Harbor Freight vs. Home depot

[John Grabowski]

That problem is almost non-existent. I have noticed that it occurs sometimes with philips screws when I aim the driver at a slight angle to the screw.

[Red Green]

"Ed Pawlowski" wrote in news:xq2dnTvMj79sZCDXnZ2dnUVZ [e-mail]:

Hey, I've seen "toys" that have been adapted to fit in a reciprocating saw. Settting the evening: candles, wine, music, reciprocating saw, ...

[HeyBub]

It's like beaver teeth; got to keep it trimmed down or it'll kill ya.

[Red Green]

Smitty Two wrote in news: [e-mail]:

Wiki has some good illustrations of the difference.

When I bought a big box of the Phillip Green no-snap screws it had a special bit in it touted as not slipping. It didn't slip. Don't believe it was Pozidriv

[John Grabowski]

*That's where I keep my hammer-drill :-)

[John Gilmer]

You definitely have better luck at pawn shows than do I.

I have NEVER seen a bargain there.

[John Gilmer]

The electric tools (battery and plug in) are OK but clearly not in the same class as the top of the line stuff from HD. Of course selling for about

1/3rd the price does provide some compensation.

When HF shines (IMO) is with pneumatic tools.

The HF might not be quite the same qualify as the best HD tools but a HF store has a heck of a lot more variety than any HD.

Moreover HF seems to have a variety of fasteners available for each of the pnematic tools it sells.

If the already has an air compressor (he can pick something up cheap at HF) he may well find a pneumatic tool that's as useful as the corresponding electric tool.

[Steve Daniels]

On Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:56:10 -0400, against all advice, something compelled "desgnr" , to say:

So . . . just that one time? HF should be fine.

[Rudy]

I have a Makita angle grinder..its about 15 years old and has given great service over the years under tough conditions. You can buy them new for about $ 50-60 I was visiting the inlaws in FL after the hurricanes about 8 yrs ago, Needed to do some aluminum repair so we bought a similar angle grinder from HFT..on sale for under $ 20. It got so HOT while running that after about 5 minutes that it couldnt be held in the ungloved hand and made twice the noise of the Makita. I wouldn't have expected it to last more than a year or so, if that.

If I needed a certain power tool to do one job (then probably never or rarely use it again) I'd get one from HFT. If I planned to use it regularly over the years, I'd get a "name brand". My 10 year old DeWalt 12V VSR drill will drive 3" screws..problem is, I'm on my THIRD set of rechargeable batteries for it...Drill won't DIE..the batteries do.

I see Hitachi 18V impact drivers on sale here and there. They're great for driving screws but the "drill" model is more versatile IMO. If I had some time to "look around", I'd consider SEARS Craftsman 18V VSR drill..IF.. I could find it on sale. They re often on sale for "40% off ! ..maybe $ 69- 79.00. I had a couple over the years that worked quite well. Make sure you get the TWO speed 0-450/ 0 - 1400 or 1800 RPM (The single speed are hopelessly slow) with the bigger One hour charger (not the cheapie little charger they sell with some)

[Kyle]

On Sep 25, 10:38=A0am, "SteveB" wrote: [snip]

I second and third this recommendation. I was in two local pawn shops recently, looking at what they had in notebook computers, and was surprised at the number of Porter Cable tools I saw available at prices you can't imagine. Even if they are used, it makes getting some P-C tools on my workbench actually feasible!

[Kyle]

Sheesh, you have an Internet connection and yet you can't be bothered doing 30 seconds' worth of research?

First, Black & Decker's world headquarters is on Joppa Road near Goucher Blvd. in Towson, MD, about 1-1/2 miles outside BALTIMORE. I know from personal experience because I used to live in near there and drove past the place just yesterday on my way from my old house (where my brother-in-law now lives) to Trader Joe's over there near Towsontowne Centre.

You want more proof? Go to

(Black & Decker's corporate website and click on the link "Our Companies" and you'll see the list: Black & Decker, DeWalt, Porter Cable, Delta Machinery, Kwikset, Price Pfister...

The more you know...

[The Daring Dufas]

I'm not going to comment, I just..... can't. ROTFLMAO

TDD

[Malcolm Hoar]

Yes, but is the wife satisfied with the results?

[The Daring Dufas]

I have a 16 year old B&D 12 volt cordless and I didn't have to replace the batteries until last fall. I repaired a broken solder joint in the charger that was caused by years of the kit being bounced around in a service vehicle, but that's the only other problem I've had with the B&D drill. The old drill and case are identical to the newer Dewalt drill and case, even the Dewalt 12 volt batteries fit it. I believe B&D slapped a Dewalt label on the higher quality drills and branded the cheap stuff B&D after the Dewalt company was bought out.

TDD

[Jim Elbrecht]

I'll bet it does. I'm a recent convert to the impact driver. I'll definitely keep one on hand to drive long screws. [mine is a 10.8v Bosch]

Jim

[Stormin Mormon]

Must be a misquote. I'm into 3 inch long power screwing like the guy with the wooden member, I mean, beam.

[The Daring Dufas]

I was in junior high once, Bevis. *snicker*

TDD

[Red Green]

"Stormin Mormon" wrote in news:h9l2vv $j36$ [e-mail]:

Lemme know quick. I got "company" coming in a couple of weeks:-)

[Red Green]

The Daring Dufas wrote in news:h9osc3$bq6$ [e-mail]:

Yea I have some pretty old B&D stuff including a 7.25 circular saw that was bought in 1983, seen a lot of use and not even new brushes. Bearings are noisy as hell and it sounds like it's gonna die next use. That next use has been going on for 3 yrs.

Couple of weeks ago I was in Ollie's Outlet (place like Big Lots) and they had a bunch of Skill saws to my amazement. Probably disco models.

39.95 for a 13a, 2.5hp, carbide blade, case, good feel, nice indicators and adjusters. Kinda hard to pass up at that price with only a Night of the Living Dead B&D on hand.

And Staples today had a 16gb thumb drive for 29 bucks. Had to pop for that cause my external drive has been kaput for some time and living dangerously. Backed up all my data files on a thumb drive now that's half the size of my old 256mb one. Still have half the drive empty.

[Jim Elbrecht]

-snip-

-snip-

Don't hold your breath. My B&D 7.25 was a gift from my father-in-law in 1970. Those bearings have squealing since 1990 or so. I don't use it much any more-- but a couple months ago I threw a diamond blade in it and cut 20' of basement floor. It likes the real dramatic jobs with lots of dust & noise.

When it dies [if I don't go first] I'm going to give one of these a go-

$150 for a worm-drive saw that cuts steel as well as wood & plastic.

Jim