Official Harbor Freight win or lose thread

[Erik G]

The big VW board has this thread so I thought it might be cool to do one here

We all know that some stuff at Harbor Freight can be sketchy - but not all of it is. Some of their stuff is actually really good and worth it

The rules:
-No opinions on Harbor Freight as whole. (example: "HF Tools sucks, everything they sell is garbage.")
-If possible, include the item number and please try to use the item's name according to HF. Sometimes there are multiple items which are similar, some better than others.
-If you would recommend the item to others, mark it WIN, if not, mark it LOSE.
-Please write a short description of how you are using the items and your reason for liking or disliking it.

 

[Erik G]

I'll start

Stud Welder Item#61433 - WIN

I have had one for years and years and years. It is great for pulling dents, heating and shrinking metal, etc. The tips can be bought from Chicago Electric if you lose them. I've used stud welders at shops that were over $500 - exactly the same thing

 

[Erik G]

item#239 - 1/2" Drive Click Stop Torque Wrench - WIN
item#807 - 3/8" Drive Click Stop Torque Wrench - WIN
Item #2696 - 1/4" Drive Click Stop Torque Wrench - WIN

I have a friend here in Houston that calibrates "stuff" He tells me don't bother, go to Harbor Freight and buy these, throw them away in a year and buy them again. It's cheaper than getting nice ones and having his guys calibrate them all the time. I hate our throw-away society but...

 

[Erik G]

Item#46092 - Auto Dark Welding Helmet - WIN

I'm a hobbyist when it comes to welding. I use a Lincoln SP135+ (same as used for the ICAR exam). I have a day job now but I used to do my own VW's and my friends VW's, lowriders, etc. I brought this helmet to my welding instructor, he borrowed it for a couple days, and then went and bought 20 of them for his classes. this is a good inexpensive auto-darken helmet that is adjustable darkness and speed. It really helps a beginning welder because they can see before they hit the mig trigger

 

[iLikeEggs]

Awesome thread! I live in close proximity to three HF's. They have a nice selection of trailer hitch accessories, trailer lights and wheels and cheap tarps. I recently loaded up on grinding bits and a high speed buffer. So far I have had no problem with their tools. Can't beat their selection of specialty sockets either.

 

[drakon543]

Ill edit this post later with p/n if i can
Anyway i picked up a low profile floor jack from them when i had my camaro 4 yrs later i have no complaints so win.
Also got a ball joint press kit from them works great so win.
Lastly i got an extractor set it works plenty well enough for the price and have used it numerous times. The drill bits that came with it all snapped on thier first use but i havnt broken one of the extractors yet so id say win.

 

[iLikeEggs]

Ill edit this post later with p/n if i can
Anyway i picked up a low profile floor jack from them when i had my camaro 4 yrs later i have no complaints so win.
Also got a ball joint press kit from them works great so win.
Lastly i got an extractor set it works plenty well enough for the price and have used it numerous times. The drill bits that came with it all snapped on thier first use but i havnt broken one of the extractors yet so id say win.

I also picked up their three ton dual piston floor jack. The thing lifts the Tahoe with no problem.

 

[Erik G]

Item#61788 / Item#69284 (12 Portable compressor - cigarette lighter power) - WIN

this is the highest power compressor offered with a standard 12v cigarette lighter plug. Fills up tires quickly, pretty quiet. You do need to have the car turned on, and it does get a little hot.

Much better than any cheap ones I've used - and it looks exactly the same as some other brand names that are higher priced

2 part numbers because they are both valid. They were sitting next to eachother at my local store - no difference at all. There is another one slightly higher priced that has large alligator clips instead of the cigarette lighter for power

 

[SUBURBIAN]

Item#61788 / Item#69284 (12 Portable compressor - cigarette lighter power) - WIN

this is the highest power compressor offered with a standard 12v cigarette lighter plug. Fills up tires quickly, pretty quiet. You do need to have the car turned on, and it does get a little hot.

Much better than any cheap ones I've used - and it looks exactly the same as some other brand names that are higher priced

2 part numbers because they are both valid. They were sitting next to eachother at my local store - no difference at all. There is another one slightly higher priced that has large alligator clips instead of the cigarette lighter for power

Yup. I'm the second owner of one of these, bought it at my neighbor's yard sale. Nice little compressor. I added some more cord to it, about the only thing it needed in my book. It stays under the 2nd row seat in my Suburban.


Also #40963 This dial back timing light is fine for a hobbyist. I've verified it against an expensive Craftsman and expensive Snap-on, and it's close enough for me. WIN

 

[Tiki]

Tool box - win