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  #1   Report Post  
mac davis
 
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Default More on Harbor Freight DC

Got it today and put it almost all together tonight.. haven't put the
bags on yet because I'm confused (as usual)

What a PITA!
I think it would have taken me an hour or so if the instructions
weren't all f**ked up... ended up taking almost 3 hours but I only
kicked it once and gently..

Got stalled on the FIRST step... put casters on base using 4 hex
screws on each.. went nuts double-checking all the bags, etc...
only hex bolts there were too big... must be missing a bag???
Nope.. I guess they changed the DC a few times without updating the
directions.. found 16 phillips screws for the damn casters..

About step 4 or 5, I tried putting the "motor, blower and motor base",
which it stated was a pre-assembled unit, onto the base... NO WAY!
It wouldn't fit... time to light a smoke and walk around a bit.. (for
about the 4th time)
Ok.. they changed the unit again.. that bracket thingy over there must
be the motor bracket... put it on and then mounted the assembly..
Damn good thing I was working in the garage, needed 2 prybars and a
hunk of 2x4 to line the sucker up... arggg...

I won't go into any more details.. but when I thought I was done, I
realized 2 things: they shipped the unit separate from the startup
kit, so no hose, valve, etc..
Hey.. where does the hose hook up when I get it??
OH.. that plastic Y thing that isn't included in the instructions must
go here and fasten with this screw..

One question, though I'm afraid that I know the answer...
The filter and collection bags have different part numbers but appear
to be exactly the same... did I get a bad packing job, or is the
filter bag the same cheap canvas as the collection bag??
  #2   Report Post  
Bob
 
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"mac davis" wrote in message
...
Got it today and put it almost all together tonight.. haven't put the
bags on yet because I'm confused (as usual)

What a PITA!


I hope it works well for you when its finally all together. You're writing
a good story illustrating the meaning of low cost.

Bob


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patriarch
 
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mac davis wrote in
:

Got it today and put it almost all together tonight.. haven't put the
bags on yet because I'm confused (as usual)

What a PITA!

snip of a Harbor Fright tale...

I was tempted. The web sites indicated good experiences. Wreckers all
over said this was one of the few reliable good buys. I went to the semi-
local store, and browsed. I stayed for only about 4 minutes. It felt like
a sleazy liquor store, where you wouldn't want anybody from your church to
see you. That kind of feeling.

(Now I've prolly pi$$ed off a bunch of you. Sorry. I didn't mean to
offend. It was a metaphor.)

But I couldn't bring myself to pull the trigger. So I stopped in at
Rockler, and bought the Delta while it was 10% off. Delta isn't what it
used to be, I suppose. This one is made in Taiwan, rather than China, for
whatever that's good for. But everything was there. The instructions were
in a language I understood. The pictures matched the parts. And it sucks
big time.

A 72" aftermarket 3 micron bag, hanging in the rafters. A shopmade
seperator, with plans posted here on the Wreck. 35' of dust explosion
defying, ungrounded 4" PVC, hanging from the rafters with Made-in-Canada
bungee cords. Real, honest-to-goodness silver duct tape, until I can get
the good stuff. Red Green would be so proud.

The saw cabinet clears of dust. The planer doesn't throw chips like it did
before. The plastic lower bag of the DC is as pristine as new. I just
need to figure out a floor sweep, because the router and the biscuit
jointer and the hand planes and the hand saws still drop stuff everywhere.

But there's no bilious green in my shop. Yet.

'Twas worth the few extra sheckels.

Patriarch
  #4   Report Post  
mac davis
 
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On Fri, 19 Nov 2004 05:49:46 GMT, "Bob"
wrote:


"mac davis" wrote in message
.. .
Got it today and put it almost all together tonight.. haven't put the
bags on yet because I'm confused (as usual)

What a PITA!


I hope it works well for you when its finally all together. You're writing
a good story illustrating the meaning of low cost.

Bob

well, the wife got home from school and I had her look at the bags...
After 30 min. of "this one is larger.. no, it's not" and so on, she
agreed that the bags were identical, so I put 'em on and fired it
up..(would of been nice to have the hose & stuff.. hope it comes
tomorrow)
The light all dimmed (florescent on a 40 amp circuit) while it would
up, but once running it's fine.. not as loud as I expected a 2hp motor
to be.. kind of like my sears shop vac but a little louder and a
different tone.. I expect that it really sucks.. *g*

Hopefully, when we move I'll have a shop with more circuits and I can
dedicate one to it and put a remote switch on it..

Next step.. build a cyclone of some sort..
  #5   Report Post  
Buttonhole McGee
 
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On Fri, 19 Nov 2004 06:30:44 +0000, patriarch wrote:

I was tempted. The web sites indicated good experiences. Wreckers all
over said this was one of the few reliable good buys. I went to the semi-
local store, and browsed. I stayed for only about 4 minutes. It felt like
a sleazy liquor store, where you wouldn't want anybody from your church to
see you. That kind of feeling.

(Now I've prolly pi$$ed off a bunch of you. Sorry. I didn't mean to
offend. It was a metaphor.)


You're darn right I'm mad. That was a simile, for crying out loud!

GD&R


  #7   Report Post  
patriarch
 
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Buttonhole McGee wrote in
news
On Fri, 19 Nov 2004 06:30:44 +0000, patriarch wrote:

I was tempted. The web sites indicated good experiences. Wreckers
all over said this was one of the few reliable good buys. I went to
the semi- local store, and browsed. I stayed for only about 4
minutes. It felt like a sleazy liquor store, where you wouldn't want
anybody from your church to see you. That kind of feeling.

(Now I've prolly pi$$ed off a bunch of you. Sorry. I didn't mean to
offend. It was a metaphor.)


You're darn right I'm mad. That was a simile, for crying out loud!

GD&R


You know how long ago I last paid attention in an English class? I think
Barry Goldwater was running for President...

But count on a wRecker to correct an error! ;-)

Patriarch
  #8   Report Post  
Alan W
 
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Default

patriarch wrote in message . 16...


The saw cabinet clears of dust. The planer doesn't throw chips like it did
before. The plastic lower bag of the DC is as pristine as new. I just
need to figure out a floor sweep, because the router and the biscuit
jointer and the hand planes and the hand saws still drop stuff everywhere.


Grizzly.com has a abs floor sweep that works pretty well. I go from
5" grizzly clear hose to their reducer, to the floorsweep and anything
within a couple inches of the middle is gone, screws included!

I DID have to use the portable propane heater to "adjust" the 4"
reducer to actually go OVER the floor sweep. Nice tight heat induced
fit now.

Alan
  #10   Report Post  
cathar
 
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Default

mac davis wrote in message . ..
Got it today and put it almost all together tonight.. haven't put the
bags on yet because I'm confused (as usual)

What a PITA!
I think it would have taken me an hour or so if the instructions
weren't all f**ked up... ended up taking almost 3 hours but I only
kicked it once and gently..

Got stalled on the FIRST step... put casters on base using 4 hex
screws on each.. went nuts double-checking all the bags, etc...
only hex bolts there were too big... must be missing a bag???
Nope.. I guess they changed the DC a few times without updating the
directions.. found 16 phillips screws for the damn casters..

About step 4 or 5, I tried putting the "motor, blower and motor base",
which it stated was a pre-assembled unit, onto the base... NO WAY!
It wouldn't fit... time to light a smoke and walk around a bit.. (for
about the 4th time)
Ok.. they changed the unit again.. that bracket thingy over there must
be the motor bracket... put it on and then mounted the assembly..
Damn good thing I was working in the garage, needed 2 prybars and a
hunk of 2x4 to line the sucker up... arggg...

I won't go into any more details.. but when I thought I was done, I
realized 2 things: they shipped the unit separate from the startup
kit, so no hose, valve, etc..
Hey.. where does the hose hook up when I get it??
OH.. that plastic Y thing that isn't included in the instructions must
go here and fasten with this screw..

One question, though I'm afraid that I know the answer...
The filter and collection bags have different part numbers but appear
to be exactly the same... did I get a bad packing job, or is the
filter bag the same cheap canvas as the collection bag??



Since I just received an HF unit (based on reviews here as well)
thought I'd post my experience. First, paid 159.99, then it went on
sale. Called and they immediately credited the $10 difference. Got it
in about two weeks, put it together in about 1.5 hours (directions are
horrible). No crow bars, no hassles. The screws (with nuts) that hold
on the casters fit fine, but the wheel locks hit the base so the weels
don't swivel. Will require a spacer. Otherwise everything fit fine.
Got the Wynne filter $108 canister filter and plastic bag combo. With
that and two flexible four inch hoses, a completely modified Jet
contractor saw (homemade acrylic blade gaurd w/ collection and sealed
and enclosed base) spews only minor wood from above the table on some
rips, and definitely no dust. Delta 13" planer is no problem. Works on
a dedicated 15A circuit. Motor is relatively quiet for "2 HP". Sucks
like mad. No regrets so far. See how long the motor lasts.

BTW, no stores nearby (east coast) so I just see their lousy web site,
not the sleazy store. Maybe that makes me more confident. Besides,
sleazy isn't always all bad


  #11   Report Post  
mac davis
 
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On 20 Nov 2004 16:50:06 -0800, (cathar) wrote:

mac davis wrote in message . ..
Got it today and put it almost all together tonight.. haven't put the
bags on yet because I'm confused (as usual)



Since I just received an HF unit (based on reviews here as well)
thought I'd post my experience. First, paid 159.99, then it went on
sale. Called and they immediately credited the $10 difference. Got it
in about two weeks, put it together in about 1.5 hours (directions are
horrible). No crow bars, no hassles. The screws (with nuts) that hold
on the casters fit fine, but the wheel locks hit the base so the weels
don't swivel. Will require a spacer. Otherwise everything fit fine.
Got the Wynne filter $108 canister filter and plastic bag combo. With
that and two flexible four inch hoses, a completely modified Jet
contractor saw (homemade acrylic blade gaurd w/ collection and sealed
and enclosed base) spews only minor wood from above the table on some
rips, and definitely no dust. Delta 13" planer is no problem. Works on
a dedicated 15A circuit. Motor is relatively quiet for "2 HP". Sucks
like mad. No regrets so far. See how long the motor lasts.

BTW, no stores nearby (east coast) so I just see their lousy web site,
not the sleazy store. Maybe that makes me more confident. Besides,
sleazy isn't always all bad


Damn, I forgot to mention the castor clearance thing...
I used the 4" grinder to make small indents in the rim of the
baseplate.. just enough for them to clear..
NOTE.. check them with the weight on them, it changes the arc..
  #12   Report Post  
Pat Barber
 
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Sleazy is good at 2:00am and closing time...


cathar wrote:

Snipped parts about HF DC and


BTW, no stores nearby (east coast) so I just see their lousy web site,
not the sleazy store. Maybe that makes me more confident. Besides,
sleazy isn't always all bad


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