Holiday Tool Packages: Savings or Scams?
Now for a word from our Grinch … 😀
Ah, the holidays- the time of year when stores are suddenly filled with all manner of things you just can’t live without. Here, I’d like to specifically look at the ‘cordless’ tool assortments that pop up like mushrooms in December.
My first issue -and largest issue- is with the ‘piece count.’ The banners shout: buy this set of four, get a free flashlight, etc. Gee, you are encouraged to think, I can get FIVE for the price of four! Sure you can – NOT.
Anyone who equates a circular saw with a flashlight in the count is chasing unicorns. There are plenty of $10 flashlights – ever see a $10 circular saw? Some of these clowns even include the bag in their piece count!
There’s another problem with the piece count: the junkiest tools always have the most pieces in their sets. Not just ‘pieces’ as in blades and accessories; even the power tool count rises. I suppose it’s reasonable; after all, $300 will buy you a lot more from Firestorm or Quantum than it wil from DeWalt. (I”l give you a hint here: Even the manufacturer (Black & Decker for all three) knows better than to claim all three brands are equal).
The biggest problem I have with assortments, though, is the tool selection. Some tools (like a circular saw) I never use. Other tools (like the drill and the impact driver) largely duplicate each others’ functions. In the case of the drill, the assortment also duplicates a tool I bought years ago- and I don’t need two drills.
My second snarl at the holiday specials is: often you are NOT getting what you think you’re getting. Instead, you often find tools with plastic gears and half-capacity batteries … that look just like the “real” ones by the same brand. There’s just a tiny change to the model number. Some bargain.
Another ‘rule’ for holiday shopping is: the prettier the package, the greater the assurances that you just can’t get by with this tool you’ve never seen before …. well, the greater the chances are that the thing is completely useless. Even ‘premium name brands’ have been guilty of this. Anyone remember the Rigid left-handed hammer? This year the ‘award’ goes to a ‘wrench’ that claims to work on dozens of bolt sizes – but won’t fit in any bolt access I’ve ever seen. (Sort of like having a parachute that won’t fit through the plane door).
Replies
reno
you're drill/impact combo description is maybe for you only. They do not imitate each other. In the case where you can use one in conjuction with the other (drill/drive) rather than drill, remove bit, insert tip/holder,drive, remove driver....................
The bag deals-never bought one, nor will probably.
But have seen them on site with crews-they use them, evidently like them and if the quality is there-why not?
In other words, don't like 'em-don't buy 'em.
No big deal.
Tool Award
>>>This year the 'award' goes to a 'wrench' that claims to work on dozens of bolt sizes - but won't fit in any bolt access I've ever seen. (Sort of like having a parachute that won't fit through the plane door).<<<
Right -on!! When I first seen the ad for that I said even I wasn't dumb enough to buy it, and I have a bucket of tools that I've bought over the years that didn't work out. NOT THIS TIME ;0
I don't know, I bought a 7 piece 18 volt Li-ion makita set from All Pro tools about two or three years ago, and it has been one of the best purchases I ever made. The only thing I didn't use is the radio and I gave that to my brother-in-law. Even the flashlight is really handy. The drill and impact driver are used daily, the circ saw alot, and the recip saw and angle grinder occasionally.
Maybe if you buy a multi piece set from a lesser quality manufacturer you would not be happy but I can't complain. Now if I could find a reasonable source for replacement batteries for when they finally start to go.
One thing I don't get about the tool sets is the 2 different types of drills. One is a hex bit drill, the other is a chuck style drill. I guess I don't see the need for a crippled drill AND a good drill.
Crippled drill?
I guess you are probably referring to the impact driver. It isn't a crippled dril, it's an impact driver, and until you use one you won't understand the advantage. I have two dewalt drills ( a smaller drill/driver and a larger hammer drill) and a dewalt impact driver. Whenever I am going to be driving large screws I always grab the impact driver. The one place where I don't think I could get by without an impact driver is when installing Hardiebacker. Ever tried to install those screws above your head with a drill? Lots of sweat and stripped heads, sore wrists and elbows. WIth my impact driver, it is really simple. I also use it for lag screws, concrete screws and anything that requires lots of torque or has a bit type that is easily stripped. My wife can use it to install 6 inch lag screws with no pilot hole, no lubrication, and it doesn't try to twist your wrist off. If you have lots of Phillips head screws to remove, it is defintely the tool for the job...
As was said above, if a kit includes tools you don't want or need, don't buy that kit.
Paul, aren't you the king of screws?
Then why no impact driver?
Seems odd.
I agree with the batteries
Many times (dewalt in particular) the batteries that are included with kits and many individual tools are lower capacity than those you would be able to buy as replacements. Think of them as 'starter batteries", kind of like when you buy a printer and the ink cartridges that come with it only have enough ink to let you test the printer. As long as you factor a couple of good XRP or Li-Ion batteries into the purchase price, there are still some deals to be had by purchasing the kits.
A friend recently started a major remodel on his house, and last christmas we all went together to get him a Dewalt 9-piece kit. If I remember correctly it had a hammer drill, impact driver, circ saw, recip saw, grinder, rotary cut-out tool, jigsaw, 1/2 impact wrench, and flashlight. We found one of these christmas deals and got the kit for about $600. We then bought two XRP batteries since the kit came with only two batteries and they were the cheaper , low volume batteries. He has used the heck out of most of the tools, and the price per tool was pretty competitive compared to buying each of them alone. No regrets, just be aware of what you are buying!