I saw the same flyer from HF also; I was wondering if they were
really worth the investment considering the unwritten law of “you get
what you pay for”. So the question is, are they worth buying?
Rene Howard
I was wondering if they were really worth the investment considering the unwritten law of "you get what you pay for". So the question is, are they worth buying?
Unabashedly yes, you won’t be disappointed in my opinion.
What you described is what I have found typical of anything machined in India, or frequently China. (I have the Harbor Freight set but I haven't even opened the box yet !) It just isn't the real stuff. Call me an ethnic snob (German Swiss on my father's side and French Swiss on my mother's) but I love anything made in Switzerland, or Germany for that matter. You can just see and feel the difference.
Whenever I mention a Harbor Freight piece in my line-up, I
invariably get a similar response. When I began stringing for my own
pleasure and to make gifts for family and friends, I purchased tools
and materials from the local craft shop(s). Cheap, inexpensive things
that allowed me to just get down to it… “right now”. Over the years
I’ve replaced (and continue to add to) my plier and cutter collection
with quality versions. But when I began taking jewelry making
classes, I found myself confronted with a whole new set of necessary
toys. While in the Art Center’s jewelry studio I could make and
create to my heart’s content. At home, I was limited by what I could
afford to buy. And as a new sole proprietorship at the time, that
really wasn’t much. A lot of my money went for classes, extra
materials I could use during open studio time, and materials for
pieces going into jewelry I intended to sell - the beads, stringing
materials and findings. My favorite instructor there echoed the
oft-repeated sentiment to “buy the best you can afford”… adding,
“but when you can’t afford the best, Harbor Freight will usually do.”
And, for the most part, she’s been right. I would love to be able to
buy all those wonderful things those jewelry supply sites we all know
and love, but sometimes, ya gotta do with what you can. I’ve been
ever so slowly incorporating pieces other than my old ‘strung beads’
designs into my inventory over the last several years, and as the
locals (and folks within my tradeshow radius) become familiar with
me and my designs, and I actually begin making a profit at this, I
hope to add the items on my growing wish list. But I’ve been doing
just fine with my Harbor Freight tumbler(s), Flex Shaft and 5-speed
drill press; and unless they give up the ghost, I expect they’ll get
to stay.
Having said all that, does anybody have experience or an opinion on
Harbor Freight’s ultrasonic cleaner?? The 1.5 quart $159 one?
My two cents, which is all I can afford right now,
Karan
If you search ebay, you can probably get a quality one cheaper,
either used or new, for around that price or a little more. There are
brand names new on ebay for around 175 (Crest, Gemoro, L&R).
V.
My favorite instructor there echoed the oft-repeated sentiment to "buy the best you can afford".. adding, "but when you can't afford the best, Harbor Freight will usually do."
I agree with this, on the whole, but want to add that sometimes you
just don’t know what you’re missing! I only use a disc punch where I
teach, since I can get along without it. Like all tools in a
community studio, the ones we have there are much used and much
abused. A student of mine bought her own for a project, and-- wonder
of wonders!-- when she taps it, the discs just punch right out! The
classroom one requires whacking with a small sledge (no kidding).
I’ve been limping along with a $150 eBay rolling mill, and I don’t
think I can stand it much longer… sigh…
Noel
Having said all that, does anybody have experience or an opinion on Harbor Freight's ultrasonic cleaner?? The 1.5 quart $159 one?
Well yes, unless someone hung the wrong tag on it in my store, it’s
on sale right now for $60.00.
Karan,
Having said all that, does anybody have experience or an opinion on Harbor Freight's ultrasonic cleaner?? The 1.5 quart $159 one?
My advice would be to check with Gesswein and see what they have in
their used and demo tool section. Andy Kroungold at Stuller may also
be able to help you. Some of the cheap cleaners just make noise and
jiggle the solution without cleaning very much. I bought a used/demo
model from Jules Borel many years ago and got several years of use
out of it.
James S. Cantrell CMBJ
If you search ebay, you can probably get a quality one cheaper, either used or new, for around that price or a little more. There are brand names new on ebay for around 175 (Crest, Gemoro, L&R).
This may be true, but watch out-- the main jewelry tool seller on
eBay seems to be <snip - Sorry, No ebay links on Orchid>. I bought a
few things from them–an ingot mold, drawplates, draw tongs-- and
they were really crappy. I would avoid them. That said, I have
gotten some great deals on eBay, too… a Kagan ring stretcher for
$100, some great cabbing slabs.
Noel