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FYI The Tool & Implement Thread

I'm becoming a Harbor Freight whore 😂

They opened one in Marietta about a year ago and I'm a regular for everything from tarps, ratchet straps, and zip ties, to tools I need sparingly and don't want to pay 2-3x for just to get a brand name. Like this 36" bar clamps. The Irwin version at Lowes were $42. I got two from HF for the same price. These sawhorses are badass and again, basically got 2 for the price of 1 if I were shopping at Lowes or HD. I also got a small rubber "persuader" for delicate matters like this dresser drawer. It was $5. They even gave me a pack of free zip ties today. Any tool that falls in the "nice to have, but won't use a lot" category, gets bought from HF these days.

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Hi my name is Clay and I am also a Harbor Freight whore.
 
I'm becoming a Harbor Freight whore 😂

They opened one in Marietta about a year ago and I'm a regular for everything from tarps, ratchet straps, and zip ties, to tools I need sparingly and don't want to pay 2-3x for just to get a brand name. Like this 36" bar clamps. The Irwin version at Lowes were $42. I got two from HF for the same price. These sawhorses are badass and again, basically got 2 for the price of 1 if I were shopping at Lowes or HD. I also got a small rubber "persuader" for delicate matters like this dresser drawer. It was $5. They even gave me a pack of free zip ties today. Any tool that falls in the "nice to have, but won't use a lot" category, gets bought from HF these days.

View attachment 216752
They have some great deals but stay away from things like Chicago grinders/cut off wheels. You will burn it up (literally) before you can cut through a single metal pipe. I thought I had a dud so bought a second one. Burned that one up also. Tools are good but most things electric are trash.
 
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They have some great deals but stay away from things like Chicago grinders/cut off wheels. You will burn it up (literally) before you can cut through a single metal pipe. I thought I had a dud so bought a second one. Burned that one up also. Tools are good but most things electric are trash.
I used to agree and still do on the Chicago stuff, but my son has bought a Bauer cordless drill and saw and they work great and have for over a year.
 
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Needed a new air compressor last weekend, old one shit itself. Took my son in there for the first time to buy a new one and he loved it. Ended up buying a new creeper for changing the oil in his truck (doesn’t get his license for another month). HF is definitely one of my favorite stops if we are out and about.
 
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Didn't this thread start as "a tool every man must have in his garage?" Or am I thinking of another thread?

Must have winter tool: Steel snow shovel. Find one at a garage sale. Most of the ones you see in the store won't be as good as the 35yr old one hanging in your dad's garage. If no garage sales, buy one but don't expect the years out of it. Still better than anything plastic or aluminum. The heavier the better. Less effort to break up the ice. Yes. It is heavier to lift to stack the snow. Way less effort to bust up the hard pack though. Buy one.
 
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I've been running the same MS 290 Farm Boss for 25 years. I have cut a fuck of a lot of firewood with it, and it just keeps on going. Ethanol free gas with Sta-Bil and it starts on the second or third pull after sitting for months. I would have a hard time buying another brand of chainsaw for as good as this Stihl has been to me.
 
I've been running the same MS 290 Farm Boss for 25 years. I have cut a fuck of a lot of firewood with it, and it just keeps on going. Ethanol free gas with Sta-Bil and it starts on the second or third pull after sitting for months. I would have a hard time buying another brand of chainsaw for as good as this Stihl has been to me.
Bought my MS 290 about the same time period and have zero complaints with mine as well! Did replace the case a few years ago, pensive son of a guns so take care of it too.👍🏻
 
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Bought my MS 290 about the same time period and have zero complaints with mine as well! Did replace the case a few years ago, pensive son of a guns so take care of it too.👍🏻
The "hinge" on my original case came apart, rendering the case effectively useless. Being a bit on the frugal side and with nothing to lose besides a few minutes and some zip ties, I decided to try and fix it by drilling several holes along the length of the "hinge" and using zip ties to hold the top and bottom together. Works like a charm and has held up fine for the last few years. I did have to buy a new case when I picked up my 220, and the smallest case they make was pretty big for the smaller electric saw. I decided to use old case for small saw and move the 290 into the bigger new case, but I had to modify the bar sheath to fit in the new case.:rolleyes: Just a couple of minutes with the bandsaw and everyone was happy. This was a nearly free DIY fix. Cost me 8 zip ties and about 15 minutes of my time. I'm neither a Hillbilly nor an engineer, but this worked out pretty well. :D

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