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mac davis
Guest
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 Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:00 pm Post subject: Re: Quality of Harbor Freight and Chicago Electric tools |
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On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 11:25:46 -0600, John T
<rcav8r@charter-for-hire.net> wrote:
| Quote: | I've bought a few items from HF, mostly the smaller stuff, pneumatic
drills and shears which I haven't really put to use yet. Their Central
Machinery horizontal bandsaw that often goes for about $150 or 160 on
sale is very popular with the homebuilt airplane crowd. Just get a
quality bimetal blade for it, and it works great. There also Yahoo
groups for that saw.
I've been meaning to go out and buy that 18g brad nailer (pneumatic)
which I think is (or was...I can wait) 12.99 on sale. Anyone have
experience with that?
John
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I just got one a monday..lol
I bought the slightly bigger one last month for $20 and liked it, so
when I was at the store picking up a bunch of "raincheck" clamps, I
saw the 13 price and grabbed one..
Never having used a "good" brad nailer, I can't compare it, but I used
it last night to put some drawer bottoms on and it worked great!
I know they aren't quality, but my work isn't yet, either... and for
now, I have 2 brad drivers for less that $40.... and that means a lot
less loading and unloading brads because the wrong size is in the
gun.. |
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mac davis
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 5:00 pm Post subject: Re: Quality of Harbor Freight and Chicago Electric tools |
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On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 19:07:35 +0000 (UTC), John Thomas
<John.Thomas@intel.com> wrote:
| Quote: | mac davis <mac.davis@comcast.net> wrote in
news:hdp6q0dme831hdn0qpd7cl92irk49ep9se@4ax.com:
OTOH, I bought their 6x48" belt sander with 9" disk on sale for about
$140 (with stand) about 3 years ago and hope it never dies.. great
tool..
Mac,
How stiff is the disk on that puppy? I looked at the one at our local store
a few weeks back; the floor model was broken (literally, the disk was
busted). It looked like pretty thin Aluminum, so I passed on it then.
(Still thinking though ...)
Regards,
JT
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Well, it's nowhere near the quality of the 12" disk on my shopsmith,
but it's as good as a few aftermarket ones I've bought other places..
I've used it quite a bit on several projects and never had a problem
or noticed it flex, even with my "less than patient" neighbor using it
to round corners on hardwood.. lol
The belt sander is very nice, but like most of them, could use a
better fence and a jig that I saw somewhere to use for keeping work
square on the belt for edge sanding.. |
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makesawdust
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 8:00 pm Post subject: Re: Quality of Harbor Freight and Chicago Electric tools |
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Dan Wrote:
| Quote: | On Mon 22 Nov 2004 08:36:21p, kosowsky@consult.pretender (Jeffrey J.
Kosowsky) wrote in news:m2vfbxs34s.fsf@consult.pretender:
-
Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?-
I bought the recip saw. Actually it was on sale for 25$ when I needed
one
for a garage project. I figured, if it does this one job it was worth
it
and if I find myself using it a lot, I'll get a good one. It did the
garage
job, then another one, then the bathroom remodel, then it helped tear
down
the neighbor's old shed, and it still goes on and on.
I like having a reciprocating saw around so when it dies I'll upgrade,
but
I don't feel bad about having bought this one.
I don't know if I'd trust 'em well enough to get something that's
supposed
to be precise, like a sliding miter saw, though.
Dan
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If you are using a sawzall on a job, you aren't exactly doing precision
work, so you can get buy with a lesser-quality tool!
--
makesawdust |
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Peter De Smidt
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 8:00 pm Post subject: Re: Quality of Harbor Freight and Chicago Electric tools |
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makesawdust wrote:
| Quote: |
If you are using a sawzall on a job, you aren't exactly doing precision
work, so you can get buy with a lesser-quality tool!
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Well, you can. I've used a green BD one for about 6 years now. I wish I
had spent twice the money and gotten a Milwaukee super sawzall, since my
saw vibrates like crazy. That gets really tiring on the arms.
Occasionally, I've got to borrow a Milwaukee, and they've been much less
fatiguing.
-Peter |
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patriarch
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2004 9:00 pm Post subject: Re: Quality of Harbor Freight and Chicago Electric tools |
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makesawdust <makesawdust.1g8ojp@news.diybanter.com> wrote in
news:makesawdust.1g8ojp@news.diybanter.com:
<snip>
| Quote: | If you are using a sawzall on a job, you aren't exactly doing precision
work, so you can get buy with a lesser-quality tool!
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As long as it does what you need it to, reliably, without excess operator
strain.
The DeWalt was $99 at the Borg. How much do you need to save on a tool?
The job I bought it for cost me $2300 in materials alone. What's a
reliable tool worth?
If I were doing this for a living, then something top end. But likely
never HF.
Patriarch
Life's too short for cheap tools. |
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nobody
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 11:00 pm Post subject: Re: Quality of Harbor Freight and Chicago Electric tools |
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I have this one. It's great.
John T wrote:
| Quote: |
I've been meaning to go out and buy that 18g brad nailer (pneumatic)
which I think is (or was...I can wait) 12.99 on sale. Anyone have
experience with that?
John |
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GeraldR916
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 12:00 am Post subject: Re: Quality of Harbor Freight and Chicago Electric tools |
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| Yea, got one a few months back. Works good. No problems so far. |
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mac davis
Guest
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| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 7:00 am Post subject: Re: Quality of Harbor Freight and Chicago Electric tools |
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On Sat, 27 Nov 2004 22:52:22 GMT, nobody <no@no.com> wrote:
| Quote: | I have this one. It's great.
John T wrote:
I've been meaning to go out and buy that 18g brad nailer (pneumatic)
which I think is (or was...I can wait) 12.99 on sale. Anyone have
experience with that?
John
I used mine (2) again today, one to assemble drawers with longer |
brads, the other to attach hardboard, with short brads..
I did have one problem today.. I didn't realize that I was out of
brads and put 5 or 6 really nice counter sink holes in the stock
before letting it go and having it come apart on the bench..lol
(sure glad that I had spread kraft paper on the bench, cleaning up
that titebond III is a ***)
They both seem to work very well, (the $19,95 one that the $12.99 one)
but I have no experience with other brad drivers to compare them to.. |
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davefr
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2004 12:00 am Post subject: Re: Quality of Harbor Freight and Chicago Electric tools |
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90% of them are pure junk not fit for the intended purpose. The other
10% are OK for occassional use.
Forget these HF dregs and buy known quality tools that you can trust
and that will help you achieve quality work.
Chicago Electric is a brand name intended to decieve the consumer into
thinking these are made in the USA. Chicago Electric along with
Pittsburg Forge, and Central Pnuematic are farmed out to the lowest
cost/lowest quality manufacturers in China.
Buy quality and you'll only say ouch once. Buy this crap and you'll
curse and swear every time you use it and eventually get so frustrated
it'll go in the garbage can.
kosowsky@consult.pretender (Jeffrey J. Kosowsky) wrote in message news:<m2vfbxs34s.fsf@consult.pretender>...
| Quote: | Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".
What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?
Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?
Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).
Thanks |
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Dr. Deb
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2004 3:00 pm Post subject: Re: Quality of Harbor Freight and Chicago Electric tools |
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davefr wrote:
| Quote: | 90% of them are pure junk not fit for the intended purpose. The other
10% are OK for occassional use.
Forget these HF dregs and buy known quality tools that you can trust
and that will help you achieve quality work.
Chicago Electric is a brand name intended to decieve the consumer into
thinking these are made in the USA. Chicago Electric along with
Pittsburg Forge, and Central Pnuematic are farmed out to the lowest
cost/lowest quality manufacturers in China.
Buy quality and you'll only say ouch once. Buy this crap and you'll
curse and swear every time you use it and eventually get so frustrated
it'll go in the garbage can.
kosowsky@consult.pretender (Jeffrey J. Kosowsky) wrote in message
news:<m2vfbxs34s.fsf@consult.pretender>...
Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".
What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?
Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?
Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).
Thanks
|
It all depends. It depends on what you are going to use it for, your skill
level, income, severity of use, etc. Take their cordless drills for
example. The 18v. is a very good tool for the occasional hobbist, home
use, etc.
You are right, the quality is not there, most of the time. But for those of
us who are beginning or occasional hobbists, there is no way we can justify
the added expense of "name brand." Speaking of which, A lot of stuff
Grizzly sells LOOKS an awful lot like the stuff from HF. Are you
suggesting a person buy Grizzly just because of the name? Just kidding!
If price were no issue and my skills warranted it, I would buy top of the
line everytime. However, as they say, this is not a perfect world.
Deb |
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davefr
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2004 7:00 pm Post subject: Re: Quality of Harbor Freight and Chicago Electric tools |
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Like I said, it depends on the tool. You're rolling the dice. Several
of there tools that are actually acceptable and represent pretty good
value.
However most of them are unfit for any reasonable use. If you only
get one usable tool for every 4-5 you purchase then you have been
penny wise and pound foolish.
I think their upper end air tools are decent. Feedback on their
cheapy angle grinders is also pretty good.
However I would never touch any of their tools where precision or
cutting is a requirement. An example if their cordless drills. You
can actually wobble the chuck laterally!!
I bought one of their 1/2 HP 6" bench grinders. What total garbage.
The motor is so gutless it stalls out at the slightest load. I
measured the running amperage and it was only 2 amps. (another
deceptive HP rating)
On the other hand I bought one of their $2.99 digital multimeters.
It's perfectly acceptable for basic use. If I need precision I'll dig
out my Fluke, but for simple continuity tests or rough voltage
measurements it's OK.
hennyhorowitz@hotmail.com (davefr) wrote in message news:<c8c760cf.0411301547.4b810559@posting.google.com>...
| Quote: | 90% of them are pure junk not fit for the intended purpose. The other
10% are OK for occassional use.
Forget these HF dregs and buy known quality tools that you can trust
and that will help you achieve quality work.
Chicago Electric is a brand name intended to decieve the consumer into
thinking these are made in the USA. Chicago Electric along with
Pittsburg Forge, and Central Pnuematic are farmed out to the lowest
cost/lowest quality manufacturers in China.
Buy quality and you'll only say ouch once. Buy this crap and you'll
curse and swear every time you use it and eventually get so frustrated
it'll go in the garbage can.
kosowsky@consult.pretender (Jeffrey J. Kosowsky) wrote in message news:<m2vfbxs34s.fsf@consult.pretender>...
Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".
What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?
Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?
Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).
Thanks |
|
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Guest
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| Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 6:00 pm Post subject: Re: Quality of Harbor Freight and Chicago Electric tools |
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Just curious, which HVLP Paint gun did you buy from Harbor Freight? I'm
thiinking of buying one of their turbine type sprayers (no air
compressor needed). |
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tablesawnut
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 6:00 am Post subject: Re: Quality of Harbor Freight and Chicago Electric tools |
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davefr wrote:
| Quote: | Like I said, it depends on the tool. You're rolling the dice.
Several
of there tools that are actually acceptable and represent pretty good
value.
However most of them are unfit for any reasonable use. If you only
get one usable tool for every 4-5 you purchase then you have been
penny wise and pound foolish.
I think their upper end air tools are decent. Feedback on their
cheapy angle grinders is also pretty good.
However I would never touch any of their tools where precision or
cutting is a requirement. An example if their cordless drills. You
can actually wobble the chuck laterally!!
I bought one of their 1/2 HP 6" bench grinders. What total garbage.
The motor is so gutless it stalls out at the slightest load. I
measured the running amperage and it was only 2 amps. (another
deceptive HP rating)
On the other hand I bought one of their $2.99 digital multimeters.
It's perfectly acceptable for basic use. If I need precision I'll
dig
out my Fluke, but for simple continuity tests or rough voltage
measurements it's OK.
hennyhorowitz@hotmail.com (davefr) wrote in message
news:<c8c760cf.0411301547.4b810559@posting.google.com>...
90% of them are pure junk not fit for the intended purpose. The
other
10% are OK for occassional use.
Forget these HF dregs and buy known quality tools that you can
trust
and that will help you achieve quality work.
Chicago Electric is a brand name intended to decieve the consumer
into
thinking these are made in the USA. Chicago Electric along with
Pittsburg Forge, and Central Pnuematic are farmed out to the lowest
cost/lowest quality manufacturers in China.
Buy quality and you'll only say ouch once. Buy this crap and
you'll
curse and swear every time you use it and eventually get so
frustrated
it'll go in the garbage can.
kosowsky@consult.pretender (Jeffrey J. Kosowsky) wrote in message
news:<m2vfbxs34s.fsf@consult.pretender>...
Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".
What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and
with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money
to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand,
high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools
to
fill out my home shop?
Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?
Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist
perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day
then it
pays to buy the best).
Thanks
|
I have been eyeballing HF power power tools for about a year. I finaly
brokdown and told my wife to get me a combo disk/belt sander for
Cristmas as an experiment. It was the central machienry brand 4" belt
with a 6" disk. On christmas day I assembled it pluged it in and
fooled around with it for about 10 minutes. It seemed to be
acceptable. I did not expect it to last very long because it was
CHEAP. The other day I needed to use it for real the first time. I
turned it on Its motor was bound up and it literaly went up in smoke.
I dont use some of my more than others this was one I knew I would not
use every weekend but when I had a use for it, it would be very handy
to have.
I think this exeriment can be dubed a colosal failure. I tried to
return it but could only get store credit which is fine I love HF. But
I think I will stick to buying thier disposable hand tools, saw blades
ect.
I am an avid woodworker and It is a good rule of thumb you get what you
pay for when you buy power tools. HF power tools are great for a one
time project after that the tool will probably just colect dust in a
garage.
The argument of buying a cheap tool to learn with I find very strange.
Why not buy a good tool that is easy to use. I makes learning much
easier and fun. |
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Edwin Pawlowski
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 7:00 am Post subject: Re: Quality of Harbor Freight and Chicago Electric tools |
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"tablesawnut" <glenbox@msn.com> wrote in message
| Quote: | The other day I needed to use it for real the first time. I
turned it on Its motor was bound up and it literaly went up in smoke.
I think this exeriment can be dubed a colosal failure. I tried to
return it but could only get store credit which is fine I love HF.
I am an avid woodworker and It is a good rule of thumb you get what you
pay for when you buy power tools.
The argument of buying a cheap tool to learn with I find very strange.
Why not buy a good tool that is easy to use. I makes learning much
easier and fun.
|
All this and you "love HF"???
I don't live near any of their stores to actually see the tools first hand,
but I've not been tempted to order anything based just on stories like
yours. |
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Lobby Dosser
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2005 8:00 am Post subject: Re: Quality of Harbor Freight and Chicago Electric tools |
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"tablesawnut" <glenbox@msn.com> wrote:
| Quote: | I am an avid woodworker and It is a good rule of thumb you get what you
pay for when you buy power tools. HF power tools are great for a one
time project after that the tool will probably just colect dust in a
garage.
The argument of buying a cheap tool to learn with I find very strange.
Why not buy a good tool that is easy to use. I makes learning much
easier and fun.
|
The two exceptions to this are the 4" angle grinder which can sometimes be
found for as low as $12, and the 7x10" machinist's lathe which has sold for
as little as $250 in the past and gets very good reviews from folks who
seem to know what they are talking about. My angle grinder takes a licking
and keeps on ticking. If it ever stops, it goes in the trash with few
regrets.
LD |
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