Re: Central Machinery quality? (2023 Update)

[crjt85]

Some HF stuff is good but in particular I would be careful about Central Machinery products. I bought a drill press 60237 and after only a few uses the return spring broke and I am told that HF cannot get parts. This broke while I was installing a drill bit, if the machine had been running it could have been dangerous as it would allow the drill bit to drop onto anything below. I do use it at work but only occasionally so naturally the 90 day warranty was out. I always try to give manufacturers the benefit of the doubt, faulty parts are not always detectable in production, but why supply a parts list when refusing to supply the parts anyway?

And yes, someone mentioned a stripped thread - mine too.

[Vlad]

25 years later, apparently Google was the thing back in 1996 wow.

I am not sure if any of you guys are still alive, but I would love to hear your updated opinions now since market has changed a lot.

Just got myself a knee mill from HF and just having fun browsing around.

[Vlad]

Also notice guys how makers community and crafting started booming in 2016+, and since 1996 there was no discussion here. very interesting!

[Michael Trew]

This is one of the few rather active newsgroups that I read. I typically have nothing to reply as I don't actively do much woodworking, but it's nice to see so little spam and a real discussion ongoing!

Perhaps I'll chime in when I start restoring my 120 year old double hung windows.

[Leon]

I can assure you, all of "us guys" are still alive.

Central Machinery.. I do not recall that brand at all.

[DerbyDad03]

For the time being, anyway.

Do you not ever shop at Harbor Freight?

The Central Machinery label can be found on numerous HF items, from $15 plastic sawhorses to $3300 backhoes. Some CM items can be found on Amazon also. Obviously they are a re-seller of stuff made by a number of other (mostly likely) foreign entities.

They even carry leg sets. ;-)

[Jerry Osage]

Spend some time in a Harbor Freight store..

[knuttle]

I have a Central machinery drill press. I bought it for as it was about the same price as a drill. I found that it has completely replace the drill for projects around the shop. Would I buy it for a commercial application, NO. But as I use it it is perfect.

Maybe with President Trumps vaccines, we can go back to Harbor Freight and shop.

[krw]

Com' on. HF tools aren't green.

[DerbyDad03]

Sure they are. They almost fooled me with this CM machine. ;-)

[Bob D]

You cannot generalize on quality based on country of manufacture. Sawstop is made in Taiwan and their products are top shelf quality.

Bob

[Bob D]

I buy HF brand glue brushes from Amazon. They work pretty well after the first 10 bristles fall out.

[krw]

Now *that's* green! Diaper green after a good meal of strained peas.

Who would buy something that ugly?

[krw]

I've bought a pile of their chip brushes, foam brushes, and nitrile gloves. The latter came in handy about a year ago.

Mechanics tools work well enough for working around the house. Crapsman has fallen so far that they've about the same for a few times the price. I wouldn't use them if I were a mechanic but they're great for what I want. I'm not too worried about losing one, either.

[krw]

Most such tools are made in Taiwan. Yeah, Leon has an Italian Laguna bandsaw but they're about twice the price of their Taiwanese versions.

[DerbyDad03]

I stock up on their nitrile gloves, especially the 5 mil (light blue), usually 3-4 boxes at a time when they go on sale. I've always got at least 1 box of the

7 & 9 mil on hand too.

I use the 5 mil for finishing, working on the cars, working with meat, etc. I often wear them under my winter gloves when working outside. I can take my gloves off and my hands stay warm for short tasks when I need a little fineness. The same for when I'm raking wet leaves on a cold November day.

I'm glad I stocked up before Covid hit. They used to be in the $5/box range. Now they are $18. HF has the same words on a sign in the stores as they do on the website:

"Nitrile glove prices are up and supplies are low because of a worldwide raw material shortage. Our profit margin has NOT changed and you can be sure that when costs decrease so will our prices."

Luckily I still have 1 1/2 boxes of the $5 kind. In most cases, I get multiple uses out of a single pair. I put on 6 coats of wipe-on poly and only used 1 pair. Pull them off by the cuff so that they end up inside out. Let the perspiration dry, turn them right side out, and they are good for another finishing session. At current prices, I'm not about to throw them away after getting a little poly on them.

[Bill]

After I went through my old $7 box from HF, I paid $23 for a box online. I don't mind paying that for "cheap health insurance", for when I do things like pump gas. They say the virus is mostly not transmitted that way, but the glove make me feel safer. Wife and I just got our first shot of the vaccine the other day, so we can sort of see the end of the tunnel from here.

[DerbyDad03]

SWMBO got her shots last month since she's 1A. She works with disabled adults. Physical and mental disorders. God bless her. The patience she has! She's in charge of a green house and gardens at a day-hap and has "her guys" tend the plants based on their abilities.

Almost every day I had been logging in to the various vaccine scheduling sites offering vaccines. (county, pharmacies, etc.) "All appointments are filled at this time."

Last Wednesday I logged in to a pharmacy scheduler and instead of the "No Appointments" message, I saw a button for a city about 90 miles from me. Just a button with a city name on it. No other words. OK, that's different. I clicked the button, filled out the form and ended with an appointment for the upcoming Friday

- less than 48 hours from the then-current time. I'm assuming it was a cancellation.

First shot down, next shot at the end of March.

[Leon]

Well that was what I thought was the brand that they sold. Therefore I could offer no personal experience on that brand.

But no, I don't shop that brand at all. I don't just collect tools, I wear them out, or used to before I started buying Festool.;!) I do not think I would be happy with something that is not going to last and perform as long as the brands that I buy.

Well what could go wrong with a steel stand? I might buy one of those if I needed one. ;~)

[Leon]

Yeah, that looks exactly like a Festool tool,,,, NOT!!! LOL