Lee Valley Drill Press Table (HF clone?)

[pelligrini]

I was flipping through the latest Lee Valley catalog that I got with my shipment from the recent Jig-Hardware package deal and noticed that their new drill press table looked very familiar. It was the fence that really stood out. 'Hey, I know that fence. I got mine at Harbor Freight!"

It is basically the same router fence that Harbor Freight closed out last year. I picked up a couple and put one on my drill press table. When I pulled up the item on the website I realized that the hold down, and t-slot tracks are also HF items. Looks like they added some end caps to the extrusions and changed the paint job. The catalog shows a rear view. Everything is the same as my HF fence; hardware, bracket, cheesy dust collection port, etc.

It does make a pretty decent drill press fence. I'm glad I got mine for $10 at HF

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/pag...at=1,240,41060
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=41068

[pelligrini]

Wow, I thought someone might comment on Lee Valley carrying some Harbor Freight items. I was pretty surprised seeing them in their catalog.

[sweensdv]

Just because somethings look the same doesn't mean that they are the same. I'm not saying that they aren't but being a customer of both places I've yet to see anything from HF compare, quality wise, to anything from Lee Valley.

[pelligrini]

I'm pretty darn sure they are the same. I do believe the items have been discontinued at HF. I would bet Lee Valley would hold the manufacturer to some better quality standards though. My HF fence and hold downs use the same T-nut as in the photos below. All of the knobs pictured in the Lee Valley ads are just like the ones on my HF fence. I've never seen an actual table like the LV one at HF though, most all the parts that go to the LV one have been past HF items.

HF Hold Down:

Lee Valley Hold Down:

[BrazosJake]

What Dave said.

They could be made in the same factory in China, but I'll bet on Lee Valley being the better product.

Don't use Lee Valley's name in vain by comparing their products to the discount place!

[Cochese]

Porter Cable is a name, too. But they've farmed it out recently and isn't worth as much. It happens.

The HF vise I have is an exact duplicate of a Shop Fox one.

[Mr__Bill]

Perhaps, Harbor Freight was selling a Lee Valley product.

[pelligrini]

Perhaps, Harbor Freight was selling a Lee Valley product.

Hehe, possibly...

The drill press table was listed on the next to last page of the latest LV catalog tagged as a new item.

I really do like those hold downs. I have an Incra hold down and it works OK, but I find that the ones pictured above are easier to use for me.

Another LV product that bears some extremely similar resemblances to a HF tool is their transfer punch set. I got mine at HF last year (along with that fence). Mine had the same green plastic holder like the one at LV.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/pag...92&cat=1,43456
http://www.harborfreight.com/28-piec...-set-3577.html