[timothale]

I bought a HF floor sample, both sets of dies and holder, for $ 29, I had prints for a merschant but the dies are expensive ..I made my own kick stand, plan on making another holder so I don't have to change dies. I have been thinking about putting on an adjustable stop so it would have some features like a merschant , not depend on having an easy foot for less shrinking. Lazze has a video on how to polish out the back sides of the dies and press so they work better.
For deeper panel shrinking I am converting an old Ideal cardboard box staple machine into a dedicated thumb nail shrinker, It has a big cast iron C frame, 1 in drive shaft, It will only have about .090 in stroke and the upper tool holder will be located with 2 adjustable tie rods. I have been searching the metal meet, metal shapers forums for ideas.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by BOBCRMAN@aol.com

Harbor Freight makes nothing. They are a retailer and buy their stuff just like all retailers.
Where its made is of secondary importance. Just like many other retailers. Just look at other brands. Eastwoods stuff is import also. Made for/sold by/packaged for, all catch words for imported.

I'm sorry, of course HF "makes" nothing, but I believe they "have" it made, I believe they are a little more than simply a retailer of products made by others that are available elsewhere. I see a lot of stuff like those english wheels and engine stands and stuff like that nowhere else but at the Harbor Freight store, thus I was under the impression they are having many of these products made for THEM to sell at their stores and they are available no where else.

For instance the whole "Chicago Electric" name is it sold anywhere else? I don't think it's simply a relabeled toll manufactured product that is available under a different name at another store. I believe, I could be wrong, but I believe Chicago Electric along with many other names at Harbor Freight are made for them and for them only.



Brian

[deadbodyman]

Originally Posted by BOBCRMAN@aol.com

Woodward does offer a double body set, like mine. From what I've seen the bodies are all the same. from the cheapies to the more expensive and most of the internals interchange.

Probably like a lot of other items. One manufacturer actually does the parts and various retailers sell them as theirs.

Or China just ignores the international patent laws and copies (steal) the good ones....

[69 widetrack]

So true Mike...sometimes the worst thing you can do is patent something. A patent only last for 17 years and then the contents are open to the public. You still have a patent and by law it can't be copied however, what many larger company's do is look at the patent, weigh out if the information is valid and if they can reproduce what's inside the patent with enough financial upside to pay infringement costs. Then go ahead, mass produce the product, sometimes using cheaper materials, all to make a dollar. In my opinion a patent only protects you from honest people.

Ray

[timothale]

I had a friend that had a PHD in chemical engineering, He had several patents dealing with computer chip processes. He always said no one should be able to duplicate your patent from the drawings, you need a secret ingredient- process to make it work. But if they steal it, be able to sue them.

[69 widetrack]

Exactly right...be able to sue them, without money behind you to protect your patent, your still right, but if the case is that you can't financially back the patent, your DEAD right.

Ray

[Riot Racing]

Man you guys went realyl off topic.

[Riot Racing]

Originally Posted by deadbodyman

Heres the deal.Spending hundreds of dollars on a tool is tough and you dont want to waste money on some crap that dont work well or last long so I had tough time deciding on woodwards combo set or the HF set up
.Before I bought mine I had the opertunity to borrow and use the HF for a few months, it worked great but I got one heck of a blister on my hand from that handle...so when it came time to buy a strecher shrinker I also got the foot operated stand and not only did it give my the ability to use both hands I was able to increase the force on the thicker steel...I have the handles and use them for more precise work but I have to say that HF unit is working like a champ ...I got it on sale and paid less than 300.00....strecher/shrinker W stand....
get the foot operated stand its well worth the extra money and makes the unit much more versital.
This unit will get your foot in the door of metalshaping its a great tool at an affordable price...Later on if you ever wear it out, get a better one but chances are you'll never wear it out... BTW I think the better quality jaws will fit right in the HF head...I love mine and use the living crap out of it...never regreted buying it for a second.

This was a great reply. I was hoping to hear from more people about their actual experience.
I dont think I would buy the HF unit.
I am definitely going to buy the two head unit.
I want the foot operated stand, but I might make one. The other problem with the stand is, it will take up more room in my already tight garage.

[OneMoreTime]

What I did in my shop was to embed a hitch reciever in the floor so I can set up and remove my tube bender and shrinker stretcher as I need to..My anvils also go there..sure would be nice to have a big shop but this works for me..

Sam

[Riot Racing]

Originally Posted by OneMoreTime

What I did in my shop was to embed a hitch reciever in the floor so I can set up and remove my tube bender and shrinker stretcher as I need to..My anvils also go there..sure would be nice to have a big shop but this works for me..

Sam

Where do you put the tools when they are not being used? I'm sure they still take up square footage. Also, isnt that heavy to move everything?

[OneMoreTime]

I have tool storage along the walls and these tools are not all that heavy to set up when needed..One thing to do is to get materials into a separate area as excess parts can clog a shop in a hurry..Working on that part..

Sam

[Nonhog]

Info here on upgrading HF jaws. All MetalShaping