Harbor Freight tools thread.

My local HF is getting kinda shitty

 

Smells like China?

 

I have noticed big differences in the different stores. My local place is ok, the original that I used to frequent is dumpy. I stopped in one by my buddies lake house, and was shocked at how nice it really was.

 

Are you familiar with Tekton at all? I’ve seen pretty good reviews from them. They look a few notches higher than hf.

 

I use these for welding since I hate wearing the full gauntlet style gloves. They’re lined with flannel inside so the extra insulation works well to keep heat from the weld bead away from your skin. The only down side is that they’re one size only so if you have small hands you’re SOL. I use these for everything else (installs, yard work, construction) because they last a long time and are cheap to replace when it’s time. They’re also fitted enough that they aren’t cumbersome to wear for smaller work. I keep a pair in the truck with my recovery gear too. I don’t even bother with their “mechanix” style gloves. I always tear them at the first use.

 

It's six sigma on meth. Organize to save time etc etc

 

Have not, but, that means nothing. There are some “off brand” units out there that are Snap-on/MAC/Cornwall just branded differently.

I have some HF wrenches....the size is not exact I can tell you. The 10mm is more like 10.2...got a line wrench for brake lines... it was so off I ended up using a shorty gear wrench and a 15oz dead blow to break the tension....worked great for install... still used the real wrench to ensure proper tightening.

 

You used a dead blow for brake lines? I'm not sure I've ever needed that much love.

 

With a shorty wrench I couldn’t get enough torque to break the ol stockers loose.

Put the open end on the “nut” and a couple of taps and the stockers loosened just enough so I could start turning the line, would’ve been nicer if yota had made the rear mount a bit more accessible with the bed still on it.

 

Has anyone used these tie down straps?

 

Check out CDI
http://www.cditorque.com/about.html

I have a 3/8 drive for my lower end and 1/2 drive for the higher numbers.

Made by Snap-On for half the price..

 

CDI is awesome and im a snap on guy. Im never buying a snap on torque wrench again after discovering them.

HF is a great place to go if you just do tinkering on the side or when you need a disposable/one off tool.

 

I'm not sure the wife would appreciate the rubbing those straps are sure to give...
Maybe try something a little softer?

 

Some Stupid Supervisor Said So

or alternatively

Save Some Shit for Saturday and Sunday

As everyone else said it's a program for doing something simple like keeping tools and work areas cleaned up and organized that corporations took and turned into something way more than it needs to be.

 

It's not a bad program in design. It's more the implementation of it that messes it up.

Like for Adam or even on of us, having a tool cart with say everything you'd need to service our trucks would save time over having to get everything from a toolbox and making multiple trips. Then another cart with everything you need for like electrical work. I've done it to an extent with some DeWalt toughsystem cases (have one with electrical stuff, another with irrigation stuff, ect ).

Now when you go to a lot of businesses who do it....tends to be mediocre. I'd say it still helps. But can also have negatives. Like where I work everyone would keep all the spare parts from past jobs. Was awesome cause of something came up unexpectedly you just go grab the spares. Or could use the spare stuff while waiting for the actual material to get in. Then managers got this silly LEAN program implemented and all the spare parts were taken away. Stuff we used to have on a shelf now sometimes takes weeks to get in. Plus they went through and got rid of a lot of tools that were used early but we're job specific.

 

Yes, I use them everyday. I have not had any problems w/them.

 

Picked up this little guy this weekend. Set it up and got it square. Should fit my needs just fine

 

Not sure what your needs are, but you can also buy full straps with the loops sewn into the end from several different places. Super handy. Here's one example:
https://www.nrs.com/product/1444/nrs-1-loop-straps

 

That's too funny!

I'm glad we are done with that fuckerey.