Harbor Freight free DMM with any purchace, 20% off any single item

[BUTCH1]

Need to get the coupons from the back of the monthly flyer for Dec. Also picked up 2 9-LED metal-case mini flashlights for $2.99, was shocked at how bright they are!. Both the DMM and the flashlights have batteries pre-installed, have tried the DMM out on a couple of things and it seems to be accurate, also has a built-in diode and transistor checker. Not too bad at all for FREE!.

 

[mikeford]

Included batteries are ultra cheap, be sure to remove them before they start to leak. No need to immediately toss them, just don't leave them in a flashlight you plan to keep in the car etc.

Meters are OK, probes are terrible. Spend $5 or so on ebay and get some better ones. Be sensible in use, do NOT use on higher voltages or currents, even checking a normal AC circuit make very sure the meter is on the correct setting.

BTW not sure on the hotness of this deal since its been the same deal for a decade. Best free items are the tape measures, gloves, scissors, and screwdriver sets. Flashlight not so much, not that they are decent flashlights, but once you switch to good quality rechargeable batteries its cheaper to buy a $5 single AA type flashlight than to buy 3x AAA batteries.

 

[BUTCH1]

Included batteries are ultra cheap, be sure to remove them before they start to leak. No need to immediately toss them, just don't leave them in a flashlight you plan to keep in the car etc.

Meters are OK, probes are terrible. Spend $5 or so on ebay and get some better ones. Be sensible in use, do NOT use on higher voltages or currents, even checking a normal AC circuit make very sure the meter is on the correct setting.

BTW not sure on the hotness of this deal since its been the same deal for a decade. Best free items are the tape measures, gloves, scissors, and screwdriver sets. Flashlight not so much, not that they are decent flashlights, but once you switch to good quality rechargeable batteries its cheaper to buy a $5 single AA type flashlight than to buy 3x AAA batteries.

All true but the meter sells for $7 so it's not going to be an auto-ranging type. IDK if a single AA type of flashlight is going to as bright as these, I just bought a cheap bike headlight for $10, takes 4 AAA's and the HF mini blows it out of the water!. Good advise on the Batt's though, I already have a Ni-mh charger so I might get some of those.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Harbor Freight needs to add some different freebies. I live less than a mile from my local Harbor Freight and I already have the Multi-Meter, 2 tape measures, the screwdriver set, a couple of power strips and at least eight of the LED flashlights. The flashlights are awesome though, super-bright.

They used to have 24 packs of AA and AAA batteries as free with coupon too, but have not seen those around in at least 6 months. They were really useful because a single 24 pack of batteries would be enough to replace all the batteries in all my free flashlights.

BTW, sign up for HF's mailings, you occasionally get coupons for more than 20% off. This weekend there was a 25% that could be used once a day for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

 

[mikeford]

My single AAA flashlight is much brighter than the HF freeby, those 9 LEDs are very low output compared to almost anything newer. A $5 SK68 type clone from ebay will have much greater output with a single AA cell and has the ability to use lithium cells. OTOH the HF with good batteries works fine for most uses, but not a bike light.

Classic fubar with a meter is changing the selector while the meter in a circuit and blowing up the meter, not from the wrong range but from clicking over a current or ohm range.

 

[BUTCH1]

My single AAA flashlight is much brighter than the HF freeby, those 9 LEDs are very low output compared to almost anything newer. A $5 SK68 type clone from ebay will have much greater output with a single AA cell and has the ability to use lithium cells. OTOH the HF with good batteries works fine for most uses, but not a bike light.

Classic fubar with a meter is changing the selector while the meter in a circuit and blowing up the meter, not from the wrong range but from clicking over a current or ohm range.

You mean this type?,I'd like to know as I do need to replace the POS I have now as a headlight.

 

[mikeford]

You mean this type?,I'd like to know as I do need to replace the POS I have now as a headlight.

I have that one, its a red beam and not super bright. What I think of as a camp light for walking around an area where you don't want to disturb people.

This one is a lot more what I suggest, a bright white light, http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-1800-...ht-Torch-Lamp-Light-18650-3-AAA-/221606079215

 

[mrrman]

I had pages of coupons, even a 25% off and didnt use it. I ran out of things to buy lol

 

[mikeford]

There are maybe a hundred or so good items at HF, then it gets very iffy or everybody already has one, or only certain types of people need them.

Some cheap OK items are;

Orange plastic deadblow hammers
100 bit security set
Foam polishing heads
50 cent razor paint scraper
hex drive drill set.
Nitrile gloves

 

[highland145]

Just bought a paint pressure tank, 2.5 gal. $92 with shipping and tax. Going to put tennis balls in it. If it does the trick, I'll get another one.

 

[BUTCH1]

Just bought a paint pressure tank, 2.5 gal. $92 with shipping and tax. Going to put tennis balls in it. If it does the trick, I'll get another one.

What does putting tennis balls in a pressure tank do?, just curious..

 

[highland145]

What does putting tennis balls in a pressure tank do?, just curious..

The long story....NVM

The short story, the kid is playing tennis and we got him a ball machine for Christmas (150 ball capacity). Then I learn that the balls go flat after ~1 month and "you" should buy new ones....at ~$1/ball. eff that. They make ball pressurizers for a crap ton of $$. So my idea is that he plays for an hour or 2 a few days a week and the balls go into the pressure pot at ~15psi otherwise. I don't see why it shouldn't work but I'll find out.

A 5 gal bucket holds ~70 balls so I might need a couple or 3 if it works.

Edit:For the DIY'ers...I have learned that 15psi is enough to cause some serious bodily harm or worse. Better to go with rated materials where my child is involved.

 

[mikeford]

Get the pressureless balls, Tretorn something like that? any idea how much pressure is in a normal tennis ball?

 

[highland145]

I didn't even know there was a difference but for whatever reason his tennis coach says there's a difference and that we should get pressurized. May just be BS, I don't know. But I've already got a case of balls and the tank so I might as well try it out

14PSI

 

[mikeford]

Which ball machine did you get? I've been thinking about getting one for about 40 years, but seems like battery tech has hit a good spot for making one practical.

 

[highland145]

Lobster elite liberty. Way more $$ than I thought it should cost but I couldn't find a used one. If he falls out of love with tennis, I'll try and sell it to recoup some of my $$.

 

[SAWYER]

HF hi capacity rechargeable AA's are pretty good, I bought some to go along with my eneloops

 

[KingFatty]

HF hi capacity rechargeable AA's are pretty good, I bought some to go along with my eneloops

What kind of technology are these batteries based on? Are they like the older Ni-Cad, or Ni-MH, or Lithium, or something like the same technology as eneloops, or something else?

 

[SAWYER]

They say nihm 2200 mah

 

[mikeford]

HF of course changes suppliers like underware and for the same reason. That said this appear to be a Chinese version of Eneloops low self discharge Nimh.

Safer bet IMHO is the Ikea Ladda, which many report as very close to Eneloops.

Tests on the HF seem few and old, but a few at least report works good, then just dies.

 

[highland145]

Yeah, the pressure pot doesn't hold pressure. There is a weld defect in the rim. Don't think an o-ring will help.

 

[mikeford]

HF excells at returns, just don't wait too long

 

[BUTCH1]

HF of course changes suppliers like underware and for the same reason. That said this appear to be a Chinese version of Eneloops low self discharge Nimh.

Safer bet IMHO is the Ikea Ladda, which many report as very close to Eneloops.

Tests on the HF seem few and old, but a few at least report works good, then just dies.

Yea, I know HF is mostly el-cheapo stuff but I'd rather have a cheap something rather than an expensive nothing!

 

[Chedda7]

I can usually find similar deals on like products that are better than HF stuff.

 

[BUTCH1]

I can usually find similar deals on like products that are better than HF stuff.

Where?. Right now they are also selling a 2/6 amp battery charger with auto trickle-mode for $29. Where are you going to beat that price?, please link.