What would you buy from Harbor Freight?

[astrochex]

So I have squat for tools and need to get stuff to perform my build.

As a start, I need crimpers for 4ga and 8ga, and some sort of a multimeter for continuity checking. Would I be doing myself a disservice by getting these tools (and others) at Harbor Freight?

Thanks.

[chithead]

Nope. I love their cutter/crimper that goes on sale for $3.99 all the time. Plus they have large crimpers that come in handy for the 4ga and 8ga lugs. Plus the cutters they have for larger gauge wire are worth the $8 or so.

[Hi-FiDelity]

If your looking for basic hand tools HF is a good place to go. Most of the tools I use at the local pick and pull come from there (lost one too many good tools there) and I have two multimeter's (and a really nice one from the shack of radio) from there as well. They cost me about $8 apiece and they work fine for simple checks. Most of their stuff could be called use and chuck but a lot of the hand tools are really good considering the price.

[cajunner]

I like to judge my tools on potential harm, or risk reduction.

If I'm likely to bust my hand open if my wrench snaps/strips/cracks, then I don't want the bargain.

If it's something like crimpers, almost any quality plier is going to compress copper, so sure...

but a 3/4" open end wrench, in a cramped engine bay- I'm going for a name brand if I can.

[benny]

http://hooniverse.com/2012/09/24/tru...fraught-tools/

[BigAl205]

http://www.harborfreight.com/hydraul...ool-66150.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/3-16-in...kit-65326.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/4-inch-...ray-90566.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/5-piece...set-99739.html

[n_olympios]

I feel like an idiot for not understanding what the fg rods are for.

[astrochex]

I feel like an idiot for not understanding what the fg rods are for.

home electrical duty, fishing/feeding wires through walls and such

[chad]

I buy a lot of air line connectors there and shit like that.. OCCASIONALLY a power tool that I know that I will use VERY seldom, like my rotozip/dust generator. I buy my trickle chargers there.

I WILL NEVER buy things like cutoff wheels, grinder wheels, etc that rotates at more than, like, 33 1/3 RPM and could explode at high speeds thus leaving me with a third eyelid.

[BigAl205]

I feel like an idiot for not understanding what the fg rods are for.

home electrical duty, fishing/feeding wires through walls and such

This^^^

They are really handy when running wires across rafters when there's not enough room to get in there personally. One of them also works out pretty well for pushing wires under auto carpet, down behind a radio, or thru a firewall.