Date:         Sat, 26 Aug 2006 23:17:31 -0700
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: (OT) harbor freight tools
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I had the 4" angle grinder and I used and abused it freely without problems.
(I no longer have it and several other things that went astray in a move...)
As I've said before, you most likely wouldn't want those tools if you had to
make a living by them, but at the prices they sell them for you can almost
consider them disposable, particularly if they're saving you from paying
labor to someone else.
I don't know that I'd deal with HF by mail order, partly because the
shipping can negate much of the savings but also because it can complicate
the warranty process and there could be shipping involved with that;
generally speaking I wouldn't recommend buying anything from them unless
you'd held it in your hands first. I've spent some time in the stores
looking closely at their stock and the quality such as it is varies widely
to say the least.
I have a fair amount of mostly hand tools from HF both for personal and
business use and haven't had many problems with them. I mean you pay $10 for
a 4 pc. adjustable wrench set or a set of screwdrivers you don't expect
much, but on the other hand if you lose or break them it's no big thing.
When you have employees of questionable pedigree from time to time that can
be big plus.
I would say in most cases a cheap tool is better than no tool. If you don't
have a store within driving distance I'd consider another avenue, unless you
could get feedback on a specific item from somebody that had one.

Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "Florian Speier" <groups.florian@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, August 26, 2006 8:38 PM
Subject: (OT) harbor freight tools


> Hi list,
>
> since I recently moved full-time to the U.S. and now ahve a home here, I
> am
> equipping my garage/shop. Since I am kind of on a budget at the moment,
> its
> not gonna be Dewalt tools:-(  Question: has anyone used harbor freights
> lineup of Chicago Power tools (angle grinder, jigsaw, sander and the
> like)?
> Do they hold up a while, handle OK and are safe? (I recently  bought a
> socket set of cheap tools on the road from the flaps, and the first socket
> shattered in pieces on the first use, so I am a little cautious).
>
> thanks for the input before I buy a bunch of them.
>
> flo