Holiday gift guide: Tool and tool storage deals

Tools make a great gift for many different types of people: mechanics, weekend DIYers, new homeowners, hobbyists, etc.  With the holidays fast approaching, online retailers are throwing up new deals every day.  Below are some current online deals that can net you a good tool (or tool storage) present for a great price.

- Milwaukee 48-32-4502 Magnetic Bit Holder (Home Depot, $3.97)
Magnetic bit holders tend to be generic and unremarkable; they either work or they don't.  This Milwaukee bit holder stands out, however.  It has a slightly smaller footprint than many other bit holders (2.36" rather than 2.5") and the magnet is very strong.  For a more detailed description, see my full review of this bit holder.

- Cat Premium Plastic Portable Tool Box with Lid Organization and Removable Tote (Amazon, $25.71)

This tough plastic toolbox measures 9.25" x 20" x 9" and includes everything you'd expect to find: removable plastic tote, removable small parts organizers in the lid, metal padlock eyes, and reinforced side walls.  There's even a ruler imprinted onto the lid.  This tool box gets a 4.6 out of 5 star rating on Amazon.

For a less expensive option, check out the Stanley 016011R Series 2000 16-Inch Tool Box.  It's smaller (7.8" x 16" x 7") and not quite as tough, but it currently sells for $18.76 and it may drop lower.  (It has been as low as $10.35 recently.)

- Ryobi 130-Piece Drill and Drive Bit Set (Home Depot, $9.88)

Probably too large for a stocking stuffer, this 130-piece bit set would make a great gift for anyone running low on drill or driver bits.  The set includes Phillips, slotted, Torx, square, and hex bits.  It also comes with a magnetic bit holder and a durable plastic case.

- Anvil 5-Piece Pliers Set (Home Depot, $4.88)

Anvil seems to be one of Home Depot's newer brands.  The pliers in this set probably won't be the highest quality pliers ever seen, but at less than $1 per pair, it's hard to beat that price.  This set would make a good gift for someone who needs some extra pliers to stow in the car or in a kitchen drawer for emergencies.

Leatherman Skeletool on sale at Home Depot

The Leatherman Skeletool is not typically in the lower-end price range for multi tools, but right now you can pick one up at Home Depot for under $30.  HomeDepot.com has it listed for $29.88.  As a comparison, here are some other current prices for the Skeletool:

- $41.14    Amazon.com
- $49.58    Walmart.com
- $54.95    KnifeCenter.com
- $69.85    Leatherman.com

First Impressions: Gerber Vise and Stanley STHT71699 Multi Tool

Home Depot recently had some tools on sale, so I picked up two tools I'd had my eye on for a while: the Gerber Vise and the Stanley STHT71699 Multi Tool.

I bought the Vise because I wanted a small multi tool I could carry for work -- something lightweight with a good pair of pliers, a knife, and a Phillips driver.  I currently carry the Gerber Mini Suspension-P, but the cross driver is not easily accessible, and I wanted something a little lighter.  The Vise seems like it will do the trick, at least so far.  The pliers feel flimsy, but I'll see how they hold up.  The Phillips driver swings out a lot easier.

The Stanley multi tool looks kind of neat online, but is not very awe-inspiring once you hold it.  The tool feels cheaply-made, the slide mechanism is jerky, and the sharp jab saw is very close to being exposed even when it's all the way closed up.  Not a good first impression, but I'll use it and see how functional it is.  It only cost $6.45 so I'm not expecting big things from it.

Husky tool reviews

Drivers:
- Husky 74460 2-Piece Micro Screwdriver Set
- Husky 74500 7-Piece Nut Driver Set
- Husky HD-74502 8-in-1 Torx Screwdriver Set

Pliers:
- Husky 1066 2-Piece Pistol Grip Pliers Set
- Husky WS-24-10 10" Self-Adjusting Groove Joint Pliers

Socket Sets:
- Husky 179 681 19-Piece 1/4" Mini Socket Set