Harbor Freight question

I have bought a few items that I like, the F clamps and their aluminum shaft clamps. I have two of their dust collectors (which I think are still on sale for about $200) which are important when you get doing more than casual work. I have nitrile gloves for finishing that range from thin to thick, and I buy their surgical style masks for casual cutting protection. I do have and like their multi tool, which works fine, particularly since I don't use it much. But I wouldn't buy anything that requires great accuracy or has a small motor. The standard for flatness is pretty relaxed on their tools, and the finish isn't usually very good on cast iron tables and such. You often have to do a lot of work to get their tools up to spec for woodworking.

They have a fairly light duty work bench for about $130 on sale now that is very usable, and has a decent end vise. I reinforced mine on top and around the edges. But for someone with limited space, I don't think you can beat it. Very similar table at Rockler is more than double that price. However, my first workbench was a folding 30x60 table with a wood top. I still use that table for other purposes, and it folds up and gets out of the way nicely.

Harbor freight is always fun to visit though, It's helpful to look at tools and fiddle wth them to figure out how they work. Stick is right though about not thinking only of price. If you like woodworking enough to continue at it for the long haul, make sure your big tools are high quality.

Depends. Have a HF bench drill press I got in 96 or 97. Needed a new switch within a week, trouble free since. Angle grinder about 10 years, still working - unless my son walked off with it. I buy there, but watch what I buy. They do/did have DeWalt factory refurb tools. Heard a contractor one day trying to buy a display model of a tool I don't remember what was. He said he could buy a big name tool, and it would last about four weeks - he also said they were used 7 days a week, and 12 hours a day, steady. A HF tool would last 3 weeks. But he could buy two FH tools for the price of one big name tool, so it was very cost effective for him to buy. Almost forgot, HF hand power planer, hand belt sander, ROS, all years old, all working just fine. They do have an excellent return policy. Yeah, I'd buy there again - when you want a tool you will likely only use once, do you want to buy an expensive one that would hold up to years of use, or a much less expensive that probably would last maybe a dozen uses?

Let's see...
F Style clamps - never had a problem with them in 6 & 12 inch. The 24 incher will bend but I still use them to hold parts in place while I attach them.

Alum bar clamps - work OK for me.

Acid brushes - use them a lot to spread glue. Cheep

Nailer and staplers - multi use framing nailer uses three different angle nails. 1/4 inch stapler/18 ga brad nailer - works perfect but leaves a mark when shooting the brad nails.

HVLP spray gun, filters.

Metric wrenches and sockets. Got to have them for whenever.

2hp dust collector.

Casters for carts.

I know there is more, but I am drawing a blank.

Their blades and bits are kind of junky. I was using one of their multi tool blades and the welds attaching the cutting portion to the main body broke. It was embedded in the material I was cutting so it didn't go flying. Like some others have said beware of the stuff that goes fast. Also, I bought the HF flooring nailer for $99. It worked fine but per HF they don't sell replacement parts for it e.g. gaskets and seals, which do wear out over time. I did some searching and found out the name brand that HF had knocked off and the parts sizes/specs were the same. At check out I was told there was only a 90 day warranty and my home flooring project was going to take longer so I bought the extended warranty. When I read the owners manual it said that for non-commercial and non-rental use the warranty is 1 year. The warranty wasn't expensive but I was curious so I called HF Customer Service. CS rep said 90 day warranty as posted on Web Site. I said I didn't buy on-line. CS rep gave same 90 day answer. Now I was curious as to when the extended warranty kicked in...90 days after purchase date or 1 year after purchase date. Nobody at HF or the extended warranty company could provide an answer. I wonder how much they make off warranty sales?

I have purchased so much stuff from HF over the years, it's hard to start the list. My HF philosophy for power tools is buy HF if I only need it for occasional use. Most of their tools will not stand up to daily or heavy use. I have only returned one tool, an angle grinder, and it was noisy and rattled right out of the box. The replacement is still working years later.

I bought the 2.5HP sliding wet/dry tile saw and it works wonderful with a diamond blade I bought on Amazon. I have used the $20 multitool for years. I bought their coil roofing nailer on sale when I did my roof and then sold it for only $20 less than I paid and I could not rent one for that. It worked great.

I love their cobalt 115 piece drill bit set. You will not find a better deal on cobalt bits. I have their biscuit jointer and it works well for me since I don't need a high end one for occasional use. Their small clamps work well. I have never broke any of their wrenches or sockets yet.

I do not buy router bits or saw blades with the exception of their 7" diamond wet blade for the small tile saw. They hold up really well for me.

What else can I say, I'm a fan.

Rich

WOW! Thanks guys! Actually going to take notes and arm myself with all of this information and go back over there to actually browse at all the stuff and figure out my plan. I know I will definitely get some of those clamps.

I'm totally with you Stick. I have often bought quality so I could have it for a long time. I have even debated with people, they would ask, why are you buying that for $X.XX when you can get it over here for $x.xx and I my reply? Cause I will have mine for 10 years and by the time you wore yours out and replaced it a dozen times, mine will have been cheaper!

I have even been known to get any overtime I could, or even 1, 2 or even 3 extra part-time jobs to make up for something that I knew was a good item. But being on disability, alas, those days are gone. For quite a few years now, it's been either get this one, or go without. Some things I definitely go without, but I have to find something that my wallet can feed out. If I only make $850/month to live, I can't go out and buy a $500 portable table saw I have been drooling over or even the $300 portable band saw every easily. Then I have to remember, sure I got the table saw...but there goes my chance for clamps, wood, blades...

Believe me, it sucks having to live like this, but I am really not complaining. It's just I have to use my brain to figure out how I can still reach goals in my situation. I don't want to make furniture out of old milk crates...that was for when I was 18-20 and first out on my own! LOL

For instance, I have a couple of inexpensive but nice looking furniture pieces. Everything was geared to the old flat. Unfortunately, this flat is SO different, the cabinet won't fit in the bathroom, not even room for the toilet space saver!!! And I was given a plastic shelf and the shelves are warped and I hate that ugly generic good for nothing "thing" in there, but it has to do for now. The measurements for the cabinet I want in this bathroom...even cheap MDF or particle board, $269 from Walmart, is the cheapest. I was like WHAT?!?!

I can't even get the items I had in my bedroom to fit in this bedroom-that's another project. But after I get the shelves up on the wall in the bedroom...I will not worry about that room for a little while.

My next project will be for the bathroom. I can get decent plywood, maybe that birch one of you guys was talking to me about, make dado cuts, glue, screws and plugs, maybe some of that stain one of you guys showed me and make a decent cabinet that fits the space, is functional and looks nice and will last for quite a while, for WAY cheaper than the $269 plus tax. AND I can say did it.

This is why I also love Amazon and eBay (sometimes). There was a book I really wanted, several years back but it was $35 plus tax at the store. I went online and found that book, plus a 2nd book that came with it, for $25 w/free shipping and no tax!

And there have been times I bought something that was supposed to be nice and when it broke 4 months outside the warranty for the TV, and in warranty for the recliner...I got the bums rush on any service for both items! That really sucked! Even wrote corporate sometimes-that's when you learn who you are really dealing with.

So yeah, unless I win the lottery, I have to think what is the best I can afford for this amount. IF I win the lottery, I will buy some land and have the house/garage plans that have been in my head for YEARS drawn up and built! And I will be keeping my eye on the workers most of the way! I want it done right! LOL

Fixed income, eh? Yep, that makes a huge difference. Been on fixed income since '95, so know the feeling.

But, there are ways around part of that. Make your own clamps - free plans on-line on how to make cam clamps, once you make one, they are easy. I made a batch of them years ago, all wood, no metal in them. Figure the cost was around $.25 each, and they work great. Mine were from about 6" to 48".

I wanted/sort of needed a saw besides my bench saw. So, stuck an old sabre saw, upside down, in a homemade frame. Works great. Made my own router table, of course. Would have made a belt sander, but already had one. Same with disc sander.

Don't forget craigslist. But it's somewhat like HF, gotta be cautious, and lots of times prices are higher than a new whatever.

Trades. Got a flute off of craigslist, very cheap. Always wanted to learn to play one. Well, couldn't even get a sound out of it, me not the flute. So, advertised it on craiglist and said I wanted a scrollsaw. Already have one in my shop, but wanted on in the spare room of the house. Swapped that el cheapo flute for an older Delta scrollsaw, that is probably worth close to $200 - top of the line.

I've got enough $ to spare I could probably afford to buy some things I could really use, but get along without for now. But why buy, when it's more fun to make it, and cheaper. Right now I've got several projects planned to make rather than buy. Barrel spinner, buy around $100+, make maybe $10 or so probably. Metal nibbler, about $10 if I can't find my carbide burr and have to buy one, rest out of plywood I already have. Small wood lathe (because I sold nice HF wood lathe, because all I liked to do with it was make carving mallets), for a couple of projects - cost, zip. Even if I had a truckload of cash, I'd likely make those things anyway, it's lots more fun.

Yeah, fixed income here since 1997. I like your creativity Theo and I think I am going to make me some clamps!

I have been checking out Craig's list this year, before I joined the forum but I have been shocked at some of the stuff up for sale-UGH! Really bad quality for still kind of high. And the few I did find that I would consider worthy, are too far away for me. Been without a car about 4 years and another 3 before I can get another one.

You just helped me in getting some Christmas presents John! I am now on their mailing list so I will make sure to take the coupons with me when I get them!

I agree Tom! People who are on fixed income that enjoy this stuff, would LOVE tools and machines gifted to them!

Theo, I would LOVE to have a place where I could have an 8'x12' workshop. I can imagine having that warm fuzzy feeling, just being able to go out there and know it's yours and have some fun while you're at it. Heck, I would LOVE to have my own home and work in the basement, attic, garage or whatever! hahaha