Here are some cool tools, deals, upgrades, and gift ideas that I thought you’d find interesting.
Last year a couple of regulars complained that the majority of holiday season tool deals and promos didn’t apply to what they were looking to buy.
There are many tools that I’d like to share with you, but often it can take a lot to justify a full post. For example, I’m testing new adjustable wrenches, and it’ll be a while before a formal review is ready.
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So, this post features a bunch of tools worth your attention, with just a couple of words and a deal mixed in.
My idea was to start with just 5 tools, and to keep adding to the list until your wallets cry out and ask me to stop. Please let me know what you think.
Slice Ceramic Blade Safe Box Opener (via Amazon)
There are many different “safety” box openers. This one is compact, equipped with a replaceable “finger friendly” rounded ceramic blade, and reasonably priced at under $10.
Engineer Compact Scissors (via Amazon)
These are my favorite scissors for EDC or carrying in a tool bag. It’s compact, the serrated blades don’t slip, and it’s built in Japan.
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Sometimes you want full-size scissors, in which case I’d say Milwaukee’s (via HD) are excellent for household, workshop, and general use. I recommend the Engineer scissors for much of the same, but not everyone is going to love the smaller handle loops.
Wera Modular Tool Check (Metric) – Save 20% (via KC Tool)
Wera launched new modular tool kits, and KC Tool is offering a 20% discount on $99+ orders. I prefer the older style (see them at Amazon), but the newer style is more compact and the modular nature offers enhanced kit options.
If you were looking to buy some of the new modular Wera tool sets, KC Tool’s deal brings the price lower than even at Amazon. For example, the metric set is $80 after instant discount, while Amazon has it at around $88.
Fujiya Short Adjustable Wrench with Grooved Jaws (via Amazon)
This short adjustable opens wide, and as with other premium designs it doesn’t protrude very much. It has grooved jaws, for an anti-slip fit.
I ordered one for testing, and a couple of others from the same brand. Channellocks’ are still my favorite – especially the WideAzz with Code Blue cushion grip handles – but there’s something special about the Fujiya.
Tekton Modular Wrench Organizer Set (via Amazon)
These are modular, which work well whether you’re organizing a couple of wrenches or a full set. They work alright for some other tools too. A shorter style was recently launched for screwdrivers, but I haven’t tried them yet.
You can find the same by Ernst, the OEM for these. I plan to order more, depending on which brand offers the better price.
S
I would highly recommend ordering the Ernst wrench holders direct through ernst’s site. They’re slightly cheaper, and directly supporting the brand over helping Amazon. Toolguyd unfortunately doesn’t get a referral that way though.
And via Ernst, but not Tekton, they offer 4 color options and magnetic/non-magnetic versions
https://www.ernstmfg.com/wrench-pro.aspx
Stuart
Generally speaking, brands are rarely as good as retailers when it comes to shipping orders or order customer service. Ernst never answered some of my pre-purchase questions – what would happen if an order arrives damaged?
I have purchased a bunch of Ernst products, but only through Amazon or Tekton. Have you had good results with Ernst directly?
Tim D.
Most of my experience with direct manufacturers has been unpleasant. They’re generally slow at shipping, charge high shipping prices, and have bad return policies. I needed some parts from Alliance laundry recently. Paid a fortune for shipping, found out their website gave me the wrong part number for my model, then had to pay restocking fees to return it. While I don’t love all things about Amazon, I have a better experience with them than most manufacturers.
TomD
Milwaukee support shipping has been phenomenal and they have stock of weird parts that are hard to find otherwise – but that’s because they spend effort on it.
Most manufacturers either ship very slow because they’re used only to shipping large amounts to retailers, or they have phenomenal service because hardly anyone ever uses it.
And some large percentage of “direct from manufacturer” stores end up shipped from Amazon anyway as it’s cheaper to have them handle logistics.
S
Sorry about that, I’m a hypocrite.
I dug into my previous order histories, convinced I had ordered direct, and I didn’t.
I ordered via Amazon, and Amazon has them for the exact same price. I must have been thinking of some other products in the past.
Richard Miller
Thank you for having enough integrity to point out you were wrong. It’s a breath of fresh air, and I wanted you to know that it was seen.
Stuart
Thanks for the update and for checking!
Bonnie
To your general point, I stopped using Amazon entirely awhile back and have been finding more and more that manufacturers are a better source that the big marketplace retailers. Often cheaper as well.
Recent specific examples: Barrina shop lights, elegoo resin and filament, Hygger aquarium lights, even the alphabet brands like Aiboo I found their cabinet lights were cheaper on their own website than Amazon’s and shipped quickly.
Jordan
I’ve gotten enough counterfeits & clearly-used-and-abused merchandise (sold as NEW) from Amazon for me to nearly swear them off (with the nickname scAmazon).
About one out of every 10 orders has a clear and obvious issue anymore like this.
I know many in this thread don’t like buying from brands directly — but the answer to that isn’t trading one evil for another.
Mopar
That isn’t just limited to Amazon. I recently ordered a Dewalt tool directly from Lowe’s . It showed in stock at my local(ish) store, but since that is a 75 minute round trip drive, I wasn’t in a hurry (deal of the day thing), and they offered free shipping, I went with the order online and ship to my home. When it arrived in a sealed box, the tool was used, albeit so gently my first thought was just “since when does Dewalt pre-install the belt clip?” It wasn’t until I checked closer and found a hex bit in the drill chuck all the way down below the jaws that I knew for sure it was “pre tested” for me.
Jordan
I could see that as being a genuine accident as they didn’t realize it was used (since it was sealed up almost as if it was still factory new).
I’m not forgiving that behavior — they should have done better. But it’s not normalized and it could be easily be written off as an accident.
Amazon….no so much. They sell stuff that’s OBVIOUSLY used — as in it’s missing the normal retail box, wrapped instead in a plastic baggie.
And they have done it so frequently — from computer keyboard wrist pads to underwear. Yes. Used underwear. And that was probably the turning point for cancelling my Prime, to be honest.
(the worst part of that interaction was they wanted me to email customer support a photo of it first. Like….ARE YOU SERIOUS? If I simply did a normal return, you wouldn’t ever ask for that.)
(And then they wanted me to take it to a UPS Store instead of a drop off point — which means a 45 minute drive each way to the nearest UPS Store, in a bad section of the city, which keeps nearly bankers hours….instead of a 10 min trip into the nearest town. All to fix *their mistake*.)
fred
Probably based on a Toolguyd recommendation, I bought those Engineer scissors back in 2014. They were over $26 back then – so today’s price on Amazon looks attractive. I wanted to like them – but they don’t fit my fat fingers. My wife who has smaller hands keeps them in a kitchen drawer – and I’ve seen her using them. So, it’s just a heads-up that YMMV
Stuart
As an alternative to using them like normal scissors, you can try using your thumb in one loophole and wrap your other fingers around the outside of the loop.
fred
I have other alternatives that fit me better. This pair from Engineer is one:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075MG2L8R?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_12
I also like the most recent ones that I bought from Klein
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DYK7VH36?ref=nb_sb_ss_w_as-reorder_k2_1_5&=&crid=1VTC9IYAVAGKM&=&sprefix=t2111
fred
I should have added that neither are as pocketable as Engineer that you recommend as an EDC
Chris
I’ve got a lot of pairs of the two models of 8″ Clauss spring assist shears at work and home, and they work amazing. They have hinge springs and no finger loops, and are heavy duty enough to cut through tons of stuff. They zip right through nylon reinforced strapping for example, which most people would do with tin snips or a utility knife.
Eventually the hinge spring will fail with fatigue, though it takes quite a while of normal use. Spring replacements are not available, unfortunately, although I have got warranty replacements after sending them a picture of how many pairs I own.
Clauss or Knipex electrician’s shears are also a nice thing to have around for daily tasks; they both have finger loops that are sized for normal people.
fred
My go to for opening clamshell packaging:
https://www.amazon.com/ALLEX-Super-scissors-Stainless-Scissors/dp/B001M0E5YO
Canary makes a non-spring-loaded version thay say is useful for shellfish
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMCKS5JD
Stuart
And a version for cardboard: https://www.amazon.com/CANARY-Cardboard-Scissors-Blue-PS-6500H/dp/B000EFZKRY/?tag=toolguyd-20 .
Apparently Canary also makes kitchen scissors, I’m going to have to take a closer look – https://www.amazon.com/CANARY-Japanese-Dishwasher-Multipurpose-Stainless/dp/B000O1PC6C/?tag=toolguyd-20 .
Ross
Is there any evidence that the ceramic box openers are safer utility knife? We have them at work and they feel like a dull knife, which I always was told is not safe.
Chris
We use a few models of the Slice knives at work for boxes, by corporate safety mandate. The blades work really well, but the auto-retract models are really frustrating to use.
The rounded tip blades are pretty safe, but the edge can still injure if using a lot of pressure; they intensify shear force like any sharp object. The rule of knowing where your hands are still applies.
We still use metal blades for other cutting tasks where high sharpness and low grind angle is needed. Different tools for different tasks.
The concept is that the ceramic blade grind is wider angle and less sharp by design so it’s safer for skin, but doesn’t really get duller with normal use so it stays at the same level of safety. If you handle one of the blades and feel the relative edge sharpness, it’s pretty obvious that you’re not going to get cut from light incidental contact like you would with a normal very sharp metal blade.
I also use the knives to cut down cardboard for recycling, and usually find that I’m replacing blades because of edge chipping from heavy use or from hitting a staple, and not because of dulling from normal use. The blades I use for opening boxes last for a really long time, and just need an occasional cleaning with adhesive remover.
Nate
A dull knife is unsafe because you have to put more force into it, so it’ll go out of control if you slip. The ceramic openers here seem to cut tape with very little force, so that risk is minimized.
I think of it as the official version of using your car keys to slit the tape on a box. You’re not likely to cut yourself with your keys, either.
MM
Yes, dull knives are dangerous because you can more easily lose control and slip. However, most of these ceramic openers have extremely small blades with rounded tips meaning that even if you did slip the risk of an injury is small.
By the way, that Slice “ceramic safety cutter” mentioned previously reminds me a lot of similar products that seemed to be a fad in the first half of the 1990’s. I remember there was suddenly an explosion of these “safety coupon cutters” everywhere. They looked like the Slice but had a tiny steel blade instead of ceramic. The blade wasn’t long enough to cut skin but you could cut coupons out of a newspaper or magazine with them, and were often given out as advertising freebies. I remember one was called the “Magicutter”, but there were many others too. That kind of tool is going to be safe to matter how sharp the blade is because the cut depth is so limited.
MJ
I would advise against purchasing the engineer shears in this article. I bought a pair and they are uncomfortable to use and really don’t cut that well . I was pretty disappointed.
Wayne R.
I feel obligated to say, again, that the traditional forged shears and scissors from Wiss are still great tools.
https://www.crescenttool.com/all-tools/construction-hand-tools/cutting/scissors-shears/1dsn-8-12-industrial-inlaidr-shears
https://www.amazon.com/Wiss-1DSN-Industrial-Shears-Inlaid/dp/B000LDGMPS
https://www.amazon.com/Wiss-2DAN-4-Inch-Leverage-Cutting/dp/B000VYOHVS
https://www.amazon.com/Crescent-Wiss-Handle-Industrial-Shears/dp/B00826H7J6
Great leverage, lots of steel, sharp as, will last longer than most of us.
Alexis
The Wide-Azz Code Blue 8” are probably my favorite of that style. I lost my supervisor’s somehow and replaced it for him and picked one up for myself.
mark w
I ordered the TOP brand adjustable wrenches from HJE recently and their fujiya diagonal cutting pliers and those are beautiful for the money. Look knipex quality finish wise. The top wrenches are like the bigazz but Japan made and even more compact, super thin jaws and bent jaw options available. Also have great so -slip 2-piece thumb wheel design that’s supposed to prevent the jaws walking open with use and seems to work great.
Japan is really knocking it out of the park right now for cost quality and design in my recent purchases. Vessel acetate he drivers with “speedball” or w/e they wall it. It’s a ball hex end driver but it’s got a little tip so you can find the fastener hole much quicker.
Vessel sink screwdriver from HJE recently too and the handle is this clear grippy kinda soft and translucent material that’s just awesome and I’ve never felt before.
mark w
Kinda like the black and yellow felos but harder
G. Michael
The 53mm Fujiya’s are in every one of my tech’s toolboxes. They handle PVC unions, hydraulic fittings and so many randomn items in the plant.