Fine HF tools I am thinking about buying
- Thread starter Danglerb
- Start date
Uncle Buck
Banned
Were they the chrome or impact extensions?[/QUOTE]
Esch, would it actually matter? Perhaps yes, but I doubt it. That is edging into a tool area that I would not trust HF tools in! Though admittedly I do buy a bit of their offerings!
Esch, would it actually matter? Perhaps yes, but I doubt it. That is edging into a tool area that I would not trust HF tools in! Though admittedly I do buy a bit of their offerings!
Todays set of coupons is winning over advice not to buy. I just printed out ...
3 pc flex stubby set is now $4.99, thats a need it once and throw it away price.
3 pc "hanson" style sockets trays for $4.99.
IR Thermometer, the better one with laser pointer normally $30, $15.99.
6" digital composite caliper normally $20, $5.99.
HVLP air reg, normally $10, $4.99 (maybe).
3 pc flex stubby set is now $4.99, thats a need it once and throw it away price.
3 pc "hanson" style sockets trays for $4.99.
IR Thermometer, the better one with laser pointer normally $30, $15.99.
6" digital composite caliper normally $20, $5.99.
HVLP air reg, normally $10, $4.99 (maybe).
Heck, Send me $5 and I'll give you my stubby flex head ratchets...
I have to admit that I went off of several respected wrencher's advice that the Pittsburg 7 piece ratcheting combination wrenches were basically on par with some regular offerings and have lasted very well under moderate use.
I picked a set of metrics up today at HF for $30. I was tired of scanning ebay for deals. This set has 19mm which gearwrench does not, so they are the sizes I'd actually use on my cars.
I looked at the composite ratchets, seemed to feel ok with a somewhat fine tooth to it, may be a good addition down the road. I just bought craftsman thin profile ratchets though so no need for these.
The thumbratchet was ok, not stellar though. I think the thumbwheel is too large. If space is at a premium you may not be able to fit that wheel in there. The ratcheting mechanism had some skips and jumps as I fiddled with it.
Socket trays seem great if you have deep drawers. I'd consider it but i like grabbing a rail of sockets and taking them to my work area. I buy the HF ones when they are $.50 or less.
They are also good for stocking stuffers on Christmas. I gave out the aluminum mini-locking blade utility knives and keychain flashlights etc for fathers day.
I have to admit that I went off of several respected wrencher's advice that the Pittsburg 7 piece ratcheting combination wrenches were basically on par with some regular offerings and have lasted very well under moderate use.
I picked a set of metrics up today at HF for $30. I was tired of scanning ebay for deals. This set has 19mm which gearwrench does not, so they are the sizes I'd actually use on my cars.
I looked at the composite ratchets, seemed to feel ok with a somewhat fine tooth to it, may be a good addition down the road. I just bought craftsman thin profile ratchets though so no need for these.
The thumbratchet was ok, not stellar though. I think the thumbwheel is too large. If space is at a premium you may not be able to fit that wheel in there. The ratcheting mechanism had some skips and jumps as I fiddled with it.
Socket trays seem great if you have deep drawers. I'd consider it but i like grabbing a rail of sockets and taking them to my work area. I buy the HF ones when they are $.50 or less.
They are also good for stocking stuffers on Christmas. I gave out the aluminum mini-locking blade utility knives and keychain flashlights etc for fathers day.
eschoendorff
Well-known member
Esch, would it actually matter? Perhaps yes, but I doubt it. That is edging into a tool area that I would not trust HF tools in! Though admittedly I do buy a bit of their offerings!
[/QUOTE]I have beaten on the impact extensions for a few years with no problems...
Uncle Buck
Banned
Esch, would it actually matter? Perhaps yes, but I doubt it. That is edging into a tool area that I would not trust HF tools in! Though admittedly I do buy a bit of their offerings!
I have beaten on the impact extensions for a few years with no problems...[/QUOTE]
Then I guess I stand corrected!
Blacknwhitepit
Well-known member
Actually, I misspoke. It was a Crank bolt and the extension was a chrome model. Paid hell trying to get the broken piece out.
-BWP
shopforeman
Well-known member
Sadly We don't have Harbour Freight in Canada. We have a place called Princess Auto though. I'm not sure how the tools would compare...and HF has stuff that PA doesn't. Anyway, I have been buying some tools from PA. So far I can't complain too much. I was in there the other day and picked up a 3/8" flex head ratchet for $4.99 that works just fine. I was there looking for a steering wheel puller and ended up with a set that pulls balancers too. I could have got a Lisle steering wheel puller for $25. Instead I got a steering wheel and balancer puller set for $14.99 on sale. The puller works well.
Princess Auto has a "no sale is final until the customer is satisfied", policy. If a tool breaks you bring it back and tell them you want a new one. It's that simple. I don't know how the two businesses compare but I sure like my Princess Auto. Now if they would only carry those cheap parts bins that HF has!
Princess Auto has a "no sale is final until the customer is satisfied", policy. If a tool breaks you bring it back and tell them you want a new one. It's that simple. I don't know how the two businesses compare but I sure like my Princess Auto. Now if they would only carry those cheap parts bins that HF has!
IanF
Well-known member
Hmm... I have a 1/4" dr stubby, flex ratchet that has been my main 1/4" ratchet for nearly 20 years. I bought at Pep Boys when I worked there. Made in Japan, and the ratchet mechanism is actually fairly fine-tooth. Usually when I need to use a 1/4" dr socket, I don't need a lot of torque and space is limited. I tend to use it like a finger-ratchet.
The latest Craftsman "regular" 1/4" ratchets are junk as well. I bought one and it was slipping the first time I used it. I haven't decided if I am going to return it, because they will just give me another one like it.
Uncle Buck
Banned
If the regular ones **** that bad why not have them take the dollar amont of that ratchet and give em a couple bucks more and have the tool dept people place a catalog order for what used to be Sears best ratchet, the old round head fine tooth design, the one that has the fine adjustment control that sets right behind the socket drive. While it is a raised panel ratchet that old design is virtually bulletproof, I have one in all three drive sizes and have never had an issue with one of them. They are a catalog only item though these days! For my money they are still Sears best ratchet ever!
I have one in 1/2" drive - it is nice. The local Sears guy can hardly be persuaded to look in my direction when I want to buy something. It might be over the top to ask for a catalog order...with "complications"...
My wife allowed me 10 minutes to play in HF after dinner, so I picked up all on my latest list except the HVLP regulator, and have them open here at home.
3 pc stubby flex.
All of them are 48 tooth, 1/2" flex feels a bit sloppy in the detent, but all have ball detents and ridges in the flex part, and the two smaller ones feel much less sloppy. Made in Taiwan.
3 pc "Hanson" style trays.
Nothing I can see to complain about, its a price match to the online page though, so make sure to print out SAE or Metric or both as they have different sku numbers. Plastic is fairly strong looking, but has some flex (not brittle), and 3 sets of size stickers come with it as well as the printed size on the tray.
Digital caliper.
Display is MM or inch, accuracy is 0.1mm or 0.01 inch. Press on, close it, zero, and it works.
IR thermometer.
Works great, laser pointer and extended range with smaller measuring cone a nice improvement over the $10 model.
Composite ratchets.
Played with them a bit more, first sale and they are mine.
3 pc stubby flex.
All of them are 48 tooth, 1/2" flex feels a bit sloppy in the detent, but all have ball detents and ridges in the flex part, and the two smaller ones feel much less sloppy. Made in Taiwan.
3 pc "Hanson" style trays.
Nothing I can see to complain about, its a price match to the online page though, so make sure to print out SAE or Metric or both as they have different sku numbers. Plastic is fairly strong looking, but has some flex (not brittle), and 3 sets of size stickers come with it as well as the printed size on the tray.
Digital caliper.
Display is MM or inch, accuracy is 0.1mm or 0.01 inch. Press on, close it, zero, and it works.
IR thermometer.
Works great, laser pointer and extended range with smaller measuring cone a nice improvement over the $10 model.
Composite ratchets.
Played with them a bit more, first sale and they are mine.
I'm all for it, but bring a good jack and some jack stands I need to get this motor swapped into my Porsche before the AARP catches me.
MAD
Well-known member
I have encountered recent 3/8" teardrop Craftsman ratchets that had sloppy action (slip into neutral) but have not seen any 1/4" ones like that (yet). I hope that these are just examples of quality control problems associated with the move of the ratchet making operation away from the old Moore Drop forge plant in Springfield MA and do not indicate that they are all going to **** now. The standard Craftsman ratchets were never my favorite but they do hold a certain warm fuzzy nostalgic spot in my heart that I am sure comes from raiding my dad's tool box as a teen when my cheap ratchets would break wrenching on my '70 Maverick.
MAD
Well-known member
I have to agree with hholmberg ... I bought a extra 3/8" and 1/2" as a spare, just in case Sears decide to discountinue this ratchet ...
Deafautotech
Well-known member
i am curious why AARP would catch you that you are going to swapping the engine on porsche?? i thought AARP are peoples who are 50 or more years olds?? i am hope it dont offend anyone on this forum...
MAD
Well-known member
Well get to work! You won't break those fine HF ratchets no matter how hard you pound on that keyboard.
Just kidding. My project cars are covered with cobwebs and dust right now. Keeping the daily drivers on the road is about all I can handle these days.MAD
Well-known member
Texas I believe. It’s a shame, many of the folks working in the Moore/ Springfield plant were from families that had been working there for generations. The plant had been completely modernized and was quite profitable. It was a real shock to the workers there who lost their jobs.
MAD
Well-known member
I am sure the abundance of low wage workers entered into it whatever their citizenship / national origin may be. I wonder if the bean counters that make these decisions realize the damage to the reputation of a company like Sears when the human component is cut to the bone. Those raised panel ratchets come with almost every starter set. What a great introduction to Craftsman tools to get a ****** one. Sears customer service used to be their flagship. Now many seem to be staffed and managed by untrained kids.
i am curious why AARP would catch you that you are going to swapping the engine on porsche?? i thought AARP are peoples who are 50 or more years olds?? i am hope it dont offend anyone on this forum...
AARP wants me, and I want to lay down some rubber before I'm driving a walker with a bell on it.
*** I'm 51, so I am in the AARP hunting season.
I bought 2 old Porsche 928's last year, and need to put the good 310 hp Euro motor out of the one with the nasty paint into the one with the nice paint. I almost have all the tools I need to do the job, but haven't started yet. Intervention as long as it included everybody helping on my car would be dandy.