Cental Pneumatic tools from Harbor Freight?

[bigJake]

What experience do you guys have with pneumatic tools from Harbor Freight? I don't expect much quality when I buy stuff there so it's usually not high tech stuff that I buy. But I bought a Central Pneumatic Impact Driver at their sidewalk sale like 2 months ago for 50% off for like $22. Used it for the first time yesterday. I have a 220V 6.5HP 33 gal compressor so air pressure is not a problem. I hooked it up pulled the trigger and it ran for like 15 seconds then just start blowing air out the front. I pissed around with it for a couple minutes and got it running again but it didn't have the power to take the lugs off my truck. After I loosened the lugs by hand it zipped em right off, but I got it to save some strain on my bad back so it's useless as is. It says to run at max of 90 PSI and it supposedly handles up to 150 ft lb. Unless the gauge on my compressor is bad I had it at 90 psi.

My only other experience with Central Pneumatic tools is I bought a brad nailer that worked for about an hour then that too just started blowing air from around the housing.

So is all Central Pneumatic stuff just a piece of sh*t or did I get unlucky with the 2 pieces I bought? I know you get what you pay for, but I figured I'd use the thing like twice a year so figured I'd give it a try.

Just remembered I bought a cheap grinder there once and after about an hours use smoke started pouring off the motor.

So what experience do you guys have with their stuff?

 

[fractus]

Their hand tools are fine. Pnuematic tools are p.o.s. I have 2 of their brad nailers work fine 3/4"-2", also a framing nailer. They are a time saver. Impacts p.o.s. NEVER enough torque as they claim. I have a 2hp hotdog compressor to take to jobs will run said nailers. Little die grinder/dremel/dentist drill works well. I guess all in all I wouldn't make a living with their tools and when I'm somewhere where I need to "modify" one of the tools to do the job I do it w/o hesitation. Oh yeah I have a 2hp electric demolition hammer; sweet for all this kaliche. I use it rather than a "Texas Toothpick" (rockbar) Had it 2yrs and used it maybe 10hrs with no problem.

 

[LouDoo]

Jake,

Take it back to Harbor Freight, they'll give you another one, they have a great return policy, the problem is that they will give you another POS.

Lou

 

[fractus]

POS is a POS. It's still a POS. Yes they take it back though!

 

[Dr Honda]

The old air tools were great. I have a bunch, and they all work. (and they are probably pushing 15 years old) The new impacts SUCK. My buddy went through 3 of them, and none worked out of the box. They would just stall.

Some of the other tools are still OK. Like the air drill, die grinder, and the 3" cut-off tool.

In the shop... I use I.R. impact tools.

 

[fractus]

Oh yeah the 3" cutoff rocks.:thumbsup: Have 30 repalcement blades have used 4 of them in 2yrs!