|
Posted by jp2express on July 6, 2007, 4:53 pm
Please log in for more thread options
Any way to tell from a brand name which of the tools in Harbor Freight are
quality?
Chicago Electric - obviously crap. Is this a Harbor Freight brand?
What about Central Machinery? There are a lot of these machines in their
catalogs, but I know nothing about them.
Harbor Freight also sells the occasional Dewalt, so I know they sell some
good stuff.
Which brands are the crappy Harbor Freight brands? I want to make sure I
don't mistakenly get them unless my boat is in need of a new anchor.
|
|
Posted by SteveB on July 6, 2007, 4:48 pm
Please log in for more thread options
> Any way to tell from a brand name which of the tools in Harbor Freight are
> quality?
>
> Chicago Electric - obviously crap. Is this a Harbor Freight brand?
>
> What about Central Machinery? There are a lot of these machines in their
> catalogs, but I know nothing about them.
>
> Harbor Freight also sells the occasional Dewalt, so I know they sell some
> good stuff.
>
> Which brands are the crappy Harbor Freight brands? I want to make sure I
> don't mistakenly get them unless my boat is in need of a new anchor.
>
The answers are yes, no, definitely, and maybe.
It all depends on what you are going to use the tool for. I would not buy
any of their welding stuff, but I do buy grinding wheels, gloves, and small
items like wire brushes. I bought their bandsaw and like it for what it is,
what it cost, and what it does. For tools that one uses rarely or only
occasionally, they are a bargain.
Example: I needed a long tape to measure some property. I couldn't find
anything over 100' that didn't cost an arm and a leg. I found one that was
165' long, made of some sort of fabric or mesh, and was $10 on sale. I have
used it a couple of times, and it's still good.
I have bought their impact wrenches, air chisels, and air grinders, and all
are still functioning from occasional use.
If a tool is going to see hard use, I usually buy brand names, but I have
bought a tool for a specific job, and figured it into the cost of the job,
had it pay for itself, then last long past the job's end.
Definitely stay away from the welders and plasma cutters.
MHO, YMMV
Steve
|
|
Posted by Ignoramus23816 on July 6, 2007, 5:27 pm
Please log in for more thread options their hand tools and air tools worked okay for me, but their electric
tools were all unsuitable for regular use.
i
|
|
Posted by on July 16, 2007, 10:46 am
Please log in for more thread options On Jul 6, 10:27 pm, Ignoramus23816 <ignoramus23...@NOSPAM.
23816.invalid> wrote:
> their hand tools and air tools worked okay for me, but their electric
> tools were all unsuitable for regular use.
>
> i
Sorry to hear that you have had problems. I on the other hand have a
Taiwan drill press labled Chicago Industrial Tool with a motor with a
1976 date on it. I use it in my home shop probably several times a
week. I use my cut off saw less often, and the motor on it is newer,
1979.
Dan
|
|
Posted by Tater on July 6, 2007, 6:13 pm
Please log in for more thread options > Any way to tell from a brand name which of the tools in Harbor Freight are
> quality?
>
> Chicago Electric - obviously crap. Is this a Harbor Freight brand?
>
> What about Central Machinery? There are a lot of these machines in their
> catalogs, but I know nothing about them.
>
> Harbor Freight also sells the occasional Dewalt, so I know they sell some
> good stuff.
>
> Which brands are the crappy Harbor Freight brands? I want to make sure I
> don't mistakenly get them unless my boat is in need of a new anchor.
got an angle grinder from them that i needed for one purpose. for $20
I expected it to die in 24 hours. still got it a year later and have
gone thru quite a few metal cutting wheels.
but i would believe that HF is a tool junk store. since this is a
welding group I'd advise you inspect the welds on the products they
sell and compare them to yours. if you'd want quality, you ask what
the top brand is, then go to the source yourself. never seen a miller/
hobart/lincoln welder there, or SK hand tools.
|
| Similar Threads | Posted | | Re: Harbor Freight | April 23, 2006, 11:14 am |
| Harbor Freight | April 19, 2006, 6:54 pm |
| Harbor Freight Portapower Sets - Are They Worth Buying? | March 21, 2007, 5:17 pm |
| BBQ ...and quality stainless?? | May 31, 2006, 10:01 am |
| mig welder quality | June 24, 2008, 9:45 am |
| Tools, tools, tools | August 9, 2007, 8:58 am |
| rich welder - sell Welding Equipment & Machines & mask,Power Tools,Motorcycle & Welding helmet,CUT,TIG,MIG,MMA,BX welder | June 30, 2008, 2:20 am |
|
|
Yahoo! 
Google 
Windows Live 
del.icio.us 
digg 
Netscape 
XML Sitemap
> quality?
>
> Chicago Electric - obviously crap. Is this a Harbor Freight brand?
>
> What about Central Machinery? There are a lot of these machines in their
> catalogs, but I know nothing about them.
>
> Harbor Freight also sells the occasional Dewalt, so I know they sell some
> good stuff.
>
> Which brands are the crappy Harbor Freight brands? I want to make sure I
> don't mistakenly get them unless my boat is in need of a new anchor.
>