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The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...

Loose Ctrl

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Dec 21, 2014
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Upstate SC
I have the red Goodyear 3/8 air hose and it's already dry rotted after almost a year in my building. I have only used it a few times.
 
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Hexen

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I have the red Goodyear 3/8 air hose and it's already dry rotted after almost a year in my building. I have only used it a few times.

Ironic considering that the Goodyear hoses are one of the few US-made items HF carries.
 

scubadoober

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Ironic considering that the Goodyear hoses are one of the few US-made items HF carries.

True, but Continental bought Goodyear Engineered Products in May 2015 IIRC. Yes they are still made in the same plant in Ohio, but a Goodyear branded hose is over two years old at best.
 

M_George

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Eastern Pa.
Has anyone had any experience with the Arcsafe welding helmet from HF?
They have a $119 coupon for it. I understand they give great clarity.
 

ndnchf

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Fredericksburg, Virginia
Has anyone had any experience with the Arcsafe welding helmet from HF?
They have a $119 coupon for it. I understand they give great clarity.

I bought one a couple months ago. Its a big improvement over their $35 auto-dark helmet. I used that one for years. I'm very pleased with the new one. Much better visibility and clarity, and it has a replaceable battery. I added a light to mine, just to help my aging eyes.
 

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LawnBoy-5247

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Kansas City
As I have posted before the hf has a 90 day warranty while most name brand hoods have a 2-3 year warranty. Miller had a rebate on some of their hoods over christmas and I got mine for $184 with a 3 year warranty and have a reliable source of parts. If I were you I would wait and purchase a name brand hood when they go on sale.

Sent from my LGLS991 using Tapatalk
 

DerekV

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Central TX
No, just a flip out hook, on each end.

Not according to this image from the product page:
63990_W3.jpg
 

M_George

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I bought one a couple months ago. Its a big improvement over their $35 auto-dark helmet. I used that one for years. I'm very pleased with the new one. Much better visibility and clarity, and it has a replaceable battery. I added a light to mine, just to help my aging eyes.

I like the light, I have aging eyes to and would to have one of them. Where did you find it?
 

Loose Ctrl

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True, but Continental bought Goodyear Engineered Products in May 2015 IIRC. Yes they are still made in the same plant in Ohio, but a Goodyear branded hose is over two years old at best.

Just found this thread from 2014 complaining about the red hoses not lasting nearly as long as the black hoses (and says HF stopped the black hoses carrying several years before that)... seems to have been some kind of systemic problem with the red variety, not just time on the shelf.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3913897

If I had known this, I would have opted for a different hose.

Thanks for the Link Hexen.
 

bubinga

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Bridgeport Ohio. (Across River From Wheeling WV)
No, just a flip out hook, on each end.

Not according to this image from the product page:
63990_W3.jpg

Good catch.

I haven't used it yet, probably should have read the manual. :)

[emoji23][emoji108][emoji106][emoji106]
Yes!!
I thought the 1st thing Us men did was go straight to the manual.
especially the safety Do's and dont's. :lol_hitti..................NOT.......

(After fighting with something for 2 days, we FTFM, and say oooooooooooooh, how cool is that)
 

ndnchf

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Fredericksburg, Virginia
I just bought one of those Braun underhood lights this morning. I'll be using it under my Willys jeep. I think it will work well for my purpose. I've got it charging now. The red light is on, does that go out when it is fully charged? There were no instruction included.
 
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Billy Jack

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Pittsburgh Suburbs
Yep, the red light turns green when it's fully charged. I do remember reading a warning about not leaving it plugged in too long after the light goes green.
I used mine last night under the hood of my daughter's Honda Fit. Even in a little car you can fit it just about anywhere you need light. Only change I'm going to do is cut a small steel square to stick to the magnet so that it doesn't roll when it's on the floor shining upwards.

Bill
 

bubinga

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Bridgeport Ohio. (Across River From Wheeling WV)
Yep, the red light turns green when it's fully charged. I do remember reading a warning about not leaving it plugged in too long after the light goes green.
I used mine last night under the hood of my daughter's Honda Fit. Even in a little car you can fit it just about anywhere you need light. Only change I'm going to do is cut a small steel square to stick to the magnet so that it doesn't roll when it's on the floor shining upwards.

Bill
might just have to get me one of those when I get caught up.
I really like the one the guys were talking about, Pretty sure it came from amazon, Its about a foot long has two (or 3, 2 im pretty sure),magnets on it
Red, you hit it once, the light points out like a flashlight, 2nd time, one on the face lights, Third time, think Both are supposed to light, But that parts broken on mine, 4th time off.
But it's handy as heck, the magnets stick to like a control arm, or a spindle, and stay there, and shine the light where you want it nice.
The charger has a USB or 110 V option, if that helps ID it.
Sorry Don't know the name of it.:dunno:
 

JuliusPepperwood

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Mar 10, 2017
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124
Location
California
My cushioned creeper with inclining head rest has bitten the dust. HF Gave me this one after my second plastic creeper broke. It went in the trash and I ordered a lisle jeepers creeper
 

Crazyjake8493

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Sep 26, 2014
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Upstate NY
My cushioned creeper with inclining head rest has bitten the dust. HF Gave me this one after my second plastic creeper broke. It went in the trash and I ordered a lisle jeepers creeper

Those plastic creepers are junk. I have the one with the adjustable head rest and like it.

Lately my two biggest HF pass items are the 1/2" drive extendable ratchet, and all the impact sockets.
 

ndr1968

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Apr 18, 2012
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207
Location
Oklahoma
True, but Continental bought Goodyear Engineered Products in May 2015 IIRC. Yes they are still made in the same plant in Ohio, but a Goodyear branded hose is over two years old at best.

Shouldn't matter. I've had a Goodyear hose attached to the south facing outside wall of my house for over 30 years now. Absolutely no issues with brittleness, dry rot, delamination none! It's as good (and ugly flat black) as the day I bought it!!
 

zbyler

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Jun 3, 2014
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129
Location
CT
A few reviews:

1/2" x 25" breaker bar - PASS

Pistol grip grease gun - PASS

5mil nitrile gloves (blue) - PASS
 

ishiboo

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Oct 27, 2010
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Location
Oshkosh, WI
67896 1/2" drive Torx impact bit set - pass. I have two sets, one for over 2 years and I've had such good luck I bought another.

I have been using this with my Milwaukee 2763 and 2767 for fastening 1/2" Spax grade 5 lag screws into 8" thick and 10" thick 140-year old oak beams, 6-ply LVLs, etc... they have held up REALLY well.

39955 12-speed production drill press - pass, so far. Have used it for a few days drilling quite a few 1/2" holes in 3/8" angle iron and it's been great. Fit and finish are good. I'll be testing it on larger holes soon.
 

XJSuperman

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Central Iowa
Digital angle finder - PASS
I have 2 of them now and they have been invaluable in helping with fab projects such as the gutter-mount roof bars I built and the cage-rack I build for my trailer. Well worth the buy.
63615_I.jpg


Pittsburg vise-grip clamp PN#39535 or 60820 (can't tell which because all the info is the same on the website) - FAIL
I have one I bought to help out when using my Vise-Grip brand clamps, and it bent the first or second time using it. Its still functional but the top "jaw" is skewed so it doesn't always clamp great. I have to be careful where I use it.
image_23505.jpg


Paint Guns - FAIL
We used to use HF paint guns at my last workplace and they took a beating and shot some gross paint, but for anyone who just wants to do some nice projects at home you should avoid these. They never really lasted too long and the cups often distorted. Definitely not for use when doing nice automotive paint jobs. Maybe for a quickie job on old farm equipment or an outdoor fence, but nothing nice.

Blue poly Tarp - FAIL
Just a little too thin to last longer outside than a few weeks. Got a couple for nothing and they were trash by the end of the first use. Don't plan on counting on one when you need it, just use it for light stuff if you happen to snag one on one of the free with purchase deals.
 

Hexen

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...
Blue poly Tarp - FAIL
Just a little too thin to last longer outside than a few weeks. Got a couple for nothing and they were trash by the end of the first use. Don't plan on counting on one when you need it, just use it for light stuff if you happen to snag one on one of the free with purchase deals.

Yeah, I heard years ago that the blue HF tarps are not designed to hold up outdoors (any dimensions, not just the free sizes - plural because the free size was originally bigger than the current free size, btw), but one of their other types/colors of tarps does better for that kind of use. Would have to go back through the reviews on their site to figure out again which are the heavier-duty type.
 

XJSuperman

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Yeah, I heard years ago that the blue HF tarps are not designed to hold up outdoors (any dimensions, not just the free sizes - plural because the free size was originally bigger than the current free size, btw), but one of their other types/colors of tarps does better for that kind of use. Would have to go back through the reviews on their site to figure out again which are the heavier-duty type.

I believe silver or brown are commonly known to be tougher tarps generally speaking, but with HF you never know...
 

FarFire70

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Nov 24, 2013
Messages
39
I believe silver or brown are commonly known to be tougher tarps generally speaking, but with HF you never know...
I've had one of their silver tarps in a large size for a while. I don't use it much but when I do it's beat on. Lots of time using it as a base for wood pills (I.e. Throw wood from a distance to land on the tarp).

It's held up so far so good.

The tarp is my wife's favorite 'Free' pickup. No idea why, she just likes having a pile of them. We haven't used them so can't talk to quality. Not surprised by the poor performance for others tho.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 

Crossfire05

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Dec 30, 2017
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189
Location
Utah
Digital angle finder - PASS
I have 2 of them now and they have been invaluable in helping with fab projects such as the gutter-mount roof bars I built and the cage-rack I build for my trailer. Well worth the buy.
63615_I.jpg


Would this work for leveling cabinets etc. on the wall or is the footprint too small?
 

.metal.

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Jan 24, 2018
Messages
8
For all the hose reels, replace the red hose that it comes with with the black Goodyear hose when the red hose fails. Good to go for years and years after that.

The silver tarps are actually quite durable. I've beat the heck outta mine for 5+ years and its still going strong.
 

woodturner9

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Feb 16, 2007
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Indiana(ish)
Pittsburg vise-grip clamp PN#39535 or 60820 (can't tell which because all the info is the same on the website) - FAIL

Paint Guns - FAIL

Blue poly Tarp - FAIL

May just be different use or expectations - all three of these are PASS in my experience.

Paint guns especially work pretty well.
 

ARFLY

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Jul 28, 2013
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848
Location
NW Arkansas
Digital angle finder - PASS
I have 2 of them now and they have been invaluable in helping with fab projects such as the gutter-mount roof bars I built and the cage-rack I build for my trailer. Well worth the buy.
63615_I.jpg


Would this work for leveling cabinets etc. on the wall or is the footprint too small?

I think the footprint would be to small. Use a good level for hanging cabinets.
 

XJSuperman

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Central Iowa
May just be different use or expectations - all three of these are PASS in my experience.

Paint guns especially work pretty well.

The paint guns do not work well, and any auto shop will tell you that.

But whatever floats your goat, this thread is about user experience and pass/fail ratings from such users. I spent every single day with their paint guns for 2 years and based on that experience, they aren't good for anything other than what I listed in my original post (light use and small projects). Same for the cheap/free level tarps, they don't hold a candle to the same style from TSC or Mills Fleet Farm. I cannot give a pass to a clamp when I haven't ever had a name brand one bend the way my HF has?

To each their own. Light use will probably be just fine on these items, but when you need it to do something more, even once, they fail the test. Im not hard on tools, not by a long shot, but I need it to do what I ask of it, even if its only a short time, and these have not unfortunately.
6d0b38c59fcac56e2aef11b863974099
 
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Hexen

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Mar 31, 2010
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Texas
YM-will-V regardless, but it might help get a better idea of the limits/usability of the locking c-clamps if both of you (XJSuperman and woodturner9) could say a bit more specifics about how you were/are using them. :)
 

XJSuperman

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Im not sure what "YM-will-V" means but I can illustrate my experience. (I will say that I appreciate the debate on this, its nice to see someone go the distance in expressing their experiences and opinions. I mean no offense in doing so, I just want it all out on the line for review. Thanks woodturner9)

I was clamping a steel plate to a steel tabletop for cutting a piece of it out. The clamp actually folded and twisted. It didn't come loose, just twisted so its now bent and doesn't hold like my ViseGrip brand, which was supplementing the clamping at the time of the bending. A clamp like this should twist or bend when in stationary use on a flat surface holding another flat surface, I think we can all agree on that.
 
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