Two Harbor Freight Failures, In One Day Options

[McMark]

Earlier today my metal shears/snips died and now my right angle die grinder is dead.

Arguably both were my fault, but still... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif)

The shears died when I was trying to cut 1/8" aluminum stock. They made three cuts fine, and on the fourth, the main pivot bolt broke. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/dry.gif)

The right angle die grinder died because the gears inside that make the 90 degree transfer stripped out. I think this is related to a retaining clip that came loose previously. I think when that got loose it chewed up the gears and then the rough edges and metal particles did the rest. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/dry.gif)

So it off the HF for some new tools. The new right angle grinder will get some locktite first thing so that retaining ring will not come loose. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/wink.gif)

[Jeff Bonanno]

Mark,

were these the pneumatic versions? (gulp - i have both!)

jbb

[Aaron Cox]

QUOTE (Jeff Bonanno @ Sep 10 2005, 03:23 PM)

Mark, were these the pneumatic versions? (gulp - i have both!) jbb

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/hijacked.gif)

Jeff - how is new york???

[McMark]

The shears were hand operated. The die grinder was pneumatic. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) On the die grinder, you can check the retaining ring (blue arrow).

[Katmanken]

Yup,

Cheep Chinese POS.

I ate a Harbor Freight pneumatic sawzall this week. Screws on the back installed crooked, screw holding the blade cover was stripped, lotsa metal shards coming out after oiling, and then it just quit after less than an hours use.

Solution? No more $40 Harbor Freight crap for me. Bought a Craftsman 13 amp sawzall for $100. Take it back if it breaks.

Ken

[McMark]

Rich bastard. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/lol2.gif)

J/K.

[Trekkor]

I don't like HF.
Never have. It's like an indoor flea market. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/unsure.gif)

Only thing I have ever bought from there was razor blades and grinder wheels.

If you need to use a tool more than a couple times a year,
DO NOT BUY FROM THEM.

How would you feel if I showed up with a HF tile saw?

Buy Makita, DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch.
I'll stoop to Ryobi for light duty, rarely used tools.

Again, do as you please. Tools should be an investment, not a liabilty.


KT

[GWN7]

QUOTE (trekkor @ Sep 10 2005, 03:49 PM)

I don't like HF. Never have. It's like an indoor flea market. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/unsure.gif) Only thing I have ever bought from there was razor blades and grinder wheels. If you need to use a tool more than a couple times a year, DO NOT BUY FROM THEM. How would you feel if I showed up with a HF tile saw? Buy Makita, DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch. I'll stoop to Ryobi for light duty, rarely used tools. Again, do as you please. Tools should be an investment, not a liabilty. KT

Milwaukee is owned by Ryobi now...... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif) and Ryobi has changed hands (or divisions of it) 4 times in the last 5 yrs.

[grantsfo]

I have found that buying cheap HF product insurance is the most economical when buying their crap. Bought a $70 pressure washer it failed in a few months after extensive use and abuse. Brought it back and was given a new one no questions asked. It has been fine for multiple uses.

You might just try bringing it back and saying you have product insurance. They never validated whether I had insurance or not. I just said I have insurance on this product and a guy brought out a new product.

[grantsfo]

QUOTE (trekkor @ Sep 10 2005, 03:49 PM)

How would you feel if I showed up with a HF tile saw? KT

I'd say I want a 10% discount! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

[tdgray]

QUOTE (trekkor @ Sep 10 2005, 07:49 PM)

I don't like HF. Never have. It's like an indoor flea market. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/unsure.gif) Only thing I have ever bought from there was razor blades and grinder wheels. If you need to use a tool more than a couple times a year, DO NOT BUY FROM THEM. How would you feel if I showed up with a HF tile saw? Buy Makita, DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch. I'll stoop to Ryobi for light duty, rarely used tools. Again, do as you please. Tools should be an investment, not a liabilty. KT

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/agree.gif) For the most part.

I buy all my sand paper, grinding wheels, flapper disks etc. there.

However I did purchase a spray gun there last weekend. Makes a good primer gun, cheap also, $40 on sale.

As for tools I use frequently.. never.

[Sammy]

So, you're out what, $35?
Buy new ones and throw them away when they break, then buy another set. that should last you a lifetime and cost the same as one craftsman POS tool (also made in china or india).

I have been using HF tools for years and have never had anything fail except i broke a handle on a framing hammer due to mis-use, the gave me a new one free.

If you are into name brands all I have to say is a fool and his money.............

[Jeff Bonanno]

Hey Aaron!


HIJACK
New York is treating me well. i am still living in jersey and commuting to the city each day. we are trying to finalize a deal on a house in westchester - it has a garage which may yet support a teener addiction. my workshop is still in long term storage (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif)

got a faculty job at columbia univ and a directorship at a facility based at city college of ccny. beats the unemployment line.

miss the sun and fun of socal tho...
END HIJACK

jbb

[McMark]

$35 (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif)

The grinder was like $10. Or I can go to a "real" store and pay $50 or $75. Hmmmmmm. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/dry.gif)

[Trekkor]

Here's my final comment on this subject:

You can buy high quality tools that will last for years or you can save a little money intially, but spend countless hours returning and replacing them later for years.


OUT...


KT

[McMark]

Are you saying I can't count? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/blink.gif)

[Trekkor]

I don't understand the question? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ph34r.gif)







That doesn't count as another comment... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/lol2.gif)


KT

[airsix]

QUOTE (Sammy @ Sep 10 2005, 05:01 PM)

So, you're out what, $35? Buy new ones and throw them away when they break, then buy another set. that should last you a lifetime and cost the same as one craftsman POS tool (also made in china or india). I have been using HF tools for years and have never had anything fail except i broke a handle on a framing hammer due to mis-use, the gave me a new one free. If you are into name brands all I have to say is a fool and his money.............

Sammy made me a HF convert. Stuff works fine if you

• don't work beyond the machines capabilities
  
• be diligent about maintenance - that means keep things tight and lubed
  
• use the tools in a non-production environment (ie home shop)
  

True, the stuff is not the best quality. BUT, it puts some specialty operations within reach of the common man. If you are diligent about the maintenance (more than you would a high quality tool) and under-work the tool (ie if it says it cuts 14ga. don't use it for anyting heavier than 16ga.) the stuff will last years and years. Certain tools I demand be of top quality (like my welder) but all my "grunt work" tools are the cheap HF stuff. For as little as I use them (compared to a production environment) they are the most economical solution.

-Ben M.

ps - About cutting the 1/8" aluminum - HF has a great little vert/horiz metal bandsaw that's just the ticket for that. Mine has been cutting tool steel up to 5/8" and titanium sheet on a weekly basis for 3 years. For just $165 it was a great investment.

[McMark]

Well I broke down and bought the real deal at my local NAPA. $70. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ohmy.gif) Nice tool though. Used it all day today already. The expensive one definitely spins more smoothly than the HF one.

[mightyohm]

I am a big fan of HF. Do you really need to spend 5x more on a name brand bench vise, for example? It's just a hunk of metal...