonder if it is all the same stuff as we get here at Princess Auto. I have a torque wrench, several multimeters, a ODB2 code reader, car dollies, engine hoist, electric sheet metal shear, and random other items, and all have been perfectly acceptable for my level of use.
 
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dirtydeed

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Re: Harbor Freight tools and stuff you like or dislike...

I use their breaker bars, impact sockets, ratchets, Earthquake impact and some pliers (Doyle) and never had an issue. Their consumables are a great value too (storehouse cotter pins, grease fittings, lynch pins etc).

I just picked up a new US General Series 2 toolbox as well. Very nice toolbox for the money. Their 5 drawer tool carts are pretty sweet, come in lots of different colors now too. They have come a long way with a lot of the stuff they offer.

The Daytona long reach floor jack is nice. They definitely have their place in my toolbox (some tools anyway).
 
bearskinner

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Re: Harbor Freight tools and stuff you like or dislike...

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I like the HF moving Dolly***8217;s for moving Kubota Implements around on the concrete. One is good for small items, two are needed to roll around loader buckets and backhoes. Just add some scrap plywood or 2x4***8217;s.
 
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bearskinner

bearskinner

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Re: Harbor Freight tools and stuff you like or dislike...

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For the $79. Price tag the HF Quick hitch is a great deal. I have used one for years, and it still works fine. Some implements are made for a 3 point with pins, so for ease of use on QH and NON QH ready implements, I added a 1” extension on the top hook.
 
PHPaul

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Re: Harbor Freight tools and stuff you like or dislike...

Another vote for Predator engines. I have a 5 horse that replaced a POS plastic Honda on a pressure washer, and a 13 horse on a hot-rodded snowblower.

I'm pretty well set for tool boxes, but if I was in the market, HF would be my first stop.

I also like their 110v 800 pound winch. I have one running on barn door track the length of my "mechanical bay" in the garage. Handier than a pocket on a shirt. Video of my setup:

https://youtu.be/4bv-_OrQz7U
 
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Re: Harbor Freight tools and stuff you like or dislike...

Like:

* 3-point quick hitch - $80 with coupon - has changed the way I do things with the tractor spring through fall
* Toolboxes - have the 44" with tall cabinet and drawer extenders. Also the cart. Good stuff for the $$
* the "better" 4 1/2" angle grinders - dark blue - have 3, and they've been great - ~$20 each
* mig welder cabinet - not the shelved cart - really like the storage
* Floor jack - 3 ton - $80 - can't beat that
* Some of the "little" odds and ends. The forceps are handy...have several of diff sizes
* Nitrile gloves - keep a couple thicknesses on hand (7 and 9 mil)
* 1/2" drive articulating rachet w/ fine tooth - - great for brake caliper mounts
* OBDII Code reader - only used it couple times, but once was able to clear Check Engine Light on my kid's car....paid for itself right there...


Not sure:

* some of the combination wrenches are a little iffy if they are sized correctly....
* electric rotary hammer/drill - has worked for 3 jobs for $100 w/ HF bits. Chuck is a little iffy, but alternative might have been $300 w/ bits. I would have happy if it lasted just the first job.....:)
 
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Lil Foot

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Re: Harbor Freight tools and stuff you like or dislike...

Like:
*Their tire irons, decent for ATV, motorcycle
*ultra thin, 3/8" & 1/4" double end ratchet, did a job nothing else could reach
*nitrile gloves, use tons of them
*1/2" breaker bar
*SA sanding discs & strip sanding belts

Dislike:
*Jack Plane, worst POS tool I've ever bought (my nice Stanley was at the cabin)
*Coil spring compressor- it failed catastrophically, thankfully while laying in the driveway near no one
*All of their drill bits, taps, and dies- all crap
 
Daren Todd

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Re: Harbor Freight tools and stuff you like or dislike...

Dislike: The Chicago electric grinders. Pretty much killed every one of them within a couple months.

The cheaper air tools. And die grinders.

Likes :D Can't go wrong with the earth quake Impacts. Have the 1/2" impact in the garage. Used it heavily at work for 7 years. 12 years old now. Ocassionally makes its way back to work if I have to send one of my other name brand impacts in for a rebuild. We have the 1" heavy duty one at the shop. That things a beast!!!!

You can't go wrong with there consumables. Cutting wheels for grinders and die grinders are the best price in town. Same with air fittings and such.

Auto darkening welding helmets are the ticket. More reliable then my Snap-on auto darkening helmet. Added feature is you can solar charge the battery on the HF one. So I just hang mine outside while I'm prepping what ever I'm gonna weld.

Can't go wrong with there hammers and impact sockets either.
 
GeoHorn

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Re: Harbor Freight tools and stuff you like or dislike...

Their 20-Ton Shop Press!
 
SidecarFlip

SidecarFlip

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Re: Harbor Freight tools and stuff you like or dislike...

johnjk said:
I've broken a couple of the 1/2 impact sockets. Will be buying Kobalt or Snap on for replacements

Have a wet saw for doing tile work. Love it. Have done two kitchen back splashes and it is going strong.

Breaker bars. Have 3/8 and 1/2. Great products no issues

Nail guns, Framing nailer and brad nailer. They just keep going.

Lastly HF is one of the few places around me where I can get Goodyear rubber air hoses. I'll take those any day over plastic lines
Click to expand...
Not sure why you'd do that. Replacement are just a store away. Take the broken one in and they give you a replacement no charge. I broke a Snap on and bought the HF set. The entire set of SAE sockets was less than the one Snap On I broke.
 
johnjk

johnjk

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B3200 w/loader, Woods RC5 brush hog, 4' box blade, tooth bar, B1700 MMM,
Apr 13, 2017
1,463
1,277
113
West Mansfield, OH
Re: Harbor Freight tools and stuff you like or dislike...

SidecarFlip said:
Not sure why you'd do that. Replacement are just a store away. Take the broken one in and they give you a replacement no charge. I broke a Snap on and bought the HF set. The entire set of SAE sockets was less than the one Snap On I broke.
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Good to know. I was under the impression it was 1yr and done with any coverage. I may throw them in the truck and if I get by a store, swing in. That being said, since we moved out in to the country, I can't remember the last time I saw a HF store
 
SidecarFlip

SidecarFlip

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Equipment
M9000HDCC3, M9000HD, Kubota GS850 Sidekick
Oct 28, 2018
7,197
555
83
USA
Re: Harbor Freight tools and stuff you like or dislike...

johnjk said:
Good to know. I was under the impression it was 1yr and done with any coverage. I may throw them in the truck and if I get by a store, swing in. That being said, since we moved out in to the country, I can't remember the last time I saw a HF store
Click to expand...
Lifetime exchange on the sockets. Our closest one is 28 miles away so when we go I take the wife to dinner...

My all time favorite HF tool is the hydraulic gear puller I bought. Fantastic for rusted on brake rotors. No beating, no cussing just put it on 3 or 4 pumps and off the rotor come and if it's really stuck, 5 or 6 pumps breaks the rotor in half and then it comes off anyway. Wicked tool.

I to have a Predator replacement motor for a Honda I threw a rod in. and the other is on a pressure washer, both reliable as rocks. Had the pressure washer for 4 years now, runs as good as the day I bought it

The Chicago electric tools are junk. I found the smoke in an angle grinder in a couple hours and it stunk too.:eek: Was only 14 bucks, I didn't expect much, I wasn't disappointed either....:eek:

HF is constantly getting better.

Tarp straps are junk.
 
S

shootem604

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L245DT with Kubota (Arps Model 22) FEL and Kubota B/L4520B (Woods 650) BH
Apr 23, 2018
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British Columbia
Re: Harbor Freight tools and stuff you like or dislike...

Ah, I have to mention an unbranded flooring nailer I bought at Princess Auto. It is orange and black, no labels or names. On sale for $40, Dewalt/Makita flooring nailers were $250-$450, I've done hundreds of sqft of hardwood in the house and it served me well, even loaned it to my boss and he did several hundred sqft, no problems.
 
Lil Foot

Lil Foot

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1979 B7100DT Gear, Nissan Hanix N150-2 Excavator
May 19, 2011
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Peoria, AZ
Re: Harbor Freight tools and stuff you like or dislike...

I forgot their Framing Nailer- it has been flawless.
 
Daren Todd

Daren Todd

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Massey Ferguson 1825E, Kubota Z121S, Box blade, Rotary Cutter
May 18, 2014
10,159
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Vilonia, Arkansas
Re: Harbor Freight tools and stuff you like or dislike...

GeoHorn said:
Their 20-Ton Shop Press!
Click to expand...
We looked into there's for our shop. Only issue was the opening in the I-beam was too narrow for what we needed. Shafts couldn't slide down between the I-beam.

Worked out for us though :D I was able to talk my boss into getting a 30 ton air over hydraulic :cool:

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
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dirtydeed

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B2650 BH77, U27-4R2, BX23TLBM, box blade, rear blade, flail mower, Stump Grinder
Dec 8, 2017
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Wind Gap, PA
Re: Harbor Freight tools and stuff you like or dislike...

Question for you guys with the HF nailers...how are their nails? I have a project I'm working on with a dewalt finish nailer. Need to get some more nails...dewalt branded nails must be made of gold.
 
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