Ridgid = Craftsman?

**eslacker** · 10-09-2001, 01:07 PM

Hey All. A while back, I was borrowing a neighbor's Craftsman shopvac before purchasing my own. After I bought my Ridgid shopvac and as I was using it to clean up his Craftsman, I noticed that just about everything on the two units looks pretty darn identical. The filters are the same, even the little plastic nut that holds on the filter. And the handles, wheels, hoses, etc. all seem to be the same too. So, my question is, is Ridgid actually made by Sears? Or are they both (at least the shopvacs) actually made by someone else? My curiosity is two-fold. 1, I wanna know, and B, I'm curious if there are Craftsman/Sears filters that work on the AF3000 Ridgid Air Filter that's being closed out at Home Depot. Any info? Thanks! :)

Ciao,

-Jei.

**Chris Moore** · 10-09-2001, 01:18 PM

Sears doesn't actually manufacture anything at all. It is strictly a retail operation. They will contract with manufacturers to produce items branded with a Sears trademark. Some companies enter into agreements to produce their usual items branded with the Sears name. It's just good business on their parts. So the shop vac may indeed be identical to the Rigid. I think that Sears had a version of the BT3000, too.

Chris Moore
Montgomery, AL

"... and remember. There is no more important safety rule than to wear these - safety glasses."

Burt (Guest) · 10-09-2001, 03:06 PM

Until a couple of years ago, most of the Sears tools were made by emerson electric. Emerson and sears had a disagreement over warantee and relacement responsibilities and they terminated their contract. Some items were made under Sears Patent and Emerson owned others. In the aftermath of their breakup, HOme depot came up with a contract with emerson and the new line of tools was called rigid. It is possible that some rigid and sears tools are identical.

Sonny Edmonds · 10-09-2001, 06:18 PM

I was at Sears over the weekend. Ridgid Table Saws with Craftsman names on them. Even the orange handles.
And Rigid has made the shop vacs for some time now for Sears. :D

Sonny
http://home.earthlink.net/~sonnypie/
"Precision Firewood Specialist"
God Bless America

**rrich** · 10-10-2001, 12:09 AM

Sonny,
Have Sears and Emerson come full circle?
Rich

Sonny Edmonds · 10-10-2001, 10:31 AM

Rich,
Beats the pig poop outta me. All I know is I had to go touch one to be sure I was seeing what I thought I was seeing.
Sure as Hell looked like the Ridgid Brand line of saws to me. Only the sticker has changed.
I didn't crawl around on it for the details.
Maybe you could find out at http://www.craftsman.com/

Folks like Sears and Home Depot have rather soured me on their tool lines. They change at seemingly any whimsey. That leaves owners stranded, and that pisses me off.
So I'm basically evolving towards Delta and Porter Cable myself.
:D

Sonny
http://home.earthlink.net/~sonnypie/
"Precision Firewood Specialist"
God Bless America