In no uncertain terms, this year’s Amazon deals were pretty lame. The regular deals have been pretty good, but although last year’s daily deals and Lighting Deals were so-so, this year’s were pretty sparse. It seems that Amazon focused more on no-name giftable garbage than tools I’d be willing to buy.
I combed through their deal listings and found a couple that were definitely still mentioning. I’d come across these deals a number of times in the past few weeks, and while they weren’t worth their own posts, maybe the group will interest you.
Reminder: Amazon Holiday Promos are Ending Soon!
Deal of the Day (12/16/2016): Save on Select Kershaw LEEK Knives
I discussed today’s deal of the day in its own post, but figured a reminder here couldn’t hurt.
$10 off $50+ Kershaw Knives
Spend $50 or more on Kershaw knives, get $10 off at checkout. Sadly, it does not stack on top of today’s Leek deal of the day.
Shown here is a version of the Knockout.
Deal ends 12/21/16.
Save on Select CRKT Knives
I’m a fan of CRKT knives too, but unfortunately I don’t think they make many (any?) knives in the USA. They’re still nicely designed, well built, and typically inexpensive without being garbage.
Here are 2 of my reviews:
General Tools Cordless Power Precision Screwdriver for $15.12
I’ve never tried it, but General Tools’ powered mini screwdriver seems to be well regarded by some Amazon reviewers. Others rate it as garbage.
It runs slow and doesn’t have a lot of power? I think some of those critics are expecting too much from a powered precision screwdriver that looks to be regularly priced at $20 or less.
Bosch Router Table for $159
Bosch’s RA1181 benchtop router table is said to be a special buy at $159. If it is, other dealers are offering the same sale pricing.
Too bad the “promotional price” disallows the use of Amazon’s $25 off $100+ Bosch promo.
Irwin Holiday Deals
I’d say that there’s nothing to see here, but there are some tools I’d use at priced I’d pay.
These Max Leverage diagonal cutters with “Powerslot” are amazing, and the price is really good – $26.61. These are the made-in-Germany NWS-made cutters – as far as I am aware. Freakin’ awesome cutters that can handle some abuse.
Some of the other Irwin NWS-made pliers and cutters are also on sale.
The listings are all grouped together now, making it a little harder to link to individual products. Sorry.
Porter Cable Discounts
There are apparently new lower prices on select Porter Cable tools.
Here’s the best deal of the bunch: Porter Cable’s 20V Max drill/driver kit for $70, AND it’s said to be eligible for their $20 off $100+ promo.
It’s a good drill, and their premium model, other than the new brushless drill.
Too bad the 2-battery kit (this is the 1-battery kit) isn’t eligible for the $20 extra savings. The 2-battery kit is $129. 2 of these 1-battery kits comes out to be $140 – $20 = $120 at checkout.
Lenox Tool Deals
This hacksaw isn’t on sale, but another one is – a better one.
The Lenox deals feature utility knife blades, multi-bit screwdrivers for really cheap, a high tension hacksaw, hole saw kits, and tubing cutters.
Lower Prices on Dewalt Tools
There are a couple of Dewalt corded tools that are said to be at new lower prices. They all look to be eligible for Amazon’s $25 off $100+ promo too.
Hitachi 18V Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit for $129
I’m not sure what to think of this combo kit, but hey – it’s on sale, so I included it.
Dewalt Gyro Screwdriver
This neato Dewalt 8V Max gyroscopic screwdriver (reviewed here) is said to be discounted, and both versions are eligible for Amazon’s $25 off $100+ promo.
It’s not very powerful compared to 12V Max or 20V Max cordless drills or screwdrivers, but it’s suitable for lighter duty type stuff.
The inline driver also looks to be discounted a little, and is also eligible for $25 off $100 savings. I prefer the pivoting handle version, but the inline one is much more compact.
The 8V Max lineup also includes a compact 80 lumen flashlight.
Save on Random Durham Tool Organizers
Durham tool storage products range from good to great. There are only 4 items on sale, but they’re worth a look.
Bosch Oscillating Multi-Tool Discounts
There’s a Bosch MX30EC oscillating multi-tool kit on sale for $129.
But if you ask me, their GOP40-30B StarlockPlus kit is a better buy. It’s $179, and after $25 discount it comes out to be $154 at checkout.
The Starlock blade interface is awesome!
Buy a Makita 18V Combo Kit, Get a Free Bare Tool
Buy a Makita 18V combo kit, of which there are several drill and impact driver options to choose from, and you can pick a free bonus tool or accessory.
Save up to 33% on Select Tekton Tools
Tekton has a whole bunch of tools on sale for “up to 33% off.” These punches are made in the USA. A lot of the other tools are not, but might still be good values.
Tekton has been building its reputation in recent years, and is standing by all their tools with great customer service. Or so I’m told, I hadn’t had any problems with their tools yet.
Amazon drew me in with a n image of these Tekton USA-made screwdrivers, but they didn’t look to be on sale.
But when I checked, the prices are a lot lower than when I first posted about the new screwdrivers.
These are good screwdrivers at very good prices. And as mentioned, made in the USA. Woo!
Update: Some tools are up to 50% off. Oh, so maybe that’s why the screwdrivers aren’t included in the other sale?
Yost 3.5″ Multi-Angle Vise for $38.40
The Yost Mav-3.5 is a small Multi-Angle Vise that can be used in different configurations. They say it swivels a full 360°, locks in place, and can be used in vertical or horizontal positions (the product page shows another example image).
It has 3.5″ wide jaws, 4-3/4″ capacity, and weighs 18 pounds.
Yost says it was designed with luthiers, woodcarvers, and gunsmiths in mind.
Yost is a good name when it comes to vises.
Trucker’s Friend Multi-Purpose Survival Tool
The Trucker’s friend is a USA-made multi-tool that can be used for various things. It’s an outdoors tool, but can be used for… I don’t know – other stuff?
Save on Select Chicago Latrobe Drill Bit Sets
There are 3 Chicago Latrobe drill bit sets on sale – a black oxide jobber length bit set, a jobber length drill bit and hand tap set, and a cobalt steel drill bit set.
Some or all of these sets were made in the USA in the past, I can’t find easy confirmation of where they’re made now. I’d assume they’re still made in the USA.
I’ve used Chicago Latrobe drill bits before, and they’re good quality industrial-grade bits. They cost more than what you’ll find at the home center, but they’re several grades better.
Save on Bosch 12V Max Tool Bundles
I’m not impressed with what I see, but maybe your take will be different. There are 5 12V Max bundles, featuring their PS31 brushed motor drill, compact reciprocating saw, and impact driver. The bundle involves a bare tool plus a charger, 4.0Ah battery pack, and tool bag.
After looking a little more closely, and forgive my bluntness, but the Bosch bundles are TERRIBLE deals. I’m just looking at the drill deals, maybe things are different with the other tool options.
A PS31 bare tool with 4.0Ah battery, charger, and tool bag, for $174? Wow, it’s $32.20 less than buying them separately? But $174 is still terrible.
Nope, it looks to be the same with the PS60 kit.
I’d buy this:
- Bosch PS31 drill kit for $99
Don’t like the 1.5Ah batteries?
- 4.0Ah battery for $69
- 2.5Ah battery for $49
- 2.0Ah x 2 with charger and L-Boxx for $69
- 2.0Ah battery for $39
Also See: Bosch $25 off $100+ Round 2 Promo Doesn’t Suck!
Just looking at batteries, you could get the Bosch kit for $99, and then a 4.0Ah battery and 2.0Ah battery for $83. So that’s a total of $182 for a drill, charger, 2x 1.5Ah batteries, 1x 2.0 battery, and 1x 4.0Ah battery, for $8 more. The kit should include a tool bag too.
Or get the 4.0Ah battery and carefully select $31 in other accessories, or slightly more to push that second part of the order over $100, and you could end up with a $75 order total. Combine with the drill kit, and you end up with the same $174 total price, but also 2x 1.5Ah batteries and whatever else you ordered to push the 4.0Ah battery over $100.
Hmm… Oh, what a mess!!
A lot of the tools in these bundles are eligible for $25 off $100+ savings, but you don’t get it if you buy the bundle. So add them to your cart separately, skip the tool bag, and you pay less.
Take their combo bundle option. You save $50.85 off the $316.97 “if bought separately” price. Their price: $266.12.
Here’s what I can do:
- Reciprocating Saw + Blades for $77.06
- Bare Drill + 2.0Ah battery for $94
- 12V Max L-Boxx Starter Set with 2x 2.0Ah batteries + LED flashlight for $93
Total: $264 and a few cents.
Their kit includes a 13″ tool bag, my configured kit includes an extra L-Boxx tool box, reciprocating saw blades, and 1 extra 2.0Ah battery pack, plus $2 savings from their bundle price.
There’s a bundle with 2x 4.0Ah battery packs, for $224.
I’d instead buy the drill/driver kit and 2x 4.0Ah battery packs. Or a Starter Kit plus 4.0Ah battery pack at the same price.
Total price: $99 plus $69 plus $69 minus $25 for $212. So you get a different tool bag, which probably won’t fit all the batteries, and more batteries, for $10 less. The batteries will be 2x 1.5Ah plus 2x 4,0Ah, or 1x 4.0Ah plus 2x 2.0Ah, or 4x 2.0Ah. And you get 1 or 2 L-Boxxes too, although you don’t get the fitted tray as with the bare tool.
But since you have the charger anyways…
- Bare Drill plus 4.0Ah battery for $124
- 2.0Ah x 2 with charger and L-Boxx plus 2.0Ah battery for $83
Total: $207. You get the drill, 2x 2.0Ah batteries, a charger, 1x 4.0Ah batteries, and an L-Boxx, compared to the drill, 2x 4.0Ah batteries, a charger, and tool bag, for $224.
Amazon’s Bosch 12V Max bundle savings suck.
Bostitch Deals
There are supposed to be some Bostitch discounts. Some tools look to be discounted, others I’m not sure of.
Even if not, the $20 off $100+ promo discount applies to a lot of these tools, nails, and accessories.
More Bosch Deals
There are a bunch of other Bosch tool deals, some looking quite good.
Oh, “new lower prices all holiday season long?” Translation: tools we’ll fix in price and make ineligible for the $25 off $100+ promo.
The prices are pretty good though.
$5 off Rockwell Versacut Mini Circular Saw
Save $5 off the $99 price.
Not bad for a tool that’s normally strictly price controlled during holiday seasons. Not very good either, but worth the mention.
Don’t forget to “clip” the coupon!
Save $5 on Channellock 5-Tool Pliers Set
Save $5 off the $60 price for this Channellock 5-tool rollup kit.
Good tools, I don’t know about the price, but it’d make a nice gift.
Don’t forget to “clip” the coupon!
Hitachi Miter Saw Stand for $109
This Hitachi miter saw stand has been on my deal radar for maybe 2 weeks now, but I didn’t have enough to say for its own post.
It seems to be a popular choice, as it’s temporarily sold out. Maybe the deal was posted to deal forums for sites?
Reviews seem okay, but there are some negative ones about its durability to definitely read and consider.
