Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Industrial Toys]

It has a special chain and an internal stone that sharpens the chain when you depress a lever and all kinds of neat sparks shoot out the end, like a kids toy (of old)!

Apparently, the Oregon Rep, comes and shows how the saw cuts in large lumber, then proceeds to cut a cinder block, and shows how the saw won't cut. Then, some cool sparks and the saw cuts like new.

I carry the saw on my E-Gator for emergencies only, like stuff fallen across a trail.

Nice to have friends in the business though. Saw was at employee pricing and trimmer got thrown in for free, as it wasn't well accepted by the scraper community.

 

[Ford850]

It has a special chain and an internal stone that sharpens the chain when you depress a lever and all kinds of neat sparks shoot out the end, like a kids toy (of old)!

Apparently, the Oregon Rep, comes and shows how the saw cuts in large lumber, then proceeds to cut a cinder block, and shows how the saw won't cut. Then, some cool sparks and the saw cuts like new.

I carry the saw on my E-Gator for emergencies only, like stuff fallen across a trail.

I wonder if that's legal to use in California?

 

[hunt4570]

I'm tired of messing with carbs, fuel & what not on my brush cutters. I have a very high end Stihl from 20 years ago. I've replaced it with a Ryobi 40v to avoid messing with the carbs. It's not as powerful, but the lack of any required maintenance makes it more productive overall by a good margin. 2 batteries give me 25 minutes or so each, which is plenty for my needs most of the time.

My Stihl will cut saplings up to about 1 1/2 dia... will that Ryobi do that?

 

[Bikenstein]

I can see how they might be OK for a suburbanite who just wants to trim around flower beds, bushes, mailbox, etc. (and they're quiet which is nice) but yeah, most of the trimming I do is brushier stuff or for extended enough periods where a battery might not hold up too.

Same for HF's (or anyone else's) AC powered pole saw. Almost none of the trimming I use one for is anywhere within extension cord range of an outlet, and don't really feel like lugging a small generator around. Again, maybe good for suburbanites but less useful for us rural folk. :confused3:

I have 3 Stihls. My kids bought a 58v Echo for an anniversary gift and now I only fire up one of the Stihls for brush cutting small trees. The Echo is powerful and breezes through thick high grass with stuff like new privet hedge sprouts and mimosa trees mixed in on turtle. I never have to put it on rabbit unless I get in to some big Kudzu vines (which I now just cut with loppers if more than a 1/2 inch). I bought a 10 dollar 18v Ryobi at a flea market to do flower beds, mailbox, etc. The Echo has plenty, plenty of power. I never would have bought one though. I'm just glad my kids did. Runs quiet, easy start and stop, variable speed, no mixing gas, cleaning carbs or filters and strong as can be.

 

[rangerfredbob]

I have the Lynx pole saw, blower and chainsaw, it would take about 2 hours of fairly consistent trimming to go through a battery on the pole saw I'm guessing as I trimmed I think 10 dwarf apple trees with mine and was still at 1/2 battery... the chainsaw is a beast and will power through like a 40cc saw but goes through batteries quick, I bucked up a 40' fir tree and it took I think 2 batteries. The blower is neat and great for clearing off the driveway or working on bonfires, not meant for blowing leaves in a modest yard since at medium speed the battery lasts about 30 minutes... but screwing around with some used oil on low speed on a bonfire or burn pile it'll last a long time

 

[5030]

It has a special chain and an internal stone that sharpens the chain when you depress a lever and all kinds of neat sparks shoot out the end, like a kids toy (of old)!

Apparently, the Oregon Rep, comes and shows how the saw cuts in large lumber, then proceeds to cut a cinder block, and shows how the saw won't cut. Then, some cool sparks and the saw cuts like new.

I carry the saw on my E-Gator for emergencies only, like stuff fallen across a trail.

Nice to have friends in the business though. Saw was at employee pricing and trimmer got thrown in for free, as it wasn't well accepted by the scraper community.

Interesting. How does it cut the rakers? If they are so neat, how come professional arborists don't use them. Never heard of them will have to have a look see.

 

[5030]

Just got done with a big (for me) batch of canned tomatoes and applesauce.. all produce from Hastings Michigan.. you anywhere near there?

View attachment 626039

Other side of the state from me. I'm on the south east side, Hastings is west central.

 

[Fallon]

My Stihl will cut saplings up to about 1 1/2 dia... will that Ryobi do that?

My Stihl with a metal saw blade would top out around 2" maybe a bit more, quite a beast. The Ryobi has a tri-lobe metal blade option that will do 1/2" , maybe 3/4" or a bit bigger. No doubt the Stihl is more of a machine, but the Ryobi is is enough of a machine to get the job done for my current maintenance (as opposed to clearing) needs done.

The maintnance (or lack thereof) makes my Ryobi a superior machine compared to the Sthil though despite it having double the capacity. I can just grab the machine & almost guaranteed to do half an hour of work instantly. With the (20 year old) Sthil I'm lucky if if I only do half an hour of maintnance to get it to fire up & run. I can afford to gnaw on woody material a while with a lesser machine with that proposition. And if I can trivially get to the work more often I'm more likely to do a bunch of short sessions as needed than 1 marathon heavy session.

 

[dragoneggs]

I could never 'live' with a battery powered 'weed wacker'. I don't wack weeds for the most part, I mow them. I use my Stihl straight shaft brush cutter with a scratcher blade most of the time and some of the time with a toothed blade to cut saplings on the ditch bank.

I agree with that and I too use my Stihl brushcutter to do mine...BUT... after reading all this was thinking a cordless electric one would be nice for just trimming grass around the patio and such rather than get out the big dog.. been thinking about it lately. Probably wouldn't go HF or Ryobi though..

I can see how they might be OK for a suburbanite who just wants to trim around flower beds, bushes, mailbox, etc. (and they're quiet which is nice) but yeah, most of the trimming I do is brushier stuff or for extended enough periods where a battery might not hold up too.

Same for HF's (or anyone else's) AC powered pole saw. Almost none of the trimming I use one for is anywhere within extension cord range of an outlet, and don't really feel like lugging a small generator around. Again, maybe good for suburbanites but less useful for us rural folk. :confused3:

No suburbanite here. I have been migrating from Stihl small gas tools to battery powered Stihls (AP - Professional Grade). I sold off my gas hedger and gas blower. 'Still' have my gas trimmer but finding I grab my electric unit and strap my battery belt on and enjoy it far more. For heavy duty 'mowing' I use both but mostly it is all battery and I have a large bank that needs sacking several times a summer. Peace and quiet, no starting issues, no gas mixing, wife likes them, bla, bla, bla. Impressed so much I recently bought a battery chainsaw. WOW this thing is great as well. But yes will keep my gas chainsaw for that occasional use on large diameters.

 

[John_Mc]

I agree with that and I too use my Stihl brushcutter to do mine...BUT... after reading all this was thinking a cordless electric one would be nice for just trimming grass around the patio and such rather than get out the big dog.. been thinking about it lately. Probably wouldn't go HF or Ryobi though..

Agreed. No one says you have to have just one tool. I have a brush cutter which wears a blade that looks similar to a circular saw most of the time for clearing buckthorn, and occasionally the three pointed blade for lighter brush. We also own a gas powered string trimmer. It's smaller and lighter and great for trimming around trees and the edges of buildings.

If we didn't already own the gas string trimmer, I'd go with a battery powered one: one less gas engine to worry about. I'd probably end up with a Milwaukee "M18 Fuel", since I already have a lot of their other battery powered tools. Between that and my brush cutter for the tougher jobs, we'd have things covered.