I find it astonishing that they would decide it's more economical to manufacture something in Switzerland. That's one of the most expensive places on the planet.
I recently heard that the Chinese have begun producing weapons. That's our last real product industry. What else do we have left, agriculture & entertainment? Maybe when we're all broke the Chinese will come over and make us live on reservations. In the meantime....I'm stocking up on cheap tools, because I have a tool addiction. HF usually works okay for me, but I hate orange (except KTMs). I buy good tools too. Btw, I'm betting the Chinese have plenty of internal issues that could easily destablize their country. Money seems to be pouring into China at the moment, but things can change. Overnight successes are often followed by overnight failures. One thing is certain, they won't continue to work for peanuts indefinitely.
Think i might have added this somewhere before, but here's just another heads-up. Much of the shrink tubing I've gotten from HF has been pretty disappointingly weakened by solvents. In the past I've generally been impressed with shrink tube in this regard. But the stuff I've used (it's so cheap it's irresistable) from HF has suffered in gasoline. Pisses me off, since it appears to have all the markings and standards on it.
Anyone have any experience with their little powdercoater? I've seen the same item sold thru powdercoating suppliers.
The shrink tubing I've used from HF has held up decently to abuse and heat, but I've not exposed it to solvents yet. Works great for light duty stuff. Thanks for the warning, I'll use the higher end stuff for anything where it might see solvents.
I bought some 4' lengths of the heat shrink tubing that has adhesive inside from somewhere but have only use a little bit and it's only been in there for a couple of months, and not exposed to solvents. I think it was about $1/foot. I can dig out the vendor if anyone wants. They have a $25 minimum order, but also sell a lot of other wire-related stuff, including UV-resistant tie wraps. I want to get some smaller heat shrink from them, but am held off by that minimum order.
On Sale for $8.99 on page 2 of the sale flyer http://www.harborfreight.com/retail-flyer http://widgets.harborfreight.com/wswidgets/tabviewer/webDisplayItem.do?itemnumber=93888 Have you used/tried these? George
Have seen them, but never used them. They look ok in person. You cant buy wheels to make your own for that price.
I have a pair of those and they work great. I've moved quite a few things on mine and they have held up well. As far as junk at Harbor Freight, their tail pipe expanders are crap. They are only meant to be used to round out pipes that have crushed areas from clamps but even doing that mine stripped the bolt out on the first use.
Yes, they're great for storing spare motorcycle engines on (even behemoths like a GS850 engine). You can move the engine around easily without hurting your back or the engine.
http://www.harborfreight.com/weatherproof-security-camera-with-night-vision-47546.html Did you try this camera? http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_21131.jpg"
I bought one of the small griders there a few years ago- works good for as many times as i have used it. recieved as a gift a digital mutimeter- works as many times as i have used it. bought a large pipe wrench and the handle broke on it, and a few cheap gadgets that dont last much after the first use so good and bad for me.
I had to use a HF metric tap & die set at a friend's house once and it was verrrrrrry iffy. The taps I used were clearly junk. That said, I used a ton of lube and very little force and got through the job without breaking any. Never again. I've also not had any luck with their air fittings (specifically the female couplers) or their tire chucks -- they all leak. I've managed to find decent Milton stuff at farm stores. And I'm sure it's been mentioned before, but the drill bits are beyond awful. I've got lots of good HF stuff (see the other thread), but it's still a very mixed bag.
both types of their air fittings are junk - they have 'automotive' and 'industrial' each has a different profile, and they both suck.
Good: their ~$55 set of twist drills. They are the best set of drills I've ever used. When a machinist bud recommended them I thought he was joking. I bought a set about five years ago, was amazed, and busted out and bought two more sets. I've yet to open either of the second two, as the first is still truckin'. Bad: Their close quarter 1/4 drill. POS. First one I had crapped out (presumably beveled gears stripped) while drilling an aluminum plate. Took it back sans service contract and bitch so much they gave me a new one. It did the same thing drilling fiberglass! They apparently don't have 'em any more, or maybe mines actually a 3/8ths. I'm too lazy to go look. Ugly: their "rope" Used to paying my ass off for New England Ropes double braid line, I spring for ten bucks worth (about fifty feet) at HF. What utter crap! I think it's made of the same shit that they make the cellophane cover for kids Easter Baskets. This shit is 3/8" line and you can break it by hand!
These. Grommet punch + pag grommets. Total junk, not worth a dollar. The the punch handles buckeled and bent before the groomet would expand to its final intended shape. The kit went straight to trash bin.
I've had very good luck with their air fittings, as well as their smallest pancake air compressor. I agree about the tap/die set though. I bought one in a pinch a year or so ago, and they're trash. I bought the cheaper of the sets, maybe the more expensive one is better. If you're needing to tap something, chances are, it's important enough to buy a good one.