fm2176

The bags and pouches are made by CLC. I gave the small technician pouch and the contractor's notebook. Both are really good quality.

Okay, I've spent a fair amount over the past year amassing a decent array of DeWalt power tools and even some hand tools--particularly box cutters and tape measures. A few weeks back Tractor Supply had a 3-pack of DeWalt branded socks bundled with a hat for $10 on clearance, so a couple came home with me. I think I jumped the shark this weekend, though. The local Sears is closing, so after browsing and laughing at most of the prices yesterday I finally got in line to check out. A fellow in the next line had a familiar looking box, though: sure enough, they still had DeWalt footwear! I'd never seen them before but wanted some Black and Yellow goodness (the tool section was limited to a few pairs of cloth gloves, a couple of corded drills, and a display DCD780/DCF885 combo for not excellent prices), so off to the shoe section I went. Sure enough, they had a single pair of Baltimore steel-toed boots in my size and a few pairs of the Wrench composite-toed shoes. Well, I wore the shoes yesterday and am wearing the boots now. The shoes have great reviews but don't seem widely (at all?) available, so I went back earlier and bought the last two pairs in my size for backups. Anyway, how far can one go? I own a couple of Fuel tools and some Milwaukee hand tools, but am a much bigger fan of DeWalt (though admittedly, I wouldn't have bought the other two pairs of shoes if Ididn't find the first pair comfortable). Honestly, if they still had the branded shelving once devoted to DeWalt bags and cordless tools, I'd have probably bought that too just to put my tools on. Now all I need is to seduce the DeWalt girl in Opelika and steal her polo. Maybe get some gaudy black and yellow pants to match?

I haven't had this issue yet, but did somehow break a piece of plastic off of one that doesn't affect function or compromise the IP rating. Also, one of the metal latches broke loose after I stumbled and grazed it one evening (it wasn't latched shut). This broke the plastic that retains the latch but I managed to reattach the latch. Considering I've barely used the DeWalts but have used and abused the Ridgids without an issue for three years, I'm kind of disappointed.

Sounds like DeWalt is continuing to expand despite what some think! I'm a big fan of Yellow tools and it looks like more money will be headed their way. Less than five years and I'll be able to actually use them regularly!

My local store has one that looks slightly used for $229 or so. I've never seen them elsewhere in stores, though.

Thanks to everyone! Liking the forums so far!

How often do you find one-off deals at your local Home Depot, Lowe's or other big box? Losing a Hitachi 12v Peak battery to my dog's desire to chew (he only damaged the casing) last night reminded me of my latest find. The local Lowe's had two shopping carts in the center of the store a few weeks ago. One was filled with various power tool bags for $5 and the other had miscellaneous chargers and batteries for $5-$20. I ended up paying slightly over $40 for two Hitachi 12v batteries (one of which is now good only for its cells); a Hitachi 3.0 Ah 18v battery; and DeWalt 8v, Kobalt 18/20v, Hitachi 12v, and Hitachi 18v chargers. I left a couple of Paslode batteries and a bunch of Bosch chargers. It isn't often, but occasionally regular trips to the big boxes can pay off. While normal clearance deals have some type of pattern or at least predictability in prices, random deals just pop up when a manager decides to finally get rid of those old accessories from a display that was replaced long ago, or when an employee suddenly finds that corner where everything was dumped and forgotten. In my experience, Lowe's is by far the best place to find old displays, non-stock items, and other possible deals. For example, I got a Porter Cable 18v area light for free after noticing it on the 20v Max display. I waited 30 minutes while an employee tried finding a number for it, offered to come back the following day, and had a manager finally give it to me for my patience. Other deals include the PC oscillating tool kit (non-stock as it was 18v) for $70 and a Senco Duraspin for $40. Home Depot, on the other hand, seems to be much less generous, with display tools often marked at only 10-20% below the kit price despite missing batteries, chargers, and other accessories. Finding these deals is easy once you've learned your stores. Sometimes they'll be mixed in with current displays or on shelves with newer versions. Often times they'll be prominently displayed or in a clearance section. Too often they'll be for something you either can't use or don't want to invest in. Anyway, what have you found? Do you make combing aisles a hobby, or just happen to luck out when you stop by the local big box once a month?

I picked one up at the PX for $35 a couple of years ago. Since then, it's been used a lot, especially for hanging ceiling fans and such. Honestly, it can handle more than I thought it would be able to; if a job is too much for it there's always the 12v screwdriver or a 20v driver.

Porter Cable made a great inflator for their 18v line. It can top off all of my truck's tires (about 3-4 psi each) with one of the puny 1.3 Ah batteries that was standard for that line. If the battery dies, it also has a cigarette lighter cord. After putting a lot of money into DeWalt and having started to buy a few Fuel tools, I have to admit that I'm eying the Ryobi inflator to replace the PC when it finally quits working. If one came out in Yellow or maybe Red first, though, I wouldn't look twice at the Ryobi.

I survived that shift. The crew came back the following morning right as I was being relieved. I had to endure a few hours while my relief got a day's worth of hammering. As for the work, I understand the need for contractors to do it, whether it is due to agreements with the local community or due to liability/safety/coding or other issues. Military personnel who hold jobs in various trades aren't necessarily the best choice for building/repairing/installing stuff stateside. Also, in fifteen years of military service, I've yet to meet someone who holds a carpentry, electrician, plumber, or other skilled MOS. A friend of mine from the Recruiter days was an AC repairman, but he usually talked about vehicle AC systems and probably lacks the training for large building units.

You have a good point which is easy to ignore by those of us who spoil ourselves. For many homeowners, just having a cordless drill is a luxury. We don't all need brushless drills, impacts, screwdrivers, screwguns, and so on.

I wouldn't quite go that far. Maybe there were some earlier tools that deserve a bad reputation, but my 18v PC stuff is still holding up strong, as is the 12v Max drill and impact driver. Porter Cable had a fair number of 18v tools released, and the changeover from Ni-Cad to Li-Ion seemed to go well. That said, most of my PC tools are earlier ones. It did seem that the tools were cheapened somewhat over their lifespan (plastic chucks instead of metal, plastic guides on the circular saw shoe, etc).

True, for $99 you can get a DCD771 kit with 1.3 Ah batteries, or a DeWalt Ni-Cad drill with two batteries for around the same price. Most people don't look past that "great" price on a DeWalt drill. Honestly, those $99 kits are probably all that 95% of homeowners really need. Even so, to think that another $100 will get a decent kit (DCD780/DCF885 with 2 Ah batteries or something similar), and a little more cash and some luck with get an outstanding deal (my first 20v Max tools were the brushless compact drill, brushless impact, light, and medium Tough System box for $222 out the door). Besides companies' habits of bundling lesser tools/batteries/chargers, though, I just don't see any company risking its reputation to produce an inferior quality tool for big box stores.

I change my own oil. Told myself when I left the auto industry that I'd spend the difference in labor on better parts/fluids. I've put almost 200k miles on my truck and it's been in the shop four times--once for a roadside emergency (wheel bearing), once for an alignment, and twice for tires and alignment. I am getting to the point where other fluids feel like a hassle. Contemplating taking it to a dealer for transfer case, transmission, and differential fluid changes.

Water, black coffee, unsweetened tea. Since I switched from beer to whiskey, it's been Coke Zero or, preferably, Coke Vanilla Zero and whatever bourbon or whiskey I have at hand.

Those who know, know. Twenty-four hours of pure excitement...often stretched to a 28-hour or more day. Report to work at 0600 for accountability, shift starts at 0900, relieved 24 hours later only to have to report to someone to close out. Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. In most units, it's an inconvenience; on the trail it's actually a break. Two days mostly away from trainees. No mommy/daddy games, watching 20-somethings cry, meting out corrective action, and occasionally actually training tomorrow's Army. Anyway, as I spent the day in mind-numbing boredom, alternating between starting Final Fantasy VI on my phone (and realizing that I first played the game the day it was released in '94, having played most re-releases as well since) and dreaming of a day when I can actually build/repair things regularly again, the relative peace was broken by the sound of a Bosch Brute demolition hammer. Contractors have been making some repairs to the building, and I'd seen the hammer earlier, but had no idea what it would be used for. A few hours later it was evident. I watched as the contractors removed some old HVAC equipment from the mechanical room located right next to the Staff Duty office. Nice and peaceful, watching the Caterpillar skid-steer load the obsolete system that likely predated my own initial training. Listening to the contractors use a Sawzall to cut old lines, seemingly having fun in their work. Little did I know about the slab. The demo hammer went in, and for the next three hours my world was jarred. I conducted checks earlier and looked in the mechanical room. The Brute is lodged in the slab, of which about 3/4 remains for my relief and (possibly) their relief to endure as it is removed. There are also a handful of well-used tools in there, which make my little-used DeWalt, unused (so far) Fuel tools, and even fairly well-used mechanics' tool look like pampered would-be's. In a little over 8 hours this shift is over, but the hammering will continue.

I partially agree, buying only what is needed for the task at hand might be smart for some people--especially those on a tight budget. In a way, I almost wish I'd have switched to Ryobi... On the flip side, if you are like me and hate not having the right tool for the job, it doesn't hurt to spend more for more right now. More money, yes, but also more power, more features, and often more run time or watt-hours. Ryobi, Porter Cable, and other DIY brands top out at 4 Ah batteries, while DeWalt and Milwaukee both offer 9 Ah options. Not to mention, buying smart (in the US, combing Home Depot after holiday sales can usually result in outstanding deals, and clearance deals are occasionally found) whether you need something or not can help build an impressive array of cordless tools for much less than retail price.

Good evening, I'm currently on 24-hour duty and need to kill some time, so here I am. Anyway, my current obsession is tools. Not that the current job permits me the time to really use them, but tool buying has become a bit of a hobby which should pay dividends after retirement. I started off with Porter Cable 18v (sadly still used more than the newer tools since I keep them at work), moved on to DeWalt 20v Max, and recently started supplementing my Yellow tools with some heavy-hitting Fuel tools (rotary hammer, circular saw, impact wrench). Having worked construction, automotive, and material handling equipment repair before becoming a trigger puller, it is easy to appreciate the convenience, ergonomics, run-time, and other advantages of today's cordless tools. Anyway, I hope to contribute where possible, learn a lot, and enjoy reading everyone's input and opinions.