The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...

[Coach James]

7" carpenter pencil.....pass.

Last week, I was working on the derivation of the Lorentz Transformation and not making much progress. Then I grabbed the HF 7" carpenter pencil and "BANG!!!", the derivation became mere child's play.

One of my former physics students is currently doing post doc work at Cal Tech. I think I will surprise him with a couple of these HF pencils. They should cut at least 6 months off the time it takes him to finish.


Coach

 

[soj]

7" carpenter pencil.....pass.

Last week, I was working on the derivation of the Lorentz Transformation and not making much progress. Then I grabbed the HF 7" carpenter pencil and "BANG!!!", the derivation became mere child's play.

One of my former physics students is currently doing post doc work at Cal Tech. I think I will surprise him with a couple of these HF pencils. They should cut at least 6 months off the time it takes him to finish.


Coach

Coach, thanks for the insightful review, and I am glad to hear of a high quality item available from HF, and that it was so helpful to you in your work. I shudder to think what Alfred could have accomplished with access to a local HF store. But... your review is worthless without the item number!

 

[Coach James]

Coach, thanks for the insightful review, and I am glad to hear of a high quality item available from HF, and that it was so helpful to you in your work. I shudder to think what Alfred could have accomplished with access to a local HF store. But... your review is worthless without the item number!

How careless of me. I'm sure Harbor Freight has a veritable cornucopia of fine writing utensils.

Here is the one with which all the world's problems will be solved.

http://www.harborfreight.com/7-inch-carpenters-pencil-66243.html

Coach

 

[Crazyjake8493]

8x12 Wood Lathe = Pass

A good little lathe for $70 after the coupon. Limited size in what you can do, but perfect for turning pens, tool handles, and small bowls. Adjustable speed is fantastic vs having to change belt/pulley for different speeds. The only thing it needs which I'm currently working on is making a wooden knob or wheel for the headstock side, to turn the piece by hand.

 

[Rickster]

I picked up Harbor Freights Generator Wheel Kit 61486. They show two model numbers on the website, not sure the difference, my HF only had this one so I went with it. It's designed to fit the HF generators but although I have a china one its not a HF model so some modifications were in order.

First I drilled two holes in the frame for the wheel axles. I added a couple of washers to the axle bolt on each side of the frame to have it seat better. They give you one washer for the wheel but I added another one so both sides of the wheel had washers. The new extended rubber feet were designed to be bolted to the bottom flat part of the cross beam. My model generator had a C channel so I rolled into Home Depot and picked up four flat steel "mending brackets" from the hardware aisle and some longer bolts. I was able to attach the new extended rubber feet brackets to the cross beam by sandwiching two brackets per side. The handle attaches to the top frame simply with four bolts.

Overall I'd give this a good rating. The wheels are solid, the hardware is of pretty good quality and they use locknuts for all the bolts. The handle has a metal pin that removes and locks the handle up for pulling and down when running to keep it from rattling. That genny was getting too heavy to move around and now it's a breeze... should have added this sooner.

 

[soj]

7" carpenter pencil.....pass.

Last week, I was working on the derivation of the Lorentz Transformation and not making much progress. Then I grabbed the HF 7" carpenter pencil and "BANG!!!", the derivation became mere child's play.

One of my former physics students is currently doing post doc work at Cal Tech. I think I will surprise him with a couple of these HF pencils. They should cut at least 6 months off the time it takes him to finish.


Coach

Coach, thanks for the insightful review, and I am glad to hear of a high quality item available from HF, and that it was so helpful to you in your work. I shudder to think what Alfred could have accomplished with access to a local HF store. But... your review is worthless without the item number!

How careless of me. I'm sure Harbor Freight has a veritable cornucopia of fine writing utensils.

Here is the one with which all the world's problems will be solved.

http://www.harborfreight.com/7-inch-carpenters-pencil-66243.html

Coach

Ah, so that's the one. I am especially impressed by (quoting from the HF website) its "easy-to-grip octagonal shape to keep it from rolling away while working, even if placed on a slanted roof". With a 20% off coupon that will be a real bargain.

 

[winlinmac]

HF 33 Pc Security Bit Set -- Warrior ----- Fail
Bits wear out even from the get-go. Buy a better set if possible.

 

[Syberia]

Digital Multimeter - FAIL. They last maybe a couple months, and that's not hard usage at all. Usually, one of the leads comes off the probe. However, they're free, so I just keep getting more!

 

[winlinmac]

Yeah, go with the $5 Craftsman (when on sale) at Sears while they're available

Digital Multimeter - FAIL. They last maybe a couple months, and that's not hard usage at all. Usually, one of the leads comes off the probe. However, they're free, so I just keep getting more!

 

[DFB]

How careless of me. I'm sure Harbor Freight has a veritable cornucopia of fine writing utensils.

Here is the one with which all the world's problems will be solved.

http://www.harborfreight.com/7-inch-carpenters-pencil-66243.html

Coach

Ah, so that's the one. I am especially impressed by (quoting from the HF website) its "easy-to-grip octagonal shape to keep it from rolling away while working, even if placed on a slanted roof". With a 20% off coupon that will be a real bargain.

Wow...I have the same exact carpenters pencil too..CH Hanson! Cant say I got it at HF though, but had to wonder if CH initials were like short for China or something

Here it is next to a genuine Made in USA Strait-Line pencil

You can hardly tell the difference except for color
Man its like almost identical

I hear tell a lot of their stuff is like that!

 

[rslaback]

Ah, so that's the one. I am especially impressed by (quoting from the HF website) its "easy-to-grip octagonal shape to keep it from rolling away while working, even if placed on a slanted roof". With a 20% off coupon that will be a real bargain.

The pencil is an octagonal shape. It just isn't a regular octagon.

 

[Red Lion]

I've had good luck with this unit, except the gauge is **** and never right. Plus. the ends for the bleeders do not seal at all. The vacuum pump itself has been great and I have been using it for close to six years now.

I have been using mine frequently for the last two years with great reliability. Sure the Mighty Vac is better but being plastic it eventually broke to fatigue. The HF one (http://www.harborfreight.com/brake-bleeder-and-vacuum-pump-kit-69328.html) is cheap, the gauge is okay (the glass on it pops off), the fittings are eh, but the pump itself pumps, doesn't leak air, and has been reliable. I ended up re-using all the fittings from my broken Mighty Vac with it.

 

[TdK71]

I have a quick question about the 25% off coupon I'm looking to bite into the 180amp welder and if they take the coupon it'll be $15 more than the 170amp model. Do they typically do this discount or not?

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[Tonellin]

I have a quick question about the 25% off coupon I'm looking to bite into the 180amp welder and if they take the coupon it'll be $15 more than the 170amp model. Do they typically do this discount or not?

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

No says right on coupon that it can't be used with welders. You could try your luck and maybe get a clueless cashier but they'll most likely deny

 

[TdK71]

Darn!

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[JerryC]

I've had the manager do an override and let me use coupons on excluded items. Won't hurt to ask. Actually in one case that cashier did the asking for me

 

[FergusHill]

Great thread but it may take me a while to get through it all lol. Here's my 2 cents

Composite ratchet (1/4 and 3/8...scared of the 1/2 inch)
Pick set
Dead blow hammer
Japanese style oscillating blades. Great for undercutting doors for flooring and if you hit a nail which you absolutely will you're not ruining you're expensive jamb saw blade
Toe kick saw. Know people with Crains who ask to borrow mine
Pry bars aren't bad
Ratcheting wrenches. Use a set daily for over 2 years. If they break I will by another
Tool carts and cabinets
Insulated screwdriver set. Used one so much the insulation did tear off one tho
Most surprising is the 1/2 variable speed drill. Used it multiple times daily mixing 5 gal buckets of thinset mortar and grout. They would last roughly about a year. I would buy 2 at a time. My $150 Dewalt made it almost two before it cropped out so there is definitely value there.

 

[FergusHill]

I am curious if anybody has any experience with the air tools. Specifically the right angle drill and the 3/8 in belt sander. I don't use them enough to justify the price of a name brand but I hate borrowing tools. Rule of thumb if you borrow something twice you need it.

 

[RH777]

You still happy with the Daytona jack? I been eyeballing them.

I bought the Daytona 3 Ton Jack for $177.00 with an online coupon. It did the trick for me. I've only had it about a month so I can't give a long term review yet, but the handle impressed me. I read that the Pittsburgh Jack handles bend. The handle for my Daytona did not flex at all. It seems like a pretty solid jack so far. I need the 23" lift since all we have is SUV's and my craftsman car jack was not doing the job even on 2x6 boards (yes I know it's a safety hazard).

 

[6PTsocket]

I've had the manager do an override and let me use coupons on excluded items. Won't hurt to ask. Actually in one case that cashier did the asking for me

That is interesting. I know there is a list of exempted items on the discount coupons and it is pretty long. I am amazed the manager was willing to over ride it.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[dledmo]

I use the 1/2" often, also the 3/8". Not much need for the 1/4" for me. My buddy liked mine so much he bought the same.

Great thread but it may take me a while to get through it all lol. Here's my 2 cents

Composite ratchet (1/4 and 3/8...scared of the 1/2 inch)
Pick set
Dead blow hammer
Japanese style oscillating blades. Great for undercutting doors for flooring and if you hit a nail which you absolutely will you're not ruining you're expensive jamb saw blade
Toe kick saw. Know people with Crains who ask to borrow mine
Pry bars aren't bad
Ratcheting wrenches. Use a set daily for over 2 years. If they break I will by another
Tool carts and cabinets
Insulated screwdriver set. Used one so much the insulation did tear off one tho
Most surprising is the 1/2 variable speed drill. Used it multiple times daily mixing 5 gal buckets of thinset mortar and grout. They would last roughly about a year. I would buy 2 at a time. My $150 Dewalt made it almost two before it cropped out so there is definitely value there.

 

[wildbill23c]

I am curious if anybody has any experience with the air tools. Specifically the right angle drill and the 3/8 in belt sander. I don't use them enough to justify the price of a name brand but I hate borrowing tools. Rule of thumb if you borrow something twice you need it.

No experience with those 2 particular tools, but I have several HF staplers, nailers, ratchets, impact, drill, etc. They all work just fine. Keep them oiled and they work like any other over-priced "brand name" tool. I've got an 18 Gauge brad nailer I got like 10 years ago from HF, it still works great and for many of those years I used it almost daily for long periods of time. They also sit out in a HF tool chest out in the heat and cold all year long and I've never had an issue with them. Heck even my 29 Gallon HF air compressor fired up in the middle of winter in zero degree temps, something my old Montgomery Wards compressor had a hard time doing sometimes.

 

[toyotadriver]

I have the AC gauge set. Owned them for years but only used them once. Used it yesterday and they leaked and then one of the knobs broke. Junk. Definite fail.

 

[wvrailroader]

I have the AC gauge set. Owned them for years but only used them once. Used it yesterday and they leaked and then one of the knobs broke. Junk. Definite fail.

The HF gage set I have is still going strong. The knobs on mine are aluminum, so they would be fairly hard to break. It has been a pass for me.

 

[ndnchf]

Part numbers folks, please list part numbers in your reviews. That way others can search this huge thread and find specific items. Without them this thread is just an ongoing ramble. Thanks!

 

[emeraldcoupe]

I am curious if anybody has any experience with the air tools. Specifically the right angle drill and the 3/8 in belt sander. I don't use them enough to justify the price of a name brand but I hate borrowing tools. Rule of thumb if you borrow something twice you need it.

I have both. the drill works great, I've used it several times. not much time on the belt sander, but I can tell you the sanding belts that come with it are completely worthless.

 

[toyotadriver]

The HF gage set I have is still going strong. The knobs on mine are aluminum, so they would be fairly hard to break. It has been a pass for me.

Mine are plastic. I was just closing the high side after holding a vacuum for an hour.

They seemed to be fine and worked fine last time I used it. This time I heard a leak from the gauge somewhere when it was pressurized.

I won't buy another one.

 

[jeff lary]

your "insert" key is on. Usually next to the backspace. I'm sure you accidentally hit it once. Just hit it again and you're problem will go away.

THANK YOU
Sorry I am just getting around to saying that but I just now came back to this thread. That had been a issue for a long time ha ha. Man that will make fixing my many typos much easier .Jeff

 

[Alchymist]

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-gph-electric-paint-spray-gun-62267.html

Big time fail. Didn't expect a lot, but it really *****. Tried all the included nozzles, kept thinning the outdoor latex paint, etc, could never get a real spray pattern. Best I could do was a wet spray about 3" wide from 2' away. If I hesitated at all, big run. But the worst part - every 10 or 15 seconds the pattern would disappear and tiny paintball style drops all over about a 3" circle. Same pattern as when it was running out of paint. Wife came along behind me with a 4" paint brush and brushed away the runs. Got the job done, but what a pain. Too bad I didn't have about 250 feet of air hose or the old HVLP gun would have been used.

 

[pedrodagr8]

http://www.harborfreight.com/5-gph-electric-paint-spray-gun-62267.html

Big time fail. Didn't expect a lot, but it really *****. Tried all the included nozzles, kept thinning the outdoor latex paint, etc, could never get a real spray pattern. Best I could do was a wet spray about 3" wide from 2' away. If I hesitated at all, big run. But the worst part - every 10 or 15 seconds the pattern would disappear and tiny paintball style drops all over about a 3" circle. Same pattern as when it was running out of paint. Wife came along behind me with a 4" paint brush and brushed away the runs. Got the job done, but what a pain. Too bad I didn't have about 250 feet of air hose or the old HVLP gun would have been used.

I remember my parents tried one of the original Wagner paint sprayers and it sucked horribly. I can't imagine that this harbor freight one worked at all.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

Folding welding table. Very nice for home use. Folds flat for storage. Nicely built. Great deal with a 25% coupon.
http://www.harborfreight.com/adjustable-steel-welding-table-61369.html

 

[warweapon762]

I've had the manager do an override and let me use coupons on excluded items. Won't hurt to ask. Actually in one case that cashier did the asking for me

This, if your Harbor Freight sells large volume in your area, chances are they will do a manager override on those coupons. My local Harbor Freight does it all the time. You can always ask.

 

[HanShotFirst]

I know a machinist who uses the HF cheapie micrometers because at his shop they tend to be hard on micrometers, and he says the HF 1",2" & 3" micrometers are holding up exceptionally well. He says he actually prefers them over his Starrett's because they're hard chromed and tend not to rust...I can understand that. I have some beautiful Starrett's that would make me cry if I trashed them.

 

[HanShotFirst]

I am curious if anybody has any experience with the air tools. Specifically the right angle drill and the 3/8 in belt sander. I don't use them enough to justify the price of a name brand but I hate borrowing tools. Rule of thumb if you borrow something twice you need it.

I have the right angle drill. I don't use it frequently but it's holding up just fine after a year of use. Just treat it right like you'd do for the rest of your tools. Couple of drops of quality oil each time you use it and it will stay in good shape.

What I like about it is that it really gets into a pretty tight space.

 

[bagged89s10]

Electric Pole Saw - Item 68862 - PASS
I bought this sometime last year. Just now really used it. When I first brought it home I filled it with oil and got it oiling. I thought I would cut one limb to see what it could do. I can tell you the China Man that wrote the manual knows what he is talking about. The manual says to not to use the saw over a 60 degree angle, and to not operate the pole saw with your arms fully extended or attempt to saw limbs that are difficult to reach. I did both and thought "I can move out of the way when that limb comes down".
Well, the limb damn near knocked me out. Just thought I would relate a cautionary tale with my review. The saw chewed through the limb much quicker that I thought it would. Didn't help that by that time I had had a couple of what my dad used to call, some cool uns.

I used the saw quite a bit this afternoon and it really did a very good job. I am pleased.

Just bought he pole saw for $63 with the 25% coupon.
It comes with a nice quality Oregon bar and chain. Tensioned the chain, oiled it, and Cut a bunch of 2-3" limbs with no problem. And it cuts nice and fast. Great saw for $63.

 

[Loose Ctrl]

Just bought he pole saw for $63 with the 25% coupon.
It comes with a nice quality Oregon bar and chain. Tensioned the chain, oiled it, and Cut a bunch of 2-3" limbs with no problem. And it cuts nice and fast. Great saw for $63.

Thanks for posting. I'm looking at that unit and the battery powered one as well.

 

[subarub4]

Has anyone ever used the degreaser that HF has?

item 42998?

 

[jd_1138]

These over the ear protection head phones are good -- especially at only $2.99. Model # 61372.

 

[leftyz]

These over the ear protection head phones are good -- especially at only $2.99. Model # 61372.

$1.99*

http://www.hfqpdb.com/best_coupon/INDUSTRIAL+EAR+MUFFS

 

[jd_1138]

$1.99*

http://www.hfqpdb.com/best_coupon/INDUSTRIAL+EAR+MUFFS

Wow, even better!