Harbor Freight tools thread.

This post reminded me to buy them.

 

They're pretty good but I feel like they're a little overpriced

 

I forgot you bought them around the time I bought my die grinder.

Would you say they'll last you awhile? That Champion did well the first few times but the 4th or 5th use I chipped some teeth on it. Not sure if it's because of the heat-treated frame I was grinding up or not...

 

Went in for my free bucket and bought the 6” vise, then ended up with the "magnetic power and air tool holder", too.

Vise seems worth it for the price. Some rough casts and edges, sloppy paint, but whatever, that's a lot of metal for the price.

The tool holder wasn't what I expected, but I got lucky and it worked OK. I didn't think it through and thought you could just magnet it anywhere. Well, you can't, which makes sense because that'd have to be a hell of a magnet.

The top of it has a lip that is meant to go over the side of one of their carts. I have a tall minifridge and my work bench on either side of my cart, so that wasn't going to work. Luckily, I have some metal shelving on the wall that had perfect spacing for it to slip on and I'm back to happy. I like when things have a place.

 

Yeah I think I chipped a few teeth grinding out the knuckle balls to clear the RCVs. They'll probably last me a lifetime because I don't use them for much

 

Vise definitely feels nice and solid.

Mounting it on your bench or solo stand?

I'm undecided at the moment.

 

I'm not positive how I'll do it, but I'm going to bench mount. I don't have room for a solo stand in our single car garage that has to fit the wifes jeep renegade and my 4 motorcycles haha.

I'm thinking I'll drill through the 2x4's on the edge of the bench and put in some of those t-nuts or wood nut inserts on the bottom edge so when I want to remove it to free up space, I can, and then when putting it back I'm not fumbling with nuts on the bottom side. My bench is small enough as it is to leave it on all the time.

 

Damn, I've got a larger space but you're really efficient in the use of your space (much better than me).

I'm almost positive I'll just find a use square tubing, and mount it on this 12" x 12" plate I've got, once I find a donor steel wheel.

 

I got them because I’m adding backup sensors to a customer’s bumper. The hole needed is just a hair over 1” ID. I drilled it out with a 1” hole saw and gave it a few passes with the carbide bit and they worked perfectly. Beats me spending an hour with my dremel. I don’t think I’d want to use them for a lot of grinding and shaping but they worked perfectly for this task.

 

My old but nice garage tool box is 100% packed. Sadly no room in my small 2 car garage for 2 vehicles, motorcycle, mower other necessities and a bigger box. Wanted to go up, but could not find anything reasonable with the same footprint as my Kobalt. As chance would have it, I purchased the HF 1 drawer cart for the basement workshop... Turns out the drawer is an independent assembly bolted to the bottom of the cart's top tray... and is almost the same color and dimensions as my box (~16x27). So, I simply assembled the cart minus drawer, screwed it down to the top of the box and made a top out of plywood. The drawer is self closing and quite firm to open, maybe I can adjust it, or it will loosen up once loaded. HF 5 drawer cart folding side shelf also fit, just had to drill holes and bolt on. For under $160 I'm satisfied; garage box is more workable and I have a nice cart for the basement to boot.

 

Anyone have the easy flux 125? Thinking about getting it this weekend. I want something to do misc repairs. I have a Miller 200 but only as a stick welder.

 

I personally don’t have any complaints, knowing what I was getting.

 

There's a few of us with it in here. I got it for christmas and it's been a fun way to learn to weld small stuff.

I think the general consensus is that it's good for what it is and the cost, especially if you recognize the limits of flux core and are cool with it. And that if you have the funds/need stepping up to mig isn't a bad idea over the flux core only unit.

 

Unless you are stone cold broke, and you have to have something now, I wouldn't get that. I bought a Lincoln Handy MIG unit. Welds both flux core, AND MIG. Yes, you have to buy a bottle of shielding gas, but that can come later. The unit is only about 100 bucks more. Comes with small spools of both types of wire, and the HF wire works decently in it.

When you finally decide that the splatter of flux core is a pain in the butt, you can get a bottle and start learning MIG.

That said, the HF welding cart, gloves and self-darkening mask are all good deals, especially if bought on sale.

 

There’s more than one reason to have a flux core process. I wouldn’t buy a whole mig welder if you know you will never mig weld, or large one if you are doing over head type farm repair.

These little flux core welders are good for small to moderate welding jobs where you might have the welder slung over your shoulder, and you are welding outside in the element. In my case off a generator, and in situations in leu of stick.

If you are welding in a shop, or certain metals, and all your work pieces are table top like, then obviously mig would be the ideal process as far as wiring is concerned. One could just as easily jump straight to TIG, if that’s the case.

As always, application matters.

 

Picked up a mobile stand (Hercules) for my new miter saw. Was on clearance for $125. Very solid and heavy, well built. Pass.

 

I bought the same one and have my Rigid dual bevel 12 inch sliding miter saw on it. I have folded it up, transported it up and down stairs, banged it around at least 70+ times......it has been the model of reliability and stability. Love it, love it, love it! Great stand at a great price

 

It was on clearance, so they may be discontinuing it... There are higher end (more $) models at HF, but this one does everything well.

 

Got the atlas chain saw highly recommend it , I’m not saying it would be good for a lumberjack but good at the homestead, I’m pretty happy with the blower alsoused it to cut this bad boy

 

Just picked up this from harbor freight been eyeing it for afew months it's on sale now for $120 otd. Gonna be nice having a mobile station for parts/tools/bolts, it's on sale now jfyi.