Harbor Freight Goodies

[skuttadawg]

Well I have most common hand tools more than most and bought some large metric wrenches there recently since I only had up to 21mm .
I plan on getting the compression gauge since its only 20 and looking at the thermometer to compare engine temps on air cooled vs liquid cooled . My brother uses on on his nitro r/c since it always need fine tuning as he races in local events .

I bought one of those vibrating cutters too man its a fun toy/tool and better than a saw in tight quarters .

I have a real Dremel and a China one too , its hours of fun if you have OCDs like me .

So any others goodies to get that are scooter related ?

Most of my tools are Craftsman and enjoy buying expendable goodies when they are cheap at Big Lots or flea market , but Harbor Freight wow so many items and so little garage space

[Yelloscoot]

I bought the little digital scale today...$11.00, Tarp repair kit $4.00. I have all kinds of stuff that I've picked up there that I have not used or need yet, the scale for instance. I bought it for variator work that I'm not even doing yet. Someday though...I'll have it when I need it.

I just can't help it,..see something I might use/need later, but want it now. Instant gratification I guess.

[dude]

Traxxas Temp gauge.
49ccscoot.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=instrumental&thread=400&page=1

[alexl]

careful.. some of the stuff you have to watch out for. I go to Harbor Freight as well... but am VERY careful what i purchase there. I tend to spend a little more for tools that i know i will be able to keep a long time. Stuff that only gets used seldomly.. i sometimes try to get by with the inferior stuff.

[justbuggin]

when you make your living with the tools you own you will need to get the better stuff but if you just tinker you can get by with lesser stuff

[skuttadawg]

Very true on good tools are worth the extra I get a deal on Mac Tools as Snap On cost way too much . I know the Mac guy in town real good since his son and I grew up together .

When I was an electrician if anyone did not have Klein tools and a Fluke meter you were thought of as an unskilled laborer and the same for construction too .

I love my REAL tools but cannot resist a low price gizmo that is no biggy if it breaks . Yes tool items that you almost never use its ok to go cheap since its not being used to make a living with where premium is the way to go .

I went nuts when I saw the blasting cabinet for 120 as I know how good glass beads make aluminum look brand new and how good baking soda works too as sand will pit parts . I want to blast my wheels after cleaning them up in order to get them powder coated black . Powder coating is much better than sprayed as the finish is even and more durable too . My Magnum has black wheels with a red stripe and I have gotten many compliments on them , it came like that but my 150s are polished aluminum . Steel wheels suck as they are heavier , can get bent and warp , and rust if uncoated .

I have been a commercial painter on high end places like historical landmarks since with OCDs I am very neat and finicky so my work always looks perfect . Its amazing how just painting a room in your house can change your mood and peace of mind . I love to take a building in neglect and make it look new with sanding and spackle along with oil primer as the Kilz latex is garbage and will flash over spackle , mud and caulk .

If you ever need to paint your ceiling use oil primer first and wait 2 days to paint since oil primer is stickier , takes longer to dry but covers up stain like from smoking or kerosene heaters . Glidden makes a ceiling paint that goes on pink and dries white , and is much easier to see where you painted as low light and flat white ceiling paint its easy to have " holidays " ( what we called an area that did not get paint like the rest and means you were on a holiday instead of doing your job ) . Paint ceiling and do not worry if you get any on the sheet rock as it covers easy with wall paint and better that having to repaint or touch up later . Also on windows when you paint the sashes and mullens ( the external grid ) paint heavy with overage on the glass and after it tacks spray Windex and use a razor to get off excess . Its much faster than nitpicking or having a holiday . The Windex prevent scratches like will happen with a dry razor on glass . Brushe edges with a 3 inch brush ( I prefer over a 4 in ) so you can use a roller over it before it dry so you do not see brush strokes and have the same finish as the roller nap leaves . I like Purdy brushes with wooden handles the best and they last forever if you clean after you use it . Elcheapos do not hold paint as good and shed bristles .

Sorry I drifted but just thought some " do it yourselfers " like me could find that info handy as many people paint in the spring when it warms up

[skuttadawg]

On receipt it says if you register you get better prices

[alexl]

I am a Maintenance manager for about 130 rental properties. The tools i use every day are high quality . Yeah, i know a few tricks for painting as well . Although basically all i ever pain is white, or a tan color called macadamia. Also, Sherwin Williams paints FTW.

[skuttadawg]

SW is what we used most of the time but Glidden indoor/outdoor semigloss is great and Benjamin Moore makes great paint .

You can paint latex over oil primer but not the other way around . I was surprised that latex ( water ) repels water better than oil paint .

You can spray and have someone dry roll behind you . Use a paint roller to spread the paint that was sprayed . I have a 18 inch roller with telescoping pole that goes to 8 feet , man block filler with that will have your arms drooping like a gorilla afterwards

[larrball]

Ya, BM,SW and let's not forget dutch boy.

I'm not a pro painter but all the rest of my family is ether Drywall finishers/painters.
When i had to do a few rental job's for some cash a long time ago
I needed a good one coat paint that would work on small holes and smoke from people that smoked and turned a white wall--yellow/brown.

My, truly lazy uncle in law told me to get this..
www.gliddenprofessional.com/product/Productivity/Ultra-Hide_150_High_Build

Ultra-Hide is some dam thick stuff. Good thing i got a contractor discount $65.00 for a 5 GL.
I used some of the rest on one of the 5 Gl. and cut it down a bit to paint part of my place.
That paint is a win,win In my option.

[larrball]

Back on the harbor Fright topic.
One thing i regret suggesting to people on this form is this :

7 Function Digital Multimeter
Item # 90899 Manufacturer: Cen-Tech

www.harborfreight.com/7-function-digital-multimeter-90899.html

As i was testing my scooters coil the other day i got no reading for the primary side of the coil.
After doing some other checks, i just couldn't be convened that the coil was bad.
Went back to do the check a 3'ed time and got a good reading.. hummmm i thought.
After wiggling the leads around where they plug into the meter it worked as it should.
This was my 2ed meter from HF and im thinking from the same batch as well, so it might just be a bad batch of meters.
But the point is you shouldn't have to fool with your test equipment.

Other then that, HF is good for a lot of tools for the budget guy/gal.

[yoshidawg]

Defiantly the digital scale to weigh your roller sets.

[chindog]

I went to Harbor Freight today. I bought several items on sale at their parking lot sale prices, like a tarp for $2, flexi-conduit for trailer wiring for $3, a cheapo cordless drill for $15, etc. One of the items on sale was a hammer for $2. They had a box full of them. I looked at the box of hammers, and thought "that is dumb".

[alexl]

Good luck with the drill.. although they do seam to have somewhat decent reviews. I used to run Ryobi cordless equipment, i was one of those that thought it was just as good as any and it treated me well. Then i got a Dewalt drill on sale..... WORLD OF DIFFERENCE, they are a LOT more expensive, but the are a LOT better. Now i still say for the average homeowner who gets the drill out to drill a few holes in the wall a couple times a year that ryobi and other brands are fine. I am ALWAYS working on something, so i learned my lesson and i spend more on my tools, because the are investments.

[jeepsteve92xj]

I get irems at HF, the hand tools are lifetime, havent had any trouble with my sawzall clone, no problem wiht air tools. The last meter I got from HF was just like my 15yo Cen-Tech (which I killedlast summer), but with different color plastics and so far is working perfectly. It is the 11 function, $19 unit:
www.harborfreight.com/ac-dc-digital-multimeter-37772.html


This search result are in my thoughts - the scooters have weak plastics and repairs are not so simple like sheetmetal and poprivets, but something like this could solve that issue.:
www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=plastic+weld

[us858]

For the paints I uses dunn edward. but I guess it's only popular in the west.

I'm very glad that I've a HF near by. for a weekend garage work it fit perfect. however I won't trust it on the electrical equipment. the drill is dirt chip ( I think it's about 20-30, with 18v battery, how can it be!?), but it save on every corner. the axis is not even center ! the tip of the drill bit will wobble due to this. but for the mechanical tools I really love it. the torque wrench cost $10 on sales and I've been using it for more than 5 years and seems it's still accurate. I've no political position here but if you get something dirt cheap like this from china, perhaps we should complain less on quality wise. so far I'm very happy with the trade off $$ vs quality HF offer.

[skuttadawg]

Dang the tire bead tool goes up to 12 inch and I have 13 and 16 inch tires grrrr . Guess its spoon and mallet for me

[yoshidawg]

harbor freight rules..... last year i bought a 2.5 hp chipper/shredder for my moms birthday. i also bought the 2 yr replacement warranty, so glad i did that. shortly after her bd. i asked to use it and the thing ate itself. i didnt want to tell mom i broke her chipper, so i exchanged it, no questions asked for a new one. that was last year. then 2 weeks ago, asked to use it again, and again the blades broke and tore up the housing. this time i told her it was broke and she said it was ok she didnt think it worked very well anyway. so harbor freight not only gave me my money back for the shredder but refunded the warranty monies as well. i couldn't be happier. this year will use that money to buy a better quality gift for moms

[alandok85]

Hey dudes if you store bike outside and your bike has a 12v plug for chargers and etc. Harbor freight sells a kick ass solar charger that it plugs into to keep your battery charged, I used mine during the winter months and my bike kicked over in just two tries this spring, there was no noticeable loss in power. I plan on using the charger again this winter.

[skuttadawg]

Went there today and bought some mechanic gloves for 5.99 like em so much I got another to use as riding gloves , the compression gauge kit , set of ratching box end wrenches , a small magnet that has a 30 lb pull 1.99 and so much more there I wanted but only so much space under my seat .

Went to Dollar Tree and bought a 6 pack of bungie cords , putty knife , terry cloths and minerals . I get a laugh from asking how much is this ? Everything is a dollar lol

[skuttadawg]

Anyone here a HF Inside Track Club member ? I see its $29.99 a year to join but worth it if you can save 30 or more on purchases to offset paying to join .

I also saw huge bolt cutters for 20 and a large set of Dremel tool tips for 20 as well . I like the blast box they have for 120 . I am going to try their airtools and regulator on my compressor a decent size one . I had a pancake and it was too wimpy to pump up a tire or power a tool .

Terri they have a small compressor for 8.99 I forgot to see if its 110 AC or 12V DC , its not a shop strength one but will be better than a manual bicycle pump or paying 75 cents each time you need air at a gas station .

I love my Craftsman tools that I make a living with but I am a sucker for a cheap tool and buy em up as expendables . I feel ok with HF handtools like a wrench or hammer but I would not get a powerdrill there since I am stuck on Milwaukee drills .

I know the air tools will never be Snap On or Mac but will work for light duty use and from 20 ( junk ) to 65 or so for better ones

[skuttadawg]

Forgot a magnetic pick up tool and a multi wire grabber that acts like fingers is great for retrieving a dropped nut etc as they have really saved the day . The magnetic bowl is a great place to put screws or nuts so that they do not roll away and take time to look for . Another trick I use is a piece of duct tape with sticky side up used to hold nuts and bolts you remove to keep up with them . Handsfree flashlights are super when working alone an no helper to hold it .

So far they have most of what I want since I have so many tools already except a sparkplug wrench set . These have flexible shafts where some stiff extensions will not work . I changed the plugs on a Acura Legend a Chrysler minivan that have deep tubes beyond my fingers or needlenose pliers to remove after unscrewing it and had to use a magnetic pick up tool to get them out . Such a dumb design . Thats why I love Honda Civics as they are so easy to work on and get parts

[Stash]

gotta love the $45 18v impact driver at harbor freight!

[skuttadawg]

I would like to hear from any who bought and use their air tools like the impact , ratchet for example and which brand . I saw some for 20 and others for 60 which I think may be better made . They are for my use with some side jobs and no need for Snap On quality or price since will be used lightly instead of full time in a shop .

I will try my compression tester in the morning . I do suggest the ratcheting box end metric wrenches as I love mine and work great where a ratchet can not fit . I see the newer stubby ratchets are open to allow a stud or bolt to pass through might be a new edition to my collection

[bigphillip79]

Electric Impact wrench, impact sockets, Folding trailer, C clamps, Magnetic trays for nuts and bolts, and torque wrench. The stuff is not the best but for the at home do-it-yourselfer the stuff is fine. I wouldn't put much faith in using it in everyday professional service. So far I have had good luck with most the stuff I got from there.

[skuttadawg]

I saw a wrench like in a link below but went with Kobalt since they are better than China stuff . I got a new multi tool and found a cheap and small metric socket set . Best of all the fit under the seat and do not take up much room www.lowes.com/pd_133996-29091-K342-24B_4294777293_4294937087_?productId=3386504&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1¤tURL=%2Fpl_Tool%2BSets_4294777293_4294937087_%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=

www.lowes.com/pd_140791-56766-14834_4294857589_4294937087_?productId=3159213&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1¤tURL=%2Fpl_MultiTools_4294857589_4294937087_%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=

www.lowes.com/pd_105129-25428-85599_4294857589_4294937087_?productId=3351922&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1¤tURL=%2Fpl_MultiTools_4294857589_4294937087_%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=

[allen1371]

Fifty bucks for a decent set of ramps.
I bought these and fastened them together for a nice wide ramp. I keep them in the truck all the time.
One can never tell.
My wife is always on call.

www.harborfreight.com/2-piece-steel-loading-ramps-44649.html

[carasdad]

My girlfriend won't let me go into Harbor Freight anymore....I go in for Zip ties and hand degreaser.....and come out with a cart load of stuff... ;D

[excuzzzeme]

Kobalt is still China but the high end China.

When it comes to tools, nothing beats quality. When your income and safety depends entirely on tool, quality does matter. Many people fail to look at the quality aspect of tools. I've seen Chinese tools literally explode and name brand doesn't even crack. As an ex-heavy equipment tech, it matters greatly. Anyone found using cheap tools including craftsman are ostracized. I have an easy $20,000 invested in tools and was the difference between a minimum wage tire and oil changer to being an A level tech making close to triple digits a year.

Don't get me wrong, the average homeowner/tinkerer doesn't need high quality tools even though it might makes parts of his living easier. Yes, most of my tools are snap on because I have had MAC, S-K,MATCO tools fail and the snap-on keeps right on working. Many times I would buy a lesser brand tool like a Craftsman and take a torch to it to make a tool I needed and needed NOW, especially for the ones that you were going to use one time every ten years.. They were always my sacrificial tools. As a homeowner, I like the craftsman professional series.