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Last week I wanted a tool chest to place a few welding tools into in my garage. Sears had a terrific sale on the box I wanted. While waiting for the clerk to look for one in the storage room I enjoyed watching three separate shoppers study power tools. Two were interested in routers the third a power driver. The third fellow explained to the other two he would never again purchase a Craftsman power tool. He referenced two problem purchases. First was a power washer that failed the first summer he owned it. When he dropped it off for repair they had it for four months. The warranty had expired and they had trouble getting the parts. In the final analysis he paid half the original purchase price for the parts and labor to repair it. His other complaint was around a circular saw that died after three days use. Sears tried to convince him has had driopped it and they didn't want to take it back. This fellow then stated most of his hand and power tools come from Sears but the power tools are always another brand. Personally I swore of Craftsman power tools when three tools died withing a year of each other. Two year old drill press and Bandsaw and a one year old router that they couldn't get parts for. I won't even explain the headaches I had with one of their power washers. I do enjoy both of my Porter Cable Routers. Oh yeah the OPR is handy too, just remember when you order one of those you also need a router to power it. fjimp

good ideas, I will keep trying. As for the OPR, "do you need another router for that?" was my lovely brides first question!:( She ain't just another perty face). Dangit!!!

dlbristol wrote:good ideas, I will keep trying. As for the OPR, "do you need another router for that?" was my lovely brides first question!:( She ain't just another perty face). Dangit!!!

Yup, you got a hold of a sharp tack there. Yes, you do need a router to be used as an integral part of the OPR. Maybe you should just ask her for advise. One good thing, if you go along with that advise you won't have to explain why!

[quote="dusty"]Don't give up on yard sales. Keep the identification data with you when you go. One can never tell]
Well, I can now answer the question. I need a $.75 part for the plunge router. It is a compression spring. Tried to get it at Sears, no luck. Looked up the part number online (Googled it). Low and behold, there is the part. It is a Ryobi part.

Cost - $.75. Shipping and handling nearly $12.00.

I'll be at the nearby ACE tomorrow for a $ .68 solution.

BTW Are Ridgid and Ryobi financially related. That compression spring also had a Ridgid reference.

I think that Ridgid and Ryobi are owned by the same company.

I went to both rigid and ryobi sites and either they don't make craftsman, don't carry the parts anymore either or the service departments don't support sears products. Neither could get the parts. ( E-mail response was not clear why) Sears can't seem tell me who made the router either! I'm sure they know at some level, but I have not gotten to that level yet.

Did yard sales and found lots of good stuff, just not what I needed. I made the rounds at Pawn shops and found 2 of the model I needed, both missing the stop rings! I am beginning to sense a pattern here. ( My bride had a great time)
Is it possible that the motor from one model might fit another model? I found a similar model with a bad motor here locally. I don't know if you can disassemble them to that point. This is developing into a quest for me!:D

Do you know the nine digit Sears part number?

Yes, I have the # ( model 315-174710 part 970505-001 stop rings) and that is what I sent to the Ryobi and Rigid sites. They told me I can only get the part from Sears! Sears site says that the part is not longer available and the Mfg has not designated a replacement.
I searched the # and found only the sears part.

My best guess is that you are correct about the router being made by Ryobi or Rigid. Several models of each look very much alike. I will keep trying. I did find a match on Ebay for a complete router that is exactly the same as mine.
Maybe I can get it and use mine for repair parts.
The issue with the rings may be unique to my router, because it had been in the window and sun for a long time. Then again, the design seems pretty flawed to me. Learning a lot about a lot of this at least.

Hi,

Went out to see which router it is and I remember seeing that one in the stores... it was one of the lower priced models to start with so in my humble opinion I wouldn't spend much money or time on it.

I would say you would do better to go to some place like this:
http://www.reconditionedsales.com

I have purchased one of the "C" grade reconditioned Hitachi M12VC routers and other then a slight repaint they did it looks like the other three I own. The "C" grade is only a cosmetic thing and they carry the same warranty as the "like new" ones. In the case of the Hitachi that is one year rather then the five years of a new one.

Router only
New on sale price $129
Reconditioned $74
Reconditioned "C" $59.

Router Kit (case, plunge base, guide bushings, extra sub-base, centering kit)
New on sale $169
Reconditioned $102
Reconditioned "C" $81

Right now they are out of stock but you can have them contact you when more come in. Or, if you want to get another brand that might be in stock.

They also carry other brands and most of the router manufactures have reconditioned tools at a decent discount.

Ed

I think you may be right. My needs don't justify going to far up the ladder. If I go with a new router, I will need a table and I haven't done the research to do there yet. Still a lot of learning going on. Good site also, I have it marked.