Harbor Freight Tools Shopping Spree

[npaden]

Not 100% sure what forum to put this in but this seemed like the best place.

I've been watching the sales at Harbor Frieght and was checking to see what some of you thought about some of the items I'm thinking about buying.

I have my Dad's old stick welder and with the new barn I'm going to have a place to use it. I'll then be able to build some neat stuff to put on my tractor and other fun projects.

Most of the items will see very limited light useage. It will be nice to just use them instead of having to borrow from someone or just try to make due with the wrong tool.

Here are the items I'm thinking about buying:

21 Gallon Vertical Compressor - 3hp, oil lubricated, 3.5SCFM @ 90PSI - $150 - 25% off

(I currently have zero air tools and am just tired of lugging a 10 gallon air tank to the gas station when I need to fill up a tire. I think it would be nice to have one for a air nozzle too. I may at some point in the future think about a paint spray gun or something along those lines but doubt if I will ever be using many big air tools. Is this a large enough compressor for just limited use?)

14" Industrial Cut-Off Saw - $50 - 50% off

Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet - $50 - 38% off

4 1/2" HD Angle Grinder - $18 - 40% off

1/2" Hammer Drill - $27 - 46% off

5" Swivel Vise - $28 - 30% off

5 Speed 1/2" Drill Press - $40 - 55% off

I know Harbor Frieghts prices vary a lot and I've got a while before I need to buy some of this stuff, but I figured I would start buying some of the stuff that is on sale now instead of waiting until I need it and having to pay regular price.

Any input on if any of the above choices are just complete junk or whether they regularly go on sale at even lower prices would be appreciated.

I've seen posts talking about the cut-off saw and the auto-darkening welding helmet and feel pretty good about those prices being as low as they go and that they are overall reasonable quality at least as far as the price paid.

Thanks in advance.

Nathan

 

[RonR]

I never used to buy HF stuff--saying it wouldn't last long. I'd buy QUALITY. We'll, anything I have to buy now doesn't have to last THAT LONG anymore, so I buy HF stuff.

I recently bought the cheapy 4" grinder. If you weld tractor stuff, you might want to get a 9" big grinder as it can lug through heavier metal faster.

Chop saw is good idea. I bought one from TSC 15 yrs ago for $150. They go through lot of disks, but they are nice.

ron

 

[mark1]

Hi Nathan:
Years ago I wondered,do I get a air compressor or some tools like an electric impact wrench? Wife said GET the compressor!. so I did,later came the air tools.Back then there was no harbor freight.so most of the tools were expensive.It depends on how much you plan on using the tools?Harbor freight tools are cheap enough if they wear out or are lost (people borrow them)then you can just replace em.most of the tools I've purchased from Harbor freight. have worked and lasted fine. I have a Craftsman air compressor I bought back in 83 it cost over 300 bucks. back then,.I've replaced the motor and the tank since then. Now compressors are cheap enough I'd just get a new one from HF. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Spiffy]

3.5CFM is not much air. It would be great for filling a tire, a basketball, or maybe blowing a little dust from your workbench, but it's just not much air. My little carry-around compressor puts out almost twice that.

As for the rest, you'll need to be your own best judge of how light and how occasional your uses are. I would want a little quality in the drill press though.

Have fun!

 

[CurlyDave]

Almost everything I have bought from Harbor Freight over the years has been at least "good enough" quality.

Like most of us here, I am a "jack of all trades". If I worked constantly in one specific area, I would probably want the best quality tools for that field.

I just picked up two 20' lengths of grade 70 5/16" chain for about $20 each. Sure, it is made in China and probably not quite as good as US chain, but it beats the lower grades of 3/8" chain I have been using and is more than good enough for dragging trees and that kind of stuff. I just wish I could get longer lengths...

 

[kossetx]

Here's my >02

I have a HF oil lubed compressor and I'm perfectly happy with it. 3.5 at 90 isn't much air, I agree.

HF Auto dark, love mine.

Swivel vise, it'll work OK.

HF air tools, usually underpowered but OK.

I'd skip the rest and buy a little better. Craftsman has a 10" press for 69.00 on sale. I bought a dewalt 4.5 grinder in a case for 40.00 clearence at Lowes. Look around. Thier cut off saws aren't looked highly on and I'd assume the hammerdrill isn't either. I bought a 18V corless from HF. The gears lasted through 1 session. Hope it helps.

 

[Humbleto]

Get an air compressor!!! Before long you won't be without one. The twenty gal. will provide plenty of volume unless you are using a air tools a lot. Get a blower attachment and several hoses. You will need several of the quick attach fittings also, HF is the cheapest place to get them too. Get online if you haven't already. They e-mail coupons all the time for 10 to 20% off the total or for a single item. Just print one and take to the local HF.

 

[Paddy]

I would agree on the hammer dril and 4" grinder. though not from HF, I bought the the ceep version of these. Hammer dril was dead after 6 1/2" holes. Grider was dead after cutting some steel, 20 min total time.

So I'm not impressed with low cost power tools

Patrick

 

[npaden]

Okay, I'm looking at some of the different compressors and they are running an online special on one that is only a 10g tank but is 4hp and rated at 5.6 SCFM at 90psi. It is also oil lubricated. It is on sale for $140.

To get a compressor big enough to run the larger air tools looks like I would have to step up to the $500 range and I don't think I would use it enough to justify that much of a step up.

Which do you think would be better for my type useage - the 21g with the 3.5 SCFM output or the 10g with the 5.6 SCFM output?

Thanks, Nathan

 

[RonR]

Another thing to consider is compressor noise. My 25 yr old belt driven, oil lubed TSC compressor is whisper quiet compared to my new Sears oilless.

Sure the new one puts out 10 times the air, but unless you can run it somewhere else, it will prevent music or conversation in the shop.

ron