Harbor Freight tools thread.

My $4 HF dent puller made easy work of about $200 worth at the body shop.

 

wbshoe, per-chance any before/after pics for us wannabe dent techs?

 

Kind of torn... I’m in need of a new tool bench/cabinet... HB has pretty nice ones but they don’t come with the wood top nor do they have built in power.

This is what I’m thinking and maybe you can talk me out of it

 

Too many deep drawers in the above- there isn't going to be a lot of useable storage space and you'll outgrow it in no time. I don't have HF boxes, but they are really tough to beat for the $

 

I would look on Amazon for inexpensive sets because you'll have some reviews to guide you. I have a lot of VIM which is excellent if you want something top quality. I have some from HF also and they've been fine, but they're so old that I'm sure they're different than what they sell now. I have had crappy no name torx bits that wear quickly, but not hex.

 

Agree. I went through this. And no wide drawers either is a deal breaker. But @Toywoodsguy82 might have a tool selection that that box works for.

 

Best deep drawer tool chest for woodworking tools I found is a couple used metal 5’ high filing cabinets off craigslist.

2 yrs ago home depot had their Husky 46” tool chest w wood top for 199 for black friday, i got 3 for cheap and the quality isn’t bad. last yr was up to 299 for black friday and it seems like prices really climbed on these everywhere the last couple yrs, it is currently $348 but was often $250 a yr ago

 

Long story short I’m moving from a place that I own to a place I’m going to rent the thing that makes this seem like a pretty good idea is that it has the pegboard on the back of the box that I don’t have to install on the wall of a rental unit

 

Looking for a work bench for my leather work, anybody tried out this one??

 

picked up this little vise this past weekend, seems good so far. used to do some amateur gunsmithing over the weekend. decent for 20 beans

 

Does anyone have a Harbor Freight sheet metal brake? Which one do you have?




1. I need to bend 3/16" thick steel, or possibly 1/4" thick steel as I haven't done the math yet, that is only 1 1/2" wide, will it do it?

2. How about the same dimensions in aluminum?

Thank you!

 

Lots have used it for woodwork. It’s do able as long as you understand it will need to be glued together and add some screws. It’s ok when reenforced. If you have the ability, you can make one cheaper and stronger though.

 

The cheaper 46” husky has a pegboard addon for $50

 

HF site says the larger (36") won't bend that 3/16". Looks about 3x thicker than what it's specced for.

Handles material as thick as 12 gauge sheet metal, 16 gauge mild steel, 22 gauge stainless steel

 

I have that work bench and have been using it for the last 5 years. It is an adequate work bench. I do not push the limits on what it can do so I have not had any issues at all. Sturdy enough, it performs as expected. The drawer operation is ok. Not as smooth as it could be but it has never not opened. If you have ever watched Forged in Fire imagine the man who tests the blades saying "It will cut" and replace that with "It will work".

You can use one of their other metal benders:

I have used this one extensively to bend 1.5 inch wide, 1/8th inch thick aluminum and it works fine. It is not a bad price point either.

 

thanks I’ll look

 

I just went to harbor freight yesterday looking for the 46” 9 drawer, not in stock. Went to Home Depot to eyeball the husky, found one with a dent in it, and got it for 298. As everyone has mentioned about this chest, seems identical to harbor freights, except it has a power strip. I almost have it loaded down, I’m very pleased, seems like it will work well for me.

I looked at that Milwaukee you posted earlier, it’s obviously nicer, but it seems the husky should hold up for many many years.

 

I like that Milwaukee only if somebody outside my checkbook was paying the bill

 

well with me selling my house I’ll have a little bit of money to use... but I’m starting to like this husky idea

 

Neither of those will work for 3/16 or 1/4”. Those are meant for sheet metal- 18 gauge or thinner. I have the 18” bender and it struggles to bend 1/8” steel.