Hi,
   I have purchased a few things mail order from HF, and now since they
have opened some stores around the Chicago area, I have bought a lot more.
My most recent buy was a 12 ton press which worked quite well in
replacing a wheel bearing on a Sub*ru.  I have their rot* zip type of
tool and was using it yesterday as a giant dr*mel or poor man's die
grinder.  Other significant HF objects in my garage include a 1/2" drill
press, a 4" right angle grinder, and a 1/2" drive electric impact
wrench, all of which continue to perform well.  I recently got their
MIG/FC wire welder, but haven't had the time to use it much yet.
  I have always been a little skeptical about the quality of their
stuff, but often have been pleasantly surprised.  Compared to average
quality U.S. made tools, on the average IMHO, HF gives you about 2/3 the
quality at about 1/3 the price.  Maybe it seems unpatriotic, but the
economics convinces me.  Maybe not much different than buying foreign
cars... :-)

Larry A.

George Carlin: "Stick around, China's gonna win it all."

Florian Speier wrote:

> Hi list,
>
> since I recently moved full-time to the U.S. and now ahve a home here,
> I am
> equipping my garage/shop. Since I am kind of on a budget at the
> moment, its
> not gonna be Dewalt tools:-(  Question: has anyone used harbor freights
> lineup of Chicago Power tools (angle grinder, jigsaw, sander and the
> like)?
> Do they hold up a while, handle OK and are safe? (I recently  bought a
> socket set of cheap tools on the road from the flaps, and the first
> socket
> shattered in pieces on the first use, so I am a little cautious).
>
> thanks for the input before I buy a bunch of them.
>
> flo
>