The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Harbor Freight Plasma Cutter

Anybody familiar with the HF plasma cutter? I did a google search and it came up. Theres looks very similar to a Campbell Hausfeld unit listed for $1,000. Slightly different specs but outer casing and control locations look nearly the same. I haven't purchased much from HF but it looks as though quite a few of you do.

I believe that we have a Lincoln brand at work. Tomorrow I will confirm what we do have, and if I have the time, I will try and compare the specs of each.

Thanks J. That HF Plasma cutter was listed for around $450. I did notice that the CH cutter did have a built in compressor so you don't need the bottle with you. I was just curious about the HF unit and why such big price differences. I have noticed that a number of posts have said buyers beware with the HF stuff but some have found a gem.

i've had good luck with the things i've purchased there, but do your research you definatley get what you pay for........dave

I dont like to run any place down,but Harbor Freight??all of their stuff seems to be of very poor quality.I have never seen anything in their store that I would buy regardless of the price,other than maybe sandpaper.

I recently bought a ball joint service kit from HF for $29.95. The comparable item from NAPA lists for $369.00. A friend of mine has had one of the HF ones for a couple of years and has no complaints. (He has a service garage, so it does get frequent use)

http://store.cyberweld.com/plasmacutters.html
kd, here's a link to some good ole' brand name plasma cutters. Ya might pay a bit more, but ya'll still be using it for years to come. I especially liked the one that cuts. tigs, or stick welds.
resto44------------keep on trukin'

You just have to watch what you're getting. They carry some perfectly good (and even some brand-name) stuff. Just because you had a lousy experience with one item you bought there... :rolleyes:

The other thing is how much are you going to use the plasma cutter? If this is a production body shop then you probably should go with a name brand. If its once or twice a year, then its probably fine. I have a number of the tools, chop saw, mitre saw, sawzall, sand blaster, some cheap grinders, etc. All work fine for the load that I am putting on them. Their HVLP paint guns are schlock ups of good ones and work well.

We do have a Lincoln at work, unfortunately I wasn't able to compare the specs. I think that unless I either had a chance to try out an off brand first before buying, or if I new someone that had one, I would have to lean toward a name brand unit.
Just my opinion, I always worry about finding replacement parts, or waranty work if it were to break down.

cmon GMC Panel,get real about Harbor Freight.I have visited their store many times and never got ripped off,because I can see the kind of stuff they are trying to pass off.There is not one power tool in there that I would consider having in my shop.All of their stuff is very shoddy.I sometimes walk thru there just for the fun of it.Do you get a kick out of copying my posts and reposting them with your remarks.As for your GMC trucks being real trucks,They are just Chevy rejects with a GMC nameplate.

Dale, I thought you were the one that ranted about the HF cart that bent the wheels. Sorry if I confused you with someone else.

If you're not willing to buy a factory-refurb Makita or other name-brand power tool from them at a good price, that's your problem. Shopping carefully, everything I've bought from them has worked fine.

GMC - heavier frame, better engine. Chebby = ugly grille that looks like a skirt, car engine with splash oiling. Anyway, the "Get a Real Truck!" thing was an old GMC marketing slogan. :rolleyes:

You just have to be carefull about what you buy. There is some good stuff and a lot of cheap junk.

Builder is right. HF is cool to me. I got a 24" crescent wrench for 17 bucks and a 15" for 6.99 (she rang that one up wrong). They are pittsburgh brand, liftime warranty (if I pay shipping), but anyway...I will probably use these wrenches about...2X a year, each time will make it worth the cheap price, and they look cool hanging up...HUGE. Power tools---yep they are cheapies...but they are priced cheap as well. I have no complaints about HF. You get what you pay for, and if you buy cheap stuff, you can be careful and make it work. I love cheap stuff. I need to stop typing. And come on guys, lets all have happy thoughts/discussions on here. If you hate harbor freight, I won't get mad at you--it saves more deals for me. And if you have a chevy, ford, gmc...whatever---it is ok with me too. "can't we all just get along?" Anyway--I also have a hand full of 3 jawed pullers from there that collectively cost me under 20 bucks..and they got me out of a few jams. I bent my gear puller I got from there, but I was cranking on it really hard so.... about the plasma cutter---if you arne't going to use it everyday till the end of time, geta cheap one and treat it like royalty so it will last a while. Keep it inside a warm heated place in the winter etc....you'll be fine. Good luck.

I've used HF with mostly good results. The last big purchase I made was an 8000 lb winch that's so far performed flawlessly. A bit slow yes, but also always works. I've put some use on it too, under water, in mud, whatever. On most of their stuff they have an extended warranty you can pick up...on the occasions I had to use it (tore up the cable<--my fault), they replaced everything no questions asked. If I didn't have a store close by, I don't know if I'd purchase so many of their items. But, since I do have a store close by, it's a great piece of mind that they'll replace just about anything I break and bring back in...