DeWalt sticker on eBay

You can often find inexpensive stickers on eBay.  Right now, there's an 8" x 2.5" DeWalt sticker for $1.48 (free shipping).  If you want several, you can get a free one by buying two.

DeWalt MT16 multi tool deal on eBay

The DeWalt MT16 multi tool typically sells for $20 or more.  (Full review of it here.)  Right now, someone is selling the MT16 tool on eBay for just $13.99 with free shipping.  That is a good deal for this multi tool.  I don't know how long that price will last, but it's the lowest price I've seen for the MT16.

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.

Tool Review: DeWalt MT8 Multi Tool

Key Features:

 +   Excellent bottle opener
 -   Tools are hard to get at

The DeWalt MT8 multi tool (model #DWHT71842) is typically sold as part of a gift set along with the MT16 multi tool.  (My review of the MT16 can be read here.)  The MT8 -- the smaller of the two tools -- is more of a novelty multi tool than a useful one, and on its own I wouldn't recommend buying it unless you want a cool-looking bottle opener.  There is nothing inherently wrong with the MT8; it just doesn't offer much in the way of functionality.

The MT8 has several small tools, including a knife, a pair of scissors, a double-sided file, a nail pick, and a slotted driver.  The biggest drawback of the MT8 lies in the fact that in order to get to any of these tools, you have to first pull the handles apart.  The only thing the MT8 can be used for without opening it up is a bottle opener.

As a bottle opener, the MT8 works very well.  It's easy to grip, provides plenty of leverage, and pulls bottle caps off smoothly.  Hang it from a nail on the wall in your workshop or garage and it makes a cool novelty bottle opener.  DeWalt bills it as a keychain tool or EDC tool, but it's too heavy to realistically attach to a keychain.

The knife is sharp and well-made, but very small.  Similarly, the scissors work well but are under-sized.  The other tools are average for a multi tool.

The gift set that includes both the MT8 and MT16 (model #DWHT72419L) can be found on Amazon.com for $19.80.  Home Depot sometimes carries it as well, usually for around $20.

DeWalt Tool Reviews

Multi Tools:
- DeWalt MT16 Multi Tool
- DeWalt MT8 Multi Tool

Tool Review: DeWalt MT16 Multi Tool

Key Features:
 +   Strong pliers
 +   Locking knife blade
 -   Driver tips are rounded


Some multi tools are made to hide out in your pocket, in case you ever need a nail file or a bottle opener. Other multi tools are made to do serious work.  The DeWalt MT16 multi tool (model #DWHT71843) is part of the second group. If you stick the MT16 in your pocket and leave it there, you'll soon feel it getting restless.

The MT16 is similar in its basic design to many other multi tools.  It folds open into a pair of pliers, with other tools and implements built into the handles.  I've never owned a Leatherman or an SOG multi tool, so I don't know how the DeWalt tool compares to them in quality, but for a low-end multi tool it works great. (UPDATE: Since trying the Leatherman Sidekick, I still prefer to carry the MT16.)

This tool is heavy -- heavier than most other similarly-priced multi tools.  The extra weight may be due to the sturdy construction of the pliers; these are solid, well-built pliers that can apply a good deal of force.  The pliers handles are contoured, and provide a decent grip, and the spring action on the pliers is very strong (as are the teeth).  The pliers can function as needle nose pliers (though not very thin at the tip), curved jaw pliers, and wire cutters.

The secondary tools on the MT16 all open from the outside, so you don't need to swing open the pliers in order to get to any of them. The tools pivot out easily, and you can adjust the tension on them (and on the pliers) with a T-8 Torx/star screwdriver if necessary.

The tools built into the MT16 include a Phillips screwdriver, several slotted screwdrivers, a knife, a bottle opener, a can opener, scissors, a file and a ruler. All of these tools are well made and sturdy.

The knife is of good quality, especially for a multi tool. It has a sharp point and a very sharp blade, and half of the blade is serrated.  The knife even has an automatic lock -- a feature uncommon among inexpensive multi tools -- so it won't fold inward on you accidentally. The knife tip is fine enough that you can use it to pop e-clips or do other precision work.

The screwdrivers are more rounded than they should be, but they're usable.  The ruler measures up to two inches, the file is decent, and there is even a lanyard hole if you want to hang the MT16 from a peg or attach it to a key chain (though it is far too heavy to wear on a key chain).  The scissors are okay; they will cut paper easily, but not much else.  The can opener works very well.

The DeWalt MT16 Multi Tool is a versatile and useful tool. The handles have the typical yellow-and-black DeWalt coloring. The pliers are black and silver, and the other tools are all silver.  If you're used to expensive multi tools, the MT16 may not be for you, but it's a good tool that will serve you well for a long time.  It gets a solid 4 out of 5 stars.  (A saw blade, better-machined screwdriver tips, or a little less weight would easily bump it up half a point.)

You can find the MT16 sold by itself -- $23.98 on Amazon.com right now -- or as part of a gift set with a smaller key chain multi tool.  Over $20 is too much for this tool; if you can find it for $15 or $20, it's a good buy.  The MT16 is the same tool as the Stanley T16 FatMax multi tool, with only a few slight variations.