If you want something that keeps a precision setting and a good edge
(adjustable circle cutter, dado blades come to mind) then don't
bother with HF's junk. My last set of wood clamps I bought from them
didn't even get to clamp the first piece of furniture before they
came apart.

If you need a punch set, engine stand, dolly, jack, that stuff is OK
from HF. Their real bargain is in their air tools for the casual user
(a fraction of the price of sears or home depot) BUT check the
specs... the more expensive tools may use a lot less CFM of air, so
you can get my with a smaller compressor.

Their nailers and staplers are great for the price.

HF air tools only use HF staples and nails.  But if you need a
stapler that works for under $10 bucks on sale, you can't beat it.

I use a HF auto paint gun too, it's pretty good.

I recently spend a lot more on a Craftsman circular sander than on a
cheap HF tool, but it turned out to be from China too. It's a good
tool though. I went to sears ready to shell out over $100 more for a
craftsman inline sander rather than buy the HF version. When I got to
sears I was informed that it was a catalog only item, so I turned
around and went back to harbor freight where they had them in stock.
It works OK.

Jim

On Aug 27, 2006, at 11:15 AM, Rob M wrote:

> I had a poor experience with them on shipping with part of my order
> backordered (double shipping costs), that ended our relationship
> until I moved to a location where they had a store.
> I now have several tools from HF including impact sockets, table
> top 1/2" drill press, and a grinder and have not had a problem with
> them. I generally weight the need and expected use vs. what I have
> to spend.
> As an example; I needed a dado blade for a woodworking project, all
> I could afford was the HF blade. It did the job "ok" and better
> than no dado blade at all, it's done the "ok" job several times
> now. I needed an OBDII code tool, after looking at what HF had I
> saved my coins to get a better one somewhere else.
> With HF tools it always seems to be a gamble but one I win at often
> enough to keep going back.
>
> Rob
> becida@comcast.net
> '87 Vanagon- on the road in northern CA
>  -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: Florian Speier <groups.florian@GMAIL.COM>
>> Hi list,
>>
>>  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?
>