Tool and equipment review

[Beeman]

We all have tools and equipment that are either the greatest thing ever or the ones we've wasted our time and money on.

Harbor Freight fence post puller..A total waste of time and money, if it can pull them I don't need a puller. Needless to say it's now on the broken junk pile awaiting a major redesign repair or to scrap it to repair something else.

Stihl brush cutter blade, looks like a circular saw blade but with chainsaw type teeth. Where has this been all of my life? I can clear thick brush and saplings like weedeating grass.

Oregon chainsaw blade stones for Dremel tool, this is a great accessory for my Dremel. Unfortunately now I need a cordless Dremel to take to the woods with me. I guess that will wait until Father's Day. Maybe someone can give me a tool review for one.

[HermitJohn]

Be nice to make this a sticky. Can warn people off some stuff or point out bargains.

The Chinese cheap tools which are rising in price and quality overall are mixed bag.

Couple I can recommend are the all metal gear oil pump for 5gal bucket that Harbor Freight sells. I posted a mini review here: http://homesteadworld.com/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=1444

Also couple years ago when one of those weekend tool shows came through I bought a 5.5hp Chinese clone of Honda engine just out of curiosity but didnt have immediate use for it. This spring hooked it up to an old front tine tiller. Had good manners, started easily, smooth, quiet like a Honda. Sheet metal parts of it looked thinner and slightly lesser quality than genuine Honda. Does ok on the tiller, no idea how long it will last but worth the $100 I gave for it. Be nice economical way to resurrect one of the old heavy duty lawn mowers like Yazoo or Kee that used a horizontal shaft engine. One of those made back before EPA and all the yuppie add ons to lawnmowers.

[o&itw]

I stay away from Harbour Freight anymore. 20 years ago I bought a lot of "welding' gloves from them. They were inexpensive and great gloves, but about 10 years ago the changed them, and now they are lucky to last a day or two. The last few things i have ordered from them have taken a couple of months to arrive, and were total junk. We have a hardware store in the area now that sells the same kind of stuff. I don't expect it to be high quality at the price, but at least I can take a look at it before I buy. I have gotten some great deal on 4" grinder blades. The sandpaper from overseas is all junk...don't waste your money

[bookfarmer]

I'm interested in getting a winch to mount on my John Deere Gator. Does anyone have any recommendations.

Also, I bought a three-point quick hitch attachment from Harbor Freight for about $90, which was $100 less than TSC. Wow! What a difference in in effort to change equipment. I just back my tractor up to the equipment, lower the quick hitch and engage the three points of lift. The hitch locks the two equipment pins into place automatically as soon as I raise the hitch a little. Super idea. Wish I'd had it years ago. Also wish my manure spreader hitched up that way instead of to the tow bar. Guess I'm getting lazy in my old age!

[Old Vet]

I buy from Harbor Freight some of the tools are good and some of them are junk. I also buy from Home Depot some of the tools are good and some are junk. I also buy from Sears some of the tools are good and some are junk. I also buy from many other places and some of the tools are good and some are junk. Every body has junk tools and they have some that are good. I will not buy anything over the web or from a magazine if I want good tools but if the junk tools will do the job and I only want to use it one time I will buy it from the web or a magazine.

[diane]

I ordered the fence post puller from Harbor Freight after reading about it on this forum. It has been a great tool for me. When you get older you learn to work smarter, not harder. I love tools that make my homestead life as a single, older woman doable.

[EDDIE BUCK]

Originally Posted by Beeman

We all have tools and equipment that are either the greatest thing ever or the ones we've wasted our time and money on.

Harbor Freight fence post puller..A total waste of time and money, if it can pull them I don't need a puller. Needless to say it's now on the broken junk pile awaiting a major redesign repair or to scrap it to repair something else.

Stihl brush cutter blade, looks like a circular saw blade but with chainsaw type teeth. Where has this been all of my life? I can clear thick brush and saplings like weedeating grass.

Oregon chainsaw blade stones for Dremel tool, this is a great accessory for my Dremel. Unfortunately now I need a cordless Dremel to take to the woods with me. I guess that will wait until Father's Day. Maybe someone can give me a tool review for one.

The only things I ever bought from HF was a half inch pull handle and a vice.Have had the vice welded,the pull handle,no complants.

I agree with the brushcutter blade and the Dremel chainsaw blade sharpener,both gets the job done fer show Eddie

[celticfalcon]

bought a set of screwdrivers at menards on saturday.used the #2 phillips on monday at work. it broke.havent took it back yet but it was worthless.$11.00 for a set.

[woodsy]

Black & Decker 3/8 power drill $40.00.... Junk, plastic chuck gears stripped out in no time. And the power cord is stiff as plastic pipe.

[Ross]

I've purchased three saws recently. A Sawzall 360 a Skillsaw SHD77 and a Ridgid Circular saw. The Sawzall is light years ahead of the DeWalt, B+D and Mastercraft Reciprocating saws we've had in the past. The SkillSaw is the first worm drive we've ever had here but it's just so much better built and powerful than any other electric saw that I've ever tried! The Ridgid saw..... is OK but not really as good as the old Makita it replaced.

[salmonslayer]

I have gotten to the point where I only buy Craftsman or Stanley hand tools regardless of the "good deal" you see. I have Craftsman tools I bought in the 70s that are as good as new but I dont think I have any other manufacturers tools from that era. I also like to pickup used tools at garage sales etc., the older the better.

[MushCreek]

I bought a large mechanics tool chest on wheels from Harbor Freight that is great ($399 on sale) my professional tools are very heavy (I'm a tool maker) and the rollers drawers are strong and smooth. Most of their stuff is junk, though.

I recently bought a Ridgid table saw, and a Ridgid 12" sliding miter saw, and they are both sturdy and very accurate. I noticed they are made in Taiwan, and seem to be better quality than the Chinese stuff.

I buy professional, lifetime tools. I've had 2 Milwaukee drills for 30 years now- still going strong. And I love my Bosch jig saw.

[Macybaby]

I'll just comment on a few of my favorite tools.

My Fien Multi-tool. This is a spendy little cutting device, but when you need it, nothing else will do the job.

A palm pounder. The first time I saw one of these, my mouth dropped open. Of course, that was right after we finished nailing hangers on about 30 rafters for the barn. That tools saves lots of pounded fingers

Laser level (not a cheap one). This thing is the handiest tool. I've used to for laying tile, hanging wall paper, nailing boards on the ceiling, setting grade, getting siding level -I have one that has a visible line along with a noise (for outdoor or distance work).

DH and I about 30 years worth of DIY tools, but these are a few that make projects go much easier.

Cathy

[Farmerwilly2]

I think one of the best tools since the knife, the ax, and the hammer has to be the p38 can opener. Simple, easy to use, lasts forever (the one I have now is from 1977). If you can find them snatch them up.

[Old Vet]

Originally Posted by Farmerwilly2

I think one of the best tools since the knife, the ax, and the hammer has to be the p38 can opener. Simple, easy to use, lasts forever (the one I have now is from 1977). If you can find them snatch them up.

I have one on my key ring now. It is from 1967.

[ricky]

but i got a farm jack to use like the post puller and works 100% of the time.

[DaleK]

Got a set of Pro-Fix Canada 3/4" sockets last fall, they're turning out really well. Was using them today with a 10' cheater over the T-handle to tighten the lug nuts on my manure spreader, no problems

Don't let anyone try to tell you Milwaukee tools are still all US made. My 14" chop saw was made in China and isn't any better than any of the cheaper brands.

Sunflower no-till drills.... about 2000 acres on my 15' now and all I've had to do is grease it.

[foxtrapper]

Always interesting how we can all have different experiences with the same tools. My Harbor Freight T-post puller works just fine for me. My Oregon chain sharpening stone didn't even make it through the first chain.

[sammyd]

I will have to add a comment for the good on the HF post puller. Pulled some out earlier this spring that wouldn't have come out by the wiggle and pull method for sure.

Hand tools-Stanley PROTO
Battery operated drills- Bosch although DeWalt has held up quite well in the industrial settings I work in.

Picked up a cheapie tool box from Sams Club. Steel Glide is the name on it. Stainless with ball bearing drawers, double rails on the big bottom drawer. Half of what Craftsman wanted and is holding up quite well compared to the Craftsman stuff I have had in the past..

[gwithrow]

I am looking for an impact driver...any suggestions? It is worth paying for a quality item...just who makes that anymore? thanks