ColinF Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Well I needed a few new bits to replace a couple bent ones in my woodriver set. I looked at reviews and recommendations here and other places and was directed toward these as an economical alternative. I was deceived. I wasn't real impressed with the looks of some of the brad points right out of the box. they weren't all like this, some were fine, a few small ones had no point at all. I figured for $15 if a few were off a little no big deal, so I drilled a couple holes. These were in cherry. Notice the statement "perfectly round, splinter free holes"? I believe I was deceived again So I tried the 3/8" bit again for a rack to spray a project on. It wouldn't even drill into plywood! I also noticed the wings were completely gone. My recommendation, buyer beware. These bits are garbage. I'd rather deal with a bit of wobble in my woodriver bits than these things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Duh.... Harbor Freight!! It's not about the quality "you" get, it's about the money "they" get! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinF Posted June 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Duh.... Harbor Freight!! It's not about the quality "you" get, it's about the money "they" get! I was expecting that. It still hurts a little honestly they do have some stuff that's pretty good. I picked up 4-12" F style clamps for $4 each and they work great. I'll be back to pick up more clamps and return my crappy bits! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Im glad we dont have that crap here in Canada. Thats ridiculous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinF Posted June 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Im glad we dont have that crap here in Canada. Thats ridiculous. to be honest, anybody that has been to a harbor freight usually goes into it know what to expect. The first time can be pretty unnerving, but once you learn to lower your expectations, it's not as bad, but the bits are pretty ridiculous. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Eric. Posted June 1, 2015 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 You can't possibly be surprised. It's all junk. Even when you buy something there totally expecting it to be complete junk...it always seems to exceed your expectations. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 I will have to visit one of these stores next time im in the u.s just for a good chuckle. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted June 1, 2015 Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 The only item at HF I've heard decent things about is the dust collector, even tho it has a motor. I have one local and about the only thing I buy there is shipping blankets. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tpt life Posted June 1, 2015 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Right angle grinder, no bells, no whistles, won't die. Recip saw, few bells, no whistles, won't die. Sorry about the bits. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinF Posted June 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2015 Right angle grinder, no bells, no whistles, won't die. Recip saw, few bells, no whistles, won't die. Sorry about the bits.its ok, except the wife threw the receipt away... Seems like you either get pure junk or the thing just keeps plugging along. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 Any bit can blow out the backside if you don't have something to back it up. Clamp a scrap behind the board and that will solve the problem. But it the bit won't drill into the face that's a whole different problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinF Posted June 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 Any bit can blow out the backside if you don't have something to back it up. Clamp a scrap behind the board and that will solve the problem. But it the bit won't drill into the face that's a whole different problem. I had a backer board on when I did the trial Saturday afternoon, used the drill press, drilled 2 holes, then had to tend to other things. I got back in the shop today and decided to try them out for a little rack for putting dowels in for spraying, it wouldn't drill at all and I was putting some force on it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atlinwi202 Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 I can't stand that place. It's all garbage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 Have to side with Shaffer, it is POSSIBLE to find perfectly servicable tools at a good price from HF. possible not= probable, though. I buy a lot of consumables there, and some clamps and tools. Examine VERY carefully before you check out! But then, I recently had to return my Ridgid spindle / belt sander to big orange, costing yet another week of delivery time, because the first one just hummed when I turned it on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinF Posted June 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 Have to side with Shaffer, it is POSSIBLE to find perfectly servicable tools at a good price from HF. possible not= probable, though. I buy a lot of consumables there, and some clamps and tools. Examine VERY carefully before you check out! But then, I recently had to return my Ridgid spindle / belt sander to big orange, costing yet another week of delivery time, because the first one just hummed when I turned it on. well we all get a lemon from time to time, and the clamps I bought work great, I used them several times today and they were awesome, the dead blow hammer worked as expected. I have read reviews on a lot of things they sell that work good, their lathes, dust collector and things like that all get great reviews, but some of that stuff is sad! I knew I should have put them back on the shelf after I looked them over, but I figured what the heck, I just didn't know I'd only get 2 holes drilled before they gave up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raefco Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 I wonder how many suppliers they put the warrior name on, I have a couple sets of their carbid tip router bits and they work excellent, other than a couple bearing failures I have no complaints at all. I tried to figure out who made them the last time harbor fright bits came up, I have to admit when I bought my last set of brad points I went with a set of rocklers that cost 70 bucks because I opened the box at harbor frieght... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 I took a few years off from shopping there after one of their chain hoists tried to amputate my toes. I finally went back a couple years ago because I was feeling cheap and I needed a die grinder. I also bought a pack of work gloves while I was there. The die grinder worked well for approximately two hours...now I can't turn it on for more than 30 seconds before it's too hot to hold. The first pair of work gloves I used fell apart in literally five minutes. I haven't gone back since and never will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ..Kev Posted June 2, 2015 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 I took a few years off from shopping there after one of their chain hoists tried to amputate my toes. I finally went back a couple years ago because I was feeling cheap and I needed a die grinder. I also bought a pack of work gloves while I was there. The die grinder worked well for approximately two hours...now I can't turn it on for more than 30 seconds before it's too hot to hold. The first pair of work gloves I used fell apart in literally five minutes. I haven't gone back since and never will. Should have used the gloves to hold on to the die grinder 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kohl Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 they keep nitrile gloves at check out, get 2 boxes do an about face, check out and go home. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponderingturtle Posted June 2, 2015 Report Share Posted June 2, 2015 its ok, except the wife threw the receipt away... Seems like you either get pure junk or the thing just keeps plugging along. Makes sense. It isn't that the designs are nessacarily flawed, it is that there is no QC. So it is a total crap shoot as to materials used that particular day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted June 3, 2015 Report Share Posted June 3, 2015 they keep nitrile gloves at check out, get 2 boxes do an about face, check out and go home. The 9 mil nitrile gloves are incredibly tough, I keep a box on hand at all times. Only such gloves I've ever been able to use more than once, as stretching even th XL size over my hands usually results in rupture. Those 9 mils just keep on going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Janello Posted June 3, 2015 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 3, 2015 I feel dirty every time I go in that place. I hide my company truck in the back parking lot and wear dark sunglasses and a hat. I pass one on my way home from work. I've been there about 10 times and walked out empty handed 8. The other two times I threw out what I bought within a week. I usually have something in my hand for about 5 minutes staring at it, before I put it back on the shelf and back away slowly. I've learned to look at the other side of the highway when I pass by now. It's like going past a go-go bar that has bright neon pink signs, but when you get in there the beer is warm and the girls all look like Bruce Jenner. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinF Posted June 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted June 3, 2015 It's like going past a go-go bar that has bright neon pink signs, but when you get in there the beer is warm and the girls all look like Bruce Jenner. that's the quote of the year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted June 4, 2015 Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 Call her Caitlyn! LOL PS...have you ever been to a "go-go bar" that didn't fit that description? I haven't. That's why I don't go to a "go-go bar." 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted June 4, 2015 Report Share Posted June 4, 2015 Call her Caitlyn! LOL PS...have you ever been to a "go-go bar" that didn't fit that description? I haven't. That's why I don't go to a "go-go bar." Hmmm... In the states, I would agree.... Think I'll quit there in case the wife is reading this thread 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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