Harbor Freight Tools bad for Corvettes
05-11-2015, 08:06 PM
#21
Le Mans Master
Take a look at Precision Instruments. They are the OEM for most of Snap-On's torque wrenches. If you look at the dial types (my personal preference), they are identical except for the printing on the dial. Made in USA by people who get to participate in the election of their leaders (is that too much to ask?).
They cost more than Harbor Freight, but 1) these are measuring tools we're talking about and 2) they'll outlast your grandchildren. Actual street prices are lower than the MSRP figures on their website.
http://www.torqwrench.com/home.php
They cost more than Harbor Freight, but 1) these are measuring tools we're talking about and 2) they'll outlast your grandchildren. Actual street prices are lower than the MSRP figures on their website.
http://www.torqwrench.com/home.php
05-11-2015, 11:03 PM
#22
Drifting
05-12-2015, 12:49 PM
#24
I just set my 1/4 horrible fate torque wrench to 44 in lbs and tried it. The click is very perceptible (unlike at much lower torque where it could be missed). I think maybe yours really was defective or wildly out of tolerance.
05-13-2015, 05:48 PM
#26
Thats funny because we have a shop full of snap on and matco torque wrenches and the only ones that fail every year are the new guys that bring in harbor freight ones. I think with anything else it's quality control issues, harbor freights quality control is crap but there are some tools that come out working great forever, which is usually opposite for the big brands but it's kinda the luck of the draw.
05-13-2015, 07:14 PM
#27
Race Director
You can buy a digital TQ adapter that goes between the TQ wrench and the socket to check the TQ and get a value to check your TQ
In my sales business, I sell TQ devices that cost $12,000 to $25k and are accurate to a specific TQ & Angle, extremely accurate servo TQ, and then you have Current Based TQ which is still accurate to 2%-3%
With that said,, I use my elbow and the TQ wrench
05-15-2015, 01:41 PM
#28
Instructor
So, bottom line with Harbor F is it is hit or miss. I hate even going in there because of the overwelming smell of their cheap rubber tires outgassing. It must be very toxic to work there.
But your article opens my eyes to admit they must have some good tools too. But really, using them on aircraft, knowing they are the cheapest tool on earth?? Note, I'm an engineer for a military contractor and all of our tools must be calibrated too so I'm impressed the cheap stuff actually passed calibration multiple times.
I bought one of their battery tenders for $4 or so, and decided not to use it because I didn't want to burn down my barn over the winter. It just didn't look quality enough to leave unattended with my C6. I bought a quality tender feel much better about using it unattended.
And torque is something you need to "feel" too. If it feels like this is way too much cranking for what you expect, stop.
Good to know not all HF is crap. But I'll still use it for temporary jobs that don't justify the cost of a heavy duty tool that will last your lifetime.
But your article opens my eyes to admit they must have some good tools too. But really, using them on aircraft, knowing they are the cheapest tool on earth?? Note, I'm an engineer for a military contractor and all of our tools must be calibrated too so I'm impressed the cheap stuff actually passed calibration multiple times.
I bought one of their battery tenders for $4 or so, and decided not to use it because I didn't want to burn down my barn over the winter. It just didn't look quality enough to leave unattended with my C6. I bought a quality tender feel much better about using it unattended.
And torque is something you need to "feel" too. If it feels like this is way too much cranking for what you expect, stop.
Good to know not all HF is crap. But I'll still use it for temporary jobs that don't justify the cost of a heavy duty tool that will last your lifetime.
05-15-2015, 02:25 PM
#29
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St. Jude Donor '15
So, bottom line with Harbor F is it is hit or miss. I hate even going in there because of the overwelming smell of their cheap rubber tires outgassing. It must be very toxic to work there.
But your article opens my eyes to admit they must have some good tools too. But really, using them on aircraft, knowing they are the cheapest tool on earth?? Note, I'm an engineer for a military contractor and all of our tools must be calibrated too so I'm impressed the cheap stuff actually passed calibration multiple times.
I bought one of their battery tenders for $4 or so, and decided not to use it because I didn't want to burn down my barn over the winter. It just didn't look quality enough to leave unattended with my C6. I bought a quality tender feel much better about using it unattended.
And torque is something you need to "feel" too. If it feels like this is way too much cranking for what you expect, stop.
Good to know not all HF is crap. But I'll still use it for temporary jobs that don't justify the cost of a heavy duty tool that will last your lifetime.
But your article opens my eyes to admit they must have some good tools too. But really, using them on aircraft, knowing they are the cheapest tool on earth?? Note, I'm an engineer for a military contractor and all of our tools must be calibrated too so I'm impressed the cheap stuff actually passed calibration multiple times.
I bought one of their battery tenders for $4 or so, and decided not to use it because I didn't want to burn down my barn over the winter. It just didn't look quality enough to leave unattended with my C6. I bought a quality tender feel much better about using it unattended.
And torque is something you need to "feel" too. If it feels like this is way too much cranking for what you expect, stop.
Good to know not all HF is crap. But I'll still use it for temporary jobs that don't justify the cost of a heavy duty tool that will last your lifetime.
05-15-2015, 09:36 PM
#31
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So, bottom line with Harbor F is it is hit or miss. I hate even going in there because of the overwelming smell of their cheap rubber tires outgassing. It must be very toxic to work there.
But your article opens my eyes to admit they must have some good tools too. But really, using them on aircraft, knowing they are the cheapest tool on earth?? Note, I'm an engineer for a military contractor and all of our tools must be calibrated too so I'm impressed the cheap stuff actually passed calibration multiple times.
I bought one of their battery tenders for $4 or so, and decided not to use it because I didn't want to burn down my barn over the winter. It just didn't look quality enough to leave unattended with my C6. I bought a quality tender feel much better about using it unattended.
And torque is something you need to "feel" too. If it feels like this is way too much cranking for what you expect, stop.
Good to know not all HF is crap. But I'll still use it for temporary jobs that don't justify the cost of a heavy duty tool that will last your lifetime.
But your article opens my eyes to admit they must have some good tools too. But really, using them on aircraft, knowing they are the cheapest tool on earth?? Note, I'm an engineer for a military contractor and all of our tools must be calibrated too so I'm impressed the cheap stuff actually passed calibration multiple times.
I bought one of their battery tenders for $4 or so, and decided not to use it because I didn't want to burn down my barn over the winter. It just didn't look quality enough to leave unattended with my C6. I bought a quality tender feel much better about using it unattended.
And torque is something you need to "feel" too. If it feels like this is way too much cranking for what you expect, stop.
Good to know not all HF is crap. But I'll still use it for temporary jobs that don't justify the cost of a heavy duty tool that will last your lifetime.
05-16-2015, 10:28 AM
#32
This thread reaffirms my belief that some people are 'impressed by high prices.'
HF build quality is poor but so is GMs, it seems a match made in heaven..........
I use that very tool for one job and one job alone, spark plugs-it does it perfectly. Although, I have the feel/knowledge to tell the difference between in and lb ft which is a good start.
HF build quality is poor but so is GMs, it seems a match made in heaven..........
I use that very tool for one job and one job alone, spark plugs-it does it perfectly. Although, I have the feel/knowledge to tell the difference between in and lb ft which is a good start.
05-17-2015, 12:27 PM
#33
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05-17-2015, 02:17 PM
#34
Drifting
I wouldn't expect a HF torque wrench to be very good (but others in this thread seem to think otherwise). I broke a Craftsman last week during its second use. Still looking for a good one that doesn't cost $300. 
OTOH, I love my new HF cordless impact wrench. Yes, it's Chinese and Ni-Cad, but for under $100 (with coupon) it takes off 100 lb-ft lugs like butter. I have a wrist and shoulder injury, plus a torn pect muscle, so I can't be cracking a ton of torque (literally, 5 X 100 X 4 = 2000) by hand. I can have a wheel off in 15 seconds with this baby.
And I'd certainly buy regular wrenches at HF under the Pitt Pro branding. I think part of the fun of HF is proving the haters wrong.
And yeah, that rubber smell.
I bought some HF wheel chocks and I had to leave them outside of the garage. Definitely wouldn't want to work in the plant that makes those!
OTOH, I love my new HF cordless impact wrench. Yes, it's Chinese and Ni-Cad, but for under $100 (with coupon) it takes off 100 lb-ft lugs like butter. I have a wrist and shoulder injury, plus a torn pect muscle, so I can't be cracking a ton of torque (literally, 5 X 100 X 4 = 2000) by hand. I can have a wheel off in 15 seconds with this baby.
And I'd certainly buy regular wrenches at HF under the Pitt Pro branding. I think part of the fun of HF is proving the haters wrong.
And yeah, that rubber smell.
I bought some HF wheel chocks and I had to leave them outside of the garage. Definitely wouldn't want to work in the plant that makes those!
05-17-2015, 08:08 PM
#35
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St. Jude Donor '15
I wouldn't expect a HF torque wrench to be very good (but others in this thread seem to think otherwise). I broke a Craftsman last week during its second use. Still looking for a good one that doesn't cost $300.
OTOH, I love my new HF cordless impact wrench. Yes, it's Chinese and Ni-Cad, but for under $100 (with coupon) it takes off 100 lb-ft lugs like butter. I have a wrist and shoulder injury, plus a torn pect muscle, so I can't be cracking a ton of torque (literally, 5 X 100 X 4 = 2000) by hand. I can have a wheel off in 15 seconds with this baby.
And I'd certainly buy regular wrenches at HF under the Pitt Pro branding. I think part of the fun of HF is proving the haters wrong.
And yeah, that rubber smell. I bought some HF wheel chocks and I had to leave them outside of the garage. Definitely wouldn't want to work in the plant that makes those!
OTOH, I love my new HF cordless impact wrench. Yes, it's Chinese and Ni-Cad, but for under $100 (with coupon) it takes off 100 lb-ft lugs like butter. I have a wrist and shoulder injury, plus a torn pect muscle, so I can't be cracking a ton of torque (literally, 5 X 100 X 4 = 2000) by hand. I can have a wheel off in 15 seconds with this baby.
And I'd certainly buy regular wrenches at HF under the Pitt Pro branding. I think part of the fun of HF is proving the haters wrong.
And yeah, that rubber smell.
I bought some HF wheel chocks and I had to leave them outside of the garage. Definitely wouldn't want to work in the plant that makes those!
05-21-2015, 01:03 PM
#36
Melting Slicks
I have 3 different size Craftsman and just tested (calibrated) them on a bench vise. 2 of the 3 were off. I thought Craftsman were decent tools. Guess I will have to start doing some research on replacements
05-23-2015, 11:50 PM
#37
44 in-lb is a really small value and equivalent to 3.6 ft-lb. That's a really small amount of force. At that value, I don't know how those bolts could have snapped so you must have missed the click and just wrenched on it.
On low torque values, always use a spare socket extension in a vise and test it with the wrench set to know when the click will occur. Just pop the torque wrench onto the extension, turn and you'll know just how much force you need to apply.
It's deceiving. Our wheels are supposed to be torqued to 100 ft-lbs which seems like a huge value but I've tightened them by hand only to find them way over torqued. So even high torque values should be checked.
Check first and you'll never snap another bolt again. Especially at low torque values.
On low torque values, always use a spare socket extension in a vise and test it with the wrench set to know when the click will occur. Just pop the torque wrench onto the extension, turn and you'll know just how much force you need to apply.
It's deceiving. Our wheels are supposed to be torqued to 100 ft-lbs which seems like a huge value but I've tightened them by hand only to find them way over torqued. So even high torque values should be checked.
Check first and you'll never snap another bolt again. Especially at low torque values.