[Boatanchors] Re: Boatanchors Digest, Vol 59, Issue 32, HF

Sun Dec 14 15:45:12 EST 2008

I just had to put my $.02 worth in here..... bear with me....

When I lived in Lexington, Ky. there was one of the first Harbor 
Freight stores there. I was working for IBM at that time and a bunch of 
us Engineers / Techs would make a weekly run to the store.
Yep, the stuff is made in China. Remember when the words: "Made in 
Japan" were bad news??? Well don't look now, but the Chinese are 
catching up quick!
Do I like this situation? Heck NO!! But, still you have to give credit 
to the Chinese economy.
I was once a builder of race cars and other hot rods. I needed a MIG 
welder and bought a 160 Amp version from the local HF store. It was 
made in Italy (as many welding products are). It worked superbly. ( I 
have a certification in both MIG and TIG welding). It worked for years. 
One day, while I was building a full chassis, I VASTLY exceeding the 
welder's duty cycle. the unit gave out a puff of smoke. It was the "amp 
setting switch", looked like a 5 pole band switch. I was almost ready 
to chuck it, when I went to HF and gave them the model# of the welder. 
In 2 weeks they had a replacement switch for cheap.
I repaired the welder and it worked 100%. I sold it to a buddy who 
STILL builds trailers, etc. with it.
I went out and bought a Lincoln 250 Amp, Digital MIG welder. It works 
equally as good as the HF unit, except it has a higher duty cycle. due 
to it's 
design.
I have since bought a Milling Machine and a rather big metalworking 
lathe from HF. Yep, they ain't pretty, and you have to disassemble them 
to get all the shipping grease off the precision parts. However, both 
units are dead on. I still build a lot of precision parts and the HF 
tools are as good as they need to be, once you adjust the 'play' out of 
the ways, etc....
I really wanted a Jet Mill, but had a severe case of sticker shock....
One thing I DID notice, was that they (HF) changes vendors. It seemed 
that both my Mill and Lathe came from an exporter that was 'better' 
than the recent offerings.... I love mine and can't imagine trying to 
build anything without them!
All my welding / plasma equipment comes from either Lincoln or Miller. 
Why? Just because those pieces of equipment use a lot of 'consumable' 
parts and they ARE available locally, here.
Just recently, I replaced all the CV joints in my "wench's" (as she 
likes to be called!), Dodge Mini-Van. I was kind of surprised when the 
Advance Auto Parts person brought them out of the stockroom. Yep, right 
there on the box was a big "Made in China", logo. However, right next 
to that was a sticker stating the company complied with ISO 9002. I 
worked for IBM when we went through that strainer, and it was tough!
Anyway, the parts were a work of art and fit perfectly! The WHOLE point 
of this is to state, like the Japanese, the Chinese=2
0are LEARNING and 
their products ARE getting MUCH better!!

Besides, whenever I broke a wrench or screwdriver, the HF place ALWAYS 
gave me a replacement. Yes, I worked part time at the local Sears and 
was shocked to see "Made in China" on all the power tools. I have a 
LARGE Craftsman 'roll-around' full of tools, both Craftsman and HF. I 
almost always use the HF. Why?
Don't know....

ron

N4UE

-----Original Message-----
From: boatanchors-request at mailman.qth.net
To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Sun, 14 Dec 2008 2:36 pm
Subject: Boatanchors Digest, Vol 59, Issue 32

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Today's Topics:

1. Re: Harbor Freight (Jerry K)
2. BA radios and Harbor Freight goodies (John Lawson)
3. Re: BA radios and Harbor Freight goodies (rbethman)
4. Knob and Shaft (Jim Wilhite)
5. TEK 181 time-mark genny for sale (Eric A. Jones)
6. Re: Harbor Freight (Robert Nickels)
7. RE: Harbor Freight (Skip Frolik)
8. Re: Harbor Freight (rbethman)
9. Re: Harbor Freight (Bob Hard
ie- W5UQ)

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2008 10:34:02 -0600
From: Jerry K <w5kp at hughes.net>
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Harbor Freight
Cc: Boatanchors Mail List <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID: <4945357A.1090905 at hughes.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

There's a large place in Oklahoma City that specializes in hand tools
(only) of all kinds, 95% of which are the same grade as carried by HF,
only with about 40 times the selection. The place is huge. But if you
walk the aisles and look carefully, you can find some really good deals
on small stuff. I've found top quality stainless American, German, and
Swiss dental and medical tools such as picks, probes, hemostats, and
clamps of all shapes and sizes, etc. They also carry Klein factory
rejects at great prices, most of which are rejects because of a bad 
spot
on the handle's plastic coating, etc., and not a mechanical problem.
That's how I keep my miniature/circuit board tool box supplied. I like
to schlep around that place every few months, and never fail to find a
few high quality name brand goodies at very low prices. I have never 
had
any problem with any of it, even using it hard. They do sell a lot of
shiny junk, though, so you have to be careful and selective.

Most of my hand tools were collected over the last 50 years. Some of
them belonged to my dad, who was a high pressure=2
0gas pipeline welder by
trade and would not tolerate crappy tools. It's pretty amazing to pick
up and compare his tools with modern versions, especially box/open end
and socket wrenches from Lowes', Home Depot, and Sears. Hand tool
quality has definitely gone sharply downhill, that is unless you can
afford to have the Mac or Snap-On truck drop by every few weeks.
73 Jerry W5KP

Jim Brannigan wrote:
>
> No argument. Like so many things you have to be careful and select a
> tool to fit the project.
>
> I bought a corded hammer-drill for $25. I need a hammer-drill about
> twice a year and am not about to spend $150-200 for a name brand
> drill, but for 25 bucks, I love it. The same with speciality drill
> bits and hole saws, I'm going to use them one or twice and out they 
go.
> They sold a plastic dowling jig for less than $4. This is NOT the
> tool you want to use to build furniture, but for rough work it is
> perfect....
>
> I picked some very good, refurbished name brand tools (Makita,
> Milwaukee) at great prices.
> I could go on......
>
> 73,
> Jim
>
>> Jim,
>>
>> I'd be a "bit" hesitant to even call their products as "Consumer 
Grade".
>>
>> I wouldn't even give my wife one of their screwdrivers.
>>
>> At the same time though, I have picked up the SAE and Metric "T"
>> handled allen wrenches. You just have to remember that they do NOT
>> have the same tool20strength that you would normally expect.
>>
>> Bob - N0DGN
>>
>> Jim Brannigan wrote:
>>>
>>> I am fortunate that there are no Harbor Freight stores on Long 
Island.
>>> This has saved me tons of money and the need to build more storage.
>>> The shipping and handling charges make it uneconomical to mail 
order
>>> the low priced "teasers".
>>>
>>> HF sells homeowner grade, not contractor grade tools.
>>>
>>> Jim
>>
>> --
>> Bob - NØDGN
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
>

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:35:04 -0500 (EST)
From: John Lawson <jpl15 at panix.com>
Subject: [Boatanchors] BA radios and Harbor Freight goodies
To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: <Pine.NEB.4.64.0812141113230.18978 at panix3.panix.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

Several folks have pointed out that Harbor Frieght sells a wide range 
of
'import' tools and hardware - some of it quite serviceable, some of it
utter crap. Some Wise Guy once said "caveat emptor" or words to that
effect. Like Glen and his hammer dril, I have a $39 'sawzall'
reciprocating saw that I use 2 or 3 times a year, and it's perfect for
that role. I doubt it would last a week on a "real" jobsite.

One Harbor Freight 'gem' that I'd like to mention in connection with BA
restoral is this:

I have one of their small bench-top drill presses. I bought one of the

three-foot 'rotary tool extension cables' - basically a large
'speedometer' - type cable, which has a 3/8 flatted shaft on one end 
and a
handpiece and 3-jaw drill chuck on the other. I attach this cable to 
the
drillpress (which is belted for it's highest speed) and chuck up wire
wheels or sanding discs or polishing wheels in the handpiece.

NOW: instead of having to stand in front of a fixed wire brush in a
grinder and try and manipulate small items, I can apply the wire wheel 
to
the work... much like an over-grown Dremel tool. Total cost for the
whole outfit was just about $75 new, and I have used it steadily for 
years
now... of course the drill press gets lots of other use as well,
including the little X-Y slide vise and V-blocks for drilling the odd 
bit
of pipe or shaft - all from HB.

I rebuild, restore, and refurbish small motors for vintage and classic
automobiles - blower, window, seat, and the like. Having the abililty 
to
use a portable wire-wheel with sufficient power to strip the paint and
rust and grunge off a motor shell has saved me countless hours. I 
imagine
the same would apply to BA gear and parts of all kinds.

And yes, I've attacked my poor defenseless knuckles a few times with 
the
rig - ya gotta be a little careful, HIHI!

Cheers and Best of the Season!

John KB6SCO
DM09fg

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Sun, 14 D
ec 2008 11:46:39 -0500
From: rbethman <rbethman at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] BA radios and Harbor Freight goodies
To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: <4945386F.9060306 at comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

John,

I happened to have that particular solution in hand because of another
hobby. I have a Foredom variable speed reversible flex tool with the
cable and different handpieces. It was originally picked up for wood
carving. I also have a big selection of cut-off wheels, carbid grinding
bits, and even some diamond drills.

I got a LOT of bits from my dentist as "cast-offs". They work just fine
for me. They run from 1/16" to 1/4 in cutting diameter. They make
cleaning up holes peachy!

Bob - N0DGN

John Lawson wrote:
> <snip>

> One Harbor Freight 'gem' that I'd like to mention in connection with
> BA restoral is this:
>
> I have one of their small bench-top drill presses. I bought one of
> the three-foot 'rotary tool extension cables' - basically a large
> 'speedometer' - type cable, which has a 3/8 flatted shaft on one end
> and a handpiece and 3-jaw drill chuck on the other. I attach this
> cable to the drillpress (which is belted for it's highest speed) and
> chuck up wire wheels or sanding discs or polishing wheels in the
> handpiece.
>
> NOW: instead of having to stand in front of a fixed wire brush in a
> grinder and try and manipulate small items, I=2
0can apply the wire 
wheel
> to the work... much like an over-grown Dremel tool. Total cost for
> the whole outfit was just about $75 new, and I have used it steadily
> for years now... of course the drill press gets lots of other use as
> well, including the little X-Y slide vise and V-blocks for drilling
> the odd bit of pipe or shaft - all from HB.
>
> I rebuild, restore, and refurbish small motors for vintage and
> classic automobiles - blower, window, seat, and the like. Having the
> abililty to use a portable wire-wheel with sufficient power to strip
> the paint and rust and grunge off a motor shell has saved me 
countless
> hours. I imagine the same would apply to BA gear and parts of all 
kinds.
>
> And yes, I've attacked my poor defenseless knuckles a few times with
> the rig - ya gotta be a little careful, HIHI!
>
>
> Cheers and Best of the Season!
>
>
> John KB6SCO
> DM09fg
> _______________________________________________
>

--
Bob - NØDGN

------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:35:17 -0600
From: "Jim Wilhite" <w5jo at brightok.net>
Subject: [Boatanchors] Knob and Shaft
To: "National Mailing List" <national at mailman.qth.net>, "Boatanchors
Mail List" <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>, "AM Swap List"
<amswap at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID: <5E2D697EDE78402294201480A29EABC7 at JimPC>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original

I need t
he phasing knob and shaft that goes into the crystal filter
of a NC 183D. Does anyone have an extra that I could persuade you
to sell? Some of the HRO 50/60 are the same. This is the black
knob

Jim/W5JO

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:43:21 -0600
From: "Eric A. Jones" <ejones at hiwaay.net>
Subject: [Boatanchors] TEK 181 time-mark genny for sale
To: boatanchors at mailman.qth.net
Message-ID: <B2FE096A-CA06-11DD-854A-0050E420676D at hiwaay.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

de N4TGC Eric A. Jones, 6537 County Road 61, Florence AL 35634
256.764.0675

Emboldened by a detailed review in Rider's monumental "Encyclopedia on
Cathode-Ray Oscilloscopes ..." (1959, second ed.), a 4" thick 9x12
booster seat, which I've been reading for about two years now ...
(thanks, N3RHT Don!!), I fired the subject up ... not much joy, but at
least I didn't release any smoke ...

All the tubes checked as new, but the -150 bias sply voltage is whacko:
it reads -110 volts too high (-265v), so it's no surprise I don't get
meaningful output ...

But the unit's in clean condx, nothing broken (except the bi-pin pilot
lamp's burned out) or smashed up, and it has the heated crystal oven
and an original Tektronix manual with the blue covers.

How's about $50 plus shipping? This "display rack for miniature tubes"
will be a nuisance to ship, as ever' dang tube will have to be pulled
and padded separ
ately!
e

------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:22:04 -0600
From: Robert Nickels <ranickel at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Harbor Freight
To: Jerry K <w5kp at hughes.net>
Cc: Boatanchors Mail List <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID: <49454ECC.6050308 at comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Jerry K wrote:
> There's a large place in Oklahoma City that specializes in hand tools
> (only) of all kinds, 95% of which are the same grade as carried by 
HF,
> only with about 40 times the selection.
I do my share of HF bashing, but like has been said many times, buyer
beware and if it's right for your intended use, go for it. (My 55 pound
HF anvil fits that description perfectly).

Aside from hand tools, it's well worth looking at the HF competitors.
Grizzly is probably the biggest in the machine tool market,
http://www.grizzlyindustrial.com/ - there are others, and there are
whole cults around things like "7x10 mini lathes" who have researched
the differences, know which tools come from which suppliers in Asia,
what the strengths and weaknesses are, etc. If anyone is contemplating
purchase of wood or metalworking machine tools, it's worth the time to
do your homework (Yahoo Groups, etc).

A real popular tool among the home shop machinist gang is the 4" by 6"
horizontal bandsaw, aka "$200 bandsaw", aka "Harbor Freight bandsaw".
They leave a lot to be desired, but can be enhan
ced, and they offer so
much for the money that even pro shops will have one over in a corner.
I'd say the $4 DVMs are in the same category.

73, Bob W9RAN

------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:28:34 -0600
From: "Skip Frolik" <frolik at gulftel.com>
Subject: RE: [Boatanchors] Harbor Freight
To: "'Boatanchors Mail List'" <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID: <006c01c95e19$c6cbd410$0401a8c0 at FROLIK4XP>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

-----Original Message-----
From: boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:boatanchors-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of David Knepper
Sent: Sunday, December 14, 2008 8:58 AM
To: rbethman; Boatanchors Mail List
Cc: jeff; Sandy
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Harbor Freight

Thanks to all of you who were positive and supportive and for those who
whine and moan, just go away. You are probably the same ones that want
Detroit to go down the drain! So there!

David Knepper, W3ST/W3CRA
Editor of the Collins Journal
Collins Radio Association
----------------------------------------
Hmmmm .... too bad you didn't have that
kind of sympathy for all the AMERICAN
tool makers that have closed their doors
do the crappy slave labor imports from
sources such as HF. Oh well .....

------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:41:50 -0500
From: rbethman <rbethman at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Harbor Freight
To: 'Boatanchors Mail List' <boatan
chors at mailman.qth.net>
Cc: Skip Frolik <frolik at gulftel.com>
Message-ID: <4945536E.1060509 at comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

To those that have a belief that this is a phenomena that is
"relatively" new, YOU are VERY MISTAKEN!!!!

Even in the latter half of the '70s, Detroit was buying "off-shore".
About 1/3 of my 1979 Dodge Aspen was imported.

The A/C compressor came from Mitsubishi. My 1974 Ford Pinto engine was
the German Taunus (SP) 2 Liter.

The 1980's Ford aspire was made by Hyundai. Remember the Simca? Circa 
'60s

The whole country has had its collective head in the sand. You play?
YOU PAY!

Now off my soapbox. This direction of discussion DOES NOT BELONG HERE!

Skip Frolik wrote:
>
>
> Thanks to all of you who were positive and supportive and for those 
who
> whine and moan, just go away. You are probably the same ones that 
want
> Detroit to go down the drain! So there!
>
> ----------------------------------------
> Hmmmm .... too bad you didn't have that
> kind of sympathy for all the AMERICAN
> tool makers that have closed their doors
> do the crappy slave labor imports from
> sources such as HF. Oh well .....
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
>

--
Bob - NØDGN

------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:20:50 -0500
From: Bob Hardie- W5UQ <W5EUQ at verizon.NET>
Subject: Re: [Boatan
chors] Harbor Freight
Cc: Boatanchors Mail List <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID: <49453262.4040606 at verizon.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Ditto to Glen's statement.....plus, I've bought several tools for the 
TV
station and they all have done the job. But I was picky.

One story was the Pallet Jack. I needed one to build our two new
transmitters, one in 2002 and one in 2004, plus tear the old one down.

The price for the pallet jack was considerably less than anyone
else's. Got it in 2002 and it's going strong, carried some extremely
heavy loads.

Smaller tools. Most of the time one can tell if the tool is made good
enough to buy for the price... most of the time...at least for me.
Point is, if I make a bad choice, it's okay, I've saved so much
already.... give them one I say.

Bob W5UQ tampa
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End of Boatanchors Digest, Vol 59, Issue 32
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