PSA: I used to think those cheap harbor freight inspection mirrors were junk, but one saved me a whole day of work.

For years I refused to use anything but the expensive, name brand tools. I was working on a Cessna 172 last month, trying to see behind a baffle in the engine compartment for a potential oil leak. My good mirror was in my other box at the hangar. A guy lent me his cheap, flimsy harbor freight mirror with the little LED light. I figured it would break or give a bad view. I got it in there, and the light was actually bright enough to clearly show a tiny crack in a weld on an oil line fitting. Without that little light, I would have had to pull the whole baffle, which is a 3 hour job minimum. I bought a pack of three for $12 the next day. They are not my main tool, but having a few disposable ones in the box for tight spots is now a no brainer. Has anyone else found a cheap tool that actually works well for a specific job?

3 comments

3 Comments

gray611d ago

Honestly, that's a fair point about the mirrors. I mean, I've just had the opposite luck with their stuff. Bought one of those exact mirrors and the little LED died after like two uses. Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather spend a bit more on something that feels solid and won't crap out when I really need it.

angela_baker11d ago

Ugh that's the worst, @gray6. Did you try contacting their customer service or just cut your losses?

dylan60411d ago

Hold up, you're gonna ditch a whole brand over one light? My cousin has that same mirror and it's been fine for years. Sometimes you just get a bad one, that's why warranties exist. I'd at least try to get a replacement before writing them off completely.