Stanley’s FatMax push-lock slip joint pliers look like ordinary slip joint pliers, but feature an easier to use button adjustment. There are also 3 opening width settings instead of just 2.

I tried these out in-store, and the pliers were smooth to adjust and operate. The effect of the 3 push-lock opening width settings is a bit underwhelming, and the middle setting was a little difficult to dial in on. Even so, while the FatMax pliers weren’t mind-blowingly amazing, I was awfully tempted to buy the 2-piece slip joint and groove-lock set. Ultimately, reality set in and I realized I really didn’t need more pliers.

If I did need another pair of slip joint pliers, I would be more inclined to go with a more traditional design, such as Wilde’s flush-joint pliers. That’s not to say that the FatMax push-lock design doesn’t have its merits, but I personally don’t see much benefit in having 3 adjustment settings.

These pliers are available in 6-inch and 8-inch sizes, and are priced from $12-14.

Buy Now(via Amazon)

Wilde recently came out with new flush-fastener slip-joint pliers in 6-3/4″ and 8″ sizes. What makes this model different from other flush-joint pliers is that the pivot is completely field-serviceable. To adjust the pliers, all you need is a small hex key.

Overall, the pliers are well-built, and I was particularly pleased with the quality of the coarse-toothed jaws. I don’t use slip-joint pliers very often, but when I do I’m pretty hard on them. These pliers may look simple and plain, but they seem to be up to the challenge.

These pliers are extremely inexpensive at under $10, and they’re made in the USA!

Buy Now (via Harry Epstein)

There are more photos of the pliers at the ToolGuyd Facebook page, and I wrote a longer review over at Makezine.

We’ve been tipped off that Channellock wholesale prices will be increasing in a couple of months, and it is expected that distributors will raise retail prices accordingly. We trust our information source, but stress that we have not yet confirmed the price increase with Channellock.

Channellock prices have more or less remained the same for several years, and so a sudden across-the-board increase should not be all that surprising. The increase may also be in response to a significant hike in steel and raw material pricing.

You can buy Channellock pliers at Amazon, home improvement centers, industrial suppliers, and independent retailers. There’s no need to go crazy, but if there’s a particular tool you’ve been meaning to pick up, you might want to do so before the rumored increases go into effect.

Thank you to our tipster for the heads-up!

Knipex recently announced their TwinForce high-leverage diagonal cutters. These high performance cutters can cut all types of wire, including steel tape, with less hand force. Lower cutting impact means the pliers are easier on your hands and less fatiguing.

All this is accomplished with a double-hinged design that might act like a force-multiplier. It will be interesting to see how the TwinForce cutters compare with the compound leverage NWS Fantastico cutters that are featured in our NWS pliers demo video.

Model 73 71 180 features Knipex’s plastic-coated handles, and model 73 72 180 sports ergonomic multi-component handle grips.

More Info via Knipex

Larger wires may require the tool to be reapplied several times. The specifications for the pliers suggests that it can cut a 3.0mm wire in one-squeeze, and up to 5.5mm wires with a few progressive cuts.

Craftsman has announced new pliers and cutters that will feature built-in LED lights. The sealed and waterproof LED modules are built into the pliers’ pivot hubs and direct a precise (i.e. narrow) beam of light towards whatever you’re working on.

The LEDs are powered by 3x 392 watch batteries and are user-replaceable, with an auto on-off circuit helping to extend battery life.

There will be 3 styles available – needle nose pliers, diagonal cutters and linemans pliers. The tools will be available separately at $20 each, and the needle nose and diagonal cutter combo pack will be $30. ETA is June 2012.

Do you guys think that these new pliers and cutters are neat and potentially convenient, or would you rather use a headlamp or other separate light source to illuminate your work?

Leatherman has teased us with photos of the new Rebar multi-tool for some time, but it looks like concrete specs and details are now available. The Rebar closely resembles the heavy duty Leatherman Super Tool 300 but is a bit smaller and closer to the Wave and Charge multi-tools in size.

The new Leatherman Rebar multi-tool features:

• stainless steel body or stainless with black oxide coating
• full-size combination pliers (needlenose + regular)
• electrical crimper
• removable and replaceable 154CM stainless steel soft and hard-wire cutter
• tool locking system
• 420HC straight edge knife blade
• 420HC serrated knfie blade
• bottle and can opener with v-notch wire stripper
• full-size Phillips screwdriver
• medium and large slotted screwdrivers
• wood-cutting saw
• wood and metal file
• awl with thread loop

Blade length is 2.75″, and the multi-tool closes to 4″ in length. Total weight is 6.7 oz.

Leatherman Rebar Release Date:

The Rebar will be available starting in mid-April 2012. An MSRP has not been announced yet, but we imagine the Rebar will be priced lower than its big-brother Super Tool 300, which sells at $55.

Blue Lobster Tools sent us a link to their Kickstarter project where they’re looking for financial backers to help bring their new Perfect Grip Pliers to production. The new pliers are described as the most advanced auto-locking auto-adjust one hand use tool ever.

There’s a video over at Kickstarter and then another longer one on YouTube, focusing heavily on the faults of other styles of pliers. There is definitely potential in a new kind of auto-adjust auto-locking pliers, but we’ll have to wait to see if the Perfect Grip is as revolutionary as claimed.

Our current auto-adjust pliers of choice are the CH Hanson Automatic locking pliers, although we tend to use regular pliers and traditional style locking pliers more often.

Retail price is expected to be $30. There are various rewards on Kickstarter, with a minimum $25 pledge needed to receive 1 pair of pliers.

Kickstarter Funding Page

Irwin recently updated the design of their Vise Grip GrooveLock adjustable pliers, which first came out a couple of years ago. These pliers feature an easy push-button adjustment mechanism and V-groove jaws that are great for holding round materials. Although we have several higher-end pliers available, we often use these GrooveLocks for random tasks.

Taking a look at a 10-inch version purchased in March 2007, model VG10, and one that was purchased in early December, we observed a number of differences. The older pliers are on the left, newer ones on the right.

Symmetrical Design

Whereas the older style features a 3-piece design with slightly offset handles, the new style is more symmetrical with one straight handle mounted through the other. We’re not sure if this change was done to save on cost, but it does offer a few advantages.

At the very least, the newer style pliers are slightly more slender than the older style, which might make a difference when working in tighter areas. Besides that, the symmetrical construction just looks more finished and thoughtfully designed. Perhaps it’s more rugged as well, but we’ve never had any issues with our older pliers.

Improved Jaw Design

Irwin’s engineers also managed to tweak the jaws for better gripping performance. Looking at the photo, you should be able to see the longer gripping zone at the tip of the newer pliers’ jaws.

But not only is the front gripping zone area longer, the grooves are a bit coarser and more pronounced. This should help the pliers bite into materials just a little bit better.

How to Tell the Difference?

There’s nothing wrong with the older style pliers, but why buy an older design when the newer improved design is available at the same price point? The model numbers are the same, but you should be able to tell the difference just by looking at the pliers.

Rather than inspect all the pliers on a rack, look for the two silver pins – one on the lower jaw and and one on the upper handle. If they’re present, then the pliers are of the older design. Note that most online retailers have not updated their product images, probably since the updated pliers share all of the same model numbers.

Buy Now(via Amazon)

While you could just buy one of those all-in-one home tool sets, you get better variety and usefulness if you customize and piece together your own kit. This also allows you to spend more on tools you plan to use frequently and to cheapen out on tools you don’t plan to use as often.

By no means is this an all-encompassing list, but I’ve narrowed it down to the 12 basic and essential tools homeowners and aspiring DIYers should have readily available. Think of it more as the first 12 tools (or tool types) a homeowner should buy. I could have easily expanded the list, but had to draw the line somewhere.

0. Safety Gear – Goggles, Hearing Protection, Gloves

PPE, or personal protective equipment is so essential that it’s number 0 on our list. At the bare minimum you’ll need safety glasses, but goggles offer added protection against chemical splashes. Pick up a box of latex or nitrile gloves to protect against potentially harmful or gross substances. Rugged work gloves are an inexpensive addition to consider, and ear muffs or earplugs protect your hearing when using power tools or noisier kitchen appliances.

Safety goggle recommendations; Hearing protection: Peltor ear muffs

Also worth picking up – a pack of disposable or semi-reusable respirators. Make sure they’re rated N95 or N100, or P95 or P100 for added protection against oil-based aerosols. You only have one pair of lungs!

1. Utility Knife

Utility knives are handy for a wide variety of cutting tasks, and are far better for opening boxes and clamshell packages than cheap paper-cutting scissors. There are plenty of brands and styles available, with basic models priced at $4-7. Tip: be sure to always keep a few replacement blades on-hand.

ToolGuyd Favorites: Stanley QuickSlide (~$12 via Amazon) and Dewalt Folding Utility Knife

2. Tape Measure

Tape measures are especially important for new homeowners and will be heavily utilized when planning out empty rooms. There are many brands, sizes, shapes, and styles available, and it’s okay to start off with a basic model. I recommend starting out with a 25-foot model for home use, and perhaps a small 10 or 12-foot pocketable model to carry when shopping for furniture or room accessories.

Inexpensive 25ft: Stanley PowerLock (~$11 via Amazon); Super-compact: Komelon 10′ ($7 via Amazon)

3. Multi-Bit Screwdrivers

Everyone’s screwdriver needs will be different, but a multi-bit screwdriver is usually a safe bet and can handle most basic tasks. Budget-permitting, a screwdriver set is also a solid investment and usually offers better ergonomics and comfort. There’s also the slightly above bare-minimum combo option: a multi-bit driver plus a quality #2 Phillips screwdriver.

$: Picquic multi-bit ($11 via Amazon); $$: Channellock ratcheting screwdriver; $$$: Wiha 12pc screwdriver set ($55 via Amazon)

Remember, one can never have too many screwdrivers!

3.5 Precision Screwdrivers

Most people neglect to buy precision/jewelers/mini screwdrivers until they really need them, at which point they run out and buy the cheap low-quality sets many retailers insist on pushing. For infrequent use, a 5 or 6-piece set for $5-10 set should suffice.

Trusted brands: Xcelite, Craftsman, Wiha, Wera, Felo, General Tools, Stanley (sometimes), PB Swiss, Moody.

4. Hex Key Set

Two words – IKEA furniture. Sure, a teeny tiny double-ended hex key is included with products that require it, but having full-size hex keys can make ready-to-assemble and knock-down furniture MUCH easier and quicker to assemble. It’s even better if you have T-handle drivers.

If you’re going all-out, ball hex drivers are better for accessing fasteners in tight spots, but straight-hex drivers can handle more torque. Consider buying an all-in-one hex key set for general purpose use and full-size 4mm, 5mm, and 6mm drivers for IKEA assembly and bicycle maintenance needs.

ToolGuyd Favorite: Bondhus ball hex (via Amazon), made in USA.

Tip: You’ll need both inch and metric sizes. Sometimes both sets are sold bundled together.

5. 16oz Claw Hammer + Dead Blow Hammer or Mallet

A 16oz claw hammer is great for driving in smaller nails here and there, and a dead blow hammer is useful for general pounding tasks. And yes, you’ll need both. For the claw hammer, there’s no need for anything fancy – a simple hickory-handled hammer should fit the bill. For the dead blow hammer, a 2 or 3lb model is a good choice, and at least one non-marring face is preferable.

Dead blow hammers can be expensive. If you’re unsure about needing one, consider a non-marring or rubber mallet instead.

Claw hammer: Vaughan or Craftsman; Non-marring: 24oz Vaughan ($20 via Amazon); Dead Blow: Nupla Power Drive ($37 via Amazon)

6. LED Flashlight

Think about a few of the times you may need a flashlight – when the lights go out unexpectedly, when an object rolls under a heavy piece of furniture, or when you hear a ruckus in your yard in the middle of the night. Do you really want to risk your flashlight failing during any of those times? For home use, a 2D or 3D Maglite is harder to lose.

Inexpensive and Trustworthy Favorite: Maglite LEDs ($15+ via Amazon)

7. Adjustable Wrench, Combination Wrenches, Ratchet and Socket Set

At the very least, you’ll need two adjustable wrenches – an 8-inch long model and maybe a 6-inch or 10-inch. Maybe even a 12-inch, but at that point you may be better off with a heavier duty pipe wrench. You can get away from needing longer versions by buying an extra-wide-capacity 8-inch or 10-inch wrench.

Two adjustable wrenches can accomplish a lot – one can hold a hex nut fixed while the other is used to tighten or loosen a hex-head bolt. Beyond adjustable wrenches, consider a adding combination wrenches, which offer greater versatility and improved clearance. A 9-piece metric and 9-piece inch/standard/SAE set should suffice until your needs grow more advanced.

You may not need one right away, but a ratchet and socket set offers even more accessibility options and a speed advantage. Prices range from $20 to $200+, and it’s okay to wait for a good sale to maximize the bang per buck.

Recommendations: Favorite adjustable wrenches; Combination wrenches: Craftsman; Inexpensive ratchet & socket set: Craftsman or Kobalt

8. Pliers and Cutters

This is another big category. To start off with, you’ll need long-nose pliers and either slip-joint pliers or combination pliers. Channellock or tongue-and-groove style pliers are also good to have. If pliers you choose feature built-in cutters, you won’t need a pair of diagonal cutters right away.

Mini bolt or heavy duty utility cutters and a wire stripper or general-purpose electrical multi-tool are also good choices if your budget allows for it.

Recommended brands: Stanley, Channellock and Klein

9. Saw – Hand, Hack, Corded or Cordless

At one point or another, you’re going to need to cut things. There are many, many tools that can handle the job, with new designs coming out every year. If you don’t know what you’ll need to cut, consider a jab saw that accepts reciprocating saw blades, and bundle it with a few general purpose metal, plastic and wood-cutting blades.

Eventually you’ll probably want to pick up a hand saw and hack saw, and possibly even a corded or 12V cordless mini reciprocating saw, like the Bosch pS60. Most basic projects, such as cutting shelves down to size, are best accomplished with a circular saw.

You can hold off on buying a circular saw if you ask the home center or lumber yard to cut your boards down to size before you pay. Most places offer 1-2 free cuts per board, with a marginal fee for additional cuts.

Recommendations: Hand saw: Stanley; Hack saw: Dewalt or Bahco

10. Tool Box

You will need a tool box to help keep everything together. Otherwise, some of your tools will end up in a junk drawer, others will be in the basement, and the rest will be scattered elsewhere. A tool box, even an inexpensive $15 plastic one, will help keep everything in one place. As your tool collection grows, so should the size of your tool box. Alternatively, tool bags often feature a number of pockets and compartments that can help with organization.

Recommendations: Stanley, Keter, Craftsman

11. Cordless Drill Driver + Drill and Screwdriver Bit Set

Cordless drill drivers can be pricey, so it’s okay to wait until you need one to go shopping. Selecting the right cordless drill driver for your needs is a whole discussion in itself, so all I’ll say for now is to stick to reputable brands. Stay away from NiCd if you can help it – you can often find a very good 12V Lithium ion model for the same price as a just-okay 18V NiCd model.

As for drill bits, screwdriver bits and accessories, you get what you pay for. Beware of cheap drill bit sets, especially those by unfamiliar brand names.

General recommendations: Bosch, Dewalt, Kobalt, Makita, Ridgid, Milwaukee, Hitachi, Craftsman Nextec.

12. Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum

This is one of those things that you might not think you need until you NEED it. Shop vacuums are great for heavier messes, and when vacuuming up materials that household  vacs simply aren’t designed to handle.

Even an inexpensive shop vacuum will likely last for many years, stretching out its $50-$150 initial investment. As with most things, the more you spend the more you get. Higher-priced vacs come with larger capacity tanks, additional features (e.g. a built-in blower and water drainage valve), larger capacity and longer hoses, more attachments, and longer power cords.

Recommended brands: Shop Vac, Ridgid, Craftsman

PLUS

There are several other tools that, while not as absolutely essential as those listed above, can greatly improve project results or make certain tasks easier to accomplish. At the minimum, I would suggest the following layout tools: 12″ or 16″ combination square with detachable straightedge, 9″ torpedo level, 24″ level and a Speed Square (<$4 via Amazon). And if you’re going to be mounting anything to your walls, you’re going to need a stud finder.

I was going to make these layout tools #11 on the list, but technically you can get around not having them. But how are you going to drill anchor holes for new window shades without a drill?

I Disagree, I Disagree!

I don’t expect everyone to agree with my recommendations and welcome you to share your own opinions in a comment. If you’re a regular ToolGuyd reader, maybe you already have a fully-loaded toolbox. Or maybe it’s half-filled and you’re still building it up piece by piece. Think back – which were the first 12 or so tools that you purchased?

This was a Sears Black Friday DoorBuster special, but it looks like they’ve decided to stretch the sale pricing for bit longer! For $12.50 you get 8″ and 10″ adjustable pliers.

We’ve got a set of these V-groove GrooveLock pliers that we bought nearly 5 years ago, and we still reach for them every now and then despite having upgraded since then. At $12.50, these are a great bargain!

Buy Now(Price Comparison)

Supplies are running low, so your only option is to order with free in-store pickup. Don’t forget, coupon code SEARS2011 takes $5 off $50+ orders.

Although we only intended to review the Sidekick, we came across a great deal on the Wingman and promptly purchased one for personal use and review. Since much of what we said about the Sidekick holds true about the Wingman, we decided to do a comparison video review that focuses more on the tools’ different features.

Although the scissors gave us some trouble initially, they work perfectly now that we realized they need a little extra force to deploy. If the liner lock is not engaged, the scissors will not work properly.

Leatherman Sidekick vs. Wingman Summary

Assuming that you only plan to buy one of these multi-tools, here are a couple of points to help you choose one over the other:

Leatherman Sidekick

• plain edge blade
• wood-cutting saw
• leather pouch that can be reappropriated for use with other smaller tools
• neat carabiner accessory

Leatherman Wingman

• combination plain edge and partially serrated blade
• scissors (although they’re not the greatest)
• package opener (we LOVE this feature!)
• lower price – $30 vs. $40

So that’s what it comes down to – blade preferences, scissors vs saw, package opener vs. small serrated knife, price, and cool accessories that you may or may not care for.

Sidekick via Amazon
Wingman via Amazon, and don’t forget about the holiday season special pricing at Home Depot

After a lengthy delay, both pliers arrived, and I used them a couple of times this month. Although their jaws are nicely machined and the tools appear to be well built, I’m not a fan of the adjustment design. The auto-locking handles are a nice feature, but I found that the pliers are just too clunky to adjust and jam frequently.

After mentioning this on the Garage Journal forum, I was told that I might need to break them in a bit more.  One or two members also expressed dissatisfaction with these pliers, so I’m not sure what to think.

Purchase these Alligator pliers via Amazon
Recommended Knipex alternatives: Cobra pliers, Pliers Wrench

Kobalt Pliers & Wrench Sets $10 Each

Included in the promo is the Kobalt 4-piece locking pliers set, 3-piece adjustable wrench set, 5-piece pliers set, and 3-piece groove joint pliers set. Each set is on sale for 50%-off, making them all $10 each.

We’ve tried some of these pliers, and while they’re not our favorites, they’re not bad, and we usually keep a couple around as spares. Every year we usually pick up a set or two of the pliers to give to friends and family to help build their tool sets.

Buy online via Lowes, with free in-store pickup (deal ends Oct 31st)

Kobalt 22pc Tool Set with Bag

This 22pc tool set makes a great starter kit for homeowners and anyone else without many tools. It includes most of the tools needed for basic DIY and maintenance tasks around the home or apartment.

From the product description and photo, we count 16 individual tools plus an organizer and tool bag. Not bad for $30. We’re told that the sale price ends Oct 31st, but we’re not sure about that – this looks to be the everyday price.

Buy online via Lowes, with free in-store pickup

Kobalt 10pc Pliers Set for $30

These aren’t the best pliers we’ve used, but for $3 each there’s not much to complain about. This set includes all the styles and sizes one needs to start off with. If we could change one thing, we would drop the needlenose locking pliers in favor of a wire stripper.

Buy online via Lowes, with free in-store pickup (sale ends Oct. 31st)

With all these deals, you can buy the tools online with free in-store pickup at your local Lowes, or you can have them shipped. You should be able to find the items in-store as well.

And in case you’re interested, here is a link to recent tools that dropped in price at Lowes.

First, Sears slashed the price of these Craftsman 9pc wrench sets by 50%. Normally priced at $30, these wrench sets are only $15 on sale. While not as long or good-looking as full-polished wrenches, they’re a great value. (We’ve got 2 of the inch and 1 of the metric sets laying around for use as beater wrenches.)

Craftsman 9pc standard wrench set
Craftsman 9pc metric wrench set

Sears has also discounted these 3/8″ socket sets by 50%. Standard and metric versions are both on sale, and include a ratchet handle, 9 sockets, and a plastic case. At $10 each on sale, these small socket sets make for great gift items, and are also a great base for a compact mobile tool kit. (Before upgrading to a larger socket set, we relied on two of these smaller sets for regular use.)

Craftsman 10pc standard 3/8″ socket set
Craftsman 10pc metric 3/8″ socket set

Who doesn’t need a new or extra tool box? We bought one of these a while back and are rather pleased with its quality. $30 is a little steep for a plastic tool box, but the $20 sale price is quite a bit better.

Craftsman 26-inch plastic tool box

After posting about the new Crescent Double-X pliers, we went out and bought a set. Naturally, the price dropped afterwards. Normally priced at $30 for the two pliers, the sale price drops it to $25, with another random discount bringing it to $21.24. At this price, we’re tempted to pick up a second set, that’s how useful they are.

Crescent Double-X Set (Price is actually $16.99 with in-store pickup for Craftsman Club members, with the sale price ending 10/20, thanks Andrew!)

NOTE: Coupon code SEARS2011 takes an extra $5 off $50+ orders. It also looks like (mailable) tool orders over $99 ship for free, no coupon code needed.

Over at Amazon, the Leatherman Skeletool is priced ridiculously low at less than $40, including free super saver shipping.

When I ordered mine back in the Spring of 2008, I paid $55 and change. Despite owning a couple of more fully-featured multi-tools, the Skeletool is still one of my favorite go-to tools since it packs a full-size knife blade, combination pliers, handy bottle opener, and interchangeable bit screwdriver in a very compact and lightweight package.

At <$40, I will likely order a backup Skeletool for myself and one or two more as gifts. If you have ever wanted one for yourself, now is the time to buy!

Check price or order via Amazon

Correction: the Skeletool is now priced at $35 $34 $38!