HF tool pass/fail

PASS: Reverse drill bits for getting broken bolts out.

First I used them to pull some busted M6 bolts out of a head. But the real impressive trick was an M12 on the the front suspension of an E46. Never did actually pull the broken bolt out, HOWEVER... They dug all the way through a 2.5" long bolt that was retaining the strut into the spindle. And that sucker was hardened 10.9 strength.

Pass: 4lb deadblow hammer. I've been beating the bejeezsus out of everything with one of these for well over a year.

Pass: 2-ton engine hoist. Some of the holes aren't exactly where they should be. A little massaging and you're good.

Pass: Logging chain. I've abused it around the farm. It hasn't broken. Here's hoping it never will.

Pass: Hot knife. Used it to cut some expanded polystyrene blocks. It worked slowly, but got the job done and didn't catch fire.

Doing my part to support the Chinese economy!

Pass: 9 ft electric pole saw. OK for light work, like trimming crepe myrtles.

Pass: 7.5 Amp Reciprocating Saw. Haven't tried to do any serious cutting with it, like chopping up a car.

Pass: 3gal 100psi compressor. $60 well spent to not have to lug my much larger and heavier compressor setup around when im just trying to do small projects around the house. Already used it 4 times this month.

Pass: 31 Piece Variable Speed Rotary Tool Kit. Not the strongest in the world, but got the job done. Now it can sit on the shelf and collect dust for a couple of years.

PASS: 45 piece Pittsburg Nitride SAE Tap & Die set.

Nice big tap holder - just used the 3/4-16 tap to thread 1.0x.156 wall DOM tubing 1.75" deep. (eight of them!).

Worked fine. Still sharp. I do need a better pipe vise - it takes a lot of damn torque to thread that diameter.

Fail-$2 oil can, pump works pretty good, check balls seal well enough to keep it primed long enough not to be annoying. However, the can had some junk in it I had to clean out first, I cut myself on the razor sharp edge on the mouth of the can, and it leaks a good teaspoon of oil a week out of the crimp.

Fail - ball peen hammer set - over the course of a year most of the handles have broken

Pass - flush cut hand saw - evil little device but works well

Fail: 5 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum Blower-After 3 light uses it is about dead.

Pass: the sub $20 3/8 drill. Most of it's use has been stuck brake rotors. It let some smoke out once but has not missed a beat.

Bought a 1000lb engine stand today. Seems to be solid built and it holds my small block pretty well, better than my dad's name brand engine stand. It passes for now.

Pass: 1/2" low speed drill. It powered through running a tubing notcher for a whole chassis.

Pass: 1/2" Variable Speed Reversible Heavy Duty D-Handle Drill. On sale and used 20% coupon . I bought it after getting tired of my older 18v Craftsman cordless drill dying halfway through tough jobs. I used it to drill 8 1.5" deep holes into concrete and it did great. The next big test will be when I drill 4.5" holes into the rear bumper (1/8" steel) on the Jeep to flush mount reverse lights.

In reply to stanger_missle:

I think that's the same one I have.

DCharger68 wrote: Bought a 1000lb engine stand today. Seems to be solid built and it holds my small block pretty well, better than my dad's name brand engine stand. It passes for now.

I hung a full dressed 396 (approx 800lbs) on one of those and it bent the yolk. I had to prop a 2x4 under the crank pulley until I could re-attach the hoist to keep the situation from turning ugly.

The chassis itself seemed pretty stout but the yolk is made out of some pretty soft stuff or the plate isn't thick enough.

It worked fine on BMW straight sixes at approximately 500lbs + me torquing head studs so I think the rating should be closer to 750lbs.

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

I don't plan on throwing a big block on it for a while. At the most I'll have an AMC 401 on it. At least until after college. Guess it's a good thing I didn't get the 750lb stand

The free tape measure broke after maybe a dozen uses. FAIL

In reply to bgkast:

This guy?

Its loud as hell and seems to be pretty torquey. I hope it lasts!

Sine_Qua_Non wrote: The free tape measure broke after maybe a dozen uses. FAIL

You should see if they will exhange it

stanger_missle wrote:

Sine_Qua_Non wrote: The free tape measure broke after maybe a dozen uses. FAIL

You should see if they will exhange it

Good idea, I should make my 3 year son do it since he is the one that broke it somehow.

In reply to Sine_Qua_Non:

On a somewhat related note, when we recieved new Pelican weapons cases at work, I happened to glance at the warranty card and found this (copied straight off of Pelican's website):

"Pelican™ Products will continue to guarantee the product directly, against breakage or defects in workmanship. This guarantee does not cover the lamp or batteries in lights. The o-rings must be kept greased (and replaced if damaged) per product instructions. (Replace o-rings annually or when damaged.)

Any liability, either expressed or implied is limited to replacement of the product. This guarantee is void only if the Pelican™ product has been abused beyond normal and sensible wear and tear. The guarantee does not cover shark bite, bear attack and children under five."

Kids are no joke!

Toyman01 wrote: I bought one of these a month ago. Love it. 2 Ton Low Profile Heavy Duty Floor Jack Rapid Pump® The only problem, now I need taller jack stands. It'll put a car almost 2 feet in the air.

I bought the same one and I too love it. It has a pretty long reach, very low height, and very high lift height. Works on my low Corvette and my lifted Tundra. PASS

I also recently bought the top of the line 1/2" EarthQuake impact. I like it a lot so far. It has broken everything loose without breaking a sweat and I like that it has 3 levels of tightening power. When re-installing lug nuts I use the lightest setting and then I can still go around with a torque wrench to set them to the final 100 ft-lbs.

http://www.harborfreight.com/air-tools/impact-wrenches/12-in-professional-air-impact-wrench-68424.html#.UzMICPldXh4

In reply to Petrolburner:

My Dad uses that exact impact gun on a daily basis. He's a heavy equipment mechanic and gives that thing hell. Has been going strong for over 2 years now.

In reply to Petrolburner:

I have the same impact gun. I agree, it gets a PASS. I've had mine for a few years now, and it has never let me down.

In reply to stanger_missle:

I have this one: