Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[mwemaxxowner]

I would really like to have a drill press, but I don't think I would use it often enough to justify spending a great deal on one.

Any thoughts on one of the more cheaply priced drill presses from HFT?

 

[jjeff]

I would really like to have a drill press, but I don't think I would use it often enough to justify spending a great deal on one.

Any thoughts on one of the more cheaply priced drill presses from HFT?

Bought the cheap hf 5 speed bench top one over 10 yrs ago, it was a pile of garbage. I could stop the spinning chuck with my hand on highest torque, slowest speed. A 1/2" bit would stop the motor trying to drill in soft pine. I won't even get into accuracy and runout.

 

[mwemaxxowner]

Those are not good qualities for a drill press.

 

[jjeff]

Those are not good qualities for a drill press.

Well you didn't have to worry wearing loose clothing around it.

 

[California]

Bought the cheap hf 5 speed bench top one over 10 yrs ago, it was a pile of garbage. I could stop the spinning chuck with my hand on highest torque, slowest speed. A 1/2" bit would stop the motor trying to drill in soft pine.

Similar results with the cheapest HF drill press from maybe a generation before yours. Near useless.

I've had good luck stepping up to Ryobi gear when HF's tool is useless. The most recent example was the cheap disc/belt combo sander. A couple of its adjustments didn't have enough range, to make the table slot parallel to the disc, for example. And too-wimpy power. Essentially a pretend copy of a real tool. The Ryobi is what that HF sander should have been.

As for impact wrenches, I like the first-generation Earthquake I just bought - on Closeout.

 

[sodamo]

I would really like to have a drill press, but I don't think I would use it often enough to justify spending a great deal on one.

Any thoughts on one of the more cheaply priced drill presses from HFT?

I got one of the table top ones about 20 years ago. Just needed it for 1 project, I was renovating kitchen and wanted to build cabinets with adjustable shelves with movable pegs. Don’t remember count, but hundreds of holes in MDF. Never a problem. Not long after I shipped it to my current location as I had started a building project. Drilled over 400 holes with forstner bit for railing stiles. Still didn’t kill it. Next project was some metal, extension for my boom pole. Sits on back of my bench, still available.
I think a lot could depend on use. I’m not much a metal worker so little experience there.

 

[mwemaxxowner]

I've never done much metal work, but I have recently purchased the Titanium 125 welder and hope to start doing a little more. Small, simple stuff. My dad has a big miller MIG welder for any big stuff, and the years of experience to see that it's done right.

I've done some crude fabricating with a hack saw, angle grinder, cordless drill, and BFH. Now I find myself wanting a drill press to go with it, so I can still nice square holes.

 

[California]

I've never done much metal work, but I have recently purchased the Titanium 125 welder

Go back and buy the the 3 year exchange warranty!!! Half the posts I've seen about that welder said it failed after a while and they got a no-hassle exchange as soon as they walked in.

That said, I'm seriously considering getting one. (and the warranty!) The convenience of a 15 lb welder you can plug in anywhere would be a big improvement over the 240 volt mig I have that's a nuisance to roll out for a project. But I don't weld often enough to justify two wire welders and the big AC stick welder too.

But I'm tempted ...

 

[jjeff]

Go back and buy the the 3 year exchange warranty!!! Half the posts I've seen about that welder said it failed after a while and they got a no-hassle exchange as soon as they walked in.

That said, I'm seriously considering getting one. (and the warranty!) The convenience of a 15 lb welder you can plug in anywhere would be a big improvement over the 240 volt mig I have that's a nuisance to roll out for a project. But I don't weld often enough to justify two wire welders and the big AC stick welder too.

But I'm tempted ...

Quick question On the exchange warranty, do you need to keep the receipt or can they look up the serial number?

 

[Rock Crawler]

Quick question On the exchange warranty, do you need to keep the receipt or can they look up the serial number?

It's linked to your name, phone number and email. No invoice needed.

 

[California]

Here's a post about a titanium 125 that died, over on TBN's offshoot WeldSite:

https://weldingsite.com/threads/settings-for-chicago-electric.350/#post-4250

 

[Root Cause]

I have a 20-year-old craftsman floor model drill press. The table not being perpendicular to the spindle tormented me. I turned it into a tabletop model I dug up my old tram bar from machinist days long gone and adjusted it so I could drill straight holes. I works great now after 19 years of hating it.

 

[Travelover]

 

[California]

Wow the supply-chain problems must have bit HF hard. For the Titanium Flux125 welder:

In-store ONLY Available Online by Jun. 10

Please visit any store to order for Free Pickup.

Find a Store [The usual list of stores with stock, isn't shown]

IOW - not available before next summer.

 

[5030]

Just purchased the Doyle Rivnut setting tool I give it an A+ only issue is it comes with a limited supply of Rivnuts and HF don't sell replacements.

 

[Pixguy]

Go back and buy the the 3 year exchange warranty!!! Half the posts I've seen about that welder said it failed after a while and they got a no-hassle exchange as soon as they walked in.

That said, I'm seriously considering getting one. (and the warranty!) The convenience of a 15 lb welder you can plug in anywhere would be a big improvement over the 240 volt mig I have that's a nuisance to roll out for a project. But I don't weld often enough to justify two wire welders and the big AC stick welder too.

But I'm tempted ...

I bought the titanium 170 a month ago and quite happy with it but I ended up buying Miller flux wire

 

[Rich B1]

Just purchased the Doyle Rivnut setting tool I give it an A+ only issue is it comes with a limited supply of Rivnuts and HF don't sell replacements.

i have the HF rivnut tool also. For occasional use that I need it for, it is a good value and works.

I found extra rivnuts on fleaBay.

 

[jyoutz]

Does anyone who depends on tools everyday all day long shop at Harbor Freight?

jmf

I have a friend who’s a welder. He buys the HF angle grinders. He says they last half as long as the Milwaukee brand, but they cost only 25% of the better brand, so he’s ahead.

 

[jjeff]

I have a friend who’s a welder. He buys the HF angle grinders. He says they last half as long as the Milwaukee brand, but they cost only 25% of the better brand, so he’s ahead.

Had a job where former boss bought the cheap Chicago electric 4.5" ones. used everyday, lasted a month or less mostly due to the gearcase stripping or exploding (have a bevel, spiral gear setup like most) he kept exchanging them unfortunately. Paying someone hourly to run to HF isn't the best use of time IMO, in comparison I own pretty beat up dewalt, makita and milwaukee grinders in my shop only had to replace brushes occasionally. Granted the Chicago electric line is the cheapest of the cheap.

 

[5030]

i have the HF rivnut tool also. For occasional use that I need it for, it is a good value and works.

I found extra rivnuts on fleaBay.

I'll check that out today. Amazon has them as well but the quality is always suspect. Wish I had bought one years ago. My only issue with it is, it don't come with a drill size chart for the pilot holes but I have one of those continuous step drills I use for the holes and it fits nicely in the case.