Harbor Freight tools thread.

I know this isn't a direct answer to your question but I have thoroughly enjoyed my Milwaukee saw, so that's another option.

 

My goto saw has been my Husqvarna 440 18", but I am considering the jump to battery over gas. Most of my other battery tools are Craftsman or Dewalt, but I'm not crazy about their chainsaw options.

 

My first thought is why would you need a saw that big for trail use, and if you do why wouldn’t you carry your gas saw?

 

An 18" saw isn't that big. But if whatever was blocking me on a trail was so small I didn't need an 18" saw I'd probably just drive over it.

But I also said I'd use it as a home use saw, and I have old pines and ash that an 18" saw is almost not enough.

 

Don't knock it until you try it man, we have filled up numerous truck beds with the Milwaukee saw. It is more than capable for trail duty and you don't have to worry about bringing gas along.

 

About a month ago I was chopping down trees with my uncle, I had a stihl with a 20-something" bar and he had a little 14 or 16" bar 40v stihl one. We used the electric one for 5 out of the 6 trees. It was extremely convenient just to pick it up, make your cut, set it down, and not have to deal with the noise and starting of the gas saw. We only had 1 tree that we needed the larger bar for. I was skeptical at first but man, that thing kicked ass.

 

We have a battery powered Stihl weed whacker that does a pretty darn good job. I'd consider their saws if they weren't so darn expensive.

 

I am tempted by an electric saw but my husky 435 starts right up every time. I think the main advantage would be not having to wear ear protection. I really want to get the harbor freight chain sharpener. Looks like it has great reviews.

 

I’ve carried a bow saw for years just in case. Split a piece of garden hose to cover the blade with Velcro straps.

 

No need to tune for elevation with electric. Not a big deal for most but for those that keep a trail saw its nice knowing it'll just work whether I'm at sea level or 12000ft.

 

Also not a direct answer to your question, but I am going to express how much I dislike anything with proprietary batteries. Reason being at some point you are not going to be able to replace these batteries and the device will become a brick. Now I know Milwaukee uses proprietary batteries but it's different, they are a huge company that is not likely to go away or change battery formats just because they need to keep the doors open, unlike most other companies. For this reason I would far prefer going the route of Milwaukee for a chain saw or almost any cordless tools. Buy once, cry once.

 

Very good point.

 

They make battery adapters to fit whatever battery you want in whatever drill you want if you look around. Maybe not the HF ones but all the big name brands. Nothing you couldn't rig up on your own with a 3D Printer and a soldering iron. As long as voltages are the same, should be fine.

 

The advice I give people is to simply find an ecosystem that has the tools you intend to buy now as well as others that you’d be keen to have in the future and stick with it.

 

Picked up the ICON 20-100 ft/lbs torque wrench from HF today because I had some things to take care of on my truck coming up that I’d like an accurate torque wrench for. I really like it. And for 1/4 of the price of a snap on with just as much if not more accuracy than the snap on I feel pretty good about the buy. Some of you may have seen the YouTube video of the guys who buys the snap on and icon torque wrenches and uses a torque calibrator to compare them and after quite a few different tests the ICON works slightly more accurately. I like the feel of the wrench and it feels like good quality. Depending on my needs, I might eventually pick up the 50-250 ft/lbs 1/2” torque wrench they have as well

 

But where's the goooooold?

 

Forgot to look for one

 

I've had a 60V Greenworks 14 or 16" saw for 2-3 years now. It's been perfect for home use where I only need it once every few months for - the occasional small tree or large branch fall. No maintenance except chain/lube. Maybe not what I'd use if I were in snow country putting up firewood for the winter, but for basic home stuff it's been great.

 

Does anyone own a Harbor freight radiator pressure test kit? I bought the tool and it seems like the pump will build and hold pressure in itself when I haven’t even attached it to anything yet. When I press the relief button I can hear it release pressure. Is this normal?

 

Every HF store in UT has one in stock EXCEPT for the one by my house and the one by my office!

Then I remember I'm paying $60 for a HF ratchet and I rethink my life choices