Lowes welding equipment

[stuckmotor]

Now that my local Lowes store has Craftsman all over the place, I can't find their welding supplies. Does anyone here know whether they're gone for good or just until they get some room?

 

[TractorGuy]

Go to Lowes web site, enter your zip code to select a store, search for welding supplies, then check the box for available for pickup at your store. If you find the item you need and click on it most of the time it will tell you how many are in stock and the aisle and bin location. Results are not always accurate but it would be your best starting point.

My store doesn't show a lot but it does have a few mig tips and shielding nozzles.

If you have a Harbor freight store they carry some stuff too.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

My Lowes has more welding stuff than I would have thought. They even have 1/16 6013 arc rod. Still sell the old Lincoln Tombstones. Actually my small Ace Hdw also has quite a stock; very little O/A stuff. They stock the Forney line

Ron

 

[Alan W.]

They moved everything around I thought it was gone from Lowes too. Just relocated.

 

[CADplans]

I did some welding for a friend last summer,, at no charge,,
as a thank you, he went to Lowes and got me a 10 pound tube of Lincoln 1/8" 7018 rod,,

I hope they continue carrying THAT rod!! I get some of my best welds with that specific rod,,, :thumbsup:

 

[stuckmotor]

Thanks for all the replies, they give me hope.
Tractorguy,
I'll try that Lowes Website trick shortly. I should have thought of that myself.
Stuck

 

[/pine]

FWIW...Ace Hardware carries a decent assortment of welding supplies...

 

[Tractor Seabee]

They have changed the different items they stock over the last year. Talking to the Building Materials dept head and he stated they have dropped a lot of stuff based on sales. The local manager has no say or input to what or how many are stocked of each item. Low sales and that item gets dropped by the inventory manager and their computer at Hdq. If it is carried at another store you can get it online and have delivered to your address or local store.

At least they honor the military discount on online sales which their competitor HD does not. Most of my online stuff I get the SKU# on line then order at the store so they get the sales credit. There is probably more items available on their online catalog than they have in their store. The premium line of a product will never be in the store due to sales and stocking space. HD is the same on the score. 80% of what went into my latest bathroom remodel came from their on-line catalog. I always check the customer feedback/experience section first. Saves sending stuff back.

At my store they have really crammed in a lot of new stuff like Craftsman. It is stuck in the aisles and nooks and crannies all over the store. Tile in floor covering is the same. Plumbing seems on the decline. Watch the winnowing of that stock next year as sales records get consolidated in the computer.

I know all the department heads and managers at my Lowes pretty well now after several remodel projects; around $50K over the last 4 years. It pays to talk to them about your problems. Within 25 miles we have 6 stores. If you are on good relationship they will bring something from another store if they are out of stock. They have trucks running around several times a week.

The manager told me awhile back that he needs a bigger store, but his is already one of the biggest.

HD does not get much of my business as you can probably decipher. Overall I think their prices are higher that Lowes. Service is a lot better at Lowes.

Ron

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

I understand that Craftsman is revamping their line of welders and supplies. I don't think they have any up for sale yet, but I'd imagine they are waiting for a first of the year introduction. Call lowe's and demand that they carry them. That'd be the best way. From what I know about the Craftsman line, it is pick and choose what you will carry by these large box stores. They won't carry it if they already think they are doing fine with what they have.

 

[WranglerX]

Not sure on welders but Craftsman tools is now a subsidiary of "Stanley" tools....

Craftsman (tools) - Wikipedia

Also a lot of craftsman tools and machinery were made for Sears under contract from "big"manufacturers... Check model Number, the first three digits before the period are the code for manufacturer... Not sure if this will remain or not as Craftsman brand name is probably no longer exclusively "Sears"....

Craftsman OEM List | VintageMachinery.org

Dale

 

[stuckmotor]

Mark,
What I wanted was some Lincoln rods. The welder I bought from you suits me just fine.

 

[Alan W.]

Not sure on welders but Craftsman tools is now a subsidiary of "Stanley" tools....

Craftsman (tools) - Wikipedia

Also a lot of craftsman tools and machinery were made for Sears under contract from "big"manufacturers... Check model Number, the first three digits before the period are the code for manufacturer... Not sure if this will remain or not as Craftsman brand name is probably no longer exclusively "Sears"....

Craftsman OEM List | VintageMachinery.org

Dale

I remember a large shipment of Craftsman tools and tool chest delivered to a factory I worked at. They were in boxes with the manufactures name on them. Cant remember who it was, 1985 was a long time ago.

 

[snymat68]

In my Lowes, they moved the welding stuff to one of the isles near the chain/rope/ratchet straps.

This is from 2017, but it gives you an idea of who owns what.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Alan and Syn, Thanks for that posting, great information. now we need some enterprising computer guru to develop something like the Lowes display covering welding equipment. There have been many merger, some lines gone, some merged w/new names, some merged keeping their old name.

Ron

 

[shooterdon]

Approaching the store manager and demanding a store stock something is useless....but will make you feel better. We supplied about 60% of Lowes stores and never discussed stocking needs with them...I cannot even recall meeting a store manager!

Those decisions are made at Corporate. Every inch of shelve space is planned out. Inventory turns, sales and profit are the main drivers. They will stock stuff needed to complete a building project even if it is not very profitable. Just like a welding shop will stock those things to service their customers. But Lowes' focus is not to be a welding shop.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Approaching the store manager and demanding a store stock something is useless....but will make you feel better. We supplied about 60% of Lowes stores and never discussed stocking needs with them...I cannot even recall meeting a store manager!

"#FF0000"]"#FF0000"]Those decisions are made at Corporate. Every inch of shelve space is planned out. Inventory turns, sales and profit are the main drivers. They will stock stuff needed to complete a building project even if it is not very profitable. Just like a welding shop will stock those things to service their customers. But Lowes' focus is not to be a welding shop.

I respectfully disagree with this statement. There are many times I have to other places to find something needed to finish a project. Many product lines the only stock the fast movers. Especially true in plumbing and electrical. Why do they stock 3" conduit but no fittings for it. Copper tube; but as the sizes get larger certain fittings hardly used but needed for some projects. I have had go to HD and 2 of my local hardware stores to get all the fittings I needed for a recent bathroom remodel. If you need a standard o-ring for a faucet, damaged during install, you can only get an assortment that does not contain the right one. It is a good thing all sellers do not have a standard stocking manual. I do not expect some stores like my welding suppler to stock a lot of slow mover but expect to have them order it, which they do. Lowes/HD forget it.

Ron