Craftsman Power Tools Appreciation Thread

[HopeHoops]

Specifically, this has to do with standards.

Some years back, I drilled holes in a new router table to accommodate my late grandfather's router, which is I'm pretty sure is about my age - 46. It is as loud as a 747 in the bathtub, but it works. Unfortunately, while changing bits is easy when it is detached, it is almost impossible when it is in a table. So, I replaced it with my father's 20+ year old router. That went well at fist, but he had beaten the shit out of it over the years and, again, while it was in the table it was difficult to tighten the bits enough and the height adjustment was getting dodgy.

My frustration was apparently obvious, as the wife and kids got me a new Craftsman router for father's day. I just installed it about half an hour ago. So here is the appreciation parts - the mounting holes are in EXACTLY THE SAME PLACE as my grandfather's nearly half-century old router! That is so far beyond cool that there isn't a word for it. It sounds sweet too.

Okay, so why did it take me so long? That should be obvious. The garage was a fucking disaster area. I finally tackled it this morning, but only to get at the band saw. My wife's rattan numchucks were a bit too long and she wanted me to shave off about an inch from them. Obviously that was a job for the band saw. Well, that led to freeing the drill press and the scroll saw and eventually the router table. Ah, and there was a new router to install. So there you have it.

I just love that something new can mesh perfectly with something from so long ago. They even use the same tools to install the bits! Sears generally lives by the concept of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

I need to go play with some oak. Later.

[Ptah]

1. Nice anecdote. Precison is one of my fascinations

What are you trying to make the oak into?

[HopeHoops]

3. Mostly knives

My wife and three daughters are all 2nd degree black belts in Tang Soo Do. I make them knives, and the oak ones are WAY deadlier than the metal ones I make. Poplar is pretty lethal as well.

[Ptah]

5. I've had fun with iron

[EndersDame]

2. I have a bias towards DeWalt tools and Stihl chainsaws

Gotta love the bumble bee paint job. They were the first power tools I used when I joined Americorps to do Trail and Home Building. I think that Craftsman tools are alright aswell. I just think that power tools are frikken awesome and am mad at my dad and grandad for not letting me use them growin' up

[Orrex]

4. I'd like to hear more about your wife's rattan numchucks

Rattan? Is she going to Pennsic?