Harbor Freight Tool Haul #55: A Haunting Halloween with Bauer's Cursed Jigsaw

#HarborFreight #Bauer #Jigsaw #Halloween
In this haunting Halloween video we unbox and do a quick bench test on Bauer's Jig Saw...disappointed would be an understatement. Perhaps fittingly, a day or two after filming this, SEMA started up and we got previews of the long awaited Hercules Jig Saw...I will likely be trying my luck there. Hopefully there isn't a Halloween curse...
And now a release day update...I had to take my Craftsman to work again today...got the job done with zero issues. Also, the extension cord that wouldn't work with this saw works fine with the bandsaw we added not long ago.
Time Stamps and Links
@0:00 Intro
@0:20 OG Craftsman
-This thing has been great...so great, I sometimes take it to work...which gets old. So, I decided to buy a dedicated jig saw to have in the work box.
@4:30 Bauer 6.5 AMP Orbital Jig Saw, $49.99
www.harborfreight.com/power-t...
@7:30 Specs
@9:11 Bauer 30 Piece Jig Saw Blade Set, $14.99
www.harborfreight.com/t-shank...
-Great visibility for showcasing the blades...bad for the end user
--This set gets worse the more we dig into it...
---The drawstring pouch is an absolutely terrible idea...I was under the impression it was going to be a sleeved divider like other jig saw blades I have owned
@12:15 Hercules Anyone?
-I've waited a long time for the Hercules 20V option
--Again, as of recording this it was still unavailable...shortly after at SEMA the showcased the saw and put a 2024 release date on it. The waiting continues.
@13:11 Case Omen
-I sort of assumed there would have been a case in the box. Never assume.
--Unless you are running the jigsaw daily, it is in the best interest of the tool to be stored in a case, free from dust/debris
@14:30 Unboxed
@15:50 Corded Omen
-Again, was it Halloween? Seems like all my cautions came to fruition in this video
@16:35 Bad Blades 1
-The blades get worse the moment you open them
@17:00 Joke of a Storage Option
@19:15 Saw in Hand
@19:22 Rip Fence
-Good luck keeping up with it though...no case, no on/in-saw storage
@20:18 Blade Guard
@20:45 Blade Catch
@20:50 Tilt Base
@21:18 Dust Port
-Super loose switch
@21:33 Mode Selection
@22:00 Trigger, Wheel, and Laser
@22:40 Dead on Arrival?
-Nope, just didn't like the extension cord I was running...which was new and from HF
@24:08 First Fire
-If you can call it that
@24:40 Lackluster Laser
@25:45 Speed 3
@26:05 Hums on Speed 1
-Not a good hum in this case
@27:15 Initial Motor Impression
-Not much faith in long term functionality with this one
@28:10 Rip Fence
-Nice feature, afraid the wing nuts will vibrate loose if you were depending on it
@29:54 Hard Pass
-This saw has a lot of issues and is not built well. Pay attention to the seams in the casing and their inconsistencies
@30:30 Blade Fitment
-Completely out of alignment
--This is like trying to park a car in a crooked garage
@32:00 Return Trip Coming
@33:10 Run Lock
-Probably my favorite feature on the saw...Rip fence would be second
@34:10 Orbital 1 Test
@@34:20 Part Lines
@35:13 Blade Installed
-This just revealed more issues with the saw
--The more time I spend with it, the worse it gets
@36:15 Blade Geometry
-This cut angle is going to result in rapid blade wear...which is only compounded with a lower quality blade
@37:00 Blade Geo Closeup
@38:20 End Play
@40:33 Stay Away
-This is one of those tools that gave HF a bad reputation back in the day...it will probably work, might complete your job at hand, but won't last. If you take it back, you might get a good one, or you might get one worse. The QC is the issue. A buddy might have one that lines up and works and you might get 3 lemons before you just get a refund.
@42:00 Craftsman Blade Change
-30 Years older and vastly superior
@43:55 Fair Review
-I've got old stuff, cheap stuff, new stuff, exotic stuff...an eclectic mix of it all
--This is a hard pass...do not buy it
@45:00 First Impressions
-This is a terrible first impression of Bauer
--This makes me leery of their entire product line
@46:35 Trick, or Treat
-This sure as heck ain't no treat!
@48:00 World Series Game 4
@48:54 Hercules to the Rescue
-Again, we got lucky as they introduced a 2024 launch for the Hercules
@49:19 Your Experience?
@50:00 Wrap Up
-Would the Warrior be better than this POS?
@51:43 Happy Halloween
@52:00 Sod Poodles
@53:02 Conclusion
*Alpha Gloves*
Get my gloves! Use Discount Code "LoneStar" for your own pair of Alpha Gloves:
alphagloves.us/
**Links**
Forum: www.lonestarmopars.com/forum
Facebook: / lonestarmopars
Instagram: / lonestarmopars
Twitter: / lonestarmopars
Music:
"Gearhead" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/...

[@boosted2.4_sky]

LET'S GO 🏁

[@lonestarmopars]

Thanks for watching!

[@user-de3mg1hg5l]

Most Bauer tools are good tools but they have a couple tools I don't like. But the other 25 cordless tools are good for the price. Don't listen to people telling you to spend 3 times as much for a better tool. If you need a tool and your broke then Harbor freight is the best choice. And if you don't like it, they will take it back. No problem.

[@SuperGig]

54 minutes and not one thing cut. I was looking for to seeing it in action.

[@chadroy16]

is it really a surprise the cheap tool sucks? buying them only inspires more poor quality items, and just creates more garbage on this stupid planet, a waste of resources and just ends up in landfill. i do not support anything cheap, but hey that's just me. i would stick to buying decent stuff on sale as you often do

[@lonestarmopars]

I didn't expect much from the saw beyond functioning, but it still managed to disappoint. I honestly figured this would have been on par with the Craftsman, if not better, but that wasn't the case. Funny enough, I had to take the Craftsman to work on Friday right before scheduling this video...did the job again. I would venture to guess I wind up taking the saw to work 3-4 times, maybe up to around 10-12 time a year. It is kind of hard to justify buying a high dollar saw, but there clearly isn't much in the mid-tier either. If Hercules would release the battery powered saw I would give it a go. The jigsaw is one of the few items I wouldn't mind having battery powered. I might wind up with DeWalt, or Makita if they don't get that thing released. This is honestly one of the worst tools I've bought from HF in a long time. Just a total POS.

[@chadroy16]

@@lonestarmopars I understand it was a low use item, I was more generalising. I always appreciate the videos buddy, the good, the bad, and the cursed Halloween specials haha.

[@chadroy16]

@@lonestarmopars I think, as I'm sure you do, things were made to a higher standard back when you purchased the craftsman.

[@lonestarmopars]

Yeah, for as similar as they look, you would think the evolution would be a positive. That Craftsman works like a million bucks compared to this thing. I assumed the Warrior would have been the POS jigsaw at HF. I was wrong, sadly. This technically would be their very best "corded" jigsaw. I checked reviews after making this video and I'm definitely not alone with the complaints. There really is a missing "mid-tier" with this tool. Pretty much any battery powered tool is right around $200 and most of the corded are very near the mark. Bosch and Metabo are honestly the only two around $100. I may wind up with one those if HF can't get the Hercules one out...The kicker there is that is one of the most heavily requested for the lineup. The fact a nibbler came out before the jigsaw is kind of nuts.

[@chadroy16]

@@lonestarmopars yeah, sadly, they've just cut costs enough to make it barely functional, you replace it under warranty and they still make money. so if you think about it or do any research, when they sell one, they're basically selling you three because you'll warranty it providing you follow the convoluted warranty policies, and they still make money, so you can imagine just how cheap they are to make
haha I haven't used a nibbler in a very long time