Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

crazyal · Feb 17, 2020

hunt4570 said:
Just curious, why do you need to lift that big woodworking equipment? And whatcha got that weighs 1000 pounds, big planer or something? All my woodworking equipment is on mobile bases but I don't think I have anything that heavy. I think my 16" planer is my heaviest and about 450 I think.

My 20" planer is over 900lbs. It resides in my shop (was a bear to get it through the door) but there are times when I have a lot of rough cut lumber I want to plane where it would be nice to have it outside and the dust collector just blowing the shavings onto a trailer to dump. My jointer isn't much lighter. I never bothered putting either on a mobile base (because they are too heavy for a couple of guys to lift) but will someday. My PM66 is on a Shop Fox base but it's no where near the weight.

My plan is to weld up something to make it easy to lift the planer.

Ford850 · Feb 17, 2020

crazyal said:
My 20" planer is over 900lbs. It resides in my shop (was a bear to get it through the door) but there are times when I have a lot of rough cut lumber I want to plane where it would be nice to have it outside and the dust collector just blowing the shavings onto a trailer to dump. My jointer isn't much lighter. I never bothered putting either on a mobile base (because they are too heavy for a couple of guys to lift) but will someday. My PM66 is on a Shop Fox base but it's no where near the weight.

My plan is to weld up something to make it easy to lift the planer.

You need a small gauge rail tracked to the outside for those projects. That would be cool.

Fallon · Feb 17, 2020

Ford850 said:
You need a small gauge rail tracked to the outside for those projects. That would be cool.

Pallet jack's are wonderous tools. Rated for a couple thousand lbs & maneuverable. A lot more flexible than an overhead track or anything You just need to lift stuff 3-4" to get under the load. A lever or bottle jack & some 2x4 cribbing usually gets you there. Or the afore discussed engine hoist.

I couldn't move my lathe on the stand so my pallet jack wasnt an option. Would have been trivial to use the loader & pallet forks to lift the lathe onto the stand & pallet jack, if it would have fit & been stable.

mjgreck · Feb 17, 2020

4570Man said:
I had one of the harbor freight really cheap grinders. It survived about 10 minutes of tough use before it melted. My other grinders take the same use just fine. I知 not one to grind especially hard unless it痴 a big grinder that値l take it but this thing was junk.

harbor freight is really hit or miss (I've had many that actually lasted quite some time and others that bit the dust quickly)
it really depends on the grinder version i found

Travelover · Feb 17, 2020

mjgreck said:
harbor freight is really hit or miss (I've had many that actually lasted quite some time and others that bit the dust quickly)
it really depends on the grinder version i found

Some Chinese prisons make better stuff than others. :laughing:

5030 · Feb 17, 2020

mjgreck said:
harbor freight is really hit or miss (I've had many that actually lasted quite some time and others that bit the dust quickly)
it really depends on the grinder version i found

Chinese motors stink real bad when the smoke comes out too. The smell like dead fish sort of...

One good thing about the cheapo HF grinders, if you save your receipt and it's under 30 days, take it back and get another one and smoke that and repeat....

Better yet, get a couple and smoke them all and repeat...

California · Feb 17, 2020

5030 said:
Chinese motors stink real bad when the smoke comes out

Oh man. I have the previous version of the horizontal-tank 10 gallon, 2.5 claimed hp, compressor. Claimed CFM output (not SCFM) 5.0 CFM @ 90 psi.

I bought HF's little die grinder that spec'd substantially less CFM required. First time I used the die grinder, the air pressure bogged down and at the same time the motor smelled like it was on fire. I turned around and heavy choking smoke was coming out of the compressor shroud. The thermal cutout never tripped.

I was sure I had burned up the compressor but it survived. After about year 10 I had to replace the pressure regulator switch (its common and generic), otherwise no problems. It still has a trace of that smell when it runs.

Diggin It · Feb 18, 2020

If you have a pallet jack and the need to move larger tools often, why not mount them on one of the more substantial Oak pallets? Even beef one up if necessary. Maybe a sheet of 3/4 plywood on top.

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Back to HF --- free tarp coupons are back, as are the 30% off items under $10. Two versions there, one for up to 5 items, another for up to 9 items - potential $30 savings. What happened to the free coupons for the small black tube flashlights? I still like those, easy to stuff in a pocket.

5030 · Feb 18, 2020

California said:
Oh man. I have the previous version of the horizontal-tank 10 gallon, 2.5 claimed hp, compressor. Claimed CFM output (not SCFM) 5.0 CFM @ 90 psi.

I bought HF's little die grinder that spec'd substantially less CFM required. First time I used the die grinder, the air pressure bogged down and at the same time the motor smelled like it was on fire. I turned around and heavy choking smoke was coming out of the compressor shroud. The thermal cutout never tripped.

I was sure I had burned up the compressor but it survived. After about year 10 I had to replace the pressure regulator switch (its common and generic), otherwise no problems. It still has a trace of that smell when it runs.

It's the rice paper they use for lamination insulation. It stinks...:laughing:

lostcreekranch · Feb 18, 2020

BukitCase said:
Mark, for what you describe I would either expect to spend more for casters (these are what I use when things REALLY need to stay put

WoodRiver - 5" Caster, Double Locking, Swiveling with 4 Hole Mounting Plate

They're double locking, so wheels neither roll or swivel when they're locked. Most of my shop is on either these or the Rockler mobile bases

Rockler Power Tool Mobile Base Hardware

Instead of the 1-1/2" wood connections on the rockler stands, I use 1-1/2" square tube - My PM66 saw and 2 of my router tables are on the Rocklers along with my woodworking DP and a dead upright freezer with a small light bulb in the bottom for things I want totally rust and dust free - the third router table, band saw and a couple other stands use the woodriver casters.

My 12" helical head jointer weighs right at 1000 lbs and the beds total 85" long, I'll have to fab some "underslung" 6" casters for that in order to keep the tables low enough to work for my plan to have 10' minimum in and outfeeds for the bandsaw, 2 jointers (other one's a 6" powermatic) and one of my planers in minimum floor space (I'll only have enough room for the base of that jointer to be 1/2" off the floor.)

I made the mistake of believing Shop Fox on one of their "1000 lb" mobile bases quite a while back; dang thing wouldn't even roll good when it was EMPTY. It's still sitting in a scrap pile somewhere I think. Never again...

If you're gonna "cheep out" on casters for a work bench, better plan on some kind of drop-down feet, or else wear roller skates so you can keep up with the bench

Just my :2cents: - Everybody's got their pet peeves, one of mine's crappy casters/wheels... Steve