Harbor Freight - Gems and Junk

Funny you mention the welding wire. I was warned away as it being made in China. Well, I checked my Hobart roll and it was made in Italy. I looked at a roll of Lincoln wire at the shop, it was made in Italy. (The other was made in Mexico). I bought a ball joint press kit and was looking at the mig wire, it is made in Italy. Did some internet hunting and it appears that the Italian MIG wire at HF is made in the same plant as the Lincoln and Hobart stuff.

Oh, and I just bought the HF 1000 lbs engine stand and it works great. (I swapped out the bolts for grade 8 hardware, though.

Funny story.
I had a local auto chain store here advertising a AC Delco storable engine hoist for about $350. I showed them a HF ad for a similar folding engine hoist for much less and actually got them to price match it.

The Delco one is way beefier.......

I have some HF .030 MIG wire in my Lincoln. I don't like it. The arc isn't the same as Lincoln wire. It just doesn't spark up the same. Seems to burn quicker. The beads don't look right. Since I'm not using it for making anything that's life threatening then it's no big deal, but I'm not buying it again.