Tom5151

Can anyone tell me if the Chicago Electric tools Harbor Freight carries are any good?

They are clearancing a sliding compound miter saw for 139 dollars.

I just wondered if Chicago Electric is a decent brand.

Gary Beasley

No disrespect to Harbour Freight but I'd be leary of anything requiring precision construction from thier store. They do have good deals on more robust designs like hammers and anvils....

Terry Beeson

I would say it would be iffy, and as Gary stated, if you are going to use it for more precision work, don't buy it. If you need something to cut 2x4s to length for framing, it might be OK.

I've got a couple of sanders and a heat gun. They do OK for occasional work. I wouldn't use them if I were making my living at it, though.

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djonesax

I have a friend that bought a Chicago Electric Router. He said that the major difference was the jerk on start up. Some routers have a soft start but this one would twist in your hands a bit. I buy lots of stuff there but I steer away from power tools. I have a nail gun that I bought for $20 and have been using it for a few years.

Oscar

I've bought and use(d) lot's of HF tools, equip etc.... . I've had real good luck with their mechanical tools and equip but terrible with anything power and wont buy any of it. I have a freind that also has had problems with their electric tools such as their 4" grinder, metal shear & recip saw. I wont hesitate to buy from them as long as it's not electrical in nature.

johnv51

I have some small stuff, angle drill, chain saw sharpener, etc. For a tool as important to me as a miter saw I'll save up for something better. I got the Makita 10" SCMS and am happy with it..

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BHOFM

Tom;

Check the slide on the one on sale. One of their
saws is not very smooth.
If you get the extended warranty it is safer, but you
can almost get a "good" saw for the amount you will
pay.

Check this:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...3LW&lpage=none

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mdlbldrmatt135

they're not anvils... they're ASO's.... (Anvil Shaped Objects)

Tom5151

Thanks everyone....

I think I am hearing loud and clear to stay away from CE power tools.......

Thanks for the advice,
Tom

BHOFM

Tom;

Look them over and make your own decisions.
I have a grinder from HF that I think is fine.
It was about $30 so if it fails it isn't much of
a loss.

Do you really need the sliding part of the saw?
It takes up a lot of space on the work bench and
how often do you cut 12" boards? I flip them
over and just cut the other side. You have to be
careful to get them lined up, but it can be done.

Most of the time when I do it, it is a shelf that is
going in a dado and a slight imperfection is not
a big deal. Or I rough cut them on the miter saw
and stack them and do the final cut on the table
saw to get them all the same size.

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dbhost

I have seen them in store, and didn't notice anything horrible about them. I never got any impression for anything that looked like it would impact accuracy, but I also haven't seen one in action...

Other Chicago Electric tools seem to work out okay. The sanders and drills seem reasonably popular. There are plenty of folks using the routers, but without a soft start they can be a handful on startup.

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mike65072

I have quite a few HF tools, both power and hand and don't regret buying any of them. For the price you can't beat them and if you do have problems they have always repaired or replaced the defective unit without question. They certainly are not the best quality and I would not consider them to be precision tools, but do the intended job. I have plenty of quailty tools for the jobs I do regularly, but for occasional use, HF tools are just fine.

TheRecklessOne

I once left one of my tool boxes unlocked on the pickup and after a couple days noticed that my hole saw kit (4 bucks), and a air stapler (15 bucks) had been stolen...oh well. If it had been a lenox hole saw kit (80 bucks) and a porter cable brad nailer/stapler (80+) I'd have been extremely agitated. For framing and if you're going to leave it on site. Go for it, but do your homework. I want a 3/8" corded drill...HF has a Chicago Electric on sale for 15 bucks, but its only 3 amp.

It's only job will be drilling pocket holes with my kreg kit, but I'd like a little bigger motor than that DeWalt has a 7.0 amp and Hitachi has a 6.0 amp for 50 bucks. I'm willing to pay that...

Be leary, do your homework, and if all else fails...CRAIGSLIST!!!

good luck KC

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TheRecklessOne

Oh by the way...If you're doing trim or small scale work I prefer a 7 1/4" blade miter saw...less blade vibration, and better cuts...IMHO

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...1194000P?mv=rr

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BHOFM

Ain't 'dat cute!

Good thought though.

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GeorgeC

I do not think you are hearing an absolute "stay away."

I think you are hearing to be very careful about tools that will be used for precision work. For instance the miter saw that you are asking about.

I have a Chicago Electric (CE) 4 1/2" grinder that is fine for what I want it for.

It is extremely difficult to make blanket statements about any brand of tools, whether they are good or bad. I would be leery of taking advise from anyone who tries to make one shoe fit all.

G

bradnailer

I'm surprised you didn't find a bunch of extra HF stuff in there that people had dumped off.

knotscott

HF freight tools in general can be somewhat hit and miss, and the Chicago Electric tools tend to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up more than the others. In fairness, I have two Central Machinery tools from HF...the mortiser and 13" DP and both have been fine...in fact, the 38142 DP has been great.

Be cautious!

TheRecklessOne

Ha! I know right. I wish they would have bradnailer. Atleast then I could have craiglisted it and bought my stuff back.

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Handyman

I have 4- 1 1/4 brad nailers, 2- staple guns, 1- crown stapler, 1- small staple gun, and 2- 2"finish nailers, All are great tools. I have one of their table top scroll saws, Great tool, no complaints. 3- Belt sanders, they are junk. 2- 4" side grinders, they are ok. 2- Hammer drills, They or ok but if the bit bineds up it will come out of your hand. 11- in line sanders, they are now ok after I retimed the gears. Came from factory out of time, they didnt work when I got them. And 1- 1/2 plung router, It is junk at best.

WOW Before you ask 100 questions as to why I have so many, I bought 2 pallets of Harbor Frieght tools from a company that bought all of their returned tools. See when you return a tool to HF, even if it is unopened, they sell them to a reseller. The resellers repair the tools and sell them in tool stores and on places like ebay. For me it was a way to get quite a few tools cheep and sell what I didnt want. I got 70 tools on 2 pallets and sold 2 tools for 70 bucks the first week I had them. I have sold 4- 18 volt drills, 1 3/4 air impact wrench, 1- brad nailer, and 7 sanders. I think I did good.

FYI I didn't list all the tools, Just a few of them.

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