+jason beasley Me too! They really are good motors for the price though. I lit the carb on fire, no on purpose. I had just cleaned it out, and did a spark test.... pretty dumb. The muffler didn't "rust off" though that's how my son likes to say it. It did get some rust on the top, around the screws. The pull rope did break. But the pull rope on my Honda mower broke too. Anyway.... obviously they aren't Honda motors, but for $99 you get a lot of motor.
Interesting information I received from a buyer for Sears. He said that the craftsman hand tools (wrenches, screwdrivers, etc.) are not only made in China now but are made by the same companies that produce the professional grade Harbor Freight hand tools. Go Figure. Same tool, Same warranty, but sears priced 3 times more.........
+JIMMY TATE apex tools makes craftsman gearwrench and husky!they do not make any tools for harbor freight! craftsman screw drivers are still made in the US!
On what do you base this? Metallurgy? Precision of dimension for dimensioned tools? Longevity under similar use conditions? What's your method of testing?
Great electric impact. Best $35 I ever spent on a tool. I'm sure an air impact would be stronger, but that thing hasn't let me down yet. 14 year old rusted-on axle nut? No problem - came right off!
I agree on the impact. Great tool. I grab this and leave the air impact in the drawer most of the time. My experience with Harbor Freight electric motors has been very good, with failures only when I was engaging in extreme tool abuse (RIP blue half-inch hammer drill).
I replaced a 10 HP Craftsman engine on my roto-tiller with a 212 cc Harbor Freight Preditor. It bolted right up. Only change was to substitute a 3/4" shaft pulley for the 1" part on the larger Craftsman engine. It may be smaller but tie Preditor makes more power and doesn't seem to burn much gas. I've had it 3 years now. I think the idle passages are clogging up due to the ethanol they put in the gas. I just keep it at a fast idle and it's good.
I bought their $14 air stapler. Insulated 3 1800 sq. ft. houses with it and it is still going strong! The only problem is the staples they sell for it are now not made right and the follower won't push them down the ramp! Bought one of their 21 gallon upright compressors and my friends told me it wouldn't work..couldn't keep up witha 16 penny nail gun. It not only kept up, but would fill and shut off...AND it built 3 houses and still use it on the ranch all the time! Good investment for $129!
Something from HF that I'm faithful on for life, welders. I have a 90-amp wire fed form HF that's at LEAST 7 years old, and still works like a charm. An auto shop I worked at had a MillerSet and a HF gas MIG/TIG machine, and the HF did exhaust better than the Millerset on any setting. The only thing the MillerSet did better honestly was frame repairs where the metal was thick and the machine needed to cycle harder, or whatever the term is.
I Have Purchased Three Different Predetor Engines for Different Applications. I Have to Say, I Haven"t had Any Issues with Any of Them. Start Up Easy, Run Well. I Would Recommend any Predetor Engine.
I have Electric impact of old version (orange color) from HF, 10 years ago. I thought it will break in couple years or maybe year. but it still going ! never lose torque (I use torque wrench every time after tightening lug nuts by impact to make sure all nuts are same torque) We own 5 cars (include stretch limo). I've used HF electric impact constantly for one of 5 cars to rotate tires, brake job, air bleed etc every month or few weeks. Many HF tools break in month or even week. but this still working after 10 years. (my HF air impact broke in 2 month...) I also have 2 ton aluminium and 3 ton steel low profile jack for more than 5 years. Never need to add jack oil. still strong as first day. Cheap (black) rechargeable drill and impact driver doesn't have torque at all and always have battery problem (self discharged)
The electric impact wrench I purchased from harbor freight lasted me a few weeks, definitely not an everyday tool. Since then I upgraded to their pneumatic haven't had any issues.
I went to a HF parking lot sale in July to buy a pancake compressor and on a whim, bought their Variable Speed Multi-tool. It must have been divine intervention--because I used it to undercut door casings, etc etc....installing a wood floor in August. Most valuable tool I have bought in decades----for $28. Just glad they had it on tent display, otherwise I would not have thought of it.
I go by HF every now and then when my job takes me by there. Last year I used a bunch of those free coupons (you can't have too many tape measures). I also got plenty of 7' x 9' tarps, 1/4" nylon cord, multimeters and other stuff. I got the $19.99 cordless drill, minus the 20% off coupon, and the $19.99 18 gauge brad nailer with no problems and I use them pretty often. The $15 rotary tool only lasted one job before the shaft stop button broke. My son said the same thing happened to him and to buy a Drexel tool. The 48" drywall square has served me well, too. But, sometimes you do just get what you pay for.
Definitely agree on the tap/die set. I've had my set for around 20 years. I've misplaced a couple of the taps, and broken a couple, but I've also broken other ones before I had this set. The only thing I don't like is the handle for the dies - it's not very good quality - I broke one of the handles off recently, although it did last for many years before that happened. I also don't like the molded plastic case. I had to put a layer of bubble wrap inside to hold all the parts in place, otherwise they end up falling all over inside the case (which frankly might be how some of them came up missing). Also agree on the Predator engines. We bought the 13hp model to replace the engine on our wood splitter 2 or 3 years ago, and it's awesome. It sits outside in the rain and snow all year round, and have not had any issues with it. It's easier to start than the old 8hp motor that was on it before, and it runs A LOT quieter. It has actually made splitting firewood fun instead of being a major pain. And you can never have too many pairs of ear muffs. We keep a couple extra pairs in the shop, a couple in the garage, a couple in our reloading room, and a few more by the back door in case we have guests who want to go out back and shoot. Plus I always keep a pair in my truck so I don't forget them when I go out cutting firewood. And my Mom keeps a pair in her gun box for when she goes to the shooting range.
I have that electric impact. It's a great tool to have. I don't use it all the time but it comes in handy when I need it. The motors at Harbor Freight are wonderful. I have had to paddle switch angle grinder actually I have two of them and they are both great.
The item I buy most frequently is the Chicago Electric 18 volt batteries. I open them up and rob the cells to rebuild Ryobi batteries. They work perfect.
Got the motor, $99.00, bought a $100.00 hop up kit, bolted it to a Mud Motor kit . Upped the HP from 6.5 to 8+. Now I have a outboard motor that will run in 4 inches of water , cranks on the second pull, and did not break the bank!!
Thanks for the info from all of your videos. I'll tell you about one item I bought at Harbour Freight that has worked great and fun to use. They have 2 different metal detectors and I have both. One for me and one for my daughter. We live close to the ocean..Galveston Texas. They work great in the sand and weeds. We took them out after Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Ike. We found a bunch of stuff in the dry and wet sand. The deepest about 4-7 inches. On occasion we do get a reading and don't find pure metal but like a silver gum wrapper. But for the price you can't beat it. They are light weight as a lot of the casing is hard plastic so you don't get tired of using it and it has a place for your wrist to rest while using it. You do have to remember to take the batteries out after you use it or they will corrode. At least using them around salt water it did. But they Tell you to remove them so that was my fault. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best, I'd rate them at a 8 1/2. ..I just wish the metal finder went deeper but again, for the price you can't beat it. I would definitely recommend them. ...and we also use the same ear protection muffs that you use. Great at the gun ranges.
the $19.99 (bought on sale for $14.99) Multi Tool. love the tool, but buy all the attachments from Bosch. ran the first one into the ground, ( it was given to me by my brother) but I use it in my Handyman business and it gets me out of all sorts of binds. from cutting copper pipe in tight spots, cutting a few tiles in a bathroom renovation, cutting recepticle holes in drywall, removing errant bolts, notching studs, etc., etc., etc....
Love the kids honesty! I give him kudos for being straight and upfront! Plus when you think about it, when you were showing him how to do all those things when building the Go Kart you know he was paying attention :-) After all he swiped yours when he needed a replacement! Good training!
Their mosaic garden lights are pretty awesome, as well as the butane torch, ratchet tie straps, and I've heard good things about the solid oak wood work bench. Their hack saw blades go dull after a couple uses.
Noise Canceling Electronic Ear Muffs #92851 (currently $14.99) from Harbor Freight are great. Use them in the shop. Always take them going shooting. Fantastic, no need to buy $80.00 set from Cabela's when these work just as good.
Yeah, the Predator engines are generally pretty good as long as you keep the oil changed and expect the pull rope to snap in a year or two. But they start easy, run well, and are way more efficient and quieter than older engines. My experience is only w the 6.5 hP. For the last year, Dollar Tree has sold ear protectors like these for a $1. They work great and are a good value.
I bought a pressure washer with a Predator engine and it works great! After doing a bunch of research I realized the lowers Troy built had a bunch of complaints that it worked for 30 minutes then died, the predator engine is as close to a Honda engine as your going to get.
The reason why some things are better than others at Harbor Fright is that it is a representative/dealer for all the little gyp joints in CHINA. Some companies are better than others just like here. A good rule of thumb to go by is the cheaper you pay, the worse the product is. The more money you pay the better the item is- giving way to the old addage "You get what you pay for" All the best,Mike
I've bought their Predator 212 and 420. Modded both, surprisingly easy to find after-market hop up kits. Just bought Harbor Freights electric chain sharpener. It'll pay for itself in no time. Thanks for the reveiws.
That 4 1/2" Heavy Duty angle grinder is a good buy. I have a few of them myself, but I also have a couple of the more expensive paddle version that you mentioned, and I would say that the more expensive unit is better for some applications. It has more power, and does a better job running grinding wheels. I use the more expensive one any time 'm prone to apply more pressure, and need to maintain RPMs in order to get the performance. Flap disks and wire wheels generally get the red one you have.
I was taking a machining class at school and someone cut the lock on the tool room and stole all the instructor's tap and die sets so he made us go out and buy our own. I only had a single project that needed to be completed (it required both metric and SAE taps and dies) and I wasn't about to go and blow $200 on a tap and die set that I would most likely never use again. (the machining class was just part of the curriculum, not my major) I bought the two 45 pc SAE and metric tap and die sets for $15 each and they did the job wonderfully. I thought about buying the 60pc set but I actually found that the two smaller sets gave me a larger variety of tap and die sizes and was a better deal. They're in my tool chest collecting dust but they got the job done and didn't break the bank.
I bought two pairs of the ear muffs because I think they were $4.00 apiece. I own guns so I have a couple pairs of ear muffs that were 10x more expensive so I didn't expect much from the HF product but I was only going to use them when I am running tools in the garage. But when I got them and put them on they do a pretty good job at suppressing noise. They are a no brainer for the cost. I haven't tried them for shooting but I would imagine that they would do a fine job. I find them to be a little tight and the more expensive ear muffs are more comfortable if you need to were them for long sessions but again, for $4.00, you can't go wrong.
Predator engines are great! I have used them on snowblowers,& 2 gokarts, & I have 3 one the shelf waiting for another project! Picked them up from the scratch and dent area for $40 each!
Khan I.Hi, I just saw the video on you tube about a gentleman recommending not to buy 5 items from Harbor Freight Tools. I would like to add 1, Please do not buy any pencil torch and the worst part is that they don't even take it back, no exchange, no refund, it means they know already that this product has defect and they are still selling it. That item should be off the shelf.
yeah i bought the angle grinder with the paddle switch. and it has been a huge let down. breaks often, have to drive to harbor freight and get another one since i had purchased a warranty. But a complete let down. the motor burns out, electricity flying on the inside(bad connection or something ). Just a bad experience all around. I think i'm on the fourth or fifth paddle switch angle grinder. and need to take this one back as well.
i buy the side and small wire nippers, zip ties, and heat-shrink tubing; items i won't use too often, and their mostly for my scrapping and salvaging. not a bad deal, but research your power tools, and buy quality tools for good results, and safer conditions.
I own 3 of the items listed. I agree they are very good home garage equipment. I own the 1/2inch impact wrench, I use it the most, for tire removal and when it fits under car bolts such as caliper mounting plate bolts etc. The grinder is very good however probably use it only 3 times a year. Ear cover for when doing lawn work. Good video.
I bought a Harbor Freight 1/2 inch electric impact , when stationed in the Philippines 1989-92. Used on my Harley Davidson . It still works good, Their Chicago Brand.
We had one of those impact wrenches for at least 5 years and it just broke this year. We used that on our farm to put together a steel grain bin with thousands of bolts.
I have HF 10 arm saw and all my air tools are HF. For just normal projects at home they work good. But as allways if you make a living with your tools don't go cheap.
I have picked up some good hints and "watch out for" shopping tips from you. I personally like Harbor Ft and have been fortunate enoufh to find all good stuff, thanks to the reviews on you tube. Keep 'em coming!!
Enjoyed the vid! But LOVE the fact that you include your son in projects! There are so many awesome teaching moments in these situations. More Dads NEED to do exactly this!!! My 3 sons all learned mechanical stuff this very way. They're ALL awesome adult men with kids of their own. Ok, I'm off my soapbox. Kudos, Dad. Oh, and I also love that 4 1/2" HD grinder.
I too learned from my dad at a very young age. Learned to use the bench grinder, drill press, work on cars (until later took automotive technology at college), lawn mowers, etc. Grandfather also taught me things here and there when he was still alive and well back then. It was good that they allowed and included me in those very important life matters when I was a kid. If one own vehicles, power driven lawn/yard equipment, then that person should know how to repair and maintain those things.That's the way I see it. In fact, as of current, I was actually in the market for a nice quality bench grinder and looking through vids like this, when the suggested videos lead me to your video(s) on the worst and most suggested tools to get at Harbor Freight. Thank you for the videos eventhough these two didn't necessarily make mention of the actual bench grinders themselves. That's ok though, I've gained a significant amount of additional knowledge regardless; knowledge is always good! And it's insight I didn't have before. Also, I'm not a male, I'm a female. And that shouldn't make a bit of difference.
Thanks for your informative vids. I would like to add that I bought a 12-ton Shop Press at HF, in October, and am very satisfied with it still, considering its low price of $130. I am normally skeptical about most China-Made stuff. Keep on tooling!
I've had two pair of the harbor frieght electronic ear muffs for 10+years. I've used them at the range hundreds of times, and a custom woodshop I worked. I brought mine in, and the boss tried them, and the next day he had them for everybody in the shop.
I have their Earth Quake 1/2" air impact. I have used the heck out of it. Glad to know about the tap and die set. So many of the cheap ones are useless. I put a motor from them, believe it was a Predator, it is blue on my FIL's log splitter. That thing has started at -10. It's not kept inside. Bought 6 or 7 years ago.
Best thing I've bought from harbor freight pound for pound would be the 90 amp flux core welder. Built the exhaust on my truck using nothing more than the welder and 4 1/2 inch Chicago electric grinder.
My take on Harbor Freight ~ 1. Great for Single Use items that you can't rent cheaply or borrow from a buddy. 2. OK for hammers, pry bars, and other things even the Chinese can't mess up too bad. 3. So-So for sand blasters, air tools, and other things you're not going to use a lot, and don't mind being sub-par. 4. NOT good for electric drills, table top lathes, drill presses, etc... Better to spend the money and get something that LASTS. 5. Don't even think about buying Precision Tools (Calipers, Micrometers, etc...) from them, true waste of money. ALWAYS bring a 20% off or greater coupon, and don't be shy about coming in five times to use five coupons for anything more than a few bucks. Don't bother with the "Extended Warranty" they're not worth the paper they're written on. IF you buy there a LOT, then the membership is worth the extra cost, but for most people its not. When it comes to woodworking (my favorite hobby) and machining and welding (my trade), I rarely look to buying cheap, I'd rather spend the money (even if I have to save up for something) than buy anything less than the best I can find. I've found over the years that if I go for the cheaper version, it's not too long before I'm either re-buying the best version (which I should have done to begin with) or living with the regret until I do.
If you don't mind I would like to share my list of Hf must buys: 12 inch tool bag- use it for my gopro acces (62163),4 pcs tie down set for 8 bucks- use them with no problems (60405), yellow batteries such as AA,AAA etc-no issues here, red triangle emergency light (62158), 6" bi metal sawzall blades (68923),key shaped knife -66837-very handy, 29 piece drill bit set -62281: we use them all the time at work no issues, 3 piece step drill bits-60379, smoke safety glasses 66822-1.99 sunglasses, black electric tape is great black zip ties are great, 10 x 17 portable garage is awesome we have several with no issues, the red haul master 2 shelf service cart is great ,we us it put our motorcycle gear on such as helmets and gloves etc, there are a lot of good buys at HF. I am gonna make a video of the HF stuff I have one day soon
Ive gotten a lot of use out of their bottom dollar tap and die sets, they were like $12 each. Kind of rough on the machining but do the job. Funny its because they are cheap they don't tend to break off like good quality taps which are so hard they are brittle.
I have the motor and it's a really good motor it starts up first pull Everytime and it runs like a champ I would recommend to anyone who needs a small reliable engine
Glad I watched this. I literally just ordered the 1/2in electric impact wrench and found this video. I was shocked it was the first thing you reviewed. I feel a lot better about my purchase. Only problem is I didn't sign up an account and forgot to write down my confirmation number so I have no idea hwo to trac the package and know when I'll get it.
That grinder "....23" is a killer. Nearly literally. It is a beast and it once caught my shirt in a wire wheel... ate half my shirt and a slab of belly skin... then I got the cord underfoot and pulled the plug... just as it was going for my appendix. Other than a total lack of safety... I concur, great grinder. However now in COLD winter... side by side with my Craftsman... the cord is shit. I has gone brittle and cracked open (the outer cord jacket) in 4 places. I shimmed them with chopstick and zip ties... and then duct tape wrap. Also a must have... the 1.5 amp solar chargers... $14 or so... great. Have 6 at the barn... all my trucks and spare batteries are plugged in and great.
+arlen raasch We actually used our very first youtube payment to buy a camera. The audio does suck, but we filmed this on a cheap Kodak my son had received for Christmas about 4-5 years ago.
Just came across your channel and subbed. I like HF but it's hit n' miss on some of their stuff. I think I'll pick up the impact wrench and tap and dye set based on your suggestion. Own the grinder and like it.
+Carolina Prepper I've had both the metric & sae sets for @ 20 yrs. now. Mine are the split dies so, you can make the threads tighter or looser as needed. The holders are trash (pot metal) especially adjustable die holders. Mine cracked & broke. But the taps & dies themselves, are decent, esp. for the price with the large amount of sizes. Just pick up some good holders & it's still a good price for the taps & dies themselves. They may not be so hot for a production environment, but for use as when you need to fix or make a thread (job shop stuff). I would highly recommend these sets, for the pricing. They may have improved the holders since I purchased mine. Best regards
I got that red angle grinder and sent it back the next day. It made more awful noise than a bad hay thrasher. took the thing apart and the gears were not meshing
That angle grinder is the only mechanical thing I've ever bought from them. I've never owned an angle grinder before so I can't really compare. This one has held up very well though for me.
I am a self-employed welder/ fabricator, and recently i tried to replace my HF 'high end' grinder only to find out they have discontinued it, and replaced it with one that does not have replaceable brushes. The new one lasted for almost 5 minutes of Very light duty grinding. I returned it and took the display model, which was one of the old ones. It's working fine still. I have about 6 dead ones i save for parts, and intend to use the spur gears in the head to build an open differential gearbox for a custom PowerWheel-sized RC truck. Can't even buy one spur gear elsewhere for the cost of a new grinder with two inside it. I have yet to buy a good tap n die set, but am considering the one you reviewed. I DID buy their ratcheting tap handle, and it works awesome, especially in hard-to-reach places, like rethreading a back spark-plug hole. Item # 97633
I also love their angle grinders and the ear muffs. I do landscaping and have a custom sawmill and we use the muffs often. I have been thinking about the electric impact but keep putting it off. I also do small engine repair. personally I like HF stuff and its mostly affordable.
Yes I do commercial and residential lawn care. As well as small engine repair. I am using the air impact at the moment. I just bought a Badland Winch 12000# from HF and will review it when installed and I use it.
I just thought I would drop a couple of item recommendations. I own and use a few HF tools in a commercial/industrial steel and sheet metal environment. The electric sheet metal shears #62213 are great. I use these almost everyday and have for a year now, $50 compared to $150. The 18" oxy/acet torch #96290. This torch works as well as the name brands and victor tips will fit them. The dual wheeled trailer jack #69779. I can't say enough about this thing. I have it on a home built 16' trailer with dovetail built with solid rectangle tubing and channel. I have parked this thing loaded with a tractor and it held. Here are a few don't buys. Gloves, any of them, they don't last. Flux core welding wire is junk. It is impure and will clog your mig wire leads even using buffing pads and lube. The powered megaphone #95737, 10 bucks. There is nothing wrong with it and that's the problem. Unless you want years of your kids running around screaming through it, DON'T BUY IT!
The 4.5in angle grinder 91222/3. The # was changed to 60372 and they put the switch on the side. Bummer. The switch needs to be on top, not on the side.
i do like the looks of those motors hf sells. there's a guy nearby who rebuilds snoblowers and he said there very good. if i ever need one for mine i'll get one. good job kid. thnx for the info, steve
Would disagree with the round dies as HEX dies have always worked much better and I am able to use them with a socket making jobs much faster and easier.
I've got a list of junk not to buy from Harbor Freight too, and a list of things that didn't break right away. I bought a pipe vice, really good looking, would swivel to be a regular vice, and even had a 360° base. I'm pretty strong, but I never thought that I could snap the main shaft in half by tightening the jaws on a pipe by hand. The steel shaft looked more like pot metal at the break. The Earthquake air impact gun crapped out on my second bolt. The pipe expander compression bolt stripped on the first tail pipe without a budge in pipe diameter. I have a HF pipe bender which works pretty well, but a transmission jack that creeps down as fast as you pump it up. I split a HF impact socket taking a lug nut off my SUV. The HF torque wrench works flawlessly. I compared various torque settings to a MAC Tools clicker... hit right on every try. My HF soda and abrasive blaster has really clunky hoses and nozzle, but does the trick as long as you have a water separator. Have I learned my lesson? Well, sort of... I just bought the HF 4.5" angle grinder because every HF pneumatic angle grinder I have eventually couldn't cut butter. So far, it works pretty well, but there is a hint of gear misalignment. My lesson is that you can't buy ANYTHING anymore that doesn't come from China, so what choices do we have? I got mad at the impact gun and went to Sears to buy an Ingersol Rand only to find a Made in China sticker on the gun. It was expensive. The good thing is that it still works, but I truly believe that the manufacturer is the same as the HF manufacturer. The point is virtually everything is dirt cheap and that is where the value comes from. If it breaks, buy another one. If you work on hot rods or furniture, most of this junk will suffice. If it is for your living, get your tools somewhere else. (I just don't know where)
Let's not forget that Harbor Freight stool you are sitting on. That thing looks hammered. Be careful that seat doesn't come off, and you sit on the pole.
+Stephen Elkins I've never tried the Harbor Freight stool. I know that one looks kinda like it, but I picked it up at an auto-parts store. It is a lot beefier than the HF stool. I thought about getting the HF stool, but the display one is always broken, which leads me to think it might be crap.
Thank you. Interesting video. It's been a long time since I was into the shooting sports but as I recall the hearing protection recommended was not the standard shop type hearing protection. There's a big difference in the sound profile of a firearm and say a table saw or angle grinder. I don't know if those harbor freight ones are rated for firearms but you might want to look into that. Thanks again.
You've had great luck with them. The stainless steel tweezers rusted and had gaps between the entire set. Garage heater couldn't heat a refrigerator box. Anything with batteries as the batteries are garbage and last only a few uses. ( and I'm talking about powering led bulbs on pointers ) But...They sell a bunch of junk that every man MUST have!
I bought one when I was 16. it sat outside uncovered for a few years and has been in storage since with use off and on. it will slowly bleed down now over time, but has never failed and gets the job done. we used it for a body lift on a 85 4 runner, plus at least 10 engine swaps. another favorite for me is the 3 ton jack. same story, I'm 28 now so 12+ years of hard use. used to carry it everywhere when I was working with bigger trucks and heavy equipment alot (450-650 sized medium trucks, not a semi or anything). also a 3/4" drive socket set. need a set of 1"+ sockets for spindle nuts or big jobs? instead of paying $20-40 per socket/wrench, but the kit. you won't miss it, but one you have it you won't be able to live without it.
I learned long ago that you never buy the black electrical tools always the red which is the Chicago electric. The black tools, don't know the name but they are crap. Another Item i can't get over is the red US General tool box, they are even better quality than the craftsman or napa. Love the video and thanks for the info
Yes HF is hit or miss. The predator motor is far from junk.best $99 bucks I have ever spent,lol. threw it on a mini bike and it moves my 300 pound fat ass with no problem and I never even opened it up full throttle. HF's hardware such a s nuts and bolts are great to have your workshop, saved me several trips to home depot/lowes. The free screwdriver set is awesome and we beat the snot out of them at work with no issues.the free tape measure is also awesome to have. the yellow handle screwdrivers with the black rubber grips are junk, has one phillips break on me as soon as I touched the screw lol. the black composite rachets are awesome. I have some very old Pittsburgh tools that still are holding up such as the orange handle magnetic screw drivers. I know harbor freight is hit or miss but people do dog them too much. there are a lot of awesome buys at HF
Thats crazy! I had horrible lock with the tap and die set. They were fine for cleanup bot I never got more than a couple fresh cuts out of any of them. Ruined a die cutting threads on 3/8" aluminium stock.
head band on my $100 lowes welding helmet broke after couple years. just bought $50 welding helmet from hf. i been impressed with their paint guns too.
+jordansdad1221 I think it would be a great choice. I do recommend covering it from the elements. As Josh mentioned, his pull-rope broke, and I believe this is mostly from it being exposed to elements. The same thing happened on a Honda GX160 I have.
Love the motor review! The pull rope broke, the muffler rusted off and the carburetor caught on fire....BUT OTHER THAN THAT, it's perfect.
+jason beasley Me too! They really are good motors for the price though. I lit the carb on fire, no on purpose. I had just cleaned it out, and did a spark test.... pretty dumb. The muffler didn't "rust off" though that's how my son likes to say it. It did get some rust on the top, around the screws. The pull rope did break. But the pull rope on my Honda mower broke too.
Anyway.... obviously they aren't Honda motors, but for $99 you get a lot of motor.
+Turftechutah lol! I figured all that. just poking fun at ya. still getting tickled thinking about it.
+jason beasley LOL!
Engines-get gas
Motors--get plugged into electricity..
just sayin
Hmmm....then why do we put motor oil into engines? I'm all confused now!
Interesting information I received from a buyer for Sears. He said that the craftsman hand tools (wrenches, screwdrivers, etc.) are not only made in China now but are made by the same companies that produce the professional grade Harbor Freight hand tools. Go Figure. Same tool, Same warranty, but sears priced 3 times more.........
+JIMMY TATE apex tools makes craftsman gearwrench and husky!they do not make any tools for harbor freight! craftsman screw drivers are still made in the US!
On what do you base this? Metallurgy? Precision of dimension for dimensioned tools? Longevity under similar use conditions? What's your method of testing?
Great electric impact. Best $35 I ever spent on a tool. I'm sure an air impact would be stronger, but that thing hasn't let me down yet. 14 year old rusted-on axle nut? No problem - came right off!
+ScubaCat3 mine failed shortly after the 90 day warantie
+lyerlyman yes the armature failed!
+ScubaCat3 I also like my electric impact wrench. Well worth the $40 or so I paid.
I agree on the impact. Great tool. I grab this and leave the air impact in the drawer most of the time. My experience with Harbor Freight electric motors has been very good, with failures only when I was engaging in extreme tool abuse (RIP blue half-inch hammer drill).
I couldn't get lug nuts off with this.
Always good to have kids involved, for that "alone", you get my approval vote!
Thank you...
Yep...It's nice to see a dad giving time to the kids.
also spending the time to teach how to rebuild an engine.
I replaced a 10 HP Craftsman engine on my roto-tiller with a 212 cc Harbor Freight Preditor. It bolted right up. Only change was to substitute a 3/4" shaft pulley for the 1" part on the larger Craftsman engine. It may be smaller but tie Preditor makes more power and doesn't seem to burn much gas. I've had it 3 years now. I think the idle passages are clogging up due to the ethanol they put in the gas. I just keep it at a fast idle and it's good.
I have the tap & die set. No complaint at all. I repaired a cast iron heater with ease using it.
Used the drill while adding a 10x20 deck. Worked like a champ. The angle grinder was used to cut bolts redecking a trailer. No complaints here.
I bought their $14 air stapler. Insulated 3 1800 sq. ft. houses with it and it is still going strong! The only problem is the staples they sell for it are now not made right and the follower won't push them down the ramp! Bought one of their 21 gallon upright compressors and my friends told me it wouldn't work..couldn't keep up witha 16 penny nail gun. It not only kept up, but would fill and shut off...AND it built 3 houses and still use it on the ranch all the time! Good investment for $129!
Something from HF that I'm faithful on for life, welders. I have a 90-amp wire fed form HF that's at LEAST 7 years old, and still works like a charm. An auto shop I worked at had a MillerSet and a HF gas MIG/TIG machine, and the HF did exhaust better than the Millerset on any setting. The only thing the MillerSet did better honestly was frame repairs where the metal was thick and the machine needed to cycle harder, or whatever the term is.
I Have Purchased Three Different Predetor Engines for Different Applications. I Have to Say, I Haven"t had Any Issues with Any of Them. Start Up Easy, Run Well. I Would Recommend any Predetor Engine.
I have Electric impact of old version (orange color) from HF, 10 years ago.
I thought it will break in couple years or maybe year. but it still going !
never lose torque (I use torque wrench every time after tightening lug nuts by impact to make sure all nuts are same torque)
We own 5 cars (include stretch limo).
I've used HF electric impact constantly for one of 5 cars to rotate tires, brake job, air bleed etc every month or few weeks.
Many HF tools break in month or even week. but this still working after 10 years.
(my HF air impact broke in 2 month...)
I also have 2 ton aluminium and 3 ton steel low profile jack for more than 5 years.
Never need to add jack oil. still strong as first day.
Cheap (black) rechargeable drill and impact driver doesn't have torque at all and always have battery problem (self discharged)
The electric impact wrench I purchased from harbor freight lasted me a few weeks, definitely not an everyday tool. Since then I upgraded to their pneumatic haven't had any issues.
I went to a HF parking lot sale in July to buy a pancake compressor and on a whim, bought their Variable Speed Multi-tool. It must have been divine intervention--because I used it to undercut door casings, etc etc....installing a wood floor in August. Most valuable tool I have bought in decades----for $28. Just glad they had it on tent display, otherwise I would not have thought of it.
I go by HF every now and then when my job takes me by there. Last year I used a bunch of those free coupons (you can't have too many tape measures). I also got plenty of 7' x 9' tarps, 1/4" nylon cord, multimeters and other stuff.
I got the $19.99 cordless drill, minus the 20% off coupon, and the $19.99 18 gauge brad nailer with no problems and I use them pretty often. The $15 rotary tool only lasted one job before the shaft stop button broke. My son said the same thing happened to him and to buy a Drexel tool. The 48" drywall square has served me well, too.
But, sometimes you do just get what you pay for.
Definitely agree on the tap/die set. I've had my set for around 20 years. I've misplaced a couple of the taps, and broken a couple, but I've also broken other ones before I had this set. The only thing I don't like is the handle for the dies - it's not very good quality - I broke one of the handles off recently, although it did last for many years before that happened. I also don't like the molded plastic case. I had to put a layer of bubble wrap inside to hold all the parts in place, otherwise they end up falling all over inside the case (which frankly might be how some of them came up missing).
Also agree on the Predator engines. We bought the 13hp model to replace the engine on our wood splitter 2 or 3 years ago, and it's awesome. It sits outside in the rain and snow all year round, and have not had any issues with it. It's easier to start than the old 8hp motor that was on it before, and it runs A LOT quieter. It has actually made splitting firewood fun instead of being a major pain.
And you can never have too many pairs of ear muffs. We keep a couple extra pairs in the shop, a couple in the garage, a couple in our reloading room, and a few more by the back door in case we have guests who want to go out back and shoot. Plus I always keep a pair in my truck so I don't forget them when I go out cutting firewood. And my Mom keeps a pair in her gun box for when she goes to the shooting range.
I have that electric impact. It's a great tool to have. I don't use it all the time but it comes in handy when I need it. The motors at Harbor Freight are wonderful. I have had to paddle switch angle grinder actually I have two of them and they are both great.
The best thing about this video - A Dad and his son, obviously a great relationship.
The Harbor Freight 3 Ton Jack is also a great item from Harbor Freight
Are you CRAZY ???
You trust a jack from them?
WHO do you put under your car,,,your wife?
uh like the jack lifts the car you use jack stands to hold the car.....
+SmallEngineMechanic427 Exactly! Always use jack stands and make sure to spend good money on them.
But yes the harbor freight jack is a great item
The item I buy most frequently is the Chicago Electric 18 volt batteries. I open them up and rob the cells to rebuild Ryobi batteries. They work perfect.
traumajock You should do a video on how to do that. I have a cpl dead Dewalt batteries and would like to do that.
Michael Hill yes I second that!
Got the motor, $99.00, bought a $100.00 hop up kit, bolted it to a Mud Motor kit . Upped the HP from 6.5 to 8+. Now I have a outboard motor that will run in 4 inches of water , cranks on the second pull, and did not break the bank!!
Another thing I recommend from them is the Electric Chainsaw chain Sharpener, about $60, had it at least 4-5 years now, still does great!
Thanks for the info from all of your videos. I'll tell you about one item I bought at Harbour Freight that has worked great and fun to use. They have 2 different metal detectors and I have both. One for me and one for my daughter. We live close to the ocean..Galveston Texas. They work great in the sand and weeds. We took them out after Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Ike. We found a bunch of stuff in the dry and wet sand. The deepest about 4-7 inches. On occasion we do get a reading and don't find pure metal but like a silver gum wrapper. But for the price you can't beat it. They are light weight as a lot of the casing is hard plastic so you don't get tired of using it and it has a place for your wrist to rest while using it. You do have to remember to take the batteries out after you use it or they will corrode. At least using them around salt water it did. But they Tell you to remove them so that was my fault. On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the best, I'd rate them at a 8 1/2. ..I just wish the metal finder went deeper but again, for the price you can't beat it. I would definitely recommend them. ...and we also use the same ear protection muffs that you use. Great at the gun ranges.
the $19.99 (bought on sale for $14.99) Multi Tool.
love the tool, but buy all the attachments from Bosch.
ran the first one into the ground, ( it was given to me by my brother) but I use it in my Handyman business and it gets me out of all sorts of binds.
from cutting copper pipe in tight spots, cutting a few tiles in a bathroom renovation, cutting recepticle holes in drywall, removing errant bolts, notching studs, etc., etc., etc....
+Mubble Traker Do you mean the red rotary tool (like a Dremel) or the vibrating cutting tool?
Love the kids honesty! I give him kudos for being straight and upfront! Plus when you think about it, when you were showing him how to do all those things when building the Go Kart you know he was paying attention :-) After all he swiped yours when he needed a replacement! Good training!
Their mosaic garden lights are pretty awesome, as well as the butane torch, ratchet tie straps, and I've heard good things about the solid oak wood work bench. Their hack saw blades go dull after a couple uses.
Noise Canceling Electronic Ear Muffs #92851 (currently $14.99) from Harbor Freight are great. Use them in the shop. Always take them going shooting. Fantastic, no need to buy $80.00 set from Cabela's when these work just as good.
Yeah, the Predator engines are generally pretty good as long as you keep the oil changed and expect the pull rope to snap in a year or two. But they start easy, run well, and are way more efficient and quieter than older engines. My experience is only w the 6.5 hP. For the last year, Dollar Tree has sold ear protectors like these for a $1. They work great and are a good value.
I bought a pressure washer with a Predator engine and it works great! After doing a bunch of research I realized the lowers Troy built had a bunch of complaints that it worked for 30 minutes then died, the predator engine is as close to a Honda engine as your going to get.
The reason why some things are better than others at Harbor Fright is that it is a representative/dealer for all the little gyp joints in CHINA. Some companies are better than others just like here. A good rule of thumb to go by is the cheaper you pay, the worse the product is. The more money you pay the better the item is- giving way to the old addage "You get what you pay for" All the best,Mike
I've bought their Predator 212 and 420. Modded both, surprisingly easy to find after-market hop up kits. Just bought Harbor Freights electric chain sharpener. It'll pay for itself in no time. Thanks for the reveiws.
+Jason Griffin We might get the 420 for a kart project we're working on.
#68099 electric impact wrench- Totally agree, great price and lots of torque. Rusted lug nuts and axles don't stand a chance.
That 4 1/2" Heavy Duty angle grinder is a good buy. I have a few of them myself, but I also have a couple of the more expensive paddle version that you mentioned, and I would say that the more expensive unit is better for some applications. It has more power, and does a better job running grinding wheels. I use the more expensive one any time 'm prone to apply more pressure, and need to maintain RPMs in order to get the performance. Flap disks and wire wheels generally get the red one you have.
I was taking a machining class at school and someone cut the lock on the tool room and stole all the instructor's tap and die sets so he made us go out and buy our own. I only had a single project that needed to be completed (it required both metric and SAE taps and dies) and I wasn't about to go and blow $200 on a tap and die set that I would most likely never use again. (the machining class was just part of the curriculum, not my major) I bought the two 45 pc SAE and metric tap and die sets for $15 each and they did the job wonderfully. I thought about buying the 60pc set but I actually found that the two smaller sets gave me a larger variety of tap and die sizes and was a better deal. They're in my tool chest collecting dust but they got the job done and didn't break the bank.
Hold onto them, I am amazed at how often they come in handy.
I bought two pairs of the ear muffs because I think they were $4.00 apiece. I own guns so I have a couple pairs of ear muffs that were 10x more expensive so I didn't expect much from the HF product but I was only going to use them when I am running tools in the garage. But when I got them and put them on they do a pretty good job at suppressing noise. They are a no brainer for the cost. I haven't tried them for shooting but I would imagine that they would do a fine job. I find them to be a little tight and the more expensive ear muffs are more comfortable if you need to were them for long sessions but again, for $4.00, you can't go wrong.
Predator engines are great! I have used them on snowblowers,& 2 gokarts, & I have 3 one the shelf waiting for another project! Picked them up from the scratch and dent area for $40 each!
Khan I.Hi, I just saw the video on you tube about a gentleman recommending not to buy 5 items from Harbor Freight Tools. I would like to add 1, Please do not buy any pencil torch and the worst part is that they don't even take it back, no exchange, no refund, it means they know already that this product has defect and they are still selling it. That item should be off the shelf.
take ear muffs are excellent! Got them for shooting. 3.95 ea
yeah i bought the angle grinder with the paddle switch. and it has been a huge let down. breaks often, have to drive to harbor freight and get another one since i had purchased a warranty. But a complete let down. the motor burns out, electricity flying on the inside(bad connection or something ). Just a bad experience all around. I think i'm on the fourth or fifth paddle switch angle grinder. and need to take this one back as well.
i buy the side and small wire nippers, zip ties, and heat-shrink tubing; items i won't use too often, and their mostly for my scrapping and salvaging. not a bad deal, but research your power tools, and buy quality tools for good results, and safer conditions.
I own 3 of the items listed. I agree they are very good home garage equipment. I own the 1/2inch impact wrench, I use it the most, for tire removal and when it fits under car bolts such as caliper mounting plate bolts etc. The grinder is very good however probably use it only 3 times a year. Ear cover for when doing lawn work. Good video.
I bought a Harbor Freight 1/2 inch electric impact , when stationed in the Philippines 1989-92. Used on my Harley Davidson . It still works good, Their Chicago Brand.
We had one of those impact wrenches for at least 5 years and it just broke this year. We used that on our farm to put together a steel grain bin with thousands of bolts.
I have HF 10 arm saw and all my air tools are HF. For just normal projects at home they work good. But as allways if you make a living with your tools don't go cheap.
Yea that impact wrench did it for dropping studs in a floor. It was great. I have that grinder also. Works great. Great video guys TY.
I have picked up some good hints and "watch out for" shopping tips from you. I personally like Harbor Ft and have been fortunate enoufh to find all good stuff, thanks to the reviews on you tube. Keep 'em coming!!
Enjoyed the vid! But LOVE the fact that you include your son in projects! There are so many awesome teaching moments in these situations. More Dads NEED to do exactly this!!! My 3 sons all learned mechanical stuff this very way. They're ALL awesome adult men with kids of their own. Ok, I'm off my soapbox. Kudos, Dad. Oh, and I also love that 4 1/2" HD grinder.
Thank you, and good job on raising 3 sons successfully!
I too learned from my dad at a very young age. Learned to use the bench grinder, drill press, work on cars (until later took automotive technology at college), lawn mowers, etc. Grandfather also taught me things here and there when he was still alive and well back then. It was good that they allowed and included me in those very important life matters when I was a kid. If one own vehicles, power driven lawn/yard equipment, then that person should know how to repair and maintain those things.That's the way I see it. In fact, as of current, I was actually in the market for a nice quality bench grinder and looking through vids like this, when the suggested videos lead me to your video(s) on the worst and most suggested tools to get at Harbor Freight. Thank you for the videos eventhough these two didn't necessarily make mention of the actual bench grinders themselves. That's ok though, I've gained a significant amount of additional knowledge regardless; knowledge is always good! And it's insight I didn't have before. Also, I'm not a male, I'm a female. And that shouldn't make a bit of difference.
Thanks for your informative vids. I would like to add that I bought a 12-ton Shop Press at HF, in October, and am very satisfied with it still, considering its low price of $130. I am normally skeptical about most China-Made stuff. Keep on tooling!
I've had two pair of the harbor frieght electronic ear muffs for 10+years. I've used them at the range hundreds of times, and a custom woodshop I worked. I brought mine in, and the boss tried them, and the next day he had them for everybody in the shop.
I have their Earth Quake 1/2" air impact. I have used the heck out of it. Glad to know about the tap and die set. So many of the cheap ones are useless. I put a motor from them, believe it was a Predator, it is blue on my FIL's log splitter. That thing has started at -10. It's not kept inside. Bought 6 or 7 years ago.
That $40 electric impact drill is very good. I have yet to find a stuck nut on my truck and car that I couldn't break with it.
Best thing I've bought from harbor freight pound for pound would be the 90 amp flux core welder. Built the exhaust on my truck using nothing more than the welder and 4 1/2 inch Chicago electric grinder.
The arbor lock on my heavy duty angle grinder broke. I had to rig up something to lock the arbor. Other than that, it still works great.
My take on Harbor Freight ~
1. Great for Single Use items that you can't rent cheaply or borrow from a buddy.
2. OK for hammers, pry bars, and other things even the Chinese can't mess up too bad.
3. So-So for sand blasters, air tools, and other things you're not going to use a lot, and don't mind being sub-par.
4. NOT good for electric drills, table top lathes, drill presses, etc... Better to spend the money and get something that LASTS.
5. Don't even think about buying Precision Tools (Calipers, Micrometers, etc...) from them, true waste of money.
ALWAYS bring a 20% off or greater coupon, and don't be shy about coming in five times to use five coupons for anything more than a few bucks.
Don't bother with the "Extended Warranty" they're not worth the paper they're written on.
IF you buy there a LOT, then the membership is worth the extra cost, but for most people its not.
When it comes to woodworking (my favorite hobby) and machining and welding (my trade), I rarely look to buying cheap, I'd rather spend the money (even if I have to save up for something) than buy anything less than the best I can find. I've found over the years that if I go for the cheaper version, it's not too long before I'm either re-buying the best version (which I should have done to begin with) or living with the regret until I do.
If you don't mind I would like to share my list of Hf must buys: 12 inch tool bag- use it for my gopro acces (62163),4 pcs tie down set for 8 bucks- use them with no problems (60405), yellow batteries such as AA,AAA etc-no issues here, red triangle emergency light (62158), 6" bi metal sawzall blades (68923),key shaped knife -66837-very handy, 29 piece drill bit set -62281: we use them all the time at work no issues, 3 piece step drill bits-60379, smoke safety glasses 66822-1.99 sunglasses, black electric tape is great black zip ties are great, 10 x 17 portable garage is awesome we have several with no issues, the red haul master 2 shelf service cart is great ,we us it put our motorcycle gear on such as helmets and gloves etc, there are a lot of good buys at HF. I am gonna make a video of the HF stuff I have one day soon
I can't buy enough zip ties from HF...lol Go through those like candy. Great vid!
Ive gotten a lot of use out of their bottom dollar tap and die sets, they were like $12 each. Kind of rough on the machining but do the job. Funny its because they are cheap they don't tend to break off like good quality taps which are so hard they are brittle.
I have the motor and it's a really good motor it starts up first pull Everytime and it runs like a champ I would recommend to anyone who needs a small reliable engine
Glad I watched this. I literally just ordered the 1/2in electric impact wrench and found this video. I was shocked it was the first thing you reviewed. I feel a lot better about my purchase. Only problem is I didn't sign up an account and forgot to write down my confirmation number so I have no idea hwo to trac the package and know when I'll get it.
I bought one use for 15 bucks. works great.
I bought a pair of their hearing protector/ muffs. Work great and better than some of my more expensive ones I bought
That grinder "....23" is a killer. Nearly literally. It is a beast and it once caught my shirt in a wire wheel... ate half my shirt and a slab of belly skin... then I got the cord underfoot and pulled the plug... just as it was going for my appendix.
Other than a total lack of safety... I concur, great grinder. However now in COLD winter... side by side with my Craftsman... the cord is shit. I has gone brittle and cracked open (the outer cord jacket) in 4 places. I shimmed them with chopstick and zip ties... and then duct tape wrap.
Also a must have... the 1.5 amp solar chargers... $14 or so... great. Have 6 at the barn... all my trucks and spare batteries are plugged in and great.
+GotScout You didnt get the grinder....You got the self surgery tool
JIMMY TATE pretty much!
If you use one keep cord under foot so you can swing and disconnect in emergency.
Did you get the microphone at Harbor Freight? Just saying...
too much echo
lol
Hey asshat... they're in their garage not on a set
+BrokenRRT Hey ButthRRT, the audio sucks. He's making more and more videos so he needs to know this kind of thing.
+arlen raasch We actually used our very first youtube payment to buy a camera. The audio does suck, but we filmed this on a cheap Kodak my son had received for Christmas about 4-5 years ago.
good reviews. And way to be a cool Dad, involving your son and teaching him cool stuff and doing things with him. He'll go far because of you, Dad
I have the HF stool. Just under 20 dollars. Hydraulic lift. Comfortable. A good purchase when working on lower car detail. S.
Just came across your channel and subbed. I like HF but it's hit n' miss on some of their stuff. I think I'll pick up the impact wrench and tap and dye set based on your suggestion. Own the grinder and like it.
+Carolina Prepper We use the tap & die set regularly, but we do a lot of fabrication work.
Thanks for subbing!
+Carolina Prepper I've had both the metric & sae sets for @ 20 yrs. now. Mine are the split dies so, you can make the threads tighter or looser as needed. The holders are trash (pot metal) especially adjustable die holders. Mine cracked & broke. But the taps & dies themselves, are decent, esp. for the price with the large amount of sizes. Just pick up some good holders & it's still a good price for the taps & dies themselves. They may not be so hot for a production environment, but for use as when you need to fix or make a thread (job shop stuff). I would highly recommend these sets, for the pricing. They may have improved the holders since I purchased mine. Best regards
Excellent video. And Josh's description of motor ,perfect. Thanks.
I got that red angle grinder and sent it back the next day. It made more awful noise than a bad hay thrasher. took the thing apart and the gears were not meshing
That angle grinder is the only mechanical thing I've ever bought from them. I've never owned an angle grinder before so I can't really compare. This one has held up very well though for me.
I am a self-employed welder/ fabricator, and recently i tried to replace my HF 'high end' grinder only to find out they have discontinued it, and replaced it with one that does not have replaceable brushes. The new one lasted for almost 5 minutes of Very light duty grinding. I returned it and took the display model, which was one of the old ones. It's working fine still. I have about 6 dead ones i save for parts, and intend to use the spur gears in the head to build an open differential gearbox for a custom PowerWheel-sized RC truck. Can't even buy one spur gear elsewhere for the cost of a new grinder with two inside it.
I have yet to buy a good tap n die set, but am considering the one you reviewed. I DID buy their ratcheting tap handle, and it works awesome, especially in hard-to-reach places, like rethreading a back spark-plug hole. Item # 97633
Thumbs up, They do offer some unbeatable deals, I swear by the Predictor 212, & some of their metal working tools .
Likes hearing himself Talk, and Josh is Tipping at His Heels !
I also love their angle grinders and the ear muffs. I do landscaping and have a custom sawmill and we use the muffs often. I have been thinking about the electric impact but keep putting it off. I also do small engine repair. personally I like HF stuff and its mostly affordable.
+MidGAOutdoor If you do mowing, and have commercial mowers, the impact is great for when you need to remove blades.
Yes I do commercial and residential lawn care. As well as small engine repair. I am using the air impact at the moment. I just bought a Badland Winch 12000# from HF and will review it when installed and I use it.
I just thought I would drop a couple of item recommendations. I own and use a few HF tools in a commercial/industrial steel and sheet metal environment. The electric sheet metal shears #62213 are great. I use these almost everyday and have for a year now, $50 compared to $150. The 18" oxy/acet torch #96290. This torch works as well as the name brands and victor tips will fit them. The dual wheeled trailer jack #69779. I can't say enough about this thing. I have it on a home built 16' trailer with dovetail built with solid rectangle tubing and channel. I have parked this thing loaded with a tractor and it held. Here are a few don't buys. Gloves, any of them, they don't last. Flux core welding wire is junk. It is impure and will clog your mig wire leads even using buffing pads and lube. The powered megaphone #95737, 10 bucks. There is nothing wrong with it and that's the problem. Unless you want years of your kids running around screaming through it, DON'T BUY IT!
The 4.5in angle grinder 91222/3. The # was changed to 60372 and they put the switch on the side. Bummer. The switch needs to be on top, not on the side.
All the wire wire wheels are just as good as the dewalt brand. Tested it myself 1/3 the cost and almost free with coupon
i do like the looks of those motors hf sells. there's a guy nearby who rebuilds snoblowers and he said there very good. if i ever need one for mine i'll get one. good job kid. thnx for the info, steve
i have that impact gun its sold it lasted me 7 years so far and i got it used at a garage sale dirt cheap
Would disagree with the round dies as HEX dies have always worked much better and I am able to use them with a socket making jobs much faster and easier.
I've got a list of junk not to buy from Harbor Freight too, and a list of things that didn't break right away. I bought a pipe vice, really good looking, would swivel to be a regular vice, and even had a 360° base. I'm pretty strong, but I never thought that I could snap the main shaft in half by tightening the jaws on a pipe by hand. The steel shaft looked more like pot metal at the break. The Earthquake air impact gun crapped out on my second bolt. The pipe expander compression bolt stripped on the first tail pipe without a budge in pipe diameter. I have a HF pipe bender which works pretty well, but a transmission jack that creeps down as fast as you pump it up. I split a HF impact socket taking a lug nut off my SUV. The HF torque wrench works flawlessly. I compared various torque settings to a MAC Tools clicker... hit right on every try. My HF soda and abrasive blaster has really clunky hoses and nozzle, but does the trick as long as you have a water separator. Have I learned my lesson? Well, sort of... I just bought the HF 4.5" angle grinder because every HF pneumatic angle grinder I have eventually couldn't cut butter. So far, it works pretty well, but there is a hint of gear misalignment. My lesson is that you can't buy ANYTHING anymore that doesn't come from China, so what choices do we have? I got mad at the impact gun and went to Sears to buy an Ingersol Rand only to find a Made in China sticker on the gun. It was expensive. The good thing is that it still works, but I truly believe that the manufacturer is the same as the HF manufacturer. The point is virtually everything is dirt cheap and that is where the value comes from. If it breaks, buy another one. If you work on hot rods or furniture, most of this junk will suffice. If it is for your living, get your tools somewhere else. (I just don't know where)
Let's not forget that Harbor Freight stool you are sitting on. That thing looks hammered. Be careful that seat doesn't come off, and you sit on the pole.
+Stephen Elkins I've never tried the Harbor Freight stool. I know that one looks kinda like it, but I picked it up at an auto-parts store. It is a lot beefier than the HF stool. I thought about getting the HF stool, but the display one is always broken, which leads me to think it might be crap.
I also bought the impact wrench,BAD ! burnt and lost power working on lug nuts. Not good at all.Thanks for the other reviews..,keep up the good work.
Thank you. Interesting video.
It's been a long time since I was into the shooting sports but as I recall the hearing protection recommended was not the standard shop type hearing protection. There's a big difference in the sound profile of a firearm and say a table saw or angle grinder. I don't know if those harbor freight ones are rated for firearms but you might want to look into that.
Thanks again.
You've had great luck with them.
The stainless steel tweezers rusted and had gaps between the entire set.
Garage heater couldn't heat a refrigerator box.
Anything with batteries as the batteries are garbage and last only a few uses. ( and I'm talking about powering led bulbs on pointers )
But...They sell a bunch of junk that every man MUST have!
good video, another thing definitely worth buying imo is their engine cranes...ive own their 2 ton model for a few years now and its been great for us
+Reyes M I have vowed that once I get a bigger garage/shop, I will get one.
I bought one when I was 16. it sat outside uncovered for a few years and has been in storage since with use off and on. it will slowly bleed down now over time, but has never failed and gets the job done. we used it for a body lift on a 85 4 runner, plus at least 10 engine swaps.
another favorite for me is the 3 ton jack. same story, I'm 28 now so 12+ years of hard use. used to carry it everywhere when I was working with bigger trucks and heavy equipment alot (450-650 sized medium trucks, not a semi or anything).
also a 3/4" drive socket set. need a set of 1"+ sockets for spindle nuts or big jobs? instead of paying $20-40 per socket/wrench, but the kit. you won't miss it, but one you have it you won't be able to live without it.
the tap set I bought and when the expensive set failed, this one worked,
I wish I had the tons of trails to just go on with ATVs and stuff like that. NY sucks for that, at least where I am in lovely LI!
I learned long ago that you never buy the black electrical tools always the red which is the Chicago electric. The black tools, don't know the name but they are crap. Another Item i can't get over is the red US General tool box, they are even better quality than the craftsman or napa. Love the video and thanks for the info
Yes HF is hit or miss. The predator motor is far from junk.best $99 bucks I have ever spent,lol. threw it on a mini bike and it moves my 300 pound fat ass with no problem and I never even opened it up full throttle. HF's hardware such a s nuts and bolts are great to have your workshop, saved me several trips to home depot/lowes. The free screwdriver set is awesome and we beat the snot out of them at work with no issues.the free tape measure is also awesome to have. the yellow handle screwdrivers with the black rubber grips are junk, has one phillips break on me as soon as I touched the screw lol. the black composite rachets are awesome. I have some very old Pittsburgh tools that still are holding up such as the orange handle magnetic screw drivers. I know harbor freight is hit or miss but people do dog them too much. there are a lot of awesome buys at HF
I bought one of those impact guns, it lasted from out of the box to take 1 lug nut off. Then one of the gears ate shit and it died.
Met a guy who has to drive 100 miles round trip to return bad H/F stuff. He's about had it with them.
Thats crazy! I had horrible lock with the tap and die set. They were fine for cleanup bot I never got more than a couple fresh cuts out of any of them. Ruined a die cutting threads on 3/8" aluminium stock.
those western safety head phones are amazing
5 things ...and that chair ain't one of them ...haha
Steve's Mixed Bag
LoL , I agree 👍
I like there auto darkening welding helmets, 100v wire feeds and even there hvlp paint guns are decent
head band on my $100 lowes welding helmet broke after couple years. just bought $50 welding helmet from hf. i been impressed with their paint guns too.
Not to be picky, but Engines are internal combustion, and Motors are electric. The Predator line have engines
I would like to see that tap and die set video 👍🏼
Yup. That angel grinder is a good one!
I pity those poor "Angels"! Why are U grinding on them?
You should buy stock in Harbor Freight with all the stuff you buy. :D
I wonder if that engine would be a good choice to use to build a homemade wood splitter?
+jordansdad1221 I think it would be a great choice. I do recommend covering it from the elements. As Josh mentioned, his pull-rope broke, and I believe this is mostly from it being exposed to elements. The same thing happened on a Honda GX160 I have.
I have that angle grinder. The lock lasted about a week.
The best thing I got at HF was....Nothing.....didn't cost anything...and I was satisfied. :)
+Reedstere Save your receipt in case something goes wrong with it.