LryFx1
Active member
I almost hate to ask, as this forum alone already gets me to buy stuff I don't really plan on, but what is "SD" ?
PSA, HF Tools is closing out the Bauer SCT...
- Thread starter Brandon_Lutz
- Start date
Ohio Andy
Well-known member
Deals such as these tend to sellout from the slick deal effect.
driftpin
Well-known member
I have used Slick Deals and have been very satisfied with my purchases. If the Bauer tool for surface conditioning (I have one bought before current discounts, under the HFT membership pricing, and it has worked well for me.
You could probably do the same type of work using a flap tool (or six of them, depending upon the size of the project) but the 'steamroller' as I prefer to call it, can do the job.
You could probably do the same type of work using a flap tool (or six of them, depending upon the size of the project) but the 'steamroller' as I prefer to call it, can do the job.
tyyost
Well-known member
I have wanted one for years since Eastwood rolled theirs out, but didn’t want to drop the coin on one. Was interested in the Bauer for a while and missed the good sale last summer. Went last weekend and picked one up, had a chance to try it out today and was impressed. Every few years I go through my mowing deck and freshen it up and paint it before the season. I usually strip down the underside with a wire wheel on an angle grinder and a brushes and rolocs on an angle grinder.
I have the deck off and it did an admirable job stripping off paint and leaving a nice surface finish. I’ll do a bit more when the weather clears, but I expect that it will be comparable to other methods and definitely better on the larger flat areas on the top of the deck. Glad I picked it up!
I have the deck off and it did an admirable job stripping off paint and leaving a nice surface finish. I’ll do a bit more when the weather clears, but I expect that it will be comparable to other methods and definitely better on the larger flat areas on the top of the deck. Glad I picked it up!
tncatadjuster
Well-known member
SCORE..... just snagged one off the shelf about an hour ago, will be painting an old trailer soon and this should help, thanks guys.
grissom
Well-known member
Didn't know that I needed one, but I picked one up today just in case
And I say no better reason could exist
Hohn
Well-known member
Then why did they make a Hercules version (which is their higher line)?
Harbor Freight Introduces HERCULES® Surface Conditioning Tool at SEMA - Harbor Freight Newsroom
(November 7, 2024; Las Vegas, NV) Harbor Freight previewed the HERCULES® 9 Amp Surface Conditioning Tool at SEMA today. The Surface Conditioning Tool is engineered for removing paint, rust, and for conditioning metal surfaces. For maximum comfort during use, the tool has been built with a front...
newsroom.harborfreight.com
Best I can tell, it's the exact same tool, just made in a different color for branding.
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No, $59 was the closeout price
Maybe the $119 was the last regular price which is meaningless now anyway since every store in my region shows unavailable
Fwiw this thread is 10 days old for a super low price on a product that people were grabbing up right and left
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Then why did they make a Hercules version (which is their higher line)?
Harbor Freight Introduces HERCULES® Surface Conditioning Tool at SEMA - Harbor Freight Newsroom
(November 7, 2024; Las Vegas, NV) Harbor Freight previewed the HERCULES® 9 Amp Surface Conditioning Tool at SEMA today. The Surface Conditioning Tool is engineered for removing paint, rust, and for conditioning metal surfaces. For maximum comfort during use, the tool has been built with a front...
Because Hercules sounds powerful while Bauer sounds pretty weak?
Maybe people gravitate towards the blue tool, realizing it still $100 less than the exact same Eastwood model
Hohn
Well-known member
A niche tool for sure, but doesn't have much competition out there.Because Hercules sounds powerful while Bauer sounds pretty weak?
Maybe people gravitate towards the blue tool, realizing it still $100 less than the exact same Eastwood model
Not when when the Eastwood is $100 more and the Metabo is $850.
No, $119 is the current clearance price, the $59 was a special lower sale clearance price that expired 3/9. Back up to the regular clearance price of $119.
Still readily available in this area, just at the higher clearance price.
It looks like there are cheap drums for these on Amazon based on the Amazon deals thread. But some of them are slightly oversized. There is talk of modifying the dust shroud to permit the larger wheels but I want a modification to the handle to allow it to collapse so this thing will fit in a drawer!
Oh-Kay
I’m glad I didn’t drag my heels.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a “special lower clearance price”t winds up going back up to a higher clearance priceusually it’s the other way around
Hey, it is Harbor freight they like to mess with our heads
LryFx1
Active member
I'm really pleased that I got mine for the low price now. This is one of those tools that will sit around a lot, and probably get used only a few times a year. With that in mind, I'm not sure I would have bought it for any of the higher price points mentioned.
Yes, with deals like this it's always good to remember the maxim : Ya Snooze, Ya Looze !
Yes, with deals like this it's always good to remember the maxim : Ya Snooze, Ya Looze !
stillnostrebor
Well-known member
I was in on that cheap drum buy, and the conversation on modifying the guard. Much wailing about posting not-deals occurred in that deal thread, so I'm closing the loop here on my version of the mod...
I completed the modification today, and it worked great. Instead of slotting the holes, I cut the "flat" face from the "curved" face at the intersection with my bandsaw, splitting this into two parts. I then cleaned up both parts so I could re-weld the joint after repositioning the curved face to clear the large drums. I placed a drum and fitted to insure there was clearance.
I learned that you could lap the two pieces the opposite way they were originally while pressing the curve piece tight against the tool case and get ample clearance. I then tacked, removed and welded the seam, did some grinding and dressing, tossed on some fresh paint, and reinstalled. I had to make a tweak in the vice to make up for a bit of weld shrink, but otherwise it works factory.
It took 20 minutes.
Pictures please!
stillnostrebor
Well-known member
With apologies... I didn't take any. I had my head down all day Saturday just knocking out little projects. This was one of them.
Basically, cut it in two and weld it back together with the guard hard against the tool body and clearance around a large drum. I eyeballed it.
Aaron_W
Well-known member
Oh-Kay
I’m glad I didn’t drag my heels.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a “special lower clearance price”t winds up going back up to a higher clearance priceusually it’s the other way around
Hey, it is Harbor freight they like to mess with our heads
They did the same with their smaller dust collector, it was clearance at $99 for awhile, then went up to $119 but still on clearance. $119 is about the same price as Wen etc for the same thing. I think it was normally $149 before it went to clearance.
Aaron_W
Well-known member
Then why did they make a Hercules version (which is their higher line)?
Harbor Freight Introduces HERCULES® Surface Conditioning Tool at SEMA - Harbor Freight Newsroom
(November 7, 2024; Las Vegas, NV) Harbor Freight previewed the HERCULES® 9 Amp Surface Conditioning Tool at SEMA today. The Surface Conditioning Tool is engineered for removing paint, rust, and for conditioning metal surfaces. For maximum comfort during use, the tool has been built with a front...
Best I can tell, it's the exact same tool, just made in a different color for branding.
I think it is a combination of their "premier" brand not having a similar tool along with hiding a price increase.
Price of the Hercules vs Bauer went up and the included drums (3 to 1) decreased for net a difference of $40-50.
Hohn
Well-known member
Right, but if it wasn't selling well, a price increase usually doesn't help.
Aaron_W
Well-known member
That assumes it wasn't selling well.
I assume the clearance is just a shelf space thing related to the brand change.
HF does this all the time when they change brands. The hydraulic lifting carts recently did the same thing going from whatever brand they were to now Franklin.
I assume brand changes are done for items that sell well, if they don't sell well they just go away.
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JSHOUSE1
Active member
Results of a lawsuit is my understanding. the Hercules only has one wheel compared to the 3 that the bauer has.Then why did they make a Hercules version (which is their higher line)?
Harbor Freight Introduces HERCULES® Surface Conditioning Tool at SEMA - Harbor Freight Newsroom
(November 7, 2024; Las Vegas, NV) Harbor Freight previewed the HERCULES® 9 Amp Surface Conditioning Tool at SEMA today. The Surface Conditioning Tool is engineered for removing paint, rust, and for conditioning metal surfaces. For maximum comfort during use, the tool has been built with a front...
Best I can tell, it's the exact same tool, just made in a different color for branding.
JSHOUSE1
Active member
Sound's like Eastwood didn't invent the SCT, but they grabbed a patent for it and then wanted to go after HF for copying.
Hohn
Well-known member
Pretty weak sauce. "it looks like our tool." So HF changes the color.
The specific claim is against the "ornamental design."
I wish these companies going after HF would stop going after them with weak cases. It only emboldens HF each and every time they win.
If you go after a bully, don't pinch-- punch. Just making the bully mad is counterproductive.
Clearly Eastwood isn't claiming (and can't claim) the basic idea of a rotary drum surface conditioning tool. (Metabo, 3M and others offer them)
So the Eastwood claim amounts to cosmetics.
It didn't work for Gibson when people made blatant copies of Les Pauls, and they tried to claim IP infringement because you can't patent the general shape of an electric guitar. I doubt Eastwood will have better luck.
WWheeler
Well-known member
According to the video at the Bing link JSHOUSE1 posted HF settled with Eastwood on the suit which somehow ended up with HF selling the same tool in a different color with two less drums included for more.
DGersic
Well-known member
Maybe that’s all there is? Eastwood sells the SCT in a black body for $149, with an instant discount to $139. The Bauer in a red body does look just like the Eastwood, but was slightly cheaper and included more wheels, for a better value. Now the Hercules has only one wheel included, same as Eastwood, and is $139, same as Eastwood.
Kinda lame for a patent settlement.
No the lawsuit is about patented infringement.
Harbor freight is selling a product that looks (except for the color )and performs exactly like the product Eastwood has a patent for.
According to the Internet, the case is still open so after three years, apparently no one is moving on it too fast
Harbor freight probably has deep enough pockets for a legal team to drag things out for indefinitely so maybe they’re just saying “whatever”(which they did initially )or maybe they made a deal with Eastwood
Seems doubtful that just changing the name and color of the product will get them off the hook but it comes to justicenowadays who knows?
Hohn
Well-known member
Right, which-if truly was the result of the settlement-- shows just how weak was the original infringement claim because it was based mostly on ornamental appearance not function per se. More "trade dress" than "design."
According to the court documents, the case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning that it cannot be refiled. They are done litigating this matter.
I don’t Doubt you, but how about a link?
To make sure your Internet information is accurate
It was already linked earlier in the thread, but GeoBruin also provided a link.
"ORDER DISMISSING ACTION WITH PREJUDICE PURSUANT TO LOCAL RULE 41.1(b). SIGNED BY HONORABLE MARK A. KEARNEY ON 12/21/22. 12/22/22 ENTERED AND NOT MAILED TO COUNSEL AND E-MAILED.(JL) (Entered: 12/22/2022)"
That’s why I gave his post and answer a
Steel_Rain
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2024
- Messages
- 1,369
I bought one today because one of my local HFT's had this for $60:
When thread started (late Feb 2025), it was still $120 until just recently (last few days).
More background here if you trust the source:
When thread started (late Feb 2025), it was still $120 until just recently (last few days).
More background here if you trust the source: