Any good tools to pick up at HF?

[shocksandstrutz]

dang it jason - the avatar again.....whew lucky lucky

HF -

inner tie rod removal tool
large slide hammer
bearing removal tool (for slide hammer)
click torque wrench (acceptable)

 

[Brownsfan]

Ill agree to this!
I was a bit reluctant when I had the 3/8" composite in my hand, but now it's my favorite ratchet in my box. Ill get more for sure.

I guess I am in the minority here. I hate that thing. The flex head ratchet wrench with one side 1/4 and the other 3/8 is pretty good. And the zip ties are pretty good

 

[Flounder_Pounder]

There's a "Harbor Freight Pass/Fail" thread that lists a whole lot of HF tools people have tried. Some good results, some not so much.

See the thread here.

says the same....

 

[Danglerb]

HF rules on buying.

Look it over before buying.

Use it right away, at least enough to make sure its not DOA.

Keep your receipt and take back anything you don't like.

Don't buy stuff like fuses.

 

[tool_scrounge]

Stepped hole drills for sheet metal
Disposable Gloves

 

[MattPersman]

The plastic riveter is good done probably 100 rivets with it so far price is great. 24" 1/2 breaker bar isn't bad but does flex if something is crazy tight

 

[Agentwho]

I like the western safety work gloves they have. They don't really hold up that great and the stitches in the fingertips break easy but at 4 bucks on sale its a good deal.

http://www.harborfreight.com/mechanics-gloves-x-large-93641.html

the 3 pack of step up bits is a good grab. I'll abuse them and save my good ones some wear and tear.

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-piece-titanium-nitride-coated-high-speed-steel-step-drills-91616.html

The magnetic glove/tissue box holder is usefull. I have one on the side of my box and keep a box of tissue in it. Comes in very handy.

http://www.harborfreight.com/magnetic-glovetissue-dispenser-69322.html

 

[bcradio]

I picked up a few of the plastic socket rails and thought about that but...
How do you do that?
If you cut it down then the stop will be gone, what do you use to make a new stop so they just dont slide off the rail?

wrap the end in electrical tape about 15-20 times (before you cut it of course)

 

[t100]

Evaporust.

 

[BD1]

I got their transfer punch set. 28 piece set. $9.99. Used 20% off coupon.
Cheap for the money and they work. Better than eyeballing and quicker than measuring.
http://www.harborfreight.com/28-piece-transfer-punch-set-3577.html

 

[ckpitt55]

$150 takes home the 20 ton press with the coupon. is the press any good? i know i couldn't get the materials to build a press for that money.

 

[carhouse]

Evaporust.

X2 Works great!

 

[expatriated]

I bought a dirtbike stand there the other day for $29. It is awesome. Built in hole to change oil easily.

 

[maddawg1952]

Bought the red motorcycle lift last winter, with a coupon for short money. Worth every dime. bought a small scissors jack from Wally World use it to lift the rear tire up enough to spin and clean the laced wheels. Don't know how I ever got along with out the lift for all these years. Lifts my Harley with no problem and its rock solid up in the air. I did replace most of the fastners with some bolts I had kicking around.

 

[expatriated]

^That's on my list to get. I have a centerstand so the back tire is already free. Or if I ratchet it down, the front is free. I need to get one of those. I hear a lot of good things about them, especially for the money.

 

[maddawg1952]

^That's on my list to get. I have a centerstand so the back tire is already free. Or if I ratchet it down, the front is free. I need to get one of those. I hear a lot of good things about them, especially for the money.

There's usually a coupon every couple of months, in some of the bike magazines or on EBAY for like $2.00. I looked at alot of lifts and for the money this is plenty for me. I only work on my bike or maybe my nephews now and then.

 

[fordgasm]

100 pack of razors
assorted air hose accessories
some air tools since they are cheap
socket holders
air hose

 

[Coopduc]

I had coupons for 2 free things today. An LED flashlight and a 25 ft tape measure. I'm impressed with both and the price is great!

 

[KinzeMech]

USA made Goodyear air hose

Those were good.
They've disappeared from the online inventory recently. Wish I'd gotten two more...

 

[emeraldcoupe]

angle die grinder. there's always a coupon for 9.99 for it. i've had one for over a year now, works great.
http://www.harborfreight.com/air-angle-die-grinder-32046.html

 

[TAMPAGT07]

Big fan of the composite ratchets. The 3/8 drive is the 1st one out of my toolbox.

Ill agree to this!
I was a bit reluctant when I had the 3/8" composite in my hand, but now it's my favorite ratchet in my box. Ill get more for sure.

Big time...I just ordered 3 more ratchets this morning....I'll have 6 total...I always grab these first, before my SO's....

 

[carhouse]

Big time...I just ordered 3 more ratchets this morning....I'll have 6 total...I always grab these first, before my SO's....

I was thinking of buying these.
How strong are these?
Good for general automotive use is what I would use it for. Water pump removal, timing belt etc.

 

[pfbz]

I was thinking of buying these.
How strong are these?
Good for general automotive use is what I would use it for. Water pump removal, timing belt etc.

The composite ratchets are perfect for those kind of applications. It's also nice to have multiple handles with different size sockets on them when working on an automotive project.

How strong? I've never heard of one breaking, but personally, if I was trying to loosen a bolt, gave it a good pull without result ('damn, that's tight...'), I might go back for a breaker bar or one of my SO ratchets before really leaning into a stuck bolt with the composite ratchet.

 

[Goobzilla]

$150 takes home the 20 ton press with the coupon. is the press any good? i know i couldn't get the materials to build a press for that money.

The 20 ton is a good unit. Plus you can add the press brake that Swag off-road sells down the road if you need one.

http://www.swagoffroad.com/20-TON-Press-Brake-DIY-Builder-Kit_p_40.html

 

[87FoRunner]

Pass thru set.

For $15, it's worth the ratchet just for some spark plug socket love.

 

[jamesemery728]

I don't know if this hand cleaner is just available locally at my store or if they all carry it, but it works pretty good.

 

[BJ42LX]

Here's my HF shopping list backlog:

44751 **** welding clamps

3577 Transfer punch set

35121 Letters and numbers

67598 42 pc Marine Heat Shrink Tubing

66731 30 Pack Watertight Heat-Shrink Ring Terminals

66730 30 Pack Watertight Heat-Shrink Spade Terminals

 

[Tarheelgarage]

I have the HF clone of the OTC hub tamer in my home shop and it has done a great job. I bought it a few years ago for $59 on sale. I noticed it has gone up a bit over the years.

 

[b1ghwx]

The 'good' stuff out numbers the bad 4-1 or better. Harbor Freight is awesome for the average DIYer and truth is most stuff holds up well even for a 8hr/day Pro.

 

[unslow1]

I hadn't thought about the composite ratchets until now. They looked kind of cheap. They sure have some good review. Since they are on sale I'll check them out.

 

[yjWrangler]

I hadn't thought about the composite ratchets until now. They looked kind of cheap. They sure have some good review. Since they are on sale I'll check them out.

Ehhh I don't see the big deal about them really. The 1/4" is decent but they don't feel great in bigger sizes.

 

[87FoRunner]

For $10, I'm going to toss one in my trail box in my rock crawler.

Far better than a Craftsman RP ratchet.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

For $10, I'm going to toss one in my trail box in my rock crawler.

Far better than a Craftsman RP ratchet.

a piece of 3/8" Square Bar stock bent into an L like an allen key, and held onto the socket with 3" of utility tape is far superior then a RP Crapsman.

Really too bad they werent imported...those damn ratchets would be soooo flamed on here it would be amusing. Slap that "USA" stamp on a turd and people here will defend them as great tools.
A Beautiful 72 Tooth Kobalt from Taiwan is somehow junk compared to the 7 tooth "Ratchet Sometimes, Freewheel Others" RP Crapsman.

At some of the prices of HF stuff, its not worth doing without..Not defending HF tools as a whole, I've sworn off HF tools with moving parts...Electric Die Grinder works good but bearings get so hot after using it I cant even hold it....I did buy a 6" HF Grinder and dedicated it to a wire cup wheel because its just so easy. Bought one of those 9.99 Air Impacts...didnt impact, it just vibrated. Luckily the shanks that came with it were worth that. Nice thing is, I got a bunch of HF tools, yet am only into them less then $100.00 combined. LOL
Oh, I do have that metal cutting "Skil Saw" and used it twice...IMO well worth it, she did what I needed it to do and I feel I got my money's worth.

 

[JoeyMitch]

Orange dead blows, 3" air cutter, and I like the Western Safety gloves for the price

 

[TerryH]

Orange dead blows, 3" air cutter, and I like the Western Safety gloves for the price

+1 on all of those.

 

[Lifted4]

U.S General 44" tool chest. This thing is a beast and way better than any Crafstman I have ever owned. For the $ 359 price tag it is hard to beat. I may get the top box to go with it for more storage.

 

[monster1]

Things I have bought from hf that imho are great tools:


1. 1/2" impact sockets
2. Earthquake air tools
3. Orange deadblows
4. Cman knock off socket rails
5. Flame handled hose pick
6. Goodyear air hose
7. Marine heat shrink tubing
8. 44" us general roll away- you can't find half the box for twice the price.

 

[jakemac]

I'd add the 4 Piece Anti-Fatigue Foam Mat Set (item #94635) to the list.

My finished basement is prone to sepage in heavy rain and some idiot thought it would be a good idea to put wall to wall white carpet down there before they sold the house to me. After a flood I had to rip it all out. I'm replacing it all with the foam mats cheaper than buying another carpet to get ruined. When it gets wet down there, I won't need to pull up the whole floor, just the wet areas.

The mats go on sale regularly from $15 down to $10. I waited for coupons at $8 in email sales to save more money. The limit is usually 5 or 6 packs at a time, so it took about 3 months to collect all I needed (it's a big room). Now I just need to find the time to lay them all out.

Similar mats sell at Lowes and HD for $20-$24 ea.

 

[NC-Fordguy]

Magnetic parts trays

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

pencils