To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Canada Only Deals!

To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

matthew

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 4, 2009
Messages
1,346
I’m a little jealous of the Facom drivers - i’d wanted some, but they started out more expensive than I could go for, they were sold out at my store before they went on clearance.

I did get some Torx drivers for $3.51 at Princess. I could probably get by just using bits, but I thought they may be handy given that I quite like using GRK screws:
image.jpg
 
Last edited:
OP
J

JradM

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Messages
1,814
Location
Alberta
I took the plunge on this ultrasonic cleaner from the Mega Smasher flyer:

8905523_A1C0_00_01.jpg

$98.88 (reg $169.99)

2.5l capacity. I mostly want to clean motorcycle carburetors, so I expect this ought to be sufficient.

It bears a VERY strong resemblance to the 2.5L ultrasonic cleaner from Harbor Freight. Since that one is $85 USD, we Canadians can't even say we are getting ripped off - especially considering PA's very generous return policy.

63256_zzz_500_1.jpg
 

Two Speed

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 20, 2014
Messages
1,273
Location
Ontario Canada
Thanks for the heads up, picked one up this morning. I've been eyeing ultrasonic cleaners for a little while.
As with anything PA, ran it once I got home, piece of copper and brass with a splash of dish soap. Took off the dirt. =-)
 

matthew

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 4, 2009
Messages
1,346
I’ve been watching for some precision drivers. My dad has a set of Wiha’s from pre-unification West Germany that I love, but haven’t seen a good deal on them. So I decided to try Vessel. Haven’t seen any GJ ratings on these, but the bigger drivers get good feedback.

Anyways, when I got them in my Amazon cart, I was pleased to find promotions that brought this set down from $23 to just under $15. (Vessel precision set on Amazon.ca). If they’re even any good at all that should be a bit of a deal. (The promo is if you select Bellemond as the seller, with Amazon fulfilment)
 
Last edited:

matthew

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 4, 2009
Messages
1,346
I often find Lowe’s to be frustrating. Priced high. Doesn’t go on sale. Not much selection. Discontinue anything worth having. And most clearance prices are still higher than sale prices elsewhere. It’s like they’re run by their purchasing folks who are perpetually trying to negotiate new vendors rather than build a good product line.

Occasionally there are a few clearance deals worth picking up, though. They seem to vary clearance prices store by store, so ymmv, but I just came across these:
Channelllock 369 lineman pliers $14
Channellock 430 $6.14
Channellock 447 side cutters $7
Channellock snap ring pliers $10.36
Irwin 10” tinners snips $6.27
Craftsman left offset aviation snips $7.24
Dasco Pro 5.5” prybar (nice for fine work) $2.79

I didn’t convince myself I had any use for another set of the snap ring or lineman’s, but I did buy the Irwin snips, prybar, and 430’s, and wished I’d snagged the 447’s. I’m particularly pleased with the snips ~
 
OP
J

JradM

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Messages
1,814
Location
Alberta
I often find Lowe’s to be frustrating. Priced high. Doesn’t go on sale. Not much selection. Discontinue anything worth having. And most clearance prices are still higher than sale prices elsewhere. It’s like they’re run by their purchasing folks who are perpetually trying to negotiate new vendors rather than build a good product line.

Occasionally there are a few clearance deals worth picking up, though. They seem to vary clearance prices store by store, so ymmv, but I just came across these:
Channelllock 369 lineman pliers $14
Channellock 430 $6.14
Channellock 447 side cutters $7
Channellock snap ring pliers $10.36
Irwin 10” tinners snips $6.27
Craftsman left offset aviation snips $7.24
Dasco Pro 5.5” prybar (nice for fine work) $2.79

I didn’t convince myself I had any use for another set of the snap ring or lineman’s, but I did buy the Irwin snips, prybar, and 430’s, and wished I’d snagged the 447’s. I’m particularly pleased with the snips ~
Nice! Love me some Channnelock.
 

Ton ton

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 16, 2019
Messages
4,592
Location
Page County,VA
Ok, I do admit I don't live in Canada. But if you live close to Millbank , Ontario. Millbank country hardware- Check out their summer sale, I got an E-mail from them recently. They're doing an expansion this summer.
 
OP
J

JradM

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Messages
1,814
Location
Alberta
It's coming back!

Well, I think this is the same set anyway... I bought a 4pc pry bar set at PA a couple years ago and was surprised how strong it was. I  think this is the same product but I can't be sure without seeing it in person.

Screenshot_20220623-184036_Chrome.jpg

Princess Auto has cycled through a few different cheap pry bars since I got mine - none were much good. If this is the same it's the best pry bar bargain ever!

The pry bars certainly look the same in the photos. 🤞
 

matthew

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 4, 2009
Messages
1,346
I expect an update… :)

I’ve got an overly springy cheap set that I cringe every time I try to use them, and would be thrilled to upgrade.
 
OP
J

JradM

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Messages
1,814
Location
Alberta
I expect an update… :)

I’ve got an overly springy cheap set that I cringe every time I try to use them, and would be thrilled to upgrade.
I haven't made it to the store yet since my post. However, I snapped a couple pictures of the pry bars I'm pleased with.

20220628_085938.jpg

20220628_085900.jpg

20220628_085952.jpg

I'm 90% sure these are the same. No brand markings, just a safety warning (although it looks like the handle mold has a blank spot where a brand name would go).

I think the brand name was "Tekz" - which lines up with this set from KBCtools, which also looks to be the same thing.

I remember PA brought in some black and red pry bars after this set that were about the same price - but they were trashy. I picked them up because of my enthusiasm for the Tekz pry bars, thinking they must be similar. The crappy ones had impact caps on the end and thicker/smoother grips. Problem was, once you hit the impact cap it went flying off. The grip material wasn't near as strong either - you can probably tell I've hit my Tekz bars with a hammer a time or two without issue.
 
OP
J

JradM

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Messages
1,814
Location
Alberta
Screenshot_20220701-165707_Chrome.jpg

Anyone know what this is about? It's in the Princess Auto flyer.

Is this like a special event? Do I need to camp in front of the doors tonight?
 
OP
J

JradM

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Messages
1,814
Location
Alberta
The special birthday "clearance event" was a bust. If something was going on at Princess Auto this morning, it was so subtle I couldn't tell.

Lee Valley:
Screenshot_20220702-163220_Gmail.jpg

I'm curious if they will have discounted gift cards at this "mid-year" event.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
OP
J

JradM

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Messages
1,814
Location
Alberta
I found some stuff at PA in the back where you are not normally allowed. Had to go to the very back around the corner to find the scratch and dent stuff. I paid $100 for what would normally cost about $800-1000.
Calgary North.
Nice. 👍 I was at the Red Deer Princess Auto and went looking in the back too. They've done clearance sales there before - and out front, weather permitting. Nothing at all this time. 🤷‍♂️
 
OP
J

JradM

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Messages
1,814
Location
Alberta
Screenshot_20220704-094248_Chrome.jpg

This looks like a good deal. I have one of the two-shelf PA carts - it's lightweight, but has held up so far. I flipped the top shelf over and mounted a toolbox top box there.

I prefer my Rubbermaid commercial cart - but it wasn't $40.
 
OP
J

JradM

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Messages
1,814
Location
Alberta
Denali large locking pliers. $6.44

Denali is an Amazon tool brand. Slightly upscale from Amazon basics.

2nd link. First one wasn't working.
Go my Denali pliers today.
Denali large locking pliers. $6.44

Denali is an Amazon tool brand. Slightly upscale from Amazon basics.

2nd link. First one wasn't working.
Got my Denali pliers today. They look pretty good. 👍

Surprisingly high polish for locking pliers. They operate smoothly and feel robust. They even came lubed!
20220706_095253.jpg
20220706_095314.jpg






20220706_095402-jpg.1690919

-
Slight jaw misalignment- maybe 1mm. Not a big deal. There's a little play so you could push it over - but that's where they naturally line up. Little grind defect at the tip too - I'm nitpicking.
20220706_095336.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 20220706_095402.jpg
    20220706_095402.jpg
    217.2 KB · Views: 194
OP
J

JradM

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Messages
1,814
Location
Alberta
Nice knurling on the thumb wheel, no recess for a hex key though.
20220706_095821.jpg

Also, this weld looks OK - but it could be thicker. Clearly these aren't Eagle Grips, though they are really well polished.

20220706_095901.jpg

They're about $9 now, which still seems like a very good deal. Question is, could you live with yourself knowing they used to be ~$2.50 cheaper?
 
OP
J

JradM

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Messages
1,814
Location
Alberta
Any great Prime Day deals? My cursory perusal didn't result in any scorching deals.

This Gearwrench Body Hammer & Dolly Set for $169.31 looks decent. I was looking at it a few months ago in preparation for doing some work on my truck - I would have bought it at this price. Instead I re-ground, polished and re-handled my crappy set from Princess Auto, but this would have saved some effort.

91l3LWM4kUL._AC_SL1500_.jpg
 

Shop-hound

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 1, 2019
Messages
183
Location
Calgary, AB

Attachments

  • dremes.jpg
    dremes.jpg
    24 KB · Views: 4
  • 71gLN7akbvL._AC_SX679_.jpg
    71gLN7akbvL._AC_SX679_.jpg
    18 KB · Views: 5

Shop-hound

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 1, 2019
Messages
183
Location
Calgary, AB
Any great Prime Day deals? My cursory perusal didn't result in any scorching deals.

This Gearwrench Body Hammer & Dolly Set for $169.31 looks decent. I was looking at it a few months ago in preparation for doing some work on my truck - I would have bought it at this price. Instead I re-ground, polished and re-handled my crappy set from Princess Auto, but this would have saved some effort.

91l3LWM4kUL._AC_SL1500_.jpg
Thats tempting @JradM ! .... I think I have he same jolly junker set from PA you reference (yellow fiberglass handles?). Reviews of this GW set are fantastic. I'm not planning to be a full time autobody tech so the pro level tools are out, but for under $170 this looks like a solid deal
 
OP
J

JradM

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Messages
1,814
Location
Alberta
Thats tempting @JradM ! .... I think I have he same jolly junker set from PA you reference (yellow fiberglass handles?). Reviews of this GW set are fantastic. I'm not planning to be a full time autobody tech so the pro level tools are out, but for under $170 this looks like a solid deal
Yep! Sounds like the same set. Mine are old and I hadn't used them in a few years. Opened the box to find some not insubstantial rust pitting and some of the handles were loose - hence "major" rehabilitation efforts.

When I went shopping, based on the reviews it seems like the Gearwrench is a genuine mid-range set at a pretty decent price. It would be nice to have Martin hammers and dollies, but a similar set would probably run closer to a grand (I think the hammers are about $65-80 each and dollies aren't cheap either). Gearwrench was hovering around $225-$230 from my recollection when I was looking. I still almost bought them but decided I might not use them enough.

I ended up buying a couple of cheap rubber mallets from Canadian Tire to repurpose the wood handles for use on my body hammers. I like that a lot better than the fiberglass ones the PA set comes with. I think the mallets were all of $6 at the time (whereas bare handles were like $16 😄). Not sure it was worth the effort to rework all the faces, polish everything and re-handle, but its sunk costs now!

Now I'm leaning towards just picking up individual tools as I need them or spot a deal, because the PA set will do what I need it for. Doing it over I would probably just pick up the Gearwrench set. It looks good to me! 👍
 

Two Speed

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 20, 2014
Messages
1,273
Location
Ontario Canada
Titan 1/4" drive micro swivel. I don't know if it would qualify as a hot deal, but the price is good enough if you are in the market for one at $12.99, which I was.
Same ratchet on amazons is currently sitting at $30.26. It was $19.99 for a long while a couple months back, then jumped to $24.** about a month back. Aluminum versions can be had for more.
[checked camel x3, I got to wonder how accurate it really is. If it wasn't for the fact I've been checking these regularily for a drop down to PA price levels since I found it on the PA website with an available by date, I'd have to question my sanity on what pricing I saw, but camel x3 does not reflect what I've seen.]

Made in Taiwan. 90 tooth. no annoying quick release. Overall length is shorter than my pocket prybar. If I needed it at work for on the road, I'd get a 2nd one and drill a hole in it and turn it into a keychain ratchet. She's tiny, but sturdy. Swivel is not floppy, but does seems to be set by set screws so probably adjustable to however stiff or floppy you want it to be.
 
Last edited:

jollygreengiant

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 10, 2013
Messages
2,354
Location
Ontario, Canada
Atlas tools is having a big sale this weekend with what looks like some big discounts on Makita tools. Mostly on the 40V stuff though, the 18V is pretty well limited to OPE.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom