Harbor Freight Gems list updated.

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  • dbhost
    Slow and steady
    • Apr 2008
    • 9209
    • League City, Texas
    • Ryobi BT3100

    Harbor Freight Gems list updated.

    For those of you that are interested.... This gets talked about here, and other places. I have gleaned what I could for this gems list from what I could find on the various forums. I have found most of the gems lists to be BADLY outdated, and have taken items numbers that are no longer available out, and put in the ones that are current that show up well spoken of. So for your reading enjoyment I present to you my version of the Harbor Freight Gems list...

    It might be worth noting that entries that I personally own, and can speak directly for are marked in red

    Item #45378 2HP 30 micron Dust Collector. Seen occasionally in stores, not online any more, replaced by...

    Item #97869 2HP 5 micron Dust Collector.

    Item #32208 14" 4 speed wood cutting band saw.

    Item #24536-0ZZA 6" riser block kit for 14" wood cutting band saw. Telephone order only. 805-388-3000

    Item #34706 12x36" cast iron wood lathe (Jet JWL1236 clone)

    Item #30289 6" Rabbeting Jointer.

    Item #42966 8" Rabbeting Jointer. This is on my short list IF they ever put it on sale... Even so, with the typical 20% off coupon an 8" jointer for $320.00 is a pretty good deal...

    Item #00623 1" Dial Indicator.

    Item #05645 Magnetic Base For Dial Indicator.

    Item #34214 Angle Finder.

    Item #36697 Feather Board.

    Item #36221 9" Drill Press Lock Clamp.

    Item #98303 T Track Hold Down Clamp.

    Item #96210 6" bar clamp.

    Item #96214 12" bar clamp.

    Item #96211 18" bar clamp.

    Item #96213 24" bar clamp.

    Item #96487 36" bar clamp.

    Item #4067 3-Way Edge Clamp.

    Item #31255 ¾" HD Pipe Clamp Set.

    C-Clamps, All Sizes

    Item #03629 7 Piece Forstner Bit Set.

    Item #35837 29 Piece Brad Point Wood Drill Bit Set.

    Item #47257 6" Digital Caliper.

    Item #37861 10 Piece T-Handle Color Coded Hex Key Set SAE.

    Item #37862 10 Piece T-Handle Color Coded Hex Key Set Metric.

    Item #41796 1LB Bright Orange Dead Blow Hammer.

    Item #41797 2LB Bright Orange Dead Blow Hammer.

    Item #41798 2-1/2LB Bright Orange Dead Blow Hammer.

    Item #41799 3LB Bright Orange Dead Blow Hammer.

    Item #41800 4LB Bright Orange Dead Blow Hammer.

    Item #90007 3 Piece SAE Ratcheting Wrench Set.

    Item #90008 3 Piece Metric Ratcheting Wrench Set.

    Item #42304 9 Piece Highly Polished Combination Wrench Set SAE.

    Item #42305 9 Piece Highly Polished Combination Wrench Set Metric.

    Item #00621 Spring Loaded Center Pumch.

    Item #97825 Magnetic Parts Holder.

    Item #42288 Heavy Duty Magnetic Pick-Up Tool.

    Item #46309 18ga brad nailer.

    Item #97524 18ga 2 in 1 Brad Nailer / Stapler. I've seen a couple of folks had bad reviews, but overwhelmingly folks like them.

    Item #93897 50' auto return hose reel.

    Item #46719 HVLP Detail Spray Gun.

    Item #00086 Conventional hi pressure touch up gun.

    Item #00113 High Speed Metal (Body) saw.

    Item #35570 Mortising Machine. (This one is on my shopping list...

    Item #44914 1/4" plastic flush trim router.

    Item #02957 Industrial Rotary Hammer (SDS Hammer Drill).

    Nitrile gloves. (Too many part #s and URLs to list...)

    Item #03577 28 Piece Transfer punch set.

    Item #1210 45 PC. THREADED INSERT RIVETER KIT.

    Item #5889 - Twist drills.

    Item #92956 - 3/8" Close Quarter Drill.

    Item #47840 - Bandsaw, Portable Variable Speed.

    Item #43378 - 16 Speed Floor Drill Press.

    Item #97526-0VGA - 23 ga pin nailer.

    Item #96395 - DRILL PRESS EXTENSION TABLE WITH FENCE.

    Item 98563-0VGA6 Digital Caliper with Storage Case.

    Item #67256 Multifunction Power Tool (Fein Multimaster knockoff).

    Item #46751 Pack of 10 Coarse Grade Aluminum Oxide Sanding Sponges.

    Item #46752 Pack of 10 Medium Grade Aluminum Oxide Sanding Sponges.

    Item #46753 Pack of 10 Fine Grade Aluminum Oxide Sanding Sponges.

    Item #94386 9" Quick Release Woodworking Vise.

    Item #39640 10" Curved Jaw Locking Pliers.

    Item #99640 3-in-1 Flooring Nailer and Stapler.

    Item #97554 15 Gauge Magnesium Air Finishing Nailer.

    Item #98733 10 Gauge 21º Angle Framing Nailer.

    Item #4095 Variable Speed Reciprocating Saw.

    Item #95128 29" Heavy Duty Tool Stand.

    Continued on page 5...
    Last edited by dbhost; 10-01-2009, 01:03 PM.
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  • cabinetman
    Gone but not Forgotten RIP
    • Jun 2006
    • 15218
    • So. Florida
    • Delta

    #2
    That's some list ya got there. Thanks for the research.
    .

    Comment

    • jhart
      Veteran Member
      • Feb 2004
      • 1715
      • Minneapolis, MN, USA.
      • BT3100

      #3
      Had to have taken some time to put that list together. Thanks
      Joe
      "All things are difficult before they are easy"

      Comment

      • pierhogunn2
        Established Member
        • Sep 2009
        • 134

        #4
        can this list be stuck to the top of the board?

        Comment

        • LarryG
          The Full Monte
          • May 2004
          • 6693
          • Off The Back
          • Powermatic PM2000, BT3100-1

          #5
          I would add the various grits and shapes (square edge or beveled) of sanding sponges. They're not quite up to the quality of a 3M or Norton but when one considers that a 10-pack can be bought, on sale, for about the same price as one of the name brand sponges, they are a classic Harbor Freight price vs. performance bargain.
          Larry

          Comment

          • BigguyZ
            Veteran Member
            • Jul 2006
            • 1818
            • Minneapolis, MN
            • Craftsman, older type w/ cast iron top

            #6
            Wow- That's quite the list. I'd agree with most of those. And I have a good number of them too.

            Comment

            • LCHIEN
              Internet Fact Checker
              • Dec 2002
              • 20913
              • Katy, TX, USA.
              • BT3000 vintage 1999

              #7
              "Item #97524 18ga 2 in 1 Brad Nailer / Stapler. I've seen a couple of folks had bad reviews, but overwhelmingly folks like them. "

              as long as you realize its going to leave a staple-sized (length) dent in the wood instead ofa nail-head sized dent when you drive a brad....

              because it uses the same driver for both.

              It's a general failing of the combo stapler/nailer combos rather than a HF shortcoming.
              Loring in Katy, TX USA
              If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
              BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questions

              Comment

              • Eric
                Senior Member
                • Jun 2003
                • 653
                • Cocolalla, ID
                • Grizzly G0691 & BT3100

                #8
                I purchased the 1300 lbs electric hoist and have been very pleased with it.

                Not a normal wood working purchase, but I found it very handy for moving material around in my shop.

                Comment

                • crokett
                  The Full Monte
                  • Jan 2003
                  • 10627
                  • Mebane, NC, USA.
                  • Ryobi BT3000

                  #9
                  I don't see the multi-function tool on that list yet.
                  David

                  The chief cause of failure in this life is giving up what you want most for what you want at the moment.

                  Comment

                  • Photojosh
                    Established Member
                    • Aug 2009
                    • 174
                    • Washington (the state)

                    #10
                    Originally posted by crokett
                    I don't see the multi-function tool on that list yet.
                    +1 to that. At $40 it's a good deal. At $30 with the coupon from "Wood" magazine, it's a great deal.

                    Comment

                    • dbhost
                      Slow and steady
                      • Apr 2008
                      • 9209
                      • League City, Texas
                      • Ryobi BT3100

                      #11
                      Originally posted by LCHIEN
                      "Item #97524 18ga 2 in 1 Brad Nailer / Stapler. I've seen a couple of folks had bad reviews, but overwhelmingly folks like them. "

                      as long as you realize its going to leave a staple-sized (length) dent in the wood instead ofa nail-head sized dent when you drive a brad....

                      because it uses the same driver for both.

                      It's a general failing of the combo stapler/nailer combos rather than a HF shortcoming.
                      Agreed, and you are dead on right. The failing and what folks fuss about that most is a general complaint of combo units, not just the HF unit... Which would seem to indicate that the HF is just as good, or bad as the competitors, and a whole bunch cheaper...
                      Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Please check out and subscribe to my Workshop Blog.

                      Comment

                      • rollo
                        Forum Newbie
                        • Oct 2005
                        • 46
                        • tacoma, wa, USA.

                        #12
                        hmmm

                        I'm gonna disagree with a couple. The 14" WW bandsaw is debatable. By the time I got the BS to where it functions acceptably, i probably could have bought a griz or steel city. Its an OK buy in my book. When you add the time I've spend messing with it, probably a negative.

                        Totally disagree with the 3/4" pipe clamps. Those are junk. If you haven't used a decent pipe clamp with well-machined acme threads, you don't understand how poor the clamping force is on those cast, gummy threads. Would not recommend. Spend the extra few bucks and get nicely machined threads and get significantly more clamping force. Plus the pins that hold the jaws on fall off after about a year, leaving you cursing trying to align the jaw w/the screw. Junk. Mine are going in the garbage in favor of some Jorgensons, and have been the source of many difficulties in large clamp-ups.
                        Last edited by rollo; 09-28-2009, 01:53 PM.
                        -Rollo

                        Comment

                        • dbhost
                          Slow and steady
                          • Apr 2008
                          • 9209
                          • League City, Texas
                          • Ryobi BT3100

                          #13
                          Originally posted by rollo
                          I'm gonna disagree with a couple. The 14" WW bandsaw is debatable. By the time I got the BS to where it functions acceptably, i probably could have bought a griz or steel city. Its an OK buy in my book.

                          Totally disagree with the 3/4" pipe clamps. Those are junk. If you haven't used a decent pipe clamp with well-machined acme threads, you don't understand how poor the clamping force is on those cast, gummy threads. Would not recommend. Spend the extra few bucks and get nicely machined threads and get significantly more clamping force. Plus the pins that hold the jaws on fall off after about a year, leaving you cursing trying to align the jaw w/the screw. Junk.
                          Like anything else, you get some duds in the batch. And there are always folks unhappy with one product or another. Rolls Royce has plenty of detractors in the automotive world... Not saying that HF tools are equivalent to RR, and I hope you get the point...

                          My list si anything but scientific, but rather a general casual consensus on how owners of specific HF products like their stuff...

                          I am not sure what you did to your HF band saw, but buying new to new there is no way I could have touched a Grizzly or Steel City with all the features I have in my HF bandsaw for anywhere close dollars wise... Neither the Steel City or Grizzly come with the riser block, or upgraded blades, or.. Well you get the idea...

                          I personally have had a completely different experience with the pipe clamps than you have. I somewhat wonder if you are talking about the same model pipe clamps... The ones I have are not cast, but rather machine threaded....
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                          Comment

                          • pelligrini
                            Veteran Member
                            • Apr 2007
                            • 4217
                            • Fort Worth, TX
                            • Craftsman 21829

                            #14
                            The 3/4" pipe clamps listed aren't too bad #31255. The cam type pipe clamps I've bought from HF are pretty miserable. I've been slowly swapping them with some Bessy's.
                            Erik

                            Comment

                            • Mr__Bill
                              Veteran Member
                              • May 2007
                              • 2096
                              • Tacoma, WA
                              • BT3000

                              #15
                              Originally posted by pelligrini
                              The 3/4" pipe clamps listed aren't too bad #31255. The cam type pipe clamps I've bought from HF are pretty miserable. I've been slowly swapping them with some Bessy's.
                              I have found most all the HF pipe clamps to be of good value, even the cam type clamps, assuming you mean the 3813. I have several in 1/2" for me the ease of adjusting out way the pain of slippage, but I can understand how the slippage would bother people.

                              In the 3/4" pipe clamps I prefer the 94053, for me the feet are well worth the extra $5 or so. I only wish I had figured this out before I had bought the others.

                              Last time I was in HF they had the 36" Aluminum Bar Clamp on sale and I am now the owner of a dozen of them. I had thought that 36" was about as long as practical in formed aluminum but after using these I may pick up two of the longer ones next trip.

                              Anyone use the 92490 Aluminum F-Style Bar Clamp?

                              Bill

                              Comment

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