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Message started by rl153 on 03/10/11 at 10:14:36

Title: Harbor freight
Post by rl153 on 03/10/11 at 10:14:36

Anybody had good luck with the harbor freight electric die grinder? I see it has mixed reviews and one guy here got a bad one . I'm kind of interested in it ,not going to do anything to extensive .

Title: Re: Harbor freight
Post by verslagen1 on 03/10/11 at 11:23:54

Anything you can buy from HF is questionable.
In fact, if you get your project done with it and you get more out of it great.
Got a cheap drop light, work great for awhile, then would be intermitant. Finally got fed up, took it completely apart, found a bad solder joint repaired it and now it works great again.

labor conditions over there are terrible, worst than sweat shop.

Title: Re: Harbor freight
Post by Reelthing on 03/10/11 at 11:36:38

Work pretty well - the one I have came with some spare motor brushes haven't needed them yet. The problem I have with more expensive angle grinders and such are the conditions I use them is rather harsh on any thing - for instance the most I used the angle grinder was with a cut off wheel to cut up smashed boat trailers after hurricane Ike - powered by a generator in the back of a golf cart ankle deep in saltwater mud - it held up.

Title: Re: Harbor freight
Post by JohnBoy on 03/10/11 at 12:31:01

been using one for a year without any issues

Title: Re: Harbor freight
Post by Ed L. on 03/10/11 at 12:47:10

I'm on my second 4 inch high speed grinder. I try to get them on sale and they have held up just fine consitering the price. The first one blew out a bearing in the head after 7-8 years of medium service. Just don't get any of the Harbor Freight hack saw blades or metal cutting blades for their sawz all. They either break or go dull in about 10 seconds.

Title: Re: Harbor freight
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/10/11 at 12:57:59

I have a Big Lots & a Harbor Freight 4&1/2" . Had em for around 3 years I guess. The Big Lots was a B&D product, with a slide switch. I use it as a grinder. The HF is a cheaper one, with a pale switch, it flexed & stopped pushing the Go Button far enugh to make it run, even with he paddle fuly pressed down. Opened it up, bent some wire, epoxied it in & it works fine now, but I had to butcher the case a bit, to make room for the wire & epoxy.
HF abrasives are lousy, buy Norton or something from a Big Box store.

IDK hoot about the die grinders. If its trash, trade it back to them, youll either decide they all suck or just some of them suk.

Title: Re: Harbor freight
Post by rl153 on 03/10/11 at 14:32:16

Thanks ,it's hit and miss with alot of stuff these days . I might have to go for it.

Title: Re: Harbor freight
Post by Demin on 03/13/11 at 17:32:08

I've never had any problems with there tools. ;)

Title: Re: Harbor freight
Post by drharveys on 03/13/11 at 18:37:23

Harbor Freight is where you try out a cheap version of a tool you think you need. If the HF tool does the job, super. If you use it enough to wear it out, you know you should invest in a higher quality version.

Title: Re: Harbor freight
Post by Boule’tard on 03/13/11 at 19:48:55

I bought their 4 1/2" angle grinder which I think has the same motor. Someone on here, probably JOG, advised us to pop open the gearbox and put some real grease in it. I did that, and the grinder has not disappointed me at all. It's done the job I bought it for, then several others, and keeps on chugging. When the motor fails, I'll try the replacement brushes, which where included in the $15 sale price :D

Title: Re: Harbor freight
Post by splash07 on 03/15/11 at 08:50:08

I have never bought HF tools. When I need a cheap tool I get craftsman. I have had a craftsman grinder for about 4 years and never had a problem with it.