I don't know if it's a good thing, or not, but I'll be able to post several reviews here. :laugh:

Stan, I have two of those breaker bars, one that stays home and one that rides in the truck with me. I have used it to change tires on the truck and trailer on the side of the road. It's been good for me and I figure if someone breaks in the truck and steals it, it won't hurt that bad.

 

I just couldn't justify $450 for the Milwakee high torque cordless job - or even Harbor Freights "equivalent" for $230. I'll have to edit my post above with the cost - $15.99 with a 20% coupon.

Speaking of coupons - here is a link to a free site that keeps a database of all currently available coupons:

http://www.hfqpdb.com

 

Now that was an interesting vid Stan, even more interesting results. :thumbup1gif:

One of those was the reason I bought the Mil. Electric 1/2" monster impact tool.

Was trying to break an old rusty nut off an old implement using one and a 5' cheater pipe (too much in a hurry to bring the torch out).:banghead:
Bolt snapped and down I went, didn't hurt nothing, but a pretty good jolt to the old body.

Decided right then and there the Mil. Electric I had been looking at for a while wasn't that expensive. :laugh:

 

I hear you! It is simply financial for me.

When I had the issue with my lug nuts, I was using a 4' cheater pipe on a 1/2" breaker bar, 2" extension, and impact socket. I knew I was exerting too much force on the cheater pipe to be safe but had to get them off. I was on the 23rd of 24 nuts when it let loose on me - the Snap-On extension broke. But the entire time I positioned myself for failure - was always ready for something to break.

I got lucky and didn't hurt myself. After my conversation with the shop manager where my lug nuts were over torqued it hasn't been an issue. If I can't get them off fairly easily with this 25" breaker bar alone the truck is going back to the shop (which the manager requested I do).

 

We have a review thread for DeWalt and Milwakee - so why not Harbor Freight? It seems their quality has come up quite a bit over the past few years on many items. Also there are a lot of videos around comparing Harbor Freight Tools to competitors of which some are very good.

I'll start off with something simple.

1/2" Drive Professional Breaker Bar

View attachment 428282

As some of you may have heard, I have been having a hard time with the lug nuts on my pickup torqued to 150 ft. lbs. (or more!). I have had to use a huge 4' piece of pipe on a standard breaker bar in the past. But now that the nuts are torqued correctly, I can do it with my standard 18" breaker bar but still a bit of a struggle. So a longer breaker bar was in order.

Here is an excellent review with actual torque numbers and a comparison with Snap-On, Mac, and Matco -

I picked one up today but haven't tried it yet. But just the feel of it gives me confidence.

Price on this is normally $19.99 less the always available 20% coupon comes to $15.99.

Bring out the Hulk! Be interested to see what the failure point is on each. As in how many foot pounds till something gives.

However the HF tool is cheap enough to just throw if it pisses you off. lol

 

I have a set of Pittsburg wrenches, before the Pro version came out, that I have abused for twenty years. I also have a set of Craftsman wrenches that are just as old. Guess which set is rusting? Starts with a "C". The P's look new. I have the Pittsburg large socket set as well (up to 2") and no issues. I have been around a lot of Snap-On tools and just don't have any envy of those tools.

I also so have a big HF rotary hammer drill that I'll have to post a picture of. I've had it for 15 years I thing. I bought it for like $60 and it has been awesome. I've used it with 18" long, 1-1/2" diameter bits and blasted through old concrete.

I love my Yellow branded tools but some things I have no issues coming from HF. I think their stuff is pretty easy to decide its value: if it looks like crap, it probably is. If it looks robust (like a lot of their hand tools), it probably is as well.

 

I can attest that their furniture dollies work great for how cheap they are with the coupon.:good2:
I have quite a few.

 

I can attest that their furniture dollies work great for how cheap they are with the coupon.:good2:
I have quite a few.

View attachment 428434

FWIW Dropping the 3 pt of then my 2305 and loaded Ballast Box will shatter a wheel on a furniture dollies. Still holds the BB just hard to roll around the floor, well impossible to roll around the floor. :laugh:

 

https://www.harborfreight.com/20-pc-34-in-drive-metric-jumbo-heavy-duty-socket-set-69562.html

I don't need big sockets very often. When I needed to repair the RC2048, I looked around and picked up the Pittsburgh 3/4" drive metric set. $59.99/$48.00 w/20% coupon. No more than I need them and having a "lifetime warranty", I got a whole set for what a socket, or two would have cost me from a bigger brand. It fits the bill and takes up space more than anything, but when I need them, they sure are handy to have.

 

https://www.harborfreight.com/20-pc-34-in-drive-metric-jumbo-heavy-duty-socket-set-69562.html

View attachment 428522

I don't need big sockets very often. When I needed to repair the RC2048, I looked around and picked up the Pittsburgh 3/4" drive metric set. $59.99/$48.00 w/20% coupon. No more than I need them and having a "lifetime warranty", I got a whole set for what a socket, or two would have cost me from a bigger brand. It fits the bill and takes up space more than anything, but when I need them, they sure are handy to have.

Bubber-i have a set of some japanese or china made one's that i have had jeepers-from way back in the early 90's. i think i paid $40 for that set way back then at a big flea market, we had here back then. they have done all that i wanted.
i also have a bunch of different brand ones-3/4 inch - and a good :dunno:can't remember the brand off the top of my head right now. one of our mechanics at the coal company gave me it-with the guts out of it. said i was to try and find the guts to it, and it was mine. i did and i have used too for yrs., just not lately.

and HF's old brand of the pittsburgh tools was nearly indestructible -IMO
aw-almost forgot-when my MIL had her house sale-i bought my FIL's set of sears 3/4 inch set that my BIL bought him the first yr we was married in 79. all the sockets and ratchet is still there. i paid as much for them that day, as my BIL did-a 100 dollar bill. sentimental valve i guess:dunno:

 

We have a review thread for DeWalt and Milwakee - so why not Harbor Freight? It seems their quality has come up quite a bit over the past few years on many items. Also there are a lot of videos around comparing Harbor Freight Tools to competitors of which some are very good.

Good thread Stan, Thanks :good2:

 

3 Cu ft Concrete Mixer. I See they are currently listed at 209$
When I purchased it was listed at 169$
Shipping was 6.99$ for standard ground. I figured for 6.99$ shipping it would take about 3 weeks to arrive. I was slightly shocked when it arrived on the third morning. Fairly heavy. Chinese are very clever at packaging products. Interesting to observe.
Assembly was not difficult, just took about 2 hrs.
Holds about 2-60lb bags.
Worked very well when you get the process down!
I ran 60 bags through it for deck footers, stairway pad.
Then I sold it on CL for 140$ :thumbup1gif:

 

I didn't know they had such a thing. This is great - a learning experience! I have been digging into the HF site some the past few days and finding lots of things I never knew they had. Circuit testers to find what breakers control what (which I really need), 12V electrical tracer to track wiring, and stuff like that.

 

OBD Reader. Bought one at the auto parts store but would never work on my wifes Mercedes. On the Merc forum everyone said a 1300$ reader was required with proprietary software blah blah. Then someone posted this OBD for 39$ works well. So I bought it and sure enough it works on foreign cars, American cars and trucks, etc. :thumbup1gif:

 

Ill play along.
I have a number of name brand tools that have served me well over the decades of home repairs, auto work and general maintenance. Every now and then I need something new for a job and to add to the arsenal.
Chain saw sharpener. I have the older orange one. It has done very well on my older smaller chains and I have touched up a few friends as well. When I got my Stihl MS290, the disc was to small for the chain so I hand sharpen now but never had an issue.

3T floor jack. For years I was using an old craftsman jack for truck work that just didn't have handle throw I wanted. It had literally a 12" handle movement which made lifting a 5000# truck a chore. So I got this one on sale and it has been nothing but reliable. The only issue is the handle didn't have a cap on the end so it was an open tube. Before the kids started throwing items into it, i put a tape cover on. Like all floor jacks, it will if a car but get stuck on hair on the floor.

I will echo the statements of the furniture dollies. I have 2 under my box box blade. It moves like a dream on the cement garage floor (you can all hate me for having a solid floor storage area). During the winter i put a pair under my MMM and toss it in the corner for storage. The tricky one is my ballast box. With all the weight in it, moving is a chore if the wheels are not in the correct direction. I bought an orange brand BB which come to find out was not QH compatible so..... a little muscle is required.
also have numerous hand tools like ratchet wrenches, cold chisel, mini sledge hammer, dead blow hammer, rivet gun, multi meter (free with coupon).
For the limited use I put on these tools, they have held up well over the years.

 

Ill play along.
I have a number of name brand tools that have served me well over the decades of home repairs, auto work and general maintenance. Every now and then I need something new for a job and to add to the arsenal.
Chain saw sharpener. I have the older orange one. It has done very well on my older smaller chains and I have touched up a few friends as well. When I got my Stihl MS290, the disc was to small for the chain so I hand sharpen now but never had an issue.

3T floor jack. For years I was using an old craftsman jack for truck work that just didn't have handle throw I wanted. It had literally a 12" handle movement which made lifting a 5000# truck a chore. So I got this one on sale and it has been nothing but reliable. The only issue is the handle didn't have a cap on the end so it was an open tube. Before the kids started throwing items into it, i put a tape cover on. Like all floor jacks, it will if a car but get stuck on hair on the floor.

I will echo the statements of the furniture dollies. I have 2 under my box box blade. It moves like a dream on the cement garage floor (you can all hate me for having a solid floor storage area). During the winter i put a pair under my MMM and toss it in the corner for storage. The tricky one is my ballast box. With all the weight in it, moving is a chore if the wheels are not in the correct direction. I bought an orange brand BB which come to find out was not QH compatible so..... a little muscle is required.
also have numerous hand tools like ratchet wrenches, cold chisel, mini sledge hammer, dead blow hammer, rivet gun, multi meter (free with coupon).
For the limited use I put on these tools, they have held up well over the years.

I have the same chain sharpener and jack. Both work well.

I am not replacing my recalled Jack Stands I returned with their Brand. They do not have any with a double lock. I am ordering a set of pin through jack stands.

 

jester-i have that same kind of saw sharpener-maybe mine is orange colored also-i've had it for many yrs.

now i got bit bad on one of HF's floor jack's-back before they changed color's. it won't hold nothing up-without leaking back down. it was a 3 ton or bigger -IIRC.

also got bit by their rust blaster--paid $159-back around 08 or so. had it in the basement for over a yr , till i put it together, bought good sand, and i have a air dryer on my air compressor, but the first time we loaded it-nothing came out but a dribble.
went back to them, and asked if anyone else had problems-and to see if they would exchange it-nope-30 days it was-so it sits in the garage for me to stare at:banghead: that's about the only 2 items i have been burned on that i can think of for now.:unknown:

 

I got a 2 speed heat gun.

Also a single speed vibrating tool. Works great for scraping the mower deck. Before that I only used it for the original project I bought it for. Had to grind down a wood cutter to make a scraper.

Bought a hole saw kit to drill a picnic table for an umbrella hole. Wobbled so bad I returned it. Girlfriend bought another table and guess what? No hole. lol Went and bought another kit. This one was better so I kept it. Neither one was deep enough to drill the hole from one side. It's not good for drilling metal either.

Got a pack of small acid brushes.

Was looking at an aluminum jack but never pulled the trigger. I have a 3 ton China model that still works good. Just heavy as heck.

 

Was looking at an aluminum jack but never pulled the trigger. I have a 3 ton China model that still works good. Just heavy as heck.

I've been looking at those for years.
Same issue here, I have a really HEAVY one.

 

We have a review thread for DeWalt and Milwakee - so why not Harbor Freight? It seems their quality has come up quite a bit over the past few years on many items. Also there are a lot of videos around comparing Harbor Freight Tools to competitors of which some are very good.

I'll start off with something simple.

1/2" Drive Professional Breaker Bar

View attachment 428282

As some of you may have heard, I have been having a hard time with the lug nuts on my pickup torqued to 150 ft. lbs. (or more!). I have had to use a huge 4' piece of pipe on a standard breaker bar in the past. But now that the nuts are torqued correctly, I can do it with my standard 18" breaker bar but still a bit of a struggle. So a longer breaker bar was in order.

Here is an excellent review with actual torque numbers and a comparison with Snap-On, Mac, and Matco -

I picked one up today but haven't tried it yet. But just the feel of it gives me confidence.

Price on this is normally $19.99 less the always available 20% coupon comes to $15.99.

There is also a "non Pro" version that does not have the rubber grip on the handle. item 60819/67933 that sells for $12.99. You can find a coupon for it for $8.99. I have one and plan to pick up some more next time I get to HF (about 40 miles one way)

I keep hoping they make a 3/4" one about 40" long :good2:

I also want to look at the 750lb HD ATV/Mower high lift jack item 63298 for lifting my x485 :dunno: If anyone has one post a review!

 

There is also a "non Pro" version that does not have the rubber grip on the handle. item 60819/67933 that sells for $12.99. You can find a coupon for it for $8.99. I have one and plan to pick up some more next time I get to HF (about 40 miles one way)

I was planning on getting the cheaper one (had a coupon) but changed my mind when I saw them in person. Yes, the hamdle is the same just without the grip but the head is totally different. Hard to explain but take a look at both when you go.

 

The Step Bit set that is $10 works well. They go through the bucket of a JD just fine--easily as well as the bits that cost 5x as much from Home Depot. With the 20% coupon, these are under $9 "out the door" and are useful for many projects.

 

Another purchase yesterday was their step stool.

https://t.harborfreight.com/step-stoolworking-platform-62515.html

This is something I have wanted for a while. Out in the barn/shop I have been using an old milk crate for many years. I need a stool to do anything in the engine compartment of my truck. Also use it for changing shop light bulbs and in the house for various tasks. Need it to wash my truck too. Just last week I was changing a light bulb in the barn - when getting off I had one foot on the floor and one at the edge of the crate when the crate flipped. Enough of that!

I also looked at similar stools at either Home Depot or Lowe's last year when we were having the great ladder debate going on here. Those didn't give me any confidence at all.

This one from Harbor Freight is rated for 350# and it shows in the heavy aluminum. The ones from the other places are rated at 225# and seem quite flimsy compared to this one.

The legs flip out as a pair and have an easy to use positive lock.

Will be used as a step stool, a sitting stool, and short work table. I hesitated for a long time to pay $20 (with coupon) for this but glad I finally did. Well worth it to me.

 

That step stool will hold 430 lbs for a long time. I use it while painting.

 

I just purchased this welding cart and am very impressed with it. The casters lock and are HD enough to hold a lot. The drawers sort of snap shut so they won't come open when moving. Plenty of room for other tools, wire, tips, etc. The inside of the door has compartments for grinding wheel, etc. Good product for $299.

 

Tool cart

I'm very impressed with the HF tool cart which serves as my primary tool chest at our Pennsylvania property. I think it was about $150 and the little accessory folding tray table was $20. I assembled it early in 2016 in Ohio and was hauling it to Pennsylvania when an unexpected torrential downpour occurred. That thing was drenched for 2+ hours so I expected it to be a complete rust bucket by now. Happily, after 18 months, it still looks brand new. Also, it came with nice precut drawer liners.

Suggestion: If you buy the folding tray table, drill a hole in the support bracket and the lower lip where it rests. Use a zip tie to secure it in the upright position. I found that bumping into the tray easily caused it to dislodge from the lip and spill everything on the floor. If I need to flip the table down, I can just cut the cable tie but I've always kept it extended.

 

I'm very impressed with the HF tool cart which serves as my primary tool chest at our Pennsylvania property. I think it was about $150 and the little accessory folding tray table was $20. I assembled it early in 2016 in Ohio and was hauling it to Pennsylvania when an unexpected torrential downpour occurred. That thing was drenched for 2+ hours so I expected it to be a complete rust bucket by now. Happily, after 18 months, it still looks brand new. Also, it came with nice precut drawer liners.

Suggestion: If you buy the folding tray table, drill a hole in the support bracket and the lower lip where it rests. Use a zip tie to secure it in the upright position. I found that bumping into the tray easily caused it to dislodge from the lip and spill everything on the floor. If I need to flip the table down, I can just cut the cable tie but I've always kept it extended.

That's impressive!

I wish I knew about their carts/boxes some years ago. I have a similar Craftsman cart that doesn't look near as nice as yours.

 

Those are pretty nice tool carts. We have a couple of them here at work.

 

Picked up this ball joint set in the spring for less than $50 with the coupon.
Works excellent.:good2:

 

Picked up this ball joint set in the spring for less than $50 with the coupon.
Works excellent.:good2:

View attachment 428978

Yes it does.i forgot I had one . ?

 

I picked one up today but haven't tried it yet. But just the feel of it gives me confidence.

Price on this is normally $19.99 less the always available 20% coupon comes to $15.99.

Just got my Insiders Club mailer; they have a super coupon that has this for $8.99. Now I can buy two and tell my wife that this is officially endorsed by Green Tractor Talk! She will then endorse said purchase so many thanks for posting.

 

I need to say it again, Good Thread.:good2:
I'll be getting one of those step stools coaltrain mentioned.

 

X2. There is a big sale coming up at the local HF next weekend. With the Inside Track Club, a person can shop one day early, to beat the crowds.

I bought a 44" top chest a few days ago to go with 44"(wide) rolling cabinet I bought a couple weeks ago. It was on sale for $299(no coupon needed). The nice cashier enrolled me into the Insider Track Club at No-Cost.($22.99 value) :thumbup1gif: She then used the (included)Gift Card on the total purchase. "Thanks Ms. HF Cashier". :good2:

These boxes are built sturdier than any Craftsman box I've ever bought, and just as sturdy, if not sturdier than my HOMAK tool chest. The caster wheels are much larger also.

I've been arranging my tools in the new boxes. I'll post actual pics later. In the meantime, below is the HF stock photos.

 

This is on sale here this weekend for $300 - seems like a great deal if I needed one....

https://t.harborfreight.com/26-in-1...utm_source=1021&cid=mEmail_s1021_c3217b1&sfid=&utm_referrer=direct/not provided

 

I have that very tool box. also got the two side cabinets with it. Very nice tool box. I have used Kenndey tool boxes for many years and I would say this is just as good and a heck of a lot less expensive.

 

You guys are going to make me go buy one of these tool cabinet setups and throw my Craftsman away!

 

You ain't the only one they're working on Stan! :banghead::banghead::banghead: