E-mail Harbor Freight to re-stock cool tools they have discontinued

[7HC]

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. .............

While true for many of their hand-held electrical items like small angle grinders, 120v pistol drills, it doesn't apply to most, if not all of the larger electrically powered machinery such as pedestal grinders and buffers, lathes, mills, compressors, and even welders and plasma cutters.
Many of those items are the same as those carried by other suppliers but with a different color paint.
Many of them come from exactly the same factories in China, but the HF ones will be less well finished and will require adjusting and cleaning at the very least, and quite likely a little reworking too; and I would think that there would be less returns of those items as most purchasers realize that they're buying a kit of loosely assembled parts at a low price.

Just my opinion though, the logic behind the policies of most large corporations is way beyond me.


M

 

[architard]

I spend entirely too much money at HF. I recently picked up their 2 HP 29 gallon vertical air compressor when my Craftsman died. It was probably the most expensive item I ever bought there and yet it was half as much as I'd pay for a similar item elsewhere. The fit and finish on it is much better than many of the other things I've bought there. I haven't had it long enough to comment on long term performance but so far it's been great.

I had picked up a Craftsman tool chest (not the professional series) off of craigslist for cheap. I would have gone with the HF model if I couldn't find it cheaper on CL. The next day I was in HF buying tool chest liner and looked over the US general tool chest, and I have to say the action on the drawers is silky smooth compared to the Crafstman AND it already had the liners in the bottom!

 

[wolframore]

The first time I went to HF I got completely cheesed out, looked and touched and walked out. Since then I started doing research and found out; wow, look at the casting it's the same thing different color and few different feartures than the name brand things (Grizzly, Enco, Smithy... etc). Look at the paperwork it's made in the same factory. I'm a handy guy, why pay more for some quality control as long as it's not broken or completely wrong... I can grease it, clean it, change the oil, tighten it up... actually most of the stuff I've bought were just fine.

Think about the mark up you're paying the name brand when HF can sell it that cheap. really $150 for something that sells for $400 else where, like the carbide tool grinder. They must be buying it for $25 - $50 shipped. Why give the money away. It's not like you're getting something made here in the U.S.

I like HF... they have a decent return policy most have 90 days, lifetime on hand tools. I never get questioned. If it's a dud take it back.

It's even cheaper than buying a casting kit to build things and it's almost there... have you seen the price of things like that? Jeeze. Price the parts... bearing, hardware, motor... it's way cheaper and then replace things at your leisure.

They make some decent things cheap... I use their 1/2" brazed carbide tools on the lathe, they last as long as any kennmetal (I've broken a couple of the kennametals... ouchy $$$). I by a box of 10 1/2" cutters for the price of 1 or 2 kennametals. So what if they break. One day I will sharpen them for different profile but at that price, I'll keep pulling out new ones... happy turning!

 

[wolframore]

Hey Looks like I got a response!!! Please send more like this to let them know there are home machinists that need an affordable alternative!



Thank you for this valuable information. I will pass this along to the proper personnel. Please let us know if you have any further questions, concerns or ideas you would like to share.

Please include all previous correspondence when replying back to us.
Thank you,

[FONT=&quot]Mich[/FONT] Technical Support
Harbor Freight Tools
3491 Mission Oaks Blvd

Camarillo , CA 93012
1-888-866-5797

[FONT=&quot]HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS[/FONT][FONT=&quot] [/FONT][FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]Quality Tools at Ridiculously Low Prices

 

[Pacer]

There was a long thread going on another forum 2-3 years ago about the popular Chinese 9x20 lathe ---

This guys buddy buys a Jet model 9x20 at something around $11-1200, the guy helps his buddy get the lathe set up and they use it a bit and the guy thinks "hey, this thing is pretty cool, I think I'll get one" but, he dont have $1200. So, he remembers HF has one much cheaper, around $600 (at that time) so he gets one. So he and the buddy are setting the HF up and quickly realize that it looked toooo much like the Jet. So they proceed to pretty much disassemble both of them and - surprise, aside from the color they were exactly the same!

It was mentioned earlier that the small electrical items were poor quality - while that is true to a degree (some of the bench grinders are truly bad, but so are most at Home Depot, etc) it most certainly doesnt follow thru all the small tools. The angle grinder was mentioned - aside from the 4x6 band saw, the little $15 4-12" angle grinder has got to be one of the best buys there is! Ive had 2 of them for 10-12 years and cannot make them quit running. I also have several other small electrics, drills, sabre saw, jig saw, router, etc and they just go...

 

[wolframore]

I have some really nice tools besides the HF stuff. I used to buy the nicest tools I could but then I started working on motorcycles for fun and couldn't afford everything all at once as I needed it. Your projects sit and sit when this happens. Then I discovered HF. They are not Snap On, De-walt or Milwaukee. They are not even Craftsman - although Craftsman now is not the Craftsman of year ago. HF gives you nearly Jet, Grizzly quality for bargain basement prices. I'm able to continue my projects without the waiting to afford the tools.

In any case, if this was my work I could justify buying only the best and being able to afford it. But this is a hobby for me. I don't make any money with the stuff I do. I can tool up without the guilt. I've taken things back when I don't like the fit and finish that it didn't work for me. They have no problems with returns.

I just want them to re stock the cool machinist stuff and not leave us to ENCO, MSC, Grainger, Shars, WT and others which costs more and for me I have to order online. I like stores. I can open a box and look at it and make a decision not from a bunch of specs and a picture online. In the last year I've seen discontinued many accessories and tools for the home machinist. Will their vernier or micrometer ever hold up to Mituyoyo or Starrett? No way! But will it work for me in my hobby shop? Hell yeah. I have used Starrett tools from craigslist and pawn shops. My go to is my HF tools. They work!