heinrich

I know, I've had one

86'928S MeteorGrey

I just picked up a transmission adaptor for a 1" socket floor jack. I couldn't use all of the rails, as I can't get my car high enough for it without LIFTBARS...(NEXT).. But with the rails removed it did a fantastic job lifting and dropping the transaxel... part # 39152 $50 (PASS) I almost picked up one of the stand alone transmission jacks, but I figured that I needed a new floor jack anyways, and space is at a premium in my garage...



I also picked up a 2 1/4 ton floor jack. It worked great also. No long term reports here, but for $70 great deal.... (PASS) new part # at HF and not online. I will update the part number later.

Randy V

Pass: Chicago Electric 14.4V cordless drill.

I used it extensively for over 12 years until it finally crapped out. Replaced it recently with their 18V model.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=44849



I've got a Harbor Freight near me - a 20-minute drive through a twisty back canyon that has little traffic (over 45 minutes if I take the freeways). I'm always looking for a reason to go, just for the drive alone.

SharkSkin

FAIL: 4 piece Hook & Pick set 66836-0VGA, $2.99. Softer than the seal you're trying to pull out with it.
PASS: 6-ton jackstand set 38847-3VGA, bought 2 pair on sale for $19.99/pair. Lots of height for my Rack/MM/OPG project, rock-solid stable.

Richter12x2

220V Chicago Electric Dual Mig - Conditional Pass. Definitely welds the crap out of stuff, but with the flux core wire included and the lowest settings, I keep blowing holes in 20 gauge metal (they say it will weld down to 22 ga.) Works quite nice on 16 ga though. Will re-review when I get my argon kit in and try it without the flux core.

$49.99 Welding helmet. Pass Works fine - sensitive enough to darken when I catch the sun's reflection off of some nearby chrome. Doesn't leave me with green halos like the cheap helmet I borrowed. Cool blue design.

1/2" Electric Impact Wrench - Pass - successfully lets my wife change her own tire. Double checked with my torque wrench and good up to +90 ft/lbs for wheel lugs. It doesn't see extended use though, just for emergency tire changes.

Nightfly

Screwdrivers: Every few years, Pittsburgh Forge comes out with the black plastic three sided Stanley tools style handle versions, usually a set of 10, cheap. Those are very good, grab them when you can. The yellow handle ones suck. You'll see them in the stores. Don't order the picture online, because they will substitute whatever is in stock; the yellow ones have the same stock number.

tveltman

You should make some bronze or brass heat sinks to clamp onto the thin gauge metal just behind where you want to weld. Also, welder manufacturers are notorious for inflating their claims of what the machine can do. For anyone who is looking to get started in welding and needs advice on what to buy or what technique to use, you should check out http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/. I've read through it a couple times, and if I had the money right now to buy a welder, I'd get one and give it a go. The forum there has a lot of knowledgeable people and, although they are in the UK and thus working with EU models, they will certainly be able to help you figure things out. FWIW, my uncle is a welder, and he says that MIG welding practically does itself, so it seems ideally suited to the beginner.

Richter12x2

I've had good luck with a friend's 110v true MIG (with gas and solid wire), where my inexperience led to beautiful welds that didn't go through. Since fluxcore burns hotter (hopefully that's the reason!) I have some beautiful welds and some big holes in the source material. I'm thinking some gas and solid wire will sort me out.

Richter12x2

I liked the three handled versions. We picked up a giant set of Craftsman screwdrivers, slotted, Philips and Torx, with a bit driver, for $20 at Christmas, so I'd wait for that deal if possible!

Remember also that most Craftsman tools, especially hand tools, have a lifetime guarantee on them. Working on the Rx7, a friend and I grenaded a 30 year old 3/8" swivel (or universal joint, or pivot, if you prefer) due to way too much torque applied (by hand, no less!). The biggest piece we found said "Cra" on it. We took it in, and they exchanged it no hassle. They asked that we try to assemble more of the word next time though!

WallyP

"Remember also that most Craftsman tools, especially hand tools, have a lifetime guarantee on them."

So do most of the Harbor Freight hand tools...

Landseer

6 Ton jackstands are pretty good. Also like the Northern 6 ton stands that have the little lock bars for extra safety.

amphicar770

Major pass.

This tool chest is right up there with those costing 7x as much. It is far better than any of the other HF tool chests.

http://www.harborfreight.com/56-inch...net-67681.html

dr bob

Hmmm. Three year old thread.

Major fail: HSS Left-hand drill bit set. It would help if the drill bits were tougher than a grade-3 bolt (lowest possible bolt rating for automotive bolts).

UncleMaz

Pass: Harbor Freight low capacity transmission jack: http://www.harborfreight.com/automot...ack-39178.html

Made easy work of raising and lowering both the rear crossmember/suspension and the transaxle on jjbyron's car a few weeks ago. Like all of this crap, no telling how long it will last.

PS - jack belongs to Jeff (jjbyron)

PorKen

Pass, recommended - 41047 Top Grain Utility Gloves. Work great for MIG welding, grinding, wood working, etc. I use tons of these.


Pass, barely - 66632 Digital Photo Sensor Tachometer. Works, but you have to hold it within about an inch of the rotating part.

I used it to set the idle speeds on my GMC diesel.