Harbor Freight?

[maomoonshiner]

Just wondering about the quality of their heavy duty tools. Does anyone own anything manufactured by Central Machinery or Chicago Power Tools or any of those little known companies they carry? Not talking handtools; I'm moreso interested in a big ticket item such as a table saw or a combo sander. I'm browsing with skepticism, but with such a tight budget I'm seriously considering cracking the wallet. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

-morgan

[sapwood]

Morgan,
Shop with extreme caution in HF. There are some gems, but also lots of poorly built stuff. Generally, I would stay away from the tablesaws, bandsaws, jointers, and planers. Some of the smaller stuff is ok for light use, like the nail guns, sanders, dial calipers, and clamps. I've found some great deals there.

But I suggest you be specific when asking about higher cost items and let the knowledgeable folks here offer their guidance.

Roger

[Steve W]

Morgan,

I'd shop carefully. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for. What you're willing to accept in terms of compromise is something that only experience can give you.

I would stay in the middle-ground with respect to price -- this usually brings you into the Delta / Ryobi / Makita, etc. territory. Shop for bargains in this area but keep in mind that you may have to deal with arranging for your own repairs if you buy online.

Nearly every time I've gone for the cheap alternative -- based solely on price -- I have regretted my choice.

[LeftyTom]

Roger and Steve have you clued in. An option to the HF brand (Central Machinery) is one of my favorite brands: Used. You can get used quality machinery for perhaps $20-$50 more than the HF stuff new. YMMV, of course.

You see praise for a HF lathe on North Carolina Woodworker for the reason that it is a good machine for the price. Bandsaws, planers, jointers, and table saws are the "gray areas".

[Steve W]

That's a great point, Tom and I've used this logic for the last 3 cars that I've bought. Rather than get a cheaper, new, car, I've gone for better quality cars that are 3 - 5 years old. Going that way, I get better iron. Relating this to tools, most recently I've bought a 6" Ridgid jointer for $200 through careful monitoring of Craigslist. Yes, I had to replace the knives, but the jointer was very lightly used and its new price is over $400. The knives were $18 at Sears. Similar savings are available all the time.
BTW, don't discount getting your hands on REALLY old stuff (1950s - 70s) and updating them. Most of this stuff was made here and can withstand a nuclear strike. My first jointer was a Craftsman 4 1/4" jointer from 1950 that I bought off a WWII vet. This machine jointed all the wood for my kitchen cabinets in MA that I made in 2003. I sold it before I moved because I knew I wanted a bigger one.
With older tools like tablesaws, you can buy a new fence and update it to "modern" standards. Keep an eye on these deals, as frequently you can get them for very cheap money!

[gator]

This list of HF Gems came from another web site:

George

Harbor Freight Gems

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This is a list complied at Woodnet Forums of what many believe to be good bargains at Harbor Freight. http://www.harborfreight.com
Item #45378 2HP Dust Collector (A true bargin)
Item #00623 1" Dial Indicator
Item #05645 Magnetic Base For Dial Indicator
Item #34214 Angle Finder
Item #36697 Feather Board
Item #36221 9" Drill Press Lock Clamp
6" thru 36" Bar Type Clamps, personally I have over a hundred. only one failurein 7 years.
Item #04067 3-Way Edge Clamp
Item #31255 ¾" HD Pipe Clamp Set
C-Clamps, All Sizes
Item #03629 7 Piece Forstner Bit Set (Good starter set)
Item #35837 29 Piece Brad Point Wood Drill Bit Set
Item #30756 7-Function Multitester
Item #41558 Magnetic Light
Item #47257 6" Digital Caliper (A true bargin)
Item #44566 Stacked Dado Set (A good first set)
Item #37861 10 Piece T-Handle Hex Key Set
Item #41796 1LB. Dead Blow Hammer
Item #90007 3 Piece SAE Ratcheting Wrench Set
Item #90008 3 Piece Metric Ratcheting Wrench Set
Item #42304 9 Piece SAE Wrench Set
Item #42305 9 Piece Metric Wrench Set
Item #00621 Spring Loaded Pumch
Item #00659 Magnetic Parts Holder
Item #42288 Magnetic Pick-Up Tool
Item #93656 23ga pinner
Item #42253 18ga brad nailer
Item #44667 18ga bran/stapler I've put on a couple of shake roofs with this.
Item #46320 50' auto return hose reel, $80. As good as any on the market for $200.
Item #46104 25' auto return reel, $40.
Item #00406 Jitterbug. Used it n used it n used it ......
Item #43430 great gravity feed gun
Item #46719 the little brother to the 43430
Item #00086 Conventional hi pressure touch up gun
Item #30224 Standard hi pressure 1qt gun
Item #00282 Die grinder. Had it for 12 yrs or so still works fine.
Item #52845 Mini die grinder with 1/8" collet
Item #46524 rev 3/8" drill
Item #07528 rev 1/2" drill
Item #00113 Body saw. cut up a whole pickup with this little gem.
Item #36567 sheet metal shear
Item #34945 3/8" impact
Item #53176 1/2" impact
Elect. tools;
Item #41831 12-1/2" planer. Though certainly no equal, design is similar to woodmaster planer.
Item #35570 Mortise machine. Put XY vise on it and its just a piece of cake to use.
Item #42203 4" angle grinder. Just won't die.
Item #32222 Hand planer. used it for several doors now, works fine.
Item #44914 1/4" plastic flush trim router. Base isn't much but works fine. similar to Ryobi, lots cheaper.
Item #42596 recip saw. Been beat up some and comes back for more.
Item #02957 SDS hammer drill. THese things are cool!! lots better than a hammer and chisle
Item #34706 wood lathe
Item #30289 6" jointer. Used the heck outta this thing.
Misc;
Item #44768 solar panel. use them to keep the batteries in the lawn mowers up, over the winter.
Item #35841 Propane torch, quartz elect igniter.
Item #42396 Clamp on ammeter.
Item #04486 3 jaw 2" mini lathe chuck.
Item #37041 Corner chisle for hinge mortises
Item #37052 Nitrile gloves. (Often on sale for $5.99/100)
Item #03577 Transfer punches. (Often on sale for $8.99)
Item #1210 45 PC. THREADED INSERT RIVETER KIT (last seen for $13.99)

Additions

Item #35778 - Saber Saw. Its a Bosch clone, and while it gets some demerits because it requires the accompanying tool (screwdriver) to change blades (and there's no storage for the screwdriver on the tool itself), it has been a real good workhorse for me. I forget whether it comes with blades or not, but get good Bosch blades and it works like a gem. Clearly not a Bosch, but a decent enough clone.
Item #5889 - Twist drills. I think their twist drills are a great deal when they're on sale for $10 for a full set of fractional sizes, #5889
Item #92956 - 3/8" Close Quarter Drill. I'm using it occasionally as a home owner and feel that it meets my needs (not sure if it would be suitable for a professional for every day use).
Item #47840 - Bandsaw, Portable Variable Speed. Again, I'm using it on an occasional basis as a home owner and really feel that this is a worthwhile purchase. (I assume that it's of a lower quality than the Milwaukee brand.)
Item #04182 - 2" Industrial Grade Chip Brushes. Very good for a disposable, consumable item. ITEM 92623 - 7" Variable speed sander/polisher. Bought it on sale for less than the price of a rental for a specific job but have used it several times since then
Item # 38142 - 13" Bench Top Drill Press - Have been very impressed with this unit...very strong 3/4hp motor, very low vibration, very low runout, good quill travel, and heavy. This drillpress replaced an 8" Grizzly, and I chose it over the Ryobi, Delta, Craftsman, Hitachi, and other Grizzly drillpress's. I honestly don't know what spending 2-3x more would get you (maybe a laser guide...). $144 on sale plus 10% coupon.
Item #37056-1VGA 2 PC. 1/2 HEAVY DUTY PIPE CLAMP SET. Lotta bang for your buck on these clamps. Occasionally the solid pin holding the screw shaft in will fall out. I just install a normal roll pin and continue using.

[CarvedTones]

Also keep in mind that over the counter at HF can be a very different experience. They offer (well, OK, sell) a warranty that is "full replacment, no questions asked" on pretty much anything they stock (they don't stock everything found online, though). It is supposed to renewable for life, so they push it as " You pay X for the tool and then for Y a year, you have a working tool for life".
I have an angle grinder, one step up from the bottom of the line, that has served me well. To me, a lot of hard parts (stuff without motors or much in the way of moving parts) are a no brainer if you don't use them daily.

[Makinsawdust]

I don't own anything with a motor from HF. I've only observed them and this is just my 0.02. The only three things that I would consider is the cast iron bed, 12" swing lathe, the floor model drill presses and the 14" bandsaw. The bandsaw would need upgraded guides to really work well. The lathe while it looks like the Jet 1236 there are differences in the tool rest post size, the ways are narrower and the bed is slightly taller. There's probably many more size differences. These are just the ones I know and don't make any difference in it's operation. Also, it would be my quess that there is not much of a market for used HF stuff other than the above machines. If and when you want to upgrade there might not be any value to be applied toward the new machine if you go this route.
If you don't want to break the bank you could try Grizzly. Their tools are great values for the money and I speak as an owner of several of their machines. The newer models with the two tone paint jobs, seem to be a cut above the older solid green designs.
Whatever you decide to buy, use it, get your moneys worth out of it and enjoy woodworking.
Rob

[flatheadfisher]

I have been weary of lots of their stuff with motors. I did buy their little bench top drill press and it suits my needs just fine. Something that requires precise adjustments - like a planer or jointer may would worry me.

[JimD]

There is a review and interesting associated thread on BT3central on the HF 14 inch bandsaw. It is apparently close enough to the Grizzly that the riser block and even the quick release for tension will work on it.

Most HF stuff is a little rough but functional. I think the only thing with a motor I have is an almost right angle drill. I use it only occasionally but it works fine. I bought an angle grinder from Northern tool which I consider similar to HF as a throw away to cut ceramic tile with an abrasive blade. It did 2 bathrooms and over 100 square feet of tile and it just keeps on working. I cut up a lot of conduit to use as spindles on our deck with it too.

I make a HF run every few weeks. I get their adds and go through them. Some of the stuff is almost give away pricing - like paint brushes for 30 cents to a dollar.

The most expensive thing I've purchased at HF was one of their tilt up trailers. I got the 4x8 with 12 inch wheels. It took the better part of a day to put together - lots of bolts - and the instructions were not great but it works fine. My son hauled an engine several hundred miles on it and I get wood with it regularly.

If you use some common sense I think HF tools are fine. I do not want a Compound Miter Saw from there - I am concerned about accuracy - but for many things they are fine.

Jim

[challenger]

I don't recommend going to HF for any reason other than to use the rest room. It is ok to do this as you may be adding an item that falls into the quality of what they sell. Last time I was there I asked what did they carry that was USA made and it was maybe .5% of their stock.
Not only is the stuff they sell Asian made but it is also very poorly made Asian garbage. If you but from there and want something to last you should take an inventory of all the fasteners on the machine and stop at the hardware store on the way home to get good quality replacements. You would not believe how bad the critical hardware items such as gib adjustment set screws, jam bolts and such are. It is like they use potty metal. In addition a full set of re-threading supplies (not from them) will be essential. The cast iron on the machines they sell is nothing short of defective.
That rant aside I would seriously look into taking time to seek out old USA made tools. One thing you might consider is buying machines much bigger than you think you need. A lot of times these types of machines are cheap due to the fact that they are too heavy for most people to be interested in dealing with.
Happy Shopping and good luck

[FredP]

Originally Posted by challenger

I don't recommend going to HF for any reason other than to use the rest room. It is ok to do this as you may be adding an item that falls into the quality of what they sell. Last time I was there I asked what did they carry that was USA made and it was maybe .5% of their stock.
Not only is the stuff they sell Asian made but it is also very poorly made Asian garbage. If you but from there and want something to last you should take an inventory of all the fasteners on the machine and stop at the hardware store on the way home to get good quality replacements. You would not believe how bad the critical hardware items such as gib adjustment set screws, jam bolts and such are. It is like they use potty metal. In addition a full set of re-threading supplies (not from them) will be essential. The cast iron on the machines they sell is nothing short of defective.
That rant aside I would seriously look into taking time to seek out old USA made tools. One thing you might consider is buying machines much bigger than you think you need. A lot of times these types of machines are cheap due to the fact that they are too heavy for most people to be interested in dealing with.
Happy Shopping and good luck

they don't call it harbor fright for nuthin!

[Andy Casiello]

Originally Posted by challenger

I don't recommend going to HF for any reason other than to use the rest room.

I must take issue with you, sir. I'd no sooner use a restroom at a Harbor Freight than I would have surgery there.

[steelwheel1999]

I must say that as a poor man HF is infact my friend both the Table saw I have and the drillpress came from there I use them alot. I like the saw just fine yes alot of there stuff is cheep made but it work fine for what you are buying . If you are shopping on a budget I recomend ebay and craigs list not to forgert the good ole IWANNA. Streach every dollar you can Thant what I say. Thanks for this very interesting discussion I ave enjoyed reading everyones thoughts.

Thanks Mark

[JimD]

My daughter is now in an apartment in Atlanta. She has no tools and I do not want to have to drag everything there when I visit. So she will get a tool bag of tools for Christmas. Today I got a 25 foot tape measure for $2, a fiberglass handle hammer for $3, a utility knife for $1.50, a 5 in 1 painters tool for $1.80 etc.. Total bill was just over $20 and that includes $10 set of pliers a couple of which she will not get. I have better tools but I also use this kind of stuff from HF. Clamps are great buys and work fine. Most of their stuff is worth more than you pay. Some is not. For occasional use tools, I think they are fine. For stuff I use regularly, I like their clamps but prefer to have "better" tools for most things. For extra sets to have in the car or to give away, I like the prices and usefullness of HF. If I had to pay for U.S. made tools, I would not buy the extra sets.

Jim