Re: Harbor Freight

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Posted by Frankenbiker (32.145.171.241) on 12:40:48 07/22/08

In Reply to: Re: Harbor Freight posted by Ben

: I'll noodle between the two, but leaning towards Northern. Both that I trust Northern to have
: better and that extra piece.

After having been in both stores recently, I think that Northern Tool would probably be a slightly better choice. The help seems a little bit more knowledegable, and the stores are cleaner.

: Have purchased from both and some tools, but not this type (socket wrench), but since low torque and
: not going to use it every day...think okay to go economy (el cheapo is lower than this).
:

In applications where maximum torque/strength is not required (i.e. best material quality), the difference between "el cheapo" and more expensive grades is probably in how well they spec out... meaning, the stated size is actually the size you get, and not several thousandths off. My experience is that cheaper (and el-cheapo) tools don't keep sizing specs very close to tolerance, so you have a better chance of mis-sizing the cheaper you go. Some box-end wrenches, I've found, can be as much as half a size off. Good if you're in a pinch and need a 12-mm to fit a half-inch nut, but not if you're trying to keep from rounding off a nut.

Incidentally, anyone ever seen a 36-mm crows-foot? That might make changing the frame-mount fuel filter a little easier on my F250... The front driveshaft, skidplate, and brake lines are all in the way for a standard socket.

-blaine

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Comments:	: : I'll noodle between the two, but leaning towards Northern. Both that I trust Northern to have : : better and that extra piece. : : After having been in both stores recently, I think that Northern Tool would probably be a slightly better choice. The help seems a little bit more knowledegable, and the stores are cleaner. : : : Have purchased from both and some tools, but not this type (socket wrench), but since low torque and : : not going to use it every day...think okay to go economy (el cheapo is lower than this). : : : : In applications where maximum torque/strength is not required (i.e. best material quality), the difference between "el cheapo" and more expensive grades is probably in how well they spec out... meaning, the stated size is actually the size you get, and not several thousandths off. My experience is that cheaper (and el-cheapo) tools don't keep sizing specs very close to tolerance, so you have a better chance of mis-sizing the cheaper you go. Some box-end wrenches, I've found, can be as much as half a size off. Good if you're in a pinch and need a 12-mm to fit a half-inch nut, but not if you're trying to keep from rounding off a nut. : : Incidentally, anyone ever seen a 36-mm crows-foot? That might make changing the frame-mount fuel filter a little easier on my F250... The front driveshaft, skidplate, and brake lines are all in the way for a standard socket. : : -blaine
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