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Your Favorite HF Tool

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stonesfan68

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 19, 2012
Messages
2,757
Location
Houston, TX
The 25" long 1/2 drive breaker bar is one of my favorites.
I also like the engine support beam, 96524.


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chlorine

Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2009
Messages
12
I addition to the 1/4 & 3/8 in dual flex head ratchet and the 1/2 in extending ratchet others have mentioned I love the following:

Rechargeable under hood work light - https://www.harborfreight.com/120-led-rechargeable-under-hood-work-light-60793.html

1/2 inch deep impact sockets when they came in the metal case

Long reach needle nose pliers and hose pliers

Socket adapters for my drill and impact driver

Older (15+ years) orange high lift long frame floor jack, I went through a couple cheaper ones that blew out seals, but this one and some 6 ton stands gets cars high enough I can sit up.

1000 lbs wood dollys. Use them as is or cannibalize them for casters, cheaper than buying the individual casters.
 

firworks

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 29, 2015
Messages
4,079
Location
IL
I don't think I've seen anyone mention the folding trailers... I was thinking of grabbing one recently. Are they... anyone's favorite?

There's a tool auction nearby that sells real nice much heavier duty trailers for dirt cheap but I unfortunately live in a neighborhood and have no where to keep a trailer. A folding trailer I could keep folded up on the little pad in my back yard next to the back door.
 
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CKS1955

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 12, 2014
Messages
489
Location
Michigan
I don't think I've seen anyone mention the folding trailers... I was thinking of grabbing one recently. Are they... anyone's favorite?

There's a tool auction nearby that sells real nice much heavier duty trailers for dirt cheap but I unfortunately live in a neighborhood and have no where to keep a trailer. A folding trailer I could keep folded up on the little pad in my back yard next to the back door.

I really like my trailer, I have had it since 2009 and have over 5,000 miles on it.

Jay
 

DFB

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 7, 2016
Messages
5,765
Location
Southern VT/Western Mass
I got to thinking technically not a tool in the general context of the word in as much as been posted so far, but this little gem truly has to be my favorite HF purchase. I'll consider it tool because it works for me and worth every penny I paid for it

The $219 6 x8 ft greenhouse :D

It's my second one actually first one stayed at a prior property I once owned.

The first one was truck delivery from the catalog California via China then on to Maine and arrived damaged in the box. Needed to order a replacement one, waited several weeks for the first and then a 2 more weeks for the second one. I didn't send back the first one for credit until after I actually had the second one and that one also had some problems too but between the two kits I built a satisfactory structure.

I picked up this latest one at new store in my area. I actually had to order it in about a week as none were in store stock the day I went, Fully checked it before I left the parking lot.

I am glad for the store expansions because now can actually inspect much of the merchandise and assess exactly just what you will be getting. Over the years (and my Harbor Fright experiences go back into the 80's) there has been a lot disappointment's using catalog ordering. One of the worst was a 2lb brass hammer the head was held with wedge to wood handle but the hole was so big it never stay tight I eventually epoxied the head to handle and never came loose again I still have and use it often. I also remember how postal my mail carrier got when I did a replacement on one of big Chicom rotating vises. 4 trips for him up and down my apartment stairs :lol:

Seems they used USPS a lot back then don't know if they still do :dunno:
 

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jfranci3

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 18, 2014
Messages
57
MINI HHHAMMMMER!!!!! I initially bought this as a joke on my wife, giving a 'real' hammer to our 3 year old boy. It turns out that it's my go-to hammer now. I like to imagine the Thor movie where he rocks one of these things instead of that big *** mallet $2.99
 

Infinia

Banned
Joined
Oct 2, 2016
Messages
845
Location
SoCal
Long handled flex ratchet 20-25% off
Torque click wrenches coupon sale for 10
BH driveway alert coupon sale for 10
Free DMM and 27 LED lights.
Pitt Pro in store warrantee. sigh used it 3 times in 1 year. But newer prices reflect this needed service.

It seems most of my HF tools aren't sold anymore and some of the prices are way higher so it'd be pointless to recommend them. . Chrome / Impact sockets are probably better now but noticed the sets don't have as many of the big sizes. Their old copper face hammer was really nice. HVLP paint guns arent all created equally just b/c they're purple! They've come down in price BUT stripped out the pressure regulator attachments and tools/cleaning kit. The brass machined parts are now plastic, the QC and out of sight machining stuff is most likely way down. The thing I hate about HF is zero parts support.
 
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btdobie

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 21, 2016
Messages
611
Location
Southern Minnesota
Absolutely, hands down my folding utility trailer. It is so nice being able to just tuck it against the wall when I'm not using it.
 

arrowhead

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 11, 2008
Messages
681
Location
Stillwater, NY
I think it's the first tool I ever bought at HF - the 2 ton engine hoist. Apparently it's a favorite of a lot of those car tv shows too, I've seen the same one either being used or in the background on most of them.

However, I recently got the 2 ton low profile high lift floor jack. It's giving the hoist a run as my favorite. No more rolling a vehicle up on lumber to get the jack under, no more jacking and setting stands and re-jacking with a block of wood to get more height and I like the hand wheel for the release and quick pump foot pedal too.
 
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Radix2

Well-known member
Joined
May 28, 2014
Messages
1,853
Location
the thumb!, MI
Another inexpensive one - the step drills.

Hands down the best way to drill bolt holes in steel angles, channels or flatstock - especially with a hand drill. The thinks are not only cheap, they stay sharp for a long time too.
 

timothylockhart

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 26, 2015
Messages
79
Location
Michigan
Another vote for the thin-head flex head ratchet. Thinest one I have come across by far. It saved me many hours and a lot of money when I repaired the ABS on my Audi.

https://www.harborfreight.com/14-in-38-in-drive-long-reach-dual-flex-head-ratchet-67994.html

Don't forget if you text tools6 to 222377 you get 1 text a week giving you coupons and freebies.
I went in to the store today to look at this again after all the hype in this thread and the hype in harbor freight reviews stating it as a must have.

It seems the head is the same thickness as the Long handle flex ratchet. Is there anything I'm missing as to where this tool could get to a fastener that couldn't? I saw the handle was a tad thinner on the dual ratchet but not enough to make me think it's help.

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jerawls82

New member
Joined
Feb 19, 2017
Messages
4
My favorite gems are the 5 drawer service cart and the side table. That has been a lifesaver. I can roll all my tools from the shed to the carport and not have to lug 3 tool boxes.

I also use the 9 mil Hardy nitrile gloves because they don't tear.

The Pittsburgh 25" breaker bar is a beast. I keep one in the tool box and one in each car for a tire iron. Even my poor old mom can use it to break her lugs.

Another is the 3 ton low profile jack. I can use it on my F150 or on my grandmother's Focus and anything in between.

The Chicago Electric 1/2" drive electric gun is nice. Not as good as a pneumatic, but when you just need one to take off lugs or something quick it beats hassling with a compressor.

Last but not least are the freebie screwdrivers they give out. I can abuse them and they take it pretty well considering and cost me next to nothing to replace.

HF may not be as good as Snap On , Mac, Matco, Kobalt, Craftsman, Husky, etc...but I know plenty of old school mechanics that have plenty of HF tools in their box. I also know plenty of avid weekend warriors and shade tree mechanics that use their stuff too. Bottom line this list is full of useful stuff that can be picked up on the cheap.

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