Craftsman Tools

Wood Gnome

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A lot of advertising dollars have gone into trying to convince consumers that Craftsman leads the market as far as the quality of their power tools. Do you find this to be true or do you prefer another manufacturer?
 

Taggart

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I've had very little if any experience with Craftsman tools, but I used to work with a guy who very candidly said how highly he thought of them.

I'd definitely check them out if I was in the market for tools.
 

WoodWrangler

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Personally, I stay away from most all things Craftsman. They ruined their brand when they went cheap on quality and kept prices extremely high. I had a drill set from Craftsman .... garbage. I had a circular saw from Craftsman ... garbage.

Last year I made an annual trip into Sears to give them another shot ... and looked at a bandsaw they had (a smaller 14" model). For the price, it seemed like a good deal but when I got there and touched it the quality was not there. Needless to say, I was not impressed.

It used to be that they were really good. Never the best, but good, and the hand tools (wrenches, pliers, etc) had an undeniable warranty & excellent quality. Those days are gone though. Sears is over-priced, lesser quality, and distanced from so many for so long.

My vote ... not worth the gamble.

What types of tools are you wanting to buy from them? I'd be willing to bet we could offer advice on better quality and similar price (or lower).
 

katharina

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A lot of advertising dollars have gone into trying to convince consumers that Craftsman leads the market as far as the quality of their power tools. Do you find this to be true or do you prefer another manufacturer?

The woodworkers/craftspeople I know generally go for the Craftsman if they can't afford the top of the line professional tools. (I don't think of Craftsman as top of the line) Either that or some just stick with Black and Decker.
 

unique1

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Personally, I stay away from most all things Craftsman. They ruined their brand when they went cheap on quality and kept prices extremely high. I had a drill set from Craftsman .... garbage. I had a circular saw from Craftsman ... garbage.

Last year I made an annual trip into Sears to give them another shot ... and looked at a bandsaw they had (a smaller 14" model). For the price, it seemed like a good deal but when I got there and touched it the quality was not there. Needless to say, I was not impressed.

It used to be that they were really good. Never the best, but good, and the hand tools (wrenches, pliers, etc) had an undeniable warranty & excellent quality. Those days are gone though. Sears is over-priced, lesser quality, and distanced from so many for so long.

My vote ... not worth the gamble.

What types of tools are you wanting to buy from them? I'd be willing to bet we could offer advice on better quality and similar price (or lower).

You must have gotten a cheap package without looking into it first. :O
My dad, as well as I, have used Craftsman for years. Him, nor I, have ever had a problem with them. (aside from the time he accidentally cut the cord on his circular saw, but that's a whole nothing story. lmao)

In my opinion, they are the way to go. They do sometimes have some cheap items on the market though... but if you know what you're looking for then it shouldn't be a problem.
 

woodpecker

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Why not read the product reviews before you purchase a particular tool? Craftsman might not be perfect, but it has produced some great tools that have satisfied a number of customers in the past. On the other hand, people are not 100 percent satisfied with Craftsman.
 

melodious

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I wouldn't recommend buying any tool based solely on the brand name anymore. The quality just isn't as consistent as it used to be. With that said, though, Craftsman tools used to have a high standard of quality and they still make a lot of good tools. Go to the store, hold it in your hand, and then decide. I really think that's the best way to compare tools (even if you end up making a purchase online).
 

lynnharley

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I just bought a 14 inch band saw from Sears after a lot of shopping around. I had to replace an older Vulcan model that I couldn't get parts for any more. The net saw works like a dread and it is just what I needed
 

oldnamvet

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Since sears doesn't make their own tools, they simply ask for bids and take the lowest one as long as it meets some criteria they set out. From year to year, different suppliers build their tools. Sometimes, they are exactly the same as others, such as Delta, with the exception of the nameplate. Other times, they are totally different. Usually with tools, you get what you pay for. Look it over first before you commit to buy and compare with other tools. It used to be that you could go with brand names, but not any more.
 

heretoday

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It's awfully sad that so many reliable old companies now simply outsource to the lowest bidder and then slap their name on an item.
 

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