Harbor Freight Win-or-Fail Thread
#761
Elite Member
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Huntington, Indiana
Posts: 2,885
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I am seriously considering one of these:
http://Look at this on eBay http://w...m/182152294609
Lars, you have a combo unit right?
Have you tried to tig with it?
Edit: can't get the link to embed properly. It's an eBay tig/ plasma jobby
http://Look at this on eBay http://w...m/182152294609
Lars, you have a combo unit right?
Have you tried to tig with it?
Edit: can't get the link to embed properly. It's an eBay tig/ plasma jobby
#762
mkturbo.com
iTrader: (24)
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Charleston SC
Posts: 15,177
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I am seriously considering one of these:
http://Look at this on eBay http://w...m/182152294609
Lars, you have a combo unit right?
Have you tried to tig with it?
Edit: can't get the link to embed properly. It's an eBay tig/ plasma jobby
http://Look at this on eBay http://w...m/182152294609
Lars, you have a combo unit right?
Have you tried to tig with it?
Edit: can't get the link to embed properly. It's an eBay tig/ plasma jobby
#764
Apparently the used air compressor I purchased recently has a tendency to explode, and was recalled back in 2002. Called the manufacturer (Ingersoll-Rand), and they will pick it up on their dime and give me the option of a $100 prepaid Visa or a discount on a new I-R compressor. My initial plan was to get this one from Hazard Fraught Tools:
29 gal. 2 HP 150 PSI Cast Iron Vertical Air Compressor
Factoring the Visa, that would come out to roughly $260.
However I can get one of these I-R compressors for a pretty good price with the discount:
FREE SHIPPING — Ingersoll Rand Garage Mate Air Compressor — 2 HP, 5.5 CFM, Model# P1.5IU-A9 | 11 - 20 Gallon Air Compressors| Northern Tool + Equipment
$387
$412
I'm tempted to go big and get the 60 gallon, even though I'd need to get a 220v outlet wired in. Will I even need that much air though? Strictly for hobby use: impact wrench, air rachets, angle grinder, etc.
29 gal. 2 HP 150 PSI Cast Iron Vertical Air Compressor
Factoring the Visa, that would come out to roughly $260.
However I can get one of these I-R compressors for a pretty good price with the discount:
FREE SHIPPING — Ingersoll Rand Garage Mate Air Compressor — 2 HP, 5.5 CFM, Model# P1.5IU-A9 | 11 - 20 Gallon Air Compressors| Northern Tool + Equipment
$387
Amazon.com: Ingersoll Rand SS3L3 3-Horsepower 230-Volt 60-Gallon Vertical Compressor: Home Improvement
$412
I'm tempted to go big and get the 60 gallon, even though I'd need to get a 220v outlet wired in. Will I even need that much air though? Strictly for hobby use: impact wrench, air rachets, angle grinder, etc.
#765
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Huntington, Indiana
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I have the 29 gallon HF one. It runs everything from framing nailers to impacts very well, and it recovers quickly.
It's about the best compressor you're going to find before going to a 230V machine.
I also like that it is relatively portable, although it isn't light by any means.
It's about the best compressor you're going to find before going to a 230V machine.
I also like that it is relatively portable, although it isn't light by any means.
#767
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Location: Rochester, NY
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Go big with compressors. It's all about the CFM delivery if you want to use high volume air tools like grinders, sanders, cut-off tools, etc.
While the HF one isn't a bad compressor by any means, the higher air delivery of the IR one will mean you use it more.
While the HF one isn't a bad compressor by any means, the higher air delivery of the IR one will mean you use it more.
#770
Not an HF piece, but get a drill-powered pump. Lots of them are crap, but the one below from Amazon pretty much makes changing trans fluid fun for a grand total of $8. Ain't nobody got time to squeeze a hand pump.
Actual HF product: 1/2" drive digital torque adapter. Such accurate. Much cheap. Does CCW torque for those of you with threaded BBs on your bike.
1/2 In Drive Digital Torque Adapter
Actual HF product: 1/2" drive digital torque adapter. Such accurate. Much cheap. Does CCW torque for those of you with threaded BBs on your bike.
1/2 In Drive Digital Torque Adapter
Last edited by afm; 06-05-2016 at 08:39 PM. Reason: Fix line break
#773
3" 90 degree corner clamps- Fail
3 in. Corner Clamp
I bought these because I wanted cheap/disposable 90 degree clamps for welding square tube structures. My thought was that if they are cheap, and I ruin one with the welder, no big deal.
These are junk. First, they are not square, I had to hit them with a hammer to bring pieces into square. They are also flimsy with very little clamping surface. 1.6mm thick aluminum construction with ~1/4" threaded rod for clamping force. The clamping jaw is less than a half inch tall so it barely engages the work piece.
3 in. Corner Clamp
I bought these because I wanted cheap/disposable 90 degree clamps for welding square tube structures. My thought was that if they are cheap, and I ruin one with the welder, no big deal.
These are junk. First, they are not square, I had to hit them with a hammer to bring pieces into square. They are also flimsy with very little clamping surface. 1.6mm thick aluminum construction with ~1/4" threaded rod for clamping force. The clamping jaw is less than a half inch tall so it barely engages the work piece.
#774
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Farmington Hills, MI
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3 Piece Three-Jaw Puller Set
Win/fail. Sheared just the tip when taking off an LS1 harmonic balancer, but got it off nonetheless. When the tip sheared, it ended up in the crank snout, which was a pain to extract.
90 Amp-AC, 120 Volt, Flux Cored Welder
Win/fail. For $80 on sale it fuses metal together. Does a pretty terrible job, but it's sole purpose for me is to tack an exhaust together so I can bring it to work and fully weld it. Not recommended for an actual welder, but for the price it's hard to beat to hold metal together.
Win/fail. Sheared just the tip when taking off an LS1 harmonic balancer, but got it off nonetheless. When the tip sheared, it ended up in the crank snout, which was a pain to extract.
90 Amp-AC, 120 Volt, Flux Cored Welder
Win/fail. For $80 on sale it fuses metal together. Does a pretty terrible job, but it's sole purpose for me is to tack an exhaust together so I can bring it to work and fully weld it. Not recommended for an actual welder, but for the price it's hard to beat to hold metal together.
#775
WIN = A/C Manifold Gauge Set
ITEM # 92649
Used this on three A/C systems for pulling a vacuum/diagnostics/charging and worked well for all three with positive results. One project was building an A/C system in my 90 Miata from an assortment of leftover A/C parts and a new O-ring set = success.
http://www.harborfreight.com/a-c-man...source=linking
ITEM # 92649
Used this on three A/C systems for pulling a vacuum/diagnostics/charging and worked well for all three with positive results. One project was building an A/C system in my 90 Miata from an assortment of leftover A/C parts and a new O-ring set = success.
http://www.harborfreight.com/a-c-man...source=linking
#776
mkturbo.com
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Charleston SC
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I rented the gauges and a vacuum compressor from AutoZone. Last night I was working on filling my miata with R134a and then fucked up and sprayed myself all over my face and the ground. Was not a fun experience. I am just going to pay my local shop to finish filling up AC. I also learned my idle needs a lot of work when the compressor kicks on.
#777
I rented the gauges and a vacuum compressor from AutoZone. Last night I was working on filling my miata with R134a and then fucked up and sprayed myself all over my face and the ground. Was not a fun experience. I am just going to pay my local shop to finish filling up AC. I also learned my idle needs a lot of work when the compressor kicks on.
#778
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Huntington, Indiana
Posts: 2,885
Total Cats: 616
90 Amp-AC, 120 Volt, Flux Cored Welder
Win/fail. For $80 on sale it fuses metal together. Does a pretty terrible job, but it's sole purpose for me is to tack an exhaust together so I can bring it to work and fully weld it. Not recommended for an actual welder, but for the price it's hard to beat to hold metal together.
Obviously it's not going to weld as cleanly as a MIG, but with Lincoln wire, I find it does a decent job.
HF wire sucks.