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Craftsman and Kenmore still retain their reputations even if they don't match their quality of decades past. I inherited a Craftsman table saw with an electric
by wavefunction 7y ago
Craftsman and Kenmore still retain their reputations even if they don't match their quality of decades past.
I inherited a Craftsman table saw with an electric motor from the 1960s that my grandfather used to finish his house at the time. All it needed were new belts and blades.
More recently I purchased a house with a Kenmore Elite range whose only detriment from perfection is that it's an electric rather than gas range.
- linuxftw 7y agoI don't think either of those brands have maintained their reputation. Everyone knows Craftsman is overpriced junk riding on yesterday's heritage. People old enough to know Craftsman was a good brand know enough about tools to see they're junk now.
- Blackthorn 7y agoYeah. People are saying that Tekton is the new Craftsman (for hand tools anyway, they don't sell anything with a motor in it). I haven't seen anyone recommend actual Craftsman brand in a long time.
- wavefunction 7y agoY'all are probably right at least with Craftsman, I haven't bought any Craftsman products and haven't seen their products appear in my research on the best-of-breed for * tool. They do seem to be assembling their tools in America which is a plus for me.
- bluGill 7y agoTekton cannot be the new craftsman until I can get a replacement within one hour anywhere in the US on a Saturday. Craftsman was never as good as Snap-on (or other professional brands), but when (as anyone who works on their own stuff knows it isn't if it is when) I broke a tool there was a sears close by with a replacement so I could finish the job.
- inferiorhuman 7y agoTekton cannot be the new craftsman until I can get a replacement within one hour anywhere in the US on a Saturday. If you're in a market where Amazon does 1-day delivery it's close. Otherwise there's Harbor Freight. For the most part though, the quality was good enough that if you were breaking your Craftsman hand tools you were doing something wrong.
- bluGill 7y agoWhat I was doing wrong was putting a 6 foot (2 meter) pipe on the wrench trying to get enough leverage. Either the bolt came out, or the wrench broke. When the bolt has been in there for > 10 years - through MN road salt each winter - the proper torque won't get the bolt out.
- inferiorhuman 7y ago10 years - through MN road salt each winter - the proper torque won't get the bolt out. That's what heat and impact are for.
- paulie_a 7y agoAnd a sledge hammer That's how I got an o2 sensor out that was completely locked. I spent four hours on it previously. A torch a cheap wrench and a sledge later I had it replaced
- bluGill 7y agoAs a kid I didn't have those options. I agree they are better, but if your parents didn't buy those tools you can't use them. Heat is also fire, which means more care needs to be taken.
- inferiorhuman 7y agoI agree they are better, but if your parents didn't buy those tools you can't use them. Yes, you could spend the money on (air, electric) powered impact tools. You could even spend the money on a hand driven impact driver (much less expensive than the powered option). Or you could grab a length of pipe and a hammer, slip the pipe over your tools and bang on it. This works better with things that aren't designed to ratchet and uses bits and ends you're more likely to have around the house (or find secondary uses for) than power tools. Heat is also fire, which means more care needs to be taken. Which also depends on your budget. They're fantastically expensive but inductive heaters are great for helping break things loose in a safe manner.