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Good tools cheap vs cheap tools

  • Thread starter Thread starter glenwill
  • Start date Start date
I grew up using my dad's craftsman, long before they turned to cheaper quality. So I have a preference to them,but I'm starting to look at kobalt for a medium grade tool brand.
I have a $15 rule at HF, keeps my expectations realistic. I search out auctions, store discounts, and the such for quality tools. Garage sales through car/hobby groups are also nice too!

http://garagejournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=36
a great source for tool deals
 
Funny I came back to this thread. Never owned an impact driver, but I simply could NOT get the phillips screws on the intake bolts loosened, so I went down to Autozone where I knew they had a cheapie one for $9.99. After all the huffing and puffing I did on those damned bolts, I brought that driver home and had all of them out in minutes, like nothing.

Sometimes, you DO get your money's worth. Savor it when you do.
 
Mista M said:
I grew up using my dad's craftsman, long before they turned to cheaper quality. So I have a preference to them,but I'm starting to look at kobalt for a medium grade tool brand.
I have a $15 rule at HF, keeps my expectations realistic. I search out auctions, store discounts, and the such for quality tools. Garage sales through car/hobby groups are also nice too!

http://garagejournal.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=36
a great source for tool deals
Click to expand...


Looking around on this forum, nice source of info. On tools.

Thanks for the link.
 
Does anyone on here have, or have ever used, one of HF motorcycle lifts? Not the little motorcycle/ATV lift but the actual table lift. I saw them on sale recently for $299 and really didnt think I could go wrong at that price but would like some feedback first on them.

Thanks,
Mike
 
My buddy has one, he lifted a Honda ST 1300, a very heavy bike. Up on the table for months as he redid a bunch of stuff. It was OK with the weight, a little wobbly down low but it gets more solid as it goes up.

Nowhere near as solid as a Handy Lift or similar.
 
tkent02 said:
My buddy has one, he lifted a Honda ST 1300, a very heavy bike. Up on the table for months as he redid a bunch of stuff. It was OK with the weight, a little wobbly down low but it gets more solid as it goes up.

Nowhere near as solid as a Handy Lift or similar.
Click to expand...

Would you buy one for $299 or spend more? I ask because you've acknowledged your frugal nature many times.
 
I bought a used Handy Lift. It was more than $300 though.
Was going to buy the HF unit when the used one showed up on craigslist.
 
motomike said:
Does anyone on here have, or have ever used, one of HF motorcycle lifts? Not the little motorcycle/ATV lift but the actual table lift. I saw them on sale recently for $299 and really didnt think I could go wrong at that price but would like some feedback first on them.

Thanks,
Mike
Click to expand...

Over on ADVrider.com, there are lots and lots of people who are very happy with their HF lifts. One common thing people do is upgrade to a decent front wheel chock -- the wheel clamp that comes with the lift is laughable, but with a coupon you can get a much better one and bolt it on for about $25 from a few aisles over. Overall, the consensus seems to be that it's a great deal.



I have one of these air lifts from a local distributor, and it's fantastic if you have compressed air: http://www.completehydraulic.com/lifts-motorcycle-tcml.html
You can find the same lift sold by many different distributors across the US in a variety of colors.
 
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Cool! Thanks for the input guys. I read some of the reviews on HF website and the 2 main gripes about their lift were the mediocre front chock and the hydraulic pumps tearing up prematurely. I wonder if there's a way they can be converted to pneumatic without too much cost & trouble. Any ideas??
 
I wish mine was not pneumatic. It's not like you go up and down constantly, for me it's usually put a bike on and go up and then it sits there for a week or so.. Just pumping it up using a foot pedal would be fine. The air works fine, too, but the compressor is usually over there wherever it was used last. Also where I have the lift there is no outlet for the compressor, bad planning on my part. Have to go find it, untangle the hose, take it where I can plug it in, turn it on and build up enough pressure, then take it back over to raise the lift.

If I could just pump the lift up with my foot it would be much easier.
 
I have one of the HF lift tables and it came with the upgraded front wheel clamp, tie down points and is both air and hydraulic. It is the same as being offered now, except with the above-mentioned features. I don't think HF is selling this exact unit anymore.
 
I've been watching HF lately, I'm thinking about a little service cart for the garage, trying desperately to bring some order to it. Just got a rolling tool cabinet to upgrade the two Craftsman 3&4 drawer toolboxes. It's a Husky, it was a good deal, seems well made, has lots more storage (6 drawers and a storage cabinet on bottom. Plus an intermediate chest can be added if need be. Also it's made in the US, which surprised me. One of the Craftsman boxes went into the basement to try to bring some order to that area. All of this started because I went looking for a couple tools to keep at work for guitar string changes. :eek: One thing that's really really needed is for the garage floor to be redone, because it's very similar to the surface of the moon atm. The tool cabinet is up on a thick piece of plywood, there's no way it would roll on the floor. Looking for a 1/3 hp motor for a tabletop drill press too, I think HF may have one. A bench grinder would be nice too...
 
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