Tool Deals on Amazon

With Black Friday just passed and Cyber Monday coming up, there are a lot of great deals to be found online.  Here are some tools that can currently be had for lower-than-normal prices on Amazon.com:

- Irwin Pocket Level, $2.63

This pen-sized pocket level was listed for $3.09 last week -- not a huge discount, but cheaper is still better.  If you use a level a lot, this one doesn't weight much and can clip onto a pocket, belt, or strap.

- Stanley All-In-One Screwdriver, $3.58

This simple screwdriver with 4 bits and two hex nut driver sizes is normally sold for about $5 on Amazon.  It's a good screwdriver to throw in a drawer or glove box, because it has several standard-sized bits included.

- Stanley Stubby Ratcheting Multibit Screwdriver, $4.24

This driver is a good stubby screwdriver.  It ratchets, has magnetic tips, and comes with several different bits, as well as storage for those bits in the handle.  The Stanley stubby ratcheting driver usually costs $5 or $6 on Amazon.  You can read a full review of this driver here.

- Leatherman Wingman, $19.96

The Wingman is one of the cheaper Leatherman multi tools that you'll find, but it's not a cheap multi tool.  It has many tools built into one -- pliers, knife, screwdrivers, bottle opener, etc.  The Wingman is typically sold on Amazon and in Home Depot stores for around $30.

- Wiha 1000-Volt Magnetic Driver, $22.85

If you do any work around live electricity, an insulated screwdriver is a good thing to have.  This one from Wiha comes with both slotted and Phillips bits, with internal storage in the handle for 8 bits.  It normally sells for close to $30.

Tool Review: Ultra Steel TR30206D Magnetic Pocket Level with Clip

You might have a heavy-duty foot-long level at home, one that you could brain a burglar with if you had to, but that level isn't the most practical tool to be carrying around with you everywhere you go. There are many different types of smaller, more portable levels.  One such portable level is the Ultra Steel magnetic pocket level with clip (model #TR30206D).

This plastic level (distributed in the USA; made in China) is compact and bright yellow, and it can fit in the palm of your hand. It is actually two levels in one, each set at 90 degrees from the other, and you can use them both for improved accuracy. The level is flat on two sides, so it will sit flush on any flat surface or in a 90-degree corner.

The level is small enough to fit in your pocket — about the size of a miniature stapler, a little larger than a stubby screwdriver. If you don't want to risk sitting on it and breaking it, however, it comes with a belt clip so you can attach it to your belt, toolbag strap, or the outside of your pocket. It also comes with a short ball chain so you could attach it to your key ring if you wanted to (though it's too big to carry it that way with much practicality).

Part of the underside of this level is magnetic, so you can stick it on your fridge or other metallic surface when it's not in use. It uses two straight magnets for added support, but the magnets are of varying strength. One of the magnets easily stuck to the tip of a screwdriver and clung there without dropping, while the other wouldn't even attach briefly before falling.

The Ultra Steel magnetic pocket level is probably not as reliable as a larger level from a more well-known company — it gave similar, but not identical, readings to a Stanley Pro I-Beam level — but it's a good value for a cheap, portable level.  This level gets 3 out of 5 stars.  It can be especially handy for someone who doesn't have a lot of room to carry around a larger level, but who may need to level something out from time to time.

This level sells for $1.00 in-store at Walmart. Online, it can be purchased from Amazon for $5.99.  It's very similar in appearance and features to the Stanley magnetic pocket level, which is listed at $16.38.

(Originally published on Helium.com, February 2013)

Ultra Steel tool reviews

Levels:
- Ultra Steel TR30206D Magnetic Pocket Level with Clip

Screwdrivers:
- Ultra Steel TS90354J 4-in-1 Mini Screwdriver

Tool Review: Ultra Steel TS90354J 4-in-1 Mini Screwdriver

Ultra Steel is a brand of tools sold in Walmart stores.  The tools are generally cheaper than most other brands, but sometimes they are a good value because the tools work well.  The UltraSteel 4 in 1 mini screwdriver (model #TS90354J) does not fall into this category.

The Ultra Steel mini screwdriver looks like a knock-off of Stanley's 4 in 1 pocket screwdriver (model #66344).  It's a pen-shaped pocket screwdriver, a little over six inches long, with two removable caps and a pocket clip.  The body is black, with a rubber coating, and the two caps are an almost-neon red.

This pocket driver comes with two metal double-sided bits.  Unlike the Stanley pocket driver, the Ultra Steel driver does not have magnetic tips.  There are two Phillips bits (#0 and #1) and two slotted bits (1/8" and 5/32").  The four bit sizes are printed on the driver body.

The bits slide into plastic slots in the driver, but the bits and slots weren't sized right because the bits slide in too loosely and can easily slide out.  The caps that cover the bits are also very loose.  General Tools makes a similar pocket screwdriver, with caps that loosen and fall off over time, but this Ultra Steel driver starts off that way.  The one nice thing about the caps on this driver is that each one has a large enough cut-out near the tip so that you can see which bit is installed on that side.

The driver handle is covered in a cheap-feeling rubber that provides no grip at all, so if you're trying to loosen or tighten a stubborn screw, this driver won't be much help.  The soft handle is comfortable to hold, but it provides no traction for your hand when turning a screw.

The Ultra Steel 4 in 1 mini screwdriver is made in China and sold at Walmart for $1.97.  That may seem like a great price, but for this screwdriver it's way too much.  For about the same price, you can buy the General Tools pocket screwdriver (model #744) at Home Depot, and that one is much better made than the UltraSteel driver.  For about twice the cost of either of those pocket screwdrivers, you can buy Stanley's pocket driver, which has magnetic tips that won't fall out and is manufactured to be much more durable.  This pocket driver gets 1 out of 5 stars.

(Originally published on Helium.com, April 2013)

Pittsburgh tool reviews

Tape Measures:
- Pittsburgh 69031 25' x 1" QuikFind Tape Measure

Pliers:
- Pittsburgh 40696 5-3/4" Needle Nose Pliers

Ratchets:
- Pittsburgh Pro 94011 3-Piece Thumbwheel Ratchet Set

Screwdrivers:
- Pittsburgh 69470 4-in-1 Screwdriver

Tool review: Pittsburgh 69031 25' x 1" QuikFind Tape Measure

When it comes to choosing a tape measure, there are certain factors that different buyers will look for.  Assuming all of the tape measures are accurate, some qualities that differentiate the different models include tape length, size, casing, and measurement units.  Sometimes, it's just how the tape measure feels in your hand.

The Pittsburgh 25-foot by 1-inch QuikFind tape measure (product #69031) is a good middle-of-the road tape measure.  As the name suggests, the tape reaches 25 feet, and it's an inch wide.  This QuikFind tape measure is self-supporting up to 78 inches, so you can stretch it out, unsupported, 6 and a half feet before the tape buckles.  A few times I got it out to 81 inches before it folded.

This tape measure is solid, and not very lightweight, but it comes with both a strap and a belt clip.  (The belt clip is removable.)  It has a hard, contoured, black plastic case that provides good grip.

One area in which the QuikFind tape measure sets itself back from other, similar tape measures is that it doesn't provide metric measurement.  The tape is only marked in inches and feet, not centimeters or meters.  However, it does have hash marks every 1/32 of an inch, allowing for very accurate measurements.  The metal tip on the end of the tape measure has both a hole and a slot, so you can rest it on a nail or other protrusion when measuring.

As long as you don't care about brand names, this QuikFind tape measure is a good value.  It doesn't have any "extras," but it's solid and it works.  It gets 3.5 out of 5 stars.  Since many tape measures are very similar, price can be an important differentiating factor.  At Harbor Freight stores, this tape measure is listed for $6.99 (though recently it was on sale for $3.99, and part of a give-a-way promotion for free.)  Below is a brief price comparison between this tape measure and other comparable tape measures.  (All prices are taken from Amazon.com.)

- Pittsburgh 25' QuikFind Tape Measure:   $4.37
- Tekton 25' Tape Measure:   $6.57
- Klein Tools 25' Tape Measure:   $14.99
- Snap-On 25' Tape Measure:   $17.49
- Stanley 25' FatMax Tape Measure:   $19.52
- Ridgid 25' Tape Measure:   $22.21
- DeWalt 25' Tape Measure:  $22.98

Some of these tape measures are higher quality than the Pittsburgh tape measure, but they are all fairly comparable.  (The DeWalt tape measure, for example, stands out on its own up to 10 feet, and the Klein Tools tape measure has a shock absorber built into its metal tip.)  If there is no special feature that you require that the Pittsburgh tape measure doesn't have, it's a great value for its price.

Tool Review: Columbia River Knife & Tool 9094C Get-A-Way Driver

Key Features:
 +   Lightweight
 +   Functions as a standard or offset driver
 -    Bit extender doesn't lock into place well
 -    Carabineer doesn't spring closed reliably


The Columbia River Knife & Tool Get-A-Way Driver (model #9094C) is an interesting little multi tool.  It's basically a pocket multibit screwdriver, with a few other tools built in.  If you've never seen this driver, it's worth at least checking out.

The Get-A-Way Driver is extremely lightweight, making it great for pocket carrying.  It's official weight is listed as 1.9 ounces, but it feels lighter than that.  Stow it in your pocket and you won't even know it's there.  It measures 3.75" without a bit; about 4.25" with a bit.  It comes with a spring-loaded carabiner, so you could attach it to your key chain, but I wouldn't trust the carabiner.  The non-adjustable pins that hold the joint in place are loose, so the latch doesn't always catch right, leaving the clip open sometimes.

There are four screwdriver bits included, which are stored horizontally in the driver body.  The bits are standard 1/4" hex bits, but they are shorter than normal bits.  They all have ball-and-spring mechanisms on their sides, to help them "lock" into the driver so they don't fall out.  There are also handy nail grooves cut into the base of the bits, which make it much easier to remove the bits when you want to use them.  However, because of the bits' short length and their distribution of weight, when you remove any of them from their storage area, they have a tendency to pop out and fall onto the floor, instead of sliding out into your hand.

The four bits -- two Phillips, two slotted -- fit into the bit holder on the end of the driver for use.  There is also a bit extender, which in addition to providing a little bit of extra length, also enables you to attach the bits to the side of the Get-A-Way Driver, allowing for angle or offset driving.  This offset feature can be very handy, especially for turning screws in very tight places.  The driver provides good grip and leverage, whether being used offset or standard.  You can also fit regular hex driver bits into the end of this driver, but they are too big to be stored in it, and without the ball and spring, they would slide right out.

The bit extender is a nice feature, but the spring that helps to hold it in place is very weak.  The ball does not stick out far enough to really "lock" the bit extender into the driver, and it pops out of place easily.

On the bottom side of the Get-A-Way Driver is a bottle opener.  It works well, and because of the way it's mounted against the flat side of the driver, it holds onto the bottle cap as you remove it, rather than just popping it off.  If you don't want the bottle cap opener, you can remove it.

The Get-A-Way Driver also has an LED flashlight.  On the side closest to the key chain loop, there is a small black button that you can push to turn on the flashlight.  It's a decent light for a pocket screwdriver -- not very focused, but somewhat bright.  It's great for lighting up a dark hallway at night, or for looking around the inside of a computer or printer.  The light uses two 3-volt CR927 batteries, which come already installed when you buy the driver.  If you use the light often enough that you eventually have to replace the batteries, instructions for doing so can be found on the back of the Get-A-Way Driver packaging.

In theory, this driver is simple to use.  In practice, it's a little more awkward.  To remove the bit you want from its storage, you have to slide it out a little from the bottom, then use your fingernail in the cut-out to pop it out, then hope to either catch the bit or pick it up where it falls, then insert it into the bit holder.  Then when you're done and you remove the bit from the bit holder, you have to make sure the extender doesn't pop out with the bit.  It's not difficult to use; just not as smooth as you might like.

With a few minor improvements, the Get-A-Way Driver could be a really useful pocket screwdriver.  It also has an oxygen bottle wrench and a 10mm hex wrench on the bottom side, neither of which I've had occasion to try yet.  The Get-A-Way driver is currently sold on Amazon.com for $9.83, which is a lot to pay for a pocket screwdriver.  If you can find it for $5 or so, it's a great buy.  Amazon also sells a Torx version of this driver, for those who work with Torx or star screws more often.

Columbia River Knife & Tool tool reviews

Multi Tools:
- CRKT 9094C Get-A-Way Driver

First impressions: Gerber Shard and CRKT Get-A-Way Driver

Today in the mail I got a Gerber Shard and CRKT Get-A-Way Driver.  The Gerber Shard I'd been wanting for a while, but the Get-A-Way Driver I hadn't even heard of until recently.  Both tools are smaller than I thought they'd be -- a good thing, since they are both pocket tools.

The Gerber Shard is impressive so far, especially for its size.  I don't like the cross driver on its tip, but I didn't expect that to be a great screwdriver.  The CRKT Get-A-Way Driver is a neat multifunction screwdriver, but a little lower quality than I would have expected from Columbia River Knife & Tool.  I'm looking forward to using, testing, and reviewing both multi tools.

Tool Review: FineAuto Products 31 Piece Roadside Emergency Kit

It's always a good idea to be prepared. Keeping tools in your home helps you prepare for emergency repairs that might need to be made.  Similarly, keeping tools in your car or truck can help you be prepared for an auto emergency. When you're stranded on the side of the road and the closest tow truck can't get there for an hour or two, it's nice to know you have some tools on hand for small repairs.

You obviously can't keep every tool you'd like to have in your trunk, but a small, simple tool kit like the FineAuto Products 31 piece roadside emergency kit is much better to have than nothing at all when your car breaks down. This kit does not take up much space, and it only costs about $10 at BigLots (though it sells for $20 or more online).

The FineAuto Products kit includes a variety of tools that could be useful to have at various times. There are two screwdrivers (one slotted, one Phillips), a nut driver with nine different bits, a pair of slip joint pliers, some spare fuses and electrical terminals, a tire pressure gauge, and a pair of cloth gloves. Perhaps most useful of all, the kit includes a set of jumper cables.

These tools are not top-of-the-line, but they will get the job done. The slip joint pliers are made of very thin metal and the nut controlling the tension tends to loosen, but it can easily be tightened again. The nut driver bits don't fit perfectly on the nut driver, but they fit well enough for normal usage, and they won't fall off unless you really try to knock them off. The bits are standard quarter-inch bits and can be used with a quarter-inch socket wrench.

There are four common fuses in the kit, which are nice to have on hand, and some electrical tape along with the spare terminals, so if you're comfortable working with wires you should be able to fix most small wiring problems — at least temporarily, if not permanently.

This kit is certainly not comprehensive, but it contains a lot of useful tools and parts that you'll be happy to have when you need them. This kit gets 2.5 out of 5 stars.  For 10 bucks or so, it's a decent kit to throw in your trunk and forget about until you need it.  It's probably not worth the $20 or $25 it would cost online ($26.99 at Amazon.com right now).  For the same price, you should be able to find a better tool kit.

(Originally posted on Helium.com, February 2013)

Tool Review: Stanley T16 FatMax Multi Tool

The Stanley T16 FatMax Multi Tool (item #FMHT72414) is the same tool as the DeWalt MT16 Multi Tool.  The only real differences are exterior body style and coloring.  I've already written a full review of the DeWalt multi tool (which you can read here) so I'll focus on the differences between the two tools for this review.

The Stanley T16 is darker in color than the DeWalt MT16.  Where the MT16 is yellow with black accents and silver tools, the T16 is dark gray with black accents and black oxide tools.  The pliers on the DeWalt are black, and the pliers on the Stanley are silver.

Like the MT16, the Stanley T16 is a solid multi tool for its price.  It has strong, well-made pliers, a good locking knife, and functional screwdrivers.  The tools are all easily accessible, and the spring action on the pliers is very good.

The only non-aesthetic difference I've found is that the handles for the DeWalt's pliers are slightly more contoured, providing a little better grip.  The Stanley pliers have a decent grip, but the handles are less textured than those on the DeWalt, making it a little easier for your hands to slip.  Some of the interior finish on the Stanley tool was already starting to flake off upon removing the tool from its package, but that's a minor issue.

The Stanley T16 FatMax Multi Tool is a good multi tool for around $15 or so.  I bought mine at Lowe's for $17.98 (on sale from $19.98).  I've only seen it so far in-store at Lowe's and on the Lowe's website, so it may be a Lowe's exclusive, or it may just not be marketed widely yet.  I give the T16 4 out of 5 stars, a much better multi tool than the Sheffields and generic brands that you'll find for around the same price.