I read this news group alot and continually see most references to craftsman tools as junk,and they do sell alot of low end tools. But if you look at the higher end and lot off them are made by name brand manufactures, EX. Jigsaw made by bosh, biscuit jointer made by dewalt, a way u can tell is look at the ul number on the product and compare because no matter who a company makes an electrical tool for they are issued 1 ul number. Also in there catologs and they carry a cabinet saw and wonder if anyone has any experince with it.
It's the Craftsman brand that carries the "junk" image nowadays. The difference in quality between the 10" table saw I bought in 1970 and the one I bought a year ago is mind-boggling.
Those company may build it for them but, they build it to their specifications. So even though they are built by Dewalt or Bosch does not mean it is built to the same quality. Craftsman may say use plastic parts where Dewalt or Bosch would put metal parts in their own brand.
You're kidding, right? Sears' parts support is terrible. They usually only supply what the OEM still does, and jack up the price. Frequently the OEM still has parts that Sears stopped supporting. I got rid of most of my older Craftsman power tools when Sears wouldn't sell the parts. Most real tool companies who made the (sometimes ancient) tools I have now carry everything.
Yes there tools may be made by a well known company, but remember that Ford built Lincolns, and Pinto's. It's what you want, and want to pay for.
Sears wanted $20.00 (15.00 + 5.00 shipping) for a manual for a pressure washer I bought used. I contacted Porter Cable a year ago to get a manual for my Dad's washer, and they sent it free and no charge for the manual.
Craftsman, which was top of the line by any standard. I have tools that I bought then and have used for a lifetime of commercial work as an aircraft mechanic. Still use them, just as good as the day I bought them.
Sears brand, a mid range tool, usable in any home shop for many years of service.
Dunlap brand, this was a use once and throw away type of tool.
Over the years, I watched them degrade the quality of their tools, and everything else, down to the Dunlap quality which they now call Craftsman brand.
Yah, you see them bring in outside brands now to sell, because people stopped buying their crap. Need a part? If what you have is 10 years old, forget parts, they do not carry the parts that break, only complete assemblies from the manufacture, and those are drop shipped to you.
The only time that I will buy anything from Sears, and I do mean anything, is if there is just no other place to get it, or if I have to have it today and it is in their store as the only source. They have lowered their quality and raised their prices on everything till they have taken themselves out of the competition. I bought an MTD tractor at Sams stores for $1000 less that the identical model at Sears, five years ago.
Not always... I needed a new sanding platen for my 4" x 24" Craftsman belt sander and the reply came back, "Parts no longer supplied by manufacturer". Of course I've had it since 1968 or so. Much better machine than the current crop. The replacement is a Porter-Cable 362VS because the Craftsman uses a wierd 21" long belt, hard to find most places. My 2
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