It's fairly obvious that K mart is closing a lot more stores in our region. ll of a sudden a lot of N-I-B Craftsman tools are coming up for sale on CL. One guy posted an odd collection of individual, unrelated tools still on their peg board cards wanting a lump sum for all. I still think it's sad to see what's happening to them (well, Sears...I don't care much for K mart). But they shot themselves in the foot.

Don't take this as gospel but, I was told by an Ace store owner that the Craftsman line will remain viable. 

22 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Don't take this as gospel but, I was told by an Ace store owner that the Craftsman line will remain viable. 

Well, consider the source.   He's not going to tell people Craftsman tools are on a decline while he's trying to sell them.

 

Back in the day, the average back yard mechanic had few choices for hand tools.  Not everyone could afford or had access to the Snap-On and similar. Sears was everywhere, reasonably priced, and had a good warranty.   Now, they have to compete with Husky and Kobalt both of whom have good quality, availability, prices, and similar warranties, and for the low-end, Harbor Freight. 

 

There are a number of people, I know a few, who claim "Craftsman is the best."   I think they are relying on Craftsman of yesteryear or what they learned from their dads.

 

While their mechanics' tools are still respectable, unless you get into their gee-gaws, I have never been impressed with their woodworking, or for that matter, power tools.  For the power tools, it seems they go with the lowest of three bidders and change frequently.   This makes finding parts for even a recent tool a risk.  (Of course, you have some of the same issues with the M&A and spin-offs of companies like Stanley, Black&Decker, Delta, Porter-Cable, etc.)

Keith, I'm sure he wants to sell his inventory but, I think Ace stores were sorta forced to accept it. There seems to be quite a good turnover, in that store, anyway. Then, we're a long ways from HD and Lowes. 

 

 

Sears store here still sells Craftsman tools but has decreased the tool department drastically.  I think a drill and circular saw are the biggest power tools in stock.

1 hour ago, kmealy said:

There are a number of people, I know a few, who claim "Craftsman is the best." 

Forty years ago, they WERE the best (I could afford)! I have a Craftsman RAS, router, circular saw, jigsaw, a couple of sanders, an electric stapler and two sets of wrenches, imperial and metric. All are well over 30 years old, still in use, and work well. My miter saw is the newest Craftsman tool, at about 25 years. It was dead-on, straight out of the box! I also have a King brand sliding miter saw. it was virtually unusable out of the box, and after many hours of tweaking, it's still good only for rough carpentry.

John

Edited February 6, 20187 yr by HARO50

I can't recall ever owning a Craftsman power tool....except for a used RAS, which was unloaded on an unsuspecting carpenter. 

1 hour ago, Gene Howe said:

I can't recall ever owning a Craftsman power tool....except for a used RAS, which was unloaded on an unsuspecting carpenter. 

 Mine, too.    Could never keep that thing in alignment.  This was obvious by the width of the tracks at 90 and 45 degrees.    BIL bought a shaft drive table saw and had lots of problems with it.  I think there were some gems in their "Industrial" line.  Was working on a project with a buddy and we were both routing some rabbets.   He burned up his Craftsman and I kept going with my PC390 that's been running for 30+ years

In the bottom of my mechanics chest right now is a Craftsman electric impact wrench, 1/2" drive and what they used to call the "Professional" line. I bought it in the early 80's from one of their (Sears) outlet stores, a catalog returns type of thing. It works today as well as it did when I bought it and is very well built. But the later electric tools (except for the RAS, which was always a disaster) started getting less and less reliable and not competitive with the other brands. o I haven't been a power tools fan of theirs for a very long time. Their handtools always were pretty good (IMHO), whether they stay that way is up to Stanley/B&D. But the Stanley/B&D history tells me they will decline in quality.

9 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

 But the Stanley/B&D history tells me they will decline in quality.

 

I totally forgot that Stanley/B&D bought the brand. I too, expect a lowered standard.

2 hours ago, kmealy said:

 Mine, too.    Could never keep that thing in alignment.

 

If you build a solid base that never moves to mount them on they stay in alignment.  If you weld the base where is is joined together they are even better.  Mine has been good for a long time since I last aligned it.   

4 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

 But the Stanley/B&D history tells me they will decline in quality.

They buy brands then try to decide where to (re-)position them.

 

Porter-Cable used to make some good portable power tools.   Once they joined the lineup with DeWalt,  Black & Decker, etc., they sort of got re-positioned to "Joe Garage" quality (i.e., the casual user that picks up a router about every year or two.)   DeWalt seemed to be positioned to the trade, and Black & Decker at the bottom of the heap (they did make some better tools (I have a couple of their industrial/professional drills, but seems most of the line was for the infrequent user).  No guesses as to where the Craftsman power tools will land.

 

Read an article earlier today that DeWalt is now making some quality wrench sets.    Could always pull a GM and make nearly identical tools and label them with different brand names.

 

 

I like John Have a good many Craftsman tools but it is all over 25 years old. Have a TS with dado set permanently mounted. Tool chest the wife got me for anniversary. The first tools I ever owned and still have I bought while working on a dredge. I even have a corded drill, kinda loose. Those were the days when it could be counted on.

       Had a portable Craftsman drill and the batteries went so I got a PC. I could not believe the difference. That was quite an upgrade and really felt good.

My main TS is a Craftsman 12" and the motor is inside and raises straight up and down not on a tilt. I don't know how old it is I bought it used from a luthier about 4 years ago for $50. Love that saw it is quiet, powerful and solid as a rock. Also have a Craftsman 12" DP I have set up with a 4 way vise just for accurate drilling and metal working. It is OK.

16 hours ago, Gerald said:

Had a portable Craftsman drill and the batteries went

Forgot about the drills! The corded one still works well, but I seldom use corded drills any more. The 16.8 V cordless drove all the screws for our 16' x 32' deck, plenty of power for 3 1/2" screws. Drill still works, but the batteries finally gave up the ghost, and can't be replaced. I DID destroy a sander, but that was entirely my fault. Drywall dust is hard on bushings/bearings!

John

42 minutes ago, HARO50 said:

Forgot about the drills! The corded one still works well, but I seldom use corded drills any more. The 16.8 V cordless drove all the screws for our 16' x 32' deck, plenty of power for 3 1/2" screws. Drill still works, but the batteries finally gave up the ghost, and can't be replaced. I DID destroy a sander, but that was entirely my fault. Drywall dust is hard on bushings/bearings!

John

Yeah, fast ain't always cheap.

I like the sears tools I have...

 

Wrench set. Metric and Standard.

Socket set. Metric and Standard.

Pliers and other small tools.

Electric drills.

Table saw.

Band saw.

RAS 

Floor drill press.

Sander.

Jigsaw.

Bench grinder.

Belt bench sander.

wood jointer.

Bench vise.

Chop saw.

Arc Welder.

Chest tool box.

 

All older tools but I been very happy with them...