Over in our Amazon Black Friday countdown tool deals post, a reader asked for some inspiration to help him spend gift cards that he accumulated throughout the year.
There are many deals that are ongoing right now, with the better ones making it to our DealGuyd tool deals category, and even more deals are coming soon.
If I wasn’t looking to cut down on my tool spending, I would be taking advantage of some of the recent Ridgid and Milwaukee 12V and 18V cordless tool promos I recently posted about, with a couple of dollars left over for Bosch’s almost-guaranteed upcoming deals.
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So, what are you looking to buy this holiday season? Hand tools? Mechanics tools? Tool storage? Power tools? Are you looking at particular models, or simply waiting for some good deals before you make any decisions?
If you too are looking for some inspiration, check out the following ToolGuyd posts and category archives for some great ideas:
Ultimate Tool Gift Guide (2013 Edition)
Maker Tools Buying Guide
ToolGuyd New Tools Category
USA-Made Tools Category
Cordless Tools Category
Hand Tools Category
Reviews
Here’s what I really want, but probably won’t buy just yet: a top-quality ultrasonic cleaner, an industrial vibratory tumbler, a self-contained desktop CNC milling machine and/or router, a turn-key desktop 3D printer with fume filtering, vertical benchtop organization system, technician toolbox, and a real TARDIS tool box that’s bigger on the inside.
jason. W
Your doctor who reference is great. A tool box that ALWAYShas what you need inside of it. Sounds great to me!
I’m really wanting to get some 12v tools. But I can’t seem to justify it. I have 18v tools that work perfectly fine and do the job I need them to do. So why should I buy 12v?!?! But but but…I want them!
Pete
I was in the same perdicament as you and when the m12 drill/driver + free XC for $129 I couldn’t resist.
My results are as follows- when I had only my 18v makita I could only carry my 18v impact driver in my tool bag. I COULD fit the drill and impact but it was too tight and impractical. I used my impact the most anyways. But when I had to walk back to the truck to get it which would bug the heck out of me. NOW I can carry BOTH my drill AND impact. Which is great because now I have twice the batteries and I have my drill which although I don’t NEED it as much but i do have the option and I find myself using it more often than before which is great because sometimes it is more appropriate for the job. All In all I’m happy and can’t imagine going back. IF your not looking for tons of 12v tools I would honestly look at the rigid 12v. They have FANTASTIC specs and warranty. I need the m12 line for some of their specific tools.
chris
My rents bought me a dewalt gyro screwdriver haha
fred
I’ve taken advantage of the Lee Valley free shipping offer to buy a couple of toothed blades for 2 Veritas bevel-up smoothing planes that I use on figured wood. I’m advised that they are in transit via UPS.
I also took advantage of Zoro’s recent 30% off flash sale to buy two big American Beauty ergo soldering irons to supplement my Weller and Hakko irons I use for stained glass.
I bought a Kärcher Power Squeegee that was on my daughter’s wish list.
My own wish list – as I’ve hinted to my kids and wife – has a parallel guide set for my Festool track saw and a few Razertip pyrography pens. Probably no sales on Festool – but I’ll be watching for stocking stuffers – and maybe a few other items for the kids – one has a batch of Paladin and Thomas-and-Betts tools on his list,
Henry
I’m keeping an eye out for some cool tool from Lee Valley that I never knew I needed (but obviously do). They have some of the neatest woodworking tools. I don’t know what it is yet, but I’ll know it when I see it.
mike
@Jason W.
You would be surprised how much you can do with the 12V’s that are out there,I find myself using mine quite a bit around the house.
I bought into the bosch 12v line,They are nicely compact and powerful for their size.
Great for putting together furniture,hanging curtain rods,all sorts of stuff around the house. Also alot easier to lug around if you have a bunch of small projects.
Milwaukees M12 series always get rave reviews too. With the holidays comiung up there are usually some pretty decent deals you can find.
Eric Hamilton
I’m looking at some of the M12 promotions at Home Depot, specifically FUEL impact driver and hammer drill. I’m also looking at the DeWalt 20vMAX oscillating multi-tool. I have been needing one for a while, and I have read nothing but good things about it. Plus I am already very invested in the 20vMAX platform.
But it's me!
I’m interested in the Ridgid tool box stack to supplement my Bosch stacks. Also more Wink connected goodies from Home Depot, which looks promising from the GE bulbs and connected Kidde CO/smoke detectors I purchased this year. Wink is a home control appliance that HD is carrying, for those wondering. Buggy app I must admit (and probably off topic).
Bill K
Bosch 12v tools……
I’ve got my eye open for any Bosch sales….. It’s been quiet so far.
Bill K
starting with impact driver.
John S
That has been surprising to see (the lack of Bosch sales) – maybe they are waiting to do their usual $25 off $100?
I would not mind seeing them imitate the BOGO 12v battery deal going on now for TTI brands.
I honestly don’t know what I want… That is, what I want that is within reason of my wife’s budget for me for Christmas. Now, if the budget was multiplied by 10 or 20, then I know what I want 😉
Coach James
I am hoping to get a bench block and a set of seal drivers.
Josh
I want a table saw. but I’m not sure if one is going to get into my price range. Saw a tiny new Rockwell table saw at Lowes last night which I need to research further
Mark
I wouldn’t mind picking up a nice Bosch Mitre saw with that funky new arm support system they have. I have a Bosch table saw and I’ve used it more than I would have thought during our recent home renovation. But as with many of us I can’t justify it. My ancient single bevel Ryobi mitre has handled on the trim I need to cut. It’s much the same with the cordless tools. Between my large collection of Ryobi 18v and Milwaukee M12, I can’t justify the purchase of the Fuel 18v hammer drill/impact driver kit. I really do want it though:). I’m a facilities manager by day and carry a M12 non fuel hammer drill amongst other M12 tools daily. They are in my opinion capable for much of what I’d use the 18v tools for. Perhaps a couple M12 XC 3.0 batteries will suffice for now . . .
Chad
Wood to build a shop in the back yard!! But like I always tell my SO I need a few tools to go along with the project I am working on !!!
I have been eying some of the 12v drills and impacts for smaller jobs around the house, my bro in law picked up the Hitachi 12v drill and every time I help him out or he helps me out I always end up using his drill.
Is there a showcase or rundown of 12v drills that have been posted here on the site??
Thanks
bymbie
I live in Canada and far from the border. So I’m just drooling here, looking at the prices you guys pay. Amazon.ca shipping is pretty reasonable so the wife might surprizes me with a table saw (looking at the Bosch GTS 1031 or the Dewalt DWE7480) and/or a router (Dewalt DWP611PK).
My “American” Christmas comes in late January when I will be in the States and have $300 authorized from the wife to spend on tools. It has to be light enough to bring it back up on a plane… Thinking about a 12V Drill/Impact combo for sure. I currently have a Dewalt 14.4 drill/driver but would like to have the combo so I don’t need to change bits all the time (mostly doing woodworking projects).
dgreening
Looking to pick up a Bosch 4100-09 table saw with gravity rise stand to replace the Jet JWTS-10 saw which I just sold. Also looking to pick up a Forrest Woodworker2 Thin Kerf blade and possibly an Incra miter gauge.
Apart from that, I might pick up the Milwaukee M12 XC battery 2-pack deal at HD.
Chris
Im looking to SELL, can you believe it. I have 2 18V sets (one NiCd and one LithIon) and Im tired of carrying around the heavy NiCDs.
And I will be buying more M12 stuff because I realized after all these years 18V is pretty much overkill for 90% of my work around the house. The only problem I see is that the M12/Fuel stuff is so powerful, if I wanted an 18V set it needs to be that much more powerful to make a difference.
firefly
I will definitely purchase a few SSDs, video cards, RAM and possibly two new motherboards.
Also waiting for some good deals on tools, been eyeing a couple pair of NWS pliers, bosch laser measurement. I check this site regularly and just snatch up whatever deal that are too good to be passed.
I also looking to purchase a cordless trimmer/edger (40v or above). I like the way the Ryobi 40v trimmer convert to an edger but I found the power to be lacking. So far the Ryobi 40v and Ego 56v is on my short list. Perhaps I’ll wait till next year to see what else will be in the market. After all I won’t be doing any yard work in the winter.
Stuart
Thanks for the reminder! I need to somehow find the time to build my wife a new desktop PC.