Happy Thanksgiving!
I’ll be taking a break for a few hours, and then I’ll be back to sorting through the torrent of Black Friday tool deals to share. Oh, and some tool shopping – I need to make some time for that, too.
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But first… meat, starch, hopefully some cherry pie, and the fun that ensues when my whirlwind kids meet my sister’s forces of nature.
If you have any deal questions or requests, please let me know. Have a great day!! You guys are awesome, and I am truly thankful for that.
Rman
Thanks ?
I give thanks to a great website for all your time
Now on the way to my family’s house for food ? and arguing about what this day means to them?!
Nathan L
Sacrilege! Everyone knows that it’s pumpkin and pecan pie on Thanksgiving!
Enjoy your dinner and family time and thank you for this awesome resource!
I know it sounds like a tall order, but i was thinking that maybe the most useful resource for black friday for many people would be something like a top ten list of recommended deals, from the perspective of a person who has no tools and is trying to outfit their shop. For example, there are a lot of deals for BF that are just a bit cheaper than ordinary asking price, and while a reasonable value, maybe not the top priority for using a limited BF buying budget. In other cases, there may be deep discounts, but maybe not on a product that would be recommended over other similarly-priced, non-on-sale offerings.
I’ve gone down the rabbit hole several times looking at deals on a specific class of tools, only to conclude in the end that the best option for a first-time buyer is not on a noteworthy sale and could just as easily be bought throughout the year, or even perhaps be expected to be on a better sale at some time in the future.
A W
The best sales are now. But knowing what to buy depends on your use case and your budget. Your problem isn’t that it will be on a better sale later on, it’s that right now you don’t know exactly what you’ll need, and likely don’t have an unlimited budget.
I’ve been buying tools for the last three years for small furniture projects (building bedframes) and two home remodels. If I had to start over with no tools, and, say, a $1500 budget, I would get a cordless 18v combo (M18 or DeWalt or Makita or Kobalt), a table saw, a compound miter saw, a couple sawhorses and a vacuum.
Buying cheaper tools has rarely worked out well for me, and I usually end up going back to Milwaukee, Makita, Bosch or DeWalt.
A W
And spend the rest on hand tools and accessories.
fred
You might also read this thread from Stuart’s other site:
https://discuss.toolguyd.com/t/new-home-owner-essential-starting-tool-lawn-arsenal/963
Nathan L
Yeah those are some good lists fred.
To quote you on that linked page, “you can wait on most things until just before the task is at hand. Do the research ahead of time so you know what you want to buy – but then hold off until you need the item.”…
I do that a lot, but i’ve also managed to save a lot by anticipating the most likely next tool needed that fills a gap in my coverage and picking it up during BF and father’s day sales. I guess i’m saying it would be nice to have a list of the tools that represent the best sales on that particular class of tool compared to ordinary prices, so i can pick some from that “best of” list until my budget is used up.
I’ve got a lot of construction/handyman tools at this point for maintenance projects and random things like 3/4″ and 1/2″ conduit benders i used for another project, but i find that when i acquire new tools, i usually find a use for them. In the mean time i adapt. I was doing things that you would typically do with a saber saw, sander, band saw and router with a multi-tool over the past few years and will probably pick up the fuel hackzall/ jig saw deal this season. I’m just trying to figure out what else.
I’m potentially buying a property this year and have been thinking about woodworking tools like routers and fixed saws.
Stuart
That can be difficult to prioritize. First, it’s hard to pick a single best deal, because everyone has different needs, wants, and preferences. And so each product category would require a roundup such as what I did for miter saws, table saws, and hole saw accessories, which isn’t exactly quick or easy to put together. It would be a lot of work.
Second, people looking to create a starter tool set might not necessarily be looking for or finding ToolGuyd. Which means less interest and impact for the work and effort.
I am behind on a number of deal posts I wanted up before today, with topics, deal comparisons, and rundowns with ToolGuyd regulars in mind.
I can answer specific questions and requests pretty quickly.
Where’s the best Black Friday deal on hammers? Well, Zoro for industrial brands, big box stores for entry-level models, and there might be brand-specific discounts in the mix too. There’s simply too much information that requires sorting, analyzing, and presenting.
Plus, there might be lots of compromises. Best deal on locking pliers? I’d be limited to discussing a couple of entry-level brands that I generally wouldn’t recommend as top picks. Screwdrivers? I’d recommend one of the current Wera deals, but a beginner might be more interested in the “100 screwdrivers for $15” types of sets.
I was at Lowes last year, looking for a new Stanley product, and this guy kept telling me how great the 100 or 120-tool set was, and how $20 (or whatever it was) was an unbelievable price on fantastic tools.
A W
Stuart,
I am very thankful for your time and energy in putting together this blog. The level of attention to deals and reviews is great, and the response to questions in the comment section is fantastic.
Thanks for all you do, and enjoy the time with your family.
MT_Noob
I whole-heartedly agree with A W.
Thanks Stuart, for all you do!
Gary
Thanks for the great website. It has certainly been extremely educational and great fun to read through all of your articles.
Enjoy the holiday with your family
Joe J
Happy Thanksgiving y’all.
Don’t eat too much. Wait what am I saying. Eat till you’re sick!
fred
What ?? – let’s say eat until you fall asleep. Even the Romans did not use vomitoriums after overeating – unless it was too many hot dogs (or their ancient equivalent) at the amphitheater.
J.C.
Happy Thanksgiving!!! 🙂
Yadda
I hope you, had a great Thanksgiving. I’m more of a pecan pie guy. Keep up the good work!
Stuart
Thank you, everyone!
Diplomatic Immunity
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Stuey and tool fans. If you’re smart you won’t weigh yourself within the next few days. Lol!
ca
Only a month late… happy thanksgiving nonetheless!
Bill
Happy Thanksgiving to all. I hope it was a great family day for everyone.
RC WARD
Happy Thanks giving, you do a great job, thanks for your effort day in and day out ?
Richard K.
Happy Holidays and Thanks for your hard work. I greatly enjoy your website and look forward to another year of posts.