Harbor Freight tools thread.

I’ve used a vice maybe 3 times in my life.

 

I thought they removed that section of Craigslist a few years ago...

I actually have the 6 ton bench top one I bought to do the wheel bearings on our Honda Civic. It's not quite tall enough to fit the dies and everything in there, I had to get creative to get it to work but you could easily replace the 4 vertical pieces of angle iron with something a little longer and maybe even stronger to get a little more capacity.

If you have a need for or don't mind the amount of space they take up then I say get the bigger one. But if you want to save space, don't need the higher working load and don't mind some minor modifying it will serve the purpose well.

 

I have like four of them that I use everyday.

 

I have the 12 ton and for the price, it's a decent unit. Like most things from HF, the quality is good enough for an occasional use tool, but not for something getting used hard daily.

 

Dont worry, they're enjoyable

 

Never dealt with vice, but use my vise alot.

 

Clearly a vise isn’t my vice.

 

I had the 12T for 20+ years and recently upgraded to the 20T. Several times the 12T did not get the job done for me so I would recommend getting the 20T as the price difference isn't that great. On the 12T, I replaced the jack 2-3 times over the years because they leak after at while. I've had bad luck with HF jacks. Like all things HF, the 20T isn't the best as the frame depth is only ~4", and it's also not rigid enough- it flexes a lot under use. The 4" depth means you can't easily do things like the Tacoma front wheel bearings on it as the hub doesn't fit thru the bridge. You can do them, it just means stacking ~6" of plate on top to support the hub. Any press nicer than the HF is going to cost 4X as much so there's not a lot of other choices for the $.

If you are going to do FWD wheel bearings, consider the Astro Pneumatic tool to do them on the car

Edit : Astro #78825

 

Thanks for the feedback! I may have more floor space then workbench space.

Thanks! That was the way that I was leaning in regards to one over the other.

Thanks! I spent some time on YouTube and checked out the Astro 78825. I think that would work well! While I still would like a shop press and will get one some day probably not it the too distant future, I am thinking that the Astro tool might be the easier way to go. No need to remove the spindle that way.

 

How often do you see yourself needing a big press?

I need one about 2x/year. I find it's easier just to stop by the local machine shop to do the press work . I don't need a big press taking up floor space .

 

To be honest, I am not sure. But I also produce license plate brackets and have been toying with the idea of using the press to make my bends instead of using my Harbor Freight flat metal bender. I need to do a bit more research but if it would look like that type of a system might work then I could see my self getting one.

And, I think I am addicted to tools and acquiring them. No, I AM addicted to tools. There, now I can start getting help for my addiction!

 

The only help for an addiction like that is more tools.

#askmehowiknow

 

Has anyone bought a sprayer from here for prepping frame and undercarriage for salt/brine?

If you had success could you recommend the model? Woolwax gun is almost 100 bucks and once or twice a year application I’d like to see my results first.

Edit. Spraying fluid film and hitting the sensitive areas with cosmoline.

 

I would buy the one from Kellsport/Fluid Film. I have it and it works well for spraying that product.

 

I agree that I don't use the press very often- a few times a year. I also don't use my welder, drill press, oxy-acetylene torch, slide hammers, pullers...... very often. But, when you need them, you need them, and for me it's better to have them than have to take it somewhere.

For FWD wheel bearings the Astro tool is the way to go because you don't have to remove the knuckle. I also have it

 

HF used to make an undercoating spray gun, I have it, and it works great. But I can't find it listed there anymore. You screw the can onto the bottom of it so you'd need a mating can. I've used it for undercoating and rocker shutz. It looks like this. They also make one that comes with a cup on the bottom.

Edit- updated link to Astro:

$18 Astro Pneumatic Tool 4538 Economy Air Undercoat Gun

https://www.amazon.com/Astro-4538-E...ing+spray+gun&qid=1570036452&s=gateway&sr=8-9

 

^^ that’s what I have also with the 2 plastic screw on containers, works good.

 

I use my press often enough where I can justify it. I’ll I have the swag press brake kit on it too. If you’re only casually using it or not going to bend heavy gauge steel with it, I’d say pass only because it sounds like you already have a system in place. If you do plan on getting the press, you should factor in the cost of the swag kit but also I can tell you from experience, you’ll want the air over hydro jack to save your shoulder every time you use it. It gets old using the pump handle for multiple repeated bends. And if that’s the route you’re going, you’ll obviously need a compressor that can handle that workload. You can see it really snowballs but if you’re actually going to use all those tools, there’s no way around it.

 

Thanks for the info and for your time offering up your insight. I am unsure which path I will take right now, that is about all I can be certain of. I need to prepare myself better and gather more information before I actually start spending money without a clear understanding of what I want to accomplish.