The Harbor Freight PASS/FAIL Thread...

[Racr350]

Originally Posted by lipadj46

I see the IR thermometer is going to be $20. I will be picking one up for that.

You won't regret it..super efficient and incredibly accurate for the price.

[Shadowdog500]

My neighbor bought the 90 amp 110V, Flux Core MIG welder yesterday with a coupon for $89 and brought it over my shop last night to practice.

It is no Lincoln but for $89 it seems to be one hell of a welder. The flux core seems to have more splatter that a regular MIG welder but that cleans up no problem and the welds look good and are strong.

Chris

[lipadj46]

Originally Posted by Shadowdog500

My neighbor bought the 90 amp 110V, Flux Core MIG welder yesterday with a coupon for $89 and brought it over my shop last night to practice.

It is no Lincoln but for $89 it seems to be one hell of a welder. The flux core seems to have more splatter that a regular MIG welder but that cleans up no problem and the welds look good and are strong.

Chris

Nice to hear, I was thinking about getting a cheap 110v welder to learn on.

[Tom2]

I've heard they're pretty darn good, but the flux core that comes with them sucks and splatters badly. Switching it out with some Lincoln from Lowes supposedly makes a huge difference. Waiting till I have a good excuse for a welder, and I'll probably pick it up as well.

[Indy_500]

anybody have the arc from HF?

[rayzor32]

I have it its not a bad little welder, the wire sucks and the duty cycle sucks but if you add an extra fan to it and get lincoln wire that little welder is great.

[Shadowdog500]

I picked up a spool of .030 Lincoln flux core wire while at Lowes today and asked my neighbor to come over again tonight. Wow, what a difference. The splatter problem practically disappeared and the welds came out beautiful and had much more penetration.

Chris

[Bo Heck]

Well thats great to here, is there an even better wire available? I thought I saw someone on this forum badmouthing the lincoln wire.

[lipadj46]

Originally Posted by Bo Heck

Well thats great to here, is there an even better wire available? I thought I saw someone on this forum badmouthing the lincoln wire.

I think with all the people in this forum you can find mostly all products are bad mouthed now and again.

[Tom2]

Well, I went ahead and bought the welder last night.

Had to weld an O2 bung onto my cat converter. Found that was as good excuse as any.

Also bought the .030 Lincoln flux wire.

The weld is incredibly ugly (it would make you cry!), but it'll hold. Been years since I last welded, and I've never welded with flux core. The splatter was way more than I expected. Penetration seemed fine. Welder should work good for some basic light welding here and there. Pretty much all I need it for. Bought the warranty with it just in case..

Also got the blue flame auto dark helmet. Works very well.

Oh, and also got the 3000lb aluminum racing jack. Haven't used it much, but is pretty light and rolls around easy. Also got the warranty with it - since the old jack it's replacing was only a couple years old and already leaking (from Sears).

[Romanova]

Bearing puller... pass. Worked great for pulling off the rear bearings for the Galant VR-4, which were very rusty after spending most of it's life up north. Not bad for $50 after 20% off coupon.

[anodyne33]

I finally bent the frame on my 3 in 1 ball joint / U joint press.

(trying to press a bottom out the wrong way)

Me = FAIL

[Danglerb]

This post says the wire HF sells on the shelf is actually better than the Lincoln wire they bought at Lowes. Sourced in Italy I think.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...an#post1095992

[rayzor32]

yeah it is from italy and its 30 bucks! pretty expensive it definetly isn't the same wire that comes with the welder. As said before the wire that comes with the welder stinks, the lincoln wire has alot less spatter.

[scott37300]

Originally Posted by anodyne33

I finally bent the frame on my 3 in 1 ball joint / U joint press.

(trying to press a bottom out the wrong way)

Me = FAIL

So is this a decent press if you don't use it backwards? Would you buy another one? And do they warranty this, is it considered a handtool?

I was looking at getting one of them and heard they were pretty decent for the price.

[Tom2]

Originally Posted by rayzor32

yeah it is from italy and its 30 bucks! pretty expensive it definetly isn't the same wire that comes with the welder. As said before the wire that comes with the welder stinks, the lincoln wire has alot less spatter.

Good to know! Maybe I'll buy it there next time. $30 is alot, but wire lasts pretty long for most people - and if it makes less of a mess, I'll pay it.

[340six]

Originally Posted by Nik_95Cobra

I didn't know they sold urethane jack pads. Maybe I can stomach going in there and pick one up for my jack.

I need one of those I have the jack stand ones being an old thread I wonder if they still have them?
The aluiminum Floor Jack is 4+ years old and still works

[Danglerb]

Originally Posted by Tom2

Good to know! Maybe I'll buy it there next time. $30 is alot, but wire lasts pretty long for most people - and if it makes less of a mess, I'll pay it.

Don't forget the 20% off coupon.

Pretty sure the jack stand and jack pads are the same ones sold by most places.

Ball joint press should be lifetime warranty, no need to "buy" another.

[lipadj46]

Originally Posted by 340six

I need one of those I have the jack stand ones being an old thread I wonder if they still have them?
The aluiminum Floor Jack is 4+ years old and still works

They are $8 I think.

[pmohr]

Originally Posted by Danglerb

Don't forget the 20% off coupon.

Pretty sure the jack stand and jack pads are the same ones sold by most places.

Ball joint press should be lifetime warranty, no need to "buy" another.

Lifetime warranty is only on hand tools, not the specialty tools they have. Wouldn't warranty out the forcing screw on my wheel bearing kit a while back.