slot cutters at harbor freight

[TheChairmanH2K]

hey guys/gals

was in harbor freight the other day and saw a 6 piece (pretty sure) slot cutter set for $27 i think it was.  anyone have experience or recommendations for this set? 

[NoBullMAME]

Do you mean this set: http://www.harborfreight.com/7-pc-c3-carbide-three-wing-slot-cutter-set-93371.html

They are carbide tipped, so they might be okay for occasional use. Honestly, the quality of the tools from Harbor Freight is often sub-par. I prefer band name like Amana (I buy mine from http://www.toolstoday.com).

I'm not a wood working expert, but I can tell you a good slot bit should last a long time. I've had mine for over a year (gets lots of use). That being said, it's 3-wing--which is nice--and might be fine for light use.

[EvilNuff]

The quality of tools at harbor freight is almost always sub par...but they're so cheap that its often worth it anyways.

[r32]

I agree that Harbor Freight bits are cheap, but they are sub-par.

I prefer these types of bits for smoother and safer cuts.

I prefer Katana from MLCS
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/routerbit.html

and the Premium Katana
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/kathome.htm

Or Whiteside or Frued brand routerbits. IMHO, they are worth the money.

[ChadTower]

The quality of tools at harbor freight is almost always sub par...but they're so cheap that its often worth it anyways.

ALWAYS sub par to the point where DOA is common.  Failure on first use is also common.  I finally gave up on them when I got two dangerously defective compressors there.  Don't get anything there that could get you hurt because it just might.

[DaOld Man]

I bought a hammer drill once from a traveling tool sale thing (I dont think it was harbor freight but very similar prices).
They come to town about twice a year and set up in the National Guard Armory.
Very cheap prices.
I think I paid 10 bucks for the 1/2" drive hammer drill. I needed to drill about 20 holes in a concrete pad for anchor bolts, so I figured it would last that long, surely.
But, as always, I was wrong.
On the first hole, I got about half the needed depth and the drill started making a funny noise, then pieces of plastic starting flying out of the air vents around the brushes. Then the thing locked up and got pretty hot before i could release the trigger. After it cooled down, it went straight to the trash can.
I wound up borrowing a friends Milwaukee drill (which by the way are excellent hammer drills).
So I shy away from buying ANY cheap tools, especially ones expected to do serious work. (Such as a high speed slot cutters and other router bits).

[drventure]

Not to knock you guys, 'cause, yes, you can tell the HF stuff is crap just by looking at it,

But....

The stuff I've bought there has held up pretty well. Certainly better than I was expecting it to anyway.

Probably more "luck of the draw" than anything.

[Donkbaca]

Just curious, but why would you need a set of slot cutters? For 27 bucks you can get a good slot cutter for t- molding

[TheChairmanH2K]

@nobullmame - i believe that is the set, yes. 

and i have to disagree with pretty much all of you guys.  ive bought a number of tools, accessories, etc. from HF over the last 6 years and have had excellent performance.  many of those tools were used in a complete demo and rebuild of a house and used by myself and a few other people working on the house with me.  not to say they wont fail, like any tool could, but all i can say is i got a Dewalt's  or Makita's moneys worth out of the stuff i got at HF.

and to the last post, again maybe its just me, but i dont believe in buying one item for a certain price when i can get multiple similar items for that same price.  guess its my rarely seen frugal side talkin.  thanks all for the responses though.

[Homer41]

I bought the slot cutters from HF and I'm still alive after using them  I went there cuz HD and Lowes didn't have any slot cutters and I didn't want to go to Rockler because they are ridiculously expensive!!! You can get some good stuff there, just picked up casters there today. Would stay away from power tools, cheap chinese crap. Found out the drywall square I bought there a few years ago isn't exactly square.....found this out about halfway through cutting pieces for my cab 

[D_Harris]

I do go the cheap route when I can,but you have to know what you are buying.

I have Whiteside slot cutters and Trim bits because routing bits are on the list of things you really shouldn't go cheap on.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

[knave]

It's been my experience that most non electric tools from HF hold up pretty well with the moderate use I put them through. I think that these bits would be pretty solid. With a 20% off coupon they are around $22, plus I can get a clamp/screwdriver set/flashlight for free with the purchase.

I'll have to pick up a set and see...

...It's an added bonus that I don't have to wait or pay for shipping.

[ghettodish]

I bought my Bosch slot cutter at Lowes (Bosch 1.875" Carbide Router Bit) and have no regrets. I've used it a lot and it still has a few miles left on it. It's listed on their website for $19.00 but I bought mine on sale for $9.00.

I have a Harbor Freight near my house. I buy their stuff all the time...Hole saw sets go in my shopping cart by the 6-pack.  I've bought trailers, air and power tools (as back-ups to my "real" tools), and hand tools by the cartload. My only tool failures were an automatic wire-stripper that unsprung all over my living room after the 2nd use, and a doorknob hole-saw set that had parts that didn't fit together.

[miles2912]

@nobullmame - i believe that is the set, yes. 

and i have to disagree with pretty much all of you guys.  ive bought a number of tools, accessories, etc. from HF over the last 6 years and have had excellent performance.  many of those tools were used in a complete demo and rebuild of a house and used by myself and a few other people working on the house with me.  not to say they wont fail, like any tool could, but all i can say is i got a Dewalt's  or Makita's moneys worth out of the stuff i got at HF.

and to the last post, again maybe its just me, but i dont believe in buying one item for a certain price when i can get multiple similar items for that same price.  guess its my rarely seen frugal side talkin.  thanks all for the responses though.

I agree 100%.  Unless you have the money to burn.

[rmusick]

HF is a great place for "Disposable Tools" lol.  Seriously some of the stuff is good, for instance I bought one of thost straight edges you can clamp down,  been working great.  Did by a drill from them..not so much luck, but hey I wasnt out but a few dollars on it.

[RandyT]

I like HF.  It has allowed me to own a lot of tools I would not have purchased otherwise, and on the few instances I have needed them, they have usually been there in one piece, waiting to go to work. 

That being said, unless you need to cut some slots for something other than T-molding (only one from the set is useful for that), have a 1/2" collet on your router (not common on small ones) and don't mind the possibility that they might burn up on you after a few uses, then you might want to stick to the good ones.

[codecrank]

Just bought that set to do some t-molding work on a cab. They performed just fine.

[Donkbaca]

That being said, unless you need to cut some slots for something other than T-molding (only one from the set is useful for that),

Someone please explain to me why you need multiple slot cutter sizes for a cab?  I'm with Randy on this one...

[michelevit]

I bought a set of slot cutters at harbor freight and they work great. I've routed grooves for t-molding on over 10 cabs and they still are fine.
Go for it.