m2cupcar

iTrader: (5)

IMO they're not worth the price if you're trying to heat your garage. More like a propane space heater that once it's close enough to keep you warm, it will be too hot in five minutes. I moved on to an "umbrella" propane heater that does an excellent job of spreading the heat out in an area. Got lucky and picked up a floor model at ACE for $75- but even at double the HF tank top price, it's 5x better. Check CL for cheaper.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardensun...A-SS/202026621

hi_im_sean

iTrader: (3)

If I wasn't at work, id just post it, but look up the "cheap caliper" comparison video done by AvE on youtube. There is a big difference between the mits and the chinas when you compare the "accuracy VS supply voltage" and the off and on current draw from each. Also the chinas wear out quicker and don't stay as accurate for long.

Monk

iTrader: (3)

Definitely.
I've seen a few caliper videos from him.
I definitely wouldn't recommend these for a machinist, and i certainly don't think they're on par with the mitutoyos.
For general home use, they're fine though.
Also comes with a spare battery.

deezums

iTrader: (3)

I hate hate digital calipers. I use the cheap harbor freight digital ones as scribes, depth stops, and actual measuring instruments if I'm trying to stay within 3-5 thousandths. I have yet to kill one, they're little tanks.

The digi mits are very very sensitive to nicks on the scale. I have two pairs that randomly shut off when passing a certain spot on the scale. One of them likes to reset around 1.2" unless I go slower than ****. The other is at a more tolerable 4" or so, so at least I can still use those normally.

I love dial calipers but hate chips or cutting oil getting anywhere near them. If I didn't have to deal with either I wouldn't have anything but.

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

I think I've got your ticket a few posts up brother.

hi_im_sean

iTrader: (3)

Lol not sure how i missed that

hi_im_sean

iTrader: (3)

Im the exact same way. I hate digitals, for reasons I cant quite put into works. Part of it is the rack and pinion feel, and i like being able to see how my hand pressure deflects the needle.Something lost with digits just changing seemingly randomly. Measuring accurately with calipers is very tactile in my experience.

I have a HF digi set i use just like you do, and an ancient (from when they first opened) analog set i use for actual machining to +/- 0.001 or 2. Anything accurate, and I break out the swiss made brown and sharpes. To be honest, my favorite set is the mitutoyo I keep at work with TiN coated rails.

And on the subject of HF machinists ****.
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-inch-...cator-623.html
This is a mega win. Its plenty accurate for what i do. Since the day I bought it, I have yet to break out my jeweled federal. You can abuse and drop it, and go oh well, it was $16 fuking american pesos.

triple88a

iTrader: (2)

If you're using calipers to measure down to the 1/1000 you're doing it wrong. If you want that kind of a precision you need micrometers. Calipers bend pretty easily. They will get it within 2/1000 but less than that is finicky.

The whole US made vs chinese made argument is ****.. We're comparing a 200 dollar item against 10 dollar item. There's good Chinese made **** as well.

For example I've worked with cheap US made micrometers and i've also worked with good Chinese made micrometers. Wanna know who won? Oh and they were just about the same price. The chinese micrometer set was 499. the US micrometer set was 449 bucks. The difference is the chinese micrometer set was much higher quality because it's cheaper to manufacture. There were also cheaper 200 dollar chinese micrometer sets on display. In my use, the Chinese micrometers were right on the spot every time. I could measure down to the 2/10,000 with confidence. The US micrometer set i was lucky to get it within a thousandth and i had to check the US micrometers for accuracy just about every week and they were off every time. The Chinese micrometer set was so good i only checked it for accuracy and it was always on spot. I worked that job for 7 years.

As far as calipers. Same thing. The US made caliper i've had kept on slipping. You calibrate it to 0. Pull it open, use it, pull it open again, and check it at 0, but now it's 1/4 off.

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

Mee2toy-yos are made in Ja-pan.

deezums

iTrader: (3)

Not much decent made in the states for dial indicator stuff. I guess starett, but I don't like their dials, not as smooth as the mits or swiss stuff. I too have brown and sharpe 7"s and 12"s and they are awesome, smooth as glass. Very tolerant to crap near the rack, too.

I have a whole mess of cheap spi and import mic stuff, thread pitch, height gauges, gauge blocks... Not sure where you found cheap American mics, all I know of is starett and I love their micrometer stuff.

I'm very picky with my nice mics too, don't like the clicky ones because I like the tactile feel. I have a set of nice mits with the friction thimbles, bought those second hand.

Thread derail complete, muahahha!

triple88a

iTrader: (2)

Boss found them at J&L I believe.

Erat

iTrader: (5)

WIN!

Got this unit for Christmas. Had a chance to use it the other day and to my surprise it preformed way better than i thought. My friend's 6.0l swapped z32 was completely flat, we tried jumping with 2 different cars and had the battery on a charger for 3 days. Nothing but ticking from the starter.

Hooked this thing to the battery and it cranked over super slow. The car has been sitting all winter, after about 20 revolutions it finally fired. The leads on this thing got pretty hot too, so i know it's running some serious juice through it. It's also built shockingly well. Very robust. It has a worklight which seems super cheesy, but it made hooking to the battery easier. Not sure how the USB or cigarette power outlets work yet.

3-in-1 Portable Power Pack with Jump Starter

curly

iTrader: (25)

We have a snap on unit at my work that looks shockingly similar, I wouldn't be surprised if this was a copy.

Leafy

iTrader: (1)

I bought one of those hoping to get a wall wart to replace the one for my red jump pack that went missing, no such luck they got rid of the wall wart for this model.

Erat

iTrader: (5)

Yeah. I actually like the fact that i can use any ol' extension cord to recharge this. Instead of having a proprietary transformer wall wart.

3rdCarMX5

iTrader: (1)

Bought the 3hp compressor motor to replace a burned up "2hp" 110v husky motor. I was impressed with the build and amount of copper. It was twice as heavy as what it replaced. Hooked it all up and it performed great. Plenty of starting torque. Didn't even get warm running it for a few 0-125psi runs to check fit. I did buy the 2 year warranty because harbor freight.

hi_im_sean

iTrader: (3)

fail
Safety Glasses, Clear Lens
they scratch sooo easy, and turn cloudy in a few weeks.


fail
Face Shield with Flip-Up Visor
its flimsy, and doesn't stay put well, also scratches very easily.

m2cupcar

iTrader: (5)

Yes- those HF face shields are complete fail. Went with a 3M and a spare shield on amazon for $20. Well made sturdy piece.

zellers88

iTrader: (1)

Anybody used the HF air nibbler? Looks like it has decent reviews on their site.

16 Gauge Air Nibbler

deezums

iTrader: (3)

Had it and broke it, same with the cheap air saw. Might have been that I didn't have a water trap, they were venting a lot of humidity. I oiled them before I put em up though.

High Speed Metal Saw

I broke them both cutting on old appliance housings, dehumidifiers and stereo receivers and the like. No more torque, though they freewheel just fine with no load.