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<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>Shawn,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>With all due respect, it depends upon
what kind of work you want to do. I completely understand that we don't
all have a great deal of $$ to sink at one time. However, if you buy cheap
tools to "get started", you may find yourself wishing you'd have gotten
something better to start off with. And, you may not. For a couple
reasons. First, you may feel that the job that some tools do is "good
enough" for you. Second, you may not realize that your tool is performing
at a substandard level, not having experienced anything a level above in
quality.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>I would really recommend that you
stay away from a vendor like Harbor freight for any precision machinery. I
purchase some items there, but basically find that they have kind of the
"disposable" model of many tools.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>I also would recommend that you
consider investing a little more $$ for a particular machine, and spread out
your purchases a little more, if necessary. I don't know of anyone who's
been unhappy that they bought a very high quality tool to begin with, but I know
from experience what it's like to be dissatisfied with a cheaper
tool.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>Try and find back issues of magazines
like Fine Woodworking, American Woodworker, or the like. They usually have
tool tests every issue or two, comparing many different makes and models of a
particular tool. It's worth the time to consider these reviews as well as
the peer reviews you may find here on the list.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>Remember, it's not just your first
shop, it's your only shop.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>Best of luck,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>William R. Monroe</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>An example of a tool I bought there
was a bead blasting cabinet. It works. I can blast things.
But, a lot of dust and beads, etc. get out because of a poorly sealed cabinet,
the media doesn't get into the inlet hose well as it is constantly moving about,
the plug that keeps the media in gets pushed out if you set the unit on a bench,
I had to make a lift for it to use. These kinds of things got me to buy
better tools.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>Shawn Brock wrote:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bookman Old Style" size=2>....</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Well well well, its about that time for me.
The fun time of choosing shop equipment! I have looked at Harbor Freight
for lots of hours now and its decision time for me. Do any of you have any
experience with Harbor Freight tools? If so what is the tool and what did
you think?...................</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
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