Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Ford850]

Has anyone ventured a try with the Bauer 20 volt liquid transfer pump, pumping diesel? Kind of want to get one but don't know if it's compatible with ULSD?

The instruction manual has these notes:
*CAUTION
This pump has been evaluated for use with water only.
*Do not pump flammable materials. Motor
brushes may spark and cause
explosions.
*1. This pump is designed to pump water only.
2. This pump is designed to be used for:
General purpose removal or transfer of clear water.

But, it also has this note, so I'm not sure you can trust much of what they say:
*The pump must be connected to a GFCI protected plug which has been installed according
to regulations. The plug must have a supply voltage of 120 VAC at 60 Hz.
(maybe they mean battery charger and not pump?)

 

[5030]

The instruction manual has these notes:
*CAUTION
This pump has been evaluated for use with water only.
*Do not pump flammable materials. Motor
brushes may spark and cause
explosions.
*1. This pump is designed to pump water only.
2. This pump is designed to be used for:
General purpose removal or transfer of clear water.

But, it also has this note, so I'm not sure you can trust much of what they say:
*The pump must be connected to a GFCI protected plug which has been installed according
to regulations. The plug must have a supply voltage of 120 VAC at 60 Hz.
(maybe they mean battery charger and not pump?)

I'm aware of what the manual states (the PDF at least). Being cordless and battery operated should eliminate most of the issues and I would never try pumping gasoline anyway. Diesel has a much higher flash point so it's much less flammable. What I wonder is, is the diesel compatible with the pump materials. IOW, will the diesel destroy it.

Was wondering if some adventerous soul tried it and will save me the cost of finding out myself????

 

[defranks]

I'm on the verge of buying the HF 2 HP dust collector. Like most HF tools, it seems that some reviewers love it and others hate it. I think that with HF tools the quality control is spotty; you might get a gem or you might get a lemon.

So.... anyone here use one of the HF dust collectors? What do you think of it?

I'm not in my woodshop every day, but I do run a planer that makes a lot of chips, and my table saw fills up the collection bag under it pretty quickly too. I'm thinking that at the price point, it might be a good addition to my shop.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

I'm on the verge of buying the HF 2 HP dust collector. Like most HF tools, it seems that some reviewers love it and others hate it. I think that with HF tools the quality control is spotty; you might get a gem or you might get a lemon.

So.... anyone here use one of the HF dust collectors? What do you think of it?

I'm not in my woodshop every day, but I do run a planer that makes a lot of chips, and my table saw fills up the collection bag under it pretty quickly too. I'm thinking that at the price point, it might be a good addition to my shop.

I have been procrastinating buying one for almost 2 years....

I tried putting a large plastic trash can under the planer discharge the last time I used it.... big mistake.... all those chips were spiraling up and out of that trash can going everywhere! That is when I started seriously looking at the dust collector again....

 

[3Ts]

I found that when i connect a vacuum to my planer i get a better surface finish. Apparently, some of the chips fall back onto the board and get pressed into the surface by the following roller.

 

[lostcreekranch]

The HF Dust Collector is a good basic design .. but needs a bit of help to make it work well.

I added a pleated filter and a separator top for a 30 gallon trash can so . it's now a 2-stage unit.

I have a long 4" hose I can hook to my planer, table saw, router table, etc.

The cart and bigger casters .. help it's mobility.

 

[dragoneggs]

The HF Dust Collector is a good basic design .. but needs a bit of help to make it work well.

I added a pleated filter and a separator top for a 30 gallon trash can so . it's now a 2-stage unit.

I have a long 4" hose I can hook to my planer, table saw, router table, etc.

The cart and bigger casters .. help it's mobility.

View attachment 670061
View attachment 670062
View attachment 670063

That HF unit looks similar to my Delta. I also made another collector using a Rigid shop vac and a dust deputy. Those things work great. Maybe I should add a stage to my Delta. Do you have the info on where to buy your trash can separator top?

 

[crazyal]

I have the 1hp dust collector and it works well now. I have a larger one and I wanted something smaller for things that only make a little dust, like my band saw. It's flaw was that HF put plastic caps on the input and output with slots in them to let the dust though. They quickly would get plugged up and then it failed to do much of anything. Once removed it works great now. My larger collector isn't too noisy but it does make a lot more noise than the 1hp one. Some tools just require hearing protection but things like my oscillating spindle sander, lathe, and band saw are pretty quiet and they don't make lots of dust (although the lathe does make lots of chips but I don't think any dust collector could catch them) which allows me not wear ear muffs while using these tools.

If the 2hp has the same caps (I'm guessing to prevent someone from sticking their hand into the impeller) I would remove them. Because my planer and jointer both have carbide insert heads and make small chips I've never bothered using the trash can set up like Rick is using. If using a straight blade jointer or planer it could make bigger stuff. I have looked into adding a Dust Deputy but so far haven't bothered. In the end a dust collector is much better than a shop vac.

 

[crazyal]

The parts list for the 2hp dust collector doesn't show the caps I'm talking about clearly so here's an image of the 1hp parts. Parts 29 and 33 are what I'm talking about. They severely restrict the airflow to begin with and allow almost nothing but fine dust to pass through them.

 

[lostcreekranch]

That HF unit looks similar to my Delta. I also made another collector using a Rigid shop vac and a dust deputy. Those things work great. Maybe I should add a stage to my Delta. Do you have the info on where to buy your trash can separator top?

DE .. Here is the separator that fits a 30 gallon trash can;

WoodRiver Dust Connection - Trash Can Cyclone Lid

The Wynn 35 filter;

Harbor Freight Collectors • Wynn Environmental