Waste of Time and Money!

The brand name on my turdy chopsaw is PitBull. Distributed by AJ wholesale distributors, Inc. In Paramount, CA.
This is a good hint; There is no HP listed in its specs. It says, and this is ALL it says on the box:
FEATURES:
-Motor power: 2100 watts
-Motor size: 90x76mm
-3800 RPM no-load speed
-Max. wheel dia: 14"
-Max. cutting dia: 4"
-Instruction manual enclosed

And that's it. Draws a lot of power, does very little work. I got hosed.
 
Just about everything cordless under 12 volt is junk. Belt grease, if anyone uses this crap e-mail me and I'll send it to you. Bench grinder converted t a buffer, shafts way to short. and, and, and,.... I have bought tons of stuff from Harbor Freight, no complaints except the bit sharpener mentioned above. With HF, remember you get what you pay for, if they have more than one grade of a particular item, buy the more expensive one.
 
You are among many. I guess my worst mistake with Harbor Freight was buying a 30.00 chop saw. It flexes so much everything that it can cut and that isn't much, has a compound miter. It will burn through 1/4 inch stuff if it isn't more than an inch wide.
 
Cheap tools is an obvious one for sure but what about faulty lubes and tapping fluids, cleaners, polishes and the like? That lousy nickel silver sheet stock that The Bruces are complaining about in that other thread is a good example of the stuff I'm referring to. Pivot pins that are off, drill bits that don't last or break easily, carbon fiber with inclusions, stabilized wood that wasn't done right, bad steel batches.....there must be tons of horror stories. Let's hear 'em!:D
 
A couple years ago I took my family to the Califorina Redwood Forest for vacation. I looked at several roadside vendors for some redwood burl. Nobody had any but one slick guy must have seen my Washington license on our car and took me into his back room to show me "not for sale private stash" He showed me a big piece of "once in a lifetime find" of curly redwood that he couldnt part with. I bit the hook and walked away with it for only $50. I still have it. It is so soft I dont think stabilizing will harden it up. It also doesnt look that good after all.
 
I've come to decide that if you need a one use tool (like a pulley puller), or are looking for a brand named tool at a discount and willing to take a factory second for a nice discount , then HF is viable. They're also good for tools that you don't expect much from, like the 6" dial calipers I recently bought from them for $14.95! If I find I really need a good set, I'll spend the money for a Starret or the like.

I too bought the variable speed bench top bandsaw. Returned it a few days later (complete junk). Also had their mighty 1/3 hp 1"x30" belt sander with an attached 5" grinder. Equally useless.

I've purchased a 14.4V Makita new (not refurbed) and a refurb edger attachment from HF and have had no problem with those items, it's just their house brand stuff that seems to suck.

Just my humble opinion.

jmx
 
I havent heard many complaints about Grizzly tools.I do a lot of turning and a friend had a new wood lathe he had bought from grizzly he wanted to get rid of.I traded some ivory or something for it and the first time I used it the tool rest broke.Never buy a light weight lathe!
Chuck
 
The best buys for tools are at estate auctions. Here's some of what I've bought:

1/2" Craftsman drill - $1
3/8" B&D drill - $2
1.5 hp motor - $1
Small-bladed table saw with attached grinding wheel - $1
Micrometer - $1
Toolbox filled with lots of tools, including 5 Visegrips - $7
New Hermes Engraving Machine - $52 :D
Set of Calipers - $4
More files than I'll ever need (about 60), and not dull, either - about $5 total
Way more nuts, bolts, screws, nails, tacks, etc than I'll ever need - about $3 total
Four hubcaps for my 1959 Ford Pickup - $1 (not a tool, but it sure made me happy ;))

Anyway, you get the idea.

So go find those auctions, but if you're in Harford County, Maryland, just don't bid too hard against me. :)

Bob
 
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