I've had my share of, had to have quickly to do the job tools from HF. Dumb tools like spring compressors, presses and the like are OK. I had to completely re-weld my shop press though.Hyd. cyl. are so so.(their cylinder finish at the microscopic level is not as good-wears out seals faster) Electric die grinder OK after replacing twice-not as smooth as others but good enough at the price.For my really HD stuff-I use air anyways. As an observation after many years using my shop tools and fabricating numerous other "tools" and what not, horsepower must mean something else to the Chinese. I have several bench grinders throughout the shop: some 1/2hp, some 1/3. As you know, you'd be hard pressed to find an american made bench grinder today. Anyway, the 1/2hp HF is a joke, it can be stopped or overheated by what I would consider mild pressure grinding, Black and Decker 1/3hp runs circles around that one. An OLD, and I mean OLD Delta stand model that I bought 30 years ago at a high school auction- can't be stopped. You can put your body weight into that grinding and it doesn't slow it down.(1/2 hp on steroids). Mind you, the delta was many years old then as they were selling their Old equipment to get new. My advise, hit the garage /estate sales hard for older, better equipment.Think of tools as an investment. When you're gone, your kids will love them knowing they were dads good tools.
those don't work.
