Bauer tools

[rjweb]

Does anyone know who makes harbor freight Bauer tools, thx RJ 

[Bill WIlson]

The innerweb seems kind of vague on this subject.  Most sites just parrot the same press release info you get on Harbor Freight's website.  Near as I can tell, HF contracts with several manufacturers, probably in China.  Those same production lines likely make tools for other brands.  They may well be independent subcontractors and not necessarily owned or operated by one of the major tool brands.  

[rash_powder]

If you watch closely a lot of HF tools have multiple part numbers for the same tool; usually with no difference or very subtle differences.  Its quite likely they spec a tool and whatever outfit can build it to spec most cheaply for a particular run gets the contract.

[OCtoolguy]

Many different small villages in China. I'm sure. Sort of like Afghanistan. Everybody there can build a fire and forge a rifle.

 

[rjweb]

Thx for the info, I was just wondering, not buying any power tools from harbor freight, RJ

[kmmcrafts]

Some of them are the exact same look as another brand I've seen but can't think of what brand it was now, lol... 

I've bought my share of their tools and for light use most of them worked for what I needed.. other than one sawzall I bought about 12 years ago to cut some PCV pipe for some drain work I was doing for my septic / drainfield system.. the (unknown brand name) tool from there cut through the first piece of 4" pipe just fine but half way through the second cut the plastic gears inside the tool stripped and then something come apart and smoke rolled out of the motor.. I'd of been happy with the tool if it would have lasted through about 6-8 more cuts so I could finish the job.. BUT.. the $6.99 I paid for it I guess I got what I paid for.   I think they've been stepping up in quality over the last 5-6 years though.. I have a cordless impact that has taken a beating and still going strong.. Bought the Bauer brand leaf blower to blow the leaves out of the driveway so I can mulch them up with the mower without throwing rocks everywhere.. works great for blowing sawdust that has settles on my shop lights and blow the dust out the garage door instead of sweeping it up, LOL 

[OCtoolguy]

2 hours ago, rjweb said:

Thx for the info, I was just wondering, not buying any power tools from harbor freight, RJ

I've bought quite a few. No complaints. They will out last me.

[scrollingforsanity]

I have a Bauer planer and it works great. I only use it occasionally that's why I didn't go the extra bucks for a Dewalt. I also have a Bauer 4x36 sander with a 6in disc. Works great. The only complaint on the sander is the table for the disc has no support arm under it. If you happen to put a little pressure on it it moves. I keep it at 90 degrees and check it often. I was in HF the other day and checked their floor model. they have not changed anything, but it was solid as a rock. I couldn't get it to move and I put a lot of pressure on it. Course it's to late to exchange mine. Anyway, they have some decent tools and some not so good. I checked all the sander reviews before I purchased mine and their are a half dozen brands out there that look exactly a like. 

 

[BadBob]

I have three Bauer sanders, two random orbit sanders, and one 1/4-sheet orbital sander. I bought these so I would not need to change paper between grits and because they were the only ones I could find that had a round dust port that I could adapt quickly for connecting to my shop vacuum. They work well enough but are in a different class than my Hitachi sander.