Harbor Freight Win-or-Fail Thread
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
Reply
0
0
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.
Reply
0
0
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
Reply
0
0
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.
Reply
0
0
to be honest i had a pile of receipts from the tools and stuff i had to buy - combined with the parts receipts and some how i lost the harbor freight one
kinda sucks b/c i bought extra wheels for it too
kinda sucks b/c i bought extra wheels for it too
Reply
0
0
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
Reply
0
0
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.
Reply
0
0
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.
Reply
0
0
Need advice. Harbor freight welding blankets: win or fail?
I figure win since 50% cheaper than closest competitor and it's not mechanical. I imagine it won't shread the eyelets in a day or catch fire and burn my garage down? Anyone have one?
I figure win since 50% cheaper than closest competitor and it's not mechanical. I imagine it won't shread the eyelets in a day or catch fire and burn my garage down? Anyone have one?
Reply
0
0
Hey Jeff, I actually just bought them from the store by you on 59. They'll be shielding the garage door and other car in the garage. They look good and I think I got 1/100 of this amount of exhaust heat wrap for the same price a few years ago. Ha!
Reply
0
0
Hey guys, advice needed.
I am looking at buying an engine hoist (for my car, nothing drastic and huge). I remember seeing one on these pages, but was curious if anyone had anymore insight to give.
I am looking at buying an engine hoist (for my car, nothing drastic and huge). I remember seeing one on these pages, but was curious if anyone had anymore insight to give.
Reply
0
0
Make sure you get something 5 tons or up. Odds are you'll forget few lines and hoses here and there... a 5 ton or up will ensure you get the engine out without worry. 
Reply
0
0
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.
Reply
0
0
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 5,718
Total Cats: 830
From: Detroit (the part with no rules or laws)
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.
Reply
0
0
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.
Reply
0
0
Thread Starter
Elite Member
iTrader: (15)
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,847
Total Cats: 27
From: San Antonio, Texas
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.
Reply
0
0
Thread Starter
Elite Member
iTrader: (15)
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,847
Total Cats: 27
From: San Antonio, Texas
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; Mar 8, 2013 at 12:06 PM.
Reply
0
0
