Rate the Harbor Freight Tools Thread- Pass or Fail?

roadie33 said:
I have the bigger HF Cement Mixer and have used it for tumbling and it works great. Easy to empty. If you use liquid in media, just dump into a bucket with holes in bottom with it setting in a large wash tub.
They have the smaller one and if you can use a coupon it would be affordable.
https://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-4-quarter-cubic-ft-compact-cement-mixer-91907.html
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That's a great idea for a large capacity tumbler. Did you remove the vanes inside the tub?
 
darkzero said:
Ah I see. Sucks that they cost so much now but hey what can we do.

Maybe another option is to build your own vibratory tumbler & leave your 5lb as is for other uses? One video that comes to mind is Randy Richard but I'm sure there are others. Shouldn't be hard or cost much to build if you have stuff on hand. There's also rotary tumblers that work well but gives different results. I've seen people make them too. Some knife makers even make rotary tumblers using cement mixers.
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That I believe is going to be the plan. Lord knows I've got enough motors, buckets, and springs laying around.
I scored a big stew pot at a sale, can you imagine the racket that would make? :cool:

roadie33 said:
I have the bigger HF Cement Mixer and have used it for tumbling and it works great. Easy to empty. If you use liquid in media, just dump into a bucket with holes in bottom with it setting in a large wash tub.
They have the smaller one and if you can use a coupon it would be affordable.
https://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-4-quarter-cubic-ft-compact-cement-mixer-91907.html
Click to expand...
Heck, the mixer is the same price as the tumbler. And it would serve multiple purposes around the house.
Alas it is Central Machinery also. . .

-=- EDIT -=-
Just went and re-watched RR's video. This one was in the 'Up Next' column:
(AHEM- wow)
 
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If one is to read the manual, it states that the 5lb model should not be used with water.
Well I ignored that and have been using water for a few weeks now.
It's been going well, that was until yesterday when it came to a globby halt. -hehe
Notice where the power switch is - left center, you can barely see it.

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+1 on their Tool Cabinets, especially the US General Series 2 line.
Other than that I have not bought much from them.
 
Ditto on tool chests, top and bottom box. Have several now. Bought 3/8 impact gun, works great. Bought 3/8 low torque wrench 5lbs+for 13-14lbs cam bolts . Almost ruined engine. When asked if I wanted a replacement I told them it was only good for stirring paint. Buy lots of expendables from them, wire brushes, sandpaper, bandsaw blades and tie downs. Seem to be OK. Bought the steel ruler set. The one with the angle head, center finder head and right angle head. Barely usable, can't lock leads to the blade, the little piece keeps jumping out of groove. Did not buy 12" disk sander because it needs 20A line. Bought name brand instead. Bought floor mounted metal bender and it is quite good after you you tube it to figure out how to use it!!
Bottom line is that you roll the dice every time you walk in to store. Charles
 
Needed one more of the Mobile Base. Went to HF today for their 25% off sale. I knew the coupon wouldn't work cause it's a Central Machinery brand & I checked online. Last one I bought was Labor Day 25% & the coupon worked fine. Sure enough the coupon wouldn't work even though the one I specifically brought didn't say Central Machinery on it. Luckily it was the store manager that checked me out. Kindly told him the coupon didn't say CM & that it worked last time, he told me he'd take care of it & gave me the 25% off as "customer satisfaction". So be nice to your friendly HF cashier & they may just hook you up.

Not sure if I mentioned these already but these are a pass. Instructions say to use wood for the frame but I use square tubing.
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This is the third one one I have now. My first is holding my arbor press & arbor press stand. Been holding up fine for a number of years now & I roll it out of the garage often. Gonna use the next one for my belt sander.

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I've got (3) identical 24x36" surface plates, ~350lbs each, sitting on dollies on the apron in front of my shop.
(2) are sitting on new "1000lb" dollies from HF purchased last week, the third one is sitting on an older one, purchased a few to several years ago.
I just went to re-locate them closer to the door, and the older one moves just fine, easy to control.
The two new ones? - forget about it! The casters on the new ones suck, no two ways about it. I couldn't control them like the older one.
I even moved them back out and try rolling them around to see if I'd picked up some debris. -nope.
With the older one there is no problem controlling the load. The new ones fought me tooth and nail.
I don't think I would care to have a load that was pushing a 1000lb on one of these new ones.
I realize that it is all about price points, but *gads* keep the casters a decent quality.
The older one is sitting up about a 1/2" higher than the new ones.
<End Rant, I'm going to go soak my bones now...>

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!
www.harborfreight.com www.harborfreight.com
 
They went cheaper while raising prices a lot. Oh well what can ya do. Pay tops or HF
 
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