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Started By
Message
Lets talk about quality cheap tools
Posted on 12/21/16 at 8:20 am
Posted on 12/21/16 at 8:20 am
Specifically give some good and/or bad experiences with harbor freight products. This all came up because I need a rotary tool and I can't seem to want to spend $90 for a dremel over $20 for the one from harbor freight. I was against purchasing power tools from there until I got an angle grinder for like $10 that's still kicking arse 
13
Posted on 12/21/16 at 8:22 am to lsugrad35
As a general rule, you don't buy anything with moving parts from harbor freight with the expectation that it will last.
Posted on 12/21/16 at 8:29 am to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
As a general rule, you don't buy anything with moving parts from harbor freight with the expectation that it will last.
There are some exceptions, but this is a pretty good rule, especially for the cheapest items in the store. If it's made out of solid metal and has few moving parts (wrenches, hammers, grinding discs, etc.) it's probably a good deal. If it is cheap and has an electric motor, don't plan on it lasting. Their jacks, drill presses and some of the large power tools are of decent quality.
Posted on 12/21/16 at 8:30 am to lsugrad35
quote:
Specifically give some good and/or bad experiences with harbor freight products.
I have a framing nailer from there that's 10 yrs old and has probably punched 50lbs of nails.
I have a 2" trash pump that has probably ran 20 hrs without fail. It went under in the flood in August. Had it running in about 30 minutes. Still cranks on the 2nd pull.
I have a 3"x21" belt sander from HF that is about 10 yrs old and will burn pretty well.
I wouldn't buy a harbor freight vehicle or log splitter, but simple and relatively expensive tools I don't see why it's a terrible idea. If you catch stuff on sale it's really cheap. I consider most of that stuff almost a one-time use tool, but for stuff that would cost $50 to rent for a couple days at Home Depot, I'd rather buy one for $30 and risk it lasting a couple days. If it breaks on the first day you can return it.
Posted on 12/21/16 at 8:32 am to tenfoe
quote:
I consider most of that stuff almost a one-time
Pretty much my approach. Never would have thought the grinder would perform so well.
quote:
I have a 3"x21" belt sander from HF that is about 10 yrs old and will burn pretty well.
Interesting
Posted on 12/21/16 at 8:35 am to lsugrad35
quote:I simply don't use tools that often. For that reason, I have had good luck with HF stuff. If it does happen to be something I will use on a regular basis, I look elsewhere.
Specifically give some good and/or bad experiences with harbor freight products
Posted on 12/21/16 at 8:37 am to lsugrad35
I have a $20.00 4.5" angle grinder from HF going on 5 years now with no problems. I buy all my discs from the big box stores
I have the $20.00 sawzall that I use for trimming bushes and trees around my house. Also going on about 4 years.
Also most of my wood working large clamps are from HF so far so good with those.
I also forgot I got one of the 90amp welders on sale for like $50.00. It works fine for small jobs around the house. I have had it for 3-4 years now with no complaints
I have the $20.00 sawzall that I use for trimming bushes and trees around my house. Also going on about 4 years.
Also most of my wood working large clamps are from HF so far so good with those.
I also forgot I got one of the 90amp welders on sale for like $50.00. It works fine for small jobs around the house. I have had it for 3-4 years now with no complaints
This post was edited on 12/21/16 at 8:45 am
Posted on 12/21/16 at 8:39 am to TexasTiger
My harbor freight 4" angle grinder has been awesome as well. Going on 6 years moderate use. No issues
Posted on 12/21/16 at 8:42 am to TexasTiger
If you use it for your career I certainly wouldn't buy it from HF, but if you are looking for a very short term home project or hobby use then HF is fantastic. As said, I've literally bought stuff from there for almost half price what it would of cost me to just rent. If it allows me to complete the project I'm currently working on that's all I usually care about.
Sometimes its better to buy a Dewalt or something if I plan on using it 2-3 times a year forever, but a lot of the more unique tools are great from HF. I also find myself buying all kinds of small unique tools that I end up using much more often now that I have them.
Sometimes its better to buy a Dewalt or something if I plan on using it 2-3 times a year forever, but a lot of the more unique tools are great from HF. I also find myself buying all kinds of small unique tools that I end up using much more often now that I have them.
Posted on 12/21/16 at 8:45 am to TexasTiger
quote:
Also most of my wood working large clamps are from HF so far so good with those
These are a quality deal
Posted on 12/21/16 at 8:56 am to lsugrad35
quote:
Specifically give some good and/or bad experiences with harbor freight products.
Only real bad experience I have, besides the checkout lines, was with a torque wrench from there. Needed one real quick and so I took a gamble on it. It didn't matter what I set the dial on, it never would click. I set it on 2 ft-lbs and put my body weight on it.
I was given a set of 12 pt sockets from there. They didn't last very long.
Posted on 12/21/16 at 8:56 am to lsugrad35
Their Rotary tool works fine its just bulky.
Bar Clamps up to 24" are good
Pipe style bar clamps are good
Air Compressors
Nail Guns
Brad Nailers
Angle Grinder
The cut off wheels for the 4.5" angle work as good as any that i've used on my former day job
The Pittsburg Pro tools are pretty decent
Bottom Line, if you going to use that rotary tool a lot get a Dremel, if you want it to sand a table leg that you redoing and wont use it again for another year, get the Harbor Freight. Just spend a little extra money on tools by Dremel. Same with the brad nailers, don't buy the HF nails, get Hitachi, Dremel or Bostich
Bar Clamps up to 24" are good
Pipe style bar clamps are good
Air Compressors
Nail Guns
Brad Nailers
Angle Grinder
The cut off wheels for the 4.5" angle work as good as any that i've used on my former day job
The Pittsburg Pro tools are pretty decent
Bottom Line, if you going to use that rotary tool a lot get a Dremel, if you want it to sand a table leg that you redoing and wont use it again for another year, get the Harbor Freight. Just spend a little extra money on tools by Dremel. Same with the brad nailers, don't buy the HF nails, get Hitachi, Dremel or Bostich
Posted on 12/21/16 at 8:59 am to CHEDBALLZ
Check HFReviews.com
I had a nice list typed up and the window closed
I had a nice list typed up and the window closed
Posted on 12/21/16 at 9:08 am to CHEDBALLZ
Trying to get into knife making Ched. I don't want my initial buy in to be too pricey in case I'm awful at it. I think the HF rotary will give me enough to see if I like it. That thought just spurred this thread to see if I'm missing out on any good deals. All of my woodworking tools to this point are dewalt. Dad is sold on HF miter saws. I don't think I could ever spend money on that junk.
Posted on 12/21/16 at 9:20 am to lsugrad35
The HF dremel is junk. Look at the black and decker or Rigid versions for about the same price.
The HF Miter Saws are actually pretty decent. At least for the work I do.
The HF Miter Saws are actually pretty decent. At least for the work I do.
Posted on 12/21/16 at 9:23 am to lsugrad35
I have the small 10 gallon air compressor from HF. It is about 4 years old and ive never had a problem with it and ive painted some serious yard furniture with it which is supposedly a big no no.
Posted on 12/21/16 at 9:29 am to lsugrad35
quote:
Trying to get into knife making Ched
My 12 year old is too. He made one of a pice of hickory I had. He cut it on the band saw, sanded it down with a belt sander. It came out pretty nice for being a wooden knife.
Posted on 12/21/16 at 9:30 am to CHEDBALLZ
Damn you got the 12 year old started on working with wood. Well done sir 
Posted on 12/21/16 at 9:34 am to CHEDBALLZ
I have their $20 sawzall and a cheap cordless drill. Both work when I need them to. Just small projects around the house. I bought the saw to help with some demo work while renovating and have used it many times after the project. If it dies tomorrow, oh well. My wife's grandfather owns a trailer park and does all the work and maintenance himself. He said when it comes to stuff like that just buy a cheap one and if it lasts a year and dies go spend $20 and get another one. He has one that is 10 years old and still running and others that died after a year or two.
Posted on 12/21/16 at 9:34 am to lsugrad35
He likes cutting stuff on the band saw and scroll saw. I like to show him how to do different things. He's on a kick right now of making blow guns and darts.
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