My Harbor Freight Investment

[scott37300]

I just got done watching all the videos, thanks for taking the time to film those! Saw a lot of HF tools I haven't seen before.

How did your hub bearing remover work? Do you have a item number for it because I can't find it on their site?

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

I just got done watching all the videos, thanks for taking the time to film those! Saw a lot of HF tools I haven't seen before.

How did your hub bearing remover work? Do you have a item number for it because I can't find it on their site?

http://www.harborfreight.com/fwd-front-wheel-bearing-adapters-66829.html

It worked well, really well in fact.

Oh, and thanks for all the postive comments guys.

 

[gmhill33]

Like others have said, thanks for the pics and the videos. Awesome thread that you have done.

Gary

 

[scott37300]

http://www.harborfreight.com/fwd-front-wheel-bearing-adapters-66829.html

It worked well, really well in fact.

Oh, and thanks for all the postive comments guys.

I've only done one bearing and just took the knuckle off and had it pressed out. So do you just take the hub off the knuckle and use this tool instead of using a press?

 

[minimonster]

John,

I just watched your videos and read through this entire thread. You have an awesome collection of tools -

I have a question for you ---

I need a starter mechanics tool set soon and want to start with the Pittsburgh 301 piece set. Im a DIY'er so I dont need nearly as many tools as you have. The most complex type of job I have done is change the rotors and breaks on my car. What in additon to the 301 piece set should I purchase? Is that set lacking a particular wrench size for example?

 

[Rickster]

Thanks for the tip on cleaning tools with Goo Gone. Your tools are amazingly clean and I'm definitely going try out that Goo Gone on my sockets!

 

[Hiball]

Thanks for the tip on cleaning tools with Goo Gone. Your tools are amazingly clean and I'm definitely going try out that Goo Gone on my sockets!

Amazingly Eh? Hell.. Ill give it a shot too, I just hope my Grandfather doesnt come over and smack me in the back of the Head.

 

[72chevy]

Hey John,
OK the answer is probably buried in here somewhere but I can't find it.
Were did you get those foam / rubber wrench racks in the video?

TIA

 

[jeffk14]

Hey John,
OK the answer is probably buried in here somewhere but I can't find it.
Were did you get those foam / rubber wrench racks in the video?

TIA

I'd like to find some of those too. HF doesn't seem to sell anything like that now.

 

[Indy_500]

Hey MNJ, could you post some pics of each drawer so we can compare exactly EVERYTHING you've bought recently? Just curious what the HF spender has been spending his piggy bank on recently

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

John,

I just watched your videos and read through this entire thread. You have an awesome collection of tools -

I have a question for you ---

I need a starter mechanics tool set soon and want to start with the Pittsburgh 301 piece set. Im a DIY'er so I dont need nearly as many tools as you have. The most complex type of job I have done is change the rotors and breaks on my car. What in additon to the 301 piece set should I purchase? Is that set lacking a particular wrench size for example?

The kit is a good kit; the wrenches are lacking though. I would get the 11pc long combo wrenches. It is hard to say what a DIY'er will need, because one day you come along something where you will need more tools than the 301 pc has to offer. I would also get a set pry bars.

Also, most of HF's diagnostic tools are awesome; for the day you may need some.

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

Hey John,
OK the answer is probably buried in here somewhere but I can't find it.
Were did you get those foam / rubber wrench racks in the video?

TIA

I got the black and gray out of a Husky wrench kit. The yellow ones came with the HF ratcheting wrenches.

 

[jeffk14]

I got the black and gray out of a Husky wrench kit. The yellow ones came with the HF ratcheting wrenches.

I got a couple of black ones with my HF ratcheting wrenches. I didn't realize those in the vid were the same thing. I really like the way they allow wrenches to stand up and take up less space. I've looked everywhere for the racks by themselves, but apparently, nobody sells them.

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

Hey MNJ, could you post some pics of each drawer so we can compare exactly EVERYTHING you've bought recently? Just curious what the HF spender has been spending his piggy bank on recently

In due time; I apologize, but I have been very busy lately.

I have a ton more HF stuff to show; here is a teaser.


This bore-scope is bad ***... It will fit down into the spark plug bosses. It will also take pics and videos which can be uploaded to a PC.

On Thanksgiving I returned my inspection camera for a full refund "in store credit," then I used my 25% off coupon, in the end it was under $60.00.

I will post some new pics and videos as soon as I can.

 

[bchee]

What's the part number on that borescope?
HF looks like they have two digital inspection cameras, one for $120, one for $250, but there are no pictures.

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

What's the part number on that borescope?
HF looks like they have two digital inspection cameras, one for $120, one for $250, but there are no pictures.

It's the $250 one.
http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-inspection-camera-with-recorder-67980.html

The $120 will not fit down the plug bosses, the head is the same size as the old inspection camera I had.

 

[mkdive]

While John has a respectable "Starter Set" of Harbor Freight tools it doesn't come close to the amount of Harbor Freight tools I have accumulated.

And I'm not even sure if that's something I should even be proud of or even admit to.

Lets see pictures !

How about a thread showing your collection? I'd like to see it.

Hey Cheapskate, you should know that on this board (heck, most boards!), if there ain't pics, it din't happen.

...

So hurry up and post some pics! You might even want to start your own thread.

I don't want to hijack John's thread so I will give a example of what I have in the new members forum when I have a chance. I need to put on my flame-proof suit first.

I will say I love reading threads or tests from people that actually use tools first without having any preconceived ideas before passing judgment on them like John and mr holeshot.

Been a month where are the pictures?

 

[NWphotog]

Been a month where are the pictures?

x2 ..............

 

[King Bojack]

I have a ton more HF stuff to show;

What else is left in the store that you haven't bought already?

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

What else is left in the store that you haven't bought already?

Battery analyzer, digital stethoscope, welder and mask, HVLP paint sprayers, airbrush kit, body hammers and dollies, 3/8 swivel impact sockets, locking extensions, grinders, cordless drill and impact; that's all I can think of now, but I know there is more I'm forgetting about. Plus I have some other new tools not purchased at HF.

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

Been a month where are the pictures?

I too eagerly await for the thread.

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

locking extensions

I can't believe you haven't gotten those. They are one of HF's very best deals. Right now the 3/8 are on sale for $7.27 and you can use the 20% off coupon on top of that...

 

[bchee]

I'm surprised about those locking extensions. I just didn't have much confidence in the locking mechanism.

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

I can't believe you haven't gotten those. They are one of HF's very best deals. Right now the 3/8 are on sale for $7.27 and you can use the 20% off coupon on top of that...

That list is all the new items I recently purchased. I may just get another set of those extensions, I love them.

 

[cts540]

What a thread! I just finished reading the entire thing and John you have opened quite a few eyes as to HF stuff. They should put you on their payroll as I'm pretty convinced you alone have increased their sales by quite a bit! I'm your normal DIYer around the house and the garage and I'm also looking to get better organized in the garage by getting all of my wrenches/hammers/drivers/etc. off the pegboard and into my frist large tool box. Looks like the 45" roller cabinet will soon be my new addition, thanks to you.

 

[mrholeshot]

I can't believe you haven't gotten those. They are one of HF's very best deals. Right now the 3/8 are on sale for $7.27 and you can use the 20% off coupon on top of that...

I saw those in HF awhile back and was impressed with the looks of them but even as chap as they were I just own too many extensions to justify buying them. At 7 dollars I may make an exception

 

[RbrtAWhyt]

Better hurry because they are all marked "clearence" in the store. They had two sets of the 3/8 left and at $7.37 I bought them both. One will be a Christmas give and the other will be a birthday gift for next year. I would have bought a couple of 1/2" sets, which were the same price, if they had had any...

 

[mkirkpatrick]

I seen them a month or so ago for 9.99 passed on them then, had to pick a set of 3/8 and 1/2 yesterday. I am like holeshot, I have a lost of extensions, but can't pass on these at that price.

 

[webscrounger]

For the bike mechanic on a budget.......These guys did a basic but nice setup for about $1100 via HF.

 

[Chris Adams]

Wow, just finished all 20 pages.
John, nice thread, and I really like your tool box setup.
Working in a 'shoebox' sized space takes skills and far more work than many people understand.
Have you got a way to put a compressor on the outside of the building? Say in a Rubbermaid plastic shed, or a cheap wooden building? I've done that with compressors and with my solvent tank, before I built a decent shop. Still have my solvent tank in an 'outhouse' as it saves room, bad smells and fire hazards.

Oh, and many thanks to Bull.
20 pages and I could read all of it without my blood pressure going through the ceiling.
That's a lot of hard work for a Mod, and I really, really appreciate it.

 

[Bull]

Oh, and many thanks to Bull.
20 pages and I could read all of it without my blood pressure going through the ceiling.
That's a lot of hard work for a Mod, and I really, really appreciate it.

You know how much heat I've taken for this thread? Thanks for the props, they go a long way.

 

[SQ is the SQUAD]

damn, i been hf dreaming for a while and you got just about everythnig on my wish list.

great tools at a great price, cant be beat,

i wonder is the us only guys are typing there comments on 100% us built computers???

 

[marpat]

does anyone else here have the cylinder leakdown tester? If so what do you think of it?

 

[williaty]

I had one. It was unusably bad. I returned it.


Coulda been a fluke, their QC isn't the greatest.

 

[ramtuff]

This is a great thread! Right off the bat, it answered something I've been wondering about...if the door on that side cabinet was reversible or not. Those boxes are right at the top of my list to check out in the next few months.

As for HF tools themselves, I'm of mixed opinion. I've always considered them "junk" tools, but I do own quite a few things from there. In fact, my main combo wrench sets are Pittsburgh. I bought them when I first started tinkering around as a teen, and had always planned on replacing them with at least Craftsman wrenches, but I've had no need to in the 14 or so years I've had them. I used them professionally, 5 days a week for 10 years, in the industrial automation field too. I've only broken one of them (10 mm, box end), but I was really wailing on it with a mini-sledge at the time. lol. For "cheap junk" the hand tools really do seem to hold up quite well.

 

[scott37300]

does anyone else here have the cylinder leakdown tester? If so what do you think of it?

I was looking at one and it's 32 dollars after the 20% coupon. I found a star brand on tooltopia for 60 dollars, I believe this is the brand the tool trucks rebadge. So I figured for 30 bucks more I would get the one made in the US.

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

For those of you who have seen my videos; you may recall a complaint of mine regarding this HF ratchet.

The ratchet performs fine, I just hated the double end; sometimes it would get in the way. Anyway, I found the same ratchet in an Advanced Auto Parts store, but just with the 3/8 head "HF has yet to offer this version; yet both ratchets are obviously made by the same manufacturer."

Since the 3/8 head on my HF ratchet is no longer needed; I cut it off, and flipped the 1/4 head to the inside "vs the outside originally."

I just pulled the guts out and cut the head off with my HF angle grinder "great tool for the money; use it a lot." I used engine assembly lube on the gear; wow, totally quite and smooth "too thin though, some leaks out."

So, now I have a 1/4 version also; I like it.

 

[jakeb]

anyone know the item number on these?

 

[MechanicNamedJohn]

anyone know the item number on these?

I think it is 44356, but it appears HF has discontinued them. Along the 1/2 version as well. That is kind of strange, maybe they are switching to a Pro line version. I have to get to my local HF and see if I can't get the 1/2 set in case they are gone forever "I doubt it though, I'm sure they will resurface."

 

[dwm]

I like locking extensions. I don't use them all the time, but when I want one and it doesn't get in the way... Like when I'm using a 36" over the top of a transmission to get the top bellhousing fasteners. I have 8 or 10 of them in lengths from 3" to 36", yet still manage to find room on my wish list for more: the Link Tools ones, probably only because they offer a locking universal. http://www.link-tools.com/