THe NAC Lots-O-BFG KO2 Thread

Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

I'm really liking the idea of putting together my new shop the way I want it. I get to change lots of things that have bothered me over the years.

What I'm not liking so much is the price tag that comes with it, obviously. So I'm trying to decide where best to invest.

I don't need anything fancy. I have a slow-running drill press already. Just basic stuff, grinder, sawzall, hand drill, vise, shop crane, engine stand, rounding out the metric side of my tools because I don't have any, etc.

So for the sake of discussion. What stuff, in your guys' opinion, is best sourced through Harbor Freight/off brand vs. something more solid?

My best experience with corded power tools has by far been Milwaukee, and I don't think this is an area to skimp. However all the ones I've been using are a few years old now and I've heard rumors that newer stuff isn't as good.

Things like a vise, shop crane, jackstands, press etc I think can probably come from HF. Tube notcher, not so much.

I've had really good luck with both Kobalt and the cheaper Task Force brand from Lowes; both are guaranteed. Thinking about getting one of the larger combo sets from there to fill the tool box and leave my little rollup/offroad tool kit the way it is.

Thoughts, or any other good deals/finds that are out there?

Talk to Anthony about buying one of his vices.
 
Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

I'm really liking the idea of putting together my new shop the way I want it. I get to change lots of things that have bothered me over the years.

What I'm not liking so much is the price tag that comes with it, obviously. So I'm trying to decide where best to invest.

I don't need anything fancy. I have a slow-running drill press already. Just basic stuff, grinder, sawzall, hand drill, vise, shop crane, engine stand, rounding out the metric side of my tools because I don't have any, etc.

So for the sake of discussion. What stuff, in your guys' opinion, is best sourced through Harbor Freight/off brand vs. something more solid?

My best experience with corded power tools has by far been Milwaukee, and I don't think this is an area to skimp. However all the ones I've been using are a few years old now and I've heard rumors that newer stuff isn't as good.

Things like a vise, shop crane, jackstands, press etc I think can probably come from HF. Tube notcher, not so much.

I've had really good luck with both Kobalt and the cheaper Task Force brand from Lowes; both are guaranteed. Thinking about getting one of the larger combo sets from there to fill the tool box and leave my little rollup/offroad tool kit the way it is.

Thoughts, or any other good deals/finds that are out there?
I've got an HF shop crane, jackstands, and small arbor press. All have performed quite adequately. I agree on milwaukee power tools, my sawzall and 1/2" drill are from them and I haven't killed them yet.

Kobalt from Lowes and Husky from HD are both pretty darn good. I've broken every Husky ratchet I ever bought, don't bother with those, but everything else seems pretty ok. I did break one of their 1/2" ratchet extension bars but to be fair, I was trying to loosen a rusted axle nut and I had four or five feet of cheater pipe on it, so figure at least 800, possibly 1000 foot pounds before it broke.
 
Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

Thoughts, or any other good deals/finds that are out there?

jackstands, jacks, presses, engine hoist.... all HF, they work awesome. grinder? my milwaukee rocks. kenny went through 3 HF $12.99 grinders in a saturday. tools? i really like my kobalt stuff, but they're not good for smaller, precise tools. a little bit of slip in the jaw in my big adjustable wrench is ok when tightening a jam nut, but if it was for say, a 1/2" bolt... not ok. then again, why are you using an adj wrench on a 1/2" bolt?

i bought a full 3/8 socket set (just sockets), metric and SAE, all 6pt, on ebay for 50 bucks shipped... gearwrench brand. cant beat that anywhere else. the rest of my tools consist of a full set of task force combination wrenches, and an (almost) full set of gear wrench brand gear wrenches, a few HF punches, HF prybars, husky pro (not to be confused with regular husky, husky pro hand tools are limited lifetime warranty) socket wrenches, husky pro impact sockets and 550lb/ft impact gun, a few hand-me-down hammers and screwdrivers...

i wouldnt recommend HF brand pliers. a few of my friends have them and theyre ok but mine are coming apart and they rust easily. the next items on my tools list are a good set of kobalt (or another ebay brand) pliers and screwdrivers.
 
Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

if it uses electricity i wouldnt buy it from harbor freight. i got a cheap angle grinder from them and it bogged down as soon at a cut off wheel touched the metal.

ive had good luck with their hydraulic stuff however. engine hoist, pipe bender. even the aluminum floor jack that i just bought to have a lightweight compact jack to bring cross country. i just made an extension for it and it has replaced my other fancy, long reach jack. i just prefer using it for some reason.
 
Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

Yeah, the way I use my angle grinder, HF is not even a consideration. That's one thing I can't have crapping out on me. This was a 2' x 4' piece of 3/16" plate, almost every piece of this was cut using a grinder and cutoff wheel.

4654868783_4f39fa733c_z.jpg


I really like the idea of the HF folding shop crane though.
 
Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

just buy the warranty on it. I think it lasts like 3 years which means mine is up soon. All I ever broke was the wheels, and that by abusing the shit out of it.

I got mine with a 20% coupon (not applicable to engine hoists anymore) with a load leveler and IIRC it came to 160 bucks or so.
 
Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

i know theres a bunch of good angle grinders out there. but the first power tool i actually bought was a craftsman angle grinder. been abusing it to hell and back and it still works like the day i got it.

only cost me $30 and came with a bunch of wheels and attatchments and a case.
 
Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

I've been using Ryobi angle grinders... haven't killed them yet either.

I have two because I thought one got stolen and bought another, and it turned out that one of my friends borrowed it. He found it when he moved.
 
Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

http://worcester.craigslist.org/ctd/2903456254.html

Thoughts? A buddy of mine (Matt, some of you have met him) called me and he's looking to get this and sell is '02 1/2ton Chevy.
I'm really liking the idea of putting together my new shop the way I want it. I get to change lots of things that have bothered me over the years.

What I'm not liking so much is the price tag that comes with it, obviously. So I'm trying to decide where best to invest.

I don't need anything fancy. I have a slow-running drill press already. Just basic stuff, grinder, sawzall, hand drill, vise, shop crane, engine stand, rounding out the metric side of my tools because I don't have any, etc.

So for the sake of discussion. What stuff, in your guys' opinion, is best sourced through Harbor Freight/off brand vs. something more solid?

My best experience with corded power tools has by far been Milwaukee, and I don't think this is an area to skimp. However all the ones I've been using are a few years old now and I've heard rumors that newer stuff isn't as good.

Things like a vise, shop crane, jackstands, press etc I think can probably come from HF. Tube notcher, not so much.

I've had really good luck with both Kobalt and the cheaper Task Force brand from Lowes; both are guaranteed. Thinking about getting one of the larger combo sets from there to fill the tool box and leave my little rollup/offroad tool kit the way it is.

Thoughts, or any other good deals/finds that are out there?
[Anthony]I wouldn't skimp on a vice [/Anthony], but with others are probably fine with the cheaper alternatives. I like my older Craftsman angle grinder the best, but it is discontinued now. Not sure what I'd get if I had to purchase a new one.

I'm not a fan of the Kobalt tools, never liked the handles, but that's a personal preference thing.
 
Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

not enough pedals.
 
Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

not enough pedals.
I agree, but he's set on a 7.3L and finding a clean & unmodified one isn't easy. I guess this one has a new paint job and is pretty rot free. Needs a new sending unit or gauge cluster though.

Honestly I'm not sure why he's even considering it. His '02 Chevy is in good shape and he doesn't tow anything other than two jetskis.
 
Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

I've been using Ryobi angle grinders... haven't killed them yet either.

I have two because I thought one got stolen and bought another, and it turned out that one of my friends borrowed it. He found it when he moved.

x2 on ryobi.. mine was 30 bucks in 06, used it until it got stolen, but my milwaukee is definately way more powerful and smoother.
 
Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

How much is he gonna sell the Chevy for?

Seems like a decent truck if he gets it, maybe he just wants something different... is he one of those guys who changes vehicles every 6 months to a year for unclear reasons?
 
Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

Not sure about other areas, but i know in my area on craigslist there is a shit ton of used tools for cheap. thats where i'll be checking when it comes time to stock up
 
Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

X whatever on rhyobi stuff, I've the first grinder I had lasted 5 years and a shit ton of abuse 2nd lasted 2 yeard and 90% of the fabe work on my jeep and the rhoybi sawzall I got I've had for atleasy 6 years with 0 issues
 
Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

My thoughts are "holy sh*t I would not pay $10K for a 1997 truck."

Are you not aware at what diesels go for? And how much did u pay for a problematic honda and not to mention that bairwood
 
Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

How much is he gonna sell the Chevy for?

Seems like a decent truck if he gets it, maybe he just wants something different... is he one of those guys who changes vehicles every 6 months to a year for unclear reasons?
Not sure, probably $6-8k, I'll ask him.

Exactly. He's also the guy an almost brand new STI with barely 6k miles on it.
My thoughts are "holy sh*t I would not pay $10K for a 1997 truck."
Diesel. It is a bit overpriced, but he talked him down slightly. We're going to pick it up when I get out of work.
Are you not aware at what diesels go for? And how much did u pay for a problematic honda and not to mention that bairwood
I giggled.
 
Re: THe NAC Lots-O-Post Thread

Yes I'm aware that diesels go for more money, but a 15 year old truck priced at $10K is ridiculous, diesel or not.

a ~1 year old honda car cannot compare, and what are you talking about problematic?

The briarwood was less than 1/3 of that price.
 
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