Tool Deals Thread

acheck

Well-known member

I purchased a variety of these products to organize my tools and having now been able to put them to use, I can highly, highly recommend.

These are the tool organizers (for wrenches specifically) that I have been searching for, for the past 15 years. I'm super impressed. Their pliers holder I was expecting not to care for at all either, but this is also actually surprisingly useful.

The magnets have the perfect amount of strength to secure the pieces to the drawer bottom, pulling through an 1/8" neoprene drawer liner with no problem whatsoever. I'll be buying more of their products.
 
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acheck

Well-known member

This is just about the perfect screwdriver set to have in a Defender at all times. Everything you need, nothing you don't.

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theShaytoon

Well-known member
@evilfij I know you are set on the 72", but have you considered two smaller boxes? Not so much for the lower cost, but flexibility.

I have two 48 inch wide boxes and they will be sharing a common top. A 30 inch gap between them will create a DESK area. If you don't need the DESK area, having two independent tool boxes is pretty handy, as you can have them in different parts of the shop...Same cost, but 96" of drawer space combined.
 

evilfij

Well-known member
That Wera is $24 on Amazon and $24 from KC — you can get 10% code and free shipping at $75).

I have considered something smaller. In fact, I just missed a 46in husky for $200 local that looked new. I was second in line but first guy bought it (cue the jokes about putting the best tools in cheap Craigslist boxes).

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The main reason for the 72in is that it will be more stable for my vise. I put the vise at the other house on a smaller craftsman (for the time being hopefully my Heuer vise stand comes back in stock and ships).

I mean I could make something (I have some very nice, very old wood and metal brand cabinets in my attic), and may do that, but one box, one key, all my stuff, seems like a path forward.
 

erover82

Well-known member
Tried to warranty my old Craftsman 1/2 ratchet. Craftsman finally responded now, a week later, and directed me to call Sears. Sears directed me back to Craftsman for any such inquiries. Craftsman is replacing it for free, but with the new model, now made in China. RIP true Craftsman. I see more German, Taiwan, and maybe some UK tools in my future.

Here's a follow up to this. I received the replacement ratchet and discovered the information I found online was incorrect. It is actually made in Taiwan.

Old USA ratchet teardown. Note the sealing O-rings. It appears the pawl suffered a minor chip and this tiny fragment, or another bit of debris, locked up the entire mechanism.
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New Taiwan ratchet. No O-rings. I can see grit getting inside. Thread-locked screws to disassemble instead of snap ring.
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USA left, Taiwan right. Taiwan ratcheting mechanism has more teeth, is larger, and if my file test is correct, appears to be made of harder steel.
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Handle comparison.
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donb

Well-known member
That Wera is $24 on Amazon and $24 from KC — you can get 10% code and free shipping at $75).

I have considered something smaller. In fact, I just missed a 46in husky for $200 local that looked new. I was second in line but first guy bought it (cue the jokes about putting the best tools in cheap Craigslist boxes).



The main reason for the 72in is that it will be more stable for my vise. I put the vise at the other house on a smaller craftsman (for the time being hopefully my Heuer vise stand comes back in stock and ships).

I mean I could make something (I have some very nice, very old wood and metal brand cabinets in my attic), and may do that, but one box, one key, all my stuff, seems like a path forward.

I have 2 of those exact Husky boxes I got when I redid my garage in 2019 early 2020. Actually worked out very well for my setup with the 2 wooden tops as a workbench. I think I paid $350 for each of them so the $200 is a great deal as you can't even get a wheeled wood top Huksy for under $790 in my area.
 

evilfij

Well-known member
So a while back I bought a cheapo black and decker chainsaw on a stick to deal with this branch that was hitting my garage. That was probably two years ago ....

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I am also in absolute love with the Estwing riggers axe. This branch took under one minute. She is a beast (and I apologize for calling her a hammer) at 28oz and I got her really sharp with a stone (of course my Bahco file showed up right after I was done ....). I bought the hickory handle Vaughan for the other house (I have this thing where, barring some unusual circumstance like the Gedore red set, one brand stays at one house ... don’t ask it makes sense to me)

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I thought for sure the black and decker would die, but I burned through one 2.0ah and two 1.5ah batteries without issue (ok it threw the chain a couple times). I got the B&D because it was the longest, and without the middle section I would never have been able to pull this off by myself.

While I was back there, I saw my neighbor threw out some PT 4x4s so I am going to use those to make a bench. The bottoms were rotted, but they are more than sufficient length for legs and I have some other spare wood floating around. How’s that for a deal? Free wood workbench ....
 

evilfij

Well-known member
Review of Wiha four for $100 bundle. Expires today.

verdict: only because it was a deal is it worth it. There are better things to buy (except the folding rule, that is excellent).

Linesman pliers are nice, but not as nice as Knipex, better QC than Klein, did not try cutting anything hard with them yet. VDE, with crimper is why I got them (not available in Knipex).

Tamperproof torx driver, I mean, why did I have to install all the bits myself?

Folding rule is excellent, they all come from the same manufacturer in Switzerland. This is my second Wiha VDE. Wiha is the only one who advertises theirs as VDE. Has standard and metric.

The odd part is the socket set. The sockets are nice (Taiwan) and they give with 6-24mm (no 23mm) so a very large set for 3/8th and it is in 12 point which is unusual for German. The odd part is the sent two socket rails and you need to have the smallest four or the largest three on a second rail. And they only give you inserts for the sockets you have so it’s not like you can fill the second rail out with deep sockets or something. Annoying, and not shown in the picture on the website. Ratchet is a 72 tooth Taiwan special, interesting bit is the quick release is metal. Extensions are nice and they include a 10in.

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evilfij

Well-known member
The prices for the deals on wiha’s own website are better on the screwdrivers IMHO.


I ordered the 10 piece set in foam for $70, but they have five piece sets for $26.

Now I am compelled to buy the SL/PZ and SL/PH ones .... but they won’t fit in foam ... oh well, I have the. SL/PZ in Felo ergonic for that set I guess I won’t buy them.

The three pliers is a good deal though. I’d still get the Klein three piece set for $60 instead.

Wiha seems to be focused on direct to consumer. Their “big deals” and promos are pretty good. Waiting to see what comes out next.

I will say that their multibit driver handles are enormous.
 

evilfij

Well-known member
I am not sure anyone but me would spend $75 for a US made hammer sold via europe, but should anyone want an Estwing German pattern leather handle roofing hammer ....


Costs about $20 less than other sources.
 

evilfij

Well-known member
Harbor Freight has the 56” US General for $699 for may. I am going to order one. Apparently it won’t show up until September! Of course, by then I will have bought three additional boxes ....
 

evilfij

Well-known member
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Project #allthestahl continues. I admit the socket set was stupid money (even on super sale) and it has the older non-fine tooth ratchet, but I really wanted the metal case. The wrenches are SAE (the 13a/20) and were also expensive (even on super sale). I mean, these two items cost what a 56’’ harbor freight box costs .... I am on the hunt for a set of 10a/11 wrenches (best price, 103 euro plus coupon code at mister worker). I am creeping up on getting all the wrenches and all the sockets Stahlwille makes at least short of the giant striking head ones. Every time I think I am being dumb, I just go to snap-on.com and look at the prices. ;)
 

evilfij

Well-known member
Ordered my harbor freight 56box. Manager said it could be here in a week, or it could take six months. I figure since I ordered black and ordered it one hour after the sale started I should see it somewhat soon ... I hope.

Then I bought a bunch of zip ties, acid brushes, some microfiber towels, and the 1.5 ton low profile aluminium jack (for the porsches) burning up the $90 I saved ....

One thing I figured out is that the 56” is 1 3/4in shorter than the 72” because it has smaller casters. This is a good thing to me because I want a shorter box as I plan to use as a work bench (I have some oak countertop I am going to use for a top).

PS I almost ordered two, but I thought better of it. :)
 
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evilfij

Well-known member
Almost done with my bench. Debating whether more like where to use the 5th leg. I have a sheet of OSB which will be the top for the time being This cost me all of $3.37 for liquid nails I had and salvaged some screws and nails and the wood mainly the pressure treated 4x4 was likewise scrounged from old fence posts where the bottom had rotted out The rest I had sitting around. Not bad for a few hours work Anything is better than the rickety thing I have at the castle garage ... surprisingly to me, this thing is very stable even without stringers for the legs or a lower shelf (probably going to add that too and she will be a beast)
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Angus

Well-known member
Ron, is there a big hole in your deck now where you got the lumber? The wood looks to have a suspiciously similar patina to it...
 

evilfij

Well-known member
Angus,

So there is a good reason for that, a lot of the other lumber (save most of the 4x4) was left over from the deck build circa 1993. The old pressure treated holds up well! Only the ends were rotten hence, 6ft bench rather than 8ft bench. ;) But there is a small hole where I smashed Dan bar steering guard through the deck plank 20 years ago trying to straighten a bent drag link. :)

I am glad I have slept on this because I have decided the optimal place for the fifth leg is in the dead center of the work bench. (DUH!) I am going to make it removable so I can turn the table on its side to get through doors. I am also going to replace the small PAG screws holding the legs on (I salvaged 10 of them) with either larger lag screws or what I really want to do is drill them out for hard wood dowels because why not?

BTW someone asked me a question about the HF box, mainly what color — this person has decided to just buy what I buy which is dangerous, but for the benefit of the group, below is my response:

Black. :)

Seems like black is most likely to get there soonest and it hides grease and oil the best IMHO. I might have gotten white if it were offered. The white looks sharp in the store on the five drawer tool cart.

It not a bad box. Tons of reviews on YouTube. I went to look at husky, craftsman, Milwaukee etc. and it’s the only box that’s actually good rather than cheap. I would lube the slides because that’s what I do, but the store demo model moved well.

The other colors all say September for availability other than yellow. By the way, since I looked yesterday morning, the dates all moved out 2-3 weeks for the September delivery ones so the sale is popular.

BTW, I would pick it up at the store and if you want to do that you have to go to the store to order, they often get damaged in shipping and it’s $90 or so to ship so I would want to inspect it (bring a hammer and pry bar to uncrate the top part of the crate — if it’s damaged they give you an extra 10-20% off or prioritize you for replacement). Plus there are add ons (top chest, side cabinet, side drawers) if you want to expand later and they sell parts like slides if they break. Keep in mind the shipping weight is a lot so if you don’t have a trailer with a ramp or a pick up and a death wish like me it’s probably worth the shipping cost.
 
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Adam

Well-known member
32mm surplus snap-on socket - $21 shipped




36 piece metric Williams socket set 4-13mm & torx, phillips, slotted $54.96 shipped



 

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evilfij

Well-known member
Harbor Freight has the 20 ton press on sale for $160 until May 13. I will probably go get one, but I have to find one in stock and my HF does not have any.

also, work bench update. I have the fifth leg to go in the center slot. I will probably add two more 2x4 as the OSB was not as stable as I would have liked. My last project is stringers for the legs. I am thinking galvanized pipe with flange mounts, but I need to find a pipe threader (I found a giant galvanized pipe for free).
 

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