Used my HF 20% coupon

[radkins]

Just yesterday I mentioned in another thread that I phoned HF and asked if I could use my 20% coupon on the special order merchandise that they have in the book up front. Before I could finish asking the lady on the other end told me that no the coupon was good for in-stock merchandise only so I just figured that's it. Well today I was in there and my wife was checking out with some Christmas gifts (my wife likes HF!:) ) and I just casually asked the girl at the check out if I could use the coupon to buy a lathe. She said "I don't see why not" and then asked the manager who said "sure, he can use it on any order in the special order book". Well the item no.40576 14x40 Engine lathe is $3499.95 on the web site but it is on sale right now for $3199.00 so with the discount coupon I bought this 14x40 Engine lathe for a total of $2795.93 including sales tax! This thing appears to be the same, except for the color, 14x40 lathe that Enco has on sale right now for just a few cents short of $4000 or at least the outward appearance and the spec sheet are identical. I don't know if Enco quality is any better but from what I have seen from Enco their quality on imports is nothing to brag about anyway. I do know that the little Jet 9x20 is the same EXACT machine as the one from HF just a different color and the Jet came with fewer accessories for nearly twice the cost- $999 for the Jet vs $599 for the HF at the time.

[MickeyD]

Congrats on the new lathe. I saw a review a couple of years ago and the guy was happy with his. And if it sucks, they have a great return policy. I used mine to buy one of their little ultrasonic cleaners and I am tickled pink by it. It works amazingly well. But just in case, I did buy the extended warranty...

[MTNGUN]

Smart. You saved enough money to pay for a VFD and 3phase motor, if the need arises.

[radkins]

It comes with a 3 phase motor so I will have to use a converter, I already have a static converter for 3 to 5 HP so I guess I will have to use that at first. I don't know much about VFDs except for what they do and any advice concerning this lathe and buying/using a VFD would be appreciated.

[gnm109]

That lathe was probably built in the same building as Enco. It will work very nicely for you. I have an Enco 13 X 40 that I bought in 1994 and it's still going strong and still does a good job.

The only bad thing is that now you wll have to listen to all of the digs and nasty comments about buying a machine tool that was built on Mainland China and, oh dear, if only you could have gotten something from Taiwan, or better yet, rebuilt a 65 year old American lathe how much better off you would be. Right. Your comment on Enco tells me that you've been at least partially affected by the talk.

I also have a Harbor Freight (Rong Fu variant) Mill Drill that works just fine for my operation, thank you. It will continue do me just fine until somone decides to sell me a Bridgeport or equivalent at a reasonable price.

It sounds to me like you got one heck of a good deal. I sncerely hope you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed mine. I no longer listen to the naysayers. I suggest that you do the same.

:)

[lazlo]

I used mine to buy one of their little ultrasonic cleaners and I am tickled pink by it. It works amazingly well. But just in case, I did buy the extended warranty...

As I told Mike on the phone last night, I'm on my third HF ultrasonic cleaner :) They work great at first, but the piezoelectric crystal shakes loose, and it gets weaker and weaker over time.

Best thing since sliced bread for cleaning old nuts bolts though...

[mlucek]

Dannnnnnggggggg :( I came down with some sort of flu on Thurs nite and was in no condition the last 2 days to go anywhere. So I didn't make it down to the local H/F to get something :mad:

Oh well, $ I didn't need to spend anyway :eek:

Mike

[radkins]

The only bad thing is that now you wll have to listen to all of the digs and nasty comments about buying a machine tool that was built on Mainland China and, oh dear, if only you could have gotten something from Taiwan, or better yet, rebuilt a 65 year old American lathe how much better off you would be.:)


I tried for a long time to buy American when possible but with every dang thing and the box it comes in being made in China these days whats the use of worrying about it? As far as the quality of one brand of China lathe compared to another I still get a little ticked off over that Jet 9x20. Everyone said that the HF version was just a cheap knock-off counterfeit version of the Jet and the Jet was much better built and worth the extra cost. Well I have since had the opportunity to compare the two with a "hands on" comparison and the only difference is the color and about $500, that and the fact the HF version comes with a splash guard and live center that the higher cost Jet does not have!

[Silverback]

which ultrasonic cleaner are you guys talking about, the little white one that's been around for a while or the newer, bigger stainless one?

I planned on using my coupon, but I didn't make it out...

[MickeyD]

The one that I got was the 95563. So far so good.

[lazlo]

The one that I got was the 95563. So far so good.

Yep, that's the one I have :)