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The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...

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FigureItOut

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Sep 14, 2015
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Bentonville AR
Anybody have experience with this compressor for relatively light duty home shop use? Good, bad, ugly?

21 gal. 2.5 HP 125 PSI Cast Iron Vertical Air Compressor
http://www.harborfreight.com/21-gal-25-hp-125-psi-cast-iron-vertical-air-compressor-61454.html

Super Coupon for $158

Thanks
I've had it for two years. It has served me well so far. It'll run an impact sufficiently for home use. It's not overly loud for an oil lubricated compressor. Granted, it's only my second compressor, but reviews are good, and I've seen HF compressors overall spoken of fairly well here on GJ. You simply won't find anything else new at that price with that capacity, and it's about the biggest I've seen that runs on 110V. It really needs a dedicated outlet, and will do better on a 20 amp circuit. I have mine on a 20, and it'll still trip the breaker if kicks on while I have any other sort of motor running on that circuit, such as a small fan, but it'll run alongside lights and such.

The draincock is in a weird place, and seems like it may fail at any time, but it's been fine. Just make sure you tilt to drain. When I did the break in process, it really spit out a ton of metal. I did it twice and it didn't look perfectly clean, so I did a third time for good measure. Also, mine stays mostly stationary, I doubt the handle and wheels would hold up to frequent movement.

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1991Syclone

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Jul 19, 2007
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278
Location
Englewood, FL
Anybody have experience with this compressor for relatively light duty home shop use? Good, bad, ugly?

21 gal. 2.5 HP 125 PSI Cast Iron Vertical Air Compressor
http://www.harborfreight.com/21-gal-25-hp-125-psi-cast-iron-vertical-air-compressor-61454.html

Super Coupon for $158

Thanks

I bought one over 10 years ago. It doesn't get a ton of use, but it's held up fairly well. The drain is right on the bottom, so you have to tilt it in order to let the water out.

I've tried running an air cut off wheel with it and it did run out of juice while pumping up, so don't expect it to do everything. I've used it with their spray gun to paint a ton of crown molding, pump up tires, nail guns. It has served me well over the years.

I do find it rather loud. You aren't going to have a conversation while standing next to it.
 

macjeffr

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May 27, 2014
Messages
11
Location
NW 'burbs of Chicago
10/2/50 Amp 12V Manual Charger With Engine Start - Fail. My wife's CRV had a dead battery, several hours on the 10 amp setting got it from "click" to "turning over but not starting," and even "Engine start" mode didn't help. Ended up pushing it out of the garage and jumping it from my Civic.

Pneumatic roller seat - Pass. It rolls (not all that smoothly, but it does roll), and the seat goes up and down. Don't need much more than that.

Countersink bit - Pass. Not the sharpest bit ever, but it's worked well for me so far. (Couldn't find the link for this one)

3 Pc Steel Socket Rail Set - Fail. Clips don't move smoothly, some clips are a skosh too big to fit the socket, & some are a skosh too small, and both the clips and the rail have sharp enough edges that I was worried I would cut myself while forcing the clips to slide down the rail.

3 Pc Socket Rail Set (plastic) - Pass. Much better than the steel set! Sockets attach easily but firmly to the clips, the clips move smoothly along the rail, and the rails seem more resistant to twisting that the steel ones.

6-inch & 12-inch Quick Release Bar Clamps (blue handles) - Pass. Pretty nice, actually! The seem to be as good as the light duty Jourgensens I have, though not as nice as light duty Besseys. They even come with plastic jaw pads, which the last few Jourgensens I bought did not.

3/8 in. Drive Professional Flex Head Ratchet - Pass. Surprisingly nice! Comfortable handle, smooth 72T action, fit and finish are a step up from what I expected. It's made in Taiwan rather than China, so maybe that explains it. Only downside is that the flex head doesn't have a ball and detents, but tightening up the hinge screw keeps it in place fairly well.

3-in-1 Multi Bit Stubby Screwdriver - Pass. Also very nice! Grippy handle, good fit & finish. My only complaint about this one is that it they had made the shaft a bit longer and the bit a little shorter, they would've had room add a second bit to make it a 5- or 6-in-1. But for $3, it works really well, and I use it all the time around the house.

Magnetic Paper Towel Holder - Pass (barely). Once it's set up, it works well...unless you try to pull a paper towel off at an angle or without holding the roll. Then you'll pull one of the magnetized ends down, sometime enough to drop the roll on the floor. The solution is to not pull from an angle and/or hold on to the roll when tearing off a sheet. The magnets feel strong, but they slide too easy (at least on my Husky roller box).
 

bwringer

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Jan 1, 2013
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10,242
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Indianapolis
I have purchased dozens of tools from harbor freight in the last few years.
Pass: low pro steel jack (may not be available anymore), 3 ton steel jack, any of their shop presses, 25 ft hose reel, bolt extractors (you're gonna tear them up anyway), the clear orange handled screwdrivers, and the Pittsburgh metric tap and die set.

Fail: cut-off wheels (frequently crack, wear down far too quickly), same thing with any wire brush or wire wheels, 90 amp flux core welder (ac output, not good for flux core wire, did the dc mod, got 2 hours of use then the transformer went), tire mounter (read my review here (its on GJ)


You know, those screwdrivers are indeed WEIRDLY good. I mean, they look like junk and you can get a big pile of them for, like, $5 to $8 depending on which sale you hit. And the handle isn't the most comfy for all-day screwing...

But where it really counts, where the screw meets the screwdriver, they're excellent quality. It's the damndest thing.

I've tried some of their other screwdrivers that look nicer and have better grips, and they're not very good at all. But these grody-looking motorcycle grip things are fantastic.

They're sold under a few different item numbers, but they look like this:

image_23712.jpg
 

jacked_72

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Jul 22, 2012
Messages
1,237
I'll second a pass on the amber motorcycle grip screw drivers. I've got two sets and only busted one once. Tips have held up good. Main problem is losing them.
 

SteevoLS

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Dec 29, 2013
Messages
109
I'm personally a big fan of the Pittsburgh Pro screwdriver set. Comfortable handles and good tips.

1773b7079f0351369bc444675dcfb085.jpg

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bmwpowere36m3

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Nov 8, 2012
Messages
1,125
I'm personally a big fan of the Pittsburgh Pro screwdriver set. Comfortable handles and good tips.

1773b7079f0351369bc444675dcfb085.jpg

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I got a set for around the house stuff (instead of using my better ones) since they were on sale for $8 or so. I haven't used them too much... but the coating on the tips is worn off. I don't think its "vapor-blasted", like higher-end stuff... more like a coating. The handles are comfortable and no bit slippage yet.
 

soj

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Joined
Dec 3, 2007
Messages
729
Location
North Georgia
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-volt-deluxe-battery-maintainer-and-float-charger-62813.html

Bought this battery maintainer to store my car over the winter since my Schumacher failed after one season. So far, the battery has stayed charged and nothing has burst into flames, so, pass.

+1

I have several of those on lawnmowers, tractor and truck. I quit buying this cheaper one after a couple of them died on me. But even those lasted several years and kept batteries going. The 62813 seems to be better quality, appears to be a copy of the Battery Tender Jr. Another advantage of it over the 42292/69955 is it comes with two sets of leads, one with clips and one with ring terminals. I bought extra ring terminals, with fuse and plug, from Amazon. I have them on everything I have with a 12V battery, for a quick plug-up to charge.
jp
 

CoogarXR

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Jan 11, 2016
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6,843
Location
Ohio
I bought the 1/2 extendable ratchet:
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-drive-extendable-ratchet-62311.html
image_26278.jpg


I did a set of struts with it, and found it to be very useful. Extend it all the way out, break the bolts loose, then shrink it back down you you can ratchet it inside the wheel well. This is my first HF ratchet, and I must say, I really like it.

I put a hitch on my Astro van with it too. And while I didn't really need the leverage of the extension for that job, it has a nice comfortable grip for regular use.

1/2 extendable ratchet: Pass, baby!
 

Vegaman_Dan

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2,453
Location
Pacific, WA
I'm personally a big fan of the Pittsburgh Pro screwdriver set. Comfortable handles and good tips.

1773b7079f0351369bc444675dcfb085.jpg

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One of the reasons I like these screwdrivers is the hole in the handle, which lets you slip another screwdriver into it and use it for leverage. That has helped a lot when I had to lean into a fastener and turn while trying to avoid stripping it.
 

hotdogstand

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Nov 1, 2014
Messages
114
Location
Norfolk, VA
I also understand that HFT won't honor their "lifetime warranty" without an original receipt - I'm not an accountant or archivist! Hence, while I appreciate the effort people are making towards recommending HFT products that pass their personal experience, I must "pass" on risking an alternative experience.

My buddy AJ used to work at a Harbor Freight. They never try that **** around here anymore. They have a "customer is always right" policy, sometimes it just takes a while to get them to exercise it.
 

winlinmac

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Fail---All Micro-Torque Wrenches

You have a relatively low chance of finding a properly functioning torque wrench in their mixed batch of torque wrenches section at their B&M Stores

If you don't want to shell out hundreds, consider a Beam-Type (Made in USA or Taiwan)
 

fastbike02

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Nov 30, 2015
Messages
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Location
Walnut Grove MS
Fail---All Micro-Torque Wrenches

You have a relatively low chance of finding a properly functioning torque wrench in their mixed batch of torque wrenches section at their B&M Stores

If you don't want to shell out hundreds, consider a Beam-Type (Made in USA or Taiwan)

I have a full set of them and never had an issue out of them, many people have proven that they are accurate, for 10 bucks you cant beat them!
 
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sasquach

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Jan 13, 2009
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pittsburgh pa
I have a full set of them and never had an issue out of them, many people have proven that they are accurate, for 10 bucks you cant beat them!

I had one in my tool box at home until I took it to work . I was doing a exhaust manifold on a Cummins and decided to torque it with the Pittsburgh first then I went around with the shop proto to make sure they all where torqued . Just clicked every time
 

alwaysFlOoReD

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Sep 24, 2013
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Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
I had one in my tool box at home until I took it to work . I was doing a exhaust manifold on a Cummins and decided to torque it with the Pittsburgh first then I went around with the shop proto to make sure they all where torqued . Just clicked every time
Maybe should torque a few with the proto first and then check with the Pittsburgh, to make sure they aren't over torqued.

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kunkernator

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Sep 27, 2012
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US of A
Fail---All Micro-Torque Wrenches

You have a relatively low chance of finding a properly functioning torque wrench in their mixed batch of torque wrenches section at their B&M Stores

If you don't want to shell out hundreds, consider a Beam-Type (Made in USA or Taiwan)

I agree with the others, these have been proven to be good wrenches. What exactly is wrong with yours?
 

owenst7

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Oct 19, 2011
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Anchorage/Reno
I had one in my tool box at home until I took it to work . I was doing a exhaust manifold on a Cummins and decided to torque it with the Pittsburgh first then I went around with the shop proto to make sure they all where torqued . Just clicked every time

It doesn't sound like you understand the difference between static and kinetic friction, how a torque wrench works, or how to properly use one.
 

FigureItOut

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Bentonville AR
It doesn't sound like you understand the difference between static and kinetic friction, how a torque wrench works, or how to properly use one.

Exactly what I was thinking.
Maybe he could use an explanation.
I think what you're saying is that it takes more force to overcome static friction than kinetic, so the fastener should be turning when the wrench clicks. Personally, I wouldn't have been able to describe this in the right terms, but understood it on a physical level.

In other words, it may take 60 ft.lbs. to BEGIN tightening a fastener torqued to 40, so a wrench set at 50 would click immediately unless the static friction is overcome first. Do I have that right?

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Crazyjake8493

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Sep 26, 2014
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Upstate NY
I haven't had too many Fails (luckily), since I usually check everyone's opinions online before buying stuff there, but I've had some Passes that I've been happy with:

11 amp Breaker Hammer
3 ton Rapid Pump floor jack
Deep wall impact sockets
Air Tools (needle scaler, air hammer, framing nailer, roofing nailer)
4 Drawer tool cart
Hitch mount cargo carrier (steel, not aluminum)
Hitch mount vise plate
Oscillating multi-tool (the cheap $15 one)

And my dad just a put a 4ft 12-outlet power strip over his workbench and loves it.
 

BMack37

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Maybe he could use an explanation.
I think what you're saying is that it takes more force to overcome static friction than kinetic, so the fastener should be turning when the wrench clicks. Personally, I wouldn't have been able to describe this in the right terms, but understood it on a physical level.

In other words, it may take 60 ft.lbs. to BEGIN tightening a fastener torqued to 40, so a wrench set at 50 would click immediately unless the static friction is overcome first. Do I have that right?

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Correct. That is accurate, it takes more torque to get anything to overcome a stationary position. It takes more torque to get off the line than it does from a rolling start. Newton and his laws.
 

owenst7

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632
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Anchorage/Reno
Maybe he could use an explanation.
I think what you're saying is that it takes more force to overcome static friction than kinetic, so the fastener should be turning when the wrench clicks. Personally, I wouldn't have been able to describe this in the right terms, but understood it on a physical level.

In other words, it may take 60 ft.lbs. to BEGIN tightening a fastener torqued to 40, so a wrench set at 50 would click immediately unless the static friction is overcome first. Do I have that right?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk

Correct. A fastener that is actually torqued to 60 ft lbs will take significantly more torque to rotate, left or right, once it is torqued.

The instructions for any torque procedure describe reading the wrench (or feeling the click, etc) ONLY when the fastener is already turning.

While I own several HF clickers and they are not particularly consistent against my own calibrations over time (I have recalibrated my 1/2" a couple times in several years), if one does not understand step one to the proper operation of a tool, they do not posses the credibility to criticize said tool.

That said, I have no concerns over using mine for a backup tool for when my Snap-Ons break (happened more than once), or for trail repairs of non critical fasteners like wheel bearings, spindle nuts, etc. They absolutely are better than no torque wrench, which would be the option in those scenarios. I consider them to be fine for fasteners that need to be precise, but not necessarily accurate.
 
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FigureItOut

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Correct. That is accurate, it takes more torque to get anything to overcome a stationary position. It takes more torque to get off the line than it does from a rolling start. Newton and his laws.
It does seem like one would have an intrinsic understanding of that just by feel, but even so I can see how he drew his conclusion.
Correct. A fastener that is actually torqued to 60 ft lbs will take significantly more torque to rotate, left or right, once it is torqued.

The instructions for any torque procedure describe reading the wrench (or feeling the click, etc) ONLY when the fastener is already turning.

While I own several HF clickers and they are not particularly consistent against my own calibrations over time (I have recalibrated my 1/2" a couple times in several years), if you do not understand step one to the operation of a tool, you really do not have the credibility to criticize said tool.


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BMack37

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It does seem like one would have an intrinsic understanding of that just by feel, but even so I can see how he drew his conclusion.



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It's less obvious in a turning fastener than objects moving in a straight line...but it's also one of those things where he probably didn't put much thought into because it verified his opinion with the result he expected.
 
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BillMoney

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Mar 9, 2016
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68478, 68519, 60384 Warrior Quick Release Magnetic Nutsetter sets (SAE & Metric) - Pass, zero complaints in home use (have used the sets frequently)

68474 6 in. Color Coded Power Bit Set 10 Pc - pass. Use the phillips #2 more then any bit in the set. Even bought a set for work since the ones provided to me kept oxidizing.
 

rednotch

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south nj
Engine cleaning gun, even thought it has some crappy reviews for $8 I tried it out. Worked pretty damn good for engine degreasing to find an oil leak for me. item#68290 pass

Used an empty washer fluid bottle, a bottle of the $1 totally awesome cleaner from the dollar store, filled the rest with boiling hot water from the kettle and it cut down a good amount of grime and baked on grease.

http://www.harborfreight.com/engine-cleaning-gun-68290.html
 

ndr1968

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Apr 18, 2012
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Oklahoma
One of the reasons I like these screwdrivers is the hole in the handle, which lets you slip another screwdriver into it and use it for leverage. That has helped a lot when I had to lean into a fastener and turn while trying to avoid stripping it.

Dang! I thought those holes were just there to hang 'em up with!
 
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