Harbor Freight Win-or-Fail Thread
10-16-2012, 09:36 PM
#182
Autozone compression tester tool - FAIL
Although this isnt a harbor freight tool. The Autozone manufacturer of the compression test tools. This is the analog dial, not the digital gauge. Garbage. The rubber orings kept on slipping and stretching, during my experience one fell off from the tool to the spark plug hole so i had to fish it out, the joint between the piece that goes in the head and the rubber hose connected to it was very loose so it spun. You cant tighten the thing and if you get it tight, cant get it loosened... yes i had that problem but was able to get it loose by rocking it back and forth. This was the 2nd tester i tried and both had the same problems. 2nd tester was brand new from the shelf.
FAIL
Although this isnt a harbor freight tool. The Autozone manufacturer of the compression test tools. This is the analog dial, not the digital gauge. Garbage. The rubber orings kept on slipping and stretching, during my experience one fell off from the tool to the spark plug hole so i had to fish it out, the joint between the piece that goes in the head and the rubber hose connected to it was very loose so it spun. You cant tighten the thing and if you get it tight, cant get it loosened... yes i had that problem but was able to get it loose by rocking it back and forth. This was the 2nd tester i tried and both had the same problems. 2nd tester was brand new from the shelf.
FAIL
WIN!
Flex Drive Compression Tester
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10-16-2012, 10:11 PM
#183
Their electric long shaft die grinder. Major win. I have ground pounds of aluminum and steel with this thing and can't kill it. Comparable to Milwaukee and Dewalt of the same tool.
For grinders go with Metabo, German made. I like the 6" but they also make a 4". You can steal these off Ebay from time to time.
For grinders go with Metabo, German made. I like the 6" but they also make a 4". You can steal these off Ebay from time to time.
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11-20-2012, 10:55 AM
#184
realizing joe already posted it -
i had quite a different experience with this - i was all happy to find a grinder for just $20
i started to use it to cut my endlinks off - i barely got into the first cut when this thing shot sparks out the side and failed
after that it just poped and farted when i would try to turn it back on
i went to sears and got a craftsman to finish the job
i had quite a different experience with this - i was all happy to find a grinder for just $20
i started to use it to cut my endlinks off - i barely got into the first cut when this thing shot sparks out the side and failed
after that it just poped and farted when i would try to turn it back on
i went to sears and got a craftsman to finish the job
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11-20-2012, 11:05 AM
#185
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realizing joe already posted it -
i had quite a different experience with this - i was all happy to find a grinder for just $20
i started to use it to cut my endlinks off - i barely got into the first cut when this thing shot sparks out the side and failed
after that it just poped and farted when i would try to turn it back on
i went to sears and got a craftsman to finish the job
i had quite a different experience with this - i was all happy to find a grinder for just $20
i started to use it to cut my endlinks off - i barely got into the first cut when this thing shot sparks out the side and failed
after that it just poped and farted when i would try to turn it back on
i went to sears and got a craftsman to finish the job
My cheap Chicago electric corded drill started spitting out sparks and smoking some. I just let it cool off a bit then when back to drilling.
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11-20-2012, 12:24 PM
#187
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anyone purchase one of these? interested in buying the 134.99 lathe.
Wood Lathes | Find the Best Wood Lathe For Your Money at Harbor Freight
Wood Lathes | Find the Best Wood Lathe For Your Money at Harbor Freight
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11-20-2012, 12:47 PM
#188
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The lower priced two are absolute crap. Go for the one for $200, and you can make pens & wine stoppers. If you want to make bigger stuff, you need a bigger lathe.
Surprisingly, the cheap HSS lathe tools are okay once you figure out how to sharpen them correctly.
BTW, I have a Jet lathe, pretty much the same as the smaller $200 model shown.
Surprisingly, the cheap HSS lathe tools are okay once you figure out how to sharpen them correctly.
BTW, I have a Jet lathe, pretty much the same as the smaller $200 model shown.
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11-20-2012, 12:53 PM
#189
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Here's a pic of my first pen, which I still use. All the subsequent ones have been given away as gifts.
It's rosewood, and a Woodcraft gold slimline kit. Since then, I buy my pen kits online (eBay) for much cheaper.
It's rosewood, and a Woodcraft gold slimline kit. Since then, I buy my pen kits online (eBay) for much cheaper.
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03-08-2013, 07:29 AM
#196
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Go to the local barnes and noble or boarders and find a copy of Super Street. In there will be an add for HF on one of the pages. One of the coupons will be an engine hoist for $99 and also a 20% off coupon. You want to cut them both out of the magazine and then put it back on the shelf. That hoist is perfect for pulling the miata engine out.
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03-08-2013, 07:40 AM
#197
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Pulled 2 BP's, multiple KA's (cuz they suck), a 4g63, a vg30, and a 2jz, 4.0l out of a jeep plus i'm sure a bunch of other stuff all with the same HF hoist. Just one guy in a group of friends owns it and loans it out to all of us for our task. I'm waiting to find a v8 to pull with it. lol Seems to be holding up so far. Welds look like total garbage, but they're holding. It also jacks slow, but i think it's just low on fluid.
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03-08-2013, 08:05 AM
#198
40 Lb. Capacity Floor Blast Cabinet
Central Pneumatic - Item#68893
WIN @ $170 on sale w/20% off coupon
The HF site has a lot of buyer comments that bring the score down because it leaks, but as several mention the key is sealing up the unit during assembly. It comes as a stack of flat panels and loads of hardware. I sealed every panel joint and hole with silicone and have used it at least ten times now and does not leak at all. No dust w/o any vacuum system. The only negative is that the included light is on the weak side. My 60 gal single stage compressor has no issue keeping up either. Yay.
Central Pneumatic - Item#68893
WIN @ $170 on sale w/20% off coupon
The HF site has a lot of buyer comments that bring the score down because it leaks, but as several mention the key is sealing up the unit during assembly. It comes as a stack of flat panels and loads of hardware. I sealed every panel joint and hole with silicone and have used it at least ten times now and does not leak at all. No dust w/o any vacuum system. The only negative is that the included light is on the weak side. My 60 gal single stage compressor has no issue keeping up either. Yay.
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03-08-2013, 09:08 AM
#199
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Related to joe's post but only somewhat:
Someone get and try one of the Harbor Freight Random Orbital Dual Action Polishers. I'm not talking a palm polisher. I'm not talking rotary like above. I'm talking honest to god random orbital style like the Porter Cable 7424XP. It's on sale $59 and NOT on the website. So stop telling me it is, SCOTT.
Someone get and try one of the Harbor Freight Random Orbital Dual Action Polishers. I'm not talking a palm polisher. I'm not talking rotary like above. I'm talking honest to god random orbital style like the Porter Cable 7424XP. It's on sale $59 and NOT on the website. So stop telling me it is, SCOTT.
10" Random Orbit Waxer/Polisher
I bought one last year and it works fine. I have used it to polish two cars, and also to polish out the hull on a friend's boat. i am not sure what all of the low reviews on the HF site are about but I (and someone I lent it to) have been pleased with it. It works much better than a purely rotary polisher for polishing out paint and what not. That is generally true with rotary versus random orbital.
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03-08-2013, 09:22 AM
#200
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Here is another HF item while I am at it...
WIN
Utility Trailer 4'x8' - Heavy Duty Folding Utility Trailer
I bought one of these several years ago when I was road racing motorcycles and hauled it collectively thousands of miles with my bike on top. The fold up feature is great if you have limited garage space.
No real issues at all. The wiring it comes with is sort of weak like the wiring that comes with most trailer light kits. i replaced it by hacking up a cheap 120V extension cord. Also it comes COMPLETELY disassembled and it will take you the good part of a day to assemble it.
WIN
Utility Trailer 4'x8' - Heavy Duty Folding Utility Trailer
I bought one of these several years ago when I was road racing motorcycles and hauled it collectively thousands of miles with my bike on top. The fold up feature is great if you have limited garage space.
No real issues at all. The wiring it comes with is sort of weak like the wiring that comes with most trailer light kits. i replaced it by hacking up a cheap 120V extension cord. Also it comes COMPLETELY disassembled and it will take you the good part of a day to assemble it.
Last edited by ZX-Tex; 03-08-2013 at 12:06 PM.
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