Folks,

I am a machinist for about 35 years, so love my Starrett gages..BUT while hanging out in a first rate racing machine shop in Charlotte this week, I saw crews using a dial gage and block set that said "China". I was shocked, but tested the gages against my Starretts, against a precision ground table and against some other gages. I hate to report that the cheap gages are as dead on as my high dollar ones....and are on sale this week at Harbor Freight for $5.99 each, and the magnetic block and arms set is $5.99, too. Now I don't know how long they will be dead on, but they sure work out of the box. So I prostituted myself to buy three sets because they can be used "in the field" and for loaners and if damaged, toss em out. Regardless of the gages, the little magnetic block and arm sets have many uses. I wouldn't buy much at Harbor besides duct tape, but these beat pawnshop specials.
rock
'64d100

Here's another one to get at Harbor Freight.........

Occasionally they have a sale on 10amp digital voltmeters for $3-$4.........

Once adjusted (take the back off and there's a pot) they're just as accurate as my expensive ones.................

Good to leave in the car, people to borrow, drop, etc............

And it comes with a battery even

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Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

Yes, I am a Harbor Freight fan. I've purchased stuff from them for years. Saws, grinders, sanders (woodworking hobby) as well as automotive wrenches, socket sets and so on. Most of the junk I've gotten has been pretty good and held up under punishing use. Some of the junk is just that--cheap junk - but overall I have found Chicago Electric and Pittsburg Steel tools as good as Stanley or Craftsman at a fraction of the cost. Oh yes, I was surprised to see a new Pittsburg tool, which has a lifetime warranty, stamped with 'CHINA'. Conclusion: Cheap labor

A buddy of mine 4 years back bought a set of their "Chinese" micrometers as a 'cheap set' ($200). He built a couple of engines using them, and compared their accuracy to what his machinist used and found them to be pretty accurate for the price.

You just have to watch what you buy, some things are 'junk'...I have a set of their wrenches, and screwdrivers for my emergency road kit...they work great, and if they get stolen I'm out a whole $16...

I have yet to burn up one of their pneumatic die grinders porting out a head or manifold either...

-D.Idiot

I've used harbor freicht tools for a long time and the only problem I've ever had is screwdriver handles stripping out. Other than that, I've never had a prblem with any of their tools.

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82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2