When B&D had Professional tools

[leehljp]

I didn't know how to post this - Under "Finds," "Tools," or just "coffee pot". It fits all three.

A friend (retired mechanical engineer) who likes tools and woodwork but never had time to make anything - is moving to be near his children in east TN. He and I became good friends in the past year that LOML and I have been home. I had never discussed my woodworking skills in detail and most of my work is in my daughter's homes, so he had not seen any. I showed him some picts and he said he didn't realize that I did that level of work. (Kind of made me feel good ) Then he said that he had been giving away some of his tools and asked me if I wanted a router. I said: "You can't have too many routers!" Then I showed him my router table for two routers + horizontal router. He said he had an old B&D 1/4 inch router. I was not impressed but thankful for his offer.

After a trip to Texas to visit my daughter's family, I returned Thursday night. Friday, I went to pick up the B&D router. WAS I SUPRISED!

Even the $200 new ones today don't have this quality. This one says "Professional" on the Gold label, which I have never seen before. Back in its day, it was probably out of my price range to even look at!

Runs SWEET! I haven't used it, only turned it on a few times!

Here are some picts - double click to enlarge:

[cabinetman]

That's in great shape. They don't make them like that anymore. The first router I bought new was a B&D 3315, in the early 70's. It still works!

.

[LCHIEN]

I'm guessing that thing weighs 20 pounds....

[leehljp]

I'm guessing that thing weighs 20 pounds....

It is solid but smaller than a PC 690 and weights close to the same, I think. I didn't compare them side by side for weight. Now that you mentioned it, I will compare them tomorrow. It has the feel of a professional tool. Love it!

[phrog]

My mother gave my dad a B&D drill for Christmas in 1965. I'm still using it today and it still runs well. Boy, does that old drill bring back memories. They just don't make them like that anymore, literally as well as figuratively.

[Tom Slick]

Dewalt painted them yellow and called it a model 610. They still sold them until recently.

[Pappy]

I'm sure that far predates what came to mind when I read the title. I have a drill and 1/4 sheet sander that are the Quantum Pro line from B&D, probably the last quality tool line they marketed und the B&D name. They are plastic bodied but well made. I have had them close to 30 years and they are still going strong. Between the 2 ROS I have, the 1/4 sheet doesn't come out of the box very often anymore so it will probably last forever.

I have a 1/4 drill and a 7 1/4 CS from Craftsman that were my stepfather's. He had them when he and my mother married in '71. The drill is the solid aluminum body and still in the original red plastic case.