Harbor Freight 316 stainless swageless fittings

JProcter · #1 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009

Hi all,

Found some 316 stainless steel quick attach eye terminal and stud terminal fittings that look exactly like those made by Blue Wave/Suncor at Harbor Freight. Wondering if anyone has used these before?

For 4 mm wire (.156, about 5/32"), it has a breaking strength of 2700lbs and working load of 1750 lbs which appears to be the load of 1x19 wire.

They are priced at $7 per fitting.

Stillraining · #2 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009

Id be VERY Leary..nothing at harbor fright has the same Rockwell properties as main stream stuff...where do you think all that scrap steel China is getting from us goes..

I like Harbor fright don't get me wrong...But I expect to have issues with their stuff and I'm seldom disappointed..

It doesnt matter per say with a 24" Crescent wrenchor a ball pien hammer but trusting my mast to their stuff I would not.

tager · #3 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009

"316" is a standard! I would buy them. They are probably an exact copy of someone elses design. If it were my rig, though, it would be hand-spliced eyes.

sailingdog · #4 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009

I'd point out that the Suncor fittings are not really well suited for rigging. They might be acceptable for lifelines, but I would NOT use them for standing rigging.

knothead · #5 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by JProcter

Hi all,

Found some 316 stainless steel quick attach eye terminal and stud terminal fittings that look exactly like those made by Blue Wave/Suncor at Harbor Freight. Wondering if anyone has used these before?

For 4 mm wire (.156, about 5/32"), it has a breaking strength of 2700lbs and working load of 1750 lbs which appears to be the load of 1x19 wire.

They are priced at $7 per fitting.

Is this what you are looking at?

If so, I can't see how it would be of any use in rigging a boat. It is designed for railings and other light duty applications.
According to the website, it's only 7 cents. It's probably worth twice that.

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

knothead · #6 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

I'd point out that the Suncor fittings are not really well suited for rigging. They might be acceptable for lifelines, but I would NOT use them for standing rigging.

Why have you come to that conclusion? According to a test that was done comparing their fittings to Sta-lok, Norseman and swages, the Quick Attach came out on top.

Here's a link to a previous thread where I posted the article.

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/gear-m...7-sta-lok.html

tager · #7 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009

Okay, whoa, I am changing my previous opinion. Just go with hand spliced eyes. Get heavy thimbles, and serve the strand ends with small nylon.

tommays · #8 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009

Tager while i see a lot of what your talking about on the classic boats in the area you do realize there is no way to do this on most modern rigs

merc2dogs · #9 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009

I noticed those last year while at HF, intended to do some internet searching so I could figure out who's design they were, but forgot about them.

Not to defend HF, but most of what they sell are direct clones of another product, generally built right on the same line as the 'good' product. They are generally cheaper because they piggy back on the name brand product's production run, and avoid the setup, market research, and development costs of the higher priced product. (hey, I'll give you $100 plus costs if you run an extra 1000 parts for me) Many times the HF product can not be distinguished from the name brand part.
Nothing wrong with the product, but in my opinion it's 'theft', but it's also the cost of business with Chinese manufacturing.

Ken.

Stillraining · #10 (**permalink**) 11-03-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by tager

"316" is a standard! I would buy them. They are probably an exact copy of someone else's design. If it were my rig, though, it would be hand-spliced eyes.

It may be a standard ..but what I'm saying is they don't hit it.

I bought a box of their SS screws..you twist them in half before you get them half way seated home.

I have gathered you think there is a cheap equivalent for everything...well that is correct..there is..and other then the Marine store mark up that you can sometimes usurp your way around...you in my experience get what you pay for.