Harbor Freight tools thread.

I like that work light/power strip over your bench. Where did you get it?

 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Commerc...r-Station-with-LED-and-USB-YLPT-105/304521504

 

exactly this one

 

Does anyone have either of the Sand blasting cabinets (bench top or floor) from Harbor Freight? If so, please give me your thoughts on it.

 

First HF tool I’ve actually broken. It’s a 1/2” to 3/8” step down adapter. I was torquing my lugs down and my 1/2” 21mm impact socket didn’t fit between the cap and lug nut. I don’t have a 1/2” drive 21mm thin wall socket but I did have one in 3/8” drive.

This yielded at about 65ish ft-lbs. It’s got a lifetime warranty, but what can I expect for $4.99 for 4 adapters before the 20% coupon, right? I’m pumped I caught it before it snapped off so I could get a cool photo.

 

I was just looking at getting one too.

 

I believe @BartMaster1234 has one or both.

 

lol you reading my mind bro!?!

 

I’m restoring my ATC and had a bunch of small parts that could use a good blasting. Figured it’s be easier than sitting there with a wire wheel for hours on end.

 

I hear that man!! There was a sand blasting cabinet at my uncles shop when I used to work there like 10 years ago and it was sooooo nice for getting surface rust off parts!

 

I have the benchtop blast cabinet, I'd suggest occasional use only.
Main thing is to have enough compressor to run it. anything less than a 30 gallon and you'll be spitting water out of the blast gun and it will clog.
You'll also need to supply your own shop vac, it goes instantly cloudy in the cabinet with no exhaust.

 

I have a 220v 60 gallon husky with 13 CFM at 90PSI

Good to know on the shop vac. Thank you. How are the seals? Do they leak sand at all? Some people with the free standing model complained about it leaking a bit

 

Yup, but I got a big boy unit so I got rid of them.



They’re good cabinets for general use. You’ll want to upgrade the lighting and get a dust collector.

 

That should be plenty of compressor. Seals do leak a bit, but not bad. I have used professional units and most of them leak too. Especially when the abrasive starts to break down in size, it gets powdery and finds the smallest gaps.
One more tip I always seem to forget... don't let the stream of sand ricochet off the part and blast the cabinet
window, you won't be able to see out of it long that way

 

Your thoughts on the tire changer? They also sell a motorcycle tire attachment, and a wheel balancing tool.

 

Awesome! Thanks man

 

I have the tire changer, it's not bad but does take up a lot of room. You will need to mount it to the floor or maybe a big sheet of plywood you can stand on.
It does well for old steel rims or trailer tires, but I would not use it on nice aluminum wheels due to the scratches it makes when scraping around the rim.
However if you search on you tube there are folks who have fitted it with rollers and teflon blocks to negate the scratches.

 

I needed some 10 gauge wire today for a starter lead on a motorcycle, realized I could get a $8.99 set of 12ft 10 gauge jumper cables from harbor freight and hack them up cheaper than I could buy wire from the hardware store. Score.

Also bought the 1000+ piece electrical connector assortment in the divider box cabinet drawer thing. Pretty nice little setup for when you need a random spade or ring terminal or something.

 

I've been starting to adopt this mindset. HF is a great place to hack stuff up and get cheap components.

 

Best f*ing $20 I have spent on tools. 13”to 18” extendable 1/2” racket.