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The Woodturning Forum - Woodturner's Resource › Woodturning Forum › Tool Talk › Harbor Freights Bauer Set

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Harbor Freights Bauer Set (Read 318 times)

Rod Cohen

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WR Rocks!

Posts: 19

Ringoes, NJ
New Jersey
USA
Gender: male

Harbor Freights Bauer Set
Mar 30^th, 2024 at 4:39pm

Hi All,

Did a quick search to see if I could find some thoughts on the 6-piece set Harbor Freight sells (link below) and didn't find anything (perhaps that answers my question, lol!)

I'm curious if anyone has any experience with them, and while I don't expect them to be contenders with the more respectable tool names out the, would they be worthwhile as entry level tools for someone such as myself, almost exclusively familiar with carbide insert type tools.

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Thanks for any feedback!
Rod

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Ron Sardo

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Chief cook and bottle
washer

Posts: 9,691

Drums
Pennsylvania
USA

PM 3520

Re: Harbor Freights Bauer Set
Reply #1 - Mar 31^st, 2024 at 6:29am

I bought a 6 piece set from Harbor Freight 20-25 years ago. From the image the only noticeable difference is the oval skew. The one that came with my set was a flat skew. I liked the parting tool, hated the spindle roughing gouge. I changed the profile on the other two gouges and scraper.

Since these are HSS they'll need to be sharpen more often. At the very least, they are good tools to learn how to sharpen.

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Bill Neff WR Addict Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 1,012 Barronett Wisconsin USA Gender: Jet 1642EVS	Re: Harbor Freights Bauer Set Reply #2 - Mar 31^st, 2024 at 7:51am I had a similar set to start with. The scrapers have been reground a several times over the years to a different shape to meet a need.
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David Moeller

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Old chiseler

Posts: 323

Linden
Michigan
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Gender: male

LAGUNA REVO 15X24
CONOVER 15 x Infinity
Long gone: Shopsmith, Myford ML8, Homebuilt bowl lathe, NOVA benchtop, Delta 46-715 and a Unimat.

Re: Harbor Freights Bauer Set
Reply #3 - Mar 31^st, 2024 at 3:58pm

There is nothing inherently 'wrong' with these and comparable sets. I started with chisels that came with a used 1955 Shopsmith. Peter Child used these, Palmer Sharpless turned replacement spindles for Independence Hall, Bob Stocksdale began with them. They can take a good edge and force you to learn sharpening. After you stop grinding blue edges, wonky bevels and weird shapes, you can move up to the few you will rely on for most of what you turn.

Everyone has 1 redeeming feature: they're biodegradable

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Rod Cohen WR Noob Offline WR Rocks! Posts: 19 Ringoes, NJ New Jersey USA Gender:	Re: Harbor Freights Bauer Set Reply #4 - Apr 1^st, 2024 at 12:23pm I think you guys all nailed in terms of my expectations, and where the 'limitations' may really lie (more with my abilities than the tools themselves. ) Will definitely feel less bad grinding these down, lord knows the shades of blue I've seen so far!
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Ed Weber WR Administrator WR Patron Offline Posts: 8,974 Wilton California USA Gender: JET 1642 Grizzly G0584	Re: Harbor Freights Bauer Set Reply #5 - Apr 1^st, 2024 at 1:23pm I have the exact same set I bought about 20 years ago, with no branding. I still use the parting tool and the SRG, though they have been rehandled.
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David Moeller Senior Member Offline Old chiseler Posts: 323 Linden Michigan USA Gender: LAGUNA REVO 15X24 CONOVER 15 x Infinity Long gone: Shopsmith, Myford ML8, Homebuilt bowl lathe, NOVA benchtop, Delta 46-715 and a Unimat.	Re: Harbor Freights Bauer Set Reply #6 - Apr 1^st, 2024 at 4:26pm ED: I got the Shopsmith tools around 1970. I still use the parting tool. I replaced the blade twice and made two new handles so far.
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