harbor freight

[RogueBlaze42]

this question pops up a ton here and other places. so let me hit it straight. it depends. most tools come from the same china factories with small differences. but mostly they are the same. harbor freight has great deals if you dont need fancy stuff or can add it yourself. like dust collector filters or bandsaw quick release. you check quality. use it hard during warranty. if it breaks, swap it. if not, it will last forever. their bits and blades suck mostly. but hss hole saws, bimetal hole saws, and masonry bits are solid. some tools i got for one job still work after 10 years. like my hammer drill and angle grinder. sometimes they beat big brands. i love my drill master pocket hole jig over kreg. used market is crazy. harbor freight saved my home shop. especially their older tools. they are trying to compete with metabo, dewalt, rigid. but 90 day warranty kills it at those prices. my harbor freight winners are 14 inch bandsaw, 2hp dust collector, 12 inch sliding miter saw, mortising machine, jwl1236 lathe clone, 4x24 belt sander, half inch hammer drill, angle grinder, tons of clamps, 29 gallon air compressor, 8 gallon air compressor, air regulator filter and dryer, 50 foot retracting hose reel, three eighths breaker bar, screwdriver sets, tape measures, half inch impact extensions, variable speed oscillating multi tool. multi tool blades im iffy on. planers except new bauer. but id rather get wen with spiral cutterhead. routers they scare me. handheld sanders weaker than ryobi. same price. no warranty. this stuff isnt powermatic level. we know that. but i cant afford big names used anyway. i hunt and play guitar too. these cheap tools get me in the shop working. thats the point. i dont mind rough tools. everyone has their limit.

 

[bLuecheese]

when it comes to harbor freight tools, I think itsall about figuring out what you need it for. is it a tool youll use once in a blue moon or are you looking for something thatll last? for someone just starting out in woodworking harbor freight can be a very cheap way to get on. But the downside is that the quality sint that great and sometimes people might blame themselves for poor results when its really the tool holding them back. its a shame if someone gives up on woodworking justt because of that. honestly, sometimes spending just a bit more like 30% can get you a tool that will last a lifetime. And you know what, usually the price of a harbor freight tool is not that far off from a used but decent quality tool from a better brand. We all have budgets, and its a balancing act even with the house brands at the big hardware stores.

 

[smithasher]

this question pops up a ton here and other places. so let me hit it straight. it depends. most tools come from the same china factories with small differences. but mostly they are the same. harbor freight has great deals if you dont need fancy stuff or can add it yourself. like dust collector filters or bandsaw quick release. you check quality. use it hard during warranty. if it breaks, swap it. if not, it will last forever. their bits and blades suck mostly. but hss hole saws, bimetal hole saws, and masonry bits are solid. some tools i got for one job still work after 10 years. like my hammer drill and angle grinder. sometimes they beat big brands. i love my drill master pocket hole jig over kreg. used market is crazy. harbor freight saved my home shop. especially their older tools. they are trying to compete with metabo, dewalt, rigid. but 90 day warranty kills it at those prices. my harbor freight winners are 14 inch bandsaw, 2hp dust collector, 12 inch sliding miter saw, mortising machine, jwl1236 lathe clone, 4x24 belt sander, half inch hammer drill, angle grinder, tons of clamps, 29 gallon air compressor, 8 gallon air compressor, air regulator filter and dryer, 50 foot retracting hose reel, three eighths breaker bar, screwdriver sets, tape measures, half inch impact extensions, variable speed oscillating multi tool. multi tool blades im iffy on. planers except new bauer. but id rather get wen with spiral cutterhead. routers they scare me. handheld sanders weaker than ryobi. same price. no warranty. this stuff isnt powermatic level. we know that. but i cant afford big names used anyway. i hunt and play guitar too. these cheap tools get me in the shop working. thats the point. i dont mind rough tools. everyone has their limit.

Right there with you. I've beat the hell out of my HF 14" bandsaw and 2HP dust collector and they keep going. Yeah, some of their stuff's trash, especially blades and sanders, but if you know what to look for and test during warranty, it's worth it. My angle grinder and hammer drill are still kicking after a decade. Not Powermatic, sure, but they get you working without going broke.

 

[thekidisnotmyson]

this question pops up a ton here and other places. so let me hit it straight. it depends. most tools come from the same china factories with small differences. but mostly they are the same. harbor freight has great deals if you dont need fancy stuff or can add it yourself. like dust collector filters or bandsaw quick release. you check quality. use it hard during warranty. if it breaks, swap it. if not, it will last forever. their bits and blades suck mostly. but hss hole saws, bimetal hole saws, and masonry bits are solid. some tools i got for one job still work after 10 years. like my hammer drill and angle grinder. sometimes they beat big brands. i love my drill master pocket hole jig over kreg. used market is crazy. harbor freight saved my home shop. especially their older tools. they are trying to compete with metabo, dewalt, rigid. but 90 day warranty kills it at those prices. my harbor freight winners are 14 inch bandsaw, 2hp dust collector, 12 inch sliding miter saw, mortising machine, jwl1236 lathe clone, 4x24 belt sander, half inch hammer drill, angle grinder, tons of clamps, 29 gallon air compressor, 8 gallon air compressor, air regulator filter and dryer, 50 foot retracting hose reel, three eighths breaker bar, screwdriver sets, tape measures, half inch impact extensions, variable speed oscillating multi tool. multi tool blades im iffy on. planers except new bauer. but id rather get wen with spiral cutterhead. routers they scare me. handheld sanders weaker than ryobi. same price. no warranty. this stuff isnt powermatic level. we know that. but i cant afford big names used anyway. i hunt and play guitar too. these cheap tools get me in the shop working. thats the point. i dont mind rough tools. everyone has their limit.

Harbor Freight tools are greaaat. But usually you do know it's not about the brand after all most brands manufacture in China due to low production costs or they come from the same factories. What I do suggest is to use your tools hard during warranty so if it breaks, swap it. @smithasher here implied the same thing like if you went through all the trouble and still it didn't break wow you got a keeper.

 

[SplinterHurts]

That's exactly it, it really comes down to how it feels in your hands, not just the brand. Give it a good beating while it's still under warranty, and if it holds up, you've hit the jackpot

 

[d@rkr00m]

this question pops up a ton here and other places. so let me hit it straight. it depends. most tools come from the same china factories with small differences. but mostly they are the same. harbor freight has great deals if you dont need fancy stuff or can add it yourself. like dust collector filters or bandsaw quick release. you check quality. use it hard during warranty. if it breaks, swap it. if not, it will last forever. their bits and blades suck mostly. but hss hole saws, bimetal hole saws, and masonry bits are solid. some tools i got for one job still work after 10 years. like my hammer drill and angle grinder. sometimes they beat big brands. i love my drill master pocket hole jig over kreg. used market is crazy. harbor freight saved my home shop. especially their older tools. they are trying to compete with metabo, dewalt, rigid. but 90 day warranty kills it at those prices. my harbor freight winners are 14 inch bandsaw, 2hp dust collector, 12 inch sliding miter saw, mortising machine, jwl1236 lathe clone, 4x24 belt sander, half inch hammer drill, angle grinder, tons of clamps, 29 gallon air compressor, 8 gallon air compressor, air regulator filter and dryer, 50 foot retracting hose reel, three eighths breaker bar, screwdriver sets, tape measures, half inch impact extensions, variable speed oscillating multi tool. multi tool blades im iffy on. planers except new bauer. but id rather get wen with spiral cutterhead. routers they scare me. handheld sanders weaker than ryobi. same price. no warranty. this stuff isnt powermatic level. we know that. but i cant afford big names used anyway. i hunt and play guitar too. these cheap tools get me in the shop working. thats the point. i dont mind rough tools. everyone has their limit.

Since you love the 14"bandsaw, the single best upgrade is a higher quality blade (like a Starrett or Olson) and maybe a set of cool blocks or Carter guides. That turns it into a serious machine