Harbor Freight

[xrvr]

Harbor Freight. Freight that comes into a harbor. Freight from overseas. I get it now! Truth in advertising. Jim

[Matthew014]

I admit I'm a tool snob and most always buy top shelf brand tools. I'm an auto mechanic by trade and a woodworker in my free time. What I've spent in tools is well into the 10s of thousands of dollars.

When I'm working on anything (car, trailer, home, whatever), I want my mind focused on what I'm trying to accomplish, not on whether I have the right tool or if I have a tool that will "kinda work", or wonder if my tool will work long enough to complete the job. And I'm sure that has more to do with me being a professional, rather than a shady tree mechanic.

I don't care what brand tools anyone else buys, it's really none of my business. But I do think cost should not be the main factor when purchasing tools.....especially power tools. When buying hand tools you can get away with inexpensive sockets, wrenches, ratchets, screwdrivers, but I promise you that you will spend a whole lot more time than me with stripped out threads, rounded off nuts/bolts, and damaged Phillips head screws (I can't remember the last time I had to drill something out).

Now with power tools, I would recommend going to at least a Lowes/Home Depot/Sears when buying these. I've seen way to many industrial accidents caused by junk and/or mis-used tools. If it's powered or attaches to something powered, spend the extra money. It may save you a finger or an eye.

Just the ramblings a of an old mechanic.
Matt




Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

[SuperTrouper]

Originally Posted by richw46

I am crying, that link is spot on funny. I'm torn between the cordless hammer and the manual chain saw.

I haven't laughed that hard in a loooooong time!

[Ultradog]

I make my living with my tools. Use them hard, day in, day out.
If you want to do good work, buy good tools.
I live less than a mile from Harbor Fright and never go in that place.
Nothing good comes from there.

[r carl]

I bought a roll of sandpaper for a DA sander at HF and all the grit would come off in 2 sec. of sanding. I couldn't believe it.

[Someday'59]

I've been there: 1959 Airstream Overlander, "Someday": We Didn't Prepare For This

[boliversr]

I have no problem with HF but pick and choose what I buy my heavy use tools are all high quailty

[Tincampers]

It's just like buying anything anywhere. You need to do some research and use some common sense. Not everything they sell is junk nor is everything top notch. I've had bad luck and good luck there. The bad luck stuff goes back for a full refund.

[Taylormade]

Originally Posted by r carl

I bought a roll of sandpaper for a DA sander at HF and all the grit would come off in 2 sec. of sanding. I couldn't believe it.

Yeah their sandpaper is absolutely a joke. Sometimes they have 3M sandpaper though, and that holds up a lot better. Whatever their branded stuff is isn't good for anything.

[switz]

Stopped the SnapOn truck yesterday and acquired their tire lug nut specific (5 pound increments) torque wrench for around $375 with tax. Is not designed to loosen those nuts.

[Matthew014]

LOL, no torque wrench is designed to loosen lug nuts (or any nuts). It obviously can be physically done, but it's a really good way to throw it out of calibration.

[r carl]

Originally Posted by switz

Stopped the SnapOn truck yesterday and acquired their tire lug nut specific (5 pound increments) torque wrench for around $375 with tax. Is not designed to loosen those nuts.

Can you torque in both directions with it?

[switz]

Clockwise only.

[r carl]

I have 2 SnapOn torque wrenches and they have a direction lever in the head, so if they are one way, what's the lever for?

[switz]

No direction lever on wheel lug nut only wrench. It is calibrated in five pound increments. The reversible torque wrench probably has the one pound increments.

[wahoonc]

Originally Posted by r carl

I have 2 SnapOn torque wrenches and they have a direction lever in the head, so if they are one way, what's the lever for?

I have had vehicles with reverse thread lug nuts, seem to recall it was an old Dodge for some reason. Fan clutch on my 96 F350 is reverse thread.

Might just need that left handed torque wrench and not even know it.!

Aaron

[r carl]

I had a 1967 F350 and the left side wheels had left hand lug nuts.

[TG Twinkie]

Older trailers and vehicles with lug bolts (not nuts) had left hand thread on the right side of the vehicle and right hand thread on the left. The idea was, they would not unscrew whilst traveling. The head of the bolts had and "L" or "R" to ID the thread rotation.

[r carl]

Originally Posted by TG Twinkie

Older trailers and vehicles with lug bolts (not nuts) had left hand thread on the right side of the vehicle and right hand thread on the left. The idea was, they would not unscrew whilst traveling. The head of the bolts had and "L" or "R" to ID the thread rotation.

Chrysler Imperial Wheel Lug Nuts
I've never seen LH nuts on the right side before. I have seen a L stamped on the end of a stud though. It appears LH lug nuts ended around 1970.

[gmw photos]

You guys are making my head hurt with all this left hand thread/right hand thread stuff ! As I recall, both the MG sportscars I had in the 60's ( both had center lock wire wheels ) were RH thread on the left side, and opposite on the off side. The sprint cars that I worked on were the same, as was the Lola FA car.

But I'm thinking the effect was opposite on the vehicles that used conventional studs/nuts.....so they were LH thread on the left side of the car. Dad had one Plymouth, and it seems like it was "backwards" to me at the time....but hey.....it was a long time ago. As the saying goes, I can barely remember what I had for breakfast today....don't ask me about 40 plus years ago.....