Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[defranks]

Thanks guys! If I can find one in-stock I'll go and buy it today. Dragoneggs, you did a terrific job, there! Thanks for the input.

 

[Fallon]

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?

I have that can top I acquired from somewhere. Haven't used it though. My wife got me a HF dust collector years ago & as I was assembling it a neighbor gave me his old Craftsman unit. HF got returned. Both looked similar quality.

I do have a Duat Deputy cyclone for my shop vac. Its awkward to move & keep hoses attached. But it does keep almost all dust out of the shop vac itself. Filters last for years.

 

[defranks]

I purchased the dust collector yesterday and put it together and tested it this morning. All the parts were in the box and undamaged, and everything went together easily. BUT... the instructions were really just a guideline. Apparently the tool has changed but the instruction sheet has not. The picture on the box was more helpful than the instruction sheet. I'm definitely going to consider that trash-can two-stage conversion.

 

[crazyal]

I have one of the trash can lid separators but never used it. Mine is set up for 4" pipe but it's the style that the cover has holes in it for the pipe to feed through. I've heard that this style is hard to seal up and getting a good seal is critical for good performance. What I recently found is that 4" exhaust pipe is the perfect size for 4" flex pipe. I actually modified my drum sander to add more 4" ports to it. So one of my projects is going to be to use the left over exhaust pipe in the cover. That way I can seal up where the exhaust pipe connects to the cover and the flex pipe will just slip over it. OTOH I also look at the dust deputy and have seen videos of how well it works and get tempted. If you do a search you can find ones people made that look like they would work just as well.

 

[5030]

Only thing I do with wood is chainsaw it and roast it. Everything in my shop is metalworking and a fume extractor for welding is very pricey.

 

[dragoneggs]

Only thing I do with wood is chainsaw it and roast it. Everything in my shop is metalworking and a fume extractor for welding is very pricey.

Time to make one!

 

[Pixguy]

I'm looking for a cement saw and I looked at HF but found nothing. I need to cut pavers with a curve so my table top wet saw won't work well. Renting one is $100 day so I'd pay a couple hundred for a "part timer" saw. Any thoughts?

 

[dragoneggs]

I'm looking for a cement saw and I looked at HF but found nothing. I need to cut pavers with a curve so my table top wet saw won't work well. Renting one is $100 day so I'd pay a couple hundred for a "part timer" saw. Any thoughts?

Yeah, I don't think HF has one.

Evolution is the cheapest I found. I would think for light use, this would be the one I would try. Far less than the name brands. Don't know anything about this one, but many folks have said good things about the Evolution metal dry cut saw.

Evolution DISCCUT1 12" Disc Cutter, Orange - Power Circular Saws - Amazon.com

 

[Jim Nelson]

I've had good luck using a 4 1/2" angle grinder with a diamond blade.

 

[5030]

Probably a better bet. The smaller diameter blade would be easier to cut curves with.