Subject: Re: Should I buy Harbor Freight Drill/Lathe/Mill?

From: [email-masked] (Paul Amaranth)
Date: 26 Jan 1996 13:52:44 GMT

I would be hesitant to buy a machine tool from them.  Buying a name brand
is probably pretty safe, but even there you can get better prices
elsewhere.

I've bought two major items from them.  Their nobrand dust collector was
a pretty good deal.  There's not too much you can do to mess those up.

I also bought a medium size MIG from them.  Bad mistake.  It did serve
as a useful parts kit when I rebuilt it (all new electronics and wire
feed.  One of these days I'll write it up for the metal web site).

The problem with buying cheap machinery unseen is that, if it turns
out to be junk, it'll cost you an arm and a leg to ship it back to
get your money back.  Freight rates aren't exactly cheap and you may be
out as much as 30-50% of your purchase price for return shipping.
Makes you wonder how much they pay for that stuff if they can afford
to ship it free.
--
Paul Amaranth  Manager User Services - office: (810) 370 4541 (also voicemail)
               (e-mail)     [email-masked]         
   Mosaic page: http://www.acs.oakland.edu/links/amaranth/amaranth.html

---

From: 73744,2077/GO:[email-masked]
Date: 26 Jan 1996 18:14:08 GMT

In <[email-masked]>, [email-masked] (John Waidner) writes:
>[email-masked] (John T. Flynn) sez:
>
>>I am thinking of buying one of Harbor Freight's combination drill press/
>>milling machine/ metal lathe units ($1099.00 one).  I believe that these
>>units are made in China.  Does anyone have experience with these units and
>>are they worth the money?  How do they compare to a similar "Smithy"
>>unit?  I plan to use the unit for light metal work/ gunsmithing sort of
>>things.  No heavy duty use.
>
>Does anyone have any Harbor Freight tools?  What do you think of them?
>
>
>---
>John Waidner
>[email-masked]
>Carmel, IN
>

John,

I have had problems with Harbor Freight recently.  I ordered a bender, 
received it months later and when I opened it up parts were missing.  I have
tried to contact Harbor Freight about the problems but they will not acknowledge
my letters.  There phones are constantly jammed.

I would think about buying from them again.

Regards,

Dave Cole

---

From: [email-masked] ()
Date: 27 Jan 1996 15:16:45 GMT

73744 wrote:
: In <[email-masked]>, [email-masked] (John Waidner) writes:
: >[email-masked] (John T. Flynn) sez:
: >
: >>I am thinking of buying one of Harbor Freight's combination drill press/
: >>milling machine/ metal lathe units ($1099.00 one).  I believe that these
: >>units are made in China.  Does anyone have experience with these units and
: >>are they worth the money?  How do they compare to a similar "Smithy"
: >>unit?  I plan to use the unit for light metal work/ gunsmithing sort of
: >>things.  No heavy duty use.
: >
: >Does anyone have any Harbor Freight tools?  What do you think of them?
: >
: >
: >---
: >John Waidner
: >[email-masked]
: >Carmel, IN
: >

: John,

: I have had problems with Harbor Freight recently.  I ordered a bender, 
: received it months later and when I opened it up parts were missing.  I have
: tried to contact Harbor Freight about the problems but they will not acknowledge
: my letters.  There phones are constantly jammed.

: I would think about buying from them again.

: Regards,

: Dave Cole

: I bought a mill/drill from H.Freight in '86. It is Taiwanese & I have 
: been satisfied with it. All that has gone wrong with it is that when I 
: switch it on the motor makes a humming sound instead of turning, until 
: I turn the spindle manually to get the motor turning. (Anyone got any 
: ideas as to what is wrong?) So, from looking at the posts on this 
: subject it seems to me that it seems to be the luck of the draw when 
: acquiring merchandise from Harbor.F. If you look at the average, more 
: disatisfied people have posted that satisfied ones. To help you make 
: your decision: if you are willing to risk getting a machine that may 
: not work the way you want it to, buy from H. Freight. If not, you 
: should look for a different source. Good luck.