Tools you bought this year because of a good deal.

[DARK AGE 53]

I've wanted a cold cut saw ( I have a Milwaukee Chop Saw ) but didn't want to spend $450 or more on one, NorthernTool had there's cold saw for $255 ( shipping included ) plus a $25 gift card free. BTW, saw works great.

Next would be a hydraulic strut/spring compressor ( last time I needed a compressor was 4 years ago ), HF had what I think is a very well built one on sale for $120 ( sale price now is $190 ), I was also able to use a 20% coupon which brought the price including tax down to $101.and change.

On Craigslist I found a almost new HF 110 Lb. Pressurized Abrasive Blaster ( I know I know there's better ) that cost on sale $130, bought mine for $75....some how for 63 years I've got along without one but for $75 what the heck.

I have a nice bench grinder in my main shop but needed one in my smaller building, with that $25 gift card from NT I ordered today there 1/2 HP bench grinder that's on sale for $40 ( with free shipping ), minus the $25 gift card my cost was $15...again, some how for 63 years I've got along without one but for $15 what the heck.

 

[davidj]

I bought a metric and a standard set of gearwrench wrenches. they were something crazy like 50% off at sears. im sure there are a few other things but thats the main one that sticks out for me.

 

[anydzzdae38]

bought a set of snap on allen wrenches for $35 and got the metric ones for free.

 

[blue dog]

I went nutty on amazon when they were having there pb swiss madness. I have every slotted, phillips, posi drive, robertson, torx, giant drivers, electrical drivers, punches and picks, more then i need in this lifetime and the next. But i do not regret it one bit, just the other day a friend of mine was in the shop doing something and using a pb swiss ph2 driver, he commented how nice it was and he barely knows the difference between a hammer and a screwdriver, that made it all worth it.

 

[Even 11]

I could just show you my credit card statement if you want.... LOL I don't buy tools unless its a need or a great deal.

-Dane

 

[DARK AGE 53]

My son has a uslegendcars race car and I bought one of the HF 3000 Lb. Capacity Aluminum Racing Jack to take to the races just in case we needed it instead of our normal 600 Racing Jack ( made my own ).....sale price was $80 and with my super coupon it was $60....works great on the Legend Race Car.

 

[spongerich]

I picked up a Craftsman combo disc/belt sander at an auction last month. Aside from a little surface rust on the table from sitting, it's in perfect condition and looks like it was never used. Cost me $10.

 

[1Garageman]

I picked up a Craftsman combo disc/belt sander at an auction last month. Aside from a little surface rust on the table from sitting, it's in perfect condition and looks like it was never used. Cost me $10.

WOW, that could be the deal of the year award right there!

I was looking at an auction that had one of those and I was going to get one for my dad. I already have one, but my is a different brand, wife bought it for me.

 

[Conrad283]

I got the first two modules from the craftsman set at about 46% off ..

 

[Jack Olsen]

I also got sucked into the PB Swiss discounting at Amazon.

And I'm glad I did.

 

[arroberts]

12" Dewalt compound miter saw for $80 with 80T blade. 12 drawer craftsman upper tool chest for $60.

Not really tool related, but 29 cu ft stainless refrigerator marked down from $2600 for $1000.

 

[usmc_noma]

I took advantage of several deals.

41" Craftsman box with 14 drawers
Gearwrench metric and sae ratcheting wrenches - both in 10pc sets
GW metric and sae flexheads - both in 8pc sets
HF multifunction tool and infrared thermometer
Dewalt impact driver
Craftsman 10" table saw
GW long pattern combos in sae and metric
GW ratcheting drivers - 4 different sets
GW ratchets

This is all I can think of for now. I'm sure there's more.

 

[mooman]

I also got sucked into the PB Swiss discounting at Amazon.

And I'm glad I did.

Is that a Dogbone wrench I see there!?!!?

 

[bigbubba]

Is that a Dogbone wrench I see there!?!!?

Hey dont knock the dogbone!! I've got one had it for 2years and just used it the other day for the first time,works good on bicycles

 

[rwhite692]

Jack, Is that cabinet interior temp and humidity controlled, LOL... (thermometer at top center).

 

[Killer95Stang]

Picked up a few items this year, mostly with coupons or gift cards that came with other items I bought.

- HF 21 degree framing nailer $49 on sale, used $10 gift card that I got when they canceled my $185 60gal 5 hp compressor order.. total cost $39.00 + tax
- Century / Lincoln 180 amp MIG welder with cart /gauges $443 shipped to the door.
-Wife bought me a Makita 18V driller driver / impact combo set on Black Friday for Xmas.. (I'm not supposed to know about that)
- Bought an almost new condition IR 26 gallon vertical compressor.. List price was $650.00.. I paid $250 on craigslist.
- 10" Ryobi compound Miter sliding miter saw with Stand from CPO outlets
- 10" jobsite Ryobi Table saw with folding leg table set from CPO outlets
- Bostich brad / finishing / stapler compressor combo from CPO outlets $89 shipped.

I'm sure I got some other good deals throughout the year..

 

[Jack Olsen]

Is that a Dogbone wrench I see there!?!!?

The dogbone is a lot of things. It's too big to be much use as a wrench. It's both metric and SAE, so it's got a fair amount of slop on almost any fastener.

But I've got to agree with bigbubba: don't knock the dogbone. When you're just opening something up -- or you need to hold a nut in position while you undo the other end -- it's quicker than a crescent wrench or visegrips. I find that I use it all the time.

Jack, Is that cabinet interior temp and humidity controlled, LOL... (thermometer at top center).

Ha! It does look pretty clean and controlled in that picture. But the thermometer is just there so I know when to turn the heater on or off. Or the air conditioner. (Californians are kind of pathetic when it comes to temperature swings.)

 

[fireman]

I picked up an almost new HF 20 ton hydraulic press on Craig's list for $50 and a Snap-on 0-30 in/lb dial torque wrench on E-Bay for $75.

 

[Old Moparz]

I've been wanting a compound power miter saw for years, but could never justify the purchase. It would have been convenient several times, but since I already had a radial arm saw, a table saw, a worm drive circular saw, & could use a friend's miter saw if I needed it, I was okay. When a coworker was looking to have hardwood mouldings put up to match her kitchen cabinets, she asked if it was something I could do on the side for her.

I said sure, but decided I finally had a reason to get the miter saw for myself & went to a few places to price them. I thought I was going to get the Makita I had borrowed, but Home Depot had a sale on a Ryobi. It was normally over $100, but it was on sale for $89 WITH an additional box of ten, 10" blades. I thought it was marked wrong & asked, but sure enough, it was fine.

I still liked the Makita a little more, but 10 blades & a saw for $89 ???!!!

 

[bobee77]

Mac EM-710 multimeter ($260) for $50, even though I have at least 5 other meters. Couldn't pass it up as it was almost brand new.

 

[DARK AGE 53]

It was normally over $100, but it was on sale for $89 WITH an additional box of ten, 10" blades. I thought it was marked wrong & asked, but sure enough, it was fine.
but 10 blades & a saw for $89 ???!!!

I just reported you to the saw police, JK.

 

[djjsr]

Got this thing from HF for about 30 bucks. I'm surprised how much I use it.

 

[kfainf]

Got this thing from HF for about 30 bucks. I'm surprised how much I use it.

I have considered one of those. Does it really work pretty well?

 

[usmc_noma]

Yes it does work good. I picked one up for $20 after they had a coupon during Black Friday. I believe I've seen them going for $30 in some of the coupon ads in magazines and the normal Sunday coupon bundle.

 

[djjsr]

I have considered one of those. Does it really work pretty well?

Yup. Works great for cutting holes in vinyl siding without cutting into sheathing and for trimming the bottom of door frames and moldings to install thicker flooring. It runs a little hot but hasn't burned up yet and if it does, replacements are cheap compared to other brands.

 

[Greatbear]

I picked up some Bosch and Makita tools from Amazon that were silly cheap for a couple days.

 

[Busted_Knuckles]

Probably the best buy of the year was a model 7000 Ammco Brake lathe, complete with stand, and adapters at auction for $325. At that same sale, I picked up another Snap-On MT2500, graphing scanner, updated to 2005 with troubleshooter for under $250. I also managed to buy all the loose tools out of a dodge dealership for under $500.

 

[Craig Balzer]

I picked up a handful of Vise Grips from a CL ad in late November. All items are Vise Grips brand name except for the two on the left that are facing the opposite direction to all of the others.

Got the whole lot for $25.

 

[Dangerman77]

picked up a good size vise the other day at a garage sale for $30

 

[Mike662]

I just bought a Craftsman air powered grease gun because it was 50% this week for club members. I have several manual grease guns, but for $25, why not?

 

[BYDRodandCustom]

I picked up a Central Machinery 52" Shear, Press Brake, and Slip Roll from a guy off of Craigslist for $200. He didnt know what it was and I didn't know what it was worth but thought, why not. Fount out its $999 at Harbor Freight. I think I did ok, and have used it a few times and it works great.

 

[markvfr]

Mac EM-710 multimeter ($260) for $50, even though I have at least 5 other meters. Couldn't pass it up as it was almost brand new.

Sorry dude, not gonna comment on the tools but give you props for the avatar. Maybe its because my wifey has been away for two months, but that is the hottest avatar I've seen in a while...

 

[moto.aero]

I discovered craigslist for tools this year, so it's a long list. I used to think I was doing well to save 20% at Sears, but CL averages 50% off retail for new condition tools, even more if they're truly used.

Two Kennedy boxes full of machining tools, cutters, calipers, depth gauges, micrometers, etc. Measuring tools alone are worth around $2500 new retail, I paid $1000 for everything. (so I can finally deform metal on my Smithy)

Ridgid 14" Bandsaw for $200 (to complement the 9" Delta benchtop)

Hypertherm 380 Plasma Cutter $500 (to cut stuff. someday.)

THREE old-style cast aluminum WorkMates $50 (didn't need three, but it was all or nothing. will give one to my dad or brother)

Delta air cleaner $150

Dust Collector $200 (can't remember the brand) (in case I ever actually assemble the General table saw I bought in 2004!)

Two metal benchtop shelves that fit PERFECTLY on my two workbenches $10

Brew your own beer kit $10 (hey, it's in the shop!)

Delta 20" Scroll Saw $200 (don't even know if I'll use it, but the saw had never been used and it is supposed to be excellent)

Still waiting for a good 240v air compressor and 17" or larger drill press, then maybe I'll be done... yeah, right.

Thank GOD my wife doesn't read this forum!

Happy Holidays everyone.

Oh, and +1 to Bobee77 for the avatar. I lived in Upstate NY for a long time and never met HER!

 

[crewchief888]

everything i bought this year....

ridgid 14" chop saw on sale @ HD $120 ?
5 or 6 std & metric line wrenches, SK, mac & SO $20
SK hardhandle screwdriver $1
3 or 4 SO hardhandles $1 ea
1/2" armstrong stubby comb $1
15/16 bonney comb $3
3/8" dr proto stubby ratchet $3
kennedy cantilever box $9
handfull of new SO sockets, 1/2 off list $25
2 older SO 3/8" dr ratchets $40
SO CTB 310 cordless impact, batteries & charger $40 needs batteries
SO kr537a & kra300e free in a trade

 

[DARK AGE 53]

Thank GOD my wife doesn't read this forum!

That Hypertherm 380 Plasma Cutter $500 sells new for around $1,200 I believe. BTW, I've reported you to your wife. JK

 

[d33pt]

i got a jawhorse with plywood jaw for $160 shipped off ebay. already been using it a bunch. great tool.

 

[brianh]

1940's Walker Turner 14 inch band saw at auction for 200 in perfect condition, It blows away my delta that I bought new for much more.

 

[Vettman]

Couldn't resist this Arcan 3.5 ton floor jack. They were $89.00 at Costco.

 

[TagMan]

My best deal of the year (and maybe my life) came at a barn sale I stopped at on the way back from a radiation treatment I underwent this past summer - A 70's vintage 16-drawer tool cart loaded full with Mack, SK, Craftsman and Snap-On mechanic's hand tools and a dozen Ingersol-Rand air tools for $500.00 and the owner, a retired mechanic, delivered it to my shop!

 

[crewchief888]

My best deal of the year (and maybe my life) came at a barn sale I stopped at on the way back from a radiation treatment I underwent this past summer - A 70's vintage 16-drawer tool cart loaded full with Mack, SK, Craftsman and Snap-On mechanic's hand tools and a dozen Ingersol-Rand air tools for $500.00 and the owner, a retired mechanic, delivered it to my shop!

i'd say that was a deal.