Another thread reminded me ...
Apart from the 'quality vs value' debate ... HF has another thing going for it: Very often it is the only source for 'industrial' type tools. Much of what they sell is simply not available at the usual tool stores .... and many places that sell the 'real' versions deal only with commercial accounts (such as W.W. Grainger).
I cannot speak as to the welders ... but their grinder, band saw, circular saw, reciprocating saw, and drills all use 'normal' tooling.
