The Motors in Craftsman Power Tools

Power Supply

• Craftsman provides information on the electrical current required to run its power tool engines in various units of measure. Small power tool engine measurements come in amps, a standardized international unit of measure used for electrical appliances. The Craftsman 6-inch polisher engine, for instance, requires 4.5 amps of electrical current. Most small, hand-held tools run on less than 10 amps. For larger power tools, Craftsman provides power needs in multiple units. A miter saw engine, for instance, runs at 15 amps, 120 volts or 60 hertz. Plugging a tool into an insufficient power supply can cause problems

Engine Power

• Craftsman provides a few measurements designed to indicate the power of the company’s power tool engines. The most common of these, revolutions per minute, describes how many times the crankshaft of an engine rotates per minute. This ostensibly describes how much power a tool generates, though in the case of rotating tools like drills or rotary saws, it describes how quickly the tool can rotate, but not how powerfully. You need a torque measurement to understand the rotational power of a tool. Some larger tools, such as a miter saw, also come with horsepower measurements, which indicates the force an engine creates.

More on Motors

• Craftsman small motors generally conform to a canister-like assembly. This means the tool assumes a cylindrical form. All the parts of the engine fit together in a single direction, one leading directly into the next. This assembly then fits into a canister, which fits into a power tool. Some Craftsman power tool motors come with variable speed control, while others possess just one speed. Variable speed control allows tools like drills or saws to operate at varying power levels and speeds.

Replacement Motors and Parts

• You can inquire about purchasing replacement motors for a Craftsman power tool by contacting Craftsman directly or through the website SearsPartsDirect.com. This website sells replacement parts for all products available at Sears stores, including Craftsman tools. The site, however, usually only stocks parts for recent or current products. Therefore, it may prove somewhat difficult to find a replacement motor or replacement motor parts, which the site also sells, for an old tool.