I came across this Fiskars 6pc “Home Essentials” tool set, and it seemed worth sharing about.
Fiskars also describes this as a “home tools gift set,” and I can definitely see that.
This tool set comes with a utility knife, bypass pruner, shears, folding saw that works with most 6″ reciprocating saw blades, PowerGear lopper, and an IsoCore hammer.
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I’m not sure I’ve seen such a collection of general purpose tools and pruning tools before, but I guess it works.
Price: ~$110
By my estimate, based on Amazon pricing the set comes with around $141 in tools if purchased separately.
Thus, the way I see it, you’re buying 5 tools and getting 1 for free.
That doesn’t save you a lot, but this could be a decent one-stop kit for new homeowners who aren’t sure what tools they’ll need, especially if they have any bushes or trees that might need occasional pruning.
The pruning tools could also help with storm cleanup, with the saw being used to cut down thicker branches and the pruners for tidying things up for composting or town/city pickup.
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You could put together your own tool kit or a housewarming tool kit gift for less money, but not everyone wants to do that. This looks like a good assortment from a reputable brand.
Wayne R.
Six tools but only one bottle opener.
Adam
Not a great one at that
Dan B
If the tools are used to their fullest potential, any one of them will open a beer bottle.
Peter
This, opening a bottle with whatever I had at hand besides a bottle opener was one of the more useful skills I learned early in life.
John Marlin
My experiences with Fiskars (loppers, small pruner, scissors) has soured me on the brand and I find that I do not consider them a maker of quality tools. None of the tools just mentioned lasted me very long. I’m open to having my mind changed, but my prejudice is that they have great branding, but rely too much on plastic or undersized components.
Adam
They also changed a lot of manufacturing to China from Finland, and the products quality definitely dropped.
MM
In my experience Fiskars makes a lot of solid products, but they also make a lot of gimmicky junk. I’d expect the shears in this kit to be excellent, but the mini-lopper with plastic gears to be junk.
Their scissors are generally good. Anything else? I’m skeptical.
Bonnie
Yep. They sell both good stuff and crap stuff. Not a brand you can trust just off the name (and frankly no brand should be trusted just by the name).
James
This.
KokoTheTalkingApe
Their axes and splitting mauls are pretty good, I think.
EBT
This. I have their ISOcore Splitting Maul. Never a fail (unless a knotted, Y section of log…then a machine for that).
Also had their anvil pruner – flawless, and the pruner with extension handles (great for just outta reach) but this had cheap plastic locking tabs and gave it away to someone that would use it infrequently.
I have their Titanium Nitride shop snips that cut clamshell material without issue. Also a pair of titanium scissors that just cut paper and wrapping with ease.
YMMV
Wayne R.
Maybe my Fiskars stuff is old but I’ve never had an issue with any of it. Loppers, long stick lopper, and scissors of a few types, all good.
Marc
Interesting. I have never had a problem with any of my Fiskars stuff. Loppers, scissors, pruning shears. All have held up for years. I have a large set of loppers. They contacted me about a recall regarding the handle and replaced it two years after I purchased it. No need to ship it back. They sent me a new pair. Great customer service IMHO. And I LOVE the gearing even if it is plastic. Much more leverage which makes cutting super easy. And zero signs of wear or damage to the plastic gears.
Josephus
My first thought was holy price shock if these are made in China instead of Finland. The few Fiskars stuff I have are good but I only have loppers and shears. For the rest I already had house tools so this type of set is not for me.
I’m looking at $110 for three tools since the box cutter and the scissors are common and cheap is good enough, and have several reciprocating blades. If it’s made in China that’s a very quick nope.
Sal
I’ve had Fiskars hatchet,
axe, a lawnmower and Loppers for years. I’ve never even sharpened the Mower and it still runs strong after 15 years. The Axe and Hatchet are also sturdy and sharp after years of use. Havent used the Loppers much as I favor a Felco pair that I’ve owned for 30 years
Fiskars has been a Fantastic brand for me, this looks like a great gift
fred
I don’t consider them a commercial duty or professional brand – but they make alls sorts of craft, hobby and gardening tools that can survive homeowner use. Lots of plastic parts may not survive repeated tosses into the back of a truck – but with some TLC they can be useful tools. I’ve heard that quality may have declined over the years and production of some tools may have switched from Finland to Asia. My wife likes this long-reach pruner:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Fiskars-54-in-EZ-Reach-Stik-Tree-Pruner-92346935K/100041609
Hers cost us $87.49 in 2009 – had a slightly different model # and was made in Finland. The new one costs about $48 – and I’m not sure about its COO or quality
Katie
I’ve had some fiskars gardening tools for years and they have held up. Not sure of the newer ones are as good, though. They were a gift.
Yadda
Definitely a great gift idea for a first time home owner that doesn’t have anything.
Robert
What I’ve noticed is Fuskers crafting equipment, sold in Michael and Joann’s, for example, seems to have dropped precipitously in quality lately. I think craft shoppers are more price sensitive, so Fiskers went to Asian manufacturers and prayed their loyal customers would stick around based on their name. Replacement paper trimmer board and arm were badly misaligned, fabric scissors were loose, cutting wheel was dull. Takes the bloom off the rose when your wife asks you to return her gifts.
Aaron SD
The loppers look way too small to be really useful. You’re better off spending $100 and getting the regular size and one or two other tools.m like the hand saw and pruner.
Frank D.
I have lots of Fiskars stuff. Some of the cheap hand pruners are very sad – like they’re making cheap knockoffs of themselves – but other than that, thay have been a staple for me for tree pruning and maintenance going on two decades.
If something fails, has a defect or becomes non functional … contact support with a photo of the products and the model number; and they will replace it.
I had the lock button wear out on the sliding handle of my old tree pruner, a bolt shear on my favorite loppers … Very easy process. They may not have an exact replacement though. The new tree pruner they sent is a lot shorter, lighter and more delicate … but it has a rotating head, which can be handy.
Jack D
Those “garden shears” look identical to the scissors I have in my at hand drawer. They come with a sheath the has a sharpener and box opener built in. Best scissors we’ve ever had for multipurpose use!
Stuart
I believe they’re just general home use shears/scissors, not for the garden.
Tony
I really like the Fiskars “PowerGear Anvil Lopper”. It’s very durable and cuts great. But I bought the one from Home Depot that has a Titanium coating on the blade and was made in Poland. The one in the “Home Essentials Tool Set” (sold on Amazon) in this article appears to have a different blade finish.