toystore for guys.

We’re working on Halloween props. (less than 80 days remaining!) And it occurs to me that an odd fiddly site should talk about the things that make odd fiddly things.

Harbor Freight

Permits me to make more fiddly things than any other source of tools. Mostly because their stuff is so darned cheap. Let’s make something clear: These are not tools you buy if you need to make a living. If your livelihood depends on your tools, spend more money. But if you’re just puttering around the garage,

Harbor Freight makes great kits that make great tools

By that I mean: If you buy something from them, you may have to do a little disassembly and cleanup. My Mill, for example, was dirt cheap at $350 with local pickup, but it required some TLC to clean up, lube and adjust. It also required a kit to convert it from nylon gears to belt drive. Now it’s a pretty neat little tool, even if it’s design envelope is a little small.

The second best tool I own is a harbor freight band-saw. In the years I’ve owned it, I’ve replaced the lube with something that actually had petroleum products in it, replaced the drive belt, and put a real blade on it (it came with crap).

Now, there’s a certain demographic that says ‘If you bought a better tool, you wouldn’t have had to so that in the first place.’ In a lot of things I completely agree. But in this case, the ‘good tool’ is $340 with shipping and the Harbor Freight saw was originally $219.. on sale for $175, with an additional 20% off coupon…bringing it to $140. There’s an AWFUL lot of float between $340 and $140… There’s some thought that it’s the same saw, made by the same company, it just has better paint and a little better QA from the other manufacturer. (hint: it rhymes with ‘Grizzly’).

The other tool I’ve been using a lot lately is HF’s belt sander. I seem to recall it costing all of $35. (on sale, after coupon) Which brings up the coupon: HF _frequently_ releases a 20% off coupon. In fact, in google you only have to get so far as ‘20% ha’ before it knows you’re searching for that coupon. See here.

At any rate, we’re working on bits and pieces for the next big addition to our Haunted House. I won’t spill what it is, but it has something to do with Herr Doktor Frankenstein

Tags: halloween, Harbor Freight, kits, sander, saw