Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[5030]

I have the Bauer saw. Still using original blade. When purchasing new blades. Make sure you get the .025 blades. There have been reports of problems with .020 blades. This is what I bought in 18 and 14 TPI.

While not related Ron, how is it going in Oakland County? My BIL lives in Plymouth Township and things are shall we say, tense there.

 

[Gary Fowler]

The cheap $10 grinders have hardly any power. Theyæ±*e easy to burn up if youæ±*e doing much besides just letting them spin. My cordless Dewalt has more power.

I never had that problem with them when using grinder disk. Brushes will stall them for sure, which is what my BIL was using it for and overheating it. I used it mostly with 1/16" cut off wheels and had no issues till it just stopped working.
My new Dewalt 11 amp grinder really spins up, it seems much faster than my HF grinders even the "heavy duty" paddle switch ones. Definitely lots of power, but at 3 times the cost of the HF ones.

 

[Gary Fowler]

This one? Here's the coupon from hfqpdb.

I have the previous version, not as deep cut but it works fine for my occasional use. HF's original blade is apparently for wood. I went to an industrial supply place and got a pro metal cutting-blade for it. Recommended, if the new version is as good.

I wonder how heavy that Bauer is. My neighbor gave me an old Milwaukee deep cut band saw USA made (had to get new tires for it) but I bet that thing weighs 30 pounds or more. I sure dont remember them being that heavy when I used them 40 years ago.

 

[ronjhall]

I wonder how heavy that Bauer is. My neighbor gave me an old Milwaukee deep cut band saw USA made (had to get new tires for it) but I bet that thing weighs 30 pounds or more. I sure dont remember them being that heavy when I used them 40 years ago.

22.5 lbs.

 

[Diggin It]

My older Chicago Electric 4" grinder (red with yellow paddle switch on the side) gave up on me this morning. Worked for a while, set it down. When I picked it up a few minutes later, nada. Acts like the switch, but I suppose it could be the brushes. Pretty sure I have a set of those ... IF I can find them.

Which should I try first?

I would check the switch first - I had the same problem with one of their circular saws, altho it wasn't that old - it worked fine a couple times, then dead. When I opened it up, found 2 of the 4 wires going to the switch connections (socket with set screw) had never been tightened. Couldn't believe it had EVER worked - Tightened ALL of 'em up, been fine ever since... Steve

Turn it on and try playing with the cord near the end of the grinder by the strain relief. I've had multiple HF grinders fail because of a broken wire in the cord. Usually will start up when flexing the cord a bit. I take the grinder apart, trim the wire back 6 inches and reattach.

It's even weirder. Finally got the ambition to open it up. There's this clear plastic thingamabob that goes from the paddle to the switch (green arrows). It had simply slipped off the switch. Hard to see in the pictures, but the switch is at the wires and there's a small black button that is operated by the clear pawl. Also looks like there should be a spring between the two pins (red arrows), but I don't see any sign of it.

Hooked the clear thing back over the switch and it works again. If it comes loose again, I'll glue that suckah!!!

 

[hunt4570]

Hey, I have a Bauer tape measure in the tool box on my tractor! (I just wanted to fit in )

 

[5030]

I keep forgetting to mention my HF compressed air dryer that I purchased about 6 years ago. They are around 1/3 the cost of a comparable IR dryer (same CFM, same pressure, same moisture extraction rate). I see they are still about 300 bucks but I belive they can only be purchased online as I've never seen one in the local HF emporium that I can recollect.

Not as aesthetically pleasing as the IR unit, but it's a tool, not a female....lol

Only thing I've had to do to mine was replace the start capacitor on the compressor, mine took a dump about a year into operation. Digikey had the right one, no big deal. It's R134 so recharging isn't an issue (if it ever needs recharged). Extracts 99% of the condensation and has an automatic drain valve too.

For 300 bucks, versus around 900 for the IR, it's a bargain.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I keep forgetting to mention my HF compressed air dryer that I purchased about 6 years ago. They are around 1/3 the cost of a comparable IR dryer (same CFM, same pressure, same moisture extraction rate). I see they are still about 300 bucks but I belive they can only be purchased online as I've never seen one in the local HF emporium that I can recollect.

Not as aesthetically pleasing as the IR unit, but it's a tool, not a female....lol

Only thing I've had to do to mine was replace the start capacitor on the compressor, mine took a dump about a year into operation. Digikey had the right one, no big deal. It's R134 so recharging isn't an issue (if it ever needs recharged). Extracts 99% of the condensation and has an automatic drain valve too.

For 300 bucks, versus around 900 for the IR, it's a bargain.

Have a link to that? I'm looking for an air dryer, for sand blasting, in our humidity.

 

[ronjhall]

Have a link to that? I'm looking for an air dryer, for sand blasting, in our humidity.

How about this one.

 

[rbstern]

Need a recommendation: I need to do some straight and angled cuts in 2" square tubing, A500, 1/8" thickness. Are teh 14" chop saws at HF up to the task, or should I be investing in a better tool?