Acceptable and Unacceptable Harbor Freight Tools

[ajhostetter]

I just did a ton of work using the Go-thru socket set this weekend. AMAZING for the $$$

[ieatpeople]

i have had Harbour freight tools for as l can remember.

engine crane/hoist: paid $150 about 8 years ago, pulled 30-40 engines with it (some v8's with auto trans attached), no issues at all.

i have had 2 of their engine stands for almost 6 years, no issues.

i just recently broke the breaker bar i got from them (the 1/2" drive 24" version), it snapped the square drive off flush. lasted 7-8 years before that happened

i have the "racing" aluminum floor jack from them:

after 6 years the seal started leaking, and i bought a replacement jack for $60 on sale. the newer version has dual pistons and is much easier to pump, i like it alot




i have a full set of their impact sockets (standard and metric), never broken one in almost 6 years.

i bought a 1/4" drive metric socket set recently, comes with a blow molded case to hold everything.
Item#67998
works great so far, i just wish it had a 12mm socket.


i have never broken any of their wrenches, even when i had a 4ft pipe for extra leverage. in that particular case, the bolt broke and i ended up needing stitches after ramming my hand into something.

[chadthestampede]

Whats rated jacks do you have? Got a feeling that smaller 1.5 ton guy has sub par hydraulics from personal experience.

My steel low pro/long reach jack is a beast. Couldn't be happier after a solid year of use.

I have the cheapy aluminum jack. I beat the crap out of it and use it (probably) beyond it's weight capacity all the time.

[Bglad]

I've abused the crap out of my aluminum jack with no issues. Are you using it to support the car with out stands? If so... Thats your problem. A jack should never be used to support the weight of a car.

[jaywood]

This guy:

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-8-eig...ill-67474.html

....anyone have one? How is it? Really just need it to work once. Also, anyone who gas one, can you measure how deep the head is (giggity)?

I'm trying to get the broken off belt tensioner bolt out of the front of a 2000 Corolla's engine. I have very limited space unless I take the engine out. Looks like this may make it so I can just disconnect the engine mounts and pull up the front of the engine and drill that sucker, then hit it with an EZ out.

I've got one. I'll measure it at work for you.

[Swanny]

Whats rated jacks do you have? Got a feeling that smaller 1.5 ton guy has sub par hydraulics from personal experience.

My steel low pro/long reach jack is a beast. Couldn't be happier after a solid year of use.

[chadthestampede]

Welp gone through my third HF aluminum jack...Thankfully I always use jack stands and I was going through my tool box looking for a socket when it failed...

I've had my hf aluminum jack for ~3 years and never had an issue.

[mcr_driver]

Welp gone through my third HF aluminum jack...Thankfully I always use jack stands and I was going through my tool box looking for a socket when it failed...

[SoEm0]

has anyone bought any air compressor hoses that are worth the $?

edit: or the hose accessory kits? (http://www.harborfreight.com/17-piec...kit-68236.html)
seems like for 6 bucks you cant loose

I have a section of their air hosing. The fittings on the end are the only thing I have had issues with. They tend to leak quite a bit after a short time. As for the accessory kit they work well. I still use most of the pieces. I did upgrade my air filler to one with a pressure gauge though.

[slammin.e28]

This guy:

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-8-eig...ill-67474.html

....anyone have one? How is it? Really just need it to work once. Also, anyone who gas one, can you measure how deep the head is (giggity)?

I'm trying to get the broken off belt tensioner bolt out of the front of a 2000 Corolla's engine. I have very limited space unless I take the engine out. Looks like this may make it so I can just disconnect the engine mounts and pull up the front of the engine and drill that sucker, then hit it with an EZ out.

[Jand3rson]

I bought a heat gun from them today and used it for about
an hour streight to get oil out of my wood riffle stock.

Has a High and low speed 1500w. Didn't blow up. IMO it's good for $14.

Same one I have. I use it for snowboard waxing, also for rolling fenders.

[Exodus_2pt0]

Anyone have experience with their wobble socket extensions? They have a coupon for $2, and I'm tempted.

A couple posts up.

Broke a wobble head extension at the junkyard today trying to remove a wheel. wasn't using a breaker bar or anything. Probably nut the best extension choice so could have just been me being dumb.

What impact guns are you guys using from them?

[randomtask37]

has anyone bought any air compressor hoses that are worth the $?

edit: or the hose accessory kits? (http://www.harborfreight.com/17-piec...kit-68236.html)
seems like for 6 bucks you cant loose

[ajhostetter]

2 bucks for extensions? Buy them and if they suck throw them away.

Noted.

[accident]

Anyone have experience with their wobble socket extensions? They have a coupon for $2, and I'm tempted.

I have them. Not terrible but the "chrome" plating will quickly come off the tips and cause sharp edges.