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E-mail Harbor Freight to re-stock cool tools they have discontinued
- Thread starter wolframore
- Start date
Enco sells the same reversible carbide grinder. They often have free shipping over $99.00,which I take advantage of. Make sure you get a reversible grinder as it is difficult to accurately grind things without the reversing feature,if you want precise angles.
They do, as do a few other suppliers, but the price is in the $350-$450 range.
I took mine out the door at HF a few months ago for about $125 with a coupon.
The same is true of the other items I picked at random that HF used to carry at good prices a few years ago, pictured in this thread: http://www.hobby-machinist.com/show...d.php/9142-need-ideas-on-a-grindern-a-grinder
Take a look at the current prices for a Universal Tool grinder, cheapest I could find was $700 vs $390 before the 20% discount at HF.
Best price for an 8"x4" magnetic chuck was $350 vs $40 before discount at HF.
Exactly the same 6x12 surface grinder as the $900 before discount HF one, is now available from Grizzly for $2000.
The difference in price to buy the same machinery and tooling compared to three or four years ago is huge.
I don't pretend to understand HFs changing policy, but as they increase their prices and reduce the number of major items they carry, it can only lead to less traffic and lower sales volume, and when that happens it becomes a vicious circle.
My guess is that they've got some new member of upper management who, as always happens, just has to make changes to put his 'stamp' on the company.
If it carries on then their slogan might become "Nothing more than $50!" which will be a damn shame.
M
You can find them at a whole variety of suppliers at similar prices to Enco.
They're copies of the Baldor and are all of similar quality.
They can easily be bought up to match the quality of the Baldor with a little work (see the YouTube video), and if you add the double row bearings that Baldor use in their diamond wheel model it becomes an exact replica.
M
I hadn't realized the price difference!! They are likely exactly the same grinder with different name tags. If you buy 25 milling machines,the Chinese will put whatever name you want on them. Same for anything else.
Funny thing was I gave out 10 of them to my Friday night gun buddies and two of them asked me what was it used for. :lmao: One of those guys says that he can't live without it now.
[If it carries on then their slogan might become "Nothing more than $50!" which will be a damn shame.
M[/QUOTE]I think your onto the real reason. Looks like Harbor Freight is deciding to appeal to a large market of consumers buying cheap stuff for their home and not so much a few specialty tools. After a brief search on the web it looks like mechanics and welders are complaining about the same thing. Most likely it's a decision based on profit margin, warranty issues, and supplier changes. I used to own a good size business and we sold expensive US and the China equivalent products. Most of what I hear on forums about China business isn't correct. I should write a blog on the subject.
This weekend I stopped at HF and bought some more stuff... I got the expanding reamers... 1/2" to 1.5". Wish they had smaller sizes going down to at least 1/4". I did get a cool ratcheting tap holder... some assorted emery paper set 80 - 180 (they put in 2 sets for 180 instead of a 46 which is fine because i like the finer grit). a free multimeter (i have 4 now lol). I miss the old harbor freight.
That's all I could find. I've stopped looking at everything and one day I won't be able to justify the drive or my Inside Track Membership. They really need to take another look at their business model. Will customers be willing to shop there instead of Walmart, Menard's or Farm and Fleet for cheap home tools... not when it's a long drive as they are few and far between. I drive 20 plus miles to visit their stores now. Unless they change it may be a long time before I go again...
I really need a tool grinder and would love to get both those HF universal and the carbide one. I need to make some more cut off tools. Broke my last one - duh forgot to tighten the tool stand. Wish they stocked machinist dye... what are these guys thinking?
That's all I could find. I've stopped looking at everything and one day I won't be able to justify the drive or my Inside Track Membership. They really need to take another look at their business model. Will customers be willing to shop there instead of Walmart, Menard's or Farm and Fleet for cheap home tools... not when it's a long drive as they are few and far between. I drive 20 plus miles to visit their stores now. Unless they change it may be a long time before I go again...
I really need a tool grinder and would love to get both those HF universal and the carbide one. I need to make some more cut off tools. Broke my last one - duh forgot to tighten the tool stand. Wish they stocked machinist dye... what are these guys thinking?
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HF probably just decided they didn't want to handle the warranty claims anymore on their discontinued items. IMHO anything they sell that plugs in is below par and won't stand up to the rigors of daily shop use.
Things that don't plug in are probably ok for the non commercial user. Even their 'duck' tape is below par.
Things that don't plug in are probably ok for the non commercial user. Even their 'duck' tape is below par.