Harbor Freight tools?

[Eric Friedman]

I've been very happy with my Carter and Son tools. But I've had a few occasions where I've needed to turn a spindle and I don't have a roughing gouge for that. So I've been knocking corners off on the bandsaw and doing the rest with a bowl gouge and a lot of sharpening.

Given how infrequently I do this, I was wondering if the Harbor Freight gouge is of acceptable quality? Their set is about $50 and also includes other tools I don't have. if they aren't TERRIBLE, I figure I could use them for a while and then step up if I find the need.

Thanks for your help

 

[Aaron Sluis]

The Bauer set is hss and not too bad. That set is carbon steel, has some odd choices, and does not include an SRG. I'd go with the Bauer.

 

[Rick Moreton]

Either set from Harbor freight will work, but I would also go with the HSS Bauer set. You are less likely to mess with the temper of the steel when sharpening.

 

[Joel Daniels]

I have the HSS set - specifically for the SRG. It works just fine. Since I use it on a lot of bark covered spindle blanks, I don’t mind having to sharpen it all the time.

I then re-ground the other tools into various “specialty” tools. I put an asymmetric grind on the gouge (I think it’s a spindle gouge) and really like that grind (see Richard Raffan and Tomi Tomasic videos).