Harbor Freight Win-or-Fail Thread
#82
Elite Member
iTrader: (21)
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 6,593
Total Cats: 1,259
Yes. After snapping off the tips on dad's Sears bought set, I needed something in a hurry. So, HF to the rescue. Decent tool at a dirt cheap price. Actually, one of the better quality tools I've ever gotten from them.
#83
WIN.
Just make sure you turn the adjuster full torque to 0 ft-lbs 10-20 times when you first buy it otherwise it won't click. Almost broke a bolt that way. Spent $12 on it.
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-hal...rench-239.html
WIN
Same as above. Spent $9
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-qua...rench-808.html
WIN
Used for minor body work and heat shrinking wires. Spent $9 on it. It's got two speeds. Burn your hand and burn everything else.
http://www.harborfreight.com/1500-wa...112-96289.html
Poop.
Don't bother. Stopped working after the second use, which is weird considering 2 or 3 of the reviews say the same exact thing.
http://www.harborfreight.com/xenon-t...ight-3343.html
WIN
These work great. I've had them for over a year. They're holding up my car as we speak.
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton-h...nds-38846.html
Sorta fail
I broke the socket part trying to remove a hub nut. It had my weight and the force of a person pushing me down on it, so maybe it wasn't made for that much force and should've went with a 3/4 inch drive instead. I bought another one and I haven't had problems since.
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-driv...bar-67933.html
Sorta Win
The resolution on these is pretty bad. But they have reversible switches which is nice on a pair of wrenches these cheap. These are my knock-around, throw-at-the-wall, stress reliever pair of wrenches. So far they've been durable and for the price you can't complain.
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-to...set-91885.html
Win
Great for the price. I wouldn't use them on high torque bolts or bolts that a wrench has slipped on. They don't hold a bolt as well as the higher priced ones. But if you're competent, you won't have any problems with these.
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-to...set-94427.html
Win
As stupid as these look, they've helped me get bolts out of super obscure places. I picked up both for $6 or $7 each on sale. Worth every penny
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-to...set-99563.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-to...set-99699.html
Win
Awful resolution, but if you're working on a bolt this large, I'm sure it doesn't matter to you. Durable as hell and has lived through a few above waist level drops. Good for the price and for what you get.
http://www.harborfreight.com/34-jumb...het-68110.html
Just make sure you turn the adjuster full torque to 0 ft-lbs 10-20 times when you first buy it otherwise it won't click. Almost broke a bolt that way. Spent $12 on it.
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-2-hal...rench-239.html
WIN
Same as above. Spent $9
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-qua...rench-808.html
WIN
Used for minor body work and heat shrinking wires. Spent $9 on it. It's got two speeds. Burn your hand and burn everything else.
http://www.harborfreight.com/1500-wa...112-96289.html
Poop.
Don't bother. Stopped working after the second use, which is weird considering 2 or 3 of the reviews say the same exact thing.
http://www.harborfreight.com/xenon-t...ight-3343.html
WIN
These work great. I've had them for over a year. They're holding up my car as we speak.
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton-h...nds-38846.html
Sorta fail
I broke the socket part trying to remove a hub nut. It had my weight and the force of a person pushing me down on it, so maybe it wasn't made for that much force and should've went with a 3/4 inch drive instead. I bought another one and I haven't had problems since.
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-driv...bar-67933.html
Sorta Win
The resolution on these is pretty bad. But they have reversible switches which is nice on a pair of wrenches these cheap. These are my knock-around, throw-at-the-wall, stress reliever pair of wrenches. So far they've been durable and for the price you can't complain.
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-to...set-91885.html
Win
Great for the price. I wouldn't use them on high torque bolts or bolts that a wrench has slipped on. They don't hold a bolt as well as the higher priced ones. But if you're competent, you won't have any problems with these.
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-to...set-94427.html
Win
As stupid as these look, they've helped me get bolts out of super obscure places. I picked up both for $6 or $7 each on sale. Worth every penny
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-to...set-99563.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-to...set-99699.html
Win
Awful resolution, but if you're working on a bolt this large, I'm sure it doesn't matter to you. Durable as hell and has lived through a few above waist level drops. Good for the price and for what you get.
http://www.harborfreight.com/34-jumb...het-68110.html
#84
Anyone here have a HF MIG wire feed welder? Any decent? I want a starter welder to play around with and they seem pretty well priced. Somethine like this.
http://www.harborfreight.com/welding...der-97503.html
I don't think I need 140amp one for $100 more...
For light duty steel and alum welding, I imagine 120AMP is enough for getting started? That... and the 90 AMP one is the same price so why not get the bigger one, right?
http://www.harborfreight.com/welding...der-97503.html
I don't think I need 140amp one for $100 more...
For light duty steel and alum welding, I imagine 120AMP is enough for getting started? That... and the 90 AMP one is the same price so why not get the bigger one, right?
http://www.lightweightmiata.com/projects/welding/
#85
WIN- 3 ton jack stands work as well as any and they're ON SALE
Harbor Freight Tools offers a Pair of Central Machinery 3-Ton Heavy Duty Jack Stands, model no. 38846, for $12.99. Coupon code "TOOL20" cuts it to $10.39. With $1.99 for shipping, that's $23 off list and the lowest total price we could find. Sales tax is added where applicable. Each jack has a max lift height of 16-3/4" and a weight capacity of up to 6,000 lbs.
You can bring this web price into the store and get the same deal with a 20% coupon... but is it worth $2 to go to the store? :lol:
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton-h...2-001b2166becc
WIN - bolstered hex head screw driver set
kickass- nothing like being able to put a hex wrench on the end of a screw driver for torque a screw loose. Had 'em for a couple of years and no fails.
http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece...set-94899.html
re: HF welders - I've used a friend's HF 110v 120amp (highest amp 110v HF welder) and it's worked as well as any other cheap MIG. I had a similar campbell hausfeld way back and the HF is on par with that for far less. IMO excellent for learning- and at the prices they sell for, there's no excuse for not having the ability to stick metal together.
Harbor Freight Tools offers a Pair of Central Machinery 3-Ton Heavy Duty Jack Stands, model no. 38846, for $12.99. Coupon code "TOOL20" cuts it to $10.39. With $1.99 for shipping, that's $23 off list and the lowest total price we could find. Sales tax is added where applicable. Each jack has a max lift height of 16-3/4" and a weight capacity of up to 6,000 lbs.
You can bring this web price into the store and get the same deal with a 20% coupon... but is it worth $2 to go to the store? :lol:
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-ton-h...2-001b2166becc
WIN - bolstered hex head screw driver set
kickass- nothing like being able to put a hex wrench on the end of a screw driver for torque a screw loose. Had 'em for a couple of years and no fails.
http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece...set-94899.html
re: HF welders - I've used a friend's HF 110v 120amp (highest amp 110v HF welder) and it's worked as well as any other cheap MIG. I had a similar campbell hausfeld way back and the HF is on par with that for far less. IMO excellent for learning- and at the prices they sell for, there's no excuse for not having the ability to stick metal together.
#87
6" Swivel Vise with Anvil
WIN
http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-...vil-67040.html
I've had this for a year or so and just recently used it quite heavily. It's performed well. I did find it's breaking point through some heavy abuse. I put a 5 ft. pipe on the handle and attempted to bend some formed steel. That was all my weight (190lbs) on the end of the 5ft pipe bouncing and the anchor piece snapped. Not surprising. I got it cherry hot with a torch and welded it back together and it's held fine under normal use since.
http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-...vil-67040.html
I've had this for a year or so and just recently used it quite heavily. It's performed well. I did find it's breaking point through some heavy abuse. I put a 5 ft. pipe on the handle and attempted to bend some formed steel. That was all my weight (190lbs) on the end of the 5ft pipe bouncing and the anchor piece snapped. Not surprising. I got it cherry hot with a torch and welded it back together and it's held fine under normal use since.
#88
Oxygen and Acetylene Welding Kit #98958
WIN
Oxygen and Acetylene Welding Kit 98958
http://www.harborfreight.com/oxygen-...kit-98958.html
I've had this torch for well over five years and it's worked flawlessly, though I've only used it for cutting, it yields results:
Oxygen and Acetylene Welding Kit 98958
http://www.harborfreight.com/oxygen-...kit-98958.html
I've had this torch for well over five years and it's worked flawlessly, though I've only used it for cutting, it yields results:
#89
WIN
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece...lls-91616.html
These have probably outperformed any other HF purchase I've made- not to mention the reduced wear on my larger bits. If you're drilling holes in metal, I highly recommend them. Just drill a smaller pilot hole that's just bigger than the end of these step bits and you're good to go.
#90
Heat gun - WIN Have removed easily my old tinted windows, this thing will melt your hands.
leakdown tester, its a win/fail deal. Readings are inconsistent, but its common sense when you hear air coming out of the exhaust, forget the gauges, just pay attention to any air leaking. I had two kits where the gauges read inconsistently.
Win, angle grinder air tool
#92
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
WIN = 2.5 CFM Vacuum Pump
ITEM # 98076
Used on above mentioned projects with great success/no failures.
http://www.harborfreight.com/25-cfm-...ump-98076.html
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
WIN = 2.5 CFM Vacuum Pump
ITEM # 98076
Used on above mentioned projects with great success/no failures.
http://www.harborfreight.com/25-cfm-...ump-98076.html
#94
When I built the miata's AC system, it ran for at least four hours. I drained all the used parts by letting them sit/hang so gravity would pull the old oil out. The oil looked clean so I used the parts. Fresh o-rings were used everywhere. Once assembled I set up the pump/gauge and let it go while I did something else. That was at least a half day running. Then let the vacuum sit overnight and was the same the next day so I charged it up. Maybe it's a hit-or-miss product. A lot like those grinders- I've had one for probably 8 years and it's still grinding, but there's a lot reporting failures. I just used the vacuum pump again on another car last week. Pulled a great vacuum, running for about an hour.
Last edited by m2cupcar; 09-08-2011 at 08:21 AM.
#96
I used the HF venturi vacuum box thing (hooks to your air compressor) when I did my AC work. Worked great. My gauge set worked good one time and then the quick disconnect for the high side stopped working. Never could get it to hook on again (tried a few different vehicles to see if there was just something wrong with the fitting on the car).
BTW, be eco-friendly and vent your freon to a proper container:
BTW, be eco-friendly and vent your freon to a proper container:
#100
Had I been pessimistic (read: smart), I would've taken the seemingly fiscally irresponsible route and invest in the a/c manifold + vacuum pump and save myself about $650 in r-134a refills. That or it would've been used once, put in the basement, and all the other a/c systems would have magically never failed in the first place.