fm2176
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Posts posted by fm2176
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If it weren't for the fact I more or less needed them at the time, I'd almost regret buying two of the Ridgid. Let's be honest, though, one or two DeWalt fans will end up in my collection. Meanwhile, the Ridgid fans give me an excuse to buy another BOGO 4.0Ah battery deal, the sander, and maybe a couple of other things.
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I see Harbor Freight as a necessary evil of sorts. Maybe that language is too harsh, but they sell a lot of shoddily manufactured items and almost everything comes fresh from China--from the tools to the U.S. flags. If there were other choices nearby (such as Northern), I'd venture into the local HF even less than I do now. On the other hand, there are some gems to be found. Also, with so many other stores closing, big box stores selling tools that are often barely better quality (or sometime worse), and locally owned stores offering little variety at usually full retail pricing, HF is all but needed in a lot of towns.
We're all tool aficionados here, but the average consumer doesn't want to pay a premium for DeWalt or Milwaukee power tools, domestically produced hand tools, or quality disposables like blades and bits. Instead, they want to take their 20% off coupon in to buy that $8 hammer and get their free tape measure as a bonus. Maybe while they're in there they'll realize they need a square or a level for the project, so they'll pick those up as well after showing their wife the nice looking new Bauer or Hercules power tools in hopes of getting one as a gift.
I usually stop in on a whim, walk through, and leave. Don't get me wrong, if I need an automotive specialty tool, I'll buy one there, and when I look at buying stationary shop tools I'll definitely check out the reviews of their offering before considering a mail order. Hence the "necessary evil" reference at the start of this post: "evil" to many of us because they offer cheaply made products of Chinese origin, "necessary" because they provide us a source of inexpensive (and sometimes surprisingly decent quality) items that simply cannot be purchased in person elsewhere in town.
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I finally picked up another Ridgid bottom box for my modular system, along with a couple more clearance Diablo router bits. That makes two complete Ridgid and ToughSystem stacks, plus a few additional boxes.
Also stopped by storage and grabbed the still-new Porter Cable router I picked up about 18 months ago. I got a Ryobi router table for half-price and the clearance Skil router bit set at Lowe's yesterday. About to assemble the table now.
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9 hours ago, BMack37 said:
Saw a lot of breakers on clearance, some are really good deals
Breaker boxes too, down to $45-ish from almost $200.
I just picked up the Ryobi router table for $50, it was marked $70. Been wanting something since getting the Porter Cable 9690LR for under $50 last year (still have yet to even plug it in). Picked up some bits for it last weekend for a great price. So now I have a functional router setup for a little over $100 counting the 3 bits.
Headed to Lowe's now before I head home to crash. Spent last week in the field and had 24 hour duty yesterday while everyone else had off.
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6 hours ago, kornomaniac said:
From those 2 I'd pick DeWalt for the 'big' tools powered by flexvolt.
I would as well, plus they're at least assembling some of their tools here in the US. Additionally, I like the compatibility of the non-Flexvolt chargers with the almost stagnant 12v Max system. The Bluetooth speaker, USB charger, and ToughSystem radio are nice to run with a 12v battery if needed or desired. When Flexvolt came out, I almost felt as though it was a natural evolution. Granted, none of DeWalt's lights or power tools are cross-compatible between 12v and 20v, but hopefully you get the idea. That said...
2 hours ago, DR99 said:I would said Milwaukee in an instant just because they had awesome promotions back in the day, but now the promo's are not as great.
Some of their promos are hard to pass up, though. I picked up the Fuel circular saw when it was bundled with the 9.0Ah battery and quick charger--$225 after military discount. I waited for the Sawzall bundle to drop to $200 before picking it up, getting the 10% discount again. So, a little over $400 for what costs over $900 regularly! Also, if you have a Home Depot that has slow moving holiday promos, you can make the deal that much sweeter. The Rocket light that sells as a bare tool for $199 was bundled with a 5.0Ah battery and charger a while back. Milwaukee is currently running a deal where buying the Rocket nets a free 5.0Ah battery. So, $199 for the light with $258 worth of batteries and charger thrown in? Easy buy.
16 minutes ago, Conductor562 said:I'm heavily invested in Milwaukee, after years of using nothing but Dewalt. When I invested in a cordless line this last time, Dewalt was caught in a slow transition between their 18V and 20V line and despite what Dewalt reps will tell you, they really dropped the ball on the transition. I didn't have 2 years to wait on them to get their shit together, so I went with Milwaukee.
That being said, if I were starting over today, I would go with Dewalt if I were primarily looking for higher voltage tools, and Milwaukee if I were going to focus more on 12V tools.
I agree, based on observations here and at other forums and blogs. I'm a relative newcomer to the power tool addiction, but it seems that B&D knows how to alienate people with their transitions. A few years ago all I had were Porter Cable 18v lithium tools, most of which I picked up on clearance (should have seen what was coming with PC 20v Max being out). When they were pulled from shelves at Lowe's and became a Ni-Cad only platform (which they started as), I wasn't surprised, but I also wasn't happy. I did make up my mind that I wasn't going to merely switch to the new PC platform (a decision that in hindsight was good, given the lack of expansion in that line). I bought a DeWalt drill and impact kit and haven't looked back. Even so, DeWalt has been slow to release some things, causing me to expand to other systems. Their fan comes out in October, I needed one immediately, so I bought the Ridgid with a great deal.. Their stand light would prove useful in the field, isn't available yet, so I got the aforementioned Rocket. Also, some of DeWalt's tools lack features of their competitors' versions. Even the Flexvolt saws lack a rafter hook, which seems to upset a lot of people.
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3 hours ago, khariV said:
A few months? Do you have a buddy that works there to squirrel it away so no one else swoops in and buys it?
I just got one for $180 with my .mil discount. It's my understanding, though, that $.00 pricing is different than $.02, $.03, etc. The penny deals seem to apply to items that were previously $.02, as were the few items I've lucked out with (definitely nothing major).
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I have the Tough System and suffice to say it sounds great! It isn't a regular job site radio, to be sure, but then again I'm never on any job site that someone close to me does not own.
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I drove to Montgomery, AL this past weekend and scored a few deals. Fatmax 96" level for $24, various clearance drywall tools, a few Diablo router bits, and another work platform. I use the platforms as practical, durable, and above all else CHEAP furniture. A couple act as benches/tables, one is my coffee table, and another provides seating at my Jawhorse mounted kitchen table.
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Sorry for never including pics; trying to upload them always results in an error.
Anyway, I got the Rocket light with two free batteries and charger today, then stopped at Lowe's where I picked up an Irwin 24" level for $7 and a Stanley 78" level for $28.
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I wish I used mine daily, but I now have three battery platforms I plan to keep (DeWalt, Milwaukee, Ridgid), and a few other platforms which are obsolete and/or which I only have one tool for (Kobalt 20v, Hitachi 12v and 18v, Porter Cable 12v and 18v). I really need to give the PC stuff to my son or a friend and sell the Kobalt and Hitachi.
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48 minutes ago, sparky603 said:
I haven't picked up a one of my corded recips since grabbing the Fuel when it first came out.
That's good to know; I've been considering the Flexvolt despite having a 20v and an 18v already, but couldn't pass the Fuel up at this price. It's the fourth Fuel (and Milwaukee cordless, for that matter) tool I've owned since the first deal earlier this year. Frankly, this tool buying spree may be in need of limiting, as I recently bought into Ridgid and just upgraded to DeWalt last year.
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I just picked up the 9.0Ah starter kit with Fuel Sawzall. Price dropped to $200, so with discount and taxes it was $196, or about the same as the Sawzall bare tool right now.
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There is inherent beauty in battery charger indicators. I had the majority of mine on a workbench months back, with various colors of LEDs flashing throughout the night. Maybe only a slightly intoxicated tool geek would appreciate such things, though.
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4 hours ago, FlaveNico said:
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To the person that was here before me And placed this beautiful Stiletto hammer in the wrong section..... you're sick, you have no regard getting my hopes up like that. I was off yonder debating what tool I probably shouldn't buy. I spot this beautiful hammer and with that price tag only to see it's not true....
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
This is why I always check and double check the UPC and bar code against the sticker. I've been in you're shoes a number of times: find what seems to be an outstanding deal, heart rate quickens a bit while I confirm I have funds available and start thinking about whether or not a purchase is possible/practical only to find that the "deal" is mislabeled or was for an out-of-stock model.
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I don't know how many of you have access to military exchanges, but with the upcoming expansion of Exchange Online privileges to honorably discharged veterans as well as those currently serving and retirees, I figured I'd start a thread. Anyway, exchanges seem somewhat independent in terms of discounts, but it can't hurt to share anything found at them. Please post the installation or if a deal was found online.
Today's deal at Fort Benning is the DeWalt DCA1820 for 50% off of $39.99. I grabbed one, and also got the last six packs of DeWalt 9" 2x Life reciprocating saw blades at $4.14 a pack, original price $18.
If you have access, stop into your closest Exchange occasionally. I've found a number of deals in the past, like the DeWalt 8v Max 2-battery gyro screwdriver kit for $35, 12v Max batteries as low as $6 each, and various sprays, fluids, and sealants as low as $1.50.
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I agree wholeheartedly. That article and other sources I've read make Gass seem like a blowhard who is putting personal interests before people's safety. It's great that he designed such a safe saw, and completely understandable that he wants some form of compensation, but as someone who long ago put his country ahead of personal gain (admittedly, though, the Army has helped me out tremendously) I cannot understand why he insists on pushing for this technology to become mandatory, thereby establishing that monopoly you speak of.
Maybe this is why I'll never earn a large salary, but I'd rather make a decent living and be known for helping keep others safe than trying to ensure legislation fattens my pockets under the guise of helping a few people (many of whom are improperly trained or lack/disable safety features) keep their fingers.
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Fatmax and Stanley levels 50% or more off, Goldblatt drywall tools even more heavily discounted! I picked up the 58" level for $23.32, the 72" level for $30.23, and the Goldblatt clincher with mallet for $10.34, along with a few other things.
The Fatmax levels have been on clearance for a while, albeit at ho-hum prices. Unfortunately, the longer levels were sold out, but these two will complement the yellow Fatmax 24" and 48" levels I picked up on clearance a few years back. Altogether, I've got around $90 in all four levels, not too bad considering their original prices. The clincher originally sold for $45.
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2 hours ago, Stercorarius said:
Fuck Gass. Fuck the guy who wrote that article.
I don't feel quite as strongly as you do, and honestly know nothing more about SawStop than what I've read here and on various blogs, but the article does seem to be a blatant and self-righteous ad for that company. The title alone gives that away, and links to related articles indicate that NPR is a big fan of the technology, if not the company itself.
I don't own a table saw. Frankly, if and when I do I'll use every safety feature and accessory I can, but I would be highly unlikely to pay a premium for this technology. Grinders, circular saws, routers, and especially stationary tools like lathes are all inherently dangerous if taken for granted. A little caution and prudence all but negates the need to pay more for an invention by someone as contentious as Gass.
Besides, we recently had a Private Gass who got chaptered out of the Army. I have no use for any Gass besides that which comes from the pump.
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1 hour ago, BMack37 said:
We're in the golden age of power tools right now, in my opinion. Ryobi, Ridgid, Milwaukee, B&D, Porter Cable, Dewalt, Bosch, Makita, other more niche brands...heck, even Kobalt and the new HF power tools are all pretty damn good. Sure the chucks might not be as good as they used to be, and the build quality isn't as great but they're all a LOT more powerful, a LOT more capable.
I agree, though one can only wonder how tool companies will improve their tools in the future. I started off using B&D/Dewalt UniVolt drills over twenty years ago, made do with a 14.4v B&D drill for ten years, and finally made the switch to Porter Cable 18v lithium tools in 2012, near the end of their marketing. The PC tools are still going strong, but comparing those to my current DeWalt and Milwaukee tools make them feel archaic. They have low capacity batteries, are larger and less ergonomic, and lack the power of tools found on shelves today.
Right now, tool buying is the closest thing to a hobby I have. I don't get the chance to use the vast majority of my tools often, so when I purchase something like this fan--despite having to buy into yet another battery system--and find it exceeds expectations, I'm ecstatic.
My tool wants are dwindling rapidly. I have almost everything I could rationally justify buying to maybe use one day. My tool needs, on the other hand, are vastly different than most if not all others here. Cordless power (still strongly considering the DeWalt power station), phone charging (USB hub), lighting, and comfort items like these fans help to make 12-24 hour days in often austere conditions a little more manageable. The mainstays of cordless platforms like drills, drivers, and saws will not see much use until next year at the earliest.
As you stated, today's tools are all much more powerful and capable than their predecessors. Even the least expensive 18v lithium drill bought today will run circles around professional quality cordless tools made ten years ago, in runtime if not in power.
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"At least tool collecting is a functional hobby. I've invested quite a bit into power tools over the past year-plus, and they've mostly sat around the apartment until the past week or so, when I've actually had time to work on the project house."
Damn, I wrote the above over three months ago without posting it and it popped up when I decided to hit reply to this thread again.
Anyway, I haven't used my tools much since then, but eventually I'll post a pic of my collection. I added the DeWalt DCD996 and two Ridgid fans this week alone, and really need to sell off my 18v Porter Cable as well as the Kobalt impact and Hitachi impact driver. As of now I'm at nine different systems.
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As a brand new Ridgid cordless owner (around 20 hours as if this writing) and devoted DeWalt fan, I've got to say, I'm impressed! For those who missed my post in the "What Tools Did You Buy Today" thread in the Power Tools subforum, I've spent the past three nights in my truck due to a training event. Ah, the life of a Drill Sergeant... With plenty of batteries, I've waited patiently for the DeWalt fan for months with plans to buy one ASAP. Yesterday I left the training site resigned to settling with Ryobi. Fort Benning nights are hot and humid, and I didn't want to run the truck all night nor did I wish to sweat through my clothing and pillow again. Well, Ridgid had a promotion and some leftover BOGO battery packs, so here I am with two of the Ridgid fans powered by 4.0Ah batteries. I can sum these up with one word:
AWESOME!
I used one for about 30 minutes yesterday to show off Drill Sergeant FM's latest cordless gadget. After all, I'm the guy with the brightest lights (thanks to DeWalt, though Milwaukee and now Ridgid lighting may be in my future), an ability to repair almost anything, and who uses the most fun/least practical approach for certain things (a cordless grinder or reciprocating saw on a lock may take longer than bolt cutters, but put son a better show). I then proceeded to relax in my truck starting around 10pm, turning both fans on at about 1/4 to 1/3 speed. The low setting seems all but useless. Waking up a few times I checked the battery life, and they were still at 4 bars around 1am. Now, seven hours later both are still rocking at 3 bars. Not bad.
I haven't dealt with the LSA registration yet, have no idea how these will fare long-term, and have never owned any other Ridgid cordless device. Based on first impression, though, wow! Anyway, time to inventory weapons and equipment.
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Well, since I'm now invested in Ridgid for cooling (bought two fans today), I might just end up getting this for heating the mild southern winters.
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DeWalt took too long and I needed a fan ASAP, after sweating profusely trying to sleep in my truck the past two nights (trainees are on bivouac). So, off I went to Home Depot to buy the Ryobi. Wanting something more substantial than the 1.3Ah battery that comes with the starter kit, I considered getting the $149 hammer drill kit, which would have put the purchase at just under $200, but with at least five DeWalt hammer drills that was the last thing I needed.
Fortunately, Ridgid has a promo--buy two bare tools get the 2.0Ah starter kit free. I looked for the sander but didn't find one (everything else my local HD offers in Ridgid I own in Yellow or Red already), and a Milwaukee rep that was setting up kindly told me that buying two fans qualified for the promo (which I knew but wanted something different). After a few more minutes perusing the relatively small Ridgid section I came to the conclusion that two is better than one and picked up a second fan. Needing another battery, I considered the impulse driver before deciding to go the cheap route with a single 2.0Ah, but another quick walkthrough led me to the 4.0Ah two-pack at $99.
Long story short, I now have two Ridgid fans, three batteries (1 compact and 2 large), and a charger for $236 out the door. Military discount didn't apply and though it should have for the larger batteries I figured $198 savings was good enough. I tried taking a picture but it won't upload. Anyway, tonight will be bright (thanks to DeWalt lighting) and cool (thanks to Ridgid fans).
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14 minutes ago, Tug said:
Ah, I'll shut up about batteries then!
But you shouldn't; one cam never have enough!
Home Depot
in Tool Deals
Posted
Werner 16' extension ladder rated at 250 lbs is down to $47.02 from $188 at some stores. Saw the sticker earlier this week but an orange 300 lb ladder was in its place. Went back today and scored one. Another store still has them at full price. Also picked up a couple of Husky Unijacks for $30 apiece and a Milwaukee bit set for $15. They were all 50% off of original price.