Harbor Frieght Tools??

B

bigern26

Joined
Oct 2, 2009
Messages
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I printed off the harbor freight coupon sheet, I have a little list!!

Caliper
Brake bleeder(for stabilizing)
air compressor
drill press

Does anyone currently have any of their drill presses? Are they worth buying or should I just go with a cheap craftsman or Northern tool?

Also, I was just looking through Northern tools, Has anyone had any experience with their band saw or drill press??
 
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These days the difference between any of the low end chinese made drill presses escapes me. I have the basic HF model and ... it drills. One the table is squared, it stays that way. About all you can say about it, but I wouldn't spend anything more on a drill press unless I was going to spend like $400 more!
 
Most of the import stuff comes from the same manufacturer, mini mills especially, and only difference is the color paint they put on it depending on the retailer it is going to. I have a 14" bandsaw that I purchased from Wholesale tool that is exactly the same thing that HF sells only in different paint. Did that answer your question completely? Probably not, my bad.
 
For just drilling holes in the handle for fixed blades , probably do you well , just be sure to square the table and check the runout ( the few I have spun in the store were terrible ) so I ended up with a Craftsman floor press. Well 2 of them actually)

If you can take a piece of straight drill rod with you and check it in the chuck before you leave the store.
 
I have the Enco 4x6 bandsaw and it is the same as HF, Grizzly, Northern. As pointed out in previous threads if you lube and switch out blades they work like a champ.

I also have one of their free standing drill presses (with coupons and sale price to cheap to pass up). It has done a lot of work (18 gauge to 1.5")for me over the last 5 years and just 2 days ago the switch went out.

When buying from the discount places I try to calculate the need. Is it something I will use everyday or occasionaly and then do a google search to get a snapshot of peoples judgements.

Then make your own decision!
 
One thing to keep in mind about the Taiwan tools is that all are made in one of three factories and they all put out five different grades of tools. The discount houses like Harbor freight usually handle the cheapest grade. Grizzly uses the middle to higher grade and so on.

As has been said, determine your needs and base the quality of tool you get on your particular needs. Remember when buying tools that you normally get what you pay for.

Gary
 
I have one of the cheap $30 drill presses from HF and it has served me well. I think it's a fine buy.
 
I have a HF drill press and have used it on occasional weekends for about 8 years now, primarily on metal...I had to replace the chuck once.....it is now starting to wobble and lose power but for the money it has served me well....I will upgrade next purchase but will keep the HF and use it for other purposes (wire brushing/some polishing).
 
IMHO I buy the best tools that I can afford at the time. I feel you can never go wrong with that mindset. If you can only afford a $30 press so be it, you got the best you could, you can always up grade. There is nothing like using good quality tools, and nothing quite like struggling with not so good quality. I have machines in both catagories, I think we all do.
 
The chuck on my HF $75 drill press will come off of its taper mount when I try to push the press too hard.

I just pound it back onto the taper and ease off a bit.

For drilling handles and 1/4" holes in steel, it's a decent machine, although the speeds are really set up for drilling wood rather than metal.

I've been shopping Craigslist for months trying to get a deal on a quality floor press to replace the HF one.

Mike L.
 
I picked up a drill press with keyless chuck I hope the keyless is good.
I am going to pick up the bandsaw as soon as my federal taxes get deposited!!

I also got a few bar clamps and a drill vise!!!

thanks for the help everyone!!
 
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