Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[aeblank]

explosive Harbor Freight battery in your glove box. What could go wrong?

Should for sure leave those things up to bigger companies in more expensive products.........you know, like Samsung.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Should for sure leave those things up to bigger companies in more expensive products.........you know, like Samsung.

Or Sony, Toshiba, Panasonic, HP, LG, etc, etc.. there are millions of these Li-Ion batts recalled every year due to overheating, fire, explosions...

In this case (Samsung), it was a supplier making the batt just slightly too thick, causing it to be pinched when the phone was closed up at the factory. The use of a super quickcharge adaptor only made things worse as the faster you charge a Li-Ion, the hotter it gets. Heat reduces the lifetime of the batt as well. I find Quickcharge to not really be worth it unless I absolutely need the phone now. Otherwise I slow charge at .5-.9amps..

 

[dragoneggs]

He's got a point, Li-Ion batts are actually very dangerous..

That is a bit broad of statement don't you think? I really don't consider my 20v LI-Ion Dewalt battery powered tools dangerous... or should I be worried?

 

[JRobyn]

I was using my HF heatgun the other day on high heat, and had been running it for more that just a minute or two, when suddenly it belched a big flash and puff of smoke, and quit. The first thing I though of was this thread, and the many mentions of "letting the smoke out".

One end of the high-heat element had melted off where it was poorly wrapped around and connected at the factory rivet. I just uncurled a little of the remains, enough to make a wrap or two around the connecting wire and rivet, and it's back in business (for a little while).

 

[California]

... and it's back in business (for a little while).

Its HF. "Some Assembly Required". In this case, just to keep it in service.

I bought their 3 x 21 belt sander recently. (did I write about this recently?) It was everything I hoped for, we refinished a deck using this. Except its collection bag. The zipper failed to track in the first hour of use. I used duct tape on it while I completed the project then returned the sander for a refund. Excellent tool hampered by a 5 cent component.

 

[dragoneggs]

Its HF. "Some Assembly Required". In this case, just to keep it in service.

I bought their 3 x 21 belt sander recently. (did I write about this recently?) It was everything I hoped for, we refinished a deck using this. Except its collection bag. The zipper failed to track in the first hour of use. I used duct tape on it while I completed the project then returned the sander for a refund. Excellent tool hampered by a 5 cent component.

How come you didn't exchange for a new one?

 

[Midniteoyl]

That is a bit broad of statement don't you think? I really don't consider my 20v LI-Ion Dewalt battery powered tools dangerous... or should I be worried?

Li-ion batts like to overheat and explode.. There is a charge/discharge controller circuit built into the batteries to help with that, but sometimes they fail, are not right to begin with, or the battery itself is damaged causing an internal short. Usually you get what you pay for in all of these regards.

 

[California]

returned the sander for a refund. Excellent tool hampered by a 5 cent component.

How come you didn't exchange for a new one?

It's been several years since I needed a belt sander, don't expect to need another one for a while. It will be simpler to buy the same item again when I need one.

I'm drowning in an excess of junk tools that Dad accumulated cheap from yard sales, every one needs some repair. First I was going to build more storage but then I figured out owning and storing less stuff, buying when needed, improves my life.

For this deck sanding project I got out three old belt sanders that were wasting storage space and discovered they're so old either Sears no longer sells parts or the belt size is so obsolete I can't find them locally. Gave one to a friend who can fabricate the replaceable belt-slide plate on the bottom, bartered one for several cans of spray paint for another project, and still don't have belts for the last one that's too little for sanding floors. Now I only need storage space for that little one. The two Craftsman need-repair units and the need-repair HF sander I returned for refund are all gone and my life is simpler now.

 

[Midniteoyl]

How come you didn't exchange for a new one?

Why, 'cause he was done with it, of course

 

[dragoneggs]

It's been several years since I needed a belt sander, don't expect to need another one for a while. It will be simpler to buy the same item again when I need one.

I'm drowning in an excess of junk tools that Dad accumulated cheap from yard sales, every one needs some repair. First I was going to build more storage but then I figured out owning and storing less stuff, buying when needed, improves my life.

For this deck sanding project I got out three old belt sanders that were wasting storage space and discovered they're so old either Sears no longer sells parts or the belt size is so obsolete I can't find them locally. Gave one to a friend who can fabricate the replaceable belt-slide plate on the bottom, bartered one for several cans of spray paint for another project, and still don't have belts for the last one that's too little for sanding floors. Now I only need storage space for that little one. The two Craftsman need-repair units and the need-repair HF sander I returned for refund are all gone and my life is simpler now.

Understand... but I guess I'm a little different in this case. If the tool did not do the job I would definitely return it... if it did, I would keep it. But I get that the dust bag failed so I might have been in your boat in this case.