[AT] OT - Harbor Freight sliding miter saw update

H. L. Staples hlstaples at mcloudteleco.com
Mon Mar 1 13:42:34 PST 2004


Richard this is what I wrote at the time Charlie first talked about the saw,


"Charlie they seem to have an on going sale on the saw at the $99.99999
price.  I have had one for about 2 years and it has plenty of power.  The
first one out of the box had a problem with the cross slide, and was
cheerfully replaced by the local Harbor Freight store. 
 
This saw will quickly slice through a 2 X 6. And is easy to set for the
various angles.
 
One of the add on laser pointers would be really nice.  The pointer is more
than half the price of the saw." 
 
H. L. Staples
McLoud, Oklahoma----USA
 
 
-------Original Message-------
 
From: Antique tractor email discussion group
Date: 03/01/04 13:21:30
To: at at lists.antique-tractor.com
Subject: [AT] OT - Harbor Freight sliding miter saw update
 
My thanks (with reservations!) go to whoever alerted the list about the $99
deal for a 10" sliding compound miter saw deal at Harbor Freight.
 
I didn't feel comfortable with ordering the saw on-line due to worrying
about the possibility of finding a fault and then having to eat paying a
high freight charge to return the 50-pound saw for warrantee.  I checked
with the manager of my local HF store and he said since they don't stock
that model, it could NOT be returned to them if ordered on-line and it
proved to be faulty.  They only handle exchanges/refunds on items bought
directly though their store, not on catalog purchases.
 
So instead I bought the saw from a HF store 45 miles from me which did have
it in stock and would honor the warrantee if returned to them.  I hauled it
home, unpacked it, plugged it in, and squeezed the switch. It ran for about
half-a-second, then quit.
 
OK, figured I would do some simple troubleshooting before returning the
saw, just in case it was a bad wire connection at the plug or a switch
malfunction.  Continuity check, voltage check, etc. I'd rather fix it
myself, even if it took a few minutes, instead of doing a 90-mile round
trip to return the saw.  I mean, what's so hard about taking a switch out
of a power tool?  Right.  Took out the four screws which were securing the
plastic handle half, and as I was removing the half, SPROING!!!  The damn
thing had Jesus pins inside related to the safety interlocking
mechanism.  Jesus pins are, in case you don't know, small components that
spring out of equipment while being disassembled and wind up under the
workbench, lost in the dirt, out of sight twenty feet away, or otherwise
gone for good.  You then shout "Jesus!" very loudly.
 
The wiring checked out fine, the switch checked out fine, the brushes
checked out fine, the motor windings had continuity, no clue as to the
problem.  So I buttoned the saw back up (minus the several missing Jesus
pins!) and will return it soon for another one.  If this next one proves
bad too, I'll simply request a refund and forget about owning one.
 
Was wondering how the rest of you who bought these saws like them.  My
thoughts are that the construction seems typical of most Asian machinery,
being light (cost-cutting), and somewhat  Mickey Mouse in design,
especially when you look at things like adjustment procedures, etc.  But at
1/5 the price of an equivalent Makita or De Walt sliding miter saw, it
seems to have a place in a shop where it will just get occasional usage.
 
Provided it runs, that is!
 
 
Richard
 
 
Richard & Judy Walker
Monrovia, CA
 
richardwalker @ pobox.com
judywalker @ pobox.com
delete spaces to use addresses
 
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