Adam Brown Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 Two weeks ago I had the belt on my Sears Craftsman Belt Sander fly off and do some pretty serious damage to my guitar project... and two days ago, The Sears Craftsman Router I borrowed from a friend, burned, instead of routed the top of the same guitar. I will no longer use any craftsman products... I don't care WHAT Bob Vila says. Is anybody else in agreeance with me!? Any bad experiences? (ps. I will be using another friend's router with a Freud Spiral router bit I just bought) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Brown Posted January 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 ps. I smoked out my entire house with the routing job I did. And it's January in Montreal, so opening up the doors and windows didn't last too long.... bbbrrrrrrrr! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 I think that some of Craftsman tools are good for the price. The burnt wood from the router is from a dull router bit, not the router. Either that or your using the wrong technique with it. Was you routing too slow? Was you routing too deep? These are some of the questions that might help you pin point the problem, and my guess is that it isn't the tool. You can have a high dollar, top of the line tool, but If you use the wrong techniques, you'll end up with the wrong results. Seriously, check into that, because it sounds like your router bit has seen it's better days. You might want to read Krazy Derek's router tutorial. Also, as far as the belt coming off, it might be something faulty or could be you need to adjust it so the tension keeps it in the right spot. In closing, yes there are probably better tools, but they aren't the worst I've seen by far. I do buy some from Sears, it just depends on the tool that I'm needing and if I had heard good things about that certain tool from Sears. Anyway, hope you figure out your problems. MaTT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex Luthier Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 I've only had a problem with my Craftsman drillpress, it was just too small. My other Craftsman tools, bench top belt sander and router are AWESOME! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Litchfield Custom Gutars Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 No problems. Except that one time, but that was because I didnt know how to use a belt sander. Or the time the router bit bound up and bent the screw that holds the chuck lok, but that was a pure crap bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snork Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 i still have my dads from 1970!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 the high end craftsman tools are great...the cheapo's are crap,just like anything else. i am really starting to like the ryobi line of tools...good quality at a great price Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
renablistic Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 yea, my dad being a pro contractor/carpenter LOVES those ryobis. They are REALLY nice for their price, i mean really nice. I think I'm gonna buy a belt sander from them for christmas.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Litchfield Custom Gutars Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 Ryobi makes Craftsman. USA made. Cannot be stressed enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drak Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 I got a love/hate/love thing going on with Ryobi routers. I love them, I think they're comfortable and very user-friendly, the BEST grips. But, they just don't last that long. I've gone thru 3 already, they last me about 2.5 years or so, but I keep going back and buying them again because I really really like them. Most other power tools are DeWalts, love that stuff too. A Makita here and there, those things will never break. I wouldn't go anywhere near a Sears craftsman power tool, but we all have our favorites, don't we? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 I found a helluva deal on a Craftsman 14.4 cordless drill, maglight, dustbuster, 2 batteries and charger a while ago. I find their battery chargers are good quality and the batteries last a long time before needing a recharge. But if you want to bash tools then I say stay away from Black & Decker cordless products. CRAPOLA Sorry, but I agree with Guitarfrenzy on this one. If you smell wood burning then you better stop and find out why. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 My complaint would be more about Bob Vila, he's suppose to be a super hand's on work guy but you never see him work in his own show. He just walks around talking and getting in the way of all the real workers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 that's why tim taylor is a spoof on bob vila Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex Luthier Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 the high end craftsman tools are great...the cheapo's are crap,just like anything else. By cheapo do you mean the 'Companion' line by Sears? Now THOSE are CRAP. I have a Companion bandsaw. BLOWS hard. I want to get a 14" bandsaw with a height attatchment so I can resaw my onw tops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 yeah i know what you mean...i have been trying to no avail to find someone to resaw my tops.i need to get my own 14" with a riser so i can resaw when i want to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MzI Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 cant go wrong with the lifetime garuntee on the craftsman hand tools they might cost a lil bit more but ne thing goes wrong with em get a new one for free, power tools wise i like dewalt MzI Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex Luthier Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 yeah i know what you mean...i have been trying to no avail to find someone to resaw my tops.i need to get my own 14" with a riser so i can resaw when i want to. Try local furniture manufacturers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdog Posted January 18, 2004 Report Share Posted January 18, 2004 westhemann.....If you need someone to resaw your tops......let me know....I have a 36in bandsaw that will resaw damn near anything....up to 20in thick!!!!! This past week I cut 1/8 x 15in purpleheart bookmatched panels. I also have a 14in bandsaw with a riser block.....but there is nothing like a 36incher with a 7.5hp motor! Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 18, 2004 Report Share Posted January 18, 2004 thanks tdog but i think shipping costs both ways would cost more than buying an already bookmatched top. i need to get one anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 18, 2004 Report Share Posted January 18, 2004 36" bandsaw?that is quite a tool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 18, 2004 Report Share Posted January 18, 2004 what is your location btw? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lex Luthier Posted January 18, 2004 Report Share Posted January 18, 2004 36" bandsaw?that is quite a tool Here's a 30 1/2" Resaw Bandsaw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted January 18, 2004 Report Share Posted January 18, 2004 The little light in my crapsman router stopped working after I only had the new tool for about 2 weeks. Tried a new bulb, cleaning contacts, best I could do was get it to blink on and off all the time while the routers running. The miter saw that my carpenter buddy has, broke fairly early in the saw's life. I think crapsman's main thing is to cut corners every way possible. What do you expect ?, their stuff is for the average lower and middle class joe who can't build anything better than homer simpson. But I must also say, that I think they used to be more quality oriented before 20 years ago. I think when cheap tools started to be made in taiwan, it forced crapsman to get much more crappy. But, they seem to be good about having repair parts available, which I can't say for many import tools. My buddy got the miter saw working , after buying new parts to rebuild the "trigger" assembly. Some tool companies basically advertise by making an impressive quality tool, which will get talked about. Then there's the other companies who have to advertise on TV to get you to buy their stuff. And their best trick of all, being the Sears Co., is to have a store in every mall, so when the wife forces you to go to the mall, you can at least " escape" to the crapsman tool section at sears. And then you buy something there, to teach the wife a lesson for making you go shopping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGM Guitars Posted January 18, 2004 Report Share Posted January 18, 2004 Craftsman hand tools are only about one notch worse than Snap on, Craftsman power tools however are only about one notch above fisher price. The old ones, (10 years old or so) were pretty good, but I bought a router from craftsman, it lasted just under 2 minutes, then the switch quit working. They refused to warranty it so I told them to go f*ck themselves and bought a porter cable, I've had ryobi and wouldn't buy another one, the porter cable stuff is the only way to go in routers I think. I won't buy another crapsman power tool though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveq Posted January 19, 2004 Report Share Posted January 19, 2004 I like my craftsman hand tools. Never bought a craftsman power tool and probably never will. My Porter-Cable router has treated me well but I'd be willing to try others if I had to. Concerning re-sawing - I have a 14" JET bandsaw (that I really love). I was thinking about getting the riser but I wasn't sure if I had enough HP to re-saw? I think it's a 1HP motor. It seems to cut 4" hardwood fine but I don't know how well it would do with 6+" ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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