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The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...

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GromitInWA

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Jan 5, 2014
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45
PASS: Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum & Blower - 5 Gallon Item 94282
I've had this vac for a couple of years and it has worked well so far. I don't use it with a bag, so that's not been an issue. The power is adequate.
 
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GromitInWA

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Jan 5, 2014
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PASS: Rechargeable 40 Watt LED Work Light with Magnetic Base Item 94668
This one is a marginal pass. It works and is reliable, has a decent battery life and a magnetic base. However, I would expect more light output from it especially given its size - I think the LEDs are first generation white one. One positive is that it works well as a prop for the engine bay of a Porsche 911, which is handy because the hydraulic struts are prone to dropping the lid on my head!
 
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GromitInWA

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Jan 5, 2014
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45
FAIL: 3/8 in. Mini Air Ratchet Wrench Item 99898
Perhaps I got a dud but this thing just sat there and leaked so it went straight back. Maybe I'll try it again when they get more in (it was the last one on the shelf) or maybe I'll look for something else. I really liked the small size.
 
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soj

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Dec 3, 2007
Messages
729
Location
North Georgia
GromitInWA said:
PASS: 40 ft. Retractable Cord Reel with Triple Tap Item 61558
I love this thing! I have it mounted on drywall in my garage but use toggler type anchors since they are under quite a bit of stress. It is a lot easier to use this than to have coiled up cords and I like that the auto-rewind spool mechanism distributes the cord across the circumference of the reel.
Click to expand...

Are you saying this has a "level wind" feature that guides the cord back and forth as it rewinds? I have an older one from HF that has a blue case. It works fine except for the last 10 feet when the cord starts to stack up on one side or the other. At that point it becomes a PITA trying to swing the cord back and forth to get it to level out so it will all retract.
-jp
 
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GromitInWA

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Jan 5, 2014
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45
Soj - yes it does. There's a white plastic guide that moves left and right distributing the cord across the width of the reel. This particular one has a black plastic case with a discrete HFT logo on it. Perhaps they updated the version you have?


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NC-Shaun

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Nov 20, 2013
Messages
662
I have a quick question, I am finding that my GREY/BLACK Handle 1/2 Extendable Ratchet is quickly becoming my go to ratchet, even when I have to use a reducer to make it 3/8.
I am starting to realize that i should have got the matching GREY/BLACK Handle extendable 3/8 x 1/4 extendable ratchet also but is now impossible to find ( I found one 60 miles from my place while I was out riding and the cashier tried to charge me $30 bux for it, I guess I should have got it anyway) Now the handles are RED/BLACK Me being the OCD guy I am I am just gonna buy a new pair of extendable ratchets.

So my question is, are the new style Red/Black handles the exact ratchets as the Grey/Black ones were? This also sparks another question. I can only find a 3/8 Red/Black composite ratchet now, where is the 1/4 and 1/2 sizes?

I am waiting for the professional NON FLEX HEAD ratchets to be released, once they drop those in stores I am gonna snag a full set. My Grey/Black Composite Handle ratchets are great for working on motorcycles and around painted items or batteries, but I am finding them slightly too short for under car work.

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-Drive-Extendable-Ratchet-62311.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-x-38-in-dual-drive-extendable-ratchet-62312.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-drive-professional-composite-tear-drop-ratchet-62318.html
 
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rabies

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Jan 14, 2015
Messages
81
same exact. they make due in factories with what colors they have do different batches.
same tool
 
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rabies

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Jan 14, 2015
Messages
81
1/2" plug in impact wrench. the huge orange one.
its a beast. its been beat and thrown on conrete garage floors. cant even tell its orange now but black and brown. works fine still. worth the $50 i think i paid for it 5 years ago
 
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soj

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Joined
Dec 3, 2007
Messages
729
Location
North Georgia
GromitInWA said:
Soj - yes it does. There's a white plastic guide that moves left and right distributing the cord across the width of the reel. This particular one has a black plastic case with a discrete HFT logo on it. Perhaps they updated the version you have?


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Click to expand...

Thanks for the info.

No update, it is a totally different case. Mine works great except for that last few feet, which I HAVE to get back in, since it is mounted overhead. Otherwise it is a headthumper. Even worse, I have two of 'em, the other one still in the box. I have two garden hose reels with level wind (not HF), and where I used to work had a huge winch with level wind. Never had to be concerned with cable bunching up. The wife and I are planning a major house and shop clean out with follow on yard sale this spring. Maybe these reels will find a new home and be replaced with ones like yours.:rocker:

Thanks again
-jp
 
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chrisexv6

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Jun 1, 2005
Messages
2,290
Location
CT
FAIL: Item # 67143 - Digital Mini Moisture Meter

Out of the box read 0 on all my red oak hardwood flooring. Tried all settings and still read 0. Tried new batteries and still read 0.

Maybe mine was just a bum one but there was only 1 other left in the store and at this point if I have to go back to HF, Im just going to return mine and not try again.
 
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GromitInWA

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Jan 5, 2014
Messages
45
Those new 72 tooth flex heads seem to be getting good reviews. Might pick up a 1/2 and 3/8.


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SalahHH83

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Feb 25, 2015
Messages
71
GromitInWA said:
Those new 72 tooth flex heads seem to be getting good reviews. Might pick up a 1/2 and 3/8.


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Click to expand...

I put my new 3/8 flex head to work yesterday changing a bad idler pulley on my tundra along with my HF ratcheting wrenches (taiwan). Big pass to both. The wrenches came up huge while taking off the rad clutch fan and the ratcheting end handled plenty of torque. The ratchet felt great as well.
 
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rabies

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Jan 14, 2015
Messages
81
wood drill bits. FAIL.
$15 for 29 piece. brad tips broke off super easy. snapped 2 within 10 minutes. they are so soft you can flex them with your hand but they snap under too much flex
others were wobbly in teh drill. what a waist. got my project done though.
made this...

 
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groucho

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Dec 25, 2006
Messages
182
Anyone try their stubby 3/8 air ratchet ($28)? I think it'll come in handy. Many times I found the normal length one a bit too long
 

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Dusty61

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Jan 10, 2011
Messages
378
Location
Cincinnatus New York
I had one. Leaked like crazy with almost no power. Bought a Cornwell 3/8 mini and love it.

PASS. Medium duty oxygen-acatlene torch set. Been in use for about three months. Only problems I've heard of is the hoses dry rot fast over time, and they are fairly short, only about 15'. Not a big deal. When I got my tanks the local Haun welding supply had 25' hoses on sale for $20.00 easy and cheap upgrade and elimated the only major complaint others had. The striker and goggles it comes with are junk too. But for 150 (-20% w/coupon) its a deal since a victor set is around double that.
 
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paigej

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Dec 5, 2012
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253
Location
Arizona
And made this:
 

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G_P

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7,135
Location
Central CT
Just bought the 40lb blasting cabinet with stand. It gets a semi pass. The instructions were HORRIBLE. Steps were left out and the instructions showed parts being installed that were not even there. Its like they mixed the assembly manuals for 3 different cabinets all into one near useless assembly guide. It shows the wrong latch assembly in the instructions as well. Also had about 10 screws and nuts left over after assembly, yet there was not a single hole left to put a fastener in.
The light mount is horriffic. They give you 2 LONG screws to clamp the light in, but you cant use them because they are so damn long they wont fit. The instructions just say to use zip ties! (not included) The light ***** and flickers so I'll just be replacing it with a halogen work light.
Odd part is that it came with a full roll of teflon tape and an extra roll of gasket, along with some clear cellophane tape. The instructions only say to use one roll of gasket, and never mention the cellophane tape at all! I just used silicone caulk on every single joint after reading about it here.

It seems to be a decent quality unit for $159 out the door, but if you rely solely on the instructions and cant use some common sense to figure out how to build it, you're screwed. Throwing the manual in the trash and winging it is probably actually easier and faster than trying to decipher the manual's erroneous instructions!
 
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soj

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Dec 3, 2007
Messages
729
Location
North Georgia
G_P said:
Just bought the 40lb blasting cabinet with stand. It gets a semi pass. The instructions were HORRIBLE. Steps were left out and the instructions showed parts being installed that were not even there. Its like they mixed the assembly manuals for 3 different cabinets all into one near useless assembly guide. It shows the wrong latch assembly in the instructions as well. Also had about 10 screws and nuts left over after assembly, yet there was not a single hole left to put a fastener in.
The light mount is horriffic. They give you 2 LONG screws to clamp the light in, but you cant use them because they are so damn long they wont fit. The instructions just say to use zip ties! (not included) The light ***** and flickers so I'll just be replacing it with a halogen work light.
Odd part is that it came with a full roll of teflon tape and an extra roll of gasket, along with some clear cellophane tape. The instructions only say to use one roll of gasket, and never mention the cellophane tape at all! I just used silicone caulk on every single joint after reading about it here.

It seems to be a decent quality unit for $159 out the door, but if you rely solely on the instructions and cant use some common sense to figure out how to build it, you're screwed. Throwing the manual in the trash and winging it is probably actually easier and faster than trying to decipher the manual's erroneous instructions!
Click to expand...

Aahhhhh.... sounds like the HF of long ago. Well, a few years ago anyway. In the past the manuals were good for an education in Chinglish, not for assembly. And the extra screws, nuts and bolts left over? You saved them for the next thing you bought from HF, cause it would be short on assembly parts!:wtf: :headscrat

I have the earlier version of that blast cabinet, where the light was in a housing on top of the cabinet. It was a fluorescent tube, and worthless. I replaced it with two small halogen fixtures, one on each side. It is like bright sunlight in there now.
 
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groucho

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Dec 25, 2006
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182
GromitInWA said:
See my post: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4701405
As others have said, it leaked and was useless.


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Click to expand...

Well, sure as **** it leaks. But, if they all do there's no reason to return it for another leaker. It feels like it's got some torque tho. So if all the down side is it leaking, let it leak. I'm not gonna let that bother me if it gets me out of a jam. I've had several situations where I needed a slightly shorter air ratchet than my full size one. That said, you guys decide if it's pass/fail, as I'm on the fence on that. THX
 
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GromitInWA

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Jan 5, 2014
Messages
45
groucho said:
Well, sure as **** it leaks. But, if they all do there's no reason to return it for another leaker. It feels like it's got some torque tho. So if all the down side is it leaking, let it leak. I'm not gonna let that bother me if it gets me out of a jam. I've had several situations where I needed a slightly shorter air ratchet than my full size one. That said, you guys decide if it's pass/fail, as I'm on the fence on that. THX
Click to expand...


Mine leaked to the point that was no torque only leak :)


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AmishFury

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Jan 22, 2015
Messages
872
low profile 3/8" ratchet item 62328

the one i just bought is a QC FAIL... there is a half moon shaped raised area inside the head that shouldn't be there... the ratchet is extremely rough

i'll update when my store gets some new stock in (i got the last one) and i can warranty it
 
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TT54l32v

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Feb 17, 2015
Messages
28
PASS: 3/8 in. Air Ratchet Wrench Item 47214

Pro and I use it pretty often.

But...
Didnt work out of the box, had to have it, to use right then so tried to get it going. Oiled it up and got it moving, then it got stuck on while plugged in. Threw it in the floor and pretty much fixed it. The handle falls off about every 3 months and I just take some channel locks and tighten the fit up and it stays on.

Finally had to oil it again the other day as it didnt have any power and works good again. Got it on sale for 9 bucks, made it least 100 times that for me.

Right angle die grinder is a pass as well.
 
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skulldrinker

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Dec 25, 2011
Messages
1,171
Location
Bolingbrook, IL
TT54l32v said:
PASS: 3/8 in. Air Ratchet Wrench Item 47214

Pro and I use it pretty often.

But...
Didnt work out of the box, had to have it, to use right then so tried to get it going. Oiled it up and got it moving, then it got stuck on while plugged in. Threw it in the floor and pretty much fixed it. The handle falls off about every 3 months and I just take some channel locks and tighten the fit up and it stays on.

Finally had to oil it again the other day as it didnt have any power and works good again. Got it on sale for 9 bucks, made it least 100 times that for me.

Right angle die grinder is a pass as well.
Click to expand...

PASS but.....now that is funny ! :lol:
 
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GromitInWA

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Messages
45
groucho said:
It leaked that bad from the beginning or over time? THX
Click to expand...


From the get go. Took it back the next day. It was the last one there. Maybe just a bad unit but the reviews on the HF website make reference to excessive leaking from the get go.


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groucho

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Dec 25, 2006
Messages
182
GromitInWA said:
From the get go. Took it back the next day. It was the last one there. Maybe just a bad unit but the reviews on the HF website make reference to excessive leaking from the get go.


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Click to expand...
I guess I have to decide if I should keep it on the hopes the small leak won't get worse. I know it's going to be handy as I've needed something like this many times. I just used it a little this morning and it works pretty damn good BTW. So, if the small initial leak is as bad as mine's gonna get...........
One small annoyance is the tiny direction changer when hands are greasy. Thank you
 
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ex-x-fire

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Nov 10, 2012
Messages
3,742
Location
Sheboygan Falls Wi.
Ronniexj said:
1/2" Central Pneumatic Earthquake Impact
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-professional-air-impact-wrench-68424.html

FAIL: Used it one day on a dozen nuts and it locked up. Will not turn under power in either direction, just blows air out of exhaust port. It was oiled.

In its defense, it worked fantastic at first. I tried to save money, Aircat is next.
Click to expand...
You could have over oiled it, I had a 90s snap on impact that gave me a lot of trouble because I was over oiling it. The vanes would get stuck & it would just blow air.
 
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