TheSamba.com :: View topic - Your favorite and useful Harbor Freight finds

Wed Sep 21, 2016 4:13 am

HF is a funny store. I have never really been a HF shopper. Having said that I was in HF yesterday after posting thread needing some wire crimpers and it occurred to me that even though it is hit and miss and the quality on everything is suspect, some of the most used tools I have are from HF.

It seems I have never ending reasons to use there little plastic interior trim removal tools. I can’t tell you how often I have used these. I bought another set yesterday as mine were so beat up.

I also bought a set of long needle nose pliers with different trip angles. Also some of the most useful grabby bits I own.

Also on my useful list is the buffer they sell. I am pretty certain my new $6 wire crimpers will get a ton of use.

I plan on having my van tool box full of HF tools for the road too.

I think I am going to start being a coupon cutting HF shopper from now on.

I am interested in what you guys have from HF that has been really useful?

Wed Sep 21, 2016 4:15 am

The very best thing I got from them was a $12 rolling movers cart. It was worth its weight in Gold in rolling engines around my garage during the EJ25 swap.

Wed Sep 21, 2016 5:16 am

unibagel wrote: The very best thing I got from them was a $12 rolling movers cart.
I have a dozen of these, mixed large ones for $12 and small for $8. Garage rule: if it's not up off the floor get it on wheels so it can be moved out of the way.

HF is where I got my 3/4" drive breaker bar to go with my antique shop 1 13/16" (46mm equivalent) socket for the rear axle nuts.

Wed Sep 21, 2016 5:29 am

This HF jack

http://www.harborfreight.com/automotive-motorcycle...62247.html

With a skid plate installed (for mud/sand use)

http://dmzfab.com/product/jack-skid-plate-for-harbor-freight-2-ton-racing-jack/

Make sure the skid plate will fit the latest HF jack.

Wed Sep 21, 2016 5:35 am

unibagel wrote: The very best thing I got from them was a $12 rolling movers cart. It was worth its weight in Gold in rolling engines around my garage during the EJ25 swap.

Same on this one!

I would not get any "cutting" blades of any kind from them. They last about 5 min.

Plus when I need to move a non-operating vehicle by myself onto a trailer I go get their electric boat trailer winch. It is able to fit over the trailer ball or be bolted down quick. Run the battery clips and winch the vehicle up onto the trailer.
Then return it the next day! :D (I'm so bad!)

Wed Sep 21, 2016 6:11 am

The best thing I have re-found at the Chinese Freight store is the front door---
I've never seen so much garbage in one location, under one roof ever.

Exit stage right.

Wed Sep 21, 2016 6:53 am

TK, why so negative? HF is great for a lot of things! Granted, I wouldn't buy any of their air tools or really much of anything over $50 bucks, but there's tons of great stuff there. Sometimes usage determines money spent. Like others here, I'm a big fan of their rolling movers carts. A person seriously can't build one cheaper than they can be bought here. Do they have top notch casters? Of course not, but they still last several years and I don't have to spend my time building them. I have high quality carts I've built for actually working, but for storage, the HF carts can't be beat.

Other stuff I've bought and like:

Disposable paint brushes
Tarps
Wire brushes
Sandpaper
Gloves (of all kinds)
Ratchet straps
Bungee cords
Stainless steel wire (the one in the blue plastic cylinder)
Heat shrink tubing (their terminals are junk though, so avoid those)
No flat tires
Casters (think about usage though, if you're going to use whatever you build daily, buy better quality)
Picks
Safety glasses

I think they have some decent rolling tool boxes for the home user for the value. Though I've never owned one or worked with one, I think they would work just fine for the occasional user. The 72" 18 drawer rolling box for $1200 bucks will hold as many tools as the $6K one from Snap-On.

I've also bought some wrenches from them when I know I'm going to cut it up and weld it into a special purpose tool.

And for anyone shopping there, look online for the 20% coupon, which is always there! So 20% off every time you buy something! They also always have the free item coupon, which is usually a flashlight, screwdriver set, or tape measure. I don't bother with the screwdriver set or tape measure any longer, but I always get the free flashlights, as they are handy.

-Kevin

Wed Sep 21, 2016 7:10 am

i bought thier motorcycle jack, its been great for engine drops.

also i bought thier sandblaster kit, it worked well. blasted and painted a complete set of engine tin for my '76 bus.

tap & die sets, plenty of small tools, jewelers screwdrivers, etc... pretty much the only stuff i dont buy there is power tools, i prefer name brand stuff there.

Wed Sep 21, 2016 8:00 am

I'm with 61Scout on this. There's lots of stuff @ HF that's the same thing as elsewhere, but cheaper.

For example: I needed a 48 inch straight edge. $8 @ Home Depot, $5 @ HF. Sandpaper generally cheaper than at HD or FLAPS, and usually a larger selection of grits. Work and plastic gloves, rope, straps, tarps, and on and on.

TK reminds me of a friend who HATES Wal-Mart and won't shop there. But has a work-shop full of HF stuff. :roll:

Wed Sep 21, 2016 8:13 am

Stephenmarklay wrote: I am interested in what you guys have from HF that has been really useful?

OK, I frequent HF a fair amount. Yes, there are certain things that I would not buy there "just because" like combination wrenches I would use a lot or battery powered drills, but have no basis for such reasoning.

What has been very useful and good value to me:
Lawn tractor jack, $90. I have tumbleweeds, have to re-sharpen blades and clean out the underside after each mowing

Electric impact wrench, 1/2 inch, 120 volt, about $50, mine since mid-1990s. Does to 250 ft-lbs, have used to loosen VW rear axle nuts and flywheel gland nuts

Benchtop drill press, about $50, also at least 20 years old

1/2 inch corded impact drill

Plastic welding kit

S-shaped wrenches

1/2-inch drive impact sockets

Wobbly extensions (nine total, 3 different drive sizes)

Plastic tarps

Jack stands

Disposable gloves

Drill bits

Dragonfly solar lights (must re-solder a wire to stop from flashing), Mrs. Cusser likes these in backyard

Magnetic tow lights $10

Clamps

Pneumatic staple gun

3/8 drive air impact ratchet

4.5 inch grinder

Wheelbarrow wheel (HD and Ace didn't stock this, before I had Internet)

Free multimeters, flashlights, tape measures, scissors

On "my list" is the $129 2-ton long "throw" floor jack (2.625" to 23.75") Unfortunately, their 20% coupons cannot be used for this !

Wed Sep 21, 2016 8:16 am

This is a useful thread but we actually have a thread going on this same basic topic.

Let's use that one:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=512248