Harbor Freight tools thread.

Just picked up a set of these socket trays in both metric and sae, couldn't justify the cost of the Hansens trays compared to these. Overall pleased with the quality for the price, just make sure you open them in store and verify the numbers are printed on the plastic correctly.

 

Depends where you are in TX. State does 6.25 sales tax. Local jurisdictions can go up to an additional 2% sales tax. Most places around DFW are the full 8.25%

 

Everywhere I have been in TX it's 8.25%. I currently live in far west TX and have lived in central for 8 years. Shopped in Austin and DFW as well.

 

I just wouldnt live in Cali even if the sales tax was 0. Their government is way too moronic and oppressive. Florida has a state sales tax 6%. A tiny bit is added by counties which averages to around 6.6%. No income tax. Property tax is not bad.

 

One of the reasons I love living in Texas so much. Yes, the sales tax is a bit higher, but everything else is reasonable

 

I bought one of the 12 gauge ones, cant remember if it was the 25 or 50 foot. I use is to run an electric log splitter. It seems to be well constructed and costs less than ones I looked at in other stores.

 

Our state rate is 6.25% and counties and/or cities add on top of that. Max is 2%, I believe, which most (but not all!) cities do. Here in North Richland Hills I have to charge 8.25% - 6.25% for the state and 2% for the city.

In Azle, the tax is just the state's 6.25%, I believe.

Either way, I'm with you. It's a good balance as far as I'm concerned .

 

Oops. I posted before reading this response! Makes me a bit redundant, but you had it right first!

 

Those are what I use for most of my sockets. A couple wouldnt fit but nothing a quick file to the tray wouldnt fix (ie the 3/8 wouldnt fit a 3/8 socket as it was a bit to big)

 

I need to do something with all my sockets. Those look they would work good...and. oh, thanks for getting us back on topic

 

They work pretty good overall. Especially for the price. i have all my most commonly used sockets in them. The 1/4" and 3/8" you could pick up and move around but the 1/2" when loaded i wouldnt recommend it. But they stay in the cart and roll to the work area so really only the 1/4" get carried around. You cant see them but my chrome 1/4" up top too.

I have other sockets (3/8" sunex master set, 12point SAE, few others that stay in their cases cause i dont use them often)

 

I got the 12ga one I think. If the amp rating covers your welders I don't see why it wouldn't work. Also, what are the specs on your welder as far as using extension cords?

 

When I buy my Harbor Freight tools, I pay 6.25% in state sales tax and 2% in city sales tax.




25% off coupon is floating out there valid on 12/31-01/01, I believe.

 

That is right on the coupon. They've been putting those out quiet often lately.

 

I haven't had a 25% coupon in a while. A few 20% ones, though. Unless my wife has been tossing my flyers/catalogs in the trash, which is a distinct possibility .

 

Always a possiblity. I get them on my email.

 

Not going to lie, I went through a lot of socket trays trying to get something that was easy to use (easy to pull and replace sockets) and didn't waste a lot of space in my toolbox. I found these and they are amazing:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Multiple-Drive-Steel-Storage-Tray/3381278

I know, not HF, but the best I've found IMO.

 

I have had very good results with aftermarket batteries purchased via Amazon; for Dewalt, Milwaukee and Ryobi. They are typically 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of OEM replacements and often available in higher capacities.

Regarding HF's cordless tools, if looking to buy inexpensive tools I would buy Ryobi before either the Bauer or Hercules stuff from HF.

My reasons are that Ryobi's quality is easily the same or better. Ryobi has a wider range of tools, and Ryobi's Lithium-ion 18V¹ batteries are fully compatible with every tool they have every made. For example I have a very old Ryobi 5-1/2" circular saw and an equally old reciprocating saw, both of which came with Ni-Cads and even predate Ryobi's One Plus labeling. Both run great with the latest Li-ion 18V packs, and there are numerous sources for aftermarket batteries often at prices of less than what bare replacement cells would costs.

The other plus about Ryobi's tools is that parts are available. HF no longer provides replacement parts for most of their tools...

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¹ - Don't get sucked in by the "20V" marketing crap. The 3.6 nominal voltage lithium cells used by all makers can exhibit 4.0V at no load, briefly, just after being fully charged. So if a maker tells the truth as to what the cells can actually deliver through most of their discharge cycle the five cells battery pack is a 5 * 3.6 V -=18 V pack. However if they instead tell a technically correct "lie" and market the 4.0 V available for about 50 ms after charging it becomes a 5 * 4.0 V = 20 V ("Max" as they all say).

 

@meeestirg
I’ve used the HF 50’ & 100’ for 3-4 years powering miters, circular, 3/4 drive drills, 36” fans, commercial freezers & coolers during power outages, and anything else in the shop. One note- some of the cords have loose plugs and your saw chord will come unplugged easy.