The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...

[BearBite]

The 5000 gram / 11 pound scale is great. It feels and looks like good quality to me. I got mine for around $14.50.

http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-scale-95364.html

 

[babewatcher]

The Cen-Tech digital pocket scale is a PASS. I've had it for years and it's accurate enough for all the small item weighing I need in the shop. I've used it to weigh cut wheel weights to get the exact weight I need. Folds up when not in use. Cheap and I like it.

http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-pocket-scale-93543.html

 

[senginc]

-------------------
Now for the Fails.....

4-1/2" Angle Grinder DrillMaster (EPIC FAIL) on sale for $9.99
used it for 5 minutes and it burned up in my hand. returned it for a replacement and the second one ran for about 6 minutes and burned up in my hand. Just chucked it in the trash....

I have used both the 4 1/2" and 4" drillmaster grinders successfully for years.
Only failure was when a buddy used it and and laid his weight in it and burned out the motor . Moral is let the wheel do the cutting with normal pressure and they will last for years.

 

[DaWoodster]

I posted much more detail on the following at http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=2023868#post2023868

Basically all were a pass... so far

The 20-ton press.
http://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton-...ess-32879.html

4 wheel drive ball joint kit
http://www.harborfreight.com/four-wh...-kit-4065.html


14pc master ball joint adapter set
http://www.harborfreight.com/14-piec...set-66958.html

 

[Provincial]

There have been a number of posts on this thread about the Harbor Freight Rachet Bar Clamp/Spreader units, the black ones with orange cushions. The current numbers for these are 46807/68975/69221/69222. I have used a number of them, and find that they are fairly weak in holding power and can be easily broken by abuse. The breakage seems to be because the plastic frames are pretty brittle, thus they can survive any clamping pressure that the mechanism can generate, but may shatter if dropped on a hard surface.

I use them for undemanding applications, often where I need a "third hand" to assemble something.

Another complaint voiced here is that they don't hold clamping pressure for long. Here is one that has been in use for a month now and hasn't failed:

[/IMG]

 

[tenchu]

http://www.harborfreight.com/dual-chuck-tire-inflator-68272.html
Dual chuck tire inflator - FAIL - I bought one, returned it 3 times, gave up and threw it away. First one didnt let any air flow through, second and third one leaked so bad I couldn't inflate past 30psi

http://www.harborfreight.com/7-piec...eel-drive-axle-lock-nut-socket-set-66988.html
7pc axle nut socket set - PASS - I have used these tons of times, so have most of my co-workers, and have yet to have one break.

http://www.harborfreight.com/air-angle-die-grinder-32046.html
Angle die grinder - PASS - I use this ALL the time, has never failed me, I got it with a coupon for $9.99 and its taken all of my abuse. A couple of my co-workers have the same one and have been using them for years with no issues

I know I have more HF stuff, but can't think of it off the top of my head.

 

[Coach James]

The 5000 gram / 11 pound scale is great. It feels and looks like good quality to me. I got mine for around $14.50.

http://www.harborfreight.com/digital-scale-95364.html

How many decimal places does it read to on the gram setting?

Thanks

Coach

 

[IONH]

The 20-ton press.
http://www.harborfreight.com/20-ton-...ess-32879.html

I bought one of these a few years ago to replace my older 12 ton A frame which destroyed itself under pressure. Anyway, the 20 ton jack has never held pressure. I have to bleed it every time to get anything out of it and days later it'll be useless again. I obviously haven't needed it much or I'd have replaced the jack by now.

 

[subarub4]

Question which of the nail guns are any good?

 

[rlitman]

Question which of the nail guns are any good?

I had the old blue 6-in-1 framing nailer. It was good for the price (I got it for under $60), but got jammed a bunch. I had to turn it upside-down with no nails in it, and drip oil on the hammer directly to get it to run reliably.
It looks like that model was replaced with a red/silver one.

The palm nailer was pretty good, but I ended up buying a PC, because of the option to use different tips (otherwise the HF one was just fine by me).

I've got an 18 gauge nailer/stapler (I believe Item # 97524).
Well worth the $20 I paid for it, to be used as a stapler. As with the other HF nailers I've used, the depth control just doesn't work as well as on my PC nailers, and since the hammer is as wide as a staple, the impression left behind from a countersunk brad nail is also as wide as a staple. If I'm using brad nails, I'm using them to be inconspicuous, and with this machine, I'm left with a lot of putty work to make up for the wide dimples.
So, PASS on staples. FAIL on brad nails. Stick with a dedicated brad nailer for that.

My pin nailer is PC. I wasn't going to buy the HF one, because it has no safety on the trigger. The PC safety trigger is really cheezy plastic, but it's better than not having anything at all.

I've had good luck with their 16 gauge finishing and 18 gauge brad nails and staples.
I haven't tried their pin nails, and I'm a little scared to, because I know that one bad pin can trash the hammer because the parts in there are so fine.

 

[Reit38]

Any input on the cheaper roatary tumbler? Looking to clean brass ammo cases

Sent from my cellular device using Tapatalk

 

[bmwohio]

I did a search on this part # and nothing came up.....anyone have any feedback on this?

http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-self-adjusting-wire-stripper-36810.html

Heavy Duty Self-Adjusting Wire Stripper

Thanks!

 

[pfred1]

The problem with buying anything from HF or China in general is that by doing so we are killing our economy one purchase at a time.

I give you Youngstown, Ohio as an example. The steel mills closed down in the late 70's and 80's and this once beautiful town has been in economic decline ever since. Much of the steel used for the domestic tools we covet probably came from towns like this. Youngstown was an all American town that people dreamed of raising a family in. They had a neighborhood called " Millionaires Row". This same neighborhood is now partialy boarded up and the big question in Youngstown is " who will mow my neighbors lawn"? Google it.

I know this blog was supposed to be a fun way to review HF Tools but this is something we need to talk about as Americans if we are going to fix it. Buying tools should not be like buying lottery tickets. How about this for a solution: pay more for Ameriacan tools or if you can not afford them buy used ones. Thats what I do. Some of my tools are pre war and still in service today.

To each their own. It is a free country. I've even manufactured tools in the USA. I was in the IAM and everything. Honestly it is a pretty crappy job, that is unless you like drilling the same hole over, and over for a week.

 

[Danglerb]

To each their own. It is a free country. I've even manufactured tools in the USA. I was in the IAM and everything. Honestly it is a pretty crappy job, that is unless you like drilling the same hole over, and over for a week.

Wait til you get married.

 

[mrobins297aaa]

Question which of the nail guns are any good?

the coil roofing nailer is a pass, i bought one this fall to do my daughters roof.
although after the first 10 hour day it was jammed up pretty good, enough that i had to take it home and put it in a vice and unjam the piston. but after that it work flawless all the next day until we finished........so for $80 (on sale and coupons) it wasn't much more than renting one.

 

[subarub4]

Well I was just wondering I was going to build a small table for a project or just buy this

http://www.harborfreight.com/multipurpose-workbench-with-lighting-and-outlet-99681.html

 

[Contorted77]

Wait til you get married.

LMFAO!!!!

 

[IONH]

Wait til you get married.

Bazinga!

 

[68rustang]

Well I was just wondering I was going to build a small table for a project or just buy this

http://www.harborfreight.com/multipurpose-workbench-with-lighting-and-outlet-99681.html

I looked at those in the store. It is a real POS!

 

[teegee]

Does anyone have any idea if this leak detector from HF is worth the money?I'm looking to use it for r-12 and r134 a.If not what you recommend for trouble shooting my cars, not to be used in a garage full time.http://www.harborfreight.com/electronic-freon-and-halogen-leak-detector-92514.html

 

[rlitman]

Does anyone have any idea if this leak detector from HF is worth the money?I'm looking to use it for r-12 and r134 a.If not what you recommend for trouble shooting my cars, not to be used in a garage full time.http://www.harborfreight.com/electronic-freon-and-halogen-leak-detector-92514.html

I don't know, but I have this one, and it is excellent:
http://viot.us/HVAC/product_info.php/cPath/25/products_id/34

Just as sensitive as an Inficon, at less than a quarter of the price.

Edit: I see that the same guys sell:
http://viot.us/HVAC/product_info.php/cPath/25/products_id/87
That looks exactly like the HF model, but almost twice the price. Still, that one uses C batteries, and mine uses AA, and this model does not have an actual rating of its sensitivity listed. Not sure if that makes a big difference to you though.

 

[lotus_guy01]

The mechanical wheel dollies are a big pass:

http://www.harborfreight.com/1250-lb-capacity-mechanical-wheel-dolly-67287.html

They have ball bearing wheels and it's almost too easy to push around a 3000lb car.

 

[teegee]

Thanks rlitman,I've got a slow leak in an old regal ,just trying to locate it before it gets hot again.Not a every day driver but I do like air when its available.

 

[dodge610]

I have got that sniffer use it on my own cars and friends works very well for me.

 

[bimmerZ5]

The mechanical wheel dollies are a big pass:

http://www.harborfreight.com/1250-lb-capacity-mechanical-wheel-dolly-67287.html

They have ball bearing wheels and it's almost too easy to push around a 3000lb car.

awesome! they are basically like the Go-Jacks right? is that price or a set of them? if so, how many in the set?

 

[IONH]

Does anyone have any idea if this leak detector from HF is worth the money?I'm looking to use it for r-12 and r134 a.If not what you recommend for trouble shooting my cars, not to be used in a garage full time.http://www.harborfreight.com/electronic-freon-and-halogen-leak-detector-92514.html

I bought one a year or two ago to try and diagnose a leak. Couldn't find it for the life of me. I have the manifold gauge set, vac pump, etc.

I have no clue what I am doing though. I just pointed the nose at the various fittings and it never went off. I stuck it in front of a can and opened it slightly and it went off.

Does anyone have a link that might be able to help me better diagnose a leak using the tester?

Any tips for when you can't even pull a vacuum other than putting a couple cans in to find it?

 

[bmwohio]

I did a search on this part # and nothing came up.....anyone have any feedback on this?

http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-self-adjusting-wire-stripper-36810.html

Heavy Duty Self-Adjusting Wire Stripper

Thanks!

Bueller??? Anyone?

 

[teegee]

Thank you dodge610,I ll give it a shot at 40 bucks.IONH I am a novice myself ,did replace a compressor ,accumulator, o rings ,on 1 car and it been working fine for a year now,not such luck with an older car I have hope to find the leak with sniffer.Not sure of the proper use of 1 but there are several ac sites on the internet that my help.google' automotive air conditioning repair'

 

[nuclearlemon]

The mechanical wheel dollies are a big pass:

http://www.harborfreight.com/1250-lb-capacity-mechanical-wheel-dolly-67287.html

They have ball bearing wheels and it's almost too easy to push around a 3000lb car.

only if you're only pushing around something less than they are rated for. i've had both sets and have been at the rating and the slightest imperfection causes the casters to stop and bends the tray

 

[IONH]

I did a search on this part # and nothing came up.....anyone have any feedback on this?

http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-self-adjusting-wire-stripper-36810.html

My dad has a set and I figured they were ****. I borrowed them for some house wiring (solid core copper 12 and 14 gauge) and I believe I recall that I was surprised they worked. Neither of us used them much though (couple dozen wires total maybe) so I don't know about their longevity.

 

[SixStringMadness]

I did a search on this part # and nothing came up.....anyone have any feedback on this?

http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-self-adjusting-wire-stripper-36810.html

Heavy Duty Self-Adjusting Wire Stripper

Thanks!

I've never seen any version of this type of self adjusting wire stripper that is worth a dang. I stick with the Ideal/Klein style stripper, based on whatever gauge you use...

 

[tpolley]

I did a search on this part # and nothing came up.....anyone have any feedback on this?

http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-self-adjusting-wire-stripper-36810.html

Heavy Duty Self-Adjusting Wire Stripper

Thanks!

I can't speak for the harbor freight version. i bought a pair from radio shack 7-8 years ago. they look identical to those. they're pretty freaking slick. i've used them on a lot of different size wire and as long as you have the tension adjusted right they won't break any wires.

 

[dodge610]

I can't speak for the harbor freight version. i bought a pair from radio shack 7-8 years ago. they look identical to those. they're pretty freaking slick. i've used them on a lot of different size wire and as long as you have the tension adjusted right they won't break any wires.

I agree with tpolley I have a set and they worked fine for me wired my whole shop with them no complaints.

 

[subarub4]

Does anyone have any idea if this leak detector from HF is worth the money?I'm looking to use it for r-12 and r134 a.If not what you recommend for trouble shooting my cars, not to be used in a garage full time.http://www.harborfreight.com/electronic-freon-and-halogen-leak-detector-92514.html

I have one of these I got it about a year ago it works but it could be a little bit more sensitive.

The case is nice.

 

[subarub4]

I bought one a year or two ago to try and diagnose a leak. Couldn't find it for the life of me. I have the manifold gauge set, vac pump, etc.

I have no clue what I am doing though. I just pointed the nose at the various fittings and it never went off. I stuck it in front of a can and opened it slightly and it went off.

Does anyone have a link that might be able to help me better diagnose a leak using the tester?

Any tips for when you can't even pull a vacuum other than putting a couple cans in to find it?

Did you check the O-rings? Also the refrigerant is heaver then air so probe under the fitting instead on top and so on.

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

Does anyone have any idea if this leak detector from HF is worth the money?I'm looking to use it for r-12 and r134 a.If not what you recommend for trouble shooting my cars, not to be used in a garage full time.http://www.harborfreight.com/electronic-freon-and-halogen-leak-detector-92514.html

SORRY I did not read all the responses BUT for cheap dependable and works great get yourself a small bottle propane type leak detector. what the do is have a venturi that ***** the air through a small rubber tube the passed the air mixed with propane over a copper plate. refrigerant will turn to phosgene (sp)gas when heated and there will be a green flame. these are cheap and reliable and sensitive no electronics. ED

 

[lennoxlennox]

any feedback on the top end (and i use the term loosely) air compressors at HF?

 

[86k10]

Bueller??? Anyone?

I have those exact pair I got from HF. Don't care for them, I don't use them and brought them home to free up space in the work box.

 

[subarub4]

SORRY I did not read all the responses BUT for cheap dependable and works great get yourself a small bottle propane type leak detector. what the do is have a venturi that ***** the air through a small rubber tube the passed the air mixed with propane over a copper plate. refrigerant will turn to phosgene (sp)gas when heated and there will be a green flame. these are cheap and reliable and sensitive no electronics. ED

Just be careful phosgene is deadly gas.. any R134 or any refrigent heated turns into phosgene gas.


just be smart about it.

 

[IONH]

Did you check the O-rings? Also the refrigerant is heaver then air so probe under the fitting instead on top and so on.

In that case, I had actually changed all A/C O-Rings while I had the engine out.

Couldn't pull a vac so I put a couple cans in. Also couldn't build pressure or find a leak with the detector. I expect the problem was me.