bB

[email protected] (BUB 209)

11/08/2004 1:32 AM

Chicago Electric - Harbor Freight

I'm tempted to take the bait and put out 40.00 for a Chicago Electric 14"
die grinder at Harbor Freight - 39.00. Has anybody here got any experience
dealing with these dudes? My mouth is watering for that giant box of
crackerjack the tool is coming in, unless I get some bad reviews here.


This topic has 9 replies

An

"AL"

in reply to [email protected] (BUB 209) on 11/08/2004 1:32 AM

12/08/2004 7:49 AM

I have one. It works very well. If you plan to grind any metal, get some
solid carbide burrs from Enco. They have US made ones for around $5 each in
various shapes and sizes.

"BUB 209" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'm tempted to take the bait and put out 40.00 for a Chicago Electric 14"
> die grinder at Harbor Freight - 39.00. Has anybody here got any
experience
> dealing with these dudes? My mouth is watering for that giant box of
> crackerjack the tool is coming in, unless I get some bad reviews here.

bB

[email protected] (BUB 209)

in reply to "AL" on 12/08/2004 7:49 AM

12/08/2004 11:58 AM

>I have one. It works very well.

Allright. One thing I won't use though
are the big (2"or larger) reinforced cutoff wheels because they will burn the
tool
up very fast.

An

"AL"

in reply to "AL" on 12/08/2004 7:49 AM

14/08/2004 2:15 AM

I'm by no means an expert, but I'm not sure that a cutoff wheel belongs on
any die grinder, name brand or not. I have a pneumatic cutoff tool for
that--the wheel is perpendicular to the handle and there is guard around it.
It also spins much slower.

"BUB 209" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >I have one. It works very well.
>
> Allright. One thing I won't use though
> are the big (2"or larger) reinforced cutoff wheels because they will burn
the
> tool
> up very fast.

b

in reply to [email protected] (BUB 209) on 11/08/2004 1:32 AM

11/08/2004 12:06 AM

On 11 Aug 2004 01:32:09 GMT, [email protected] (BUB 209) wrote:

>I'm tempted to take the bait and put out 40.00 for a Chicago Electric 14"
>die grinder at Harbor Freight - 39.00. Has anybody here got any experience
>dealing with these dudes? My mouth is watering for that giant box of
>crackerjack the tool is coming in, unless I get some bad reviews here.


generic chinese tools at generic chinese tool prices. it's a bit
risky- some CE stuff self destructs the first time you pull the
switch, some performes adequately for years.

gG

in reply to [email protected] (BUB 209) on 11/08/2004 1:32 AM

11/08/2004 6:25 AM

[email protected] (BUB 209) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I'm tempted to take the bait and put out 40.00 for a Chicago Electric 14"
> die grinder at Harbor Freight - 39.00. Has anybody here got any experience
> dealing with these dudes? My mouth is watering for that giant box of
> crackerjack the tool is coming in, unless I get some bad reviews here.

I have purchased a few things from Harbor Freight and I guess I would
summarize as you get what you pay for. For example I bought a biscuit
joiner for I thinkk $39 bucks. I used it successfully for many
projects until SWMBO sprung for a DeWalt, at which time I realized how
much better a quality tool was. Adjustments were easier. The base was
made of steel instead of plastic on the Chicago electric version.
That said, the Chicago unit did what it advertised.

I have also purchased some bar clamps. They work fine, but rust sooner
and are not as stiff as Jorgensen clamps. Again, you get what you pay
for, but sometimes a tool that does the job and we can afford is
better than a superior tool and not eating this week.

George

Aa

"AArDvarK"

in reply to [email protected] (BUB 209) on 11/08/2004 1:32 AM

10/08/2004 8:27 PM


You think $14 more ain't too much for the Ingersoll Rand whole kit???
I don't... HF: 40681-7VGA that's the way to go big bro...

Alex

JD

Jean Deaux

in reply to [email protected] (BUB 209) on 11/08/2004 1:32 AM

11/08/2004 1:03 PM

[email protected] (BUB 209) wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> I'm tempted to take the bait and put out 40.00 for a Chicago Electric
> 14" die grinder at Harbor Freight - 39.00. Has anybody here got any
> experience dealing with these dudes? My mouth is watering for that
> giant box of crackerjack the tool is coming in, unless I get some bad
> reviews here.


Just one warning about electric die grinders - power. I have
the $100 Makita, and I feel it's pretty wimpy,

For ***very*** limited uses, I've used a Bosch trim router
instead: no base, the router bit hanging out.

It's incredibly dangerous, it doesn't have a long enough neck,
but much much more oomph.

I'll probably switch to air powered for my next project.

TV

Tom Veatch

in reply to [email protected] (BUB 209) on 11/08/2004 1:32 AM

11/08/2004 2:49 PM

On 11 Aug 2004 01:32:09 GMT, [email protected] (BUB 209) wrote:

>I'm tempted to take the bait and put out 40.00 for a Chicago Electric 14"
>die grinder at Harbor Freight - 39.00. Has anybody here got any experience
>dealing with these dudes? My mouth is watering for that giant box of
>crackerjack the tool is coming in, unless I get some bad reviews here.

I'm 2 for 3 with Chicago Electric (Harbor Freight) tools.

An 18v cordless drill sat on the shelf until after the warrantee expired (90
days) then was used to drive a bunch of deck screws - stripped out the gearbox
before the job was complete, replaced with an 18v DeWalt XRP, a MUCH better
tool.

A 4-1/2" angle grinder purchased a couple of years ago for a particular project
outlasted the project and continues to perform. Only sees occasional use, but,
so far, has met my requirements. I have no basis for comparison with other
brands/models.

A 10" Sliding miter saw purchased about 3 years ago for $100 continued to
operate satisfactorily through a fairly large deck project. The saw was OK for
rough carpentry/framing work but I would not recommend it for trim/finish work
or anything requiring high precision. Main complaint was sticky slide action and
soft, mushy miter stops. A new project required higher precision work so the saw
was given to a friend while still serviceable and replaced with a Hitachi SCMS
for about 5 times the initial cost. Although the Hitachi is a far, far better
saw, it was also far, far more expensive.


Tom Veatch
Wichita, KS USA

tt

"toller"

in reply to [email protected] (BUB 209) on 11/08/2004 1:32 AM

11/08/2004 3:04 AM

I have bought a number of things at Harbor Freight and have always been
satisfied. It probably will be noisier and more difficult to adjust than a
decent brand, and might wear out faster; but for the price it is probably a
good product.
At least that has been my experience.


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