Yep, I'm usually sorry when I buy cheap tools. I won't always buy top of the line because they get limited use, but junk always ends up costing more time and money, not to mention lots of frustration. Bill's experience with HF really changes my view on going there.
Sent from AltaMail Go From: EVDL Administrator via EV <ev@lists.evdl.org> To: Electric Vehicle Discussion List <ev@lists.evdl.org> Subject: Re: [EVDL] Harbor Freight tools (was: J1772. Solder or crimp?) Date: 4/27/16, 8:03 PM On 27 Apr 2016 at 10:15, Mark Abramowitz via EV wrote: > Lots of folks thought they were junk ... To some extent I defer to Bill Dube' on this, as he has obviously bought a LOT of HF tools, and I have not. However, in general I follow my father's advice and example, and buy the best tools I can afford. Many times that means buying a used tool. A used tool may cost more, sometimes a lot more, than a similar one at HF or wherever. But I figure I am getting a tool that will last me the rest of my life. I buy used not just for price, but because today a lot of midrange brand name tools are barely, if at all, better than the HF versions. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them come from the same Chinese factories. I think the problem is that the tool companies' stockholders demand big profits, the big box stores demand low-ish cost and high margin, and customers just what what's cheap. So it goes. When I'm absolutely sure I'll use the tool for only one or two jobs, I might buy a cheap one, either brand name or HF. However, I did that with a spring compressor when I changed the struts in a VW Golf in the mid-1990s, and boy did I ever regret that purchase. Bloody thing cross-threaded. I had to rent a decent spring compressor to get the crap one off and finish the job. That made me a lot more cautious. I've read posts here from folks who recommend the HF hydraulic crimpers. I recall someone saying years ago that the dies are mismarked and you have to choose by approximate fit. I don't know whether that's still true. For a while I did consider buying one anyway, but honestly I don't need one since so far my hammer crimper (E-Z-Red, I think is the brand) does just fine for what I need. David Roden - Akron, Ohio, USA EVDL Administrator = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = EVDL Information: http://www.evdl.org/help/ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Note: mail sent to "evpost" and "etpost" addresses will not reach me. To send a private message, please obtain my email address from the webpage http://www.evdl.org/help/ . = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20160427/22848573/attachment.htm> _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
