Mechanics tool recommendation wanted

[Samo]

"Harbor Freight actually has cheap all metal clicker style torque wrenches and they are accurate and consistent!"

No offense, but not on something I (or someone I like) would drive.  [blink]

 

[Rollin22Petes]

There cheap for a reason I have personally never bought a tool at Harbor BREAK  that was worth the time it took me to drive to the store. 

 

[Samo]

There cheap for a reason I have personally never bought a tool at Harbor BREAK  that was worth the time it took me to drive to the store.

A good friend of mine, who is not usually stupid, bought the Harbor Freight Mechanics Pry Bar Set.  You know, the type that you would use to pry on a part that you need to pop off without too much force, like Aluminum heads etc.

Half of the largest pry bar, popped off when we were working together and bonked him in the head.  Could have easily hurt him if it had not hit in the middle of his fat forehead.

 

[Rollin22Petes]

I'm glad your buddy is OK but I couldn't help but laugh at that. But that also brings up a good point he could have been seriously hurt or lost an eye. Simply not worth it just to save a few bucks I'm willing to bet his next set was of a better quality. 

 

[RKA]

"... Harbor Freight actually has cheap all metal clicker style torque wrenches and they are accurate and consistent!  At $10-12 they are a bargain and a fraction of the cost of the others.  Usually this isn't a place you want to economize, but I know several people that have bought these and I checked every one. ..."

I am curious how you checked these, do you have a calibrated torque tester or just doing a comparison torque check on a bolt which has been torqued with a calibrated torque wrench?

Just checking against my PI split beam (not calibrated) and a digital torque meter.  No scientific testing here.  The consistency was there. 

 

[Samo]

"... Harbor Freight actually has cheap all metal clicker style torque wrenches and they are accurate and consistent!  At $10-12 they are a bargain and a fraction of the cost of the others.  Usually this isn't a place you want to economize, but I know several people that have bought these and I checked every one. ..."

I am curious how you checked these, do you have a calibrated torque tester or just doing a comparison torque check on a bolt which has been torqued with a calibrated torque wrench?

Just checking against my PI split beam (not calibrated) and a digital torque meter.  No scientific testing here.  The consistency was there.

Tool Trucks have a more precise method.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I'm a son of a master fixer, so even though I have limited need, I went and outfitted my setup with the recommended brands, Stahlwille 1/4,3/8,1/2 6 point socket sets, Box and open ended wrenches up 32mm, ratcheting stubby screw driver, Cold chisels and punch pins set, inspection mirror, Hazet Deep 6 point sockets mini bit ratchet, Wera screw drivers and  a impact bit set. Felo 1000v screw driver kit with drivers that kan be used with the smaller speed handle or inserted into a holder. Gedore odd things. I want so heavy duty pry bars either Gedore or Hazet. Will get the Hazet 1/2" telescoping ratchet. Bought a proxxon ratcheting wrench set. This was done over a couple of years. Knipex Cobra 150,180,250, combination pliers, wire cutters cable cutters, precision flat needle nose, ringlclip pliers. no mane needle nose.. Additional things not yet acquired a couple of Stahlwille torque wrenches, prybars in various sizes..

 

[RKA]

"... Harbor Freight actually has cheap all metal clicker style torque wrenches and they are accurate and consistent!  At $10-12 they are a bargain and a fraction of the cost of the others.  Usually this isn't a place you want to economize, but I know several people that have bought these and I checked every one. ..."

I am curious how you checked these, do you have a calibrated torque tester or just doing a comparison torque check on a bolt which has been torqued with a calibrated torque wrench?

Just checking against my PI split beam (not calibrated) and a digital torque meter.  No scientific testing here.  The consistency was there.

Tool Trucks have a more precise method.

You and I aren't the first people to raise a brow at the HF torque wrenches and if one is so inclined, one could do more homework to see what [better] testing has revealed.  I certainly didn't recommend it based on my idea that a $12 tool could supplant a $130 tool.  I was equally skeptical and despite my efforts to find its failings, it works quite well.

 

[Samo]

"... Harbor Freight actually has cheap all metal clicker style torque wrenches and they are accurate and consistent!  At $10-12 they are a bargain and a fraction of the cost of the others.  Usually this isn't a place you want to economize, but I know several people that have bought these and I checked every one. ..."

I am curious how you checked these, do you have a calibrated torque tester or just doing a comparison torque check on a bolt which has been torqued with a calibrated torque wrench?

Just checking against my PI split beam (not calibrated) and a digital torque meter.  No scientific testing here.  The consistency was there.

Tool Trucks have a more precise method.

You and I aren't the first people to raise a brow at the HF torque wrenches and if one is so inclined, one could do more homework to see what [better] testing has revealed.  I certainly didn't recommend it based on my idea that a $12 tool could supplant a $130 tool.  I was equally skeptical and despite my efforts to find its failings, it works quite well.

[scratch chin]  My apologies.

I may be guilty of being a little judgemental and have not been inclined to look further at HF.  My friend's little accident and the fact that I smelled this horrible off gassing the last time I was in there is mostly why.

I do have a few things from them, small jack stands and a long 1/2" breaker bar.  Just be careful and safe using their stuff and I don't think the product is at all consistent.  If I want something again, I'll mail order it or have my friend pick it up.

Thanks for the heads up on the torque wrenches and I do pay attention to the recommendations for the various manufacturers.

 

[JimD]

It may not be something for the FOG but other forums I participate in have threads where people report what they think are good buys at Harbor Freight (HF).  It is definitely a place where you can get useless junk (like a woodworking dado set I bought there once).  But it is also a place where you can get very usable tools at a good price.  I tend to avoid them for power tools but I needed a hammer drill with a demolition mode and bought one at HF for less than $100.  The mode switch is a little baulky but it has taken down one chimney and about 8'x8' of brick veneer so far.  It also drills large holes in concrete without me having to push on it.  My son gave me a cordless impact wrench from HF when we were replacing floats on the dock a few years ago.  It drove 3/8 lags into 2x4s with no pilot hole.  Did about 20 floats (so 80 lags) on one battery.  I still use it to quickly spin on or off larger bolts. 

The composite, plastic covered, ratchets are actually pretty decent.  Others not so much.  I don't like their 12 point sockets (don't seem to be machined well) but the six point haven't rounded a nut for me yet.  I actually like their combination wrenches.  They are all smooth so they are easy to clean.  Markings may come off, however.  Hasn't happened yet. 

I thought somebody might like the contrast of HF tools in a bimmer.  I use a HF torque wrench on it too, but so far only for drain plug and filter cap tightening.  The drain plug is going into aluminum so I do not want to overtighten and the filter cap is plastic - but must be adequately tightened.  If I rebuilt engines for a living I would get better torque wrenches.  But for my uses, HF is fine. 

 

[demographic]

One thing I've noticed with the soft grip stuff the tool manufacturers use ( even the posh manufacturers like Wera) is that if it gets oil or solvent (remember, mechanics tools here) on the soft grip part it STINKS like puke and goes like a chewing gum consistancy. Ugh.

I prefer the square hard handle screwdrivers over that.