I recently bought their 18” sheet metal brake. With a one car garage, with a car in it, I don’t have room for anything larger or nicer. Sure, it’s limited in what it can do, but anybody with a brain looking at it can see that. The up side, though, is that it does bend sheet metal, and since it lacks anything to hold down the part that holds what you’re trying to bend, you can set that part aside and cut some pieces of 1/8” strap to make an infinitely adjustable finger brake. I’m using it to make an odd shaped part. 3/4” deep “box” shape, but not square. The shape I need is roughly triangular, with one point cut off. Sent from my iPad using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
I have always tried to buy the best tool for the job at hand, depending how much I could afford and how much use I will use it. Some of the HF tools, such as the English Wheel, Planishing Hammer, and Tube Roller, allow some of us the ability to tackle jobs that were out of reach before. They can also serve as a stepping stone, and a justification to move up to a better tool. I just upgraded to a Trick Tools English Wheel, after building a complete Lakester body using a HF on the difficult parts.
I'd have more but I took a brief foray into the free headlights. I may look like this guy but I must say they work pretty well.
Well all of you Harbor Freight haters. I built my Morris minor gasser and about the only tool that was not Harbor freight was my Hobart welder and my ebay purchased CAT plasma cutter . I used my HF 4inch grinder to cut and grind most of the metal. I used my HF engine hoist and engine stand to lift and hold my engine. I used my HF air tools and sockets to take my engine apart and put it back together. I used my HF magnetic based dial indicator to establish TDC. Also used it to set the back lash on the rear end. I used my HF feeler gauges to measure my end gap on my rings and set the clearance on the valves. I used my HF calipers to measure for push rod length and for the rear end shims. I used my HF press to press my bearings for my spool and pinion bearings. I used my HF break to bend the sheet metal . I used my HF shear to cut the sheet metal. I used my HF clamps to hold the metal. I used my HF jack to jack the car up. I used my HF jack stands to hold the car up. I used my HF paint gun to paint the inside of the car and will use it again to paint the outside of the car. I used my HF stick welder to weld the front axle together after I used my HF saw to cut it apart. do I need to go on ? I am a retired mechanic with almost 50 years of professional mechanic experience. I was at one time a slave to the Snap-On tool truck. I had over 40,000 dollars worth of tools stolen when a low life broke in and took my tools. When I worked for the Federal Govt . they had a Govt contract with Craftsman and that's what they provided . I have never had a harbor Freight tool stolen. Yes I have broken a few tools ,but so did Snap-on tools break. I have a set of Harbor Freight combo wrenches that I have owned for over 10 years and have put pipes on them for more leverage. I don't feel bad about cutting one up to make a special tool. I don't mind heating and bending one . You guys that say you only use Snap-on tools can come out of the closet and admit you have some hidden away in the bottom of your boxes or in the trunk of your cars. Just don't go in the store if you feel that way about HF tools.
Oh oh, I wouldn't even sit in your car or stand near it! It will spontaneously blowup any second now!!! Run, save yourself! All kidding aside HF and Princess up here do us hobbyists a great favour. Think of all the t we have in our collective garage/shop that we would never be able to afford otherwise. Maybe they aren't good enough for day in day out usage but for my use and my dollar they are perfectly fine. Too many tool snobs on here sometimes...
I have enough Snap-on tools from when I made my living turning wrenches, and a number of other brand tools as well but now that all I am is a hobbyiest HF tools will work for most of any more that I may need to get done what I am doing!
The Jalopy Journal
