I don't know jack. Educate me.
Need a floor jack, want a good one, willing to pay for it this time, but only up to ~$250. Don't really even know what a good brand 'o jack might be, but I know Craftsman is no bueno (and so is Harbor Freight). Low profile is good, 2 ton at least.
Thanks!
Never had any issues with my old craftsman jack; but its not exactly low profile. Might be too tall for the Porsche.
I have had too many bad experiences with Craftsman recently, including my really "nice" Craftsman jack, which snapped the U-joint, and for which, there are no replacement parts.
I have a 3 ton low profile Harbor Freight jack.
Quote from: 280Z Turbo on February 10, 2015, 10:52:27 AM
I have a 3 ton low profile Harbor Freight jack.
If I were looking for yet another floor jack I'd buy one of the HF aluminum low profile jacks with zero reservations.
I know of a lot of people on Jaguar and Miata owner web sites who own the HF aluminum racing jacks. I've never read of a problem with them. They are well under the OP's target price and usually on sale for under $100.
I bought a cheap motorcycle lift from HF. It's not professional quality, but it's OK for light use. So far.
Quote from: Rupert on February 09, 2015, 09:27:31 PM
I have had too many bad experiences with Craftsman recently, including my really "nice" Craftsman jack, which snapped the U-joint, and for which, there are no replacement parts.
Don't Craftsman tools have a lifetime warranty where they'll replace the tool if it's broken with no questions asked?
Quote from: MX793 on February 10, 2015, 06:37:17 PM
Don't Craftsman tools have a lifetime warranty where they'll replace the tool if it's broken with no questions asked?
This!
Quote from: MX793 on February 10, 2015, 06:37:17 PM
Don't Craftsman tools have a lifetime warranty where they'll replace the tool if it's broken with no questions asked?
That's for hand tools.
For jacks the coverage is:
CRAFTSMAN LIMITED WARRANTY
FOR 90 DAYS from the date of purchase, this product is warranted against defects in material or workmanship. With proof of purchase, a defective product will receive free repair or replacement if repair is unavailable.
WARRANTY SERVICE
To obtain warranty coverage, contact the distributor from which the product was purchased.
See: http://www.craftsman.com/cswarranty/nb-100000000227082#point5a (http://www.craftsman.com/cswarranty/nb-100000000227082#point5a)
Ok! I never knew that!
Yeah, it's dumb.
I dunno about HF, guys. Seems like their shit is shit.
Their shit is shit. I have a Craftsman jack, and it is okay. But I'm still getting a real one someday.
Only about $300 for this:
http://www.bendpak.com/shop-equipment/floor-jacks/rfj-6hd.aspx (http://www.bendpak.com/shop-equipment/floor-jacks/rfj-6hd.aspx)
http://www.asedeals.com/jacks/floor-jacks/ranger-floor-jack-heavy-duty-low-rider-3-ton-capacity-rfj-6hd/ (http://www.asedeals.com/jacks/floor-jacks/ranger-floor-jack-heavy-duty-low-rider-3-ton-capacity-rfj-6hd/)
Yeah, I was looking at that one before.
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on February 10, 2015, 09:40:26 PM
Their shit is shit. I have a Craftsman jack, and it is okay. But I'm still getting a real one someday.
Only about $300 for this:
http://www.bendpak.com/shop-equipment/floor-jacks/rfj-6hd.aspx (http://www.bendpak.com/shop-equipment/floor-jacks/rfj-6hd.aspx)
Is that jack made in their newer plant in China?
I've also seen a craftsman jack with a broken u joint.
I still have the jack that I bought in the UK in the mid-80s. Made in China - back when it was a full-on Commie hellhole & before absolutely everything was made in China.
Quote from: CLKid on February 11, 2015, 07:23:11 AM
Is that jack made in their newer plant in China?
I have no idea what isn't made in China anymore.
Quote from: 280Z Turbo on February 11, 2015, 10:38:14 AM
I've also seen a craftsman jack with a broken u joint.
Craftsman stuff seems to be vary widely in quality depending on when it was made.
I think tools are an area where there really was the good old days.
Quote from: Rupert on February 11, 2015, 07:06:49 PM
I think tools are an area where there really was the good old days.
Agreed. It's amazing that my dad has his father's old tools (and uses them nearly daily) and they work GREAT, whereas numerous tools that he's bought in recent years just fail. Some of the power tools from the 30s/40s are really good looking, art deco styling. Still use the electric impact wrench to change tires.
Quote from: J86 on February 11, 2015, 07:46:38 PM
Agreed. It's amazing that my dad has his father's old tools (and uses them nearly daily) and they work GREAT, whereas numerous tools that he's bought in recent years just fail. Some of the power tools from the 30s/40s are really good looking, art deco styling. Still use the electric impact wrench to change tires.
I bought a True Temper single speed 1/4 inch drill in 1966, cost $8.88; it died two years ago. Today I can buy I a pretty decent 3/8 variable speed drill with case and accessories for about $40. Taking inflation into account that $8.88 is equal to just under $65.00 today.
I bought a 3/8 craftsman socket set, 9 sockets, breaker bar and the small bar that goes through the hole in the handle, for about $9 in 1966. For the price I pad for that set of sockets, adjusted for inflation of course, I can buy a Craftsman 140-piece Mechanics Tool Set, http://www.sears.com/craftsman-140-piece-mechanics-tool-set/p-00948140000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&kpid=00948140000&kispla=00948140000P&kpid=00948140000&mktRedirect=y (http://www.sears.com/craftsman-140-piece-mechanics-tool-set/p-00948140000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&kpid=00948140000&kispla=00948140000P&kpid=00948140000&mktRedirect=y) .
Some tools may not last as long today but as a tradeoff you are paying a lot less for them.
I need to get an electric impact wrench.
Quote from: CLKid on February 12, 2015, 08:38:27 AM
I bought a True Temper single speed 1/4 inch drill in 1966, cost $8.88; it died two years ago. Today I can buy I a pretty decent 3/8 variable speed drill with case and accessories for about $40. Taking inflation into account that $8.88 is equal to just under $65.00 today.
I bought a 3/8 craftsman socket set, 9 sockets, breaker bar and the small bar that goes through the hole in the handle, for about $9 in 1966. For the price I pad for that set of sockets, adjusted for inflation of course, I can buy a Craftsman 140-piece Mechanics Tool Set, http://www.sears.com/craftsman-140-piece-mechanics-tool-set/p-00948140000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&kpid=00948140000&kispla=00948140000P&kpid=00948140000&mktRedirect=y (http://www.sears.com/craftsman-140-piece-mechanics-tool-set/p-00948140000P?sid=IDx01192011x000001&kpid=00948140000&kispla=00948140000P&kpid=00948140000&mktRedirect=y) .
Some tools may not last as long today but as a tradeoff you are paying a lot less for them.
Fair point.
Though I didn't expect you to take the opposite side of "The Good Old Days".
:lol:
Quote from: Rupert on February 14, 2015, 03:21:24 PM
Fair point.
Though I didn't expect you to take the opposite side of "The Good Old Days".
:lol:
The facts are generally the facts. :confused:
In many, many instances the "good old days" weren't all that great when compared to what we enjoy today.
Quote from: CLKid on February 14, 2015, 04:38:47 PM
The facts are generally the facts. :confused:
In many, many instances the "good old days" weren't all that great when compared to what we enjoy today.
Except we were a lot younger then.
Bah, maybe I should just get a cheap HF jack.
Quote from: Rupert on February 14, 2015, 06:06:39 PM
Bah, maybe I should just get a cheap HF jack.
Get the aluminum one so you can toss it in ur trunk n carry it around the pits n shit
The 3 ton steel Harbor Freight jack I bought originally back in 2010 still works perfectly fine.
Quote from: Rupert on February 14, 2015, 06:06:39 PM
Bah, maybe I should just get a cheap HF jack.
My take on Harbor Freight Tools.
I've bought a variety of tools and supplies below are my comments on each.
Sandpaper and sanding belts: No life, wear out quickly, buy a name brand at the hardware store.
Corded power hand tools: Crap gears that strip easily except for my small angle grinder which is pretty stout.
Hammers: As good as any moderately priced hammers.
Rakes, shovels, etc.: As good as any average priced tools.
5 speed drill press: Low torque, poor depth gauge. Otherwise good product.
Heat shrink tubing and electrical connectors: Good.
Sockets, breaker bars, wrenches: I've bought a few odd sizes, all were acceptable.
Bar clamps: Good for light to medium duty work.
C clamps: Good.
If I needed a floor jack I'd have no reservations using a HF jack.
I got harbor freight jack stands this week, they worked and I'm not dead.
Quote from: CLKid on February 15, 2015, 08:55:38 AM
My take on Harbor Freight Tools.
Sockets, breaker bars, wrenches: I've bought a few odd sizes, all were acceptable.
Did you have any issues with the sizes being off? I had a set of sockets from HF and 3 or 4 sockets were smaller than my Craftsman sockets of the same sizes.
I was almost killed by a harbor freight spring compressor last fall... Had 2 of the sonufabitches strip/seize the tensioning screw with the coilovers compressed.
Never touching that shit ever again.
I rented a spring compressor from auto zone this weekend and the dumb thing wouldn't fit through my control arms, so I couldn't even use them. Just had to slowly decompress them with the jack.
Well fuck that. HF was out of the jack I wanted (the cheap one) and Sears didn't have anything worth buying (i.e. cheap). Going with the Ranger, because fuck it.
Quote from: Rupert on February 16, 2015, 06:09:55 PM
Well fuck that. HF was out of the jack I wanted (the cheap one) and Sears didn't have anything worth buying (i.e. cheap). Going with the Ranger, because fuck it.
Fuck it, indeed. It will probably be the last jack you have to buy.
Of course, they also have an aluminum model... For "racing'
http://www.bendpak.com/shop-equipment/floor-jacks/rfj-4000al (http://www.bendpak.com/shop-equipment/floor-jacks/rfj-4000al)
Quote from: Gotta-Qik-G8 on February 15, 2015, 03:07:28 PM
Did you have any issues with the sizes being off? I had a set of sockets from HF and 3 or 4 sockets were smaller than my Craftsman sockets of the same sizes.
No, but I only have bought three to fill in holes in my metric 3/8" drive set and 1/2" SAE set.
Quote from: Eye of the Tiger on February 16, 2015, 06:17:23 PM
Of course, they also have an aluminum model... For "racing'
http://www.bendpak.com/shop-equipment/floor-jacks/rfj-4000al (http://www.bendpak.com/shop-equipment/floor-jacks/rfj-4000al)
That they do. The (much, much) lower weight is pretty tempting, but it seems like steel is tougher.
Quote from: Rupert on February 16, 2015, 07:05:01 PM
That they do. The (much, much) lower weight is pretty tempting, but it seems like steel is tougher.
I would do steel for dedicated garage duty. For shizzle.
On the other hand, I move a lot (goddammit), and moving 100 lbs is kind of a PITA.
Quote from: Gotta-Qik-G8 on February 15, 2015, 03:07:28 PM
Did you have any issues with the sizes being off? I had a set of sockets from HF and 3 or 4 sockets were smaller than my Craftsman sockets of the same sizes.
Yeah, I only use their impact sockets (because their regular kind are made of flexibendium like their hand wrenches are) and some of them fit clean snug on the nut and others wobble enough to make me wonder if I really have the right size (which I do, because the next size down won't fit). Though seeing as how I am talking in the present tense, not bad enough to make me get rid of them yet :P
Quote from: Rupert on February 16, 2015, 07:28:15 PM
On the other hand, I move a lot (goddammit), and moving 100 lbs is kind of a PITA.
Jacks are moving tools. It's a height-adjustable rolling furniture dolly
with a handle!
Quote from: Rupert on February 16, 2015, 07:28:15 PM
On the other hand, I move a lot (goddammit), and moving 100 lbs is kind of a PITA.
I borrowed a 3.5 ton jack from work this week, thing weighed more like 150 lbs. Fun to lift in and out of the bed.
Quote from: hotrodalex on February 17, 2015, 08:02:51 AM
I borrowed a 3.5 ton jack from work this week, thing weighed more like 150 lbs. Fun to lift in and out of the bed.
You were sleeping with it? :confused:
Nothing like some cold hard steel to help you fall asleep at night.
Hey, if you're into that sort of thing...
I'm gonna get the steel one, because when I move, I can just roll it up the UHaul ramp.
Also got some nice jack stands finally.
:rockon:
Cinder blocks?
Half-rotted 4x4 posts.
The rotten part makes them easily adjustable.
Quote from: Rupert on February 20, 2015, 12:55:30 AM
Half-rotted 4x4 posts.
I'm sure there's some old growth hardwoods near you that you know about; nobody will miss four or five trees.
Cut them to 8x10x12 inches. That makes them adjustable
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UM5M12/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UM5M12/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
I bought this and have used it a few times. Worked well but I'm not as hardcore
Quote from: Soup DeVille on February 20, 2015, 02:40:08 AM
I'm sure there's some old growth hardwoods near you that you know about; nobody will miss four or five trees.
Cut them to 8x10x12 inches. That makes them adjustable
One stand per tree seems like waste...
:lol:
Quote from: Rupert on February 20, 2015, 01:33:13 PM
One stand per tree seems like waste...
:lol:
Even dead trees are an important part of the forest ecology.
But so are snags. I'll cut two, take one, leave one, and girdle the third but leave it standing.
Years ago somebody broke into my dad's garage in London (burglaries are epidemic there) & stole a large box full of the tools that he's accumulated over his lifetime. He was devastated; they were good quality: made in England, Germany, Sweden etc. Some were from the 19thC - given to him by his grandfather. It was a real emotional loss.
I'd feel the same way: I still have things that I bought in my teens; I always used to try to buy the good stuff, in ones and twos, as I could afford them, rather than buying sets.
The jack has arrived. I believe it will succeed at lifting heavy things.
Quote from: CLKid on February 10, 2015, 07:18:50 PM
That's for hand tools.
For jacks the coverage is:
CRAFTSMAN LIMITED WARRANTY
FOR 90 DAYS from the date of purchase, this product is warranted against defects in material or workmanship. With proof of purchase, a defective product will receive free repair or replacement if repair is unavailable.
WARRANTY SERVICE
To obtain warranty coverage, contact the distributor from which the product was purchased.
See: http://www.craftsman.com/cswarranty/nb-100000000227082#point5a (http://www.craftsman.com/cswarranty/nb-100000000227082#point5a)
IIRC, Craftsman torque wrenches only have a 1 year warranty as well. Not sure if there are other restrictions.
That Ranger jack looks identical to the one I have from crappy tire... Mine works well and is easy to carry around...
RE:Craftsman... Where you buy seems to make a big difference as well. US Craftsman differs from our Canuck crap.. Some better, some worse.