Different grades of the same power tool?

afazz · Nov 9, 2008

I've heard that there are different "grades" of some power tools, and that certain stores carry the better ones. Stores like Home Depot, Lowes, Amazon, etc. carry the same model number, but it was produced with cheaper internals or even in a different factory.

Is this true? Does anyone have any proof either way? For example, if I were to buy a DeWalt DW717 at Home Depot vs. from Grainger or MSC, would it be a different tool?

russlaferrera · Nov 9, 2008

I have heard that. IMO , I don't think it's true. Many manufactures have a similar model. Manufactures use the same part number with a different suffix number, for large volume retailers This is how they get a cheaper model made.

Sometimes you will see an identical product at a store, The part number will be different.

dwilliams35 · Nov 9, 2008

I don't think that's the issue with electric power tools. On the other hand, I know for a fact that's the case with their gas-powered yard tools: husquvarna, John Deere, Stihl, etc.: those "big names" at HD/Lowes aren't the same thing you'd buy at their respective dealers.

nissan_crawler · Nov 9, 2008

dwilliams35 said:
I don't think that's the issue with electric power tools. On the other hand, I know for a fact that's the case with their gas-powered yard tools: husquvarna, John Deere, Stihl, etc.: those "big names" at HD/Lowes aren't the same thing you'd buy at their respective dealers.

Actually, it is. A lincoln welder from Home Depot isn't the same internally as the like model number at a welding supply. IIRC, they use aluminum windings and such, versus copper in the others.

A dewalt drill from Lowes/HD will (at least did a few years back) have plastic gears, while the ones from the Dewalt store have metal gears. At work, they bought the cheaper drills, than replaced them with metal gears when they shelled.

Air compressors will use aluminum cases with steel sleeves vs. a cast head, and aluminum rods instead of steel, cast cranks instead of forged, etc.

It's buyer beware on many things.

AFAIK, Milwaukee (used to be this way, who knows now that they're only HD) didn't downgrade their tools. I'm 99% sure bosch doesn't, either.

Jbullfrog · Nov 9, 2008

The Dewalt tools are a different part number with the same housing so they look similar. You have to watch when there are Dewalt sales at the pro stores, as they sometimes offer the cheaper quality version as the on sale tool.

nissan_crawler · Nov 9, 2008

Yes, the part numbers are one off, and such. I *believe* with the lincoln welders, it's the standard part number with "hd" after it for home depot, IIRC.

rsanter · Nov 9, 2008

I used to work for black&decker (dewalt)
if its the same parts number then its the same tool. you will see different part numbers for 'sets' that are made for specific stores that way they can avoid some direct price compairisons. the tools inside will be the same
I am not sure if they still do it (I would guess they do) but they used to use some of the same armatures and fields in their lower level tools (to save the cost of additional part numbers) but often the lower level tools had bushings instead of bearings. and I can assure you that they were a different part number on the tool

bob

afazz · Nov 9, 2008

So it sounds like some sort of different part number would be assigned to the tool if it was different. So if I buy a DW717 from home depot and a DW717 from Grainger, they will be exactly the same. But if I buy a DW717-HD or DW717A or something (I made up those suffixes), then it *could* be a different tool.

chrisexv6 · Nov 9, 2008

Ive heard of this issue with DeWalt at HD vs "real" DeWalt...........I dont know the differences and how to tell or if the model numbers match, but Ive heard HD stocks a "cheaper" version of some DeWalt tools like their drills.

On the other hand, some stuff is exactly the same. Bosch, Milwaukee, etc.

My favorite instance of stuff being exactly the same are the Ariens snowblowers. Ariens is very open about the fact that HD gets the exact same versions as the dealers do. The dealers just get some of the higher line models. Fine by me, I got a middle line Ariens at great deal on clearance.

Different grades of the same power tool?

afazz

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