Harbor Freight Hi-Lifts?

[Stomis]

Well I was in Harbor freight today and noticed they had high lifts or excuse me "farm jacks" for $40. The thing seemed solid and seemed to be built the same as hi-lifts I've seen. My question is does anyone know how they compare? And how about harbor freights stuff in general. I know alot of things like their spot lights arent as bright as major names and no brainers like that but what about their welders, lifts, etc?

 

[K5Blazer28]

Well I was in Harbor freight today and noticed they had high lifts or excuse me "farm jacks" for $40. The thing seemed solid and seemed to be built the same as hi-lifts I've seen. My question is does anyone know how they compare? And how about harbor freights stuff in general. I know alot of things like their spot lights arent as bright as major names and no brainers like that but what about their welders, lifts, etc?

lifts are ok... nothing great. welders.... well my teacher in metal shop uses the one he bought from them... not the greatest since its no gas....

other than that... most of their bigger things arent that bad... its the small tinky sh*t you got to watch for.

 

[dbabicky]

Ditto, I have alot of Harbor Frieght stuff. You just have to watch what you buy. Their High-Lift,(Farm Jack) is Cool!

 

[NorCalKid]

I have one of there farm jacks, seems to work just fine

 

[Metalhead47]

I've got a bunch of HF stuff and I think it's great. I abuse the hell out of the $20 angle grinder I got there and it keeps on doing what I need it to do. $100 shop press easily one of the handiest tools I've ever had. Their stuff definitely isn't the same quality as the name brands, but I figure it like this: Unless you're a professional who uses the tools every day, even if the HF tool doesn't last as long as the brand name, you can replace it two or three times before you've paid what you would have for the brand name, and it may last just as long.

 

[K5Blazer28]

I've got a bunch of HF stuff and I think it's great. I abuse the hell out of the $20 angle grinder I got there and it keeps on doing what I need it to do. $100 shop press easily one of the handiest tools I've ever had. Their stuff definitely isn't the same quality as the name brands, but I figure it like this: Unless you're a professional who uses the tools every day, even if the HF tool doesn't last as long as the brand name, you can replace it two or three times before you've paid what you would have for the brand name, and it may last just as long.

you cant beat a FIVE dollar air hammer with 7 heads. just ordered it

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

I have some HF tools, my 20 ton press among them but:

I absolutely hate high lifts. They are dangerous and unpredictable.

The HF name on one (or whatever name its sold under) makes me question it that much more, I hope I never have to use one again.

And no, I don't have any bad experiences with high lifts (though I have used them plenty of times).




They're capable of lots of force but they are also unstable:

They're too tall and thin so they will fail under buckling load before shear (i.e. they will generally fold over to one side or the other rather than shear an part of it). That may sound like a calm failure but its not, engineering generally avoids any design that fails in buckling before shear.

The way they are almost used always involves an uneven surface which makes the likelihood of a buckling failure much greater.

The handle can kick back for an easy crotch or chin shot





My head and "boys" are worth a hell of a lot more to me than the difference in price between a winch and high-lift. That's my choice, if other people make that choice that's their deal.

 

[mudboggink5]

I was thinking about getting a hi lift (Farmer Jack) from HF. I heard that they are the same thing. I geuss we will have to put it to the test.

 

[Stomis]

Yeah guess we'll have to try it out. I picked up a Easy 100 flux core welder to learn on. Its got two settings of 80 and 90 amps. All the guys that weld around ehre say fluxcore is not good etc etc but it was the right price.

 

[JK5]

I HAD one...it was too short to lift my rig..
I think it worked better than the high lift I just purchased.

It's a GOOD buy!!!

 

[pvfjr]

Yeah guess we'll have to try it out. I picked up a Easy 100 flux core welder to learn on. Its got two settings of 80 and 90 amps. All the guys that weld around ehre say fluxcore is not good etc etc but it was the right price.

People are always hating on it cause it's messy. Personally, I like the extra bit of heat, the fact that my MIG is more portable, and I never have to worry about getting gas filled. If you learn on gas, you usually hate flux core if you try to switch. It's just different, people don't like change. I learned on flux core though, and I have no complaints. There's really nothing wrong with it if you learn how to use it.

 

[pvfjr]

Just saw that the jack is on sale for 29.99. Only 48" though, won't work for my flexy suspension.... Don't they have a 60"? Couldn't find one.

 

[BoondocK5]

Just yesterday I saw the 48 inch Hi-lift from Bradshaw autoparts here in SLC it was 49.99 on sale with the XL base for soft ground and the mechanism part was forged not stamped. I'll stick with it, HF has burned me about 10K too many times...

 

[dleroy43]

Ive had mine for a temperary use over three years ago Its worked fine for my burb

 

[rjfguitar]

I don't care what some people say, HF makes a LOT of good stuff for CHEAP compared to the competition. In the last 3 weeks I've spent $900 at HF, buying this and that...

Their cordless tools, drill bits, torch kits, other items I can't think of.... are JUNK.

But, their jack stands, bottle jacks, lifts, carts, and actually many of their 110v power tools are good items. Great place to pick up Goodyear air hoses for cheap too. Most of their air tools aren't quality pieces, and are generally a little weak, but for oddball air tools like 90* air drills, butterfly gun, etc....you aren't going to use often anyway, but is nice to have when you do happen to need them and then it's easy to tolerate an "economy" tool.


You just have to stay in the right mindset at HF, for example, I wouldn't buy their welders or plasma cutters, I only use Miller, Hobart, and Thermal Dynamics in my shop, but I GLADLY purchased two welding carts for $50 a piece. You can't beat items like that.

 

[dbabicky]

I don't care what some people say, HF makes a LOT of good stuff for CHEAP compared to the competition. In the last 3 weeks I've spent $900 at HF, buying this and that...

Their cordless tools, drill bits, torch kits, other items I can't think of.... are JUNK.

But, their jack stands, bottle jacks, lifts, carts, and actually many of their 110v power tools are good items. Great place to pick up Goodyear air hoses for cheap too. Most of their air tools aren't quality pieces, and are generally a little weak, but for oddball air tools like 90* air drills, butterfly gun, etc....you aren't going to use often anyway, but is nice to have when you do happen to need them and then it's easy to tolerate an "economy" tool.


You just have to stay in the right mindset at HF, for example, I wouldn't buy their welders or plasma cutters, I only use Miller, Hobart, and Thermal Dynamics in my shop, but I GLADLY purchased two welding carts for $50 a piece. You can't beat items like that.

DITTO !

 

[GsxrMike]

X3! I buy all Kline, Ridgid, Dewalt, Miller, Fluke, etc... for work but I have a ton of stuff from habor HF for home use. i.e. sandblaster, jack stands, engine stand, piano dollies, etc.

 

[nad]

IMO, a farm jack is a farm jack. they're pretty much all comparable to a Hi-Lift. I'm definitely gonna have to get by my local Harbor Freight since I've never been there. Sounds like I could spend a fortune in there.

 

[BoondocK5]

I don't care what some people say, HF makes a LOT of good stuff for CHEAP compared to the competition. In the last 3 weeks I've spent $900 at HF, buying this and that...

Their cordless tools, drill bits, torch kits, other items I can't think of.... are JUNK.

But, their jack stands, bottle jacks, lifts, carts, and actually many of their 110v power tools are good items. Great place to pick up Goodyear air hoses for cheap too. Most of their air tools aren't quality pieces, and are generally a little weak, but for oddball air tools like 90* air drills, butterfly gun, etc....you aren't going to use often anyway, but is nice to have when you do happen to need them and then it's easy to tolerate an "economy" tool.


You just have to stay in the right mindset at HF, for example, I wouldn't buy their welders or plasma cutters, I only use Miller, Hobart, and Thermal Dynamics in my shop, but I GLADLY purchased two welding carts for $50 a piece. You can't beat items like that.

Fair enough, I'd agree with that.

 

[onetonbb74]

I don't care what some people say, HF makes a LOT of good stuff for CHEAP compared to the competition. In the last 3 weeks I've spent $900 at HF, buying this and that...

Their cordless tools, drill bits, torch kits, other items I can't think of.... are JUNK.

But, their jack stands, bottle jacks, lifts, carts, and actually many of their 110v power tools are good items. Great place to pick up Goodyear air hoses for cheap too. Most of their air tools aren't quality pieces, and are generally a little weak, but for oddball air tools like 90* air drills, butterfly gun, etc....you aren't going to use often anyway, but is nice to have when you do happen to need them and then it's easy to tolerate an "economy" tool.


You just have to stay in the right mindset at HF, for example, I wouldn't buy their welders or plasma cutters, I only use Miller, Hobart, and Thermal Dynamics in my shop, but I GLADLY purchased two welding carts for $50 a piece. You can't beat items like that.

couldn't have said it better.