Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".

What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?

Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?

Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).

Thanks

"Jeffrey J. Kosowsky" wrote in message
...
Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".

What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?

Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?

Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).

Thanks

My personal experience is that if you are only a hobbyist, you can get away
with buying *some* cheaper tools.
For example, I would never buy cheap cordless drills because the batteries
they put on them are pretty much useless.
On the other hand, I have paid next to nothing for some corded drills and
they have lasted me 5+ years with no problems so far (just brush changes
etc).

I also have a cheap rotary tool, a couple small cheap routers I use for
trimming and edging and these have worked fine too.
You can get away with cheap air tools as well if they are only for
occassional use.

For tools like miter saws, heavier duty routers, tablesaws etc, it pays to
buy quality.

--
Regards,

Dean Bielanowski
Editor,
Online Tool Reviews
http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com
Over 60 woodworking product reviews online!
------------------------------------------------------------
Latest 6 Reviews:
- Festool CT22E Dust Extractor
- Fasco GN-40A Brad Nailer
- Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture & Cabinet Construction
- Milescraft SignCrafter
- Ryobi EMS1830SCL 12" SCMS
- Bessey K-Body Clamps
------------------------------------------------------------

IF you can try it before buying, you can get a feel of the quality of THAT
tool, quality control is very hap-hazard. One will be smooth, the next one
ruffer then a cob. I do have a 14 in. band saw and a 7 in. jointer, pleased
with both.

I got the cheap "Chicago Electric" Wet saw for $69 (made in China)
a few weeks ago, and it has cut a few hundred 12" ceremic tiles
with no problem. The top did get some rust since I left it without
clean up for several days.

As for cordless, I got a cheap made in China ($50) 16.8V Craftman
cordless 2 1/2 year ago. I used it to finish my basement - 2 25lb
boxes of 3" and 1 25lb box of 1 5/8" screws later, it becomes
weak a bit. But it will probably last while. That drill kit includes
2 batteries, 1 hand vac and a hard carry box.

So if you are not using those tools for a living, I guess they are
just fine for your projects.


Woodcrafter wrote:
"Jeffrey J. Kosowsky" wrote in message
...

Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".

What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?

Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?

Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).

Thanks


My personal experience is that if you are only a hobbyist, you can get away
with buying *some* cheaper tools.
For example, I would never buy cheap cordless drills because the batteries
they put on them are pretty much useless.
On the other hand, I have paid next to nothing for some corded drills and
they have lasted me 5+ years with no problems so far (just brush changes
etc).

I also have a cheap rotary tool, a couple small cheap routers I use for
trimming and edging and these have worked fine too.
You can get away with cheap air tools as well if they are only for
occassional use.

For tools like miter saws, heavier duty routers, tablesaws etc, it pays to
buy quality.

--
Regards,

Dean Bielanowski
Editor,
Online Tool Reviews
http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com
Over 60 woodworking product reviews online!
------------------------------------------------------------
Latest 6 Reviews:
- Festool CT22E Dust Extractor
- Fasco GN-40A Brad Nailer
- Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Furniture & Cabinet Construction
- Milescraft SignCrafter
- Ryobi EMS1830SCL 12" SCMS
- Bessey K-Body Clamps
------------------------------------------------------------

"Jeffrey J. Kosowsky" wrote in message
...
Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".

What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?

Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?

Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).

Thanks

I have on of their edge grinders (less than $20) for about three years.
Perhaps use it once a month so it does an adequate job for me.

$200 is kind of high for the saw. The price should be about $120. The
Chicago saw is not as powerful. I bought one from Sears for about $50 a few
years ago and am certain for what I had have used it for the Chicago would
have been good enough.

Jeffrey J. Kosowsky wrote:
Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".

What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?

Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?

Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).

Thanks


Like the others have already said, if you are only going to use their
tools once a month or so, and aren't going to drop them onto the ground
from a couple of stories, they can do a credible job.

I got one of their portable bandsaws when it was on sale for around $60
and I swear it's the greatest thing since sliced bread for cutting
almost anything from wood to 2" x 2" angle iron. I think I reach for it
more often than any other hand power tool in my collection.

I've bought some of their router and other woodworking bits and they
seem pretty workable for the occasional use I give them.

The only power tool I ever bought from them which was a real
disappointment was their garden "shredder/chipper", bought when it was
on sale for a little over $100. It's far too small do do any kind of
real job converting brush into wood chips. I tried using it once last
year and never bothered with it again, It took nearly an hour for me to
get one bushel of homemade mulch. I'm about ready to give it to Goodwill
before the year ends and take a charitable deduction for it, 'cause I
get annoyed every time I look at it taking up space in the garage.

HTH,

Jeff

--
Jeffry Wisnia

(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)

"As long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in public
schools"

I got one of their portable bandsaws when it was on sale for around
$60 and I swear it's the greatest thing since sliced bread for cutting
almost anything from wood to 2" x 2" angle iron. I think I reach for
it more often than any other hand power tool in my collection.

I have their larger bandsaw on a stand; it's great. Their blades, though,
are terrible.

I also bought their electric impact wrench about 12 years ago. It still
works fine.

Since then I have bought a disc grinder, sawzall knockoff, lots of hand
tools, compressor, hammer drill, floodlights, and their largest 3-in-1
multimachine. Everything works as advertised.

Last week I borrowed a friend's small (1300 psi I think) electric power
washer he bought for $79. The damn thing did a great job washing my brick
house and sidewalks.

I have been a satisfied customer for years and will continue to be.

When building to a low price point, compromises in build quality have to be
made. For example, contractor-grade power tools have ball bearing
construction, whereas the Chicago Electric stuff has cheap bushings in their
place. They work OK when new but wear quickly and develop tolerances that
are unacceptable to tradesmen.

If you only use the tool once a month or so, it may last you a long time.
But if you get involved in a couple weekend-long projects where the tool
gets a thorough workout, don't be surprised if you have to make a trip to
the builder's supply to replace with with a Porter Cable, Bosch, etc.

"Jeff Wisnia" wrote in message
...
(snip)
Like the others have already said, if you are only going to use their
tools once a month or so, and aren't going to drop them onto the ground
from a couple of stories, they can do a credible job.
(snip)

Jeffrey J. Kosowsky wrote:

Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".

What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?

Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?

Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).

Thanks
I have their biscuit joiner, a friend gave me after he used it a few times
and decided he liked biscuits so he bought a better one. I used it to make
my router table but that is the only time I've used it so far. It has a
scratchy sound while running that makes you think its going to let the
magic smoke out any minute but managed to hold together so far. It isn't
very accurate, the plastic fence flexes and will move a bit from the start
of the project until the finish so its not something you would want to make
real fine furniture with or use a lot.

On Mon 22 Nov 2004 08:36:21p, ender (Jeffrey J.
Kosowsky) wrote in :

Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?

I bought the recip saw. Actually it was on sale for 25$ when I needed one
for a garage project. I figured, if it does this one job it was worth it
and if I find myself using it a lot, I'll get a good one. It did the garage
job, then another one, then the bathroom remodel, then it helped tear down
the neighbor's old shed, and it still goes on and on.

I like having a reciprocating saw around so when it dies I'll upgrade, but
I don't feel bad about having bought this one.

I don't know if I'd trust 'em well enough to get something that's supposed
to be precise, like a sliding miter saw, though.

Dan

If you are using a sawzall on a job, you aren't exactly doing precision work, so you can get buy with a lesser-quality tool!

makesawdust wrote:



If you are using a sawzall on a job, you aren't exactly doing precision
work, so you can get buy with a lesser-quality tool!



Well, you can. I've used a green BD one for about 6 years now. I wish I
had spent twice the money and gotten a Milwaukee super sawzall, since my
saw vibrates like crazy. That gets really tiring on the arms.
Occasionally, I've got to borrow a Milwaukee, and they've been much less
fatiguing.

-Peter

makesawdust wrote in
:

snip
If you are using a sawzall on a job, you aren't exactly doing precision
work, so you can get buy with a lesser-quality tool!


As long as it does what you need it to, reliably, without excess operator
strain.

The DeWalt was $99 at the Borg. How much do you need to save on a tool?
The job I bought it for cost me $2300 in materials alone. What's a
reliable tool worth?

If I were doing this for a living, then something top end. But likely
never HF.

Patriarch
Life's too short for cheap tools.

I have a cheap Chicago $49 router which works good. Great drill press for
$39. Lathe for $149 seems adequate since it does indeed spin. But serious
woodworkers (if that be you)need serious tools..... casual woodworkers (that
be me) can make do.
-opinions may vary.



"Jeffrey J. Kosowsky" wrote in message
...
Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".

What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?

Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?

Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).

Thanks

I tend to shy away from the Chicago Electric brand. I bought a drop light
and it fried the first time
I plugged it in. Took it back. Second one fried. Bought a heat gun.
Fried the first time I plugged it in.
Took it back. Second one fried as well. That said, I have their 4"
grinder and it seems to do the odd job
that I demand of it ok. I tend to think the Central Machinery brand is
better (have their floor standing drill press
and it works great) and I've been pretty happy with the Central Pneumatic
stuff. YMMV of course.
Cheers,
cc


"Jeffrey J. Kosowsky" wrote in message
...
Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".

What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?

Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?

Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).

Thanks

I've bought a bunch of stuff from Harbor Fright. Their Pittsburgh wrenches
are really sloppy, their flare wrenches are useless. Ended up pitching them
out.

Hint: Buy a couple things, and then sit and wait for the catalogs. Most of
thier stuff goes on half or third off, if you wait long enough. With some
patience, you can save a bundle.

I like their aluminum pipe wrenches. they also had some slip joint pliers
for turning pipes and nuts. They are really great. Their little yellow VOM
goes on sale now and again for 2.99 and I buy four or so. Not super precice,
but fits neatly into tool boxes and small spaces. I've also got some of
their Sawzall blades, which go smooth in a hurry. But for what I use, they
are OK.

I got two Drill Master drills in 12 volts. When the batteries go, I can wire
them to a lighter plug, and use them near the car, or off a 12 volt gel cell
jumper pack. Or buy more batteries. The Drill Masters are only 500 RPM, my
Makita is 1300 or so. But they are better than just OK for twenty bucks.

--

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
www.mormons.com


"Jeffrey J. Kosowsky" wrote in message
...
Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".

What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?

Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?

Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).

Thanks

Most of their tools are OK for occasional home use.

I have one of their:
Heat gun kit, and I use it a lot and think it's great and recommend.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=47269

Router, for occasional use, and it's good too.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=33833

Hammer Drill, for occasional use, and it's OK. Would probably buy a
better one next time. I use it more as a regular drill so it gets
used more often than I intended to use it.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=45338

Belt Sander, for occasional use, and it's OK.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=90045

Jig Saw, for rare use, and would recommend avoiding.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=46055

HVLP Paint gun, use it a lot and love it.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=46719

Air Compressor, use it a lot and like it.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=90385

I also have one or two big wrenches from them that I use on really
rare occasions. I agree with previous posters to get better hand
tools (I buy Craftsman for that).

Just curious, which HVLP Paint gun did you buy from Harbor Freight? I'm
thiinking of buying one of their turbine type sprayers (no air
compressor needed).

On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 05:06:56 GMT, "Stormin Mormon"
calmly ranted:

I've bought a bunch of stuff from Harbor Fright. Their Pittsburgh wrenches
are really sloppy, their flare wrenches are useless. Ended up pitching them
out.

Pittsburgh is one of the lifetime guaranteed lines from HF, so
tossing them wasn't awfully smart.

You must have changed email addresses again. Back into my filters
you go, silly Fundie.


-- Friends Don't Let Friends Eat Turkey and Drive --

Tools are freedom. Good ones open up possibilities and can last a lifetime.

$29.95 is better spent on a good steak, cooked to your preference, with a
tall glass of ale.

Dave



"Jeffrey J. Kosowsky" wrote in message
...
Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".

What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?

Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?

Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).

Thanks

I like the steak idea. This is great advice. !!

I think we can all agree that tools are dangerous. Lower grade tools make
the jobs we do even more dangerous. For example, I would never consider a
lower grade saw. If you think about it as simply a safety issue, I think
the extra money is worth it to keep us out of the emergency room.

If you really need to a decent tool, and don't want to pay the money for it,
then rent a high-quality tool to do the job.


"Cox West" wrote in message
news:yJFod.340255$a85.175614@fed1read04...

Tools are freedom. Good ones open up possibilities and can last a
lifetime.

$29.95 is better spent on a good steak, cooked to your preference, with a
tall glass of ale.

Dave

On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 02:36:21 GMT, ender (Jeffrey
J. Kosowsky) wrote:


What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
Against what? A Chicago Electric tool makes a great disposable tool.
IME it doesn't come close to a tool you will want to use for years or
even where you want it to perform the same after a year of service.

- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?
No, because you used the word 'serious'. If you are serious about
your work then start at least at the middle price range. I have some
CE tools and every time I use one I wonder, will it work today? Is
today the day it craps out? Can I tolerate the play in the movement
or that awful grinding sound as it turns?

If you use the tool on rare occasions and you are not concerned about
doing quality work (drilling screw holes in framing studs) then go for
it. If you want to do fine woodworking and not spend your time
working around the deficiencies of your tool but working with your
tool. Get a name brand.


Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?
Take a look at the latest FWW (no. 174, Winter 2004 Tools & Shops
issue). There is a good review article on 14.4 volt cordless drills.
They show the inside of two drills and how they are constructed to
show why there is a difference in price. Take a look at the difference
between the $90 drill and the $170 drill. Now try to imagine what the
inside of a $29.99 drill looks like.

TWS

buying from HF is great for somethings and bad or others, there abr clamps
are great, and if you watch for a sale you can get them for as little as
$3.99 for the 36" 3.49 for the 32" etc. and there pipe clamps are decent
too. There air tools have a decent reputation, I only have a stapler/brad
nailer but for $20 on sale can't complain, just wait to get them on sale,
there 4 1/2" angle grinders go on sale just about everyother week for $15
and last and seem to hold up really well, and for $15 your 2 or 3 just in
case. having said this DON'T buy and persision power tools! they wont be.
also you can't beat there prices on all the little things you need, like
the blue/green disposable gloves, or there storage bins, etc. but mostly
watch for there sales, also if you look on like and they have something on
sale there print it off and the store will honor the price


Jeffrey J. Kosowsky wrote:

Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".

What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?

Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?

Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).

Thanks

I tend to shy away from the Chicago Electric brand. I bought a drop light
and it fried the first time
I plugged it in. Took it back. Second one fried. Bought a heat gun.
Fried the first time I plugged it in.
Took it back. Second one fried as well. That said, I have their 4"
grinder and it seems to do the odd job
that I demand of it ok. I tend to think the Central Machinery brand is
better (have their floor standing drill press
and it works great) and I've been pretty happy with the Central Pneumatic
stuff. YMMV of course.
Cheers,
cc

"Jeffrey J. Kosowsky" wrote in message
...
Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".

What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?

Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?

Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).

Thanks

On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 02:36:21 GMT, ender (Jeffrey
J. Kosowsky) wrote:

Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".

What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?

Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?

Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).

Thanks

I can give you my input on a few of their tools...

I bought their "recip" saw on sale for $19.99 and it's a great deal at
that price... but it is a piece of crap..lol
I've agonized over buying a Sawzall for years.. or to be exact, once
every 2 or 3 years, when I get in a spot where on is the tool to use
or the only one that will reach.. for me, $20 is a great investment
for this purpose, but if I was using it a lot, I'd go name brand..

I bought their $60 biscuit jointer on sale for $40, knowing that it
was going to be a piece of crap compared to the dewalt or craftsman,
but it was something to learn on without worrying about ruining it,
and a way to get into biscuits NOW instead of 6 months later when my
wife got the good one for me.. After using the HF one, I REALLY
appreciate the craftsman and especially the fence..

I bought their 2hp 8 gallon compressor about 4 years ago for $100...
It's great for the money, but I keep hoping it dies so I can get
something QUIETR...

OTOH, I bought their 6x48" belt sander with 9" disk on sale for about
$140 (with stand) about 3 years ago and hope it never dies.. great
tool..

oh.. I've tried 2 or 3 or their combination squares and both of the 6"
ones slide around no matter how much you torque the nut.. Even a cheap
Stanley is a much better deal there..

I've bought a few items from HF, mostly the smaller stuff, pneumatic
drills and shears which I haven't really put to use yet. Their Central
Machinery horizontal bandsaw that often goes for about $150 or 160 on
sale is very popular with the homebuilt airplane crowd. Just get a
quality bimetal blade for it, and it works great. There also Yahoo
groups for that saw.

I've been meaning to go out and buy that 18g brad nailer (pneumatic)
which I think is (or was...I can wait) 12.99 on sale. Anyone have
experience with that?

John

John T wrote in news:%uKod.77$jE5.67
@fe07.lga:

I've been meaning to go out and buy that 18g brad nailer (pneumatic)
which I think is (or was...I can wait) 12.99 on sale. Anyone have
experience with that?


Yeah, get it. Local store (Portland, OR) is having a day after Thanksgiving
sale (I'd guess they all are ...). I think that's one of the 'door buster'
sale items. Might be limited to AM only, or PM only -- I've got the flyer
at home, don't recall off hand.

Regards,
JT

On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 11:25:46 -0600, John T
wrote:

I've bought a few items from HF, mostly the smaller stuff, pneumatic
drills and shears which I haven't really put to use yet. Their Central
Machinery horizontal bandsaw that often goes for about $150 or 160 on
sale is very popular with the homebuilt airplane crowd. Just get a
quality bimetal blade for it, and it works great. There also Yahoo
groups for that saw.

I've been meaning to go out and buy that 18g brad nailer (pneumatic)
which I think is (or was...I can wait) 12.99 on sale. Anyone have
experience with that?

John

I just got one a monday..lol

I bought the slightly bigger one last month for $20 and liked it, so
when I was at the store picking up a bunch of "raincheck" clamps, I
saw the 13 price and grabbed one..

Never having used a "good" brad nailer, I can't compare it, but I used
it last night to put some drawer bottoms on and it worked great!

I know they aren't quality, but my work isn't yet, either... and for
now, I have 2 brad drivers for less that $40.... and that means a lot
less loading and unloading brads because the wrong size is in the
gun..

I have this one. It's great.


John T wrote:


I've been meaning to go out and buy that 18g brad nailer (pneumatic)
which I think is (or was...I can wait) 12.99 on sale. Anyone have
experience with that?

John

Yea, got one a few months back. Works good. No problems so far.

On Sat, 27 Nov 2004 22:52:22 GMT, nobody wrote:

I have this one. It's great.


John T wrote:


I've been meaning to go out and buy that 18g brad nailer (pneumatic)
which I think is (or was...I can wait) 12.99 on sale. Anyone have
experience with that?

John
I used mine (2) again today, one to assemble drawers with longer
brads, the other to attach hardboard, with short brads..
I did have one problem today.. I didn't realize that I was out of
brads and put 5 or 6 really nice counter sink holes in the stock
before letting it go and having it come apart on the bench..lol
(sure glad that I had spread kraft paper on the bench, cleaning up
that titebond III is a bitch)

They both seem to work very well, (the $19,95 one that the $12.99 one)
but I have no experience with other brad drivers to compare them to..

mac davis wrote in
:

OTOH, I bought their 6x48" belt sander with 9" disk on sale for about
$140 (with stand) about 3 years ago and hope it never dies.. great
tool..



Mac,

How stiff is the disk on that puppy? I looked at the one at our local store
a few weeks back; the floor model was broken (literally, the disk was
busted). It looked like pretty thin Aluminum, so I passed on it then.
(Still thinking though ...)

Regards,
JT

On Tue, 23 Nov 2004 19:07:35 +0000 (UTC), John Thomas
wrote:

mac davis wrote in
:

OTOH, I bought their 6x48" belt sander with 9" disk on sale for about
$140 (with stand) about 3 years ago and hope it never dies.. great
tool..



Mac,

How stiff is the disk on that puppy? I looked at the one at our local store
a few weeks back; the floor model was broken (literally, the disk was
busted). It looked like pretty thin Aluminum, so I passed on it then.
(Still thinking though ...)

Regards,
JT

Well, it's nowhere near the quality of the 12" disk on my shopsmith,
but it's as good as a few aftermarket ones I've bought other places..

I've used it quite a bit on several projects and never had a problem
or noticed it flex, even with my "less than patient" neighbor using it
to round corners on hardwood.. lol

The belt sander is very nice, but like most of them, could use a
better fence and a jig that I saw somewhere to use for keeping work
square on the belt for edge sanding..

Jeffrey J. Kosowsky wrote:
Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".
snip
Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).

I have a pair of HF14.4v cordless drills, which together cost less than a
new battery for my B&D FireStorm. ;-) They run out of "juice" quicker than
my B&D so I use them for drilling instead of screwing. But it's really
handy to chuck up three cordless drills, one straight bit to the desired
depth, one countersink, and one with a phillips or square drive. It's
quicker for me to pick up and set down three separate tools (with no cords
to get twisted & tangled g) than to use even my DW "Quick Flip"
Drill/Driver attachment.

Since the 14.4's are still on sale I may buy a couple more to be sure I have
a couple extra backup batteries (& chargers & drills g) that are all
interchangeable. When B&D "upgraded" my model drill to make the batteries
different the replacement battery price doubled.

IMO the HF 14.4's work ok for drilling & countersinking, but B&D / DW / ...
/ Milwaulkee / ... are needed for putting in screws.


--- Now for some philosophy --- g

I was in college 1977-82. I started as a mechanical engineering student but
switched to computer science my sophmore year.

(1) Increasing tooling allows greater precision.

One of the classes I had as an ME was "Intro. to Industrial Engineering." I
recall little from that class except this illustration from the very early
days of the "Industrial Revolution" that went more or less like this:

"I highly recommend Messer. _______ for the position of Chief Engineer
of your company. While in our employ Mr. _______ supervised and
directed the construction of a large steam engine. He did such a good
job that at no point could a worn shilling be inserted between the
piston and the cylinder wall."

The instructor then talked about current engine tolerances in small engines
such as model airplane engines being measured in thousandths of an inch.
"Engineering Excellence" of one era/application is a dismal failure in
another era/application.


(2) Tools reduce / negate human variation.

Once upon a time only *men* had the strength to swing the heavy sledge
hammers to drive railroad spikes and seat red-hot rivets. However men being
what men have always been, spent much of their time drinking and thinking
about sex, and the railroad spikes were not always driven in as deep as they
should have been and the rivets were not always seated. Structures failed
that *should* *not* have failed by the drawing board calculations. Failure
analysis found out the problems. Engineers strove to develop ways to take
the "human factor" out of these critical construction operations. (This
1910's-1940's information comes to me from my late father-in-law, Dr. R.F.
Branch, who ran Army aid stations in the Pacific in WWII and was the
physician who tied the dog tag on Earnie Pyle's toe. I really miss him
alot. We would BS for hours on end.)

The engineers developed a riveting gun that always completely seated the
rivets. In the personnel crunch of WWII it was discovered that "Rosie The
Riveter" could hold the tool just as well as any old Joe. ;-) Joe could go
get shot at and Rosie could build the equipment just as good a Joe could.
The machine took away the variability.


(3) *IF* the HF tools are primarily assembled by machines, they can be as
good as *anything* Sir Isaac Newton, Da Vinci, Einsten, DeWalt, ...., could
have possibly carved by hand. ;-)


I have my NOMEX undies on. Bring it on! g

-- Mark

I don't think I would buy anything major from them unless you have a local
store
for returning defectives. Sometimes it is hard to predict in advance if the
quality will be adequate.
Much of their stuff is good enough for occasional use (most occasional users
are more likely to lose
tools from theft or drop damage than from wearing them out).
The average hobbyist/homeowner will use a piece of equipment a couple hours
a year, but using a really nice brand name piece is kind of cool, though, if
you can justify the extra 400% cost :)
bill

"Jeffrey J. Kosowsky" wrote in message
...
Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".

What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?

Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?

Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).

Thanks

90% of them are pure junk not fit for the intended purpose. The other
10% are OK for occassional use.

Forget these HF dregs and buy known quality tools that you can trust
and that will help you achieve quality work.

Chicago Electric is a brand name intended to decieve the consumer into
thinking these are made in the USA. Chicago Electric along with
Pittsburg Forge, and Central Pnuematic are farmed out to the lowest
cost/lowest quality manufacturers in China.

Buy quality and you'll only say ouch once. Buy this crap and you'll
curse and swear every time you use it and eventually get so frustrated
it'll go in the garbage can.


ender (Jeffrey J. Kosowsky) wrote in message ...
Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".

What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?

Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?

Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).

Thanks

davefr wrote:

90% of them are pure junk not fit for the intended purpose. The other
10% are OK for occassional use.

Forget these HF dregs and buy known quality tools that you can trust
and that will help you achieve quality work.

Chicago Electric is a brand name intended to decieve the consumer into
thinking these are made in the USA. Chicago Electric along with
Pittsburg Forge, and Central Pnuematic are farmed out to the lowest
cost/lowest quality manufacturers in China.

Buy quality and you'll only say ouch once. Buy this crap and you'll
curse and swear every time you use it and eventually get so frustrated
it'll go in the garbage can.


ender (Jeffrey J. Kosowsky) wrote in message
...
Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".

What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?

Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?

Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).

Thanks


It all depends. It depends on what you are going to use it for, your skill
level, income, severity of use, etc. Take their cordless drills for
example. The 18v. is a very good tool for the occasional hobbist, home
use, etc.

You are right, the quality is not there, most of the time. But for those of
us who are beginning or occasional hobbists, there is no way we can justify
the added expense of "name brand." Speaking of which, A lot of stuff
Grizzly sells LOOKS an awful lot like the stuff from HF. Are you
suggesting a person buy Grizzly just because of the name? Just kidding!

If price were no issue and my skills warranted it, I would buy top of the
line everytime. However, as they say, this is not a perfect world.

Deb

Like I said, it depends on the tool. You're rolling the dice. Several
of there tools that are actually acceptable and represent pretty good
value.

However most of them are unfit for any reasonable use. If you only
get one usable tool for every 4-5 you purchase then you have been
penny wise and pound foolish.

I think their upper end air tools are decent. Feedback on their
cheapy angle grinders is also pretty good.

However I would never touch any of their tools where precision or
cutting is a requirement. An example if their cordless drills. You
can actually wobble the chuck laterally!!

I bought one of their 1/2 HP 6" bench grinders. What total garbage.
The motor is so gutless it stalls out at the slightest load. I
measured the running amperage and it was only 2 amps. (another
deceptive HP rating)

On the other hand I bought one of their $2.99 digital multimeters.
It's perfectly acceptable for basic use. If I need precision I'll dig
out my Fluke, but for simple continuity tests or rough voltage
measurements it's OK.


(davefr) wrote in message . com...
90% of them are pure junk not fit for the intended purpose. The other
10% are OK for occassional use.

Forget these HF dregs and buy known quality tools that you can trust
and that will help you achieve quality work.

Chicago Electric is a brand name intended to decieve the consumer into
thinking these are made in the USA. Chicago Electric along with
Pittsburg Forge, and Central Pnuematic are farmed out to the lowest
cost/lowest quality manufacturers in China.

Buy quality and you'll only say ouch once. Buy this crap and you'll
curse and swear every time you use it and eventually get so frustrated
it'll go in the garbage can.


ender (Jeffrey J. Kosowsky) wrote in message ...
Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".

What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand, high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools to
fill out my home shop?

Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?

Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day then it
pays to buy the best).

Thanks

davefr wrote:
Like I said, it depends on the tool. You're rolling the dice.
Several
of there tools that are actually acceptable and represent pretty good
value.

However most of them are unfit for any reasonable use. If you only
get one usable tool for every 4-5 you purchase then you have been
penny wise and pound foolish.

I think their upper end air tools are decent. Feedback on their
cheapy angle grinders is also pretty good.

However I would never touch any of their tools where precision or
cutting is a requirement. An example if their cordless drills. You
can actually wobble the chuck laterally!!

I bought one of their 1/2 HP 6" bench grinders. What total garbage.
The motor is so gutless it stalls out at the slightest load. I
measured the running amperage and it was only 2 amps. (another
deceptive HP rating)

On the other hand I bought one of their $2.99 digital multimeters.
It's perfectly acceptable for basic use. If I need precision I'll
dig
out my Fluke, but for simple continuity tests or rough voltage
measurements it's OK.


(davefr) wrote in message
. com...
90% of them are pure junk not fit for the intended purpose. The
other
10% are OK for occassional use.

Forget these HF dregs and buy known quality tools that you can
trust
and that will help you achieve quality work.

Chicago Electric is a brand name intended to decieve the consumer
into
thinking these are made in the USA. Chicago Electric along with
Pittsburg Forge, and Central Pnuematic are farmed out to the lowest
cost/lowest quality manufacturers in China.

Buy quality and you'll only say ouch once. Buy this crap and
you'll
curse and swear every time you use it and eventually get so
frustrated
it'll go in the garbage can.


ender (Jeffrey J. Kosowsky) wrote in message
...
Harbor Freight seems to have some very attractively priced power
tools, particularly those under the "Chicago Electric Power".

What has been your experience with Harbor Freight in general and
with
the Chicago Electric brand in particular?
- How does the quality and value stack up?
- If one is a serious hobbyist who doesn't have unlimited money
to
spend on tools, is it better to buy fewer name-brand,
high-priced
tools or go for a broader range of Chicago Electric brand tools
to
fill out my home shop?

Presumably you never get something for nothing so I imagine the
quality of a 29.95 sawzall type tool can't be as good as a $200
Milwaukee version... but that being said, is it worth buying this
stuff?

Please share your experiences and advice from a hobbyist
perspective
(I know that if you use your tools professionally 8+ hours/day
then it
pays to buy the best).

Thanks

I have been eyeballing HF power power tools for about a year. I finaly
brokdown and told my wife to get me a combo disk/belt sander for
Cristmas as an experiment. It was the central machienry brand 4" belt
with a 6" disk. On christmas day I assembled it pluged it in and
fooled around with it for about 10 minutes. It seemed to be
acceptable. I did not expect it to last very long because it was
CHEAP. The other day I needed to use it for real the first time. I
turned it on Its motor was bound up and it literaly went up in smoke.

I dont use some of my more than others this was one I knew I would not
use every weekend but when I had a use for it, it would be very handy
to have.

I think this exeriment can be dubed a colosal failure. I tried to
return it but could only get store credit which is fine I love HF. But
I think I will stick to buying thier disposable hand tools, saw blades
ect.

I am an avid woodworker and It is a good rule of thumb you get what you
pay for when you buy power tools. HF power tools are great for a one
time project after that the tool will probably just colect dust in a
garage.

The argument of buying a cheap tool to learn with I find very strange.
Why not buy a good tool that is easy to use. I makes learning much
easier and fun.

"tablesawnut" wrote in message
The other day I needed to use it for real the first time. I
turned it on Its motor was bound up and it literaly went up in smoke.

I think this exeriment can be dubed a colosal failure. I tried to
return it but could only get store credit which is fine I love HF.

I am an avid woodworker and It is a good rule of thumb you get what you
pay for when you buy power tools.

The argument of buying a cheap tool to learn with I find very strange.
Why not buy a good tool that is easy to use. I makes learning much
easier and fun.

All this and you "love HF"???

I don't live near any of their stores to actually see the tools first hand,
but I've not been tempted to order anything based just on stories like
yours.