Sears Routers

[kmealy]

I worked for Sears (actually the Allstate subsidiary) as my first job after college.   I bought a few Sears tools, getting a huge 10% employee discount and few places around that offered tools.  With a bit of use, I found them all lacking and quit using them.   In the last couple of years, I got two Sears routers (one free, one $5) and figured they were probably worth what I paid for them and could use in conjunction with my Porter-Cable, Bosch, DeWalt, and Hitachi routers.   You know, like Norm, don't change bits, change routahs.

 

I thought, hey, I could maybe put one in my new router table and keep my P-C off for hand-held work.  They only have 1/4" collets, but I thought I could live with that.   So today, I tried to see if they fit (they didn't in my older PC router table).   Well, the first problem is you cannot remove the base from the motor.  Dang, that makes changing the bits a bit more difficult if it's mounted under the table.   The second problem, is while they have a set of holes that work in the insert plate, the screws are not flat head,  so the don't work in the countersink.   And the are not the same as the ones for the P-C.   They appear to be an 8-32.  And wouldn't you know it, I probably have 1000 8-32 screws of various lengths and materials.   Think I have at least one flat head?  Nope.   Guess I need a trip to Ace or Do-it-Best to see if they can help me out.

 

My opinion of the Sears tools of the last 30+ years has not changed.  Hoping that Stanley Black & Decker has re-engineered the whole Craftsman line with the own stuff and not just gone to "OEM du jour" and squeezed them on price constantly.

[forty_caliber]

Back in the day, when a tool said Craftsman on it, it had a lifetime guarantee.  Take it to any Sears store and get a new one no questions asked.  I've still got Craftsman screwdrivers and such of that vintage.  When they introduced electric tools, those carried the name but not the guarantee.  That was the beginning of the end of my interest in the brand. 

 

.40

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

Back in the late 60s and early 70s I loved perusing the Craftsman tool catalog and dreaming of the day I would own many of those tools. Over those years I bought a few of the power tools  from time to time, and quite a few of their mechanics tools. But as the other brands became more available I realized they (Craftsman) weren't the cat's meow I had always thought. I don't think I've bought anything Craftsman since the mid 80s.....though my mechanic's tools are still with me and doing well. One exception to the not bought Craftsman statement, I did buy some of their garden hose, the good stiff made of rubber. It seems to be as well made as the hoses I bought in the early 70s, and those are still in daily use.

[kmealy]

I remember seeing a mechanic walk in with a handful of screwdrivers and they replaced them.  Later I heard if your socket ratchet wrench broke, they'd hand you a re-build kit.  I have a nice 1/4 & 3/8 socket set and the hinges on the box broke.  I tried to see if they could get me a new one, "Nope, sorry, we don't sell that kit any more."  I ended up putting the bottom of the box in a wooden box that I made.  With Lowe's, Home Depot, and even Harbor Freight offering lifetime warranties, the shine that Craftsman once had is dulled.

[Fred W. Hargis Jr]

I've never had a Craftsman break, but I have (years ago) exchanged a few screwdrivers, and one pair of pliers. I do have some SK stuff, and the rebuild kit is what they do for their ratchets, I've went through that twice. It's a simple phone call and the kit shows up in the mail. But now if they exchange something, the replacement is a Chiwainese made version so I'm hoping I'm done replacing them. That is, if you can replace them at all anymore...what with Sears being mostly dead. I'm not sure what the other retailers that carry Craftsman do for damaged tools.

[Gerald]

Like most here I started with Craftsman. Stores everywhere with shiny stuff and a guarantee . When I finally  bought a PC drill I discovered that the C stuff was not that good. You could tell with the  first pull on the trigger and the smooth sound of the motor. So my first "failed" experience with the guarantee was when the tape I had broke. Took it in for the exchange and instead of Craftsman got a Champion which carries no guarantee.No no Sears power tools in the shop but did make the run with TS, DP, Router, Drill (oops I do still have a very rarely used 1/2 inch corded heavy duty drill).

[p_toad]

I had a Craftsman scout knife years ago and the one backspring broke - i took it to the local store and they not only replaced it i got the old one back (no, i didn't take it in again).   My first ratchet back in the 60s was a Wright and i'm still using that on stuff.

[kmealy]

Well, I gave up on the Craftsman router in the router table.   I thought it work great as it has a rack and pinion height adjustment.  Problem is, getting a bit swapped was near impossible.   With the rack and pinion where you could get to it, You need to go to the back with a wrench and use the other hand to lock the shaft from turning.   Pffft.   Pulled it out and put in the extra base for my P-C 390.  Well, it was worth what I paid for it ($5) and I'll just put in a commonly used bit and use it as a hand-held.   Starting to feel like Norm, a router for every bit.