Shopsmith Forums

That drill bit is sad. I must say I've had this same thing happen.
Got a china set, full set that is, all standard sizes by the 1/16. Sharpened 2 on the drill doctor and went to work. Granted, these are supposed to be hss. Got started on the hole, a little cutting fluid on some mild steel and the drill unwound.
Yes, unwound. The tip bound in the hole, the drill kept spinning and eventually wound the drill in a left hand spiral. All in a matter of seconds.
I pulled that bit out, brought it inside and set it on the counter.
Took a picture of it.
Then stared at it. Couldn't believe it, the top half in a right hand spiral and the bottom half in a semi left hand spiral. You get the idea.
False advertisement, poor quality whatever. I returned the set, got my money back and went over to bisco supply to buy us made bits. All that trouble to get where I should have been in the first place.
China can make some great things, just not these bits. I have some end mills from china and they cut great. It's just a gamble sometimes.

dusty wrote:
I do have an old corded electric drill that I could exchange but I don't want to. It is one that was made with bearings and I don't want one of todays models in exchange.

Finding the receipt may be the show stopper. I do know from experience that it is hard to get their attention if you don't have a receipt.

I don't know about receipt or not but I do know that electric motor objects has a finite warranted period. Usually 30 days but never longer than a year.

I am fairly certain that unless that drill was bought within the pass 12 months there is no way you will be given another one. No way!

That is why I stopped buying any sears tool with a motor or engine. They will not honor the satisfaction guarantee it on.

Also go into Sears and see if you can find a Sears tape measure. None of our stores carry them any more. They carry Skill, Stanley, and others but you won't find a Sears tape measure in the store.

I believe the reason was they had too many fights over the replacement under the satisfaction guarantee and to eliminate it they just stopped carrying Sears.

Here's my Sears "warranty" story. It's from the '80s, and involves restoring an old fishing boat. (16 foot dinghy, heavily exposed to salt water, for those interested.) I found a chunk of rust in the bilge, that kinda looked like a Craftsman 3/8ths ratchet. Cleaned off the rust, just enough to prove it indeed, WAS a Craftsman ratchet.

Took it to the local Sears, and walked out with a shiny new 3/8ths ratchet.

Now-a-days, that is NOT gonna happen! If the ratcheting mechanism doesn't work, they give you a rebuild kit, or, a rebuilt ratchet.

And, you can now buy Craftsman brand tools at K-Mart. (if you can find a K-Mart still around.) Gee, I wonder why? Oh, Ace Hardware sells them, too. But Sears and Ace cost more, for the same model number. Again, wonder why.

Also, wonder why I don't shop at the Craftsman tool section, just across the street from me? Harbor Freight is cheaper, and the warranty (if you can call it that) is the same. (Oh, Harbor Freight is 4 miles away, not just across the street.)

steve

The warranty was nice but the real draw to Sears (way back when) was quality. Sears could afford to warrant their tools because the were reliable, quality tools.

They simply can not afford that warranty today.

This is all my opinion. I cannot back it up with anything. I'm just thankful that the tools I have are holding up.

The refrigerator from Sears is another story.

Years ago I bought a set of bits, proudly "Made in Japan". They folded up like pretzels just like yours. Since then, I buy US made bits and break them eventually.

skou wrote:?.... If the ratcheting mechanism doesn't work, they give you a rebuild kit, or, a rebuilt kit.

That apparently is the best case scenario. From what I've read on the tool forums, you'd rather have your old ratchet rebuilt if it can handle it, then get a newer, lesser quality ratchet that they are building now.

Many years ago, late 70s, bought a Sears Radial Arm Saw and it kept blowing fuses on startup. I called Sears and the sent out a TECHNICIAN. After he blew several more fuses he turned to me and said, "You know electricity is a funny thing" I immediately asked him to leave. After checking some more I determined that I was using too heavy and long extension cord that was drawing too much resistance.

wrmnfzy wrote:... After he blew several more fuses he turned to me and said, "You know electricity is a funny thing" I immediately asked him to leave.

I nearly fell off my seat laughing at this scene.

Over the years I have gotten 2 ratchets replaced at Sears with brand new ones and no argument at all. About 2 years ago, my Craftsman ratchet failed. When I went to Sears for a replacement, I was given a 'refurbished' unit (as said above, maybe it was better than a new one). I asked what if they didn't have a replacement and was told they would refurbish mine and I could get it "at some point in the future."

And years ago when taking machine shop courses we were told to avoid tool steel made in China since they had difficulty tempering it correctly and they would shatter. The same caution for stainless steel from China since it was subject to easy rusting.

I would have thought that they would improve ala Japan, but I guess as long as we Americans are anxious to buy the lowest price items, why bother?

Forrest

dusty wrote:The warranty was nice but the real draw to Sears (way back when) was quality. Sears could afford to warrant their tools because the were reliable, quality tools.

They simply can not afford that warranty today.

This is all my opinion. I cannot back it up with anything. I'm just thankful that the tools I have are holding up.

The refrigerator from Sears is another story.

Dusty
We agree at one time craftsman tools were the top quality and that is why their warrantee worked. Today they are of dubious quality and Sears would go broke replacing them. Oh that is right Sears did go broke and Kmart bought them.

Refrigerators. AH!

My grandson works for Lowes delivering appliances. Of course they remove the old appliance from the home.

He will tell you there are two kinds, those over 20 years old and those less than 5. From what he is seeing is appliances made in the last 20 years won't last longer than 5.