Subforum suggestion.

i would say harbor freight has stepped up there game in the last 10 years, craftsman on the other hand. has really gone down hill in the last 10 years, to my understanding they have already done away with the lifetime guarantee. very little of it is made in the usa now. there only selling items by there name now days not by quality. where i think harbor freight has been trying to improve there reputation.

i don't think i would buy a drill press from harbor freight tho. i have a old drill press i bought second hand that still cost more than a new harbor freight unit but back then a drill press costs a months or more wages vrs a day or two wages for the average person. when it comes to power tools and specialty tools and precision tools. i would say buyer beware. its a gamble. they typically are pretty good about no questions asked returns however. for a power tool if its going to be used heavily i would say buyer beware, i have had good luck with there pneumatic power tools however. you have to decide if the price point is worth the risk or not, and if its junk iv never had them fuss about returns or exchanges. most power tools come with at least a 1 year guarantee or more. and i have returned stuff that wasn't broken just was not good quality and they never questioned me.

there plus side on some of the specialty stuff is most of it does work once or twice at a much lower price point than quality so if its something you are only going to use once or twice it might be worth it.

another thing with harbor freight is i would take there weight ratings and cut them by atleast 25% if you need a 12 ton bottle jack buy a 20 if you need a 15 ton press buy a 20 ton press. if you need a 1 ton floor jack buy a 2 ton. same for a porta power ect. i think they tend to over rate there stuff on its capacity.