Strong Hand Nomad portable welding table review

[redbeard]

Looks like Harbor Freight has a knock-off now.
http://www.harborfreight.com/adjusta...ngtable-022014


Not sure why the price is the same as the original..kind of defeats the purpose of Harbor Freight.
http://store.cyberweld.com/webehabe300.html

From the pics on the HF website, the differences I see are:
1) center has 2 short slots instead of 1 long one
2) there is no adjustable foot
3) no wheels (or handle)
4) no height adjustment
5) no bonus accessory pack

I can't quite tell from the pic if the legs fold up or not. Other than that, it really looks identical.

I see that the cyberweld price ATM is only $133 to boot.

[Blaster]

Saw one at HF today, if they had it in stock I would have left with it for $45.00 ($60-25%). I'm quite sure the Strong Hand is better made but, for the price, I'd like to have a fold-up I could take anywhere (my 5X7 shop table doesn't travel well ).

I don't want wheels, don't need an accessory pak, just what I am looking for, Cheap & Easy. Supposed to be back in stock next week...

[Rambozo]

I can't quite tell from the pic if the legs fold up or not.

Knowing HF I'm sure it will fold up, the better question is; Was it designed to?

[sportbike]

Wow...."normal price" $159.99...on sale for $59.99....that is more like it for a HF knockoff :-)

[zoama]

Wow...."normal price" $159.99...on sale for $59.99....that is more like it for a HF knockoff :-)

$45 with a 25% off coupon.

[Blaster]

Knowing HF I'm sure it will fold up, the better question is; Was it designed to?

But you saw the 350lb. capacity -right?

I mean, you know,,, you could just "toss" a sm block up there...

Look, I know what I'm getting and my expectations aren't that! But I'm thinking I tilt the top to the side and remove the two bolts on the opposite side leg set and it would take-up little space for easy transportation.

[performance]

Probably costs them 10.00 to make and 15.00 by the time it gets here at that price.

[TheGary]

At least with harbor freight you know what you are getting and the cost is usually worth it. Many name brand items are no better and probbly made it the same factory or the one next door but the price is still so high that most think it is made in the U.S. . It would not surprise me if stronghand makes their portable table in china and just pockets the difference in price.

[performance]

I have drill press that is 30 years old from HF. I another one that is 7 years old from HF. I have or have owned multiple products. I have some welding clamps...which while they aren't that good, they aren't really that bad. It has a long "tong" one in the set, which I use when I need to reach far under the table or part to clamp something. I have to make sure it clamps squarely and while it doesn't hold a lot of pressure due to the length, it's paid for itself many, many times over. I have a saw that I loaned a friend 10 years ago and he's still using it. I have had several grinders. Last one was stolen off my truck on a jobsite, and left me brand new DeWalt sitting beside it. I guess the bright orange was prettier than the industrial yellow. I had a couple of welding hoods a few years ago, and one lasted quite a while, but the other I had to return and exchange it for the one that lasted. My first plasma was a HF, italian built job. Still have it. I bought a cast steel anvil (100+lb) The biggest disappointment was a 200 amp MIG I bought from HF. It was a roll around unit, built in Russia. It had the best arc I had ever seen but the constant bird's nesting made me return it and get my ESAB.

[Rambozo]

But you saw the 350lb. capacity -right?

I mean, you know,,, you could just "toss" a sm block up there...

Look, I know what I'm getting and my expectations aren't that! But I'm thinking I tilt the top to the side and remove the two bolts on the opposite side leg set and it would take-up little space for easy transportation.

Since it looks like the legs attach exactly like the Stronghand, you probably don't have to remove the bolts. The legs will pivot on those bolts. I't probably good that they left out the height adjustment as that would just add more slop. I always thought Stronghand got it backwards with the adjustments, and planned to do something about it. The height adjustment is just a pinch bolt so it's infinite, but not that strong, while the angle is 3 fixed stops. Drilling a few pin holes for the height and adding some washers to the angle would reverse those. For the price I bet the HF one is more than adequate, and you wouldn't feel bad about abusing it a little. If they have one at my local store I will probably get one just because.

[TheGary]

I have drill press that is 30 years old from HF. I another one that is 7 years old from HF. I have or have owned multiple products. I have some welding clamps...which while they aren't that good, they aren't really that bad. It has a long "tong" one in the set, which I use when I need to reach far under the table or part to clamp something. I have to make sure it clamps squarely and while it doesn't hold a lot of pressure due to the length, it's paid for itself many, many times over. I have a saw that I loaned a friend 10 years ago and he's still using it. I have had several grinders. Last one was stolen off my truck on a jobsite, and left me brand new DeWalt sitting beside it. I guess the bright orange was prettier than the industrial yellow. I had a couple of welding hoods a few years ago, and one lasted quite a while, but the other I had to return and exchange it for the one that lasted. My first plasma was a HF, italian built job. Still have it. I bought a cast steel anvil (100+lb) The biggest disappointment was a 200 amp MIG I bought from HF. It was a roll around unit, built in Russia. It had the best arc I had ever seen but the constant bird's nesting made me return it and get my ESAB.

Thats the nice thing about harbor freight. You really are not taking a chance on one of their tools because if you do not like it you can take it back with no problems. I am amazed at how much stuff I find there that I can use. I just bought a 20 in drill press from them with a 25% coupon. It is the same drill press delta and craftsman sell but for less than half of what they cost. For $435 tax included I can't go wrong. The next time Im there I will check out the welding table.

[sportbike]

I may pick one up as well. I can then see how it is as compared to the stronghand one I already have.

[redbeard]

Knowing HF I'm sure it will fold up, the better question is; Was it designed to?

ROTFL

The height adjustment is just a pinch bolt so it's infinite, but not that strong, while the angle is 3 fixed stops. Drilling a few pin holes for the height and adding some washers to the angle would reverse those. For the price I bet the HF one is more than adequate, and you wouldn't feel bad about abusing it a little. If they have one at my local store I will probably get one just because.

Interesting, mine has both pinch bolts and pins, I wonder which one is the new version. From 150 down to 60, that has to be one of the most hyper-inflated list prices I've seen, even by HF standards. Too bad they didn't have these 6 months ago, I for sure would have gone the HF route for $45.

[Rambozo]

Interesting, mine has both pinch bolts and pins, I wonder which one is the new version. From 150 down to 60, that has to be one of the most hyper-inflated list prices I've seen, even by HF standards. Too bad they didn't have these 6 months ago, I for sure would have gone the HF route for $45.

You're right, the Stronghand does have both pins and pinch bolts, I must have forgot.

[Rambozo]

Ok, here is a comparison between the two tables.



The HF table came packed just about as I remember the SH. I initially expected to have to replace the hardware as I tend to do on most HF products. However, this time the bolts seemed to be far better than typical HF. Maybe the 8.8 markings were actually not counterfeit. I did strip out one of the small screws that holds the top on, but the others took normal torque no problem. This thing is such a close copy, they even included the pair of bolts that SH did for attaching the optional table connector, even though there was no mention of it in the manual. They did warn you to chase away bystanders while you put it together. Good advice as they always have something stupid to say. But if that doesn't work, you might want some alcohol, drugs, or medication, to make them more tolerable.



The main differences are that there is no height adjust, but that could be added very easily with a few scraps of 1" square tube. The top is held on with four screws instead of six. There are no wheels or handle, but I just noticed the holes for the handle are there. The HF has a somewhat superfluous cross brace near the top, but it mounts with large slots and can't be bolted tight with both parts being unsupported tubing, so it does little to add strength. Last are the slot differences in the top.

The top wasn't folded all that well so the sides have a bulge in the center. Maybe they used a Harbor Freight brake? I'm sure a block of wood and a hammer can make short work of fixing that.



Even the Nomad required a small shim washer, under one clamp bolt, to make the two edge guides, square.



Until I get the HF one straightened, I can't really say how square it is. Again not a big deal to fine tune if needed. These are just stamped steel tables after all, but they are both pretty flat. No complaints there. The pivot on the SH has a clipnut for the handle so it could be replaced vs, a welded on nut for HF. Again no big deal. I'm still not thrilled with the angle adjust system, but as I have yet to ever move it from 90° I doubt I will ever change it. I might make it height adjustable, or just tweak it to match the height of my main welding table. The legs do fold up just like the SH but since the top doesn't lower it makes a slightly larger package. That might be one good reason to make it height adjustable, if you are fighting space or want to tuck it into a small car trunk or something.



The steel used was about the same thickness give or take a few thou. Some a little thicker on the HF, some on the SH. I call it pretty even and it shows in the overall weight, 36.5 lbs. for the HF and 37 for the SH.



Overall, I can see no reason to spend an extra $100 for the Stronghand. With the current sale, and a 25% coupon, $45 is damn hard to beat.

[Shaggy]

Rambozo, great review. Thanks, I think I'll pick one up next time I'm at HF.
How long did it take to get that cat to stand under both units for the pictures? haha

Steve

[sportbike]

Thanks Rambozo. Looks like your review will make it worthwile to pick up a table. Nice to have two of everything....

[redbeard]

Very thorough comparison Rambozo, great job. Seems a much better deal to upmod the HF with any of the extra features one might need.

Nice to have two of everything....

If I only had the room...

[GWD]

I rushed out and bought the HF one with a 25% off coupon. They only had one. The HF guy said that he had not seen one before and that it was on the most recent shipment.

Sooo...I put it together and it seems quite functional. Ordered another one online with a different 25% off coupon. Shipping was $7 but I spend that much in gas to get to my "local" Harbor Freight.

[everlastsupport]

I rushed out and bought the HF one with a 25% off coupon. They only had one. The HF guy said that he had not seen one before and that it was on the most recent shipment.

Sooo...I put it together and it seems quite functional. Ordered another one online with a different 25% off coupon. Shipping was $7 but I spend that much in gas to get to my "local" Harbor Freight.

I might run out for a couple and scrap the two fixed tables I have. The center leaf looked cool to, the one in the Rambozo link/Northern tools video. Oh crud, my 25% expired yesterday. Will see what the HF cost is and use a 20% maybe