What's the deal with HF?

Metalworking is kind of a niche market I guess. They should ship it to you for free in the continental US if you have a few weeks (but it's a $169 bandsaw, if that's okay with you). You can order it from their website: Item: 37151-7VGA

Best regards, Spehro Pefhany

Got all that. I'm just amazed that I can't find one locally.

Steve

The one down the street has them. The other one had them, but I haven't looked in a while. When the local store opened they were on sale for $150.

Joel. phx

You sure those are for metal? Never seen anything but woodworking blades at the local Home Depot.

The harbor freight retail stores are some kind of separate operation from the mail order one. The stores do not necessarily carry the same merchandise (though often do), and cannot order items from the catalog. Store personnel say they have little or no connection to the mail order operation, though the common merchandise and trademarks belies this. They have separate mailings and advertising flyers. Pricing is all over the place, with the mail order being cheaper on some items, and the store on others. Each organization sets their own price, and sale items.

Dan Mitchell ==========

What used to be fun was looking through a HF mail flyer and seeing how many times a given item was listed under different stock numbers and different prices but was the exact same item with the exact same description and picture.

They seem to have caught on to that. The last several catalogs may list the same item on different pages, but the stock numbers and prices are the same.

I placed an order for 3 items. 1 arrived in a day or two leading me to think it was shipped locally. The other 2 arrived a week later, one of those items was an "internet only" and not available in stores. Made me how exactly they tackle that free shipping on big items.

Joel. phx

Yup. Says so right on the package. That was the first thing I looked for. They DO have a selection of wood blades, too.

Steve

I got back from HF this morning empty handed after attempting to buy a horizontal bandsaw. I looked at their website. I got the part number for the one I wanted. I called, hoping to get a manager, or at least someone intelligent. I got a cashier who said, "Oh, yes. We have those. They are on sale for $149.99 and I have four". I related the story about being there earlier today, and being told they didn't carry them. She put me on hold, came back and said they had four.

Sooooooooooo, I trucked cross town .................. again ................ and picked one up. Whilst there, I told the intelligent salesgirl to show the other one where they were so that she could help sell them in the future instead of turning customers away. The unintelligent one chirped, "Oh, I know where they are." I clenched my jaw and waited for them to come out of the cavern with my saw. The little male geek put it in the back of the truck. It is now at home. And I have a couple of extra blades. And it is

I bought it so I can start sawing at 5 AM without alienating the neighbors with my obnoxious Makita chop saw. I am looking forward to using it.

Sales people ............................... arrrrgghhhhhhh

Steve

Are you sure you want this piece of crap? Why not look for a used real one? (i.e. an old one with some cast iron in it). I once got a 14" Grizzly used with a bunch of other stuff and it was a total thorn in my side. Eventually I tore it down and totally rebuilt it with a lot of redesign. It worked well after that, but I could have better spent the time and energy. At the same time I was having this headache my friend picked up a Rockwell for $150. Robobass

Thanks, Grant. Some of the things mentioned are really obvious. For starters, I opened the box and took the first two pieces out ........... the "legs". Right then, I said, "Self, the first thing to do is make a decent cart/table for this thing. These legs aren't going to last a week, even on the best of floors." (I am currently working on a dirt floor area.) Now I gotta go to Homer's and get a couple of decent wheels.

The other info and FAQs will help me once I have it fired up and operational. But I can see that this topheavy moose antlered machine is going to need better footing before I even plug it in.

Just what I needed. More projects.................... But I don't mind making better tools and equipment that make life easier. I am anticipating cutting several square tubes at a time quietly now instead of the growling snarling one at a time chop saw thingy. Chuck it up, turn it on, let it go, go do something else, come back when they are done. Gotta be better than the chopper. I used a cold saw a few times, and that is better, but I think I am really going to like this setup.

Once I get it set up, that is.

Again, thanks for the info.

Steve

Why would I knowingly want to buy a problem?

Steve

Steve: I'm building a double opening driveway gate that I'll be installing in Las Vegas mid August. Maybe we can get together and become acquainted? I seem to get up to Vegas a couple of times a year. I've been met and visited with Sunworshiper and am always interested in meeting a fellow metal worker. You up for a visit? I live in Tucson.

Mike

................

Piece of crap???? I'll take a guess that you've never owned one...

I've had mine for about 3 years now and it's the best $129.99 I ever spent. This little saw does everything I ask of it. It might not be as fancy as the expensive units but it will cut the same metal every bit as straight as anything else out there.

Robert

The tinfoil base sucks, but I was out there today using the cutting part to make a base for the new saw. From what I've seen so far, I'm impressed. Not fast, but cuts straight with less slag, sparks, noise, and dust than the old chop saw. Will be finishing up the stand tomorrow, and then on to finishing some wrought iron projects I am on.

I am really interested in seeing what it will do cutting multiple square tubes. Figure it should take a bit, but I can be deburring them and cleaning them while the next bunch is cutting. I will have a bunch of spindles to cut, too, and want to see if I can cut bundles of four or nine

Even if I can choke it down, and it won't cut all I can feed into it, I like this little saw so far.

Steve

Are you sure you're in the right newsgroup? :-)

I must not be. I thought this one was rec.crafts.metalworking and you seem to say it is rec.machinery.rebuilding.

My mistake. Sorry.

Steve