Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Bedlam]

I agree with the small grinders. I have used them hard. they don't have as much power as the expensive ones. but thats fine with me.
at 8 or so dollars I don't mind dropping it on the floor.LOL
They come with a extra set of brushes too. At first I thought it was bad as I figured it meant that there brushes are short lived. But I haven't replaced any yet.
Much of it depends on how much and hard one uses the stuff.Id like to have a top of the line circular saw but mine is cutting scrape wood more than good wood so I have to settle for an in between saw.

[patrick_g]

I buy their abrasive wheels for my 4 1/2 inch, 7 inch, and 14 inch requirements. They do not last as long as the expensive domestic product BUT the HF stuff is still more economical as the price is reduced much more than the longevity of the blade.

I recently received a shipment of 7 inch grinder wheels. I bought 2 each 10 packs and shipping included payed about $27 for the 20. The big box stores sell them for around $5 each. The expensive ones do not last as much as twice as long but cost over 4 times as much. Even I can figure out which is the good deal. You have to change the cheap ones more often but gee, not that often and it only takes literally a couple minutes.

I have never had ANY blade/grinding wheel come apart catastrophically so I don't think there is a big safety issue attached to the cheaper ones. Of course I try to only buy when they are "on sale" so price comparisons are not "ordinary prices."

Pat

[HiTekRedneck]

Originally Posted by Dargo

Obviously you must be trying to be funny. Some of the items you mentioned are positively dangerous besides poorly made. My trash man won't even bother to pick about half of the items you mentioned out of my trash anymore. I can give someone directions to my local dump if they want to stock up. But, hey, I have listed all the winners available in the store right in my signature.

There's no humor intended! If you think their items are that bad, I reckon you ought to stop shopping there! Going there to refill your nitrile gloves hardly seems worth the trip to me. I'm not a big fan of everything being made overseas. Personally I'd rather keep the jobs & revenue in the US, but with Sears increasing their Chinese products and Wal-marts shelves full of em there's not too many options left. Conform or go bankrupt buying Snap-on. I have saved soo much $$$ thanks to Harbor Freight, granted you have to be selective cause it all ain't good! I believe that was the intent of this thread to guide others. Why would I spend all my time listing the stuff I own from there, just to humor you? My time is well worth more than that! I took my time to inform others, not to make ignorant cynical remarks that are unconducive to the topic. Thanks!

[JC-jetro]

I bought a port-band-saw from HF for $70. I'm actually pretty impressed so far. it doe not have the fit and finish of Milwaukee but surprisingly it is all needle bearing construction, It is direct drive unlike Milwaukee chain drive and believe it or not, it cuts also. My first project was cutting a 6" dia Sch40 steel pipe. I had to around to cut through but worked well. I give it 1 1/2 thumbs up

JC,

[gemini5362]

Originally Posted by Dargo

Obviously you must be trying to be funny. Some of the items you mentioned are positively dangerous besides poorly made. My trash man won't even bother to pick about half of the items you mentioned out of my trash anymore. I can give someone directions to my local dump if they want to stock up. But, hey, I have listed all the winners available in the store right in my signature.

Obviously Dargo has issues with HF tools. Does anyone have any stories of harbor tools that have caused injuries because of poor construction. To specify and clarify. I am not talking about injures where someone misused the tool. Those kind of injuries are going ot happen no matter who makes the tool or how well made it is. I am talking where a tool was put together poorly and came apart causing injuries or where the design was of a nature that the use of it caused the injury ?

[patrick_g]

Originally Posted by JC-jetro

I bought a port-band-saw from HF for $70. I'm actually pretty impressed so far. it doe not have the fit and finish of Milwaukee but surprisingly it is all needle bearing construction, It is direct drive unlike Milwaukee chain drive and believe it or not, it cuts also. My first project was cutting a 6" dia Sch40 steel pipe. I had to around to cut through but worked well. I give it 1 1/2 thumbs up

JC,

I really liked my HF band saw at first but with about 5 min of run time it went toes up. I bought a De Walt and it works way better than the HF did before it clustered. It should since it costs 5 times as much. I wanted to get a Milwaukee but the local Lowe's stopped carrying Milwaukee so I settled for a De Walt.

Pat

[CCWKen]

Names don't mean a thing any more. I went through a De Walt 14" friction saw in about a week. Took it back and got another that lasted two weeks. Broke-down and bought a Rigid with my refund and beer money. It lasted about 4 months. Got fed up and priced a few chop saws then went to HF and bought their top-of-the-line 14" friction saw for around $90. That was about five years ago. The only thing I've done to it is replace the brushes. The way I see it is if a $90 tool outlasts a $350 tool, I'll keep buying them. I don't care what name is on the side.

I've also gone through name-brand air sanders, grinders, drills, saws and everything else you can think of. So what if some last one year. At 1/10 the price of the NAME that may last 2-3 years, I can have a new tool every year for 10 years straight.

My hand tools are another story. Go with the best you can afford that has a swap-warranty.

[patrick_g]

Originally Posted by CCWKen

Names don't mean a thing any more. I went through a De Walt 14" friction saw in about a week. Took it back and got another that lasted two weeks. Broke-down and bought a Rigid with my refund and beer money. It lasted about 4 months. Got fed up and priced a few chop saws then went to HF and bought their top-of-the-line 14" friction saw for around $90. That was about five years ago. The only thing I've done to it is replace the brushes. The way I see it is if a $90 tool outlasts a $350 tool, I'll keep buying them. I don't care what name is on the side.

I've also gone through name-brand air sanders, grinders, drills, saws and everything else you can think of. So what if some last one year. At 1/10 the price of the NAME that may last 2-3 years, I can have a new tool every year for 10 years straight.

My hand tools are another story. Go with the best you can afford that has a swap-warranty.

Under the De Walt plastic cover my compound slide miter says made in China.

Pat

[kenmac]

Originally Posted by patrick_g

Under the De Walt plastic cover my compound slide miter says made in China.

Pat

They have invated us & there's no return

[Iplayfarmer]

Originally Posted by kenmac

They have invated us & there's no return

Sure. Why conquer a country by military force at great risk and the expense of many lives. Have them pay you to do it quietly and gradually instead.