Mike - - - you're spot-on when it comes to saving some cash & the usefulness of the HF tools. Just got the caliper set last month, the ruler has been so helpful translating DECIMALS to INCHES !!! this video is great . In fact ALL the ones you produced has been an abundance of knowledge on helping me with the lathe. THANK U .... Thank U .....Thank YOU.
i know im randomly asking but does any of you know a tool to get back into an instagram account? I stupidly forgot the password. I would love any assistance you can offer me.
@Jasiah Maverick I really appreciate your reply. I found the site thru google and Im trying it out atm. Seems to take a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
The consensus of several of us in our woodturning club is that their electric chain saw chain sharpener is a product of satisfactory quality for the price. Bought mine for $25 on sale. Once you look up the YT videos on how to use it effectively it works. Does a very decent job of sharpening your chain much faster than by hand. And it does so in a consistent manner tooth by tooth.
I USE A HABOR FRIGHT LATHE FOR 30 YEARS GOT GRATE USE OUT OF IT ITS TOUGH IT HAS BEEN THROUGH A FIRE AND A TARNADO. I USE IT ALMOST EVERY DAY.IT IS THE RIGHT HIGHT FOR SOME ONE THATS SHORT.
A month ago, HF was having their 'parking lot sale'. I'd been eyeing their 12" sliding compound miter saw for a while. The usual sale price is around $135; BUT they had one in a damaged box with a price tag of $100. I looked inside and couldn't see anything obvious wrong with it. I countered with $70 and the manager said "Yes". There's absolutely nothing wrong with it after several uses. Works like a champ. Thanks for sharing!
my mom bought a 'damaged' miter saw from harbor freight. When we got it home I started to troubleshoot to see why it was returned. Well, it was quite simple: the previous owner had put the blade in backwards (obviously from the way the blade was STILL in the saw!), and I assume they brought it back because it wasn't cutting nice. so, their stupidity saved us a good bit of money
One great use for the cheaper turning tool set is learning how to sharpen. When I got my first tools as a gift they were nice Sorby tools and I had never sharpened turning tools before.....so I picked up a set with a coupon and practiced until I was comfortable grinding an $80 tool. Now I just repurpose them as needed. The scrapers can be made into a nice box scraper.
Agree with all, HF is fine if you know what you are buying. I did get a box of 50 1" brushes for $9 and they are great for gluing or finsihing where synthetic brushes are fine. BTW love the channel - keep 'em coming...
I personally love my Harbor Freight lathe - model 34706. 12" swing and a bit over 33" in distance between centers. It's a bit under-powered (3/4HP motor) for some projects but for a person who wants to try out woodturning, it's ideal. After I upgrade, it will be a nice backup and a dedicated sanding/buffing station. I also hear their dust collection is another HF gem.
That was my first lathe & I remember it being fine. Only problem areas were the drive belt being made out of something about as strong as a gummy worm and the Reeves drive would need maintenance every year or so to clean out the gunk.
l have been learning on my hf lathe for about a year now. Works fine. Picked up the cheap set of tools at the same time. Tried them once and put them in a drawer. Then I ordered a couple of Benjamins best tools. Much better!
I loves my Harbor Freight. I just bought the 10x18 lathe and I LOVE it. I also bought a set of Craftsman turning tools off EBAY before I received my lathe. My wife talked me into buying the cheap set of Harbor freight turning tolls. Actually, I like the Harbor Freight tolls better than I do the Craftsman.
To be honest, my first mini lathe was a harbor freight. I abused that poor little lathe for years before I worked up to something bigger. It cost me 70 bucks after my 20% off. It had variable PWM control and over current protection. It is 10 years old and I have passed it to my son for pen turning. Like you say, if you know what you are going into, you can do well. Great idea on the strap wrenches. A couple of those keeps a lot of stress off the lathe head. Also bought the upright 2hp dust collector. I get better bags and filters at Grizzly but it has lasted me for years so far.
DIY Beall Buffing system can be had for ~$15 - get the 3 pack of buffing wheels and mount them to large bolts; chuck them up in the lathe and you have pretty much the same thing. Bowl buff is like $3 or something crazy cheap like that...
I also have a membership at Harbor Freight. I do enjoy their merchandise. I'm with you about the useless turning tools! Thank you for posting this! I will continue to share your wisdom with others!
Fantastic video good sir! My first lathe I'm now using is their 10 in. x 18 in, for which I've subsequently upgraded with the Rockler bed extension for $75, so now have a nice long distance between center wood lathe. Many thanks for your outstanding work here!
I have the HF 10'' and 12' lathes and the are great ...never had a problem on the 12' i have turned 14 ' bowls no problem ,because it has a swivel head
A couple of things I find useful at HF are the Twist Loc holder with 2" & 3" Twist Loc sanding disks. The only problem with them is they don't get any finer than 100 grit. They also have other rotary saw blades and grinders. I also bought the 4 In. X 36 In. Belt/6 In. Disc Sander (the belts HF sells are not good so I had to go elsewhere to get good belts to 400 grit) I reversed the direction of the belt so it works as a tool sharpening station like Sorby's ProEdge. Another item I use occasionally is the Quick Change Sanding Drum Set. With this in a drill press I can sand rounded profiles on some of my turnings.
I love Harbor Freight. One more tip: Keep the coupons in your truck so when you stop by on a whim you have coupons with you. The HOA my lake house is at has a raffle once a year. All year long I try to save the free flashlights, VOMs, batteries and everything else. Then stick them in a couple of 5 gallon Home Depot buckets and donate to the raffle. That is very popular at the raffle. I'm currently thinking about getting the HF lathe.
A lot of great suggestions, Mike. My all-time HF favorites are: - flush cut saw - 6" dial caliper (no battery required) - remote power switch for the dust collector - 18" bar magnet for attaching small tools to the lathe - T handle hex keys - 8 oz stubby claw hammer - HVLP spray gun #47016 - creates a great finish with polycrylic - $15 regular price, $10 on sale
Ed Hekman I have to second the 18" magnet bar, I have them in the shop and kitchen. The one in the kitchen holds my most used knives at arms length for easy access during meal prep.
when I first got started in woodturning, I purchased the set of tools with the purple handles. I actually really like the 1/2inch skew and re-purposed one tool into a negative rake scraper. I'm on my second HF angle drill. I went for the keyless version but find it doesn't always hold like the keyed version. I've also picked up a few pneumatic tools and they work fine.
One of the biggest item HF has is a wood lathe. I've seen other peoples videos and they seem decent. I got a combo disc/belt sander from them. Not bad. I have a heat gun. I wouldn't use it on finish unless you want to remove the finish. The caliper set of course. Several different clamps. I don't like the ones with the squeeze grip because they don't get tight enough for glue ups.
Very informative! Thank you, I’m trying to gather tools to start turning myself. Good info for someone like myself that doesn’t have much money, but wants to learn
Oh my gosh Mike, I have about 95% of your Harbor Freight tools. I absolutely agree your input of Harbor Freight tools you have stated. Some of the tools will work in a pinch. I have upgraded up to Benjamin Best tools. Thank you for posting.
I have (2) of the HF Jet lathe knockoffs, I use one lathe as a spare parts machine to keep the main machine in operation when there is a problem while waiting for spare parts when I need to replace any components. I abuse the hell out of this machine and run it for hours on end turning big and small pieces. This is a great bargain for anyone getting into wood turning, with the rotating head stock you can turn large pieces outboard. You need to clean the reeves drives on a routine basis on these style lathes to keep the adjustable speed operational. Most of the parts for this machine are readily available and reasonably priced. The parts that I have replaced over the years have been on/off switch, reeves drive, belt, tail stock hand wheel, adjusting lever for banjo steady rest and the drive motor. I have over 6000 hours of run time on this machine which is great for a $300.00 lathe.
Great feedback on that lathe. I am so happy to have been able to quickly move from a Jet mini with a bed extension to a PM3520. But not everyone has the spare cash so knowing the value of bargain options is good.
I have a HF wood lathe with metal leg stand. when i have used the Lathe with a large stock , the whole lathe will vibrate . Now i have used the Lathe with smaller stock and will work fine with little vibration. what would the better means of securing the lathe to the cement floor , can you suggest a couple of ideas?
It is generally not a good idea to bolt the lathe to the floor. If the vibration gets too bad, something has to give. If the legs can move, something could brak. Better to add cross pieces to the leg, a plywood sheet and some ballast like a sack of sand. Sheet metal legs are the price you have to pay for an inexpensive starter lathe like that one or the virtually identical Jet it was cloned from.
I have the 12x33 Jet knock off lathe and it's been pretty decent for 4 years so far. The tools, I have both sets and they work if you custom sharpen them but you gotta resharpen really often. The light colored ones are also light weight fwiw.I'm buying replacements one tool at a time and getting Sorby and Thompson as I go. I have a G3 chuck not HF.
driver bits(long and short) for jigs such as sanding pads for the right angle drill you showed.I use the turning tools to practice sharpening and test new profiles. I have found the continental gouges useful once I started treating them as 'curved skews', meaning I sharpen and use them in a manner similar to the way a skew is used. I find them much easier than a real skew, though not quite as versitile.
I started out with the h.f. mini lathe can't ask for a better way to start turning. I think I paid 80 bucks with the coupon now I'm makeing pens for everybody had it for about a year I really like turning so I will be investing in an upgraded lathe now that I kinda know what it's all about. Also I've learned a lot about turning from your channel ! thanks😊
One tool I find very useful is their digital calipers. They are a third the price of similar ones at home depot, and the only problem I have found is the battery doesn't last very long. I also got one of those cloth type belts for my bandsaw, and it seems to work pretty well. I've been using over a year so far with no issues. I completely agree about the diamond plates. Mine wore out after about 3 sharpenings :D:
HF lathe tools are best for learning how to sharpen gouges and such - learn for a low investment - The saw is a good tool that gets loose in the handle
When Covid hit I had more time in my shop and decided to get a lathe, just to see if it was something I wanted to do. I got the Central Machinery full sized lathe on sale. It won't do a lot, but it is impressive what it will do for the price. The light weight is my main complaint... Of course, now I'm addicted and looking for a better lathe that has variable speed (without changing belts), long bed, and rotational head stock and more horse power. Oh yes, and is affordable. :)
Affordable varies with individuals so not sure what your budget is. Most lathes sold in the US do not have a rotational head. You might want to watch this video ruclips.net/video/s0YDgte_C7Q/видео.html
@@MikePeaceWoodturning The Harbor lathe does have a rotational head stock. I put it on wheels, because everything in my shop is on wheels. My main complaints about it are: Light weight means if anything is out of balance I chase it around my shop. The headstock rotates, but will not lock securely in place. When something is out of balance, the headstock vibrates out of alignment. The banjo is not standard size, which means it is hard to find tool rests that will fit it. I've been working my way through my firewood pile with this cheap ($400) lathe for about six months. Covid gave me the excuse to spend more time in my shop. I'm 'feeling the need for something more substantial, but dang, its a big leap from $400 to $7000. Your videos are helping me sort the priorities.
Considering my sharpening station is a 80$ 1x30 HF belt grinder and I get absolutely bonkers sharp tools of 600grit belt in one touch, yeah, HF does the job. And low quality steel seems to be just the ticket to get a specialty tool on the cheap. I have an ancient/vintage Buck Bros parting tool I reground into angled parting tool to make tenons. Found it in an antique store for 10$
I agree, Mike, there are a fair number of HF tools worth the money. Even some of their larger tools are worth the money. I bought their 14" bandsaw over ten years ago on sale for under $200. I added a $50 riser kit and Carter guides bringing my cost up to just under $350 and I wouldn't sell it for $1200 today. I also use their DC paired with an Oneida Super Dust Deputy. Pulls 99+% of the fine dust from my drum and oscillating sanders and even my table saw that wasn't designed with dust collection in mind. However, for those looking for courdless power tools, I've found most of HF's cordless products to be nothing but a waste of money. Thanks! Billy B.
Don Lyons, I second that!!! I am a female who is very much a rookie at turning and I have learned a lot from Mike and other great turners on RUclips!!! Ya'll guys are FANTASTIC!!! Thank you Mike, and stay safe!!!
Another good tool for learning turning is Facebook! Look up the closed Pen Turning group, and Woodturning Connection. Both are great groups where you will find a lot of ppl willing to help!
Thanks Mike I have Harbor Freight’s 10 in. x 18 in. 5 Speed 1/2 HP Benchtop Wood Lathe it’s great for smaller stuff I have no problems with it if I want to take it somewhere it’s easy to take and will do a great job for anyone
Nice video Mike. Several years ago I purchased their 14" woodworking bandsaw. It went together well per instructions and the fit and finish was really perfect! I also purchased their 6" Riser kit for it and can easily resaw 12" thick stock with a 3rd party 2-3 tooth blade. Firewood now becomes perfect slabs, planks of various thicknesses for making bowls, handles, boxes, vases or whatever the woodturner might enjoy. Great bandsaw at a great price! Good store but shop with some common sense.
I bought the magnet bowl and have it on my accessories tray and it keeps my chuck keys from going adrift. And set it on my bed tray , when changing chuck jaws so the screws dont get lost I turned a handle to fit the spring center punch and it is more comfortable to use and less likely to roll off bench I have bougjt the heavy gauge nalgene gloves in the past , but have found then also in the Sams club pharmacy goods I also have one of their 3 inch angle grinders and the corded keyed angle drills I also bought the stand for their lathe to put ,y vintage Delta lathe on. Drawback is that it is stamped sheet steel and ligjt weight
The "ash blonde" turning tool set (8 tools) was around 18 dollars at my local Harbor Freight ... The dark Mahogany looking set is the 65 dollar set. I bought 2 sets of the cheaper tools so that I could use alternative grinds and make my own specialty tools, as you did. I found that only the last few inches of the tools are hardened steel, so if you grind them past that point, they generally get useless... which is fine, considering their cost. I also made my own cheap carbide tipped tools that I use for the majority of my turning, these days, and they are easy to keep sharp with a diamond card sharpener. It's also a great idea to mention Harbor Freight's brands of sandpaper... They are decent quality, possibly up there with 3M's products, as they are pretty much disposable after a use or two, and they sell 10-packs of full sheets for cheap, as well as multipacks of higher grit papers at the same price, going all the way up to 1200 grit. (around 3.99 per pack, I think). A final mention on another tool .... Cheap lathe turning tools need sharpening quite a bit, which you mentioned. Before long, a wood turner is going to want to turn a set of sanding drums and cover them with a variety of grits of paper, going up to high grit, for polishing the bevels and edges of their tools. But until they get to that point, the 1x30 belt sander is a cheap 40 dollar investment that will help with many little projects and with maintaining those lathe tools with a usable edge. When using the sander to grind your chisels ... keep a jar or bucket of cold salt-water nearby (salt in the water gives it a higher density and higher boiling point, to cool the metal faster ... wipe the tool off and completely dry it before putting it away or IT WILL RUST). Cool the tool off in the water the instant you see it even start to change colors, or you will ruin the tempering of the steel. With those small chisels, it will heat up past that temper point extremely fast, and that's bad. This is possibly why you think that the steel in those small gouges wasn't properly heat treated. You CAN take a blow-torch to them and re-harden them, and then gently temper them to a light straw or golden straw color so that they don't just snap off on you when you try to use them, but it's probably best not to ruin their temper in the first place with over-heating them. I've found my 3/8ths gouges to be some of the best I've got for fine turning on my pens and keychains. The lathe I use is the 8x12 Mini Wood Lathe from Harbor Freight. I've found that putting a 6-inch clamp across the ways behind the tailstock helps tremendously to keep the tailstock from walking off from my work, but beyond that it's handled everything I've tried doing with it, including turning aluminum, brass, soapstone, alabaster, various hard and soft woods with stone and metal inlays, and every acrylic I've thrown at it. Carbide tipped tools are awesome for the really hard stuff!
Really liked the video and loved the comment about Shop Fairies. I have a couple of those, in fact I am trying to turn doll bed posts, that is why I was watching the video. They are a joy. Thanks for the video!
Might work for some and a good choice for huge bowls. But for me, 1/4 is just too big and I would not choose an Oland tool over a bowl gouge for the 15" and smaller bowls I turn. I have no problem in anyone using a tool or technique that works for them.
Hi Mike, Great video and very informative about what's good and not so good at HF. Great place to shop as long as you're not looking for top quality items. Thanks,,, Tom
Hi Mike and thanks for your videos. I started with the HF 10" wood lathe & a cheap set of Windsor tools. Neither lasted very long. The tools were upgraded to Sorby fast when they went on sale at Craft Supplies (20% off, I loaded up!). The skew is ok, the spindle roughing gouge actually works pretty good with frequent sharpening, and the rest are garbage. The lathe was $160 with the 20% off coupon but I noticed the price went up $20. It was fine for pens and shaving brushes but after 3 small bowls the spindle bearing started going & everything ended up slightly out of round, a big problem with pens. It was only 4 or 5 months old. If it's just used for small spindles it's ok, but if you're a beginner that wants to turns small bowls I say save your money for a Rikon 12" VS or something similar like a Nova. The HF is now a buffing station with 4" wheels. All in all The lathe & tools were about $200 which I could've used for Sorby tools or a decent chunk of my Rikon. Then again, I wouldn't have that dedicated buffing station... Honestly I can't recommend either. A decent lathe is the core of one's woodturning. Even though it was cheap and still serves a purpose, the money would have been better spent on something of higher quality. The Rikon isn't much of a lathe compared to a full size, but with reverse and VS I felt like I stepped up from a Yugo to a Porsche.
No perfect answer for everyone. I know some folks who turn so little, maybe a cheap lathe is an answer. Some folks are so strapped for $$ that a cheap lathe is all they can afford and can make do. I decided to make a big plunge from a used Jet 10x14 and I love my Powermatic 3520. Glad I did not choose a lesser lathe that might have met my needs but left me wishing I had gone all of the way. Ten years later I could sell my PM for what I paid new.
my table saw is from HF and has been going strong for about 8 years. my 12" single bevel chop saw has been serving me for about 9 years, I have had no luck at all with any of their drills, but the 3 cuft concrete mixer works well for the homeowner/hobbyist it doesn't really hold 3cuft while mixing and will slosh out, but you can easily mix 2cuft with no problem, their large wood lathe is quite affordable at under $300 with 20% coupon for the beginner turner (not good for off center/unbalanced turning as it's bottom rated speed is 600rpm (more like 645-670 actual), their earthquake impact guns are right up there with Snap-on in quality and longevity. I just had to replace my recip-saw after 6 years on the old $39 dollar one. their face mask is cheaply built, but better than none. I have laid miles of welds with the 90amp wire feed welder over the last 12 years and it is still going strong. Just as with the "name brand" tools you will find the occational "bad-egg", but for the guy on a budget it is much easier to get the tool you need and save up for a better one if you find it lacking or you use it more than expected at the time of purchase. Pretty much all tools, and everything else, these days are disposable. I would rather throw away a cheaper tool than an expensive one when both have basically near the same life expectancy. Great video. BTW, I have several of those magnetic parts bowls (also often on the free list) and they are a headache saver from dropped parts or bumped/knocked off non-magnetic bowls.
Great video on HF tools, I've been sick for a long time and started turning in the last 2 years. I wouldn't be turning if it weren't for HF. Started with a HF 12x33 lathe and the first set of tools you mentioned. First projects were kind of comical, trying to make something with unsharpened Chinese tools ....really didn't know much better when it came to tools and sharpening. I think I was using the roughing gouges as bowl gouges :) Those things took a beating, never broke though and still use them. Although I quickly found out what a "catch" was and appropriately nicknamed myself "Catch". You are right, regarding that 1/4" gouge, not sure what it was but to this day it doesn't matter how you sharpen it, it doesn't cut. Thanks for all you do Mikey!
Not specific to turning, but the blue bar clamps are an unbeatable bargain at ~$3 (less 20% & free flashlight/screwdriver/parts tray/whatever) for a 6" clamp is just ridiculous. I own probably 40 of various lengths and have had two handles spin on me; lifetime guarantee and they swap it out no problem.
I have the "improved" HF "Windsor Design" set #61794. The tools are said to be "pre-honed", and they do seem to be sharper than the basic set. However, now that I look closer after your observations, I see the same problems with non-symmetrical edges. The box is not much better than cardboard. Maybe good to practice with before buying a high-quality set...
How sharp tools are out of the box is not important, IMHO, given that they will soon need sharpening, often to a new bevel angle. Clearly no HF tool is honed before being sold.
Good video, Mike! I've got one of those orange right-angle Chicago Elect ic drills, which I think I got from HF. There's an HF retail store around here, isn't there? Up in Gainesville maybe?
My biggest upset, as a long time customer, is that as they bring out new "names" those are all excluded from the 20% or 25% coupons. Used to be just a few exclusions, now almost half the store is excluded. Another sort of disapointment is that you cant put risers on their "large" lathe to let it cut bigger stock. The head does swivel and the tool rest does come with an extension, but if you're turning much more than a 12 inch diameter, the tool still won't reach inside a bowl. Do you have any videos on building a "freestanding" tool rest for outboard turning?
Bummer about the coupons. I remember a customer in front of me having that problem buying a big piece of equipments. I never had a need for a freestanding rest. They need to be heavy. Powermatic sells theirs for $500 and it has three legs and weighs 137 lb. Not something for the faint of heart to make or use.
I was glad to see the magnetic parts dish - I've got a couple of them. They are sometimes available as the free item also. Another really useful tool is the extension magnetic pickup tool and mirror. I get quite a bit of mileage out of those and again, I think it was a set I got as the free item. It's been said a lot, but I'll say it again, HF is OK, but you had better go in with low expectations!
Instead of the dust pan I use their ice shovel. It has a short handle and you don't have to stoop over as much to use it. It's wide and hold a lot more debris than the dust pan.
I get packages of micro-fiber cloths free with a purchase. These are helpful for cleaning dust off everything from turnings to my face shield. Bags of shop rags are great to have around - though they come with a strange sizing that affects their absorbency, so I run them through the washing machine when I bring them home. The HF digital calipers are far less expensive than other options and work great for the accuracies attainable with wood.
The only issue with HF digital calipers is that they seem to go through batteries very rapidly. The microfiber cloths are also handy if you use wiping finishes that have to be rubbed down after application.
I have not had problems with caliper batteries. And I bought a pack of 10 or 20 for maybe a couple of bucks and have actually given away batteries to friends with similar calipers.
The HF angle grinders are great for bowl carving. At $10 each on sale, It's not worth the time to change wheels. I have one with a Lancelot chain saw cutter, another with an extra coarse carbide nugget curved steel wheel, and one with a flap sanding wheel.
In my opinion, Harbor Freight is DECENT, (not great) to get you started and see if woodturning is something you will enjoy. I started on their now discontinued 8x12 mini lathe. Only considered it because it was on clearance for $60. Bearings wore out rather quickly without a ton of use. Considered buying the 10x18 but ultimately bought the Laguna Revo 1216. I will admit the screw clamps are a gem. I consider all of their other tools as one time use disposables.
I bought their 4" x 36" belt sander and had to return it. The design was terrible and the flimsy sheet metal made it nearly useless. Installing and changing the belts required some disassembly, unlike my Ryobi which uses a simple lever and is front-loaded, not rear. The height adjustment wasn't aligned right and I'd have needed to redesign or re-weld it to make it work. If you're looking for a REALLY CHEAP (inexpensive) belt sander, give it a go, but for long term use and for changing grits, well, they gave me a refund and THAT was very satisfactory for me. Good luck!
Before I retired I had been working in Europe where we bought a large Bernese Mtn. dog. The only way to get the large cage to Montana was via Denver or Seattle and rent a car. Denver was a no brainer since there were 3 HF stores en-route and non between Seattle. Since I had sold most of my tools before leaving the states we made the most of this trip and stocked up big time on the way home. Two items of particular value were the 20' pillar drill reduced to $425 and the 12' cut off saw reduced to $125. Both are sterling performers and I use them for all sorts of projects including lathe work. Also really good are the packets of 1/2' glue brushes which I use all the time . I have stopped my subscription to the inside club because I now only by specific items or replace supply items. As Far as lathe tools go I resisted buying a set at HF and bought individual quality tools as need from D-way tools .
Sometimes the japanese flush cut saw is a 'Topman' brand - much better quality than others. Also, nitrile gloves are not necessarily the best protection - for some solvents vinyl gloves are better and cheaper. If you have ever used a handplane to smooth and taper a cylinder spindle (try it!), then the 'Windsor 33' handplane can be hit or miss - I got one that works very well, but the on the second one, the adjustment screws are a little bit misaligned and so it doesn't hold a setting as well.
Quick question for Woodworkers out there, would the Lathe tools work if you hardened them (may have already been hardened for all I know). I am asking because I seriously do not know, ok?
Unless you are a metalurgist with industrial heat treating equipment, you can not harden HSS tool steel used in modern wt chisels. Even then, unless not heat treated properly, it is unlikely you could make harder than when you get them.
Here is some advice from a bladesmith. Take the wood turning tools and heat about 2 inches of the end to the point where the steel is no longer magnetic. Quench in cooking oil. If a file will slide over the steel without biting you have hardened steel. If the file bites repeat process but this time quench in water.Check with file again. Clean the tool by sanding. Heat the steel from the center of the tool until you see a yellow or pale brown color on the cutting end. Immediately quench again. This is the most simple hardening and tempering process I know. Since the tools are imports is is doubtful any more stringent measure will be needed. If any of the cutting tools are stainless forget it. They were broke when you bought them.
@@MikePeaceWoodturning I think you need oxy acetylene, or at least oxy propane or oxy map gas to get 2000 degrees. If I remember correctly from when I was working as a Refrigeration Mechanic (retired 2006) I could not use a propane torch for silver solder, silfoss, or brazing. the only thing propane was good for was soft solder, which I seldom used because the fot solder would not handle the pressures our systems ran.
Yes, I did not mention because I don't have one of theirs. I looked at one and felt like I would rather spend a few more bucks for one of better quality. Specific feedback on their jacobs chuck from users would be helpful.
I have several of these and never had a problem. On projects that require different size holes it speeds up the process. For the price You can't beat it. By leaving them set up not being keyless is not a problem.
I have the HF Jacobs chuck and use it for drilling pen blanks on the lathe. I don't have much to compare it to being new turner myself, but I have been pleased. My chuck was slightly loose on the taper (the taper that goes into the chuck, not the taper going into the lathe), but a light tap with a rubber mallet seated it better. Overall the chuck hasn't yet done anything that made me regret the purchase.
I know this is an old video but i recently recieved a wood lathe and am looking to buy a set of chisels to learn with i can get the dark handle HF set for around 25 dollars would you recomend it
You mentioned you had a "list" with Harbor Freight numbers on it. Is it available online? I went to your website and couldn't find it and couldn't find it listed below.
I have most everything you showed and have to agree most is worth the money. Not sure my HF face shield would help do much but keep shaving off you face and eyes.
I've found that they have stopped selling the rare earth magnets. The also stopped selling tha dark handled turning tools and substituted an even cheaper set of turning tools for around $15.00
i ordered a 4 inch belt sander and some other things ended up being like 200$ worth of stuff it never showed up HF replased the whole order no quistions asked
I hate the "that's below me" attitude that some people have toward HF. Right now, I bought a Bauer set of 6 gouges for $80. It's well made and I'm prefectly happy with it. Is it unrivaled quality? No. Am I able to pay $1200 to get the same 6 tools from Carter and Sons? Hell No. Unless you are a multi-millionnaire, you are unwise not to shop at HF for some stuff.
Good prices and fairly sturdy clamps. Drill bits are another bargain. I hate spending a lot of time sharpening, so I don't even think about buying edged tools from HF. Great video, thanks man!
I’ve been burned too many times by crappy HF tools to go back for anything. I swear that they must not require quality control on anything they sell. It almost like a big joke.
Sorry you had bad experiences. Some folks say don't buy anything from HF that has a power cord. You generally get what you pay for and some folks do not mind saving a buck on things that only get casual use.
Like many woodworkers, mechanics, etc. I occasionally put a bag over my head and shop at HF as the "Unknown Craftsman" just so the tool snobs won't be able to laugh at me for being frugal. But more seriously, I have found that HF fills a need for cheap tools that you only need to use occasionally. They are not professional quality but then they don't claim to be. Just be careful what you buy and read the customer reviews carefully and you will do OK. One thing that turners might find useful is HF super glue. It is a CA product that sells in a three pack and can be caught on sale for a buck or so. I use it when making pens for the finish. It works fine and while you could argue about the cost per ounce versus other products, but I find it handy and it helps to get a fresh tube every few pens.
10 in. x 18 in. 5 Speed 1/2 HP Benchtop Wood Lathe Item#65345 (do not buy the cheaper one) It appears to be the same as others in the same price range some with different colour paint. I have turned hundreds of pens on mine. 12 in. x 33-3/8 in. 3/4 HP Wood Lathe with Reversible Head Item#34706 All most every one loves it But ... mine broke. 1/2 In. Mini-Lathe Drill Chuck Item#42340 use the heck out of mine. Along with there drill presses, small bar clamps (I love the 6" ones) you can buy better but at atleast twise the price, brad or nail guns, wrenches and sockets, ... If Harbor Freight offers 2 lines do not buy the cheaper one. Many or most of the stuff I"ve purched from them has been a fair or good buy but some I got less than I paid for. The stuff in my shop ranges from the best you can buy to cheap China stuff there is a deffent differance but some times not worth the price.
Mike - - - you're spot-on when it comes to saving some cash & the usefulness of the HF tools. Just got the caliper set last month, the ruler has been so helpful translating DECIMALS to INCHES !!! this video is great . In fact ALL the ones you produced has been an abundance of knowledge on helping me with the lathe. THANK U .... Thank U .....Thank YOU.
Thanks for the feedback, Brian. The popularity of this video just amazes me!
i know im randomly asking but does any of you know a tool to get back into an instagram account?
I stupidly forgot the password. I would love any assistance you can offer me.
@Ethan Creed instablaster ;)
@Jasiah Maverick I really appreciate your reply. I found the site thru google and Im trying it out atm.
Seems to take a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Jasiah Maverick it worked and I now got access to my account again. Im so happy!
Thanks so much, you saved my account!
Those magnetic parts bowls are often one of the free options with purchase too. I have about 6 of them now.
Shop Tip for you, leave ear and eye protection on the tool so that you have to remove them to use the tool.
Good idea.
The consensus of several of us in our woodturning club is that their electric chain saw chain sharpener is a product of satisfactory quality for the price. Bought mine for $25 on sale. Once you look up the YT videos on how to use it effectively it works. Does a very decent job of sharpening your chain much faster than by hand. And it does so in a consistent manner tooth by tooth.
I USE A HABOR FRIGHT LATHE FOR 30 YEARS GOT GRATE USE OUT OF IT ITS TOUGH IT HAS BEEN THROUGH A FIRE AND A TARNADO. I USE IT ALMOST EVERY DAY.IT IS THE RIGHT HIGHT FOR SOME ONE THATS SHORT.
A month ago, HF was having their 'parking lot sale'. I'd been eyeing their 12" sliding compound miter saw for a while. The usual sale price is around $135; BUT they had one in a damaged box with a price tag of $100. I looked inside and couldn't see anything obvious wrong with it. I countered with $70 and the manager said "Yes". There's absolutely nothing wrong with it after several uses. Works like a champ.
Thanks for sharing!
my mom bought a 'damaged' miter saw from harbor freight. When we got it home I started to troubleshoot to see why it was returned. Well, it was quite simple: the previous owner had put the blade in backwards (obviously from the way the blade was STILL in the saw!), and I assume they brought it back because it wasn't cutting nice. so, their stupidity saved us a good bit of money
One great use for the cheaper turning tool set is learning how to sharpen. When I got my first tools as a gift they were nice Sorby tools and I had never sharpened turning tools before.....so I picked up a set with a coupon and practiced until I was comfortable grinding an $80 tool. Now I just repurpose them as needed. The scrapers can be made into a nice box scraper.
The big box home centers carry the same stuff under different names, yet four times as expensive. I’ve got no snobbery when it comes to HF.
Agree with all, HF is fine if you know what you are buying. I did get a box of 50 1" brushes for $9 and they are great for gluing or finsihing where synthetic brushes are fine. BTW love the channel - keep 'em coming...
I personally love my Harbor Freight lathe - model 34706. 12" swing and a bit over 33" in distance between centers. It's a bit under-powered (3/4HP motor) for some projects but for a person who wants to try out woodturning, it's ideal. After I upgrade, it will be a nice backup and a dedicated sanding/buffing station. I also hear their dust collection is another HF gem.
Yes, see my comment to Michael Johnson. I did not mention my HF DC did I? It is in a video I did on Dust Collection.
That was my first lathe & I remember it being fine. Only problem areas were the drive belt being made out of something about as strong as a gummy worm and the Reeves drive would need maintenance every year or so to clean out the gunk.
My first lathe!
l have been learning on my hf lathe for about a year now. Works fine. Picked up the cheap set of tools at the same time. Tried them once and put them in a drawer. Then I ordered a couple of Benjamins best tools. Much better!
I loves my Harbor Freight. I just bought the 10x18 lathe and I LOVE it. I also bought a set of Craftsman turning tools off EBAY before I received my lathe. My wife talked me into buying the cheap set of Harbor freight turning tolls. Actually, I like the Harbor Freight tolls better than I do the Craftsman.
To be honest, my first mini lathe was a harbor freight. I abused that poor little lathe for years before I worked up to something bigger. It cost me 70 bucks after my 20% off. It had variable PWM control and over current protection. It is 10 years old and I have passed it to my son for pen turning. Like you say, if you know what you are going into, you can do well. Great idea on the strap wrenches. A couple of those keeps a lot of stress off the lathe head. Also bought the upright 2hp dust collector. I get better bags and filters at Grizzly but it has lasted me for years so far.
DIY Beall Buffing system can be had for ~$15 - get the 3 pack of buffing wheels and mount them to large bolts; chuck them up in the lathe and you have pretty much the same thing. Bowl buff is like $3 or something crazy cheap like that...
I also have a membership at Harbor Freight. I do enjoy their merchandise. I'm with you about the useless turning tools! Thank you for posting this! I will continue to share your wisdom with others!
Horses for courses, I think HF is great providing you understand what you are buying.Good informational video, thanks for posting.
Fantastic video good sir!
My first lathe I'm now using is their 10 in. x 18 in, for which I've subsequently upgraded with the Rockler bed extension for $75, so now have a nice long distance between center wood lathe.
Many thanks for your outstanding work here!
I did not know the Rockler bed fit it. Good to know. Thanks for sharing.
to be fair, I do still need to do a small bit of work to get it 100% where they meet: it's usable, but not perfect.
Using mine to 200 or so pens still going strong
I have the HF 10'' and 12' lathes and the are great ...never had a problem on the 12' i have turned 14 ' bowls no problem ,because it has a swivel head
The lowest speed is too fast for most bowl turners unless the blanks are really balanced which they rarely are unless you are buying them.
I bought a cheap Jacobs Chuck there and its still working great today.
Good feedback. They certainly are low cost.
A couple of things I find useful at HF are the Twist Loc holder with 2" & 3" Twist Loc sanding disks. The only problem with them is they don't get any finer than 100 grit. They also have other rotary saw blades and grinders.
I also bought the 4 In. X 36 In. Belt/6 In. Disc Sander (the belts HF sells are not good so I had to go elsewhere to get good belts to 400 grit) I reversed the direction of the belt so it works as a tool sharpening station like Sorby's ProEdge.
Another item I use occasionally is the Quick Change Sanding Drum Set. With this in a drill press I can sand rounded profiles on some of my turnings.
I love Harbor Freight. One more tip: Keep the coupons in your truck so when you stop by on a whim you have coupons with you. The HOA my lake house is at has a raffle once a year. All year long I try to save the free flashlights, VOMs, batteries and everything else. Then stick them in a couple of 5 gallon Home Depot buckets and donate to the raffle. That is very popular at the raffle. I'm currently thinking about getting the HF lathe.
Great tip!
A lot of great suggestions, Mike. My all-time HF favorites are:
- flush cut saw
- 6" dial caliper (no battery required)
- remote power switch for the dust collector
- 18" bar magnet for attaching small tools to the lathe
- T handle hex keys
- 8 oz stubby claw hammer
- HVLP spray gun #47016 - creates a great finish with polycrylic - $15 regular price, $10 on sale
Thanks for sharing, Ed.
Ed Hekman I have to second the 18" magnet bar, I have them in the shop and kitchen. The one in the kitchen holds my most used knives at arms length for easy access during meal prep.
when I first got started in woodturning, I purchased the set of tools with the purple handles. I actually really like the 1/2inch skew and re-purposed one tool into a negative rake scraper. I'm on my second HF angle drill. I went for the keyless version but find it doesn't always hold like the keyed version. I've also picked up a few pneumatic tools and they work fine.
Good stuff, thanks.
One of the biggest item HF has is a wood lathe. I've seen other peoples videos and they seem decent. I got a combo disc/belt sander from them. Not bad. I have a heat gun. I wouldn't use it on finish unless you want to remove the finish. The caliper set of course. Several different clamps. I don't like the ones with the squeeze grip because they don't get tight enough for glue ups.
I got that caliper set. The screw that sets the tightness of the one is cross threaded and won't tighten. But it was cheap.
Very informative! Thank you, I’m trying to gather tools to start turning myself. Good info for someone like myself that doesn’t have much money, but wants to learn
Oh my gosh Mike, I have about 95% of your Harbor Freight tools. I absolutely agree your input of Harbor Freight tools you have stated. Some of the tools will work in a pinch. I have upgraded up to Benjamin Best tools. Thank you for posting.
I have (2) of the HF Jet lathe knockoffs, I use one lathe as a spare parts machine to keep the main machine in operation when there is a problem while waiting for spare parts when I need to replace any components. I abuse the hell out of this machine and run it for hours on end turning big and small pieces. This is a great bargain for anyone getting into wood turning, with the rotating head stock you can turn large pieces outboard. You need to clean the reeves drives on a routine basis on these style lathes to keep the adjustable speed operational. Most of the parts for this machine are readily available and reasonably priced. The parts that I have replaced over the years have been on/off switch, reeves drive, belt, tail stock hand wheel, adjusting lever for banjo steady rest and the drive motor. I have over 6000 hours of run time on this machine which is great for a $300.00 lathe.
Great feedback on that lathe. I am so happy to have been able to quickly move from a Jet mini with a bed extension to a PM3520. But not everyone has the spare cash so knowing the value of bargain options is good.
I like them for led lights and the 4’ receptacle strip
I have a HF wood lathe with metal leg stand. when i have used the Lathe with a large stock , the whole lathe will vibrate . Now i have used the Lathe with smaller stock and will work fine with little vibration. what would the better means of securing the lathe to the cement floor , can you suggest a couple of ideas?
It is generally not a good idea to bolt the lathe to the floor. If the vibration gets too bad, something has to give. If the legs can move, something could brak. Better to add cross pieces to the leg, a plywood sheet and some ballast like a sack of sand. Sheet metal legs are the price you have to pay for an inexpensive starter lathe like that one or the virtually identical Jet it was cloned from.
I have the 12x33 Jet knock off lathe and it's been pretty decent for 4 years so far. The tools, I have both sets and they work if you custom sharpen them but you gotta resharpen really often. The light colored ones are also light weight fwiw.I'm buying replacements one tool at a time and getting Sorby and Thompson as I go. I have a G3 chuck not HF.
Thanks for sharing and safe turning
driver bits(long and short) for jigs such as sanding pads for the right angle drill you showed.I use the turning tools to practice sharpening and test new profiles. I have found the continental gouges useful once I started treating them as 'curved skews', meaning I sharpen and use them in a manner similar to the way a skew is used. I find them much easier than a real skew, though not quite as versitile.
Funny I bought a set for sanding mandrels some time back and never finished them.
I started out with the h.f. mini lathe can't ask for a better way to start turning. I think I paid 80 bucks with the coupon now I'm makeing pens for everybody had it for about a year I really like turning so I will be investing in an upgraded lathe now that I kinda know what it's all about. Also I've learned a lot about turning from your channel ! thanks😊
Thanks for commenting, Tim!
One tool I find very useful is their digital calipers. They are a third the price of similar ones at home depot, and the only problem I have found is the battery doesn't last very long. I also got one of those cloth type belts for my bandsaw, and it seems to work pretty well. I've been using over a year so far with no issues. I completely agree about the diamond plates. Mine wore out after about 3 sharpenings :D:
Do you have another source for reasonably priced but better quality diamond plates?
HF lathe tools are best for learning how to sharpen gouges and such - learn for a low investment - The saw is a good tool that gets loose in the handle
When Covid hit I had more time in my shop and decided to get a lathe, just to see if it was something I wanted to do. I got the Central Machinery full sized lathe on sale. It won't do a lot, but it is impressive what it will do for the price. The light weight is my main complaint...
Of course, now I'm addicted and looking for a better lathe that has variable speed (without changing belts), long bed, and rotational head stock and more horse power. Oh yes, and is affordable. :)
Affordable varies with individuals so not sure what your budget is. Most lathes sold in the US do not have a rotational head. You might want to watch this video ruclips.net/video/s0YDgte_C7Q/видео.html
@@MikePeaceWoodturning The Harbor lathe does have a rotational head stock. I put it on wheels, because everything in my shop is on wheels. My main complaints about it are: Light weight means if anything is out of balance I chase it around my shop. The headstock rotates, but will not lock securely in place. When something is out of balance, the headstock vibrates out of alignment. The banjo is not standard size, which means it is hard to find tool rests that will fit it.
I've been working my way through my firewood pile with this cheap ($400) lathe for about six months. Covid gave me the excuse to spend more time in my shop. I'm 'feeling the need for something more substantial, but dang, its a big leap from $400 to $7000.
Your videos are helping me sort the priorities.
Considering my sharpening station is a 80$ 1x30 HF belt grinder and I get absolutely bonkers sharp tools of 600grit belt in one touch, yeah, HF does the job. And low quality steel seems to be just the ticket to get a specialty tool on the cheap. I have an ancient/vintage Buck Bros parting tool I reground into angled parting tool to make tenons. Found it in an antique store for 10$
Sounds great! Sometimes it helps to be frugal.
I agree, Mike, there are a fair number of HF tools worth the money. Even some of their larger tools are worth the money. I bought their 14" bandsaw over ten years ago on sale for under $200. I added a $50 riser kit and Carter guides bringing my cost up to just under $350 and I wouldn't sell it for $1200 today. I also use their DC paired with an Oneida Super Dust Deputy. Pulls 99+% of the fine dust from my drum and oscillating sanders and even my table saw that wasn't designed with dust collection in mind. However, for those looking for courdless power tools, I've found most of HF's cordless products to be nothing but a waste of money. Thanks!
Billy B.
Nice review Mike, thanks. I don't live near a HF but have found some of these items there when I visit. Now I know what to look for. Appreciate it!
Thank you sir for the time you spend making videos that help us.
Don Lyons,
I second that!!! I am a female who is very much a rookie at turning and I have learned a lot from Mike and other great turners on RUclips!!! Ya'll guys are FANTASTIC!!! Thank you Mike, and stay safe!!!
Another good tool for learning turning is Facebook! Look up the closed Pen Turning group, and Woodturning Connection. Both are great groups where you will find a lot of ppl willing to help!
Don Lyons yyy
I buy their F-style bar clamps. At about $3 for a six inch clamp it's a great deal
If you are talking the squueze to tighten kind, I like them as well. They do tend to break after a while but not much of a lost investment.
Thanks Mike I have Harbor Freight’s 10 in. x 18 in. 5 Speed 1/2 HP Benchtop Wood Lathe it’s great for smaller stuff I have no problems with it if I want to take it somewhere it’s easy to take and will do a great job for anyone
Nice to have a small portable lathe for public demos or road trips. Glad your HF lathe is working out for you.
Nice video Mike. Several years ago I purchased their 14" woodworking bandsaw. It went together well per instructions and the fit and finish was really perfect! I also purchased their 6" Riser kit for it and can easily resaw 12" thick stock with a 3rd party 2-3 tooth blade. Firewood now becomes perfect slabs, planks of various thicknesses for making bowls, handles, boxes, vases or whatever the woodturner might enjoy. Great bandsaw at a great price! Good store but shop with some common sense.
I have heard good things about their BS. Glad it is working for you.
I bought the magnet bowl and have it on my accessories tray and it keeps my chuck keys from going adrift. And set it on my bed tray , when changing chuck jaws so the screws dont get lost I turned a handle to fit the spring center punch and it is more comfortable to use and less likely to roll off bench
I have bougjt the heavy gauge nalgene gloves in the past , but have found then also in the Sams club pharmacy goods
I also have one of their 3 inch angle grinders and the corded keyed angle drills
I also bought the stand for their lathe to put ,y vintage Delta lathe on. Drawback is that it is stamped sheet steel and ligjt weight
Thanks for sharing.
I agree 100%, you just got to watch what you buy
The "ash blonde" turning tool set (8 tools) was around 18 dollars at my local Harbor Freight ... The dark Mahogany looking set is the 65 dollar set. I bought 2 sets of the cheaper tools so that I could use alternative grinds and make my own specialty tools, as you did. I found that only the last few inches of the tools are hardened steel, so if you grind them past that point, they generally get useless... which is fine, considering their cost. I also made my own cheap carbide tipped tools that I use for the majority of my turning, these days, and they are easy to keep sharp with a diamond card sharpener.
It's also a great idea to mention Harbor Freight's brands of sandpaper... They are decent quality, possibly up there with 3M's products, as they are pretty much disposable after a use or two, and they sell 10-packs of full sheets for cheap, as well as multipacks of higher grit papers at the same price, going all the way up to 1200 grit. (around 3.99 per pack, I think).
A final mention on another tool .... Cheap lathe turning tools need sharpening quite a bit, which you mentioned. Before long, a wood turner is going to want to turn a set of sanding drums and cover them with a variety of grits of paper, going up to high grit, for polishing the bevels and edges of their tools. But until they get to that point, the 1x30 belt sander is a cheap 40 dollar investment that will help with many little projects and with maintaining those lathe tools with a usable edge.
When using the sander to grind your chisels ... keep a jar or bucket of cold salt-water nearby (salt in the water gives it a higher density and higher boiling point, to cool the metal faster ... wipe the tool off and completely dry it before putting it away or IT WILL RUST). Cool the tool off in the water the instant you see it even start to change colors, or you will ruin the tempering of the steel. With those small chisels, it will heat up past that temper point extremely fast, and that's bad. This is possibly why you think that the steel in those small gouges wasn't properly heat treated. You CAN take a blow-torch to them and re-harden them, and then gently temper them to a light straw or golden straw color so that they don't just snap off on you when you try to use them, but it's probably best not to ruin their temper in the first place with over-heating them. I've found my 3/8ths gouges to be some of the best I've got for fine turning on my pens and keychains.
The lathe I use is the 8x12 Mini Wood Lathe from Harbor Freight. I've found that putting a 6-inch clamp across the ways behind the tailstock helps tremendously to keep the tailstock from walking off from my work, but beyond that it's handled everything I've tried doing with it, including turning aluminum, brass, soapstone, alabaster, various hard and soft woods with stone and metal inlays, and every acrylic I've thrown at it. Carbide tipped tools are awesome for the really hard stuff!
The brad point drill bit set seems decent.
I have one of their Jacobs chucks.. Morse taper 2. i think it was 9.99.. I've used it for over 5 years.. good deal if you ask me..
Jimmy Mead
I just got the drill chuck today, on sale for $14.99 less 20%.
Really liked the video and loved the comment about Shop Fairies. I have a couple of those, in fact I am trying to turn doll bed posts, that is why I was watching the video. They are a joy. Thanks for the video!
Granddaughters are the best!
You can use that 1/4 inch HSS tool bit to make an Oland tool. A great tool for bowl turning.
Might work for some and a good choice for huge bowls. But for me, 1/4 is just too big and I would not choose an Oland tool over a bowl gouge for the 15" and smaller bowls I turn. I have no problem in anyone using a tool or technique that works for them.
Hi Mike,
Great video and very informative about what's good and not so good at HF.
Great place to shop as long as you're not looking for top quality items.
Thanks,,,
Tom
Hi Mike and thanks for your videos. I started with the HF 10" wood lathe & a cheap set of Windsor tools. Neither lasted very long. The tools were upgraded to Sorby fast when they went on sale at Craft Supplies (20% off, I loaded up!). The skew is ok, the spindle roughing gouge actually works pretty good with frequent sharpening, and the rest are garbage. The lathe was $160 with the 20% off coupon but I noticed the price went up $20. It was fine for pens and shaving brushes but after 3 small bowls the spindle bearing started going & everything ended up slightly out of round, a big problem with pens. It was only 4 or 5 months old. If it's just used for small spindles it's ok, but if you're a beginner that wants to turns small bowls I say save your money for a Rikon 12" VS or something similar like a Nova. The HF is now a buffing station with 4" wheels. All in all The lathe & tools were about $200 which I could've used for Sorby tools or a decent chunk of my Rikon. Then again, I wouldn't have that dedicated buffing station...
Honestly I can't recommend either. A decent lathe is the core of one's woodturning. Even though it was cheap and still serves a purpose, the money would have been better spent on something of higher quality. The Rikon isn't much of a lathe compared to a full size, but with reverse and VS I felt like I stepped up from a Yugo to a Porsche.
No perfect answer for everyone. I know some folks who turn so little, maybe a cheap lathe is an answer. Some folks are so strapped for $$ that a cheap lathe is all they can afford and can make do. I decided to make a big plunge from a used Jet 10x14 and I love my Powermatic 3520. Glad I did not choose a lesser lathe that might have met my needs but left me wishing I had gone all of the way. Ten years later I could sell my PM for what I paid new.
my table saw is from HF and has been going strong for about 8 years. my 12" single bevel chop saw has been serving me for about 9 years, I have had no luck at all with any of their drills, but the 3 cuft concrete mixer works well for the homeowner/hobbyist it doesn't really hold 3cuft while mixing and will slosh out, but you can easily mix 2cuft with no problem, their large wood lathe is quite affordable at under $300 with 20% coupon for the beginner turner (not good for off center/unbalanced turning as it's bottom rated speed is 600rpm (more like 645-670 actual), their earthquake impact guns are right up there with Snap-on in quality and longevity. I just had to replace my recip-saw after 6 years on the old $39 dollar one. their face mask is cheaply built, but better than none. I have laid miles of welds with the 90amp wire feed welder over the last 12 years and it is still going strong. Just as with the "name brand" tools you will find the occational "bad-egg", but for the guy on a budget it is much easier to get the tool you need and save up for a better one if you find it lacking or you use it more than expected at the time of purchase. Pretty much all tools, and everything else, these days are disposable. I would rather throw away a cheaper tool than an expensive one when both have basically near the same life expectancy. Great video. BTW, I have several of those magnetic parts bowls (also often on the free list) and they are a headache saver from dropped parts or bumped/knocked off non-magnetic bowls.
No clue where you get the idea that all tools are built in modern times are disposable. Perhaps the stuff you get from HF.
Great video on HF tools, I've been sick for a long time and started turning in the last 2 years. I wouldn't be turning if it weren't for HF. Started with a HF 12x33 lathe and the first set of tools you mentioned. First projects were kind of comical, trying to make something with unsharpened Chinese tools ....really didn't know much better when it came to tools and sharpening.
I think I was using the roughing gouges as bowl gouges :) Those things took a beating, never broke though and still use them. Although I quickly found out what a "catch" was and appropriately nicknamed myself "Catch". You are right, regarding that 1/4" gouge, not sure what it was but to this day it doesn't matter how you sharpen it, it doesn't cut.
Thanks for all you do Mikey!
The school of hard knocks is a hard way to learn woodturning so many fall by the wayside. Glad you were able to perservere and not get hurt.
Not specific to turning, but the blue bar clamps are an unbeatable bargain at ~$3 (less 20% & free flashlight/screwdriver/parts tray/whatever) for a 6" clamp is just ridiculous. I own probably 40 of various lengths and have had two handles spin on me; lifetime guarantee and they swap it out no problem.
I build guitars and repair furniture, I can easily ahve 40 clamps at use at once without breaking a sweat. These small clamps work great.
I have the "improved" HF "Windsor Design" set #61794. The tools are said to be "pre-honed", and they do seem to be sharper than the basic set. However, now that I look closer after your observations, I see the same problems with non-symmetrical edges. The box is not much better than cardboard. Maybe good to practice with before buying a high-quality set...
How sharp tools are out of the box is not important, IMHO, given that they will soon need sharpening, often to a new bevel angle. Clearly no HF tool is honed before being sold.
14:38 - Spray Gun. I bought this as my first spray gun for a project last year. I think I paid $10 on sale. It worked great.
I have had one in the box unused for years. I need to try it out!
Good video, Mike! I've got one of those orange right-angle Chicago Elect ic drills, which I think I got from HF. There's an HF retail store around here, isn't there? Up in Gainesville maybe?
The Gainesville is the newest. There are 4 stores in the Atlanta. They are all a drive from me but Gainesville is the closest.
I love HF and get most of my electric tools from HF
My biggest upset, as a long time customer, is that as they bring out new "names" those are all excluded from the 20% or 25% coupons. Used to be just a few exclusions, now almost half the store is excluded. Another sort of disapointment is that you cant put risers on their "large" lathe to let it cut bigger stock. The head does swivel and the tool rest does come with an extension, but if you're turning much more than a 12 inch diameter, the tool still won't reach inside a bowl. Do you have any videos on building a "freestanding" tool rest for outboard turning?
Bummer about the coupons. I remember a customer in front of me having that problem buying a big piece of equipments. I never had a need for a freestanding rest. They need to be heavy. Powermatic sells theirs for $500 and it has three legs and weighs 137 lb. Not something for the faint of heart to make or use.
I was glad to see the magnetic parts dish - I've got a couple of them. They are sometimes available as the free item also. Another really useful tool is the extension magnetic pickup tool and mirror. I get quite a bit of mileage out of those and again, I think it was a set I got as the free item. It's been said a lot, but I'll say it again, HF is OK, but you had better go in with low expectations!
+Tim Douglass Absolutely. I forgot that one. My shop fairy broke mine so I got a replacement from Amazon.
Instead of the dust pan I use their ice shovel. It has a short handle and you don't have to stoop over as much to use it. It's wide and hold a lot more debris than the dust pan.
I will have to check that out. I have not seen one in their stores.
I get packages of micro-fiber cloths free with a purchase. These are helpful for cleaning dust off everything from turnings to my face shield. Bags of shop rags are great to have around - though they come with a strange sizing that affects their absorbency, so I run them through the washing machine when I bring them home. The HF digital calipers are far less expensive than other options and work great for the accuracies attainable with wood.
I will have to check out the mico-fiber cloths. Thanks for sharing.
The only issue with HF digital calipers is that they seem to go through batteries very rapidly.
The microfiber cloths are also handy if you use wiping finishes that have to be rubbed down after application.
I have not had problems with caliper batteries. And I bought a pack of 10 or 20 for maybe a couple of bucks and have actually given away batteries to friends with similar calipers.
I love Harbor Freight!
The discount coupons don't work on a lot of the bigger items any more.
I noticed that from disgruntled customers in line in front of me!
The HF angle grinders are great for bowl carving. At $10 each on sale, It's not worth the time to change wheels. I have one with a Lancelot chain saw cutter, another with an extra coarse carbide nugget curved steel wheel, and one with a flap sanding wheel.
In my opinion, Harbor Freight is DECENT, (not great) to get you started and see if woodturning is something you will enjoy. I started on their now discontinued 8x12 mini lathe. Only considered it because it was on clearance for $60. Bearings wore out rather quickly without a ton of use. Considered buying the 10x18 but ultimately bought the Laguna Revo 1216. I will admit the screw clamps are a gem. I consider all of their other tools as one time use disposables.
I bought their 4" x 36" belt sander and had to return it. The design was terrible and the flimsy sheet metal made it nearly useless.
Installing and changing the belts required some disassembly, unlike my Ryobi which uses a simple lever and is front-loaded, not rear.
The height adjustment wasn't aligned right and I'd have needed to redesign or re-weld it to make it work.
If you're looking for a REALLY CHEAP (inexpensive) belt sander, give it a go, but for long term use and for changing grits, well, they gave me a refund and THAT was very satisfactory for me.
Good luck!
Before I retired I had been working in Europe where we bought a large Bernese Mtn. dog. The only way to get the large cage to Montana was via Denver or Seattle and rent a car. Denver was a no brainer since there were 3 HF stores en-route and non between Seattle. Since I had sold most of my tools before leaving the states we made the most of this trip and stocked up big time on the way home. Two items of particular value were the 20' pillar drill reduced to $425 and the 12' cut off saw reduced to $125. Both are sterling performers and I use them for all sorts of projects including lathe work. Also really good are the packets of 1/2' glue brushes which I use all the time . I have stopped my subscription to the inside club because I now only by specific items or replace supply items. As Far as lathe tools go I resisted buying a set at HF and bought individual quality tools as need from D-way tools .
I suspect you will have more tools in the future. What kind of lathe? I know you will be happy with the D way tools.
10x18 harbor Freight mini lathe. very good lathe
Robert srnec for small bowls/boxes and pen turning, that is.
Sometimes the japanese flush cut saw is a 'Topman' brand - much better quality than others. Also, nitrile gloves are not necessarily the best protection - for some solvents vinyl gloves are better and cheaper. If you have ever used a handplane to smooth and taper a cylinder spindle (try it!), then the 'Windsor 33' handplane can be hit or miss - I got one that works very well, but the on the second one, the adjustment screws are a little bit misaligned and so it doesn't hold a setting as well.
Thanks for sharing!
Your hollowing too was a v scraper. And your right, the little spindle going is complete rubbish!
Quick question for Woodworkers out there, would the Lathe tools work if you hardened them (may have already been hardened for all I know). I am asking because I seriously do not know, ok?
Unless you are a metalurgist with industrial heat treating equipment, you can not harden HSS tool steel used in modern wt chisels. Even then, unless not heat treated properly, it is unlikely you could make harder than when you get them.
Have to agree on the Benjamin's tools They have been great tools. I gave the harbor freight ones away..
In Canada the similar store is Princes Auto.
Thanks, I will have to check it out if I get your way.
Here is some advice from a bladesmith. Take the wood turning tools and heat about 2 inches of the end to the point where the steel is no longer magnetic. Quench in cooking oil. If a file will slide over the steel without biting you have hardened steel. If the file bites repeat process but this time quench in water.Check with file again. Clean the tool by sanding. Heat the steel from the center of the tool until you see a yellow or pale brown color on the cutting end. Immediately quench again. This is the most simple hardening and tempering process I know. Since the tools are imports is is doubtful any more stringent measure will be needed. If any of the cutting tools are stainless forget it. They were broke when you bought them.
How easy is it to heat the M2 steel tool with a propane torch uniformly to 2000F?
@@MikePeaceWoodturning I think you need oxy acetylene, or at least oxy propane or oxy map gas to get 2000 degrees. If I remember correctly from when I was working as a Refrigeration Mechanic (retired 2006) I could not use a propane torch for silver solder, silfoss, or brazing. the only thing propane was good for was soft solder, which I seldom used because the fot solder would not handle the pressures our systems ran.
funny the only useful think i find are those diamond hones,,but i use them for knfes at work when i am up in the air..they drop no biggie
Nice video! Are you from Louisiana btw? I always try to figure out where people are from based on their accent.
I'm not. Raised in North Alabama.
@@MikePeaceWoodturning Well shucks!
Get the 7mil gloves they last longer.
I am not sure which ones I got but will pay attention next time I buy.
They have a small Jacobs chuck on a #1 or #2 taper for about $15
Yes, I did not mention because I don't have one of theirs. I looked at one and felt like I would rather spend a few more bucks for one of better quality. Specific feedback on their jacobs chuck from users would be helpful.
I have several of these and never had a problem. On projects that require different size holes it speeds up the process. For the price You can't beat it. By leaving them set up not being keyless is not a problem.
I have the HF Jacobs chuck and use it for drilling pen blanks on the lathe. I don't have much to compare it to being new turner myself, but I have been pleased. My chuck was slightly loose on the taper (the taper that goes into the chuck, not the taper going into the lathe), but a light tap with a rubber mallet seated it better. Overall the chuck hasn't yet done anything that made me regret the purchase.
I know this is an old video but i recently recieved a wood lathe and am looking to buy a set of chisels to learn with i can get the dark handle HF set for around 25 dollars would you recomend it
For $25 yes. Recognize you still need to buy a bowl gouge for cross grain projects.
@@MikePeaceWoodturning thank you i grabbed a set with the clearance sale today for 28 dollars i will look out for a bowl gouge i appreciate the tip
You mentioned you had a "list" with Harbor Freight numbers on it. Is it available online? I went to your website and couldn't find it and couldn't find it listed below.
It is under demonstration and project handouts. I just now added a direct link in the video description area.
I have most everything you showed and have to agree most is worth the money. Not sure my HF face shield would help do much but keep shaving off you face and eyes.
These coupons are now not available 8/2021
I hate that. I guess with the pandemic they did not need that incentive. Maybe in the future.
I've found that they have stopped selling the rare earth magnets. The also stopped selling tha dark handled turning tools and substituted an even cheaper set of turning tools for around $15.00
I found it on line. 35444 Maybe they just stopped carrying in the store? Same with magnets.
I bought the magnets in store recently.
Good information
i ordered a 4 inch belt sander and some other things ended up being like 200$ worth of stuff it never showed up HF replased the whole order no quistions asked
Thanks for sharing.
Do you have any videos showing how to make tools from the has kit you mentioned around 6:30?
Not yet, but I will add to my list. Thanks for the suggestion, Crownof Jewells. Love your Ocarina videos!
I hate the "that's below me" attitude that some people have toward HF. Right now, I bought a Bauer set of 6 gouges for $80. It's well made and I'm prefectly happy with it. Is it unrivaled quality? No. Am I able to pay $1200 to get the same 6 tools from Carter and Sons? Hell No. Unless you are a multi-millionnaire, you are unwise not to shop at HF for some stuff.
That Bauer set is a new one for them I had not seen before. Your budget is always a consideration in tool buying.
Good prices and fairly sturdy clamps. Drill bits are another bargain. I hate spending a lot of time sharpening, so I don't even think about buying edged tools from HF. Great video, thanks man!
Mike what with the green tape on some of your tools? Thanks
I will be covering that in a future video but it is green duc tape.
I’ve been burned too many times by crappy HF tools to go back for anything. I swear that they must not require quality control on anything they sell. It almost like a big joke.
Sorry you had bad experiences. Some folks say don't buy anything from HF that has a power cord. You generally get what you pay for and some folks do not mind saving a buck on things that only get casual use.
Those mask are handy to keep in your truck. You never know when you'll run low on $$$ and need to pull a holdup 🤔🤪🤣.
I've bought from them stuff for several thousands of $. Some stuff is good some really piece of sh..t.You must know what you need and what you buying.
Like many woodworkers, mechanics, etc. I occasionally put a bag over my head and shop at HF as the "Unknown Craftsman" just so the tool snobs won't be able to laugh at me for being frugal. But more seriously, I have found that HF fills a need for cheap tools that you only need to use occasionally. They are not professional quality but then they don't claim to be. Just be careful what you buy and read the customer reviews carefully and you will do OK. One thing that turners might find useful is HF super glue. It is a CA product that sells in a three pack and can be caught on sale for a buck or so. I use it when making pens for the finish. It works fine and while you could argue about the cost per ounce versus other products, but I find it handy and it helps to get a fresh tube every few pens.
Bill Snorgrass Too funny!
P.T Barnum said it, "there's one born every minute." So if you are one of them like me sorry, if not don't be.
Noticed the Mitre Saw is missing the Chicago Electric Logo;)
I got if from Amazon. Some offbrand but works well for less than $100
sounds good Mike ..I'm just playin' Thanks for toots..getting revved up for the Passover-Easter Sale March 31 weekend:)
planning on getting a Lathe @25% off!!!
"Wood clamp" you mean uncle fester clamp right 😂🤣😂🤣🤓
You can never have too many clamps... even if they are cheap.
True!
10 in. x 18 in. 5 Speed 1/2 HP Benchtop Wood Lathe Item#65345 (do not buy the cheaper one) It appears to be the same as others in the same price range some with different colour paint. I have turned hundreds of pens on mine.
12 in. x 33-3/8 in. 3/4 HP Wood Lathe with Reversible Head Item#34706 All most every one loves it But ... mine broke.
1/2 In. Mini-Lathe Drill Chuck Item#42340 use the heck out of mine.
Along with there drill presses, small bar clamps (I love the 6" ones) you can buy better but at atleast twise the price, brad or nail guns, wrenches and sockets, ...
If Harbor Freight offers 2 lines do not buy the cheaper one.
Many or most of the stuff I"ve purched from them has been a fair or good buy but some I got less than I paid for.
The stuff in my shop ranges from the best you can buy to cheap China stuff there is a deffent differance but some times not worth the price.