The Harbor Freight grinder difugilty

[Alchymist]

While vacationing near Salsbury, MD, dropped almost $100 at the local HF. Just days before going on vacation, my 10 year old HF 4.5" grinder died, bad brush. OK, at $15 it didn't owe me anything, it had used up countless grinding and cutting discs. So while at HF, I took a look at the current grinders:

http://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/grinders-buffers/4-12-in-43-amp-angle-grinder-69645.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/grinders-buffers/4-12-in-43-amp-angle-grinder-60625.html

The one I pulled off the shelf and opened was the 60625. Seemed OK, switch worked easily, handle, wrench and spare brushes in a bag, with manual. Threw it in the cart, and grabbed a second one from the stack. Got home only to discover that the second grinder was a different part number, the switch sucked, and no spare brushes. Not fair, HF! At least separate the different part numbers! The one with the sucky switch is the one in the pic with the switch on the side.

Long story short though, took one of the brushes from the 60625, and with a little trimming of the brass cap, it fit the old grinder, so that's back in business.

I checked the brushes in the 69645 against those for the 60625, and though one brush has small grooves along the narrow edges, they will interchange. Now I have to visit HF customer service and see if I can get more brushes. Stuck with the one with the sucky switch, but it does work, so not a total loss.

 

[logan_gibson]

The one i picked up from HF Was the one with the switch on the side, also did not come with spare brushes. I had no idea that they might have two different ones, I will have to check it out this evening.

 

[bmwpowere36m3]

For a $15 grinder.... toss and replace. Personally I'd invest a little more coin and get a Makita, likely the last one you'll need.

 

[Showkey]

Simple solution............Stop buying JUNK............saves time, money and future aggravation.

 

[Alchymist]

Simple solution............Stop buying JUNK............saves time, money and future aggravation.

Nice try, but you know what? I have HF, Craftsman, Hilti, Porter Cable, Bosch, and other power tools. They all work.

And if I stop buying, Will HF separate how they stock part numbers to avoid confusion?

 

[zendriver]

Is there a store in PA, for return?


Most HF shoppers expect reasonable quality, but know perfection, is not always possible.

 

[md21722]

Is there a store in PA, for return?


Most HF shoppers expect reasonable quality, but know perfection, is not always possible.

I think anything that comes from HF with a cord should come with a fire extinguisher.

 

[Alchymist]

Is there a store in PA, for return?


Most HF shoppers expect reasonable quality, but know perfection, is not always possible.

Nearest store to me is in Harrisburg, but 40 miles away. I wouldn't drive the 28 miles back to the MD store to exchange it, certainly not to Harrisburg. Been to the Harrisburg Store once - when I was down there anyway.

Complaint is not so much about the differences, but the manner in which they were displayed.

Come to think of it, I will be down Harrisburg way in a week or so.......

 

[LXCam]

grinder difugilty. Don king would be so proud.

 

[DenisG]

I have the 69645 and have had it apart. If you take out the 4 screws holding the gearbox to the motor body, you can rotate the motor body to re-position to where the switch you like it (side, or top). I've been using mine with the polycarbide abrasive wheels to clean flaking house paint. The grinder gets uncomfortably hot to hold in a pretty short short time. I mostly use other sanders that I have, but this one is good for tight spots.

 

[cheechi]

Putting the switch on the side like that is quite strange. I guess they only want right handed people to use it.

Probably right. Racist bastards.

 

[Gotcha640]

The grinder gets uncomfortably hot to hold in a pretty short short time.

Might be worth seeing if there's any grease in there.

 

[exmaxima1]

Putting the switch on the side like that is quite strange. I guess they only want right handed people to use it.
.

My German-made Bosch has a side switch like that. And come to think of it, I think all Germans are right handed......

 

[1969]

My German-made Bosch has a side switch like that. And come to think of it, I think all Germans are right handed......

I get it!

 

[Showkey]

Nice try, but you know what? I have HF, Craftsman, Hilti, Porter Cable, Bosch, and other power tools. They all work.

And if I stop buying, Will HF separate how they stock part numbers to avoid confusion?

So you have quality other tools.
Do we care if HF fixes their stock or display or part numbers?
So why are you screwing around with this HF stuff......?

 

[oldldh]

"Grinder Difugilty"!!!!

An absatively, posilutely most goodest word...

Why, it'll cover a heximulticomplication of stuff...

For a SAC weenie...

YA DUN GUD, BUBBA!!!

 

[DenisG]

Might be worth seeing if there's any grease in there.

Checked that. There's enough grease although most of it still looks white. I added a little oil to see if it might flow better. Most of the heat seems to be from the motor windings, although the gearbox gets pretty hot too. I've blown out the dust. Either the design for cooling the motor or the motor itself is poor.

Edit (for whoever cares): I took off the plastic shroud over the motor (one screw at the bottom) and checked the vents. They looked really small. Maybe it's a molding problem and the small vents are easily flashed over. I opened them up with a Dremel burr and re-assembled. Air flow seems much better thru the motor. The bottom vents are the intake and the air flow blows up towards the gearbox.

 

[sberry]

I am all about finding a bargain on these but I got to agree. I think HF has a better model for slightly more money that is pretty good. The BD at Wally is not bad at 30$ and sometimes less and a couple other economy models are good as recommended by some of the guys here.
Like the oscillating tool at Menards, the cheapest one is no good, the next one up the line is. Its the one that gets relabled. Performax looks identical, weight the same as the Dewalt and Rigid but for the color and may have a plastic cord which is better anyway, 1/2 the cost. They should really toss the 15$ grinder out of the line up and sell a good 30$ one.
For 50$ can buy a grinder that works as well as ones costing 100. The super cheap one wouldn't be dependable enough and what I do is keep 2 on a real service truck or gang box, and nib on the shelf I scored on super sale for 20$.

 

[Zeke]

A poster comes on here and explains nicely to us that while the HF boxes are nearly identical they contain different models (and it's even pictured correctly). I for one didn't really know this and normally don't pay that kind of attention so I appreciate the heads up. The OP even brings up a great word that I also had to look up — Difugilty

Meanwhile several of you are up on your soap boxes spewing your vitriol. Is anyone as tired of this as I am? :stfu:

 

[Todd.Brock]

Yes- HF has its place. After all it's made in China like Snap On.

Thanks for the heads up on the mixed up numbers. I have an orange grinder from HF. I think it's a central tools label vs drill master. It's the best 15 buck low use tool I have- other than the ocillating tool. And the free tarps... and the free AAA and AA batteries

 

[sberry]

I am not trying to soap but been down this road before. I owned a lot of them, on occasion bought 3 at a time and owned some for a long time. Most homebodies wont wear out a common 50$ grinder today and if they split the use with different wheels they last even longer to the point that the cord rots off of rubber ones. While the econo options do not have the peak power I learned to pace just a little and they will tire a professional fast enough and have decent power. Having enough power makes it last. I wrecked and broke about 3 of these in 10 years for a total of 80$, 10 bucks less than a DW402 which puked in about 1/2 the time. I still have old BD2750 I have babied but needs a cord repair and a Milwaukee, not nuts about. I really like a paddle but get used to the slide.
I had some in econo Bosch that disappeared with slide but like the BD a bit better and thought they had a little more power.

 

[Ign]

If it says Drill Masta, run fasta

 

[Alchymist]

Yes- HF has its place. After all it's made in China like Snap On.

Thanks for the heads up on the mixed up numbers. I have an orange grinder from HF. I think it's a central tools label vs drill master. It's the best 15 buck low use tool I have- other than the ocillating tool. And the free tarps... and the free AAA and AA batteries

My 7" & 9" are the orange HF. Had them over 15 years, still going.

 

[zendriver]

Meanwhile several of you are up on your soap boxes spewing your vitriol. Is anyone as tired of this as I am? :stfu:

Maybe they are defensive because They have paid a lot more money for what they feel is "better quality"

http://incompliancemag.com/robert-bosch-tools-recalls-100k-tools-for-overheating/

https://www.google.com/search?clien...0...1c..64.mobile-gws-serp..0.0.0.FAn8GzFJ4-M




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[Alchymist]

My 7" & 9" are the orange HF. Had them over 15 years, still going.

Also have the HF 1" belt sander, the propane blow torch, the sheet metal shear, and the oscillating tool. All have held up extremely well. Only thing I have had die was the little 43533 grinder, it needs a new pc board. Everything else I've used the heck out of with no problems. Guess I'm just lucky.

Oh yeah, have a $9.00 3/8" VS drill that I keep on my wood lathe bench for squaring pen blanks - it's 10 or more years old. Bought it originally when I worked in an aerospace plant just so I wouldn't have to trudge to the tool cage every time I needed a drill.

Really like this thing for sheet metal - works great on metal roofing. Completely renovated duct work when installing hew furnace when we purchased an old house upon retirement.
http://www.harborfreight.com/power-...auge-4-amp-heavy-duty-metal-shears-68199.html

 

[MrGiggles]

I wish I would have known there were two types.

I replaced my old orange HF grinder which finally died. They were selling the Drill Master grinders for 5.00 with a 50 dollar purchase, so I grabbed one. The side switch *****.

Otherwise it's not a bad grinder. Smoother than I expected. I'm sure the paddle switch model is worth the extra money though, it looks like a much better product.

 

[Alchymist]

The difugilty continues:

http://www.harborfreight.com/oscillating-multi-tool-62279.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/oscillating-multi-tool-68861.html

 

[Ign]

Maybe they are defensive because They have paid a lot more money for what they feel is "better quality"

http://incompliancemag.com/robert-bosch-tools-recalls-100k-tools-for-overheating/

https://www.google.com/search?clien...0...1c..64.mobile-gws-serp..0.0.0.FAn8GzFJ4-M

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***** Bosch had a recall. I've never owned a Bosch grinder, although I used to be tempted by 2-packs or 3-packs at Lowes.

Only laughable thing here is Harbor Freight just wouldn't bother w a recall, people expect their cheap grinders to fail AND burn up.

In all seriousness, grinder quality is more than how long a given grinder lasts. Comfort, ergonomics, guard adjustment, cord quality, VIBRATION and even noise/pitch are factors if you use grinders professionally.

IME the guys who fight for the HF grinders are either A) weekend warriors who don't know or can't appreciate better or B) young, strong and broke and not yet suffering forearm fatigue from excessive vibration.

We were all happy to live in a ****** studio apartment in our 20's and drive a Tercel w no a/c and no muffler, but as you get older (and arguably wiser) you appreciate the "finer" things in life....

That said, if anyone is on a budget & truly ENJOYS their cheap grinder, more power to you!

 

[Ign]

In thinking on this further, even though it'll fall on deaf ears:

Be kind to your body people. I'm not super old by any means but even now at 40 I wish I woulda done several things

-not thrown around NP205's alone (herniated and degenerated discs)
-WEAR SUNSCREEN (pre-cancer)
-wear respirator more often while welding, grinding, painting, and wire-wheeling rust
-other **** I can't remember

If you're at all for any reason prone to forearm injuries (tendonitis etc) or arthritis, just remember the $40 you saved on a grinder is barely a single co-pay at the doctor's office. Quality tools pay for themselves, esp when they make things easier on your body.

I know many think I'm exaggerating and someone knows an "old-timer" who's used HF grinders his whole life. Ok.

It's your body and your money, do what you will. I'm not campaigning against China and I'm not campaigning for any particular brand of grinder. I'm merely suggesting smoother, higher quality grinders are a good investment for many, many reasons.

 

[justanengineer]

Nice try, but you know what? I have HF, Craftsman, Hilti, Porter Cable, Bosch, and other power tools. They all work.

I thought the point of this thread was that your HF stopped working?

JMO but the fact that HF provides spare brushes and that you need them after only a decade reminds me why I buy Milwaukee....ironically one of which came from HF.


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[Zeke]

The difugilty continues:

http://www.harborfreight.com/oscillating-multi-tool-62279.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/oscillating-multi-tool-68861.html

I can't tell the difference other than one is "on" and the other "off." I often see 3 SKU's on a store rack label at the same price.

 

[Alchymist]

I thought the point of this thread was that your HF stopped working?

JMO but the fact that HF provides spare brushes and that you need them after only a decade reminds me why I buy Milwaukee....ironically one of which came from HF.


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No, the point of this thread was that the two grinders look quite similar on the box, were all stacked together, and one of them has a sucky side switch. the confusion arises from the similar packaging with different part numbers stacked together.

Besides, a brush from the one new grinder put the failing old grinder back in operation.

I can't tell the difference other than one is "on" and the other "off." I often see 3 SKU's on a store rack label at the same price.

Yep, problem is that there may be differences in the different part numbers that aren't apparent until you look close, and the packaging all looks alike and then stacked together.

 

[Alchymist]

Stopped by the nearest HF store while on a road trip, and was able to swap the side switch grinder for the top switch one.

 

[Mandres]

I think it's worth spending the extra $5 for the "Heavy Duty" version. http://www.harborfreight.com/4-12-in-5-amp-heavy-duty-angle-grinder-60372.html

AvE on youtube took one of these apart recently and was surprised and impressed.

 

[Alchymist]

I think it's worth spending the extra $5 for the "Heavy Duty" version. http://www.harborfreight.com/4-12-in-5-amp-heavy-duty-angle-grinder-60372.html

AvE on youtube took one of these apart recently and was surprised and impressed.

Probably good advice if not on a budget, but the one linked has the side switch again. Anyway, have 3 of the $15 ones set up with different disks, the difference in price would have bought a 4th of the cheaper ones.

Again, the original of the three is well over 15 years old, and with the one brush replaced, still going strong. But, it's HF, YMMV!

 

[Alchymist]

Put the two new grinders through the paces yesterday and today. Really like the new style switches. Push toward the head and they lock on, touch it anywhere and they pop off with a light touch. Probably next best thing to a paddle switch.

 

[Alchymist]

Wouldn't you know it - on sale for $9.99.