Harbor Freight tools thread.

I have one that was $20 or $24.

Don’t get the cheapest one and you’ll be alright. Mine has a burgundy housing. I think the cheapest one is all black, but it sucks.

 

How are the battery tender/chargers. I need to pick one up. Also which do you prefer?

 

The Chicago electric grinder is absolute garbage. Mine lasted a week before the trigger mechanism started to fail. I opened it to see if I could fix it and found that the cheap plastic trigger rode on even cheaper plastic rails and it would fall out of the track but the internal “switch” would remain engaged. That means you’d release the switch but the grinder would stay on or you’d press the switch and sometimes the grinder wouldn’t turn on at all or turn on after a few seconds. My fix gave it another few months but it refused to turn off during a CMC and I had enough. For the $12 I paid, I got my money’s worth out of it, but never again.

The Hercules brand however is amazing. $30 or $40. Can’t remember. But runs like a champ and has a higher amp rating so it cuts and grinds with less effort from the user. The trigger is instantly recognizable as quality and doesn’t make me feel like I’ll slip my guts open if I put it down and it turns on unexpectedly. I might buy a second because I hate having to switch out from cut off wheels to flap discs and rather just have one dedicated to each.

 

There’s a few mentions of them here. I did a quick search and clicked “this thread only” and searched for “battery tender.”

There’s about 10 posts including yours, so easy reading.

 

The $9.99 one will last you a few weeks if that's all you need. I have two hercules ones and I've beaten the shit out of them no issues.

 

Any recommendations?

 

Look locally on Facebook marketplace or Craigslist. They often become available and are usually between $50-$100. Typically they are also in pretty good condition with minimal use as people buy them anticipating using them much more than they actually do.

I have a bench top Ryobi I paid $50 for and a Grizzly floor model I paid $75 for. Both have worked great the last couple years.

 

For $10 you can't go wrong, buy 2 just so you don't have to change the discs between flap and cut/grind. One went bad on me in 3 years but still, just get another.

Haven't tried the Hercules.. I'll prolly give that one a shot if one of mine dies.

 

This sounds like the hot setup.

 

Geeze. $10 bucks is even cheaper than I expected. Crazy

 

I have a hard time leaving high quality battery chargers unattended. I could never see myself leaving any battery chargercha constant charge/maint.

You only need to see 1, internally shorted
battery destroyed by a charger that can't sense a short to make you a fearful

 

Do you unplug all your appliances when you go to bed as well? Scary just thinking about all those dangers lurking in my home.

 

$3 HF chargers, oh, yeah they get unplugged.

 

Lowe’s sells the Porter Cable for ~$30. Mines served me well for a while now.

 

When I run a trickle charger I plug it into a timer. Then set the timer for 30 mins a day. Saves power, and no need to charge 24/7. I put them on my motorcycle and mower for the winter. I do use battery tender, but would be ok doing this with the HF version, if they had a perment install setup like the battery tender.

 

LOL. well the the appliances don't go into a battery with hundreds of amps of current. I'd be the same way with a HF charger, would not trust it beyond a few hours on it's own.

 

Not bad at all for the price. It says 100# max, I'm 190# and just stand on it no problem. Rubber boots can be anchored.

 

Went to hf yesterday to get a set of torx. Needed the t55 for the d ring install, luckily for me in the clearance section , a 6 piece set
(Which the largest size was a t55)
Was open item for 5.99. SCORE!

 

Never seen them this cheap

 

I've gotten genuine milsurp .50 cal cans cheaper