On my trip last week, I stopped in San Angelo at Harbor Freight--first time I've ever been in one. About 4 years ago, someone gave me one of their DrillMaster cordless drills as a gift. Nothing fancy, but it has held up thru lots of abuse, thousands of 2 1/2" and 3" long screws driven and I was really surprised with it's ruggedness, tho the keyless chuck could use some improvement and battery charge times are over 4 hrs. I've not had to replace a battery yet, and usable time between charges is pretty good--a LOT better than the Skil (junk) brand I bought last year.
I looked at Harbor Freight's compound mitre saws, a 110 volt cement mixer, pancake compressors, arc welders, wire fed welders, and a metal cutting cutoff saw. All "Chicago" brand. I won't be doing a lot of heavy work, just general wood and metal work, and I'll soon be 61 yrs old--it's not like I will be expecting a whole lifetime of results from them. Are they any good or just a waste of $$?

70% of my tools are from Harbor Freight. Welder, compressor, angle grinder, generator . . . Never had any issue.

Whatever you buy today comes from the same factories. With HF you're just cutting out the middle man. Sad, but true.

I'm not so sure about the cutoff saws themselves but the cutoff wheels aren't that great. They wear down atleast twice as fast as the Norton cutoff wheels I can buy at Home Depot... But then they are less then half the cost of the Norton cutoff wheels.

My welder is from HF and so is my auto darkening hood. They have worked just fine, no real complaints about them except the short duty cycle of the welder. I think if I wired a fan into the case it would extend the duty cycle. The welding wire which is available in a heavier roll (2 lb roll versus the 1 lb roll of Lincoln wire from Home Depot) is about the same price for twice as much wire. However, I have noticed the wire is... Dirtier? There is a oily film on the HF wire that tends to clog the tip more frequently then the Lincoln wire. Not much of a issue as long as you clean your tip regularly.

[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 03-08-2011).]

I've got one of the smaller HF cutoff saws and beyond the blades themselves, I've never had a problem with it and I've had it for at least 5 years.

Then again, I don't use the thing every day. Maybe if it was needed daily for my job or something, I'd go for something else.

For full-time or professional use the HF stuff probably won't hold up as well as a much more expensive version. Most all of it is made in China, but the Chinese contract manufacturers vary in quality just as much as they did over here, except I think the low-end stuff is much lower than it was here. They are pretty good about warranty and customer service, though.

I did notice the duty cycle warning label on the wire feed welder--seemed pretty short "on"--long "off" to me, but I'm not very familar with wire machines.
I gotta admit, I was hoping to hear a lot of negative comments, so I wouldn't be tempted to buy any of it. Now, I'm torn. I have a Craftsman table saw that has just been bulletproof, but it is an older one, and I've heard their current stuff is not the same quality.
I hate buying foriegn stuff--I truly do--just goes against everything I believe. I'll have to give this some more thought. Thanks for the replies!!

quote Originally posted by maryjane: I hate buying foriegn stuff--I truly do--just goes against everything I believe. I'll have to give this some more thought. Thanks for the replies!!

Just blame it on government regulations and the AFL-CIO and make the trip!

quote Originally posted by maryjane: I did notice the duty cycle warning label on the wire feed welder--seemed pretty short "on"--long "off" to me, but I'm not very familar with wire machines. I gotta admit, I was hoping to hear a lot of negative comments, so I wouldn't be tempted to buy any of it. Now, I'm torn. I have a Craftsman table saw that has just been bulletproof, but it is an older one, and I've heard their current stuff is not the same quality. I hate buying foriegn stuff--I truly do--just goes against everything I believe. I'll have to give this some more thought. Thanks for the replies!!

Here is my take on things, if it's worth two cents....
I myself have a lot of HF stuff. Somethings seem to be made better then others from there of course. Now, if I had to depend on it daily, I might not have some of the items. How much can you screw up a tool box though for example. I have one of their buffers that sells normally for 49 and got it for 29 on sale. I have done a few total paint jobs and a few fender/bumper replacement buffs with it, and not a problem yet. Considering the DeWalt model is around 200 bucks, I can go through a few of these things and throw them away if need be. Just saying. Hell, buy two, keep one on hand for a back up if a guy is worrying about failure in the middle of a job.
Also, my take on the duty cycles of any item. If it says 50% duty, I figure it did not do anything all night, it can work all day.

Kevin

My Milwaukee chop saw was made in China as were my Delta table saw and DeWalt grinder. I saw identical saws at Harbor Freight that were made in China. I paid far too much in my estimation for something that I could have bought at (Shanghai) Harbor Freight. I won't buy their electronic/electrical hand tools except if I am in ghettoville Colorado Springs and need something quickly.

And soon anything Briggs and Stratton will be made there.
Soon the only thing the we will be making is our children, in some cases we can't even do that very well.
Not my family!

Search the internet if your worried about a HF tool, someone has left feedback on it. Everything I have bought from HF has been a great tool except for a pneumatic body saw. It is junk and cuts through nothing.

Good HF tools
die grinder
3" cutoff tool
wire feed welder
engine hoist
low profile jack
paint gun
load leveler
and many more I have forgotten about.


Pay more for the same tools elsewhere, I prefer to buy something I know is made in china than something that is made in china but has a American brand and price.

quote Originally posted by jmbishop: I prefer to buy something I know is made in china than something that is made in china but has a American brand and price.

They're clever, though, those Harbor Freight people. Most (or all?) they sell has "American" name brands like Chicago Electric and Pittsburgh Tool. I wonder; are those actual companies?

I have used bunch of things from there. But, there are a few things that are pure garbage....Probably a lot more. I have had several Buffers from them, and they do the job just fine. Just stay away from the ones with the electronic speed control on it. The controls start to become finicky after a whiles use. I forgot my good DA at home once, and H. F. was closer to the place I was working than home so I got one of their DAs. Honestly I really like the one I got from H.F. it does a really good job plus it don't vibrate, and kill my hands as bad as my Hutchins. Only down side is it comes with a hook and loop disk. Only like six bux for the standard sticky disk though. Then the sawzall clones they are JUNK it lasted 2 mins most of the main components are plastic. I use their spay guns ALL the time for gelcoat. If I have a metal flake job I would rather ruin a $30 gun rather than a $150 one. They are fine for that, and base coat. I have never ventured using one for clear coat.

Like everyone in this thread is saying, seems as if everything is being outsourced. Prices on those items continue to rise, and the quality is on a roller coaster ride down to worthlessness. Only going to get worse unfortunately.......

quote Originally posted by Khw: My welder is from HF and so is my auto darkening hood. They have worked just fine, no real complaints about them except the short duty cycle of the welder. I think if I wired a fan into the case it would extend the duty cycle. The welding wire which is available in a heavier roll (2 lb roll versus the 1 lb roll of Lincoln wire from Home Depot) is about the same price for twice as much wire. However, I have noticed the wire is... Dirtier? There is a oily film on the HF wire that tends to clog the tip more frequently then the Lincoln wire. Not much of a issue as long as you clean your tip regularly.

Try using the next size lager tip and liner, it works for me and my Lincoln. I have a very humid shop and wire has a tendency to rust quickly if not used quickly.

Steve

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Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

I baught one of their angle grinders,its still going strong after 5 years.I wouldnt buy an arc welder regardless where you buy it,its a pain to get the rod started to weld.So as for a welder I would recomend a wire feed welder.

[This message has been edited by James Bond 007 (edited 03-09-2011).]

I have tons of them myself. I have air rachets that are 20 years old I still use daily. I use the hell outta their $20 paint guns. The only thing to really consider, is the tool you want need to last for your lifetime, or just to do a project or two ? Sometimes I need a normally expensive tool for something Im not likely to need again ever, so I buy a cheapo one I can afford to throw away. If it lasts, its extra points.

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison: I have tons of them myself. I have air rachets that are 20 years old I still use daily. I use the hell outta their $20 paint guns. The only thing to really consider, is the tool you want need to last for your lifetime, or just to do a project or two ? Sometimes I need a normally expensive tool for something Im not likely to need again ever, so I buy a cheapo one I can afford to throw away. If it lasts, its extra points.

I like the way you think Roger!
We are on the same page.

Kevin