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Posted by: Unobtanium-inc Feb 29 2020, 08:49 AM

I'm a big fan of Harbor Freight, but there are times when cheap tools are a bad idea. I grabbed the wrong jack before a road trip a few weeks ago. So here I am, 1000 miles from home, looking for the plug that flew out of my cheap HF jack, damn you Harbor Freight!


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Posted by: davep Feb 29 2020, 09:31 AM

Nothing like such a situation to drive home the message that good items can be cheaper in the long run.

Posted by: Root_Werks Feb 29 2020, 01:44 PM

There's a few things I'll get from HF. Usually furniture dollies or other similar items. No jacks or power tools.

Posted by: mepstein Feb 29 2020, 01:48 PM

I really don’t think there is much difference between the made in China tools from harbor freight and the made in China tools from everybody else.

Posted by: Unobtanium-inc Feb 29 2020, 03:43 PM

The problem with HF is that they actually have decent stuff, but it costs more, sometimes a lot more, so you invariably roll the dice on the cheap one, and pay the price. For example, this jack was under $100, I bought it on the road one time when we needed one in a pinch, but when I went to replace it I bought one from HF for almost three times as much. Northern Tool has China stuff too but usually doesn't have the really cheap option. Another example, you can buy a cutting wheel at HF for $9, but the one I used cost about $150, from HF.
I just have to remind myself to not fall for the okey-doke low price.

Posted by: dr914@autoatlanta.com Feb 29 2020, 04:01 PM

Who cares when you won that great 356!!!!!! The agony of harbor freight makes the experience of the "barn fine" much more gratifying! Congrats rescuing that car!

Posted by: Unobtanium-inc Feb 29 2020, 05:22 PM

It's a pretty cool car, Euro-delivery, with sunroof. It was a two-fer, got a 68 912 too.



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Posted by: Bleyseng Feb 29 2020, 10:17 PM

Should've grabbed that Westy too

Posted by: Unobtanium-inc Feb 29 2020, 11:28 PM

Don't know anything about those, I only buy what I know, Porsches that are older than me, I was born in 74.


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Posted by: Literati914 Feb 29 2020, 11:33 PM

I buy a lot of things from HF but PLEASE take it from me and DO NOT use a cut off wheel/blade from them! Use only the best you can get. Had one blow up on me, stitches to the face.

HF has a 10" Sliding compound chop saw at the moment for $95 ... and It's more robust than the $238 Ryobi version at HomeDepot. Problem is I have a HomeDepot store credit .

Posted by: saigon71 Mar 1 2020, 07:15 AM

I'm a HF fan for many items. But not the chop saw. I tried picking up one for a project several years ago. After screwing around for a few hours trying to get it to cut square (and keep cutting square), I took it back and bought a Dewalt, which I am very happy with.

Posted by: mepstein Mar 1 2020, 07:25 AM

I think the stuff at HF is a lot better now than a couple years ago. I’m sure not all their stuff is better but a lot of the tools I’ve purchased there recently work great. But I understand everyone has their preferences and that’s fine.

Posted by: ClayPerrine Mar 1 2020, 07:47 AM

Funny... I always got the impression that you were the same age as Al Zim.....

Posted by: Unobtanium-inc Mar 1 2020, 11:26 AM

The last pic I took of Sir Zim, at his place.


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Posted by: bandjoey Mar 1 2020, 08:05 PM

OT Just wondering if you saw this one? At Mebane NC Copart this one on Facebook today


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Posted by: Blue6 Mar 1 2020, 09:47 PM

I bought the 10” sliding chop saw. It was cheap and very good for rough construction. When I was building a decorative fence, I could not get a square cut. The tolerances were just not there.

Posted by: Unobtanium-inc Mar 1 2020, 11:12 PM

Part of the explosion.



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Posted by: Porschef Mar 2 2020, 05:21 AM

Brick walls like that don’t come cheap; that, your distance estimate and the pines make me think an affluent area outside Atlanta?

Posted by: Unobtanium-inc Mar 2 2020, 06:26 AM

Close, but nope, this was South Cakalaka.

I grew up in Buckhead, only saw one 356 growing up. I did find my first barnfind in Peachtree Hills, a 190SL.


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Posted by: eric9144 Mar 2 2020, 10:22 AM

Man that's painful to look at