For those of you that aren’t on social media – or even if you are but not following us at @ToolGuyd – I’ll be embedding much of the non-overlapping content that I’ve been posting about.
I have been finding once again that social media is a good place for sharing about all the little things going on between ToolGuyd web posts. I have also been sharing some ToolGuyd post content there, since some followers/visitors there might not frequent the ToolGuyd website.
Similar to what I do here, I’ll continue with whatever pattern starts to feel right.
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Misc Tool Talk
What We’re Doing
But first, a couple of unconnected tool-related thoughts and conveyances.
Much of my focus right now is on sorting through holiday deals for a hopefully more helpful and organized Black Friday roundup. I am also working to arrange a solid schedule of content to carry us through the end of the year.
The sliver of time I have left, I’m planning out content and coverage for the new year. Much of that involves buying some new hand tools for testing and review.
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We’re Taking Requests
There is so much going on! But, and as odd as it might sound – I’m inviting you to add to the pile. Do you have any requests? What tools might you want to see reviewed in coming weeks and months?
I have a lot of different reviews and posts in progress and various stages of completion, but there’s always room for more.
I especially love exploring hand tools. I ordered some new Wera tools, some unfamiliar brands from Japan, and I’ve got my eyes set on some new USA-made tools for use and exploration. But there’s always room for more, especially given the time of year with all the promos and coupon codes flying around.
What are You Buying?
Me? Hand tools, and *maybe* a table saw if there’s a good deal. Oh, and supplies for building a new mobile work/assembly table. Maybe more organizers and related storage tools and accessories.
What about you?
Recently on ToolGuyd’s Social Media:
Here are our channel links again:
Aaron
Your DeWalt purchase of toughcase+ and pro organizers makes me scream a little internally… Why would they make 4 almost compatible but not quite systems? If they had more adapters I’d just keep happily buying stuff but I can’t because they can’t coordinate.
If I wasn’t so deep in toughsystem and t stack I’d go packout, but that’s just not a reasonable play for me. That packout socket set is a thing of beauty. Notably it is on sale at acme and also eligible for the $30 off.
With half height packouts they basically are filling the same niche as both toughsystem and large toughcase+ boxes but with better integration…
Tom D
I saw the toughsystem 2 at HD recently and there was a half-width organizer on the shelf above, so I thought to connect them (both were 2.0) – just like how I like to stick all the packout together.
Man that little finicky pop up thing you have to use was really REALLY annoying! I never got it to snap together even after trying for a minute or two.
I know that part of having so many variations comes from inheriting t-stak from Craftsman (I think) – but they really need to consolidate at some point. I would have made toughsystem 2.0 “bottom compatible” with t-stak or similar.
Rigid seems to have some nice locking toolboxes but I wonder if this whole thing is a bit of a fad that will blow past after some time.
Stuart
(Reference link: https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/milwaukee-tools-30-off-200-coupon-111720/%3C/a%3E%29%3C/p%3E
Honestly, I don’t intend to connect them together, at least not dissimilar sizes. I figure I’ll swap things back and forth and maybe keep the large one as a workshop master accessory case.
The Packout organizers are awesome, and I ordered quite a few more this season to. But they’re still too large for power tool accessories, or at the least the kind you might want to store in a portable case.
Maybe there might eventually be mini Packout accessory boxes, but we haven’t seen signs of that yet.
The Packout hand tool case is a truly fantastic concept, and one I hope they push further.
Tim E.
I feel like Milwaukee could make a selection of bit-holding inserts that are the same size as the 4″ square bins in the slim packout organizer, turn them into something like bosch did with customizable cases where you get like a drill bit insert and then a 2″ bit insert and 1″ bit insert… It’d also be neat and useful if they extended that to also include inserts for things like jigsaw blades, sawzall blades (possibly a 1×2 square size bin for that, maybe a 1×3 for really long blades), maybe SDS bits, spade bits, the whole shebang. They could make a well-organized, every-bit-has-a-holder/place, slim full-width organizer-type unit that holds a selection of 1″ and 2″ driver bits, the usual square adapters and nutsetters, titanium coated drill bits, spade bits, jigsaw blades, and reciprocating saw blades, and make a killing. Even if you wind up replacing most of it with your own preferred bits and blades, or better if they sell the bins separately (even at somewhat high cost) so I can put together the collection I want, it’d be amazing. Each different kind of bit or blade is it’s own “bin” that you can take out and take with you as you need.
In the same vein, but maybe more niche, I’d love to have an insert that covers maybe a half-width size for packout that lets me put in circular saw blades. Like a plastic accordion-style thing that I can put 3 or 4 circular saw blades in, and it collapses down and protects the blades and fits in a half-width packout case. It wouldn’t work for 9″ and 10″ and larger blades, but 7 1/4″ and 6 1/2″ should fit fine, and be better than trying to preserve the original packaging to take different blades around. And better than letting them float loose in the bottom of one of the boxes. Maybe even same thing for grinder wheels, a larger insert for half-width packout that has posts that let you place and store various grinder wheels. Having safe ways to store accessories is, and could be more, one of the big draws for packout. Rather than just having everything bouncing around in an open bin, you have organization options that while they are usually less space efficient than an open case, sometimes that is secondary to not having your blades and discs and such destroyed transporting them in rough conditions.
Sean
I love hand tools as well, especially ratchets. It would be cool to see S&K LP90 series of ratchets featured. I also like to looks of the latest high tooth count Proto ratchets.
I look forward to seeing whatever you decide to review.
Thanks for taking the time to read my response,
-Sean
Stuart
My interest in that SK ratchet has fluctuated.
They contacted me out of the blue and offered a sample a few years ago, but never got back to me after I responded.
I considered buying one and came close a couple of times, and still might, but reader interest in SK hand tools has always seemed a little low and my interest in other USA tools has always been higher. It has been tough to justify.
It’s still on my list, and I’ll continue to keep it in mind.
Sean
I will keep my fingers crossed 🤞 thanks for the response.
Tim E.
Love my Makita CXT cutter! It’s not quite as good as the bosch nano saw for opening boxes, but it sure is fun to use. I actually had a good use recently, somebody took all my good pairs of scissors, and I was trying to cut those thin sheets of craft foam. The Makita made quick work of it, and nice clean cuts in it to boot. Wouldn’t work for intricate or curved designs as well, but for geometric shapes like we were doing, it was pretty good.
The Wera stubby driver with handle storage from this year’s advent calendar may be replacing the Felo stubby in my do-all go bag. I have the Felo stubby that’s in the case with bits, and uses an “extension” that goes in the stubby handle (so different than the one-piece stubby bitholder you have), which is nice, but I do mainly use only a couple of the bits, so not sure I can really justify the space the case takes up anymore. I actually like the slightly-longer-and-slimmer handle of the Wera driver from the tool check (I think it’s the 813 as in your picture), than either of the stubbies, but I replaced the tool check with the felo because I rarely used the sockets, and couldn’t justify carrying both tool checks (SAE and metric) if I was going to carry sockets with me.
If you run across any random deals on the new Kraftform Turbo drivers, I’m all ears for those. Amazon Germany has cut down what they’ll send to the States, so I can’t get together the $3-4 hundred order I usually do from there and get some of the new stuff, so I’m kind of holding out for KC Tool’s hopeful black friday sale.
Thanks for all you do running this blog and putting out great content! It’d be great if you didn’t post about deals that apply to tool preorders; I’ve been waiting for the M12 fuel vacuum to come in stock since it was announced so I could get it with whatever coupon came up next, but got it preordered today along with a packout worktop and a few other odds and ends. Then also decided it was a good time to get some of the $200ish items I wanted, since $30 is better than the 11% that is typical. Several transactions later and I’m expecting the M18 packout vacuum, M12 hatchet, new M12 rover light, and for good measure I also did the packout deal I was going to wait for January on, and got two crates and an “ammo can” box so I could get the dolly free. One crate will go on my existing stack, the other will go with the vacuum and ammo can on the dolly, along with one of the sets of drawers once they release those, make a little mobile “quick-service” cart thing that has the basics that I can just roll around for everything from cleaning or minor work on the car to minor work in the house or at friends houses or similar. My wallet hurts, but I guess I get holiday presents to myself all through the end of the year? And more stuff I have slated to purchase next month before the Makita 25 off 100 expires on Dec. 31st… ugh.
Stuart
Thank you, and you’re welcome!
I ordered quite a bit Packout as well, about half for specific needs, half to convert over from current solutions.
If it makes you feel better, my wallet hurts too. My goal is to either save some money to lessen the pain, or increase the bang for the buck. I figure what works for me works for others.
I did cancel my order for a discounted dolly – free with Packout orders worked out better.
Leo B.
Stuart, I’ve been very interested in the Milwaukee Wide Blade Magnetic 25’ tape. I want to like the FatMax, but whenever I hold one, it just feels off. The Milwaukee had nice crisp markings and the action feels better, but I’d love to see a review and see what you think, especially compared to the FatMax. Thanks a lot for the work you do!
JoeM
FatMax tapes always feel a little bit off. Functionally, they’re identical to DeWALT Pro/XP/Etc. tapes, and Stanley equivalents. It’s just the FatMax tapes seem to have… I don’t know… I different texture on them?
I can’t explain it better. I speak and read multiple languages, and I don’t know ANY appropriate word, in ANY language that describes the different feeling FatMax tapes have. Some models have a slightly more… sticky? Rubber/Vinyl? Other models have the tape ITSELF with a textured paint on it…
For all intents and purposes, FatMax tapes WILL work identical to their siblings in the other SBD brands. I’ve tried them in-store a few times. But you are NOT imagining it, nor are you ALONE in thinking the FatMax tapes “Don’t Feel Quite Right” or “Off”… I share in your feeling there.
I favour my DeWALT 26’/8M DWHT33991, and an All-Metric 8M Tape from Lee Valley. FatMax is EVERYWHERE in Canada. I THINK it’s kinda like the equivalent of having Estwing versus Irwin, instead of Stanley and DeWALT? It’s hard to find an equivalency anywhere else in the world. Wherever else there’s Stanley AND Stanley FatMax, it seems to be the same as in Canada. Where FatMax is LESS common, I don’t know quite which brand is replacing its common shelf space.
I know SBD also makes the Mastercraft and Mastercraft Maximum house brand/s for Canadian Tire, so just as common as having Stanley and FatMax, we have Mastercraft and Maximum, BOTH equally common at Canadian Tire in fact. If Stuart can find you a replacement for the FatMax, I wholeheartedly encourage you to take his advice! For those of us with TONS of options? it’s easy. If you’re to the point of asking Stuart? I don’t care WHAT brand he recommends you get, get it. Don’t get the FatMax when you’re confused about it. FatMax is not worth considering when you have more options to choose from. It’s a GOOD Brand… not a GREAT Brand.
Leo B.
Thanks for the advice, Joe! It seems like FatMax is always recommend, but I’m seeing more and more that people are saying the quality decreased and the Milwaukee Wide Blade is becoming a go-to model. I’ll be interested to see Stuart’s thoughts.
JoeM
Happy to help here Leo. You’re not crazy or alone with the FatMax opinion. They got weird-feeling when SBD started making DeWALT tapes that matched their designs.
Stuart will sort you out though!
fred
Wood Magazine (Dec/Jan issue) just did a cover article on what they say are the most innovative new tools for 2021. Some seem like they have potential beyond the initial gee-whiz.
A more in-depth look at some of them might be interesting. Not that I’m suggesting that your table saw purchase be the General 3Hp NC table saw that they close their article with. But maybe HD might send you a set of the new Blue-Mol Extreme Quick Core Hole saws to review.
JoeM
Full disclosure for the Social Media sites… I’m on Instagram and Facebook… I rant identically there… Doesn’t matter what my name is, you’ll know it’s me. You’ll read something, and practically FEEL Stuart getting a headache from the post.
I apologize for the eye strain. I mean no harm to you, and I apologize now for any headaches or excess purchases of common pain killers required in reading what I write. That applies to ToolGuyd here as well. I am sorry for my verbosity. I was raised in a very strict home when it came to English spelling and grammar, and I type rather fast, so… Typing a LOT is a bad habit. I am sorry to everyone I’ve given headaches and extracranial bleeds to.
Leo B.
Stuart, this looks interesting as well, if you want to consider a quick write-up on it. I think it was just recently released, but I can’t seem to find a date anywhere.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-FASTBACK-6-in-1-Folding-Knife-with-3-in-Blade-48-22-1505/313736993
Stuart
Thanks! As it so happens, a review sample landed at my door today!
fred
Is this one of the Milwaukee knives that’s considered as assisted opening and therefore illegal in some locales?
Stuart
No?
As far as I am aware, assisted opening knives are legal, but with local interpretations sometimes skewed where they are misconstrued as switchblades, and any one-handed opener as gravity knives.
Rog
Ryobi has a 25+ new tool launch on 12/10. They have the live stream announcement on their homepage. Any thoughts on that?
Stuart
I have no knowledge of this, will look into it.
If there will be press materials, I’ll do my best to have coverage up as early as possible.
Luke
Would love a review on the Nova Voyager Drill press. Going to pull the trigger on a floor model for the garage shop soon!
Stuart
I bought a Voyager.
It’s a good drill press, but if I recall correctly, I was disappointed at the safety stickers being mangled due to poor shipping prep – they got plastic wrap all stuck to it.
It took me 6 weeks to have assembly sorted out. What started out as an assembly question regarding gear rack orientation for the table height adjustment, turned into “you must have damaged the teeth.” Turned out it was defective. They sent me a replacement, and it was completely different, seemingly from a different supplier or production line.
The gear rack is directional, but looks to be symmetrical such that it had the same geometry when flipped 180°.
That experience completely baffled me.
I like that I don’t have to change gears or belts, but the communications and the 6 weeks everything took made me skeptical of buying Nova tools in the future.
I would buy this again, and I’d think that the tool is more mature now and with any issues ironed out or at least more common and easily handled.
If I recall correctly, I ordered mine via Acme Tools. (Wait for a Cyber Monday discount.)