Harbor Freight tools thread.

Another no.

 

well, it appears the new cordless impact is an actual quality piece, even a metal gearbox!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkPzjV-ZaTU

 

Why is a crock? DeWalt was just the first one to be clever enough to market it. I'm not really sure why everyone else calls it 18v. It's not like the battery drops to 18v and stays there until it's dead. It starts at 20+v and falls continuously until around 11v. It actually stays in the 20v range for quite awhile.

 

Biggest difference will be the electronics. They really cheaped out on them. Which makes sense. It's the hardest thing for customers to notice a difference on.

 

Picked up a 30" bending brake. Did some small mods to get some work done. Need to build a back brace for the top plate to keep it from bending. Also plan to put some springs on it to lift the top plate off the metal. Going to mill out the holes I drilled and build adjustment points so I can use it with different thickness materials.
As of now, I have bent 16ga steel (its rated to 17ga). It takes some effort because I dont have it on a good table, but it can be done. Building the surround for my fuel cell.

 

I have been thinking of that for my bed drawer system.

 

I have the 1.5 ton aluminum and have been happy with it, but may pick up the 3 ton for the extra 5 inches of lift so I don't have to stack wood up

 

FYI the low profile 3 ton steel jack lifts taller than the standard one. Its a nice unit i like mine.

 

Any suggestions on those? Brand? Gauge?

 

The wire for a 30 Amp service should be #10 AWG (American wire gauge) The cord should be SO. Not sure what those letters stand for but it is a black,flexable cord. The wire is fine stranded . And it should say oil resistant on the outside covering. If you have a 3 prong plug, you need a three conductor,#10 AWG ,SO cord.
The cord ends need to match the receptacle on the wall and the plug on the welder. For the female end of the cord, instead of using the type of receptacle like a stove or dryer, use a 4x4 deep metal junction box , with the matching receptacle and a metal cover. Use a two screw connector to attach the cord to the junction box. Or a strain relief connector if your feeling really flush, but plastic ones break easily.
Feel free to ask me anything that is not clear.

 

I've been waiting to pick this jack up for a while. Was up in NH this weekend and grabbed the flyers for the next weekend, glad I waited. Will definitely be getting one on Saturday.

 

This is the one I'm planning on getting.

 

i know that everyone raves about the 3 ton jack but has anyone checked out or used the craftsman 3 ton? I ask because im looking to buy a jack probably this weekend. for 20 more I can have a 3 ton jack, stands and a creeper. for someone that doesn't have anything or might something in addition, then maybe this could be an option. just was wondering thoughts on the craftsman product like this.

 

I have a 3 ton Craftsman I bought about 15 years ago as well as the 3 ton HF rapid pump. The craftsman is big, heavy and clunky compared to the HF jack. The rapid pump is way less work than the standard Craftsman as well. Not sure how my Craftsman would compare to one bought today though. Mine looks like this:

 

I

Have both and the HF one is surprisingly nicer. I don't have any complaints about either.

The jack stands that come with that kit were too short for me to use comfortably on my truck or a stock height 4runner but ymmv

 

My buddy works at the HF Engineering office here in SoCal. He's the one responsible for all the new stuff coming out. The Impact wrench, generator, welders, etc. They are all top quality. I would not hesitate grabbing that welder.

 

due et

 

@Goliath - Is this the jack...

 

A little note about the flux core welder. After reading a bunch of people having to build racks and do other stuff to be able to run 10lb spools, I decided Id get a spool and use my nice new bending brake to make a new case top. Well, turns out that the 90 amp welder is already set up to run 10lb spools. Case is large enough and the spindle base and cap both have a stepped edge for the larger hole of the 10lb.
10lb Lincoln spool cost me $62 at HD.