The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Harbor Freight........What worked?.... What didnt?

Most hobbyist have a small flux core MIG at home.

...what you you consider a "small" flux core mig? Just wondering.

Robert, thanks for the insight.

I had a new 6 ton HF jack stand come apart under the partial weight of one corner of a 1/2 ton 4x4 Dodge. First time it was ever used. Welds broke and the metal folded.
I'll post a picture of the stand asap.


My HF engine stand and 2 ton crane have done just fine and have been used many times.

Now that's SCARY !!!!!!!



[quote=BLUEMEANIE]I had a new 6 ton HF jack stand come apart under the partial weight of one corner of a 1/2 ton 4x4 Dodge. First time it was ever used. Welds broke and the metal folded.
I'll post a picture of the stand asap.

I kind of jokingly told someone I don't buy any Harbor "Fright" tools or equipment that my life or sight depends on.

Thanks Robert...great write-up and helpful to a new welder like me.

I know there are issues with lapping joints (someone here called them 'rust generators?'), but I am so low on the learning curve right now that my panel fitment skills required at least part of the new metal done that way to help me align things.

When I start developing more skills at this, I want to understand what's going on with the welds and metal and gaps and methodology. Then I can go back and repair all the ugly I am currently putting my truck through.

I have a small Lincoln MIG welder that I had been using flux core wire with up until recently. Then I tried gas and solid wire and LOVED the difference it made. So, I am making some progress, but it is slow going. I wish I could retire for a while and come apprentice with you in your shop!

Thanks for taking to time to explain all this. I very much appreciate it.

Jim

Whenever I am in a situation where the integrity of a tool will have a direct impact on my quality of life, I do not skimp. I figure I put enough money down on a truck that barely runs, I can put down some money on quality jack, jack stands, etc.

Most of my HF tools are pneumatic: die grinder, cut off tool, air hose/fittings, impact wrench, and some more that I forget.

Impact wrench was a total bust, and I had one fitting break off. The broken fitting was a mess because there was nothing left to grip onto. Ended up buying a HF extractor set and it worked perfectly.

All my pneumatic HF tools leak pretty bad.

Where do they leak?

I have many HF pneumatic tools with no leaks. I get leaks at the quick-release fittings after much use/abuse. A change to a new fitting always has solved that problem.

I bought some Harbor Freight air line connectors and they leaked badly right out of the package. They were the brass type. The only air tool I bought was a pneumatic saw and it worked pretty well for about a year. It was only $10. I took it apart and cleaned it up and cut a new gasket, it worked a bit longer then died. Just leaked too much to give the saw any power. Ended up using a hand jig saw with a metal blade. Actually worked well. I was just cutting out rusted body panels.

Awesome video my 28 Chev was dedicated to my Dad. We were always going to do a project together but never did before his health failed. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you, I appreciate your comments



For those who don't get the HF junk mail
25% discount code for single purchase on line today only 3/31/13
77512189

I've purchased my fair share of their stuff...pretty much when it's on sale. You have to watch their pricing and I just wait until it goes on sale. As a frequent buyer club member I've saved a TON of money on their sales and they pretty much take care of me when I do get a junk piece. I have four 4.5 in. grinders from 4 different sources and they all work about the same, including one Milwaukee. I have a wire wheel, cut-off, grinder disc and flap wheel for finishing. That way I don't have to switch stuff out constantly! I just end up winding up a BUNCH of cords after a project! IF I had more wall space in my shop I'd just make a hanger for the 4 of them on the wall by my welders and leave them out.
Anybody tried their 120 and 240 volt spot welders? They get decent reviews and one guy said it was the same as the $600 Miller? The Chinese are VERY good at knocking stuff of...so I reckon they could've copied a better product for less?

Picked up a service cart for work, the 5 drawer red ones. They've got a decent amount of room. Overall it's not terrible, and the drawers are handling the weight well so far, but the bottom tray where the wheels are mounted has been gradually caving in at the wheels making it fun to move around the hangar as it tries to spin off in odd directions. If it's sitting in one place or not holding a lot of weight it should be fine, if you have to move it around with a load of tools a lot (service cart, duh) the bottom should be renforced on assembly.

I just purchased their pneumatic paint shaker. Was getting tired of taking my paint to the jobber everytime I needed to use it. It is mis-labeled. It should be called an earth shaker. It seems to be as well made as anything else they sell. I was impressed that it came with a separate oiler and grease zerks.

Thing is, you don't set this thing on a table and just do it. Oh no.. you mount it to your 1000 pound welding table that happens to have 6 legs that are bolted to the concrete floor. You then make sure that nothing that's on the table is movable otherwise it will be on the floor. Then, when you think you are ready, make sure the gallon or quart can is VERY well cranked down.. HARD, otherwise, you might end up cleaning up paint from a 20 yard radius. In my case, I thought it was tight, it wasn't as tight as I thought it was, and the can was mangled pretty well when it came flying out, but it didn't open. Was my lucky day.

It says to let is shake for 5 minutes. Its a very exciting and fun filled (NERVE RACKING) 5 minutes, but it works really nice. I even have a receiver system, much like a trailer hitch receiver system for my welding table, and made the requisite system to attach the unit to the table and bolted it down. All in all, im happy with it. I am NOT exaggerating.

Just remember one thing. You can buy it a bit cheaper at harbor freight or go some place and get the same exact thing. For way more. Air couplers I read above, never ever had one leak. Go some place else and get some, they will also be made in china, sorry you can't escape it.

Deve, whenever I have used a paint shaker it has been mounted to an old tire. The tire moves around a little, but it isolates the vibration pretty well.

Bought a Harbor Freight stud welder. It DIED after only doing 12 studs. I couldn't find my receipt so in order to swap it out with them I had to buy a $20 extended warranty for the new one. Most ANY store is able to scan the bar code and use your credit card to show that you bought the item, but not HF. Very UNHAPPY with HF

My replacement HF stud welder didn't work right out of the box! I'll not buy another HF tool after I get this straightened out!

I've bought some concrete tools there in a pinch once. $50.00 Chicago rotor hammer. Lasted 5 years lol. Used it in the rain and it fried. It was the little engine that could. Must've done 10,000 dowel holes with it. Other than that experience they suck!

I bought one of the stud welders recently. Welded over 200 studs in 3 days without a problem and on the end of an extension cord that was just above the minimum size required.

The only problem was the replacement studs. The ones that came with the unit were great, soft material for easy bending and perfectly formed heads welded great. The ones HF sells are crap. Hard as rocks and heads like blobs. Had to order studs from a name brand company.

HF
Giving a little LED work light on Friday with any purchase.

The weldingweb forum is really a great source for anything for a great shop. I have done a lot of welding since I learned about that site. Many new tables, fixtures and inventions that I never knew possible.

Devilbiss guns are really nice and they do a better job than the HF guns. I hate to say that because I was stuck on HF guns for a long time. I have the Finishline 4 kit with 4 different size nozzles and a Tekna Copper for base/clear. I still have my HF gun but no reason to use it now. As with everything else, you do with what you can afford and I have seen many decent paint jobs with HF guns. I just wonder how much better they would have looked if the guy had a Devilbiss or something better.

Have had great success with their 4 1/2" electric angle grinders. I've got about 8 of 'em. Catch them on sale for $10. I do a fair amount of fab work and they are great. Just like nifty53, got a cutoff disk in one, flap disk in one, grinder disk in another and keep 'em handy so don't have to change attachments. The first one I bought is still going after 3 years, so probably better stop stocking up. Also had good success with a drill press vise that has held up well. Can't beat their deal on the cheap chip paint brushes, that you use once and throw away for things like ospho or getting primer in tight spaces when not setup to spray.

Great video of your dad's truck. I bet he was a great guy!
__________________
Dudley1030
53 3100

Don't get the "Digital Inspection Camera". It's kind of like a bronchoscope we use in the medical field. Long tube with a camera at the end. THey advertise it as "This handy inspection camera allows you to get a clear view inside cylinder heads, behind wallboards and other hard to reach areas normally hidden from sight. With an oil and scratch resistant tempered glass lens and 2.4 in. color LCD display with crystal clear 480 x 234 resolution, you'll be able to easily view objects as close as 1" for instant diagnostics." PROBLEM: doesn't flex enough to get around hardly any smaller corners. Too large of diameter to fit in most spark plug holes. Save your cash. I returned mine.

Thank you.



For an inspection camera I ended up getting one of these

..link..
Pretty expensive but it works .


I saw this one linked by another member
...link...

Bought a 870lb utility trailer for a mobile mini chicken coop. With my 25% off coupon it came to less than $150. Perfect for what I wanted to do. I won't be taking it on the road, but it comes ready to register. Pretty good deal and went together without any hassle. Item link is: http://www.harborfreight.com/automo...-with-8-inch-wheels-and-tires-42708.html

Thier "Predator" 4-cycle engines are cloned Hondas. I bought a 79cc to make a mini bike for my grandson for $99 and bought a 212cc 6.5 horse for myself. At the same price!

Took one out of the box and it looks real nice. Had to go look to confirm it was actually Chinese. Googled around and found folks hot rod the heck out of them. Take the governors off and run them at twice the RPMs. You can buy headers, high-ratio rocker arms, big carbs...seem to be good motors.

I bought the Mini Needle Scaler from HF. This works great for removing undercoating. Keep it down at a shallow angle. It breaks off the thick coating in big chunks and pulverizes the thinner stuff.

Picked up one of these hand pumps for about 6 bucks a while back.

...pic...

It sure came in handy today when pumping the gas out of my tank today

I bought the pocket screw jig after seeing it favorably compared to Kreg in a woodworker magazine. I like it a lot. Heavy and thick casting.

Stud welder is ok as mentioned but slide puller is junk, gripper cam wears out fast. I did the common mod and welded cheap small vice grips on the end of the puller and it works well.

I have 4 or five of these battery float chargers that I use on my lawn equipment, and cars and trucks that I have stored for the winter, with success.
Sometimes you can find them on sale for about $5.00.
http://www.harborfreight.com/automatic-battery-float-charger-69955.html

Brian

The last tool I bought from HF was an engine stand when I was doing my '39. Of the choices they had at the time, I went cheap and got the one that was essentially a tricycle. (I know what you're thinking ... I know that NOW ) Moving the engine around, one of the castors tripped on a washer and a newly rebuilt (rebabbited and everything -- many $$ in that engine) and freshly painted 216 toppled over onto the floor. I grabbed it as it went to try and save it, but it pulled me over with it. Luckly the engine hit the floor first and I hit the engine. Ended up with a broken flange for the bell housing (where one of the mounting bolts was). Other than that, not too much was damaged on it or me. But I know how fortunate I was. Learned my lesson about going cheap on tools and have never bought another thing from them since.

HFT Hit and Mis list for this guy:

Hits- Underhood LED cordless tube light; Blue mig welder cart; Auto darkening mig welding helmet w/ blue flames; small air angle die grinder; purple gravity feed hvlp spray guns for primer and light painting (I'd rather throw them away after several uses than worry about cleaning them as well as my good guns, I think they get down to $12 sometimes!); wall mount air hose retractor 1/4 x 25'; under wheel car dollies 1500 lb ( under a 3600 3/4 ton!)

Misses- Sandblaters...both the small cabinet and the red freestanding one with the 3 tripod legs; tire pressure guage with dial and hose....Lame.

I really like to hear from the guys who use this stuff, Thanks.

I bought a floor float to out under an old refrigerator. So far it is still under there....

Grigg,

What is a floor float? Is there a part # ?

Thanks,