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Tired of drill bits breaking?

Well here's the solution.

Tool source drill bits.

[ATTACH]25532[/ATTACH]

This came from a tool variety pack I got for Christmas.

the screwdriver bits were OK

Do they sell Allen chucks to use with those?

China hasn't discovered hardening yet.

For Christmas a few years ago I got a punch set. It had all kinds of punches, center punch, drift pins, nail sets and driving punches to drive out pins.

The driving pins were made of the same metal as that drill in the picture, instead of driving out a pin they bent. I took them back to Sears and complained. The answer I received was that hardened pins tend to shatter when they break and to avoid injury suits Sears no longer hardened the pin drivers they sell.

I don't know if that is fact or a story by the salesman to shut me up, but that is what I was told. I got my replacement punches and went home vowing never to buy Sears again.

Ed in Tampa wrote:For Christmas a few years ago I got a punch set. It had all kinds of punches, center punch, drift pins, nail sets and driving punches to drive out pins.

The driving pins were made of the same metal as that drill in the picture, instead of driving out a pin they bent. I took them back to Sears and complained. The answer I received was that hardened pins tend to shatter when they break and to avoid injury suits Sears no longer hardened the pin drivers they sell.

I don't know if that is fact or a story by the salesman to shut me up, but that is what I was told. I got my replacement punches and went home vowing never to buy Sears again.

I would have got my money back based on their "Customer Satisfaction Guarantee" and then I would have been much more selective when I went to buy tools.

I bought a set of drill bits that were on sale at Woodcraft about a year ago. It was not until I got home that I realized that they were manufactured in China. At first I was peeved but then I realized I had "made that decision" and decided to keep and use the drill bits. They have worked well. I have no complaints. I would buy another set if I needed them and the opportunity arose.

dusty wrote:I would have got my money back based on their "Customer Satisfaction Guarantee" and then I would have been much more selective when I went to buy tools.

I bought a set of drill bits that were on sale at Woodcraft about a year ago. It was not until I got home that I realized that they were manufactured in China. At first I was peeved but then I realized I had "made that decision" and decided to keep and use the drill bits. They have worked well. I have no complaints. I would buy another set if I needed them and the opportunity arose.

Getting your money back because of Sears Satisfaction Guarantee is not what it once was. In fact I don't know if they post that statement above their doors any longer.

I have tried to get my money back (not on these punches but on other things) in the past and the ordeal was not pleasant or fun. In fact it was not worth it.

I think they say they will replace the tool not refund your money. However to replace the tool it must be the same part number. Oh I forgot to mention Sears changes part numbers with some regularity. I had a 9 inch screw driver that the tip broke off ( I was using it correctly) and I took it back. They no longer sell that driver they changed the color of the handle and thus the part number. I demanded a manager, same story sorry but we no longer have that tool. I pointed to the racks of screw drivers. No go.

I demanded the store manager we wasn't in the store (who would have guessed). Because I knew loud gets attention you are either arrested or given what you want to shut you up. So I got loud and louder until there was a crowd forming and in the interest of shutting me up it was easier to let me have a red handled screw driver instead of a black handled one.

I stopped buying Sears tools with motors and engines back in the 70's, I stopped buying Sears tool products after that incident and I have stopped buying anything Sears around that same time.

Although I will admit I got some roll around tool cabinets at "too good to be true" prices from the Sears outlet store a few years ago.

It just pains me no end to go into the tool department at Sears today. Perhaps a better word is "saddens" me. Those of us alive in the 60s and 70s (the 70s when I starting buying equipment for my shop) remember the "good old days". I have three Sears 1/2 hp motors that run my Rockwell Delta lathe, bandsaw and drill press. I bought them in 1972. They still run just fine, my lathe motor getting the hardest workout. In fact, on it I have it counter-shafted for a greater range of rpm, but I digress. My Craftsmen Radial Arm saw (1962) is a thing of beauty to behold.

We have been down this road before dealing with the crap that comes in from China or the Orient. Some is 'ok', most of it not. It is the reality today and we have to live with it. However, when thumbing through old tool catalogs, I know I was born too late.

The last thing I purchased from sears was a small air compressor.

When I removed the plug to add crankcase oil, there were machining chips at the bottom.

I took it back and as previously lamented started the make your guarantee good discussion. Had to 'escalate', and the 'manager' tried to tell me those chips were not a problem. After my refusing to buy that crap, he relented to replace it.

So I 'inspected' the replacement before leaving the department.

That did not have a cap on the filler tube.

So the third time was the charm and it is still functioning today albeit with minimal run time to date.

The last 'replacement tool' was a very old L shaped socket wrench handle. It was replaced with the closest thing then available(a sliding t handle). The store clerk had never seen one like I returned. That was quite a while ago!

The only time I have purchased anything at sears was when the local store had a closing sale and that was a socket that I adapted to rotate gilmer version quill shaft/clutch.

Well, I guess I am going to ave to experience this myself. I'll look through all of my tools to see if I can find anything that I think should be covered by their warranty or that no longer provides "customer satisfaction".

I don't have anything new from Sears so finding old should not be a problem.

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 understand that because I have known people who went to the swap meets and picked up old Craftsmen tools and then exchanged they at Sears for new. Sears implemented the "no receipt - no exchange" policy to put a stop to that scam.

And if they are unconditionally guaranteed, how is a receipt relevant?

I do not recall any 'original purchaser' stipulation back then when I purchased most of what I have.