Re: Harbor Freight quality

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

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

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!

"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:

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

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:

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

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.

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

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

david

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:

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

- 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.

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

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.

Good point Pat!

reciprocating

No guarantees, but the odds are much better.

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

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!

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

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

reciprocating

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 ;)