Many people have a favourite tool that they cannot part with. Some people prefer a particular brand. Craftsman is one of these brands. Sears is a popular place to purchase Craftsman tools. They had a good reputation and a lifetime warranty.
Good questions all. Here’s what we found from our investigation.
Can You Still Find Band Saws At Sears?
Sears‘ website for Band Saws reveals the following that were directly sold by them .
- General International 30 cm Woodcutting Band Saw
- RIKON Power Tools 25cm Band Saw
- General International 23 cm 2.5 amp Woodcutting Band Saw
A second search of what they call the Marketplace-links to products sold elsewhere-brings up over 200 items. There the brands include
- Jet
- Powermatic
- Rikon
- Delta
- Shop Fox
No Craftsman Band Saw. You can’t buy a Craftsman Band Saw from Sears.
We thought we hit the jackpot when we found a Sears Hometown Store. We were able to find a Craftsman BAS350 photo measuring 36 cm. The site said that the item was not available for sale in any zip code.
Can A Craftsman Saw Be Used?
You will need to do some research and use your imagination when buying used tools. You can check Craigs List and eBay. Ask at local woodworking shops or search auction sites or local auctions.
Bid Spotter is one such on-line tool auction site. At the time of writing, it had several Craftsman woodworking tools, but not the band saw. This could change. You can visit the Bid Spotter website here.
Can Parts For Craftsman 30cm Band Saws Still Be Purchased?
You want to make sure that parts are still available before you purchase a used tool.
- The Craftsman 30-cmrs list on eReplacementParts is here. However, it is not an exhaustive list.
- Craftsman also has a part site. However, you may need to email them for more information. None of the links we tried gave us information about Band Saws.
- Sawblade.com has our top-rated saw blade upgrade/conversion kit. Check it out here.
Between these sources and talking to other Craftsman owners, you should be able to find most parts that you need or be able to substitute other parts.
Other Alternatives To Craftsman 30 Cm Band Saw
If you decide against buying the Craftsman or if you cant find one to buy, heres an alternative you might consider. The Craftsman was a mid-range model, so we compared similar machines.
Craftsman 30 Cm Band Saw Alternate: Grizzly G0555LX36 Cm 1 HP Deluxe Sawsaw
This band saw, which can be bought for around has received many positive reviews. It is an upgrade from the G0555LX. The extra features we added are well worth the cost. The specs are typically for a machine this size-1 HP motor, 14 by 36 cm table, table tilts 45 degrees, cutting capacity of 13 inches, and a maximum height of 15 cm.
What We Liked
- The wheels-cast-iron and computer-balanced provide more stability
- Rack-and-pinion steering is used to increase accuracy in the upper blade guides
- The t-shaped design of the fence design
What We Didn’t Like
- To prevent hoses slipping, the dust collection port may be made deeper.
- Packaging is fragile and could cause damage to heavy machines.
- On-line manual-try reading it from your smart phone while trying to set it up. The manual is 65 pages.
Bottom Line
This solid Band Saw matches or exceeds the Craftsman. Although the company is only 30 years old, it has spent considerable money on quality-control. The company also relocated its quality control office to another country in order to monitor quality at the factories that produce the products. You can get it from the company here.
Craftsman Tools: The History
Craftsman Tools is one of the most popular and well-known tool brands in America. According to one survey, Craftsman tools was ranked number one in terms of quality in 2001. Another survey in 2007 found Craftsman rated number one for brand expectations and trust. Readers of Popular Mechanics named Craftsman their favorite tool in 2009.
Sears‘ history has been intertwined in the long history of the brand. Sears wanted to be the place where everything could be purchased, so they began selling Craftsman tools back in 1927. As you can see from this timeline, this continued to be the companys goal:
- Craftsman electric drills are introduced in 1929
- 1934 saw the introduction of reel lawnmowers
- You can purchase 1953-riding lawnmowers
- Five tools are included in the 5-in-1 Power Workshop: a bench saw and a jigsaw, sabersaw, disc sander, and sabersaw.
- Two years later Craftsman begins selling a gas mower with a fully-enclosed engine
- 1966 saw the rapid release wrench become one of most popular wrenches.
- In 1976 Sears produces the 100 millionth screwdriver
What Happened To The Guarantee?
When Craftsman tools, such as wrenches, screwdrivers, drills, hammers, were sold by Sears they came with a lifetime guarantee. This guarantee was a major selling point for Craftsman tools. A receipt was not required. Sears will replace the damaged tool if you bring it in.
When Craftsman was sold to Black and Decker, the tools would be sold at Lowes and some Ace Hardware stores. People wondered if Lowes would honour the warranty.
Both yes and no.
Their website states that they will replace your tool with a similar model if possible. The problem is, the Craftsman tools they sell are not identical to the ones you bought ten years ago. Instead, they will direct you to Craftsman’s online site.
A Sad Day
Sears‘ announcement that they would be selling Craftsman tools was a huge blow to the chain. Folks went to Sears for the tools and appliances, and one of those was gone. It was only a matter of time until Kenmore was also phased out. Are you searching for a Ryobi bandsaw? Check out the Best Ryobi Band Saw: Which Should You Buy?
Last Thoughts
Now you have enough information to make a decision about whether to purchase the Craftsman Band Saw, or invest in a more modern one like the Grizzly. The rest is up to you. Do you need a band saw that cuts metal? Check out our guide Metal Band Saw Who Makes the Best?
