Powr-kraft thoughts?

[ekegelmann]

What's everyone's thoughts on powr-kraft tools?

 

[MShaw]

I have their 3/4" drive socket set from the late 1960s. It was made by Bonney. Good stuff. I also have a 1/2" drive deep socket set from the same era. Equally good stuff.

 

[jd_1138]

I inherited a full set of 1980's era PK tools from my beloved stepdad. No power tools, but a complete set of hand tools in all sizes. They are great tools.

 

[ekegelmann]

I bought a tool box with a set of ratchets and 1/2" drive sockets 60s Era today for $5. They look great.

 

[ekegelmann]

It's a Powr-Kraft tool box.

 

[SweetD]

I have a Powr-Kraft radial arm drill press, and it's great. They were well-made back in the day...

 

[kwoswalt99]

Agreed on the good quality. Some were made by duro/indestro and S-K as well. I have a 1950's era sabre saw, and it is the biggest I've ever seen. It is a very high quality tool.

 

[Empty Pockets]

I bought some back in the 1970's, mostly sockets (made by Wright) and combo wrenches. After much use, they are all holding up well, even the blow molded plastic case from the socket set.

 

[CNGsaves]

I bought a tool box with a set of ratchets and 1/2" drive sockets 60s Era today for $5. They look great.

^ ^ ^ This score Demands some PICTUREs . . . sounds like a YOU **** to me !!

 

[ekegelmann]

photos coming soon! one sec.

 

[ekegelmann]

Here we go...

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ I'd say for $5 . . . that DOES qualify for YOU **** !!

Heck a few sockets, or just the breakover bar is worth the $5 !!

Rusty Powr-Kraft toolbox also likely will clean up nice . . . LIKE the red tray !

 

[ekegelmann]

^ ^ ^ I'd say for $5 . . . that DOES qualify for YOU **** !!

Heck a few sockets, or just the breakover bar is worth the $5 !!

Rusty Powr-Kraft toolbox also likely will clean up nice . . . LIKE the red tray !

what would be the best way to clean the box up and refinish it? best choice of paint color etc? method to get the rust off...

 

[ekegelmann]

and yes, i thought the guy was saying $4 for the breaker bar i was holding... then i said how much for... he interrupted and $4 takes everything... bingo!

 

[ekegelmann]

i gave him $5 and said you can keep the change

 

[Craptain]

I have a few Powr-Kraft tools and the quality is high. Lots of hand tools but no sets, and a few power including a bench grinder. The grinder is the only one I have ever seen.

 

[toolmutt]

I have a Powr-Kraft bench grinder. Let's see yours.

 

[StillTooManyHobbies]

The bench grinder above was made by McGraw-Edison and also sold by K-Mart. OWWM has more info if you look under the McGraw Edison images tab.

 

[oak_park]

I have a bunch of Powr Kraft tools, its mostly nice stuff, although some of the later ratchets and sockets were made by Thorsen, which is nothing special.

 

[ekegelmann]

awesome tools! So if anyone can help me with redoing my tool box it be great. Anyone know of anyone in michigan that does refurbishing work?

 

[Craptain]

awesome tools! So if anyone can help me with redoing my tool box it be great. Anyone know of anyone in michigan that does refurbishing work?

That would be a do it yourself type thing. It's not too difficult and shouldn't take too long.

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[SMKS]

As already mentioned, Montgomery Ward used a variety of OEMs. They also sold various other store-brand tools over the years such as Speedmaster and tools marked with a stylized "MW". Many of these came from quality manufacturers.

The most common Powr-Kraft ratchets I find are made by Thorsen and Wright. Thorsen tools are really nothing special, but the Wright ones were -and still are- quality pieces.

 

[ekegelmann]

As already mentioned, Montgomery Ward used a variety of OEMs. They also sold various other store-brand tools over the years such as Speedmaster and tools marked with a stylized "MW". Many of these came from quality manufacturers.

The most common Powr-Kraft ratchets I find are made by Thorsen and Wright. Thorsen tools are really nothing special, but the Wright ones were -and still are- quality pieces.

i think the one with the black grip ratchet is wright...

 

[SMKS]

It is. It's hard to tell, but I think the 1/4" is, too. I have a 1/4" ratchet that I think is the same as yours. Some closer pics of the ratchets will make it clear.

Also, note that the tootsie-roll grip version you have is the rare type with the reversing dial instead of a reversing lever. I've only found one of that type that I can remember.

 

[ekegelmann]

i was very excited upon seeing it in the box.

 

[toolmutt]

The bench grinder above was made by McGraw-Edison and also sold by K-Mart. OWWM has more info if you look under the McGraw Edison images tab.

Thanks for the info and the site, Still. On the site I found an ad for the McG-Ed version. I actually have the hone wheel attachment for mine.

[/IMG]

Sorry to interrupt your thread, ekegelmann. Now back to your regularly scheduled discussion.

 

[thor]

I have a bit of the Powr-Kraft stuff. Some I like (beside the wright sockets) are pliers and adjustable wrenches made by Diamond Calk, and the Barcalloy combo wrenches

 

[finn]

I've still got my PowerCraft combination wrenches from the late 60s. They are like old friends: they just feel good in my hands and bring a smile to my face that the Craftsman, Snapon, or Wright tools can't.
I don't know who made mine, but to whomever it was, a job well done.

 

[Craptain]

Here's my Powr-Kraft grinder. Different from the other ones posted earlier. Not a bad machine but it needs new wheels



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[davewo]

This is my 1946 Powr-kraft lathe made for MW by the Logan lathe co. My dad gave it to me while I was getting my machining degree. I spent most of my class time rebuilding it. The turret tailstock is from a Lodge & Shipley lathe (if I recall correctly). I had the maple bench top custom made and bought the legs through eBay. I later traded a guitar for the variable DC motor and drive it currently has. Now it has almost 15 years of wear to it since I smoothed and painted all the cast iron parts as seen in the picture. To this day the gear cover is still plain Bondo.

 

[kwoswalt99]

New brittain and indestro also made stuff for powr kraft, I believe.

 

[four.cycle]

set of Powr-Kraft wrenches just listed on Ebay - Thorsen made???

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-Six-...668302?hash=item46456fd78e:g:hL4AAOSwnH1WXR7r

(it would appear, from looking at photos online, that Thorsen made at least two or three other styles of wrench, exclusive of "Olympia" or "Allied")

 

[StillTooManyHobbies]

Davewo, that is a great looking lathe. Fantastic job on the rebuild.

 

[bonneyman]

i think the one with the black grip ratchet is wright...

Yeah, I've seen Powr-Kraft ratchets that were spitting images of the Wright tootsie roll rats.
And Barcalo made their wrenches at one point, IIRC.

As has been said already, on par with the older Craftsman.

 

[1badbird]

I have a 1/2" Powr-Kraft rachet that was made by wright and I gotta say it takes the abuse nicely lol.

 

[SMKS]

set of Powr-Kraft wrenches just listed on Ebay - Thorsen made???

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-Six-...668302?hash=item46456fd78e:g:hL4AAOSwnH1WXR7r

(it would appear, from looking at photos online, that Thorsen made at least two or three other styles of wrench, exclusive of "Olympia" or "Allied")

Yes, Thorsen-made PowerKraft tools are the most common version that I find. Thorsen ratchets are lame compared to Wright ratchets, so I usually pass over the Thorsen PowrKraft ratchets unless they're super cheap.

 

[paulm12]

a socket set I picked up at garage sale. Looks like 1 socket is missing. Any Power Kraft collector interested in them? Send me a PM.

 

[woody 73]

Old post for you to enjoy:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=269906

Powr-kraft was a very good brand!

 

[ishiboo]

When competition is tough, quality improves. I have the following: welder, arc stabilizer, circle saw, sander, 1/2" drive socket set, jigsaw. All are top notch.

Interesting how that's changed.

Now competition is 95% for price and 5% for quality it seems.

 

[ecotec]

Old post for you to enjoy:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=269906

Powr-kraft was a very good brand!

Mind blown! I need the intermediate box in the 1967 catalogue pictures! Thanks Woody. I now have a white whale!

I have the big chest and cabinet combination, so it would be pretty tall.

Note: I paid $100 for my stack. So I got it for $18 less than new (it looks pretty close to new).