Nice surprise Harbor Freight 14 inch chain saw

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jimdrea

jimdrea

New Member
Mar 5, 2014
50
South of Boston
I bought one yesterday with a 20% off coupon for 46 dollars. It needed extra chain oil but went right to work. I have never used a chain saw before and this little guy was perfect for me. I had to trim a cord of wood that was too big for the firebox in my Napoleon 1402 wood stove. All the splits were at least 24 inches long. This saw went right through them. It took me four hours but I was really impressed with this saw. Its not the most powerful but for me its perfect.
 
jimdrea said:
I bought one yesterday with a 20% off coupon for 46 dollars. It needed extra chain oil but went right to work. I have never used a chain saw before and this little guy was perfect for me. I had to trim a cord of wood that was too big for the firebox in my Napoleon 1402 wood stove. All the splits were at least 24 inches long. This saw went right through them. It took me four hours but I was really impressed with this saw. Its not the most powerful but for me its perfect.
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Hope it lasts for you. Have had issues with stuff purchased at Harbor Freight.
 
We have lots of stuff here on the farm from Harbor Freight, some of it good, some of it not so good. Hand tools such as Obstruction wrenches that you don't use a lot are fine. Tarps are fine, good as anyone elses Chinese tarps. At least HF allows reviews of their products on their site nowadays. Just bought one of their Predator 6.5hp engines this Fall for the hay elevator. Started on the first pull and is as smooth running as any Honda I've been around, time will tell if it holds up. If it doesn't we're out of $100 and BTW Honda GX engines are now made in Thailand. I think the only thing I've ever bought from HF that was a total failure was a tire plug kit, the plug insertion tool handle broke off in my hand, glad I was wearing a glove.
 
Grateful11 said:
We have lots of stuff here on the farm from Harbor Freight, some of it good, some of it not so good. Hand tools such as Obstruction wrenches that you don't use a lot are fine. Tarps are fine, good as anyone elses Chinese tarps. At least HF allows reviews of their products on their site nowadays. Just bought one of their Predator 6.5hp engines this Fall for the hay elevator. Started on the first pull and is as smooth running as any Honda I've been around, time will tell if it holds up. If it doesn't we're out of $100 and BTW Honda GX engines are now made in Thailand. I think the only thing I've ever bought from HF that was a total failure was a tire plug kit, the plug insertion tool handle broke off in my hand, glad I was wearing a glove.
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Hand tools I've purchased have been sub-par. Screwdriver blades bent etc. Bought a motorcycle jack ditto. Cylinder failed. That I returned. Battery operated drill as well. Wouldn't stay charged after s month. Never had the guts to buy anything bigger but glad you've had better luck!
 
F4jock said:
Hand tools I've purchased have been sub-par. Screwdriver blades bent etc. Bought a motorcycle jack ditto. Cylinder failed. That I returned. Battery operated drill as well. Wouldn't stay charged after s month. Never had the guts to buy anything bigger but glad you've had better luck!
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I don't know of anyone that has had any luck with their battery powered tools, wouldn't touch them. We've had excellent service out of our Craftsman C3 19.2V cordless tools, we have about 7 different tools from that system. I've got a HF corded 1/2" drill and pulls a 3/4" auger bit like a champ. I wouldn't touch their screwdrivers if they gave them to me, I like Craftsman and Klein screwdrivers. We've had a HF 2 1/2 ton floor jack for 17 years before it failed, it would lift one side of the front axle of a 12,000lbs. tractor, always put a big jack stand under there though. Recently bought their 4-ton floor jack and so far so good.
 
Be careful using an electric chainsaw. Where the clutch releases on a gas saw when you let off, not so on electrics which have a lot of torque left till they spin down.
 
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BrotherBart said:
Be careful using an electric chainsaw. Where the clutch releases on a gas saw when you let off, not so on electrics which have a lot of torque left till they spin down.
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We've got a 14" Earthwise we picked up at Aldi Foods a couple years ago for $40 and I've heard that about electrics but wasn't sure if it was true. So potentially they could be more dangerous than a gas saw?
 
Yep. Most chainsaw chaps have a warning on them about electric saws. The flywheel effect keeps the chain spinning with a lot of oomph left.
 
Grateful11 said:
We have lots of stuff here on the farm from Harbor Freight, some of it good, some of it not so good. Hand tools such as Obstruction wrenches that you don't use a lot are fine. Tarps are fine, good as anyone elses Chinese tarps. At least HF allows reviews of their products on their site nowadays. Just bought one of their Predator 6.5hp engines this Fall for the hay elevator. Started on the first pull and is as smooth running as any Honda I've been around, time will tell if it holds up. If it doesn't we're out of $100 and BTW Honda GX engines are now made in Thailand. I think the only thing I've ever bought from HF that was a total failure was a tire plug kit, the plug insertion tool handle broke off in my hand, glad I was wearing a glove.
Click to expand...

I bought the predator engine when they first came out a couple years ago for a power washer. I haven't had an issue yet. I feel I got my money's worth.
 
I couldn't count the HF gear in this place and cannot point to anything but one nine dollar re-chargable flashlight that has had a problem. And I bought two of them at the same time and the second one is on year three going strong.

The HF engine I replaced the Briggs with on the log splitter in 2006 is a sweetheart.
 
I have one of their sump pumps, works great for 8 years now.
 
I've had good luck at HF. 21 gal air compressor is 8 yo and only needed a pressure switch box ($9 on amazon). The diaphragm corrodes and blows a hole.

How long till we see this?

Chihl 5200 chicago tools.jpg
 
Bought a pallet jack for $199 from HF years ago to move some stuff when I had the small business. That dang thing has saved my back two dozen or more times doing things you never think about using a pallet jack for. Including moving stoves in and out of the house and up on that raised hearth of mine.

And pulling the wheels and brake drums as a unit on that 3/4 ton Suburban. The drums are 100 lb each. And installing the 338 pound grader blade on the tractor and on and on and on.
 
dougand3 said:
I've had good luck at HF. 21 gal air compressor is 8 yo and only needed a pressure switch box ($9 on amazon). The diaphragm corrodes and blows a hole.

How long till we see this?

View attachment 145482
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They did that five years ago and dropped them.
 
BrotherBart said:
They did that five years ago and dropped them.
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Too bad they dropped gas saws. Maybe they would cost the same as ebay with free shipping (~$90) but you could use 20% coupon.
 
Bought one of the eBay saws last year just because I was tired of reading people dumping on them when they hadn't ever had one. After a cord the clutch self destructed. Replaced it for nine bucks shipping included. After about three cord a bottom end bearing busted and it swallowed its guts. They replaced it and the replacement has done just fine. Not something Paul Bunyon would take to the woods but it starts and cuts wood. And is a damn site lighter than the big Poulan/Pioneer 23 pound puppy.
 
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