I have reached an age where I am able to spend my winters in Florida and
have been trying to set up a small shop in my garage, leaving my machinery
in my main shop up north.

I was tempted by a cheap Harbor Freight 6-inch joiner at the irrestible
price of $189. I am old enough to know better so I really have no one to
blame but myself for ever buying this piece of junk.

First of all it took two full days to assemble it due to the instructions
which had to have been written by a non-English speaking person who no idea
at all of what he/she was doing.


I also bought a Rigid table saw for $569. At least it had clear
instructions and was easy to assemble. Its fence has a visible bow in
it--so far out I didn't even bother trying to just how far it was out. I
can correct that by fastening a baltic birch plywood fence to it. I suspect
that table is out and am waiting for a machinist straight edge to see just
how far out. Their cust. service says that if the table is more than 12
thousandths out they will send me a new table but they didn't say how far
out the new table might be. The one positive thing I an say for it is that
is is fairly vibration free for a saw with a motor hanging out the back.
(Cabinet saws usually have multiple belts which are short because the motor
is below and very close to the arbor

On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 02:24:43 +0100, the inscrutable "no spam"
spake:

I have reached an age where I am able to spend my winters in Florida and
have been trying to set up a small shop in my garage, leaving my machinery
in my main shop up north.

I was tempted by a cheap Harbor Freight 6-inch joiner at the irrestible
price of $189. I am old enough to know better so I really have no one to
blame but myself for ever buying this piece of junk.

First of all it took two full days to assemble it due to the instructions
which had to have been written by a non-English speaking person who no idea
at all of what he/she was doing.

Two days to assemble all six pieces? bseg


================================================== =======
The Titanic. The Hindenburg. + http://www.diversify.com
The Clintons. + Website & Graphic Design
================================================== =======

IMo, you'd be better off returning the Harbor frieght joiner. As much
as I hate HF, they do have a nice return policy.

Even if you have to pay to ship it back, think of all the frustration
you'll save yourself. This hobby is supposed to be fun. It seems from
your post that you have the money to buy a better joiner, so why not do
it? Correct your mistake while you still have time.

Larry Jaques wrote:
On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 02:24:43 +0100, the inscrutable "no spam"
spake:

I have reached an age where I am able to spend my winters in Florida and
have been trying to set up a small shop in my garage, leaving my machinery
in my main shop up north.

I was tempted by a cheap Harbor Freight 6-inch joiner at the irrestible
price of $189. I am old enough to know better so I really have no one to
blame but myself for ever buying this piece of junk.

First of all it took two full days to assemble it due to the instructions
which had to have been written by a non-English speaking person who no idea
at all of what he/she was doing.

Two days to assemble all six pieces? bseg


================================================= ========
The Titanic. The Hindenburg. + http://www.diversify.com
The Clintons. + Website & Graphic Design
================================================= ========


If I were in Florida, instead of PA.
It might have taken me all week, with going outside all the time!

Well, bf, that's what a sane person should do--just pack it up and send it
back. Now that I have so much time into it I am going to make it work just
out of pure cussedness. Did I say in my post that the cutter head is made
to take 1/8th knives but it comes with metric knives that are less than
3/32nds thick--even shaving costs on knife thickness. My post however had a
dual purpose--first to relieve some frustration by bitching and secondly to
throw a little counsel out to younger woodworkers to beware of cheap
machinery. There is absolutely no excuse for someone my agemaking such a
dumb mistake.

Thanks for your thoughts, though.

Joe

"bf" wrote in message
oups.com...
IMo, you'd be better off returning the Harbor frieght joiner. As much
as I hate HF, they do have a nice return policy.

Even if you have to pay to ship it back, think of all the frustration
you'll save yourself. This hobby is supposed to be fun.

On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 17:39:47 -0600, the inscrutable Tim
spake:

Larry Jaques wrote:
On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 02:24:43 +0100, the inscrutable "no spam"
spake:

Two days to assemble all six pieces? bseg

If I were in Florida, instead of PA.
It might have taken me all week, with going outside all the time!

Can Floridians read yet? I know they have trouble with simple
things like hanging chads in ballots, rebooting computers, etc.
(Aren't people FUN?)


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