Home Improvement Thread

[NTP66]

Honestly, I'd just get whatever feels good in your hands. I have three different design knifes, and the only one that I basically let sit in my toolbox are my folding knives. They're just not comfortable to work with. The bigger decision would be which blades to use (Irwin carbon blades FTW).

[Kane]

I think mine is from Harbor Freight. It gets the job done just fine.

[robbiestoupe]

I would say folding knives just because I always have issues with the thumb slide on the retractable type. The blades are where it's at though. If you want one that lasts, carbon blades are nice. If you don't mind changing blades, go cheap but buy a dozen or so.

[NTP66]

My go-to is actually a cheap Durabuilt. I don't even know where I bought it, but the sliding mechanism is smooth as butter, and the blade doesn't move a bit once in position. The Dewalt retractables are nice, too.

[robbiestoupe]

Just don't get a safety knife that auto-retracts. Those things suck balls.

[NTP66]

I apparently bought mine at Target, lol.

[dodint]

I found a bright orange one in a car I was pulling parts from and I've had it the longest now because I can always find it.

[NTP66]

I wonder if it's one of the Home Depot ones. They have arguably the worst slide mechanism I've ever used (gave the one I had to my dad ).

[Willie Kool]

I've always used the old Stanley ones.

[NTP66]

Yep, those Stanleys are solid, too.

[CBear3]

Love my Stanley. Lost it outside right before a snow fall and didn't find it until I mowed the grass next spring. Still serviceable.

[mac5155]

Does anyone have the harbor freight framing nailer? My mom asked me for Christmas gift ideas, and as I plan on framing in my basement this winter, I thought that'd be a good option.

I also see a Husky at home depot for ~$159 which is very near the price of the HF.

Lastly I assume a 1 gallon compressor will run a framing nailer?

[NTP66]

I can't answer the nailer question, but I refuse to believe that any 1g compressor is worth any amount of money.

[Willie Kool]

Yeah, a 1 gal compressor is too small to be useful for much of anything.

[LITT]

related to HF - i have purchased a few tools from them and they always end up breaking or under performing. the only thing i will buy from them now is clamps

[dodint]

Their generators are well received. I love mine, but have only had a few months. I plan to keep up with the service intervals and I bet it lasts a good while.

[NTP66]

I have a Champion generator (a model with the Honda designed engine) that has been serving me well since 2013. I pull it out every quarter to let it run for 15 minutes, then roll it back into the garage.

[dodint]

I take mine on race weekends because the SCCA insists on having their summer events directly on the surface of the sun (Kentucky in June! Texas in June! South Carolina foothills on Memorial Day!) and my trailer has A/C.

[Kane]

HF is probably hit or miss. I have a lot of tools from there and they've held up great. I beat the **** out of my reciprocating saw all the time.

The only things I've had go bad from HF is auto stuff. My 3 ton jack leaked fluid from whatever chamber (I don't know pneumatic lingo) that holds the head up. It slowly drops now, so jack stands are a must. And my battery pack jumper also won't charge anymore.

[dodint]

My trackside hand tools are all Pittsburgh brand from HF. I have them in a separate box because I don't really care if I lose them or break them. Can't say I recall a screwdriver or wrench giving me issues.

I bought my jack stands at Big Lots in like 1999 and they're still doing well. The HF jack stand recall problem is really weird.

[NTP66]

Source of the post The HF jack stand recall problem is really weird.

Did HF stop selling floor jacks? They only have a few models now, whereas before they had a dozen. I have a 3 ton Pittsburgh low profile floor jack (61282) that has been outstanding, and I'd recommend it... if they still sold it.

[dodint]

Not sure, I got mine from Amazon. Hah.

[MrKennethTKangaroo]

I just bought myself a cordless drill set from HF (Bauer brand). It seems nice enough at this point but who knows if it will hold up over time.

[robbiestoupe]

I bought a 4CFM oil free compressor from HF to use at work. I put that thing in an environmental chamber at 140F and -40F and it still runs perfectly

[meow]

Husky makes a collapsible utility knife that is far superior than any other I’ve used. The Stanley is nice and all, but it hurts like hell after using it for a few minutes. It’s not erkelnomically correct