dodgeboy77

And if nothing else, if you are near a HF store, it's fun just to walk around and look at all the stuff. It's like a toy store for big boys.

Bill

wim

I do agree with several comments about the quality of HF products, like the sliding rock filled compound not so smooth sliding saw, but the case with the table saw, which I ordered in the store and had a 20% discount coupon for which made the saw $599. and like I said before it is identical to the Grizzly 1023, so when I get it(it is not a store stocked item) and have it set up, I will know if I got a deal or not, but until than I will enjoy the five hundred bucks I did not spend on the 1023.

dbhost

If that saw matches up to the Grizz 1023 even close in quality or performance, at that price, you got a STEAL. Like I said, about half price. The price tag I had seen on it before was about a grand...

__________________
-- Trying to follow the example of the master...

jcaddyer

I have purchased 3 things at harbor freight. One suction cup for picking up glass that promptly failed destroying glass. One antifreeze tester would suck antifreeze and when you got some up there leaked horribly. 1 car jack that works awesome! Good luck

billw

I bought quite a few tools from HF. The only one I didn't like was their 18.00 screw gun. The battery lasted less than 1/2 hour until it needed charging again. I think I paid 15.00 to much for it. The rest have been reliable tools for an amateur.

Gorp

[ 1 car jack that works awesome! Good luck[/quote]

I have one of these and it has been under water from a flood and still works today.

iamwelty2

It's a love/hate relationship with me... I've had a HF trim nailer for over 10 years and love it... it works better than the any other name brand nailers that I have seen... I also have a HF roofing nailer that went craps after one roof, a HF trim nailer that has been nothing but problems... I've got HF drill bits that work great and stay sharp... several other low to mid price tools have been good to great. BUT... there is no way I'd risk it on a major tool like a table saw. I just bought a Ridgid R4511 table saw from Home Depot. It's a fairly new saw with good reviews. The bad news is it's being discontinued. I was told do to the high shipping cost... the sucker ways 477 pounds!! I got it for $499 and had an additional 10% coupon that I got off the internet. The same saw was being sold for $699 recently. It comes with a lifetime warranty, but I don't know what that means if it is discontinued... The granite top causes me concern as does the fence. It's all in a box on the back of my truck... we'll see.

wow-thats-a-cool-car

harbor freight has some great entry level tools! but what ever power tool you buy get the warranty for sure!! I have several of there grinders or nail guns and a hammer drill and they work fine. that table saw is probably legit!!

wim

I did pick up the table saw from HF on the 5th and start putting it together the next day, first of all this thing is HEAVY, very solid build, with the help of the manuals(HF & Grizzly) I did get the table aligned and the extension pieces on and it is flat, the only problem up 'till now is that the holes in the rail for the fence do not line up with the holes in the table, I have been on the phone with HF Technical Department and it has been a slow going, I did go back to the store and they ordered another fence, which should be in this Wednesday.
The power has been connected and I cut a few pieces with a temp. fence on it and it runs very nice. I need to get some wheels under it, since it behaves like the 800 lbs gorilla, once it sits in a spot , there it is!( the fence is an shopfox and very heavy duty, just the holes in the wrong place)
overal I am still happy with the saw (and a bit more once the fence is on) I did get a 20% discount (coupon) and pick it up from the store, so it still feels that I am ahead of the game.

wim

You did get the saw for a good price, did look at that one too, but the granite top scared me, did not know that it is already off the shelves wonder why.

Colt W. Knight

I own a HF CM 14" bandsaw, a HF CM 6x48 Belt Sander, an 8" grinder/buffer and a HF 1" belt sander. All perform very well. I have made numerous knives, jewelry boxes, and electric guitar using those tools. The bandsaw blades available from harbor freight aren't the best, I had to make a new blad insert for the table from steel, and I am going to be investing in some upgrage bearing guides to improve my resaw capabillities. When I bought the saw it was a mere 150$ where as everyone elses were at least 350$.

Colt W. Knight

I think you have to accept HF for what it is, not what you wish it was. You pretty much have to sort through everything and discern whether or not it will meet your quality needs.

iamwelty2

I've had HF tools that have amazed me in the quality and have far outlasted my expectations.... and I've had HF tools that went belly up after the first use. One air finishing nailer is heavily used and has lasted over 15 years with great service, One air finishing nailer misfires, won't fire, sticks... you name it... has done it since it was new. One roofing nailer quit 3/4 way through one roof...

BUT... I wouldn't risk it on a "feature" tool like the table saw. I just bought the Ridgid R4511 Granite Top Saw. I anticipate it to last for decades... (saw is being discontinued due to shipping weight) it was marked down to $450!! There are still some left in Home Depot's. I'd "invest" in a better tool, better name brand, for less money...

rrbrown

What people don't get is Harbor Freight is made in china just like Grizzley and Shop Fox. I had a Grizzley 1023 lost it in Katrina got the Shop fox version but with 7' rails and it's the same saw and fence just painted different colors and the 7' rails are available on the Grizzley also. I have the Harbor freight 20" production drill press which I got for $300 and its identical to the Shop Fox and almost the same as the Grizzley just a different stop mechanism. So to say the Harbor freight table saw is the same as either one of these is not that far fetched. (I just looked and HF changed the handle on their DP now but Mine looks just like the others, mine is 3 years old now.

That said Shop fox gives a 2 year warranty, Grizzley gives a 1 year warranty but excellent customer service and Harbor freight gives 30 days with a cheap multi year replacement warranty which is a must in my opinion. There is nothing worth getting just a 30 day warranty on it. They are all made in China.

One last thought on this matter almost all single phase electric motors are made in China and the better ones are made in Taiwan. That includes Grizzley, Shop Fox, Harbor Freight, Jet, Delta, Craftsman etc. The same thing goes for the cast Iron tops the better ones are made in Taiwan over China. Your lucky to find a top and blessed if you find a motor made in the US. It's just the way it is regardless of brand.

A note to anyone in Canada, Europe etc although I'm only familiar with whats available here in the US, I'm sure it's a similar situation in your countries also. It's the effect of a global economy.

I forget this is the world wide web sometimes nothing personal guys.

__________________
Semper Fi
Richard

Once A Marine Always A Marine.

Some choose to study history, but Marines choose to create history.

G CLARK

I do use some of the HF tools, however most of them are ideal for the home hobbyist, or weekend warrior, I will never buy any of there band saws, buy for the home hobbyist, its Ok. Need a set of drill bits for a weekend project, no problem, but for everyday use in the shop, no way........ I purchased a hand grinder this week for grinding some angle welds, went out the same day. They did give me the money back ...no problem. Perfect for Grand Dad's bird house shop.