Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[varmint]

With a new (for me- it's a 2008) Miata to detail, I sprang for a HF DA orbital polisher that was on sale for $49... after using it fairly extensively, I am quite happy with it! Works well, and the car and plastic headlights polished perfectly. Seems like it will last, and came with spare brushes.

http://www.harborfreight.com/media/...3525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/6/9/69924_zzz_500.jpg

 

[ronjhall]

You may want to take front end apart add some good grease. I have done my 35' motorhome twice with one. Works good.

 

[countrybumpkin]

Headed to our new store that opened this morning!!!

 

[reb]

As someone pointed out earlier, this thread has become the general HF critique thread.

Since my workshop does not include a vacuum system for catching sawdust, I decided to try HF's sawdust bag which mounts under the table saw. It is a 5-star idea, with 1-star implementation. The female snaps are poorly attached in a random pattern. Careful measurement is required in installing the male snaps. The male snaps provided have a soft metal screw which is likely to twist off in the installation. The female snaps will probably will require removal with a screwdriver to avoid damage.

 

[California]

Agree ... and the random spacing of the snaps means the bag will only fit one way. BTDT.

Actually I bought that identical saw and stand at Lowe's [CORRECTED: Home Depot] bearing a Skil logo. Their price with stand equaled HF's price for the saw without stand.

But these are good table saws for the price. I've done a couple of precision projects and ripped a trailerload of scrap lumber - up to 4x12 original size - to make 1x4 orchard props. No problem with the saw even running it near-continuous for hours.

 

[Travelover]

..............But these are good table saws for the price. .........

Which one do you have?

 

[California]

Which one do you have?

I corrected my post above - I bought that HF-identical Skil table saw at Home Depot.

Looking on HD's website now, they no longer offer the one I bought. At any rate my Skil from HD has the identical appearance, base, and specifications as the one HF was offering at the time. After looking at HF's sample in their store I'm pretty sure they were identical.

HF's version - a little different now. Their comparable one was blue. (Link)

My Skil. Here I made several frames for paintings on canvas. These have a bevel from the outer edge so the profile of the frame doesn't show on the face of the canvas.

 

[California]

A couple of quality, useful tools from HF:

In the picture above I have HF's grinder table used temporarily to mount their Pocket Screw Jig. The jig is similar to a name-brand that is a lot more expensive. HF's seems to be a precision, high quality tool with no limitations. It is used to bore for 'toenail' screws at a very flat angle with their head recessed.

I used it to assemble the frames shown above with all screw heads recessed into the back side. These paintings were going for sale in a proper art gallery so the frames had to look professional.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I bought a Delta 10" Shopmaster bench top table saw, at Lowes, many years ago. I wanted it for it's portability. I can toss in the back of our Polaris Ranger and use it anywhere I have power. It reasonably accurate and powerful. And I paid least than $100 for it including the stand.

Stock photo;

 

[Luke'sScreenName]

A couple of quality, useful tools from HF:

In the picture above I have HF's grinder table used temporarily to mount their Pocket Screw Jig. The jig is similar to a name-brand that is a lot more expensive. HF's seems to be a precision, high quality tool with no limitations. It is used to bore for 'toenail' screws at a very flat angle with their head recessed.

I used it to assemble the frames shown above with all screw heads recessed into the back side. These paintings were going for sale in a proper art gallery so the frames had to look professional.

What about screws and bits? Special ones? Can you use Kreg?