Thread: The Harbor Freight Debate.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

I think for the most part Chinese products lack seriously in the area of quality control. I believe they will produce a product to compete on the market by any means or lack of means possible. I'm not sure that using Apple as an example is quite fair. Many of us, me included, like Apple products. We have no choice in where they are manufactured, but I would pay an extra $100.00 on an iPhone made entirely here.

My point is that Apple products are high quality because Apple demands that quality from the supplier. Other vendors let price dictate the quality to undercut the competition. If I were to buy a SR blade that had a chipped blade and was rusted. I send it off to a person to get restored, new scales, and shave ready and they quote $80 for example. I say I can only spend $50 and will be happy with whatever I get back. The razor comes back with cheap scales, the rust is gone but the blade is far from shave ready you would think - wow terrible quality but that is all I wanted to spend. That is what a lot of companies do - they will take the poor quality because they only want to pay so much. They lack quality control because they choose not to have any quality control other then the basics.

BTW - I saw a story that said the $600 Iphone - if made solely in the US would run $2000.

Much of the developed world had developed a disposable society. Buy it use it once or twice and toss it. There are many suppliers that are catering to this outlook. There are those too that offer a choice. Laguana tools are a good example. You can get them made in China or made in Europe. The ones made in Europe made are a little more money, 10-15% I think. The Chinese made ones are made to very exacting standards, and I have looked them over, side by side. They are exactly the same, in fact the parts are interchangeable for the most part. So I agree that it is all about what the people having the items made are spec'ing. The other part of it is our attitudes as consumers. If we were to band together and stop buying from cut rate suppliers they would change the standard. We are after all what drives the market.

Great thread idea, and I concur with most of what has been said thus far. I am a high school teacher who doesn't even change his own oil, though I do use some tools occasionally for basic carpentry projects, and of course working on razors.

I bought one of those metal-cutting band saws a couple of years ago at HF for maybe a little over $200 if I remember correctly, as my son was getting into knife-making and machining. Though it's obviously pretty cheaply-made, it has worked acceptably for the light-duty applications we need it for. On the other hand, when I bought out the entire shop contents of a deceased nearby knife-maker for my son, we got some other VERY high-quality tools, buffers, grinders, saws, etc. for an excellent price because his family was just so happy that a young person was carrying on the tradition (plus they would never have been able to sell all that specialized equipment piece-meal).

But I definitely believe that a professional in any field should get the best premium tools he can afford (DeWalt, Snap-On, etc.). I for one can't stand a cheap stapler or pen!

You & your son need to get some custom blades on the market. I really liked that first one you guys made.

Thanks, John-Lately he has been more interested in hunting and fishing when he's not working. I also saw him getting dropped off in our driveway by a gorgeous blonde last time I was cutting grass, so that's also a distraction. I've been thinking about ordering another one from him just to get him back out there.

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

Thanks, John-Lately he has been more interested in hunting and fishing when he's not working. I also saw him getting dropped off in our driveway by a gorgeous blonde last time I was cutting grass, so that's also a distraction. I've been thinking about ordering another one from him just to get him back out there.

Fishing & Women,,, the most powerful influences in the World.

We may never get him back in the shop.

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

...
But I definitely believe that a professional in any field should get the best premium tools he can afford (DeWalt, Snap-On, etc.). I for one can't stand a cheap stapler or pen!

Hehe, I agree. The bread factory where I work supplies all the stuff needed to do out job. Box cutters for ingredients, pens for paperwork, and even a little two-slot pen/pencil holster you can hang on a belt loop. But what they choose to supply isn't always what I prefer.

Their pens? PaperMate, cheap commercial use, comes about 50 to a box. The pen I use? Pilot V2. I spend my own money on it, but also don't let it walk off if it is borrowed. And I only go through about two or three a year . I also bought myself a Tough Built utility knife/pliers holster for roughly $7 three years ago. It also holds two pens, plus accommodates my box cutter perfectly. With the holster, I made sure to pick one that clips slides onto your pant waist; I didn't want the ones that button (or permanent sewn loop) around your belt, just in case it gets hung up on dangerous machinery. Safety First, Kids!

Admittedly, I would muddle through with whatever they supplied if they paid minimum wage (or thereabouts).

I have bought a few hand tools from HF, one thing I bought that I would not recommend is the 4x36 belt/disc sander combo the belt will not track and I have tried with no luck to get the belt to track and I am not putting anymore time into it. Another tool I will not recommend is the micro torch they sell. I bought one with coupon for $5 and worked great for about two weeks. Lit it one day and it threw a 3foot flame out the end and I could not get it to shut off! I will say I have some of their Pittsburgh hand tools and have had great success with them. I will not replace my Snap on tools with HF tools but they get the job done when I need metric or giant sockets. It is a love hate for me with HF but I also know that I can buy things I use a few times and it will usually do as I need. I love the $25 dollar sawzall I got there and the heat gun. Fun post hope we get more don't buy this opinions nice to have a heads up

i wouldn't have most of the larger power tools i own (lathe, drill press, band saw) if it weren't for "cheap" tools. i simply can't afford any thing "better". i'm perfectly happy with them. some of the more expensive tools are just HF tools painted a different color anyway.

I just remembered that I have bought a few things from HF. My complaints thus far are in line with just about anybody else who buys something there: it comes down to "fit & finish". They usually work, but can be improved post-purchase to do their job better.

Set of small files, of a variety of profiles, for un-pinning razors: so far, so good. Little use.

O-ring hook/pick set. Bought for removing resist media when re-etching razors. See: fit & finish; but we are accustomed to refining tips/edges, so no biggie.

Bench plane. Reviews on HF site were helpful, showing that I'd have to work on it before it would work well for me. I lapped the bottom of the plane, no biggie. The blade, has presented a bit of a headache. I expected to sharpen it, that isn't the issue. The problem I have is the blade edge not being square with the sides of the blade. Though only a minor case of OCD, I cannot abide this discrepancy! So now, I'm gonna need a plane/chisel honing guide in order to hone the blade to square & true.

Also got two padded equipment/tool cases. One is my dopp kit, and one is utilized by SWMBO to store & organize her makeup & such. When looking at these, be sure to handle them thoroughly. They are sometimes cracked at the corners, or the pieces of the frame are loose & separating. It's a lot like picking out produce at the store! Pick it up, flip it all around, shake it a bit, sit it down for a few minutes while you browse some more, then come back to make sure you actually want it .

I hope this was helpful!!!