Harbor Freight Angle Grinders
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Harbor Freight Angle Grinders
There are so many to choose from that I figured I would check with the chorus. I have searched the archives, but the stock at HF has changed. This is the most helpful thread i found, and is why i am getting a cheapy.
Which one would/did you choose? I am buying this tomorrow! Talk about an interactive experience...
http://www.harborfreight.com/...taf?Itemnumber=42204
http://www.harborfreight.com/...taf?Itemnumber=93179
http://www.harborfreight.com/....taf?Itemnumber=3150
http://www.harborfreight.com/...taf?Itemnumber=31309
http://www.harborfreight.com/...taf?Itemnumber=46237
Phew!
Thanks in advance, and in retrospect for the collective resourcefulness.
Kelby
I am so lucky to have stumbled upon this swaylocks.
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Re: [falconKB] Harbor Freight Angle Grinders
None of these for two reasons.
First, if you're working on a surfboard you'll need something with variable speed down to around 1000 to 1500 rpm at times. These 10,000 rpm burners will be near useless on a surfboard.
Second, I went the HF route on a Variable Sander/polisher. Bought the better, stronger, lighter, more expensive one. It failed after maybe 10 hrs worth of use. Opened it up and found a burned circuit in the speed controller. I was pissed.
They are way less expensive. Some people get lucky and some are unlucky. Your choice.
I bought a Makita replacement. Super smooth, balanced and powerful. Not cheap though.
Good luck.
- Learning. All the time learning. -
Re: [falconKB] Harbor Freight Angle Grinders
I had a HF angle grinder used for non surfboard purposes. Burned it out in no time. Real junk. If you need an angle grinder, fork out the bucks and get a Millwaukee (sp?). Mine kicks ass. As far as a sander, I just picked up a Porter cable variable speed 6" with the dust kit. Been real happy with it. My experience is $20 power tools are worth $1 and $150 power tools are priceless.
Re: [falconKB] Harbor Freight Angle Grinders
i probably advocated the HF in that other thread.....but i must recommend against it. i was actually one of the lucky few who got a good one. i've been using my $30 HF sander for a couple years now and it's still goin' strong. however, every time i'm ready to use it, i wonder if it's going to start, or burn out before i'm done sanding. you want your tools to be reliable. if cost is a big concern, see what you can't find on CraigsList....there's always some good power tools for cheap on there.
__________
the master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. he hardly knows which is which. he simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. to him he's always doing both.
my mantra and life's goal :: surf the earth ... in search of soul
Re: [soulstice] Harbor Freight Angle Grinders
the 7" HF variable speed sander/polisher w/the big loopy handle is KILLER.
$50 regularly...$30 on sale most of the time.
i bought mine with a 2 year warranty for an additional $10...bring it in and i get a brand new one...who cares if they break.
the HF grinder goes from 300 rpm to 3000, better than most expensive ones...its my grinder of choice over ALL other ones, lighter and quieter too...its really good.
yes, everyone knows harbor freight sucks quality wise, but with the warranty, its a no brainer...get one and try it out at least!
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PCProgress.blogspot.com
Re: [surferguy80] Harbor Freight Angle Grinders
I am thinking this grinder will be used for 3-4 boards a year and ding repair. nothing i want to spend a lot of money on, but i suppose dependability is important. 3-4 days is not a long time to wait for a new one though...
Herb Spitzer said something about regreasing them immediately when you get them, and that seemed to work.
I was more wondering what features were legitimately more useful for sanding the hot coat, and polishing the gloss coat.
I am so lucky to have stumbled upon this swaylocks.
Re: [falconKB] Harbor Freight Angle Grinders
[=Blue]Aloha FalconKB
I just bought a couple of new Milwaukee # 6078, 7" variable speed sander/grinders. $200.00 each. Get the 25' cord. The one it comes with 8' is too short. The cords just plug in with a quick release at the handle. Very nice!
This model is extremly light for 13 amp machines and are variable speed from 0-6,000 rpm. Very much a do it all machine, simply awesome!
These are fairly new models so I don't have a long term experience with them but I have had many Milwaukee's in use for decades, replacing only brushes and triggers till the machines totally died after thousands of boards many years.
I realize that cost is often a huge consideration but if you can scrape it together, Milwaukees are "forever" tools that you will easily get your money back over the long haul.
BB
You never change things by fighting the existing reality.
To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.
Buckminster Fuller, 1895-1983
Re: [falconKB] Harbor Freight Angle Grinders
Like Ryan said a grinder @ 10000+ RPM is pretty useless for sanding boards and ding repair. Useful for fin foiling though............
Have used my HF sander/polisher for at least 25 boards and ding repairs, not a problem, guess I got lucky.
I know that you get what you pay for, but, for a hobbyist its perfect I reckon
AM
Re: [falconKB] Harbor Freight Angle Grinders
The grinders that you listed are all single speed and need to be modified (remove shield). What you want is a sander. I bought a couple of HF variable-speed 7" sanders about 5 years ago (the model is no longer avail), and have used one almost daily without any problems. The backup has never been out of the box. The choice of tool is really based on usage and what you can afford. If you're in a production mode, you want to get the best - something that is very reliable and has a proven reputation for producing good work. Same is true if building boards is something you'll be doing for the next 10 years. For doing a few boards a year or repairs, the HF model 92623-1VGA is OK. I have one and you can sand and polish with it. For $29, you won't find anything retail that is as good, but you'll need to get a collection of power pads and spend more time sanding to get results like a Milwaukee. As Herb Spitzer previously recommended, you should clean out and repack the gearhead with a good grease. I recommend Slick 50 PTFE grease which is available at most auto supply stores. I also have a HF model 90820-1VGA sander; it's only 2 speeds, very heavy, but has a lot of torque. I use this only for polishing. Be advised that backing pads (Power Pad, Ferro) are more than the HF sander itself.
Re: [PeteC] Harbor Freight Angle Grinders
What you really really want is something like this:
Combined rotary action and excentric. Flick the switch...
Rotary:320-660 RPM
Excentric: 3300-6800 Orbits
So for sanding and polishing!
Hook to the shopvac and they sand dustfree....
but they are expensive...
Re: [surfer_dave] Harbor Freight Angle Grinders
I have the 7" HF variable speed sander. The first time I turned it on, it had a horrible wobble & a bad-bearings noise. I took it apart & repacked the bearings with Milwaukee grease. It got better - enough to be useful.
The variable speed buttons are unhappy that they encounter dust (on a sander - go figure). The + button works with about 960 # of pressure and the - not at all. So when I want to go back down in speed, I have to unplug the tool so it resets and then use the + to get back where I want to be.
I went into a HF store (Napa) a few weeks ago. I couldn't force myself to buy anything. Not even sandpaper. Its more depressing than a WalMart or a 3rd world Supertienda. Rack after rack of the cheapest crap you can buy. It made me very sad. Cast iron tools with 1/8" ridges where the casts hadn't matched up. Brand-new power tools that wouldn't spin by hand without bearing noise. Electrical connections with solders that looked like blind 3 year-olds had done them. Beads of weld with no apparent penetration - they'll crack apart the first time you have that cement mixer in the back of your truck & hit a bump. Harsh criticism to be sure, but all true.
Buy one tool, you might get lucky. Read the catalog or the website and you might be tempted. Walk into a store and the cover is blown. I'll not be able to support HF again. Too depressing.
Buy good tools. Your grandchildren will thank you.
Want to buy a slightly used sander? :)
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