Craftsman replacing Kobalt?

[85_Ranger4x4]

We went to a Montgomery wards on vacation once, it was worse than sears was at the end. They died for good a year or two after that.

I could swear I have seen a western auto in the past year or two. Dad talks about going to one as a kid and it was kind of a “there is one left!” thing. Didn’t go in and I don’t remember where it was. I forgot about it until this thread.

 

[4.0blue98]

I'm pretty sure I've seen a Western Auto recently too. Can't remember where but not too long ago.

 

[Locotomb]

The Dewalt 20v have a different connection. Though, I think they made an adapter finally, So your 20v Battery will work with the old style. I believe is how it is set up. Which I need to get.

Corporate frickin greed, and the hollowing out of the middle class since the mid-70’s. Union labor (and wages) built this country post-WW2. Once Reagan broke the ATC Union, the die was cast......Sears was the Amazon of the day. You could buy anything from a kit house to a tractor via mail order. Imagine if they had survived into the Internet era. They already had the model, just no vision. Once the corporate raiders descended, all the money went to their minions.

I remember looking thru the sears christmas book when I was a kid. Good Times.

 

[Locotomb]

I worked at Sears for 6 years. Mostly in the receiving/shipping dept. I started off unloading trucks then moved up to RTV (return to vendor). I took all the broken junk, scanned it onto a green screen (for those who know what a green screen is) then boxed it onto pallets and shipped them off. We had our own toolbox full of "broken" tools that were 9 times out 10 just old and rusty looking so they upgraded them. This was before they got strict on replacing tools. Needless to say we had a killer tool collection. We would fill 55 gallon drums with the broken tools. Normally had 2 of the drums on the bottom of the pallet. I wonder what they did with those 55 gallon drums full of tools??? Green screens.... I doubt anyone under 30 knows what it is or has used one. I'm 31 and that was the only time I ever used a green screen.

Believe it or not, Guitar Center Still uses "Green Screen". And it's surprisingly effective. It's one of the better tools that I've been able to work with. (comes stock with no Cookies)

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

I'm 31

How

In the f*ck

Are you younger than I am.

I could have sworn you were some cranky old dude in his early 70s.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Petroleumjunkie <---- a future cranky old dude still in diapers

 

[Grumpaw]

I'm pretty sure I've seen a Western Auto recently too. Can't remember where but not too long ago.

They are no more stores legally operating as Western Auto. The name and rights were purchased by Advance Auto/Auto Zone. Some older out of the way stores still use the name, but illegally, though Advance Auto dosen't go after them.
Grumpaw

 

[91stranger]

How

In the f*ck

Are you younger than I am.

I could have sworn you were some cranky old dude in his early 70s.

I guess I was born after you were, obviously. lol. 31 is the dirty one. I'm not that cranky, most days... Actually I am probably the most laid back person you would ever meet.

 

[Dirtman]

More laid back than me!? Come on now...

 

[Shran]

The Dewalt 20v have a different connection. Though, I think they made an adapter finally, So your 20v Battery will work with the old style. I believe is how it is set up. Which I need to get.

You can get an adapter to use 20v batteries on 18v tools BUT it does not necessarily fit ALL of the 18v tools. I have just about every 18v tool ever made and have personally confirmed that the adapter does NOT fit quite a few of them! Better off just buying more 18v batteries, unfortunately.

Also, the adapter is designed in such a way that it will drain the 20v battery if you leave the battery attached to the adapter. Yes, it drains all by itself.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

The only manufacturer that I know that hasn't changed battery shape and fitment is Ryobi. Everyone else has changed. But if I wasn't so heavily invested in Ryobi I would go to the new brushless cordless tools. Probably dewalt as they are everywhere around me.

 

[Dirtman]

I just bought a new dewalt sawzall a couple months ago that still has the same classic 18v battery as my ancient drills.

 

[Locotomb]

You can get an adapter to use 20v batteries on 18v tools BUT it does not necessarily fit ALL of the 18v tools. I have just about every 18v tool ever made and have personally confirmed that the adapter does NOT fit quite a few of them! Better off just buying more 18v batteries, unfortunately.

Also, the adapter is designed in such a way that it will drain the 20v battery if you leave the battery attached to the adapter. Yes, it drains all by itself.

Thanks for that info. I will make sure I don't get the adapter. My 18s work great still as is anyways. Noticed how a lot of the 20v batteries look the same across companys too.... I am happy with the dewalt as well. Despite the changes.

 

[Shran]

I still use 18v DeWalt for a lot of stuff but I also use 12v Milwaukee too - their cordless ratchets, small impacts, drills and Hackzall are just killer tools, I like them because they're light and have a ton of power for what they are. Their 12v 3/8" ratchet is one of those "how did I ever live without that" tools.

If I had to switch to anything else or start over from scratch it would be 18v Milwaukee... I think they have the market cornered. DeWalt 20v is alright, they just seem cheap compared to the DeWalt of the past couple decades.

 

[91stranger]

More laid back than me!? Come on now...

Most definitely. Actually, laid back me would say, "fa sho"