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I have a craftsman router that is old enough that many parts are not available. Of course, the two I need are not available! The two stop rings on the depth adjustment ring are broken and sears does not have them. I have looked at other sources with no luck. Beyond finding another router somewhere, does anyone have any ideas. Would a APR be an option? What about some of the lift systems?
The motor is 1.5 HP and runs strong. The thing is really worthless with out the rings. I got it as a gift. It was part of an estate sale and apparently had been used little and set in a hot shop for a long time. The depth adjusting ring is good, but shows some discoloration where the rings did not cover it.
Thanks.

dlbristol wrote:I have a craftsman router that is old enough that many parts are not available. Of course, the two I need are not available! The two stop rings on the depth adjustment ring are broken and sears does not have them. I have looked at other sources with no luck. Beyond finding another router somewhere, does anyone have any ideas. Would a APR be an option? What about some of the lift systems?
The motor is 1.5 HP and runs strong. The thing is really worthless with out the rings. I got it as a gift. It was part of an estate sale and apparently had been used little and set in a hot shop for a long time. The depth adjusting ring is good, but shows some discoloration where the rings did not cover it.
Thanks.

Don't throw it away yet. I'll check to see if I kept the rings. I have parts from a sears router that failed.

What is an APR? A lift might be an option, but I wouldn't consider it. A lift would cost more than a new router. If I were you I would just get a new router. For a suggestion, Sears has a combination fixed and plunge base set for $119. The nice thing about a combo set is you can mount the fixed base in your table and still have the plunge base for hand held operations. I have this set and it is a very good option. If you want, check it out here.
Of course there are other routers out there that would work, but this is just a suggestion for you to consider.

Opps, I meant OPR ,Over head Pin router. I guess refinancing got mixed up with wood working. I think you are right about just getting another , but I just hate to just scrap it. Thanks for your thoughts.

dlbristol wrote:Opps, I meant OPR ,Over head Pin router. I guess refinancing got mixed up with wood working. I think you are right about just getting another , but I just hate to just scrap it. Thanks for your thoughts.

Don't scape it. Just keep an eye open for what is needed to do the restoration. Do you do garage sales?

I don't if I can help it!! But my wife loves them, so I guess I'll surprise her and go do some! I have discovered that a large hose clamp over the broken rings will allow me to hold a setting. I don't think it would be a very accurate method, but it guess for some applications it might be ok. ( not that this was a real easy router to set anyway!!!

dlbristol: i sent you a private message on the this site. have router but, do not know if its the one you want................. oldc6

Thanks for the help guys. I had some very generous offers from Oldc6 and good advice from others. Dusty's advice to go to yard sales, did not yield any router parts, but my lovely bride was surprised and pleased.
I have learned somethings about Craftsman.
1. They seem to produce a lot of different models and they change models often.
2. Used Craftsman routers are pretty high on EBay ect. I found one like mine and it presently is selling for about half of what a new combo router from Sears!
3. I found a local guy to do repairs, but he has only Sears as his parts supplier. That surprised me. Does anyone know who makes craftsman for sears?
4. Using a big hose clamp will hold the depth adjustment in place, but made the adjustment worse that it was before, and that was difficult.
5. The effort to convince my wife that the best way to solve this problem was to buy an OPR from SS, needed more horse power than this router provided! She saw through the rouse!

dlbristol wrote:Thanks for the help guys. I had some very generous offers from Oldc6 and good advice from others. Dusty's advice to go to yard sales, did not yield any router parts, but my lovely bride was surprised and pleased.
I have learned somethings about Craftsman.
1. They seem to produce a lot of different models and they change models often.
2. Used Craftsman routers are pretty high on EBay ect. I found one like mine and it presently is selling for about half of what a new combo router from Sears!
3. I found a local guy to do repairs, but he has only Sears as his parts supplier. That surprised me. Does anyone know who makes craftsman for sears?
4. Using a big hose clamp will hold the depth adjustment in place, but made the adjustment worse that it was before, and that was difficult.
5. The effort to convince my wife that the best way to solve this problem was to buy an OPR from SS, needed more horse power than this router provided! She saw through the rouse!

Don't give up on yard sales. Keep the identification data with you when you go. One can never tell; the next yard sale may yield exactly what you what.

As for who makes a Craftsman Router for Sears - I suspect that there is no easy answer. I have a Craftsman Plunge Router, Variable Speed, Model 315.175170 that carries the Craftsman name and a proud label that states "Made in China".

Another source you may want to try are flea markets. And don't look just at the table, look under it. Many times, those are where the hard to find items are. You may be able to pick up a nonfunctioning unit and cannibalize parts from both to make one functional router.

Here's something else you may not know. Sears will have other power tool manufacturers make their tools and put the Craftsman name on them. Sears has been known to do this with other merchandise as well. Back when Sears had an actual Customer Service department (remember those days?) the parts could be looked up on microfiche and then the manufacturer would be contacted. For that matter that was the same with appliances, lawn and garden equipment, etc. When I had to replace a part, I had good luck with the following: Look at the tool and see it it resembles one made by another manufacturer. Get the model and serial number. Chances are that manufacturer also made the Craftsman model. You may be able to get that part online. It may sound a little unorthodox, but I've had pretty good luck with that approach.

BPR