Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[Code54]

One more point, there is a company that makes a bench mount for it similar to the photo someone put in that Welding Web thread. The blade runs vertical with a worktable to slide the material into the blade.

SWAG V3. Portaband Table

 

[sixdogs]

Great advice. Thank you.

 

[California]

[portable bandsaw] Can you describe it some more? How good is the cut and how easy to handle?

I don't see that anyone responded to this point - The version HF has sold for several years is capable of a true, clean cut. It isn't very heavy so its easy to hold, and to use in awkward positions. (This should apply to the new models also).

It's one of those tools where the first time you use it you say 'I should have bought this long ago'.

 

[reb]

Thanks Reb. I think I need one in the 15-25 watt range, but an all in one.
Sunforce has been around a while, not sure if they are any better. So many of these solar builders come and go...

I replied without thinking it through. What I did works great for my purposes, but it requires some math to determine whether the charger will replenish the required load for an application like yours.

 

[KB7722]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm going to keep an eye out for a sale on it and give it a try.

 

[Michael Aos]

I bought the Foldable Saw Horse Set 2pc for $30 back in December. Finally got around to assembling them today.

I haven't actually USED them yet, but they feel pretty solid.

 

[KB7722]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm going to keep an eye out for a sale on it and give it a try.

Review:

Harbor Freight Portable Bandsaw Review - SPOILER: YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR! - YouTube

I'll probably still give the saw a try.

 

[SpringHollow]

I did not have trouble with the blades like he did - the blade goes inside of that screw (at least on mine). To get the blade off just required a little twist and pulling away from the housing.

Ken

 

[sixdogs]

I would naturally assume the blades would be cr@p. Even a better bandsaw or whatever seems to have questionable blades on it. Not sure why but that's my experience.

 

[jeeptchr]

Review:

Harbor Freight Portable Bandsaw Review - SPOILER: YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR! - YouTube

I'll probably still give the saw a try.

I've had good luck with my Bauer porta band, granted it's not as nice as the M18 deep cut fuel I use sometimes, but it still gets the job done. It's worth 100 bucks just to have it when you need it.

 

[ronjhall]

I have not had problems with the blade in use or in and out. I purchased a set of DEWALT DW3988 blades. Took original HF blade off to try one of the Dewalt blades. Little bit of twisting and it was in place. Removed Dewalt blade and put HF back in. No problems. The HF blade is still sharp after about 20 cuts. Don't forget to get .025" replacment blades. Some of the reviews I read were complaining about some after market blades were not working.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Found a another great use for the Harbor Freight 18" magnetic tool holder

 

[dragoneggs]

Found a another great use for the Harbor Freight 18" magnetic tool holder

View attachment 539467

Good idea! I assume the magnetism doesn't hurt anything?

 

[woodlandfarms]

I’ve followed this thread forever. But never knew hf history. Pretty interesting and a little nerve wracking for the future. This Billionaire Made His Fortune on $5 Chainsaws - Bloomberg

 

[PILOON]

Found a another great use for the Harbor Freight 18" magnetic tool holder

View attachment 539467

Clever and coolest thing since sliced bread.

They also have fancier versions for the kitchen knives.
In the kitchen it greatly serves to protect the cutting edges from getting dulled.
In the shop they would serve to protect chisels from getting dull, especially adjacent to a wood lathe.

 

[daugen]

This Billionaire Made His Fortune on $5 Chainsaws - Bloomberg

a remarkable story. And not in my opinion the best way of going about it, any business highly leveraged is at risk
during a downturn, like 2008. I have found the pricing structure on their goods so confusing, so often your extra special coupon isn't special at all.
I still get motorhome magazine and HF always has inserts in it. And the pricing/coupons in that mass marketed magazine are better pricing than the extra special
coupons I get as being a "good member". I find the whole thing a bit dishonest. Why not sell like Walmart and Costco, just put one price down there. Not four or five.
I genuinely believe they let their marketing dept get out of hand.

All those silly coupons. It must cost them a lot of money to administer their needlessly complex marketing.
But not enough to stop and the boss seems like he likes it that way.
He's packed away over two billion dollars.
Remarkable.

 

[California]

This Billionaire Made His Fortune on $5 Chainsaws - Bloomberg

A remarkable story. And not in my opinion the best way of going about it, any business highly leveraged is at risk during a downturn. ...
He's packed away over two billion dollars.
Remarkable.

That's modern B-school (MBA) financial analysis. Use borrowed money to grow the business, and in this case as sole owner extract all the cash possible from business to personal every time the net worth of the business increases. Smidt's personal fortune has reached the point where its reasonable to gamble that the business could theoretically go under, he doesn't care, it exists only for him to extract equity from, he would still be a billionaire. It worked, for him. Let's not get political discussing pros/cons of this but I think its reasonable to note the most well known example aside from Smidt (Harbor Freight) is Romney's Bain Capital which specialized in a similar model of fortune-growing - and made its partners very wealthy via good financial planning/plan execution.

Anybody who is 'flipping' houses profitably - using borrowed money and extracting the value of equity from business to personal - is using the same model on a micro model. Worked for me. Fully invested in small rentals during the huge price appreciation/inflation of the 80's, retired partly on the proceeds of selling them. My MBA (financial planning) gave me the model to do more effectively what I was already doing based on common sense and instinct. The most important new thing I learned was it was more profitable to sell and carry the financing, extract the value as soon as it was created, in contrast to operating them indefinitely. Smidt model on the micro level.

 

[California]

... often your extra special coupon isn't special at all.
...motorhome magazine and HF ... pricing/coupons better pricing than the extra special coupons I get as being a "good member".

A pet peeve: cashier asks your phone number, cites your name, then asks if you receive the 'special' coupons email and asks for ID on a credit card purchase.

How the heck could you cite my name if I weren't already in HF's database??? You just showed you know who I am. Let's get on with ringing this up.

 

[Oaktree]

I got a laugh out of this quote from the article..."The Beverly Hills property, with a white-brick Regency mansion, outhouses and manicured gardens offering uninterrupted views of the city". I presume they meant outBUILDINGS. Then again, maybe they're the Beverly Hillbillies 21st century version. :laughing:

I still get motorhome magazine and HF always has inserts in it. And the pricing/coupons in that mass marketed magazine are better pricing than the extra special
coupons I get as being a "good member". I find the whole thing a bit dishonest. Why not sell like Walmart and Costco, just put one price down there. Not four or five.
I genuinely believe they let their marketing dept get out of hand.

All those silly coupons. It must cost them a lot of money to administer their needlessly complex marketing.

I dunno, the 2 page magazine ads and the flyers full of coupons seem to BE their advertising/marketing. Not too hard to get the best price once you know the game. If it gets people in the stores, then it's done its job. I've never noticed better deals in the magazine ads than in the flyers, though sometimes it's different stuff.

Then again, once you've gotten your customers to expect 20-30-40% off listed prices, it can be hard to go to fixed pricing, just ask JC Penney.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Good idea! I assume the magnetism doesn't hurt anything?

Shouldn't. The magnetic gun holders seem to be popular and have no ill effects.