Thread: The Harbor Freight Debate.

I will buy HF if it is disposable, know that I am going to break it(disposable again), or it is likely to be stolen. Once again disposable. The last few years I have been buying the bulk of tools at garage/estate sales. I am buying stuff from the 1950s thru 70s, American made, decades old and built to last. If there is a problem, most of this can be fixed instead of thrown away, if not repairable, it was purchased at minimal cost. I am with JimmyHAD on this, feed your neighbor, not the Peoples Liberation Army.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Oddly I would have just returned it, I wouldn't have spent 5 minutes trying to fix it

The other thing I actually like about HF is their return policy, they know a certain percentage of their products simply SUCK they don't argue, they just hand ya another one with a smile

Glen you are 100% correct I should have returned it. With that being said it honestly never crossed my mind at the time. I think night shift kinda makes you a certain bit of slow after awhile

Here's the real question: what about their Tap & Die sets?? To me, this very much seems like one of those things that has no room for "improvement after purchase". Are the ones at HF usable at all?

To be fair, I've never used any tap & dies.

HF gets my $ for 99% of my consumable items, such as 4" grinding wheels, etc. Tools, I'll go elsewhere. Especially HF's power tools, IMO Chicago Electric is possibly one of the cheapest thing man every made. Open one up and take a peek at the windings something. It's amazing they can actually take 110v without spontaneously imploding.

I have two sets. If I am going to do a lot of one standard size tapping, I will buy a quality tap from a local source. I use the HF stuff for prototyping and to repair stuff. Why spend upwards of $20 for a tap you may use once?
~Richard.

Originally Posted by Crawler

Here's the real question: what about their Tap & Die sets?? To me, this very much seems like one of those things that has no room for "improvement after purchase". Are the ones at HF usable at all?
To be fair, I've never used any tap & dies.

Originally Posted by Geezer

I have two sets. If I am going to do a lot of one standard size tapping, I will buy a quality tap from a local source. I use the HF stuff for prototyping and to repair stuff. Why spend upwards of $20 for a tap you may use once?
~Richard.

Quality taps causes less work, in the long run. When you're on your own time, it's one thing. But, when your time parallels customer's time for a job you bid, it's a whole different thing. As a gunsmith, the guy who I apprenticed under explained that to me 20+ yrs ago. Although, gun stuff is not the norm sizing, either. And they are PROUD of those little 6-48's. But, treat them right and they'll pull their own weight and then some in profits.

Originally Posted by AcesandEights

Quality taps causes less work, in the long run. When you're on your own time, it's one thing. But, when your time parallels customer's time for a job you bid, it's a whole different thing. As a gunsmith, the guy who I apprenticed under explained that to me 20+ yrs ago. Although, gun stuff is not the norm sizing, either. And they are PROUD of those little 6-48's. But, treat them right and they'll pull their own weight and then some in profits.

And don't harden a good one with liquid mercury if you have only heard of it being done!
I agree with the writer. Money talks and, in a seasonal business...like they didn't bring the weapons in after the last season....they bring them in a week before the new season want all done by the day before season opening.
Be well and prosper!
~Richard

The Chinese can make junk but they can also make very high end equipment.
Behringer makes a digital audio mixing that is used on some big tours & it is a little over $2,000. Made in china & top of the line. I like to buy American made & also buy vintage US made tools but think about it this way most of the razors used in the past were from England & Germany. Also France, Sweden & Japan sold more razors than the US makers. I try to buy US made products when I can & the cost is in line for the quality but my Double Arrow razor is one of my best.

Slawman

Originally Posted by Slawman

Behringer makes a digital audio mixing that is used on some big tours & it is a little over $2,000. Made in china & top of the line.
Slawman

Behringer is NOT Chinese built. They are built in Germany!


Current Behringer equipment is nearly as worthless as the box they come it. Take a Behringer and run it side by side to, say, a PreSonus or a Heath and Allen and the Behringer is a bottom feeder. Not only in quality, but being user friendly. One of the main problems with Behringer stuff is: all of their boards are proprietary and are not 'fixable', unless sent back to Germany. Which costs more in S/H than a new one costs.
Same goes for Crate. Back when they were built in St. Louis, they were quality pieces. But, when production went over seas, quality went to hell in a handbasket. I have 1 50watt, all tube USA made Crate amp that will run neck and neck with the best of them. Not only in volume (which is irrelevant, as everything should be mic'ed on stage, anyway), but also in tone (which IS relevant). I also have had 3 "Chinese built 17watt, all tube Crate amps that weren't worth 2 squirts of P. Pots go bad quickly, tube pots soldered poorly, etc., etc., etc.

99% of any piece of equipment that will take the abuse of the road, is not the same as what is found in 95% of 'garage' or 'bar' bands.

Originally Posted by Slawman

I like to buy American made & also buy vintage US made tools but think about it this way most of the razors used in the past were from England & Germany. Also France, Sweden & Japan sold more razors than the US makers.
Slawman

Nope

JR Torrey, Worcester MA 1880-1963 was the most prolific razor maker in the world...