Craftsman Tools

[Old Dutchman]

Don't forget, other name brand companies are doing the same thing. I have a lot of craftsman tools, AND will be careful with what i buy, but all in all, THEY HAVE BEEN GOOD.

 

[Taggart]

Is there a lifetime guarantee on some Craftsman tools?

I think I remember hearing that if you break one of their wrenches, they'll replace it. I haven't used wrenches like that very much, so I wouldn't know that from experience.

 

[Old Dutchman]

I don"t know rhe name of the manufacture, but i believe they are sold at Lowe's. They have a lifetime guarentee on the wrenches and sockets, I have used them. I am 63 years old, and i still have a few origonal tools that i bought at 18 yrs old. None of them have failed. Have also bought from Snap-on and mac, ect. I can tell youthat i have had to have a few wrenches replaced by them, but the Craftsman have been very good.I have never cradkrd one of sears. I did body work, so they were used hardThis is the second reply

 

[olfrt]

We may be talkin' "apples and oranges"here. For years Craftsman made excellent hand tools and they were warrentied for a lifetime. I met a guy who was a buyer for Craftsman hand tools in 1981-82 and he said then that Sears was lessening the quality of their tools; going to lower grade steels, more economical finishes etc. but would still maintain the warrenty. I continued to buy Craftsman but found the quality lesser, and that on commercial building projects they did not hold up well. When one of the big box stores had an exchange program that let one swap their hand tools for the store brand I did so and have never looked back. Old Craftsman tools are good though; my rabbeting plane is a Craftsman and has given members of my family excellent service for literally a hundred years.
Power tools are a different ballgame. As oldnamvet, [ we are proud of your service BTB], stated Sears has outsourced powertools for years; ergo the quality has varied enormously. Obviously if you have the money there are better choices, but if you are like me and price shop Sears may be a good option. Read reviews online and in the mags, but remember both are dependent on advertisers for support and may have biases. Look at the tools sections of the forums; if you read multiple bitches dont buy. Talk to your friends who are woodworkers or are in the building trades, but listen skeptically.
As you learn begin to look at both power and hand tools in pawnshops, thrift stores, flea markets, yard and estate sales. Read tools section of Craigslist and the classifieds in the newspaper. My 10" contractors saw was purchased in near new condition from a thrift store for $80.00. I paid five bucks for a bisquit jointer without the front adjusting shelf and built the shelf for myself. It is heavy but it works well. Diligence can produce real deals but remember there are no warrenties and no returns on this stuff it is strictly BUYER BEWARE!

 

[Forever Learning]

I have learned the hard way to shy away from Sears’s power tools. I find plastic where it should be metal, underpowered drill motors, odd sized parts etc. That being said, I still have a few Sears tools running that I bought 25+ years ago. As with any tool, I look at the use I expect to get out of it and the price available. Some tools I know I will use once or twice for a special job, others I know I will use all the time and want the best quality I can get. I know my Sears worm drive circular saw is one heavy saw compared to what you can get today but it is still working top notch after many years of service. So the answer is, look them over and use common since.

I also agree that hand tools are a different story altogether. Total different warrantee.

 

[ron1]

I agree with most of the comments. Craftsman used to make good tools. Not the greatest, but ok. The biggest complaint I have with Craftsman is: They redesign a tool to use non-standard parts and accessories, so you can only get parts from Sears (If available at all). For example, their table saws use a non-standard miter gauge groove in the table that precludes the use of any after market gauge. Their cordless tools change battery pack configuration from one year to the next, despite them being the same voltage.

 

[waltermitty]

Craftsman hand tools are good and guaranteed for life. Wear it out or break it, take it back and get another one (maybe new, maybe reconditioned) right there. Power tools not so good and not guaranteed for life.

 

[SageMother]

Craftsman used to be an excellent brand, but they've changed and I like Black and Decker much better, these days.

 

[Gordy]

I generally agree with what others have said. My experience has been generally good with Craftsman tools, but others ARE better--although you often have to pay for it. A good example is my Craftsman contractor-style table saw. I bought it new about eight years ago, and have used it quite a lot with no problems. I replaced the miter guage with a good aftermarket guage (which DID fit), but I kept the fence, which has been quite satisfactory. I know more now than a did when I bought it, and I would probably buy something better now (more power especially), but the Craftsman saw works well enough that I will probably always have higher priorities with my tool dollars than replacing the table saw.

I have had more problems with brands like Ridgid and Ryobi.

 

[peerawit]

for me
1) rockwell tool
2) fein
3) dremel