HF Products to avoid

[radhak]

A new discussion just to make it easier to find.

And since there is an older thread for this, we could always refer to it : Worst buys from HF.

Would be interesting if anybody's recent experience shows that passing of time has made any of the products in that thread better !

Anyway, the most detestable POS for me has been the 'Circle Cutter'.

[jhart]

Good list addition. Always hear about the good buys from HF, but not as much on the one's that are a POS

[dbhost]

I've got one...
Drill Master #38425 Hole Saw Kit...
The pilot bit "flat spot" where the set screw locks down is too far in.
The threads on the mandrel are very soft metal.
The combination of the two resulted in blown out threads and a wobbly hole saw... I have fixed it now by rethreading, replacing the bit with a throw out Ace bit... A real POS.

[dbhost]

Another one. #1852-7VGA Corner clamps. These things seem to be designed with self backing out threads. They simply don't hold... I had to fiddle too much with them to make them work for a glue up.

[dbhost]

Been a while since I brought it up, but the larger hole saw set (I do not recall the item #, and I can't find it on their site). They have one that goes up to 5". I used it on Hardi Panel KNOWING I would trash it. The abor is MUCH better than my earlier one, but the cups are only sort of round... I used them to more or less score the hardie, to provide a guide for where to cut with the jig saw... Other than that I can't think of any use beyond cutting drywall these could possibly be good for...

[dbhost]

#5889 29 piece Ti coated drill bit set. These were given to me by a friend. Must be made in the same factory as the hole saws. Not even close to the marked dimensions, and they tend to wobble in an eccentric manner.