Harbor Freight Blower

[Ed Maloney]

My blower is on the way out. I have to hit the side of it a few times to make it turn on.

I ordered another from HF and it got lost in transit to FedEx. Now I'm being told it's on back order. No ETA from them. Anyone else having problems with HF these days?

Here's the questions:

Question #1 - I see that the manual says something about replacing the brushs. I took out the side retaining screws and I can't figure out how to get them out.

Question #2 - Once I get them out where do I find replacement ones?

[Dave Russell Smith]

I saw replacement brushes in lowes or H/D the other day in those specialty draws they have. Not sure if they would be right might be worth checking out

[Richard Rumancik]

If the hardware store doesn't have them, you may have to go to an electric motor shop but they will likely be able to match you up with something close if you bring in the old ones. Sometimes you will have to tweak the size a bit (i.e file them down) to match the size.

[Bob Merhar]

I ordered replacement brushes directly from Harbor Freight.

[sal shepherd]

I was in Harbor Freight on tuesday they had 3 on shelf. In Metarie, LA.

I got a great deal on a air eraser (pen type sandblaster ) 10.00 reg 20.00 It was missing the container of blast media 1 to 2 oz. I got a bottle about 10 x the size,an still under 20.00

[Dave Johnson29]

Question #1 - I see that the manual says something about replacing the brushs. I took out the side retaining screws and I can't figure out how to get them out.

Question #2 - Once I get them out where do I find replacement ones?

Th brushes should have springs on them that pop out when you remove that plastic screw cover. Pull on the spring. If the spring pulls off and leaves the brush behind try tipping it on it's side and bumping the motor.

If the brush has worn so much that it is jammed between the commutator and the housing then you will need to pull the motor apart. In that case, the commutator would probably need skimming anyway.

Order from HF, in the back of the manual there is an exploded view, get the item number from that then look it up in the part table for the actual order part number.

[Scott Balboa]

A word of advice for anyone here who shops at Home Depot or Lowes...

I worked for BIG ORANGE for years and know the company inside and out. Many people are unaware that the Pro Desk (also called the Contractors Desk, Contractor Services, etc.), a seperate section at the corner of the store (probably near the front) is NOT just for contractors, and has many HUGE catalogs with a million components for anything in your home or parts for your tools. What you see on the shelves is only a small slice of what Home Depot can get for you. Why the average customer is left in the dark about this has to do with the poor company training, bad management, and bad employees! Anyway, the pro desk can special order it at no extra cost to you and have it delivered directly to the store, at which point they call you and you just come in and pick it up. May be worth a try!

[Ed Maloney]

Folks - Thanks for your replies and help. Here's the latest status.

I asked HF to ship me a replacement blower that they had in stock. Now they are telling me they canceled the original order and will be issuing me a refund check. They went on to tell me that I would need to place another order for the blower that they do have in stock.

So the new question is:

Who are their competitors where I can order a blower from? Need a 650CFM one.

Thanks again.

[donald bugansky]

Go look at Penn State Industries.

http://www.pennstateind.com/store/DC...cid=6133179899

They have a unit that works real well and is considerably quieter than the harbor freight versions.

Search the forum for "exhaust" and you'll find links like:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthre...highlight=Penn

[Mike Null]

I am baffled by people who spend $20 or $30 thousand on a laser and want to go cheap on a blower.

Look at in-line blowers, a lower cfm, and much lower db. They don't cost that much more and will give you the benefit of quietness.

Unless you're pushing air a great distance or through many el's (90's) you generally don't need that high cfm.

I've used a 260 cfm blower for 12 years with two different brands of lasers and never had smoke or odor problems. I can stand next to my machine with the blower on and carry on a telephone conversation.

[John Noell]

I can stand next to my machine with the blower on and carry on a telephone conversation.

I can stand next to mine and talk - I just can't hear what the other side is saying.

[Ed Maloney]

I am baffled by people who spend $20 or $30 thousand on a laser and want to go cheap on a blower.

Look at in-line blowers, a lower cfm, and much lower db. They don't cost that much more and will give you the benefit of quietness.

Unless you're pushing air a great distance or through many el's (90's) you generally don't need that high cfm.

I've used a 260 cfm blower for 12 years with two different brands of lasers and never had smoke or odor problems. I can stand next to my machine with the blower on and carry on a telephone conversation.

Mike - So where did you get your blower? The Penn State and HF blowers look like the same make, with Penn State being higher.

I would love to get a blower that is nice and quite. So where is a good source?

[donald bugansky]

Here's a link on some in-line fans. I received the mfg info from Mike.

http://www.kanalflakt-us.com/K.pdf

[Mike Null]

Check Grainger--that's where I bought mine. Also check inline blowers on the web. Mine is a 6" and is reduced to 4" at the machine and at the exterior duct.

Mine is a model K6 Kanalflakt which I think has been discontinued. It's 12 years old.

[Rob Bosworth]

You can also check Grizzly Industrial Supply. They carry similar inexpensive dust collectors. http://www.grizzly.com http://www.grizzly.com

The Penn Industry dust collection blowers seem to be a little bit better built and a bit quieter than the H.F. or Grizzly. Delta also makes a 1 and 1.5 Hp. dust collector, but it is a little more money.

W.W. Grainger sells a great exhaust blower, that can be put inside or outside, but they are really expensive.

Good luck.