The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...

[djjsr]

Mig cart. I bought 2 of them for $39 each. They didn't have one on display at the store, so I knew it was a gamble. Bad idea. These thing are terrible quality. Thin sheetmetal, typical Chinese "easy-strip" fasteners and the famous HF wobbly wheels and wandering casters.

Fail X2.

 

[subarub4]

Has anyone used any of the air saws? How are they? Do the blades hold up?

 

[diggerrick]

The air saws work great on the light stuff I use them for.

Like most of my HF cutting tools, the blades ****, so I made my own from hacksaw blades.

Now they have nicer bi-metal replacement blades:

http://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/air-tool-accessories/pack-of-5-coarse-air-saw-replacement-blades-67627.html

 

[a350z4me]

does ayone have these? I can't imagine why I would need the long handle ones, but I like the look of them.

They would be useful for taking the interior panel off the rear hatch of a Dodge Magnum, which has to be removed to replace the third stoplight. It's held on by a few push clips that are in the middle of the panel. It's really rather obnoxious.

 

[Danglerb]

does ayone have these? I can't imagine why I would need the long handle ones, but I like the look of them.

6 Piece Panel/Trim Removal Tool Set Item # 66188

http://www.harborfreight.com/6-piece-panel-trim-removal-tool-set-66188.html

I like the idea of owning every type of fastener remover known to man, so they have been on my list for awhile, but each time I look over all the stock in a HF the manufacturing quality is too sloppy. The notch in the foot isn't centered or is poorly done most of the time.

OTOH if I ever decided I REALLY needed one, HF is 10 min down the street and open 7 days a week.

 

[Dust]

Those trim panel tools are absolutely necessary to remove the sliding door panel on 2008+ Chrysler minivans. There is a pushpin right in the middle of the panel, and the panel loves to crease.

 

[jjjrmx5]

Has anyone used any of the air saws? How are they? Do the blades hold up?

LOL.

The blades are the LEAST of your worries.
By the time you've exchanged your third or fourth air saw due to failure and hoard the blades they come with in exchange for "gas money", you'll never have to worry about them again.

I've gone thru around a half-dozen or so HF air-saws due to failure. All are were well oiled and cared for. Bad tolerances and weak parts. I keep 3 useable ones in my home box at all times. Out of warranty ones I use for parts.

Best option is Blue Point, IR or CP units, but then ur talking $100 to $300.

For home use, I just use the buy and toss (or strip for parts and toss) method.

 

[mikeceli]

I got a few cuts out of each of 2 HF air saws, then they croaked.

 

[subarub4]

Well can the air saw cut a bolt off?

 

[Danglerb]

Well can the air saw cut a bolt off?

What size?

 

[subarub4]

17mm

 

[toxicz28]

Well can the air saw cut a bolt off?

What size?

17mm

Sounds like you might need a few saws on hand for that one.

 

[diggerrick]

I've used my air saws mostly to cut metal & plastic tube & pipe for plumbing and automotive exhaust work. Also works great for knocking off choke towers on Holley carbs to be finished in the mill. I still use the first one I bought almost 10 years ago, but I must not use mine as often or as hard as others. I also normally run it less than 90psi.

This could also be another QC issue (recurring theme with HF power tools), as some have problems, some don't. Last time I was in a store (nearest is almost an hour away) there were 2 or 3 different item #'s that were all about the same price and looked about the same - same with the air angle grinders.

 

[78Bird]

I have an air saw from there, and it's been fine. The stock blades are so-so but the saw is ok. It occasionaly jams but a quick smack usually gets it moving.

 

[toxicz28]

Picked up one of these yesterday,

Tentative PASS, rated for 200lbs, and I was able to lean my 220lbs plus the parts that were on it without catastrophic failure. A little shaky side to side, but I'll probably play with the pivot bolts a little.

 

[SQ is the SQUAD]

toxic what is the model number on that? i been looking for some of those

 

[buford36]

I have an air saw from there, and it's been fine. The stock blades are so-so but the saw is ok. It occasionaly jams but a quick smack usually gets it moving.

X2 Tom...

 

[jjjrmx5]

Well can the air saw cut a bolt off?

Sure. I use them regularly on sizes up to M12 metric bolts.

I do NOT use teh HF blades, but locally source 18T and 32T blades that are U.S. made.

Air saws are great for plastics and light guage metals, but also do not send off sparks when using (as opposed to a grinder or cut-off wheel) so you can use them near carpet, fabrics and plastics without fear of sending off hot molten shards that will marr or pit nearby materials.

 

[subarub4]

I would use my cut off wheel but the angles make it a little hard I need to cut the bolts for the rusted out hitch on my car I was only able to get just one yesterday

the earthquake gun was unable to shake the bolt free well more likely the socket set from HF was one size too large or it was so rusted it started to round the bolt.

 

[diggerrick]

likely the socket set from HF was one size too large or it was so rusted it started to round the bolt.

I broke one experimenting on a new nut, but works ok on badly corroded (weak) nuts if you have room.

 

[subarub4]

What's the name of that tool?

 

[787B]

Nut Buster! :-D

Careful googling for that one...

They only work if you have the room. I have Craftsman version that's saved my **** once, but they take hard work to make them work right.

 

[subarub4]

haha hmm I might have to check that out I got by on the passenger side with the cut off but it took a lot of work the other side is going to be harder because of the muffler and a little bit tighter.

 

[subarub4]

wow so I went to check out this new HF store that opened in my state.. everything was way overpriced more then the website price..

like the 450lb transmission jack was on sale for $99.

I did not have the time to do ask for a price match to the site.

Also I wanted the air saw but they also wanted $30 for that too...

 

[Trucky]

Stamp set, 3//8. Waayyy pass.

Use it on almost every part i make that I don't have to vibratool. No deformation yet, and its been almost a year.

 

[fatboyf150]

wow so I went to check out this new HF store that opened in my state.. everything was way overpriced more then the website price..

like the 450lb transmission jack was on sale for $99.

I did not have the time to do ask for a price match to the site.

Also I wanted the air saw but they also wanted $30 for that too...

The store is supposed to be the same price as online. Once in a while, they will run a web special and not tell the stores. How new is the store? They probably haven't received their sales price tags yet. Happens to new stores once in a while.

 

[subarub4]

The store is supposed to be the same price as online. Once in a while, they will run a web special and not tell the stores. How new is the store? They probably haven't received their sales price tags yet. Happens to new stores once in a while.

I did not see a lot of sales tags.. I love it because I don't have to go to NJ and pay tolls coming back but if they keep it like they have going now I rather go back to NJ.

I thought about it with the air saw and I decided to wait..

 

[fatboyf150]

I did not see a lot of sales tags.. I love it because I don't have to go to NJ and pay tolls coming back but if they keep it like they have going now I rather go back to NJ.

I thought about it with the air saw and I decided to wait..

If you don't see any colored tags in the store, they haven't got them yet. The store point of sale is updated with new prices on the night before the sale starts. If they didn't get the update, it won't reflect on the pos. If you see something online that you want, just print it off and they will fix the price for you. Don't worry about holding up the line.

 

[toxicz28]

I did not see a lot of sales tags.. I love it because I don't have to go to NJ and pay tolls coming back but if they keep it like they have going now I rather go back to NJ.

I thought about it with the air saw and I decided to wait..

You talking about Poughkeepsie? Didn't have an issue with web prices matching there, especially clearance stuff. It was just "having" the stuff, or not.

 

[subarub4]

You talking about Poughkeepsie? Didn't have an issue with web prices matching there, especially clearance stuff. It was just "having" the stuff, or not.

Huh? I'm talking about the new store that opened here in Connecticut in Orange.

Don't you need a printout from the webpage?

 

[subarub4]

If you don't see any colored tags in the store, they haven't got them yet. The store point of sale is updated with new prices on the night before the sale starts. If they didn't get the update, it won't reflect on the pos. If you see something online that you want, just print it off and they will fix the price for you. Don't worry about holding up the line.

yeah well I did not print the stuff and I was not really in that big of a rush to buy it but I've only saw a hand full of color (green) tags but that's about it. But I know prices in HF have went up in all since the last time I was in the store was like 4 months ago.

 

[toxicz28]

Huh? I'm talking about the new store that opened here in Connecticut in Orange.

Don't you need a printout from the webpage?

Poughkeepsie, NY 40 minutes from Danbury.
I went with the numbers and prices written down. What they had matched, or in some cases was a little cheaper, the rest they didn't have.
They're sneaky in a way that the coupons are set up for certain item #'s and identical looking items don't qualify. I've gotten pinched like that in the past.

 

[subarub4]

I never been to that store but I guess I have to get into the habit of making copies of the website price to bring with me now.

 

[rcsec]

What is the difference, besides price, between these two air ratchets?
47706 uses less air than 47214
For a DIY'r - is one better than the other? Does anyone have or use either of these?
Thanks,
Ray

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-8-eighth-inch-air-ratchet-wrench-47706.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-8-eighth-inch-professional-air-ratchet-47214.html

 

[SuperSocket]

1.5 Horsepower 7" Bridge Tile Saw - PASS.

Cut quite a lot of thick tile for a pizza oven base/outdoor kitchen I am building, worked great. Bought this larger saw just in case since I plan to tile my shower and bathrooms next. I did not buy the base and I did not feel the extra cost for the base was necessary. The entire saw came assembled whole... all I had to do was mount a blade (uses 5/8 arbor wet 7" blades) and mount the handle on top... thats it.

Saw did not come with a blade, although the HF blades are cheap, I did not use mine (had a used blade at home)... I do not know if the HF blade quality is as good by the looks of it... but I can't really comment since I did not use mine I bought for spare.

 

[BQuicksilver]

I got a few cuts out of each of 2 HF air saws, then they croaked.

I'm going to fail that air saw as well. 2 of them with 3 compressors and they're just far too weak to be useful. Maybe for wood/plastic they're ok, but not metals.

 

[watchluvr4ever]

The HF digital caliper sure looks like the Mitutoyo caliper ...

I own a 4" Mitutoyo digital caliper and the HF one doesn't come close in terms of quality. I have known a few people that own the HF one though and it is definitely a great value.

 

[subarub4]

I'm going to fail that air saw as well. 2 of them with 3 compressors and they're just far too weak to be useful. Maybe for wood/plastic they're ok, but not metals.

I dont want to really get the power tool one because I'm not likely to use it mroe then once.

 

[freeskier]

whats the virdict on that panrl popper kit with the extra long reach poppers? doe sit come in a little tray?

 

[subarub4]

I gotta go by tomorrow to get the transmission jack but likey the store thats near me the prices in the store don't reflect the sale price yet or if they ever will be..

It's unlikey I can stack with the price match and 20% off

also I wanted to get some media blasting stuff but I saw no bags just the jars of stuff