photo from redditVintage Sears Craftsman Corded Drill
by Craftsman
4 endorsements on r/BuyItForLife first recommended in Feb 2025
A vintage Sears Craftsman corded power drill from the mid-20th century, built with a brushed motor and metal housing, commonly handed down through generations from as far back as the 1930s–1980s.
Added Jul 5, 2026, Updated Jul 5, 2026
Why it's buy-it-for-life
Widely shared for surviving decades of intermittent, hand-me-down use, with owners praising the simple mechanical construction that's easy to service (freeing a seized chuck with penetrating oil, no electronics to fail). Reception is decidedly mixed, though: several owners report brushed-motor failures, disintegrating brushes, and units catching fire or shocking users, with critics arguing modern brushless drills are safer and more reliable for daily use.
What redditors say
Recommended on reddit as recently as February 2025
Show 6 more mentions
- 5r/BuyItForLife comment
I inherited one of those. I used it once and flames were shooting out the sides. Threw it away.
- 3r/BuyItForLife comment
I just tossed one because it caught fire in my hand
- 3r/BuyItForLife comment
my dad still has and uses a few of his dads craftsman tools
- 2r/BuyItForLife comment
Brushed motors and shit bearings. Sorry, but this is the very essence of why some things are not buy it for life... just retire it and hang it up on the wall.
- 2r/BuyItForLife comment
I've owned two of these and both failed in rather spectacular fashion. One had the motor disintegrate, and the other caught fire. Both lived long productive lives first...
- 2r/BuyItForLife comment
I also have my grandfather's Craftsman drill he bought in the '30s. THAT is vintage. Works fine and easier to maintain than my "new" one.
Vintage Sears Craftsman drill
I bought this drill used at a garage sale for 5 dollars... I've used it plenty over the years and the chuck finally seized up... Sprayed it with some PB Blaster which fixed it right up.
I don't miss the old school brushed motors that do not last unless you are willing and able to replace the brushes.
Ooooh the shocky shock drill. It's BIFL because it might end yours!
I have one of these too. It was my husband's grandfather's and it's still going strong
These old things seem to last so long because they were inexpensive consumer grade tools that were sold in incredibly high volumes, rarely were used and even more rarely abused.