Harbor Freight tools thread.

My boss has had one for 12-13 years and it still works great.. the only thing we had to replace is the water pump.

 

Great! I'll remember that when I need to cut tile

 

I have one of these.

http://m.homedepot.com/p/HDX-14-in-Rip-Ceramic-Tile-Cutter-10214X/203713610

 

Looks like a good deal! May have to look into that as well

 

Makes it a lot easier when you're laying large rooms expecially when you can't see the cut.

 

Been putting their small engines on my mud motors for years. Two year warranty can't be beat.

Trey

 

Finally got to use my HF MIG 170 toady! Holy cow is this a different beast than the 90 amp. My first setting (Max 1, Speed 4) blew holes in 3/16 tube. I ended up going down to Min 2, speed 5 to get a good weld. Even then it seemed like it was running hot, but if I turned down the speed it would sputter. Supper solid welds though. Using .035 wire I got from Amazon.

Today was a great day. More welding tomorrow

 

Using gas?

 

No, just flux core for now. A regulator and bottle is another $150, not counting the gas. I hope to be using gas soon.

 

Before I ever fired up though, I took off the stock ground clamp (it just bolts on) and replaced it with a brass 400 Amp clamp.

 

Anyone used their dual action polisher?

 

Picked this up for $100 the other day. Took forever to put together, but it's rock solid. For the money it's hard to beat. I have a friend who works at HF HQ, he designed the new Earthquake XT impact wrenches, they are pretty awesome. Will definitely be picking one up soon.

 

ive been wanting to buy and learn to weld, but im not sure what to do about cutting thick tubing. A wheel could take a while

 

good idea

 

This looks interesting.

http://www.evolutionpowertools.com/us/build/rage3.php

 

It says up to 1/4" steel. Wonder if that is just the stock blade limitation.

 

What are you cutting? I am considering getting a small welder and making a few things, mostly smaller square tube.
What cutoff do you actually have? I was looking online and they have tones of options.

 

Speed is a question of money, how fast can you afford to go? Honesty a 4 1/2" wheel is all I use. It's even the HF one. You can weld faster with MIG vs Flux Core because of less clean up, but gas, bottles, and a regulator will add around $200 to a welder. You can cut faster (and get more square cuts) with a cut off saw from HF will set you back $50 to $80, and you will get better cuts, but it's not really needed. It just speeds things up.

 

I'm thinking you could go a little thicker even with the stock blade. But for most DIY armor or rack projects, I'd think up to a 1/4" is plenty.

 

True. Most winch plates are 1/4" with the rest of the bumper being anything 1/8" to 3/16" depending on the manufacturer/builder.