Black Friday, Thanksgiving Weekend, and Cyber Monday came and went. The deals and deal posts will of course continue, but I decided to give you all a one-day break to allow your credit cards to cool down.
Here’s some of the tools and products I snagged on sale these past few days. Let me know what you think, and please share some of your own tool buys in the comments!
Pre-Black Friday: A Festool cantilever organizer. Tool Nut had these on preorder, so I decided to order one before I forgot all about it again.
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Black Friday: Knives. One from Amazon, a bunch from Knifeworks, and then another one from Knifeworks. I also ordered a Foursevens LED flashlight from Amazon, since they had what I wanted at the same price as Foursevens’ BF ad.
Thanksgiving Weekend: Nada. I didn’t really need anything else, and I had in mind there will be a few more weeks for me to take advantage of Amazon’s many brand discounts.
Cyber Monday: I ordered some storage bins from Zoro Tools – 12 small Akro-Mils hinged lid totes, 9″ tall in blue, and 2 collapsible crates. I also ordered a bunch of robotics gear.
I am actually a bit disappointed in myself. Cyber Monday deals hit me like a sack of potatoes from above. I was so focused on hunting down great deals to share on ToolGuyd with you all that I didn’t really even think to look into some of the things on my 2013 and 2014 wishlist. Ah well, maybe I’ll be better prepared next year.
Although Black Friday is now behind us, there are still a few things on my shopping list. My father wants a new jigsaw, but doesn’t want me to spend a lot of money on it. As you can imagine, I’ve been racking my brain with this one. Maybe I’ll just show up with my trusty Bosch anytime he needs something done.
What did you get, and what’s left on your shopping list?
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Jon
The Lee Valley Black Friday sale was far too tempting for me. I picked up the small shoulder plane, scraping plane and edge trimming plane seconds, along with a gift card for a future order. I also ended up getting the Nova Comet lathe with chuck included at Rockler on Black Friday for my wife and I to share as she’s been mentioning wanting to learn to turn. Between those two stores I think I’m done for the holidays, though the Veritas Tenon Saws are due to release next Tuesday so the gift card may be used then!
Jon
^Should have read Lee Valley Cyber Monday sale^
Stuart
I drooled at some of those planes as well, and with the “save money on these gift card amount” deals, I had to quickly look away before my wallet caught fire. I have Veritas dovetail and carcass saws, and they have been serving me well, although not as frequently as I would like.
fred
I looked at some of the deals on Lee Valley – but neither of the tenon cutting sets (for making rustic furniture) that are on my wish list was on any special sale. The planes looked like good deals – but I hope that the “factory second” status results from cosmetic flaws – not functional problems.
I was not in the market for much else that was on any door-buster deal but what I did buy were 5 Amana router bits (including their micro trimmer MR0102 ) from Tools Today- with their extra 10% discount – that beat out prices at Amazon, Ballew Saw and Router Bit World all of whom I usually comparison shop for router bits.
I bought some Saburr Tooth 2 inch donut and flat disks from MDI Woodcarvers – who were offering a modest discount and free shipping
I also took advantage of Home Depot’s $5 off deal – on 2 separate orders for 2 COX Epoxy dispenser guns. Amazon also carries these excellent guns at the same price as HD – but the extra $5 was the deal closer for me.
Stuart
I have a few Lee Valley/Veritas “factory seconds” planes. Any flaws that I can tell are just cosmetic blemishes. Not enough to bother me knowing what I paid, but possibly enough that I wouldn’t have been perfectly happy if I had paid full price. Functionality seems to be unaffected in all cases.
John S
I totally forgot to look at Lee Valley… man, oh well… I am sure my wallet thanks me ha.
I didn’t find a thing. Sad day.
Stuart
I almost missed it as well, if not for the email they sent out early Monday morning.
I didn’t find a thing. Is that a challenge for me to post about a deal or tool you can’t pass up? =)
fred
I suspect that email notifications from tool vendors are both the joy and bane of our existence. I got deluged from Toolbarn, ToolUp, Treeline, ToolsToday, CPO, Lee Valley, Acme, ToolsPlus, Rockler, Woodcraft, McFeely’s, Mountain Heritage Crafters, MDI, Plumbers Stock and several machinery guys like Felder.
John S
haha no… I was hoping for a 12v bosch deal, but I am still hoping they might come… I have a couple of very particular things I have my eyes on, but alas, not yet 🙂 I appreciate all of your links as always though… definitely have come close to a couple of things you posted 🙂 ha
Jon
I was surprised by the number of planes that were available as seconds. The small, medium and large shoulder planes, right hand edge trimming plane, scraping plane, small BU smoother, low angle smoother, BU jointer, apron plane, low and standard angle blocks, detail rabbet plane set, and bullnose were on the list I think. A number of smaller marking/measuring tools were available also, along with the discounted gift cards.
Stuart
I think that they save them up to be able to offer them all at once.
Looking back at my emails with Lee Valley’s president, this is what he said about Veritas factory seconds – In most cases, you will not be able to find the flaw… a scratch, or a pinhole void etc.
Jon
I believe Rob’s posted on a forum at one point that it takes a couple years to have enough seconds of a model to list them for a sale. I thought the large shoulder plane was part of the sale last year as well. I also seem to recall that in the past there were something like 4 or 5 types of planes available, while this year they listed about a dozen. Overall it was a nice deal if you were up late/early enough to take advantage of it. Most of their seconds are reported to be in such good condition that the buyers have a really hard time figure out why it was a second!
Paul
I had been wanting the Craftsman 42 piece 1/4 and 3/8-inch Drive Bit and Torx Bit Socket Wrench Set for years. Whenever I went into Sears I checked the price and it was always $99. On Black Friday they had it for $29.99! I got the last one! Now my Craftsman socket collection is complete.
Stuart
I had my eye on the same set, but ultimately decided to pass on it. For more than two years now, a similar Gearwrench set has been on my wishlist, and it includes a more suitable bit selection for my needs.
Nick
Men, you may want to look at gray pneumatics duo drive sets.
I too am a gear wrench fan, but after seeing their 3/8″ drive combination socket and impact set (Amazon listing) I took the plunge. Make no mistake, these are somewhat pricey, but excellent tools.
Ross
I went for a Zebralight H502D headlamp at E2 Field Gear, and picked up the $20 Leatherman Wingman at HD. The light will be mostly for working on my car and maybe some detail stuff indoors. May use it camping too, although I really like my Petzl Tikka for that, especially because of the red LED that lets you preserve your night vision. I lost my Gerber Flik fishing tool a while back and don’t see a good replacement from Gerber so the Leatherman will do. I’ll feel better about it losing it…this thing is a bargain. The box opener is a nice touch too.
I couldn’t come up with another stuff for a Zoro order. I’ll have to keep them in mind when I’m in the market for a welder, compressor, heater, and other big ticket garage items in a few years. Folks on garagejournal saved thousands!
Stuart
The Wingman isn’t quite the same as the Flik, but it should serve you well.
I reviewed the Flik a while back (https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/gerber-flik-multi-tool-review/%3C/a%3E%29, and believe the test sample is still around here somewhere. I can’t make any promises until I find it, but if you’re interested, it’s yours. Just email me your contact info and I’ll start searching.
Zoro’s coupons and deals tend tend to be random, but the %-off discounts are always hard to pass up.
Ken
I’ve been looking for a good quality starter table saw for a small garage. Besides the Amazon Bosch GTS1031 at $299, has anyone seen any other good buys?
Nick
Ken, I’d look at the either the Bosch’s big brother, or the dewalt line. You’ll want to be able to use a dado stack set, and have a decent rip capacity. Those smaller saws are great for limited work, like a flooring installer — or something where not a lot of outfeed support is needed. If this is your garage starter unit, I’d lean towards Dewalt’s DWE7491RS or Bosch’s 4100 unit. I personally carry the Bosch table saw on my jobsite trailer and it works great for remodeling, cabinetry, and addition work. The smaller units don’t appeal unless you really need them to be compact.
Stuart
It depends on your budget and whether you want a saw that can be carried, rolled, or pushed into a corner for storage. If $300 is your absolute max budget, the GTS1031 is one of the better options, and it does allow for a short dado stack.
ringo
I don’t post often but I check this blog from time to time. I had sockets and crescents but have always been pretty weak on combination wrenches. So my tool purchase was limited to a single set of 2o piece ratcheting wrenches from Gearwrench. They were 49$ at Sears. I considered a set of regular combination wrenches on sale at Home Depot. But why buy those when I can get these?
Two other non-tool purchases were a Nook eReader for $39 at Barnes & Noble and a Sandisk Sansa Clip 8mb MP3 player for 29$ at Amazon. I picked up a couple of each. Heck, at those prices I should have bought 5 of each.
Ken
Thanks Nick and Stuart. I’m also keeping my eye on CL for a used “Bosch Big Brother” or similar unit as well.
Jason
Not a whole lot for me on Black Friday
A pack of Milwaukee sawzall blades from home depot
A six pack of Bosch Daredevil spade bits from home depot
The rest of my haul was from Menards (midwestern home improvement retailer)
Gear Wrench 7 pc Flex Head Combination Ratcheting wrench set (#9700) for $27.99
A 3 piece stanley sortmaster organizer set (14026, 14022, 14021) for $10
Brad Armstrong
I picked up a makita 12 drill and impact driver thanks to toolguyd.
And some dickies cargo pants, TEKTON 3/8-Inch Drive Impact Driver Set,S&G Tool Aid 18900 Professional Ratcheting Terminal Crimper,
Klein Tools 11063 8-22 AWG Katapult Wire Stripper.
All off of amazon. Thanks for the Black Friday list Stu
Stuart
Sounds like a good haul, and I’m glad ToolGuyd could help!
Colin
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-8-pc-screwdriver-set-cushion-grip/p-00973601000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1
Bought these craftsman screwdrivers and love the handles. Screw fitment is precise as well. Got them for $23 for the set. Pretty sure they’re made by the same company that makes Kleins screwdrivers that sell for $80
Jcc
I decided to buy the Craftsman Compressor which was on sale for $279.99 at Sears. This is the 33 gallon, 165 psi model, which is a brand new model for Craftsman. It is actually “Assembled in the USA of Domestic and Foreign Components” rather than Chinese made, so that caught my attention right away. The previous model (which is now heavily discounted) was Made in China. I’ve also a sneaking suspicion that this Craftsman model is identical to a Husky one that Home Depot was selling for $249, but since I had Sears gift cards, I decided to go with the Craftsman.