We already posted about the very many Kobalt hand tools in Lowes’ holiday tool deal section this year, and so today’s post is going to be about the other brands’ deals, of which there are very few.
While none of these tool deals scream “BUY ME!!”, they’re good enough to warrant a closer look.
Do any of these deals particularly catch your attention? For me, it’s the Irwin tape measures, which don’t really look like “deals” to me, and the Vaughan pry bars.
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Irwin
There was a huge Irwin tape measures display at my local Lowes. Irwin makes tape measures? I guess they do now.
$18 for the 25-footer and $14 for the 16-footer are decent prices, given how solid both tape measures felt.
If it turns out that these are regularly-stocked items, I will definitely buy one of each for testing and review. But from what I experienced in-store, I’ll probably head on back to the local Lowes to buy one of each anyways. I would have bought both sooner, but didn’t have the time.
There was also a large display of Irwin drywall jab saws for $8 and $10 each, depending on handle choice.
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This might be my lack of experience carving cut-outs out of drywall, but why would someone prefer the round wood handle over the more ergonomic molded handle? The difference in price is less than $1.50, so surely that’s not the motivating factor, right?
Lufkin Tape Measures
$7 for a Lufkin hi-vis self-centering tape measure. I have bought one or two of these Lufkin tape measures in the past, and while they’re not spectacular they’re good for the money.
I might buy one of these to keep in the car for furniture-shopping, or maybe I’ll take advantage of one of the Stanley tape measure holiday deals I previously posted about.
You can buy these for the same price online at Amazon (via a 3rd party supplier), and they’re even cheaper at Sears ($5).
Maglite LEDs
You don’t save so much on these mini Maglite Pro LED flashlights, compared to the lowest online price I could find (currently $19 via Amazon), but $17.47 is a lot less than the regular street price of around $24.
I’m a fan of Maglite LED flashlights for around-the-home type of use, although I prefer 2D or 3D flashlights for such purposes. A 2D flashlight is a lot easier to find than a 2AA one. Plus, I have far better 2AA LEd flashlights that I load up with lithium batteries or rechargeables.
Related: Which Batteries for Flashlights and Tools in Cold Weather?
Vaughan Pry Bars
There’s a Vaughan double pack of pry bars, for $13. Buy a SuperBar, get a StubbyBar, for free.
A quick price check on Amazon shows that you can buy a 15″ SuperBar for less than $13, but not with a free 12″ SuperBar, which surprisingly costs more than the larger bar.
Bionic Wrench
The Bionic Wrench is a made-in-the-USA adjustable wrench that fits a range of inch and metric fastener sizes. It’s been a popular stocking stuffer for quite a few years now.
Price Check(via Amazon)
Bosch Laser Measurer
Bosch’s compact GLM 15 laser measurer, with its 50-foot range, was a great buy at $50. It’s a fantastic pocketable laser distance measuring tool. It’s quick and easy to use, and is discrete to whip out when touring houses with your realtor.
Right now it’s about $1.50 cheaper at Amazon. If you want immediate gratification, buy it at your local Lowes. I think Home Depot might have these on display somewhere too, so you could do a price-match. Or order it from your smartphone or computer and Amazon’ll take care of the legwork.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
Zircon
This Zircon StudSensor bundle is very similar to Home Depot’s deal. For $20 you get the e50 stud finder, and a free 9″ level.
Home Depot’s deal is for the HD55 plus a free level, but I can’t tell much difference between the two models.
According to these Amazon user reviews, the e50 is fairly popular and well-regarded.
Did We Miss a Deal?
Tell us about any deals we might have missed that you spotted at your local Lowes.
Do any of these deals strike your fancy?
And as a reminder, don’t forget to check out Lowes’ Kobalt hand tool deals, which we posted about separately.
Mike
I think the jab saw strategy is this: appeals to the many buyers who see the two types, get mad at the one priced $1.50 higher, and buy the wooden handle tool, feeling savvy. The comfort handles sell on their own to a different base as comfort handles are a tried and true sales point still. Many shoppers only want the cheapest initial price, even if they don’t realize/admit it. In case of these two saws, assuming the blue handle one does indeed have “tri-ground teeth” and “longer life”(probable, the blades look distinct) the upcharge is a no brainer. Unless of course, you know something about blade sharpness vs. sheetrock I do not. Jig/recip/circular blades another good example. Bosch and Freud(and black Makita circ’s, maybe Lenox, Greenlee recip’s) blades typically WAAAY worth the price vs Irwin marathon or DeWALT yellows or (gasp) Harbor Freight.
Stuart
I get what you’re saying about the jab saws. I didn’t think it came down to price, but am struggling to find a reason as to why someone might prefer the rounder wooden handle over the comfort grip model.
About that last comment – Dewalt’s Precision series of circular saw blades are quite good in my opinion.
I bought their Precision Finish blade, and while not utterly mind-blowingly superb, it performed better than cheapo blades.
They came out with a new Precision Trim blade for their cordless miter saw (https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/dewalt-cordless-tools-new-2015/%3C/a%3E%29, and there’s also a Precision Framing blade.
But I do agree – Freud (and Diablo) blades are fantastic.
And as mentioned in yesterday’s Bosch accessories deal post (https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/bosch-power-tool-accessories-deal-h2015/%3C/a%3E%29, I am a very big fan of their jig saw blades, hammer drill bits, and other cutting accessories.
Mike
Ah yes the Precision’s are better. I call those ‘blacks’ and the older types ‘yellows’ out of habit from working with tool geniuses.(We electricians are always snobby to the rest of the crew, especially our mortal enemies-PLUMBERS!-jk, everybody knows it’s the drywall guys that are the worst ha-ha. It’s like they’re in a hurry or something;) Of COURSE the black precision have lots of yellow too(duh). Slip of the old brain of mine, maybe cuz all my blades are red or blue. Hell, when Diablos become senior citizens, flip ’em round—great for trimming roof shingles.
One thing I noticed with circ blades: ‘Diablo’ branded, great no doubt, but I swear plain Freud/Freud Industrial are even better. Though mostly for the table/miter saws. I’m in the worm-drive for everything crowd. Planing? Jointing? Sanding? Sweat on the face? Need dovetails? Bury some plumbing? Pass the skilsaw. Barely joking. Of course a decent table saw is a sublime thing. Miter saws are useful for big jobs too I guess, wah-wah.
adam
Ambidextrous is the wrong word, but it generally conveys what I think the appeal of the round handle is. The neutral grip may not so readily contort the the wrist if the saw is used upside down in a confined space. My own saw has a similar molded grip, and its square hilt is always snagging on other things in my toolbox, where a rounded one would not.
Stuart
I think I see what you mean! Are you saying that, with the ergo grip, you can only hold the tool one way, and with the round grip, you can hold it in any direction, even horizontally?
Michael
Exactly. I have an old natural wood handled one that is probably thirty years old. I would not trade for a sack full of those pretty blue ones.
Brett
I recently bought a mini maglite LED (the 2 mode Pro+ AA version) and was super disappointed in it, after having been served well by my incandescent maglites and even an LED conversion in my 3D light. If you bump it at all the light flickers, and in the case of my light that also changes the brightness setting. I was able to fix it with a ball of aluminum foil stuffed into the battery compartment to pretension the apparently overly loose springs, but… the more you know.
Stuart
Well, that sucks. If in your shoes I would return it for an exchange. No company is immune from manufacturing defects.
Brandon
Those new Irwin tapes caught my eye at Lowe’s the other evening. The blade coating was interesting. I was able to get 9 feet of standout on the 25 foot tape. I didn’t try it any further than that, since I didn’t want to make all that racket in the store when it finally gave out.
Sean
Unfortunately, many recent Irwin purchases have left a bad taste in my mouth. They *look* nice, but it seems to be shiny blue plastic covering very poor-quality tools.
They make good pliers, and I’ve fallen in love with the needle-nose style vice grips, but some of the other stuff I’ve purchased is just junk: the mini clamps, a coping saw, and a dovetail saw (all I can remember right now…)
adam
The Lufkin tape would benefit from a larger blade, as my gloved hands cannot not grasp it. And its smooth, round plastic case will easily slip your grasp if you’re in a hurry.