I vow with all of you as my wittnesses NEVER to buy a CRAPsman tool EVER agian!!!!
so, you all know about my drill press delema with the dud motor. Do they even have a quality control station in their factory!! I have to wait till April 9th to get the thing to HOPEFULLY work. As for that who knows how long the d*** thing will work.
so today (few minutes ago I was doing the SIMPLE task of ripping a 2X8 on my CRAPsman TS. well guess what IT BROKE (no surprise there). the connection between arbor and motor snapped. It was ONLY a 2X!!!! Now I need a new TS. Anyone got an extra they want to sell for cheap? 103039.1
There’s enough youth in this world, how ’bout a fountain of SMART??!!
Edited 4/2/2008 10:31 pm ET by andyfew322
Replies
Sorry for your woes, Andy.
I learned the hard way too, way back in the late 70's.
Had a Craftsman circular saw that the bearings or something went out on it. Threw it away and bought a Skil Saw.
So, no more Craftsman power tools for me again.
But, I do buy their hand tools. I have had more replacement tape measures than I can remember. Now though, the replacement warranty on them has changed. Not quite as broad of coverage as before. Will find out the next time I need a new one.
Bryan
"Objects in mirror appear closer than they are."
Klakamp Construction, Findlay, Ohio - just south of the Glass City
Andy: I have an extra delta. I am only a 5 hour drive away from you.
I will be on the cape this summer but dw fills the jeep with god only knows what. shoot I have just enough room for my fat ask.
what are you looking for it? condition? pic? Specs? the major thing is width because of my small shop.
There's enough youth in this world, how 'bout a fountain of SMART??!!
andy: its an old cast iron delta they used to sell to us for jobsites.
It's big and heavy.
It's only been on one jobsite. can you say backache.
As for Craftsman tools well the biggest reason for their popularity was not really the quality. It was availability (sears catalogs and stores where nation wide) and the very generous return policy that went with the life time guaranty. You walked into a sears with a broken tool walked out with a new one. Well that return policy is history and so will be their popularity with professionals.
As for home owners well they will still survive for awhile on past reputation just like Delta their tools are not the same as the old Delta Rockwell tools especially the ShopMaster series they are cheaply made #### that does not holdup to every day job site use (or even every day shop use)About heavy saws you have to admit those cast Iron tables do work better it was just moving them that was the problem.
I own a few job site table saws A Ridged on a folding stand (aluminum table top and fence)
A Dewalt Bench top (the newer one with that rack and pinion type fence system)
And a Jet Contractor's Saw with Cast Iron top and Home made Extension wings and the Xacta fence system.The Jet sits in my shop most of the time but on long jobs where I have a lot of custom mill work to do It gets moved and set up in a temporary job site shop complete with dust collection. As good as those portable saws have become they just can not match a Cast Iron belt drive saw with a good fence and full size top that I can use a crosscut sled on. And the weight means they stay put stability is a good thing.
Also the induction motor is smoother and much quieter. So sure I would hate to move around a cast Iron saw everyday but when I am going to need a table saw for a week or more in one location It is worth the effort. Also how you carry the saw around makes a huge difference. I would hate to load the Jet in and out of a pickup but rolling it in and out of a drop gate trailer is a one man job.As for the quality of new tools today:
Not many tools made today are made to withstand every day use and last like the old tools. The old tools may have been heavy but we have replaced heavy with light and disposable you don't fix you replace. It is sad more and more plastics less and less metal. Metal tools last plastic even high impact plastics do not. A great example is the old Montgomery Ward drill my dad gave me 20 years ago He had it 20 years before he gave it to me it has had the trigger switch replaced once and brushes replaced a few times as well as the 3/8 chuck being replaced with a 1/2 inch chuck (both all metal Keyed chucks). this thing still works great.
My dad used this drill every day for electrical rough-in work (a lot of holes) and I still use it now when I need more power then a cordless can give me. Now don't ask me how many plastic drills I have been through Dewalts Ridges Deltas all died from one reason or another the manufacturers would call some of the reasons abuse I call it normal job site conditions.
Hay occasionally tools fall and Murphy's law is it will be when you are two stories up.The truth is those tools made so well that they lasted long enough to be used by generations are not good business you can't make money selling tools so well made that the customers never buy a new one. Not unless you sell them for a premium price. I hate to think what a drill as well made as that Old drill my dad gave me would cost New today.About the only tool I have bought recently (by recently I mean within 5 years) that I feel is as even close to the model that came before is my Skill worm drive saw. (can you say heavy) Thing is I find that weight comforting as well as a plus when cutting. The very weight of the saw holds it down as you cut and you feel the torque when you pull that trigger if it was lighter it would really want to twist out of your hand. And I feel it makes it safer I find I use two hands on this saw much more often. But with lighter saws I am tempted to cut with one hand on the saw and holding the wood with the other I know better but when you are in a hurry you do things you shouldn't even when you know better.
Edited 4/4/2008 11:09 am ET by MFournier
Don"t you have a sears service center near you?
If you don't you hab better not buy from them.
I have had nothing but good luck with their tools. We used to buy
electric air compressors from them. 1 year guarentee. We had 3 1 was always in their shop.
Boy did they lose money on them. I have a drill press from them, about as old as you are. Never a bit of trouble. I bet they have
all their tools made in china now.
That's too bad. I'm just a homeowner that does everything. My Dad and I have had Craftsman stuff ever since I can remember. In fact I just bought my 16 yo son a set of wrenches, screwdrivers and a toolbox for his B-day. The hand tool are made in USA, look to be high quality and were inexpensive (sale and Craftsman Club discount).
I know the hand tools are, well maybe not top notch, but close. And I've done plenty of auto repairs with mine (manual transmissions, clutches, everything). I still have a set of screwdrivers and the toolbox I got when I turned 16. Hence the same gift for my boy. Que Sentimentle!
I don't have many Craftsman electric tools, but the one's I do have seem OK. My RAS from the '90s is fine. I have an OK router. And I have a belt sander that has many hours on it.
Dad had a RAS for 40 years, then recently sent it in for the rebate and got $100. He had an all metal belt sander that had a million miles on it, but the switch finally gave in and since it was so old he could not get a replacement from Sears. Ditto for a jig saw.
That said, I have a Milwaukee circular saw, Sawsall, and drywall gun.
I too am looking for a table saw, and the belt driven Craftsman don't look too bad.
Check out Craigslist.
Anyway, things ain't what they used to be, and I probably won't look too seriously at Sears new electric tools. But don't dis all Craftsman.
Good luck.
I do like their hand tools.
There's enough youth in this world, how 'bout a fountain of SMART??!!
Craftsman hand tools are fine. Their top of the line wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers etc are on par with most quality tool lines.
They make a professional line in about all their tools both electric and non, and I have found those tools actually are not all that bad.
Their big sellers are the homeowner lines. They're cheap, both in cost and quality, but not so much so that they don't have a market for the occasional user, and with care and not too much abuse, they will last and serve their purpose.Their new stationary tools I don't think I would buy, but then I haven't really used any lately so I don't know for sure what their quality is.
Now the old Craftsman stationary tools were really well made and stood the test of time. These often had cast iron beds & bases and the the machining was good quality. I inherited my Grandfather's Craftsman TS that he had gotten back in the 40s, and with a little retrofitting to a new fence system, a new motor, it served as my cabinet saw in my wood shop for many years. It was very well made.If you're going to crank out work on a daily basis, your best bet is to step up to Craftsman Pro line or go with another maker.
Sorry, since you were here, I thought you knew,
No Ryobi and no Craftsman power tools.
Craftsman doesnt make their own power tools, the lowest bidder does (which occasionally is indeed Ryobi). Once in awhile you'll get lucky. A couple if years ago they had a router table that looked just like my Bosch table. That is a good table.
Have you looked at the EZ-Smart system rather than a table saw?
http://www.eurekazone.com/
and
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/forumdisplay.php?f=26
Just be sure to get a circular saw that will cut through 2 by material with the base plate in place. 8 1/4" I think.
How does the arbor attach to the drive shaft? It sounds like just a part swap to get you going again. While I am the 1st to admit that Sears has real problems, their old stuff is probably better than what is in the store now.
Good luck.
There a several tool companies which make two grades of stuff, homeowner and professional. Craftsman is one of them.
Sometimes the homeowner grade is fine for what I'm going to do with it. I recently bought a Craftman cordless drill. It's a better than average throw-away: 14V with two batteries, on sale for $50. But it's not a tool I rely on to do everything, just an easy way to deal with certain jobs.
A general rule for buying tools relates to price; if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.
I've made it my practice not to buy an expensive tool until I've researched it. The Internet makes that a lot easier than it used to be.
One excellent thing about Sears and Craftsman, their replacement and return policies have always been first rate. I've returned several power tools which didn't satisfy my needs and have been given a full refund, without question.
As with any power tool, I put the receipt in a safe place and store it's box/packaging out in the garage. Returning any tool for a refund goes a lot smoother when it's taken back in it's original packaging. Needless to say; without a receipt you'll be dead meat.
Well I finally got the durn thing apart, of couse not before taking the wrong part off first ;) and have judjed what the issue is. a stripped gear that makes the motor's power make the blade spin. Called Sears and spent an hour just trying to find out what part it is and if they still have it. luccily they do. going to order the part when my dad gets home on Sat. probably only going to be $20.
There's enough youth in this world, how 'bout a fountain of SMART??!!
I started out working for my uncle as a teenager. Everything in his shop, except for a Rockwell table saw, was Craftsman. He swore by his Craftsman tools. I worked for him off and on for 10 years and, as best I can remember, we never had any problems with any of his Craftsman machines, or the Rockwell for that matter.
I don't own any Craftsman electric tools so am unsure of their quality now, but 30 years ago they were top notch.Elections belong to the people. It is their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters. ~ Abraham Lincoln
Good for you.
20 bucks beats more $'s or a favor owed.
And you kept some room in the landfill-course the metal hawks got short changed.
Best of luck on the reassembly.
If you're like me, you took it apart over a pile of sawdust.........A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
If you're like me, you took it apart over a pile of sawdust.........
LOL..... oh man that is so true. Glad I'm not the only one.View Image
or a gravel drive.
But you know what? If I sweep that sawdust up.......
Invariably I drop whatever it was and instead of lodging in that pile............it bounces like a cannon shot to I know not where.
It's just too hard anymore making sense of the whole thing.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Well of course you take it apart over a pile of sawdust- it helps cushion the part when you inevitably drop it. LOL
It's always the small one, isn't it.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
I call em "Jesus Clips" ya know, them Eclips that go Boooiiinnng and take off into the sky?
Then ya say "Jesus, where'd that go?"Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Welcome to Poo-ville, can I have your socks?Seriously Folks, I need a home for 3 lovers of your life.
Something amok.
Set it on the horse, all the while thinking-"you know, I should open this up someplace else"............
Every stink'n time.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
So, guys, I'm pleased to know I ain't the only idiot that takes stuff apart where I shouldn't. I hate it when a spring or clip tears off like a hungry hog to the slop trough. And sometimes you hear it pinging around a bunch of times, and sometimes nary a sound cause it landed in the mud or snow. But what I really hate is when your eye sees it flying and you follow it to its final resting place, but it ain't there. Oh no, the dreaded elliptical roll happens, and it will be up under a pile of stuff you can't get to, or it is lost forever. Then after a frustrating hour of looking, I go to the hardware store trying to remember what said part looks like, and find the only possible part that might work, but the bin is empty.
I was cleaning out my truck seat and found a three pointed spring clip that I can not for the life of me remember where it goes. I did replace the key cylinder a while back and surely it it does not go down deep in the wheel. Seems like it may be the first thing off before the wheel nut.
It is a 91 Silverado c1500.
Edited 4/5/2008 12:13 pm ET by rasconc
Sounds like the clip that goes on the end of the stub shaft for the steering shaft.
Its to keep the nut that holds the steering wheel on from coming completely off. (not the nut holding onto the steering wheel):-)
Russell
"Welcome to my world"
Its to keep the nut that holds the steering wheel on from coming completely off.
LOL.... how comforting. I can hear rasconc scrambling for his car keys from here.View Image
Sounds to me like the nut that holds the steering wheel is the same guy that doesn't remember where the clip goes;)
Got me there. I was so happy to get that darn turn signal module back in place I zoomed through the afterplay. Fortunately a buddy has the special compression tool for that. It seems like there is no substitute for the right tool for that job.
Any way the nut does not come off very easily after you beat the #### out of that end of the shaft trying to get the wheel off before you go get the puller (;-).
We go camping once a yr. My van transforms into the IGA. It's the once a yr that every tool box, fastener and 'other', comes out. I vac the sawdust etc out, wash the interior surfaces and invariably find that ................
But by this time, "that" deceives me from whence it came.
Alright, here's another one. You ever take the phillips bit out of the holder so you can swap a square drive (included in the deck screw box) . Now, after you swap the phillips back on, do you sometimes put that other bit in your pocket-thinking you'll return it to its proper place.
Do that to other things like a nail set, the extra screws from the bifold hdwr pkg, and maybe something..........anything else.
Pretty soon you got a #### load of stuff in that pocket.
Spring is here and now I lose 3 more filing pockets.
A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Yup, then when I wash my pants, I empty the pockets and lay all the stash on top of the dryer. I think there's a few phillips bits and such there now. Real handy place to store stuff. Get up on a ladder and go to use the phillips bit and remember it's on the dryer. DUH
On the dryer........
Don't forget the dashboard.A Great Place for Information, Comraderie, and a Sucker Punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
Or the cup holders in my truck.... they're always full of stuff that hasn't ended up back where it belongs. Odd washers, drivers bits, stair guages, padlock keys, a couple SS screws, etc.
My guys are famous for not putting the little stuff back where it goes. And they know it drives me crazy when I 'think' I have something, go to use it, and can't find it. So they'll finish with a bit or something and hand it to me... or even better... drop it into my pouches. Gee thanks. Now it'll never get lost.View Image
Do you know the sound of a item falling down the defroster? I do.
Thats why I carry a rare earth and a cow magnet in my pocket, it just turns into a gob of spare parts by friday.
I was installing a bookcase last week , oak case work, into old SYP studs, I broke 3 phillips driver tips and the pilot drill ..lucky the 4th tip was in my pocket, finished the day and went to Lowes and restocked. Impacts are great but they are hard on the magnets in the bit holders and hex screw drivers, none of mine have the little magnet any more.
Asfar as them lil E-clips go..I carry a few old guitar strings in my wallet, once when the Bosch Jiggy Saw slung the blade backup bearing clip, a wrap and a twist with a bronze string held it together..so good in fact, 7 yrs later, I still have not gotten the real clip back on. I keep forgetting, and it keeps holding on.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Welcome to Poo-ville, can I have your socks?Seriously Folks, I need a home for 3 lovers of your life.
I had one of those rare earth magnets on a antenna - pen like thingy with a pocket clip in my shirt pocket once. Threw the credit card in my pocket after a purchase. Card was DOA after that.
I had a GF that was in Navy Special Ops. She had brought home a few floppies that had some pretty important stuff on them about the Dare Co. Bombing range for some tests she was studying up on.
I was at the computer and she wanted me to load the floppies in the A: drive and get out of her way ( she was funny like that) and she plopped them on my thigh..right over where the magnets live in my pants pocket.
I loaded the first disc and said.." well, what ever you are studying, ought to be pretty simple, this sucker is blank"
So was the next, and the next..they were taking turns getting swiped on my pants leg..LOL I wiped em all out.
Man she was steamed, she had "borrowed" the info. OOOPs.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"Welcome to Poo-ville, can I have your socks?Seriously Folks, I need a home for 3 lovers of your life.
Of course.
And then we spend an hour looking for a $.05 part.
Well, maybe not 5 cents. I guess I'm showing my age.
Well I finally got the durn thing apart, of couse not before taking the wrong part off first ;) and have judjed what the issue is......going to order the part when my dad gets home on Sat. probably only going to be $20.
Nicely done Andy.View Image
"There's enough youth in this world, how 'bout a fountain of SMART??!!"Andy, Looks like you found the fountain and took a sip or too. Congratulations on taking the saw apart and finding the solution to your problem. There's a certain satisfaction in being able to repair and tune your own equipment. A valuable skill to develop.Before long you'll be buying second-hand, damaged tools at bargain prices and ........................... throwing them in a corner where they will languish untouched for years. :)oldfred
I always just use their website, they have practically every schematic out there, so I don't have to waste time on the phone.http://www.searspartsdirect.com
I think for small power hand tools like sawzalls they change offshore vendors every year to save 1 % which makes parts hard to get
I still want to throw the dead Crapsman planer through the the store window. I replaced it with a 12" Parks. That 300 pound cast iron hog does everything the crapsman wished it could. I do have a 1950's Craftsman contractor saw fitted with a mulecab fence that works incredibly well. Matter of fact, I liked it so much I bought another with a larger table and extensions at auction for $40. A week later some scrappers brought me another saw of the same type with a motor and no extensions for $20. I bought it for spare parts. I have a lathe and a 6x48 belt sander that were also made in the 50's.
New power tools at Sears are indeed #### and I won't even darken their doorway. However I won't shy away from old iron with the name of Craftsman as it was made in the USA by companies that are now long gone.