They're mostly just another tools sales website now. They do still have a big retail store in NY but I don't know if they are still the kind of place that made them great locally to get started. Bobby didn't have much room for stock in his first little location but if a tool was available off the shelf anywhere in the area he'd promise to get it for you in 24 hours or less, at a lower price, and deliver it to you if you needed. I have first hand knowledge that he was willing to take a loss in order to deliver on that promise. It was a different world back then though, he was smart and figured out he needed to sell to the whole country online and not just the New York area.
New Craftsman V-series tools
Moderators: HopefulSSer, admin
Re: New Craftsman V-series tools
Ed from Rhode Island
510 PowerPro Double Tilt:Greenie PowerPro Drill Press:500 Sanding Shorty w/Belt&Strip Sanders
Super Sawsmith 2000:Scroll Saw w/Stand:Joint-Matic:Power Station:Power Stand:Bandsaw:Joiner:Jigsaw
1961 Goldie:1960 Sawsmith RAS:10ER
510 PowerPro Double Tilt:Greenie PowerPro Drill Press:500 Sanding Shorty w/Belt&Strip Sanders
Super Sawsmith 2000:Scroll Saw w/Stand:Joint-Matic:Power Station:Power Stand:Bandsaw:Joiner:Jigsaw
1961 Goldie:1960 Sawsmith RAS:10ER
Re: New Craftsman V-series tools
Stopped by Lowes yesterday for a new door handle. Their V Tool display was enormous. Were I needing any more mechanics tools, I'd be tempted.
Re: New Craftsman V-series tools
Thanks Gene. Good to know. I'll need to make a trip to my local Lowes to check them out.
RF Guy
Mark V 520 (Bought New '98) | 4" jointer | 6" beltsander | 12" planer | bandsaw | router table | speed reducer | univ. tool rest
Porter Cable 12" Compound Miter Saw | Rikon 8" Low Speed Bench Grinder w/CBN wheels | Jessem Clear-Cut TS™ Stock Guides
Festool (Emerald): DF 500 Q | RO 150 FEQ | OF 1400 EQ | TS 55 REQ | CT 26 E
DC3300 | Shopvac w/ClearVue CV06 Mini Cyclone | JDS AirTech 2000 | Sundstrom PAPR | Dylos DC1100 Pro particulate monitor
Mark V 520 (Bought New '98) | 4" jointer | 6" beltsander | 12" planer | bandsaw | router table | speed reducer | univ. tool rest
Porter Cable 12" Compound Miter Saw | Rikon 8" Low Speed Bench Grinder w/CBN wheels | Jessem Clear-Cut TS™ Stock Guides
Festool (Emerald): DF 500 Q | RO 150 FEQ | OF 1400 EQ | TS 55 REQ | CT 26 E
DC3300 | Shopvac w/ClearVue CV06 Mini Cyclone | JDS AirTech 2000 | Sundstrom PAPR | Dylos DC1100 Pro particulate monitor
Re: New Craftsman V-series tools
This is all a great trip down Memory Lane, and more!
My Dad was a TV repairman, and once called on a customer in Mt. Carmel, IL (if I recall correctly), whose tasks at the Snap-On factory included burying defective tools under concrete.
Dad had also been a car mechanic, and proudly kept his USA-made SK Tools from the 1950s until he passed. I guess SK still exists but I never hear a lot about them, compared to Snap-On, Craftsman, or MAC.
Chris
My Dad was a TV repairman, and once called on a customer in Mt. Carmel, IL (if I recall correctly), whose tasks at the Snap-On factory included burying defective tools under concrete.
Dad had also been a car mechanic, and proudly kept his USA-made SK Tools from the 1950s until he passed. I guess SK still exists but I never hear a lot about them, compared to Snap-On, Craftsman, or MAC.
Chris
Re: New Craftsman V-series tools
In the mid-70s I worked at the only service station in my small town (Eureka, MO) and started my tool collection with Craftsman and Blackhawk, which I thought were a little better. The Snap-on truck would sometimes stop in and I picked up a few of those too, but they were mostly out of my price range. I unfortunately lost all those tools when my car was broken into in the late 80s.since then I’ve been buying tools as I need them, slowly building up my set with a mix of good and crap. It would be good to finally have a source for decent tools that are reasonably priced. Hope that is what happens with these new Craftsman series.
Marc Jones
Model 10ER (1952), s/n: 72883 (MickyD restored in 2009/10) / Variable Speed Changer / A-34 Jigsaw / Jointer-Shaper Fence
Mark 5 Model 500 (1955), s/n: 309828 (MickyD restored in 2008/09) / Magna Jigsaw Model 610, s/n 65001 / Yuba 11” Bandsaw Model 630, s/n 39807 / Magna Jointer Model 620, s/n 17792 (restored in 2021) / Magna 6” Belt Sander Model 640, s/n 13742 (to be restored)
Professional Planer Model M5082, s/n 003918
DC3300 Dust Collector (circa 1998)
Model 10ER (1952), s/n: 72883 (MickyD restored in 2009/10) / Variable Speed Changer / A-34 Jigsaw / Jointer-Shaper Fence
Mark 5 Model 500 (1955), s/n: 309828 (MickyD restored in 2008/09) / Magna Jigsaw Model 610, s/n 65001 / Yuba 11” Bandsaw Model 630, s/n 39807 / Magna Jointer Model 620, s/n 17792 (restored in 2021) / Magna 6” Belt Sander Model 640, s/n 13742 (to be restored)
Professional Planer Model M5082, s/n 003918
DC3300 Dust Collector (circa 1998)
Re: New Craftsman V-series tools
I have several of the 'older' Craftsman V series, but more VV series on the sockets, mostly of 70's vintage. One thing both have in common is they say "Forged in USA" on the larger tools.
Older socket sets frequently came with a breaker bar. Now, they rarely do. (Exception: 3/4" drive sets almost always do.) I think the breaker bar saves the ratchet from some serious abuse, from time to time, and extends its life. My suggestion is add this to whatever you buy.
- David
Older socket sets frequently came with a breaker bar. Now, they rarely do. (Exception: 3/4" drive sets almost always do.) I think the breaker bar saves the ratchet from some serious abuse, from time to time, and extends its life. My suggestion is add this to whatever you buy.
- David