Angelk
New member
As a general rule I don't buy anything that I will use a lot there. I have worked at a car shop for almost 3 years now, I grew up between my dad's shop, my grandpa's shop, and the farm shop. I have had my fair share of experience with HF tools and stuff. Here is a comprehensive list of HF stuff that I have had experience with:
Air tools(I have never use the impact drivers so I don't know about those)
NO, I would not recommend any air tools because they severely lack power
Air Accessories(reels, blowers etc.)
Air reels - Yes, Hoses are durable
Air fittings - Yes
Air Things(blowers, things you air up valves with) - Yes
Hand tools
Wrenches - No, extremely low quality
Socket handles - No, extremely low quality
Sockets - No, extremely low quality
Impact sockets - Yes, these are good, can't beat the price
Screw drivers - Yes, they make good pry bars too because they aren't expensive
Pliers - Yes, they are just as strong as my craftsman ones
Vise Grips - No these are weak, poorly coated, and do not work well
Hammers - Never had any experience but a hammer is a hammer. If you are looking for a framing hammer I would probably get a name brand though.
Tape measures - Yes, low quality and not as stiff as lufkins or fax maxes, but an inch is an inch.
Levels - No, cheaply made and I have seen several that have been curved or flat out off.
Pry bars - Yes, easy to replace when cheap
Clamps - No, very cheap castings
That about covers all hand tools. What it ultimately boils down too is that I would not buy anything that you plan on using a lot. I picked up the 105 piece set to keep in my truck. I rarely use them, but when I do they work. But I am very glad I don't rely on them for my main tools.
Welding accessories
Helmets - Yes, Best quality helmet I have ever had for the price
Magnets - No, too weak to be useful
Hammers - Yes
Brushes - No. They last for about 4 uses. Save yourself frustration and buy a nice $10 brush from menards.
Cart - Yes, this thing is amazing
Table - Yes, personally I think you can make one for cheaper, but it is still nice
Tool Storage
Tool Chests(US General only) - Yes, Very high quality, just as nice as our snap-on sitting next to it
Work benches - Who buys a work bench?
Tool bags - Yes, Very durable
Parts Racks - Yes, for the price these are good
Tool belt - Yes
Automotive
Winches - Yes
Tie downs - No, jam easy and are flimsy
OBD2 - Yes, hard to beat for the price
Testers (compression, fuel injection etc.)- Yes
Multimeter - No, although if you pick one up as a free gift it never hurts to have a spare
Jacks - Maybe, I have seen one fail, and I have seen one going 10 years strong
Pulley Pullers - Yes
Engines
212cc - Oh wait, I think we know enough about this section already
Power tools
We have always bought name brand drills, grinders, drill press etc. so I can't speak for those. However my impression would be that they are not very good. We bought a belt sander and a couple things were put on backwards, and the top bearing had a wobble right out of the box. Same experience with the miter saw, its quality was so far away from our Dewalt that it wasn't worth the price break. That being said, this new line of hercules/ bauer looks very attracting haven't used it yet though. The extension cords are very nice.
Hopefully this was helpful to someone. The big things I don't have experience with are their welders, most power tools as I mentioned, generators, impact drivers, or air compressors.
This thread should be sticky noted though. It could help many lost souls in and out of the karting world.
Air tools(I have never use the impact drivers so I don't know about those)
NO, I would not recommend any air tools because they severely lack power
Air Accessories(reels, blowers etc.)
Air reels - Yes, Hoses are durable
Air fittings - Yes
Air Things(blowers, things you air up valves with) - Yes
Hand tools
Wrenches - No, extremely low quality
Socket handles - No, extremely low quality
Sockets - No, extremely low quality
Impact sockets - Yes, these are good, can't beat the price
Screw drivers - Yes, they make good pry bars too because they aren't expensive
Pliers - Yes, they are just as strong as my craftsman ones
Vise Grips - No these are weak, poorly coated, and do not work well
Hammers - Never had any experience but a hammer is a hammer. If you are looking for a framing hammer I would probably get a name brand though.
Tape measures - Yes, low quality and not as stiff as lufkins or fax maxes, but an inch is an inch.
Levels - No, cheaply made and I have seen several that have been curved or flat out off.
Pry bars - Yes, easy to replace when cheap
Clamps - No, very cheap castings
That about covers all hand tools. What it ultimately boils down too is that I would not buy anything that you plan on using a lot. I picked up the 105 piece set to keep in my truck. I rarely use them, but when I do they work. But I am very glad I don't rely on them for my main tools.
Welding accessories
Helmets - Yes, Best quality helmet I have ever had for the price
Magnets - No, too weak to be useful
Hammers - Yes
Brushes - No. They last for about 4 uses. Save yourself frustration and buy a nice $10 brush from menards.
Cart - Yes, this thing is amazing
Table - Yes, personally I think you can make one for cheaper, but it is still nice
Tool Storage
Tool Chests(US General only) - Yes, Very high quality, just as nice as our snap-on sitting next to it
Work benches - Who buys a work bench?
Tool bags - Yes, Very durable
Parts Racks - Yes, for the price these are good
Tool belt - Yes
Automotive
Winches - Yes
Tie downs - No, jam easy and are flimsy
OBD2 - Yes, hard to beat for the price
Testers (compression, fuel injection etc.)- Yes
Multimeter - No, although if you pick one up as a free gift it never hurts to have a spare
Jacks - Maybe, I have seen one fail, and I have seen one going 10 years strong
Pulley Pullers - Yes
Engines
212cc - Oh wait, I think we know enough about this section already
Power tools
We have always bought name brand drills, grinders, drill press etc. so I can't speak for those. However my impression would be that they are not very good. We bought a belt sander and a couple things were put on backwards, and the top bearing had a wobble right out of the box. Same experience with the miter saw, its quality was so far away from our Dewalt that it wasn't worth the price break. That being said, this new line of hercules/ bauer looks very attracting haven't used it yet though. The extension cords are very nice.
Hopefully this was helpful to someone. The big things I don't have experience with are their welders, most power tools as I mentioned, generators, impact drivers, or air compressors.
This thread should be sticky noted though. It could help many lost souls in and out of the karting world.
