Re: Harbor Freight quality

> > I have been looking at HF prices and they are well below other name > brands. > > Anyone have good/bad experiences with them. I am specifically looking at > > thier stacked dado blades, router bits, slot cutter set, and > reciprocating > > saw. > > > > Thanks, > > > > Chris > > > > > > The other day I blew twenty bucks on their stack dado blade. I have not had > a chance to use it yet, but for a twenty, what the hell, thought I would > give it a try! > Greg >

I doubt you will be sorry about the 20 bucks you shelled out. I love mine for the price. Their router bits are probably ok if you have a need for a couple of uses, but if you are gonna need them any more than that, (roundovers, chamfers, pattern cutting, etc.) invest in good bits. I have bought one of their cheap carbide sets, and used enough of them to feel I got my money's worth ($19.95), but all the often used are Whiteside or equal. And what the hell, when I throw the cheap ones out, I can use the flip-out tray box they came in, for good bits.

Digger

Reply to
Digger
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I've bought a lot of stuff from HF, the quality is usually better than the price indicates, sometimes much better, with an occasional turkey in the mix.

Dick

Reply to
D.B.

If you look at their online catalog, and study the model numbers, and then go to the store and check the same units and their model numbers, you can pretty easily see how to get virtually anything "on sale" by having them price match with web prices. I stumbled on to this after seeing someone on this group mention a saw on sale and price matching with the web page. looking at the numbers tells the story pretty fast. I questioned the local HF and they said as long as I bring a printed page from their site, with the lower price, they will match. I bought the $319 14" bandsaw for $219 NOT on sale.

Digger

Reply to
Digger

HF sells a LOTof junk. But it does carry a few quality name brands, usually behind glass cabinets. It is one of those stores you need to be careful about quality. I bought a cast-iron stand for my grinder at HF for $30--it is China-made cheap but it doesn't matter to have a low-quality grinder stand for my low-quality grinder!

Reply to
Phisherman

"C Carruth" wrote in news:rrX_a.1812$ snipped-for-privacy@newssvr22.news.prodigy.com:

It's funny how the people who say that HF stuff is junk don't ever buy it. How can you be an expert when you are not experienced?

I've bought:

14" Bandsaw large drill press Recripricating saw 5" Grinder HVLP Sprayer w/ Turbine Dozens of Clamps 14" metal cut-off saw 7" wet tile saw Various stands Other handtoold 18g brad nailer 15g finish nailer stacked dado set Router bits

In general, all of their disposables and blades are sub-par, so plan on replacing them if you need quality. Otherwise, it's all tool grade, if not heirloom grade. I see pros using their stuff all the time. The only think that I've bought from them that was a POS was a $15 hand plane, which I returned.

I also buy a lot of non-HF stuff when I need real precision (table saw, router, etc). If you want to get something that you'll use for many years, then go ahead and spend the money to buy something nicer.

Good Luck, Matt

Reply to
MattH

Well, would you be willing to stand directly in front of a table saw blade turning at very high rate of speed and wonder if those little teeth(carbide) are going to stay on there ???

Would you be willing to put your hand VERY CLOSE to a router bit that is turning at 22,500rpm and wonder if that edge is attached correctly ???

The same applies to the slot cutter and reciprocating saw....

C Carruth wrote:

Reply to
Pat Barber

And does paying 2-4 times more somehow guarantee they will???

Reply to
Mark

Yes. I do every week. I have several HF blades: they all perform suprisingly well, for what I paid.

Maybe I got lucky...maybe not. My BIL is happy with his HF blades, as well.

Reply to
Chris Merrill

Go to the HF site, click on "order from the printed catalog" on the left. When the window for the product code comes up, enter the quantity (1) in the first box, the item number (41168) in the next box, the discount code (5vga) in the third box, and (vga) in the last box. Click add to order, and a page will show the 10" SCMS at $95.99. Print this page with all of the HF logos and stuff and take it to the store and purchase for less than $100. If you look on the boxes, you will see the model number, not the "X"vga series. It's the discount level. They will match it at the store. Have fun.

Digger

Reply to
Digger

And if anybody wants to browse the print catalog, and doesn't have it with them, go to

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and search for "Harbor Freight"

david

Reply to
D K Woods

Chris,

I live close to Habor Freight store and actually buy quite a bit from them. A lot of their stuff is junk, but I have made a couple of rules I use that seem to work:

Buy HF tools when:

1) It is not going to be used frequently. Most of their Central/Cen* equipment does not seem fit for a heavy duty cycle. But if you expect to only use it occasionally it may work out fine. This is the case of the reciprocating saw I bought there. I has worked for me the few times I have used it, but I would be upset at myself if I had spent $200 instead of $40, given that I have only used it 3 times. 2) It is not needed for precision work. I would probably not buy something like a router or plate joiner there. At least not without see a couple of good reviews on them first. I did break that last week when I got one of the $7 dial indicators. I'm going to try to use it for some quick alignment jigs in the workshop. 3) It must be at least half the cost of a major brand name product. I have seen some Delta dust collectors at Lowes that are less expensive than the ones on sale at HF. So still do some shoping around first.

One of the best bets is to search the web or post to the news groups.

- Frank

Reply to
Frank

I've bought a lot of little odds and ends from them - clamps, drill bits, calipers, emery cloth strips and have been pretty happy with what I've botten.

BTW, I bought a Craftsman circular saw blade ($48) a couple of weeks ago and the third night it shed a carbide tooth (WoW! - that will wake you up). Sears replaced it with no hassles I'm happy to say.

Reply to
Jim K

Replaced it...heh...they're probably just happy they don't have a law suit on their hands. What a scary thought -- I don't think I'll ever buy a Craftsman blade now....

david

Reply to
D K Woods

I made a mistake once of buying a grinder at HF.

It was cheap. Only $20. I did not expect great quality for that price.

What I got was a total piece of crap. Parts were missing. It had a terrible vibration when running. I did not think it was safe to use.

I do think you can find some bargains there, but you have to be very careful.

Reply to
Rob

Good point Pat!

reciprocating

Reply to
Rob

No guarantees, but the odds are much better.

If you want to take the risk, do it with your body.

Reply to
Rob

So, if one person on this list says they had a tooth come off a Forrest or Freud blade, then you'll never buy on of them, either?

You're gonna run out of brands, quick!

Reply to
Chris Merrill

True...but if I tell her it's safer, then I'm more likely to get the $$$ for a Forrest blade from my wife, right? (G)

david

Reply to
D K Woods

I got a refurb Router (Dewalt) and I love it. But that is a refurb as opposed to their store brand.

reciprocating

Reply to
Absinthe

Absolutely!

Of course, if she doesn't look at the blade, then you can go buy a HF blade and use the leftover for a bunch of goodies ;)

Reply to
Chris Merrill

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