Favorite Harbor Freight tool
- Thread starter scott37300
- Start date
1950mercury
Well-known member
Why they work great I've never had one blow
Fixed
Well-known member
That's the problem:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UIyIsUgSw5Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Reviving a dead thread...
Flex head ratchet wrenches. I have both sets and use them daily. They are limited sizes unfortunately. They have smaller heads than most other ratchet wrenches. I've only had to warranty the 13mm.
5 drawer cart. It is a beast!
The $2 pick set of 4. Why haven't I bent or broken these??? I bought these because I needed a small bent pick and I broke a snap on one. I use these suckers almost daily and haven't used the SO since.
The orange 4 pound dead blow hammer. I spent $10 on this sucker. My coworkers are calling me hammer hand because I lack the strength of the other guys so I'm constantly using it to beat on my tools to break stuff loose.
Flex head ratchet wrenches. I have both sets and use them daily. They are limited sizes unfortunately. They have smaller heads than most other ratchet wrenches. I've only had to warranty the 13mm.
5 drawer cart. It is a beast!
The $2 pick set of 4. Why haven't I bent or broken these??? I bought these because I needed a small bent pick and I broke a snap on one. I use these suckers almost daily and haven't used the SO since.
The orange 4 pound dead blow hammer. I spent $10 on this sucker. My coworkers are calling me hammer hand because I lack the strength of the other guys so I'm constantly using it to beat on my tools to break stuff loose.
3/8 composite ratchet. I dont have a garage to work on my autos. So when your laying on the ground on a 27° evening reaching for the ratchet that doesnt feel frozen os a huge plus. 60 teeth and they are actually pretty tough. The first one i had survived me beating it with a hammer bc my 1/2 ratchet was loaned out that day.
I've owned 2. I only bought the second one bc I lost the first one. The newer ones have a bigger handle it seems though.
I've owned 2. I only bought the second one bc I lost the first one. The newer ones have a bigger handle it seems though.
Beating on ratchets? Ouch. HF also sells some great breaker bars in all sizes. A breaker bar is more appropriate for busting tough fasteners loose, and you can put a cheater pipe on them. The 25" is a must for your trunk. Put a 3/4 impact socket on it, and lug nuts come off super easily.
But yeah the composite ratchets are great. Also their line of roto-ratchets are sweet too. I only have it in 1/4, but I want to get all 3. They are nice in tight areas with their swivel action.
The 4 piece hook and pick set referenced above is a must buy. I stocked up when I had a 99 cent coupon. Great stocking stuffers for gifts.
Last edited:
jdlong
Well-known member
Damn....I have a lot of HF stuff I like but to narrow it down to three? That's tough.
Braun folding stick light
Earthquake XT 1/2 drive stubby impact.
Pittsurgh 3/8-1/4 drive ratchet with telescoping handle.
Braun folding stick light
Earthquake XT 1/2 drive stubby impact.
Pittsurgh 3/8-1/4 drive ratchet with telescoping handle.
Gogo300
Well-known member
The power feed drain snake is a life saver. My house made me buy one when the washer backed up. For the cost of a few rentals you can buy your own. If some one needs to use it you can charge them and make some money back.
Starman2112
Member
+1 on the Braun stick light.
Actually my signature was thought about that ratchet LOL. At the time I had to do that I was very limited on what tools I had the composite ratchet actually came in a bag of tools I bought at a garage sale. Lol
Super Mech
Well-known member
I’m interested in getting a power snake. Which one did you go with?
Me too. I have the old textured finish 42"(44) box set and the original Eartquake 1/2" impact wrench. Boxes and wrench still going strong. I was going to say my favorite tool is my HF receipt so I can return some POS that did not work when I got it home. There have been a few of those, too.
Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
DFB
Well-known member
Pittsburgh 37 pc 3/8" & 1/2" SAE/Metric impact socket set (like $21.50 with a 25%coupon).
Composite ratchets I especially like the small 1/4" curved handle and the big 1/2 straight. ($6 & 12.27 respectively each with the 25% off coupon)
30" bulk storage cart (was $76.50 on special discount)
Composite ratchets I especially like the small 1/4" curved handle and the big 1/2 straight. ($6 & 12.27 respectively each with the 25% off coupon)
30" bulk storage cart (was $76.50 on special discount)
Gogo300
Well-known member
Item # 61857 or 68284. Commercial power feed drain cleaner w/ gfci. I don’t remember exactly which one but it’s the blue one with the power feed. Recently I bought the red hand held one thinking I could go down the trap for the washer but it didn’t reach the clog. I’ll keep that one for sinks.
Nineeightyone
Well-known member
I've been happy as a clam with both of my floor jacks (one Pittsburgh low profile, one Daytona long reach low profile), my flex head 1/2" drive ratchet, and my impact sockets. They're pretty much the go-to of the HF world it seems, they're highly reviewed by most everyone who uses them.
Rogers954
Well-known member
Pit pro composite ratchets always seem to be what i grab first, got all 3 sixes and i love them.
4 ton Dayton jack, beats the pants off my old crappy craftsman 3 ton and this one is 10x faster
Orange Handel picks, surprising good and strong
Flex head ratchets, i have the 1/2 and the long 3/8’s recently while doing a power steering pump swap this thing saved my *** with the low back drag i was able to back out the 3 super long bolts that had hardly and drag once they were broke but i couldn’t reach with my hand. Was going to grab the 1/4 but they were out recently.
Braun folding stick light love this thing and the magnet is super strong.
Breaker bar
Swivel head ratchet, just got the 1/4 haven’t used it yet feels nice.
Rubber gloves, there cheap and the 9 mil are tough as hell and the 7 are great for light duty stuff.
Paper towel and glove holder. Both work well and are cheap.
20 ton Hydraulic Low Profile Heavy Duty Bottle Jack, Jeep it in my truck box, works fine and doesn’t take up a ton of space, plus it’s about 1000 times better than the junk scissor jack that came with the truck.
301 piece mechanics set, also in the truck needed cheap tool set for road side emergency’s, couldn’t ask for much better at the price point.
Pro screwdrivers surprisingly nice for how cheap.
Super lube, cheaper with the coupon then anywhere else use it for everything from tools to fishing reels and all around use in the shop.
Meguires 101 and 201 detail compound. Have used it for years for detailing and again with coupon it’s cheaper than anywhere else. Good stuff.
Impact sockets.
44” box. Nuff said.
Yeah you could say i like harbor freight, for what it is and how affordable it is i like the store. And regardless what some people think there are some great buys there for great prices.
About to add a 5 drawer cart and i can’t wait.
Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
4 ton Dayton jack, beats the pants off my old crappy craftsman 3 ton and this one is 10x faster
Orange Handel picks, surprising good and strong
Flex head ratchets, i have the 1/2 and the long 3/8’s recently while doing a power steering pump swap this thing saved my *** with the low back drag i was able to back out the 3 super long bolts that had hardly and drag once they were broke but i couldn’t reach with my hand. Was going to grab the 1/4 but they were out recently.
Braun folding stick light love this thing and the magnet is super strong.
Breaker bar
Swivel head ratchet, just got the 1/4 haven’t used it yet feels nice.
Rubber gloves, there cheap and the 9 mil are tough as hell and the 7 are great for light duty stuff.
Paper towel and glove holder. Both work well and are cheap.
20 ton Hydraulic Low Profile Heavy Duty Bottle Jack, Jeep it in my truck box, works fine and doesn’t take up a ton of space, plus it’s about 1000 times better than the junk scissor jack that came with the truck.
301 piece mechanics set, also in the truck needed cheap tool set for road side emergency’s, couldn’t ask for much better at the price point.
Pro screwdrivers surprisingly nice for how cheap.
Super lube, cheaper with the coupon then anywhere else use it for everything from tools to fishing reels and all around use in the shop.
Meguires 101 and 201 detail compound. Have used it for years for detailing and again with coupon it’s cheaper than anywhere else. Good stuff.
Impact sockets.
44” box. Nuff said.
Yeah you could say i like harbor freight, for what it is and how affordable it is i like the store. And regardless what some people think there are some great buys there for great prices.
About to add a 5 drawer cart and i can’t wait.
Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
Lucky13driver
Well-known member
HF seems to have really up there game they dominate tool storage for the money. I have 3 of the 44" lower tool boxes I used for a workbench build. Also the 30" tool cart goes head to head with high end companies.
Here's a link to my build:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=408820
Here's a link to my build:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=408820
I can't say it's my favorite but I have 3 or 4 of these things around the house and they really do work great. Drop something behind the workbench, under the couch, under the desk, tool rolls under the truck, something on a high shelf. They can pick up and hold onto something really small. Haven't broke one yet.
https://www.harborfreight.com/36-in-pickup-and-reach-tool-62176.html
https://www.harborfreight.com/36-in-pickup-and-reach-tool-62176.html
sberry
Banned
I go with the step drills, the breaker bar and bartery load tester.
Bagherra
Well-known member
Braun light stick
Flex head ratchets
5 mil gloves
3 ton floor jack
Ultrasonic cleaner (for my guns)
Flex head ratchets
5 mil gloves
3 ton floor jack
Ultrasonic cleaner (for my guns)
pelletman
Well-known member
Braun light stick, 3/8 x 1/4 ratchet, 5 drawer cart, free blue multi screwdriver, pretty happy with their cheap ratchets.. Love the 9 mil black nitrile gloves
This ratchet
https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-38-in-drive-dual-head-ratchet-67993.html
This ratchet
https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-38-in-drive-dual-head-ratchet-67993.html
Last edited:
pelletman
Well-known member
Wow. I am gonna stay away from cheap fuses!
quadrcr87
Well-known member
1/2 Earthquake Impact
jmarkwolf
Well-known member
It's a toss up between my HF motorcycle lift table and my HF horizontal band saw.
Doc995
Well-known member
The micro fiber towels that you get free w/coupon are great! I pick them up nearly every time I'm there. Add another thumbs-up for the Braun light...it recently increased in price, but still well worth it!
Rogers954
Well-known member
Also a fan of the LED brake lights that i got for my boat trailer, really affordable and surprisingly well built. I have dunked them over a dozen times last year with no hiccups at all and there super bright
Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
TalonFE
Well-known member
Hands down the 1K motorcycle lift. Stable, easy to move around, and with the heavy end down I can heave it up and lash it to the wall for extra room. I wouldn't be putting an Electra Glide Ultra Classic up to full height, but a 600-ish Super Glide is fine.
anndel
Well-known member
The Cen-Tek battery tester is pretty awesome.
_Riddle
Well-known member
I really like my HF breaker bar and jack + jack stands. People seem to really like those Braun lights so I'm going to pick one up and see for myself.
I also love my motorcycle lift. It's hard to beat for $289.00 (with coupon). I picked up the US General 72 inch bottom and 56 inch top boxes recently. I've only had them for a couple of weeks now, but I'm a huge fan. I didn't think I'd like the black latches on the right side (removable on the 64135 top box), but I've actually grown to like them. I'm also a fan of their wire loom, which is generally cheaper than the parts stores, and the marine grade heat shrink tubing kit.
Attachments
If you need a 3/4 or 1” impact that you will use infrequently then get the earth quake on sale and use the 20% coupon. The pro impact sockets are strong, inexpensive and get the job done. The blue handle screwdrivers with the nut on top of the handle are surprisingly good, especially for the price after sale and coupon! Try to stay away from products where proper metal tempering and hardness is required such as the drill bits ( they don’t really work too well). And the bearing splitter set ( works, but the metal is so soft that it warps as you use . Those newer deep tool boxes look like an absolute STEAL at those prices! If I did not already have a box I would have gotten one for sure. Almost did anyway.
driftpin
Well-known member
An SDS-MAX impact hammer/drill, cost me <$100 out the door. I demoed three bathrooms with it saving thousands of $.
Their reversible screwdrivers, the 'free' ones, are decent in my use.
They have plenty of things I've bought, mostly consumables, but a few powered tools. I have a 14" cutoff saw that seems to work as-well as an older Makita I have.
Their reversible screwdrivers, the 'free' ones, are decent in my use.
They have plenty of things I've bought, mostly consumables, but a few powered tools. I have a 14" cutoff saw that seems to work as-well as an older Makita I have.
ScottsGT
Well-known member
Where do I start? 44" boxes are top on my list.
Just bought the ratcheting tap handle. OMG! Life is much easier now tapping holes.
Impact sockets have never let me down. (Not the **** they carried 12+ years ago)
Magnetic toolbox accessories. Paper towel holder, glove box holder, pry bar holders, etc...
Earthquake 3/8 impact.
Floor jacks are OK. Had one go out years ago, current one is about 6-8 years old and starting to exhibit some signs of not pumping up when handle and jack is down low. If it died tomorrow, I got my moneys worth.
Amazing how you can find so many good things under one roof, but so much **** mixed in that gives them a bad reputation.
Just bought the ratcheting tap handle. OMG! Life is much easier now tapping holes.
Impact sockets have never let me down. (Not the **** they carried 12+ years ago)
Magnetic toolbox accessories. Paper towel holder, glove box holder, pry bar holders, etc...
Earthquake 3/8 impact.
Floor jacks are OK. Had one go out years ago, current one is about 6-8 years old and starting to exhibit some signs of not pumping up when handle and jack is down low. If it died tomorrow, I got my moneys worth.
Amazing how you can find so many good things under one roof, but so much **** mixed in that gives them a bad reputation.