justinkendall

Stopped at Lowes for some plywood and ended up buying other things. Made in the USA Southwire Compact Wire Stripper (S1020SOL-US) and Ergo Wire Stripper (S1018SOL-US). They’re so new to my local store that they didn’t have a place for them to hang and instead just left them in boxes with the price tag on a shelf in the adjacent bay. Did I need them? No. Did I buy them? Yes. Do I care where they are made? No. Southwire 8” Cable Ties, 11” Cable Ties, and V-Notch Wire Stripper (SVN). I was looking for the releasable cable ties but they still don’t have them. They do now stock the 11 and 14’s which is nice. For months all they have had is the 8’s. 4x Irwin 2” Spring Clamps (3 not shown), a 4 pack of 6” Irwin Quick-Grip clamps, and a bottle of Titebomd II for the plywood.

I hate bags. Over the last year I've really started opting for bare tools over kits because a lot of them are coming in bags now. I also hate blow molded cases because they take up too much room. I'd rather buy the bare tool and either make room in one of my TSTAK's or buy another TSTAK. Right now they only ways I would buy a kit would be if I'm getting into a new platform and need batteries and chargers or if the cost of the bare tool is not significantly cheaper. For example I want to get into the DeWalt lineup with their new tool connect tools. I don't want the case they come in but obviously I don't have any batteries or chargers yet so I need to buy the kit for $219 and I will likely buy all of the tool connect tools as kits to stock up on batteries. Once I have enough batteries I will switch to bare tools since everything is going to be put into TSTAK's anyway. Another example the new GEN 2 Milwaukee M12 FUEL Impact Driver is $119 bare tool and the kit is $169. In that scenario the kit isn't worth it to me since I have batteries and chargers. However the combo kit with it and the new GEN 2 M12 FUEL Drill is $229. With the Impact and Drill both being $119 bare tool it's smarter to buy the combo kit for $9 less and get a 2.0ah battery, 4.0ah battery, charger, and bag. In that scenario I would go with the kit even though I don't really need the 2.0ah battery, charger, or bag.

Yes! Milwaukee needs to update the BDDX to a FUEL model and release it in America.

I think eventually we may see brushless multitools but it may take a while like the M18 FUEL Hackzall did. I wouldn’t hold my breathe on getting a brushless right angle drill. They likely see it as a product that doesn’t need updating because it realistically isn’t used as often as a normal drill, at least by the majority of people.

This is my short list. Definite Buys M18 FUEL One-Key Sawzall TSO Products GRS-16 Guide Rail Square Festool CT MIDI Dust Extractor Festool Router OF 1400 EQ-F-Plus Festool RO 150 FEQ Rotex Sander Festool Hole Drilling Set LR 32-SYS 2x Guide Rail FS 1400/2-LR 32 Few other misc items like clamps, sandpaper, TSTAK’s, and Systainers. Potential buys, definitely won’t be getting all of them but probably a few from each list. Milwaukee M18 FUEL 1/2” High Torque w/ One-Key (might go with the 3/4” version) M18 Radius Site Light M18 FUEL 4-1/2” Braking Grinder 2x M18 Rocket Tower Light 2x M18 Rover M18 FUEL 7-1/4” Miter Saw M18 Mid Torque Impact Wrench M12 FUEL 3/8” Ratchet M12 FUEL Impact Driver and Drill (Gen 2) (Hoping for a free set from Milwaukee but I’m not holding my breath.) M12 Underhood Light New USB Lights DeWalt 20V MAX Tool Connect Compact Drill Kit 20V MAX Tool Connect Impact Driver Kit 2x 20V MAX Stackable Area Light Kit 20V MAX Flathead Grinder Kit 20V MAX Die Grinder Kit Flexvolt Compressor Flexvolt Chainsaw New Power Station (once it’s available) Flexvolt batteries (for power station) Festool CT 26 (once the new bluetooth models come out) Carvex (likely corded) Bluetooth Airstream Batteries (again once they’re released) Domino DF 500 ETS EC 150/3 TS 55 REQ SawStop Jobsite Saw

Power Tool: Festool TSC 55, even though I haven’t used it yet since I just got it back from Festool. Hand Tool: Wera Color Coded Metric L Keys Instrument: Tie between Southwire M300P Professional VDV Cable Mapper and Southwire 14090T TechnicianPRO Bluetooth Multimeter Misc: TSTAK’s. They may be the best purchase I made all year.

For the most part I am sticking with One-Key. I have the One-Key Impact Driver and 3/8” Impact Wrench which I like a lot. I’m planning on getting the One-Key Sawzall in the next month as well. I donated my normal Milwaukee drill to someone who had their tools stolen and I was originally going to get the One-Key to replace it but I want to try Tool Connect and I don’t need a 5th Impact driver so I decided the compact drill would solve two problems. I will still likely pickup the One-Key drill in the future just to have. It also gives me a less expensive way into the 20V MAX line so I can buy bare tools in the future if they put something out I want. There’s only a $40 difference between the Tool Connect kit with two compact 2.0ah batteries and the bare tool One-Key. I’m also interested in getting a few of their Tags to compare to the Ticks I already own.

I’m in the Milwaukee M18 & M12 lines and just recently Festool. I didn’t want to wait for Milwaukee to finally put out a track saw. I’m looking to get into the DeWalt 20V MAX line for the Tool Connect tools, the Flexvolt line for the chainsaw and compressor the 12V MAX line for a laser, the Kobalt 24V line to try since the batteries are so inexpensive, and the Hilti 12V line just because I like 12V tools and their current entire lineup can be bought for ~$250. If you’re waiting for Milwaukee to put out a cordless router you will likely have to wait a few years. The Ridgid doing so well is a good sign that Milwaukee may release one in the future but they’re not exactly rushing to pump out tools for woodworkers. I do my see an issue with having multiple battery platforms if your main company doesn’t offer what you need/want. If I wanted a 18v jigsaw today I would immediately go with the Festool Carvex because Milwaukee only has the top handle 18v model and I can’t stand that style. If I wanted a new OMT I’d go with Fein because they have starlock models.

Technically since my track saw was a Christmas present to myself but as far as for other people go no.

Limit Stop for my TSC’s guide rail came in. Of course it comes the day I shipped the saw to Festool.

My first Wera and Gedore purchases thanks to KC Tool's Black Friday sale as well as another Wiha purchase. Gedore 6PC Pin Punch Set Wera Multicolor Hex + Ball End Hex Metric L-Key Set Wiha 127mm 21 Degree Flush Cut Cutters ESD Safe Proturn

I had my $50 voucher from my PRO 5 so I bought myself an early Christmas present. I am disappointed that the scale is not in metric. All of the reviews I read said it was metric and came with an imperial sticker. The Festool USA website as well as all of the dealers I looked at have photos of it with a metric scale. I was looking forward to it being metric since I made the switch from using imperial in SketchUp to using metric in Fusion 360. So now I'm looking for a metric sticker. The good news is the rail made it through shipping without getting damaged unlike some of the things I've seen on Instagram with guide rails (of different brands). Now for the other things that have shown up lately due to Black Friday sales and deciding to buy myself early birthday presents. Milwaukee M18 Transfer Pump $139 at Acme for Black Friday. 5' & 10' Flexzilla Lead-in hoses for the transfer pump. Milwaukee M18 Heat Gun, 4pc accessory assortment, and M12 Crown Stapler. Left to Right: Ironclad Exo Motor Pro Reinforced, Exo Motor Pro, and Super Duty Stealth gloves. 50% off. Incra 300mm marking rule and 4 pack of pencils. Veritas 9pc Metric Set-Up Blocks. Quickloader QL1500 retractable tie downs. They had a sale for Black Friday plus these were on clearance already because they have new models.

A cordless 7-1/4" circular saw.

The Rotex 150 is on my list and I'm a little jealous.

Amazon has a deal with USPS. Found online: USPS has also started up their holiday delivery season and will deliver on Sunday's either through Christmas or New Years. USPS does Sunday delivery for items shipped Priority Mail Express and during the holiday season they add in First Class packages.

5.4CFM @ 40PSI 5.1CFM @ 60PSI 4.6CFM @ 90PSI 4.5CFM @ 100PSI

From their FAQ page. So it's not like their changing the name to somehow add in KKR. Why even change it? People know Hitachi. HiKOKI sounds like a Harbor Freight brand. Will Metabo be renamed to MeKOKI as well?

The Surge has just over 1/3 the torque that the M12 impact does but the Surge has a higher IPM and RPM. I have the Surge, M18 One-Key Impact, and the M12 Impact. While the Surge has the least torque of the three it still works just as well as the other two. I haven't used it with tapcons but putting in 3" screws and lags it was twice as fast as the M18 Impact and a whole lot quieter.

I commented on the Instagram post already but my local Home Depot's (two of them within 5 miles of each other) both suck as far as customer service. If you stop to actually read a product or compare two the employees look at you like you're stealing. Getting something from the overhead is a nightmare because the employees don't want to do it and when they finally do they don't know how to drive the lift or don't pay attention to where you pointed to show them what product you want. That being said the tool reps have been great at the larger of the two stores (I avoid the smaller one due to less product and being poorly lit). Lowes is a little better because there don't have the overhead area to worry about but they still don't offer help for the most part. They don't pay attention to where the products on an in-store pickup order are located so half the time they haven't pulled your order when you come in the next day or they say they don't have it and want to cancel the order. When @jtkendall bought his Centipede's a few months ago they tried to tell him they don't have them in stock and would have to order them. We found all 6 still laying in the bay that was listed on their website. It's to the point that the only thing I buy in Lowes besides that I can buy online is Southwire Tools because I know where they are, exactly what I'm looking for, and don't need any assistance. Only other things I buy are large items I can't buy online like lumber, plywood, etc. Honestly the best customer service I have had is Acme Tools. I made a ~$500 purchase from them in October and my bank decided that it was a fraudulent purchase because they are in a different state and declined it. After I dealt with the bank I called Acme and they were great at processing it again. A few weeks ago when I ordered my Hole Hawg I had added the keyed chuck model to my cart instead of the Quik-Lok model and didn't catch it until I had submitted the order. They were closed for the day so I sent them an email about it and posted about it on Instagram. They commented on my Instagram post the next morning when they saw it that they were taking care of it for me and that it would go out that day. Locally the best customer service I have had is the local Petco. They're always great about helping and really love my dog. The other is my local lumber store. The first time Josh and I went there they gave us a tour of the shop. Every time we've been back it's been great.

Apparently they're going to have another new tool at World of Concrete so maybe they're saving the 12" for then.

Pretty sure it's actually a 9" blade.

Yeah but they're made by Tanos just like the Mirka. Fien also uses Tanos for the few items they offer in systainers. For the record it says Tanos in the top left corner above the black label.

It's a blow gun.

Looks like the best Milwaukee deal is buying either the 10" Miter Saw Kit ($599), Impact & Hammer Drill Kit w/ 2 5.0ah ($399), or One-Key Impact & Hammer Drill Kit w/ 2 5.0ah ($499) and you get a free tool of either FUEL Sawzall ($199), Rocket LED Tower Light ($199), 9.0ah battery ($169), Mid-Torque Impact ($189), or 7-1/4" Circular Saw ($229). Non-Milwaukee sales that look good: $99 Makita Impact or Drill kit sale is back again this year. I guess a lot of people jumped on them last year. 3pc ToughSystem or Ridgid Pro boxes are $98. Bosch 6PC Daredevil Spade Bit Set with 2 free bits is only $4.97.

Most Home Depot’s should have the Surge in stock. I don’t think you’re likely to find the Makita in store though unless you happen to be one of the few lucky people whose Home Depot has a huge Makita section.