2019 Holiday Tool Gift Guide

Every year we publish a holiday tool gift guide.  This year were doing the 12 days of Tool-mas! That means we’re doing 1 video each day for 12 days.  In this gift guide we highlight a different tool each day that would make a great gift of a guy and gal that you’re having  trouble buying for.

12 Videos 12 Days – Video Explanation

Maybe they’re a DIYer of maybe they’re in the trades. You can find these tools and the related videos below in this article.  The holiday gift guide is below, and we will insert each specific video after it publishes.

Tool Box Buzz 2019 Holiday Tool Gift Guide

Are you looking for the perfect idea for a stocking stuffer this year? Well here at Tool Box Buzz we have a few ideas for you, some of them require a much larger stocking though. With the holidays fast approaching you could be running out of time to ask that loved one what they want. This holiday tool gift guide is just the ticket.

Let us guide you to some of the hottest and most popular tools on the market today.  These are just a few of the items that we have recently reviewed here at Tool Box Buzz and thought they were definitely a perfect gift for your professional contractor, Serious Do-It-Yourselfer, or even a home owner.

There is a lot more Do-It-Yourselfers than you think…. what do I mean?

Well, EVERY Pro contractor is a DIYer when they work on a different trade function on their  own homes.

So consider this your ultimate cheat sheet to knocking out your gift shopping for the year. Click on a link below to jump directly to a purchase.

Makita 18 Volt Blower Purchase Here: $ 200

This Makita brushless cordless blower kit (XBU03SM1) is powered by one 18V LXT battery. It is has a compact and ergonomic design, weighing in at only 6.5 lbs. and measuring 32-1/2” long.

This tool is a gateway drug into more MAKITA Outdoor Power Equipment [OPE] purchases!

Makita 18V Brushless Blower –  VIDEO

Bottom line, if you are looking for a powerful workhorse, you have found it right here.
This Flexvolt blower is a no frills, powerful blower. We’ve been using it to blow off out tools at the end of the day, and to clean the jobsite. It’s a powerful blower and is useful either on a job-site or in your yard!

Kershaw 0022 ZT Knife   Purchase Here $200

The Kershaw 0022 ZT Knife is the Smallest knife Kershaw has ever made. What we noticed immediately, it’s is a impressive piece of engineering. The 0022 knife is designed by Tim Galyean and precision-built by Zero Tolerance, the 0022 practically disappears in your pocket—until it’s needed.

Designed for the MOST INTERESTING MAN IN THE WORLD – the 0022 ZT Knife  is the ULTIMATE gentleman Every Day Carry knife

The 0022’s under-two-inch blade is made of CPM 20CV steel for superior hardness and corrosion resistance, as well as toughness, wear resistance, and excellent edge retention. The handle features a carbon fiber front scale with stonewashed titanium back. And even though it’s small, the 0022 is designed for hand comfort with deep finger contours to ensure a good grip.

This knife is certainly eye-catching:with its decorative pivot with a blue-anodized pivot ring and matching tube spacers, which make an attractive contrast with the dark carbon fiber.

Our favorite feature on this ZT knife is its smooth KVT ball-bearing opening makes it quick, easy—and somewhat addictive—to open and close the 0022.

Sinkevich 0462 Purchase Here $ 195.00

The Zero Tolerance 0462 Sinkevich knife is designed by Dmitry Sinkevich, is one of ZT’s top-selling knives. The blade steel is CPM S35VN for enhanced toughness and resistance to edge chipping with no loss of wear resistance.

This knife is SEXY – its well made, durable and will deliver!

This knife has an attractive two-tone finish: stonewashed on the flats and satin on the grinds. One unique feature is its carbon-fiber-and-titanium handle, which  has a pronounced ergonomic curve to fit into the hollow of the hand neatly.

 ZT Knives VIDEO

EPISTLE Model 2131  Purchase Here $50.00

The Epistle knee has a simple, lightweight utilitarian design. Simply put, it has everything you need in a pocketknife and nothing you don’t. This good-looking minimalist design is sleek, slim, and very easy to carry.

The Epistle weighs 2.1 ounces, you’ll forget this knife is in your pocket. At 50 Bucks you should get one for everyones’s stocking!

The 3-inch blade is made of 8Cr13MoV stainless steel—a solid, all-around steel that’s also easy to re-sharpen when needed. Designed with a drop-point blade shape handles most cutting tasks with ease. The blade is bead-blasted to produce a slightly darker blade finish that contrasts nicely with the lighter aluminum handle. The handle is really lightweight and feels smooth and comfortable in your hand.

The Epistle is a manual-opening knife. You can use the thumb stud to flick the blade open quickly, or treat it as a traditional pocketknife by simply moving the blade into position.

RYOBI P1819 6 Piece Combo Kit  Purchase Here $179

Doing something ONE-TIME does not make you a carpenter but this kit will ensure you get lots of practice getting to that esteemed “carpenter status!”

Ryobi 6-Piece Tool Set – VIDEO

The RYOBI 6-Tool Combo Kit comes with (2) 1.5 Ah Batteries, Charger, and Tool Bag ad he following six tools:

1. Reciprocating saw
2. Impact driver
3. 5-1/2 in. circular saw
4. 1/2 in. drill
5. Multi-Tool with sanding adapter.
6. Worklight

This kit is a “perfect starter kit” for the homeowner, DIYer or apprentice carpenter looking to get into a set of tools on one battery platform for $200 and that’s exactly why we included it in the holiday tool gift guide.

Milwaukee FUEL M12 SURGE Impact Driver    Purchase Here $ 199

Featuring a FLUID-DRIVE Hydraulic Powertrain, the hydraulic driver will let you experience operation up to 2X quieter with less vibration.

The Final Impact For me, I prefer working smarter!!

That means using the right tool for the application at hand. Using a lighter, quieter tool that has less vibration makes sense. If you work construction, don’t wait,  purchase the best noise protection device you can, and use the best tools you can. Work smarter, and protect yourself, no matter how loud it gets at work.

Compact size gives access in tight spaces and allows for easy transport on a tool belt and easy fitting into your job site tool bag.

Milwaukee M12 Surge Impact Driver – VIDEO

This impact driver’s 4-Mode DRIVE CONTROL gives you greater control over output speed and power for greater versatility in a wide range of applications. Self-Tapping Screw Mode reduces walking when you are self-tapping screws as well as reduces overdriving, breaking and stripping out screws.

Milwaukee USB Rechargeable Headlamp   Purchase Here $ 69.00

This USB rechargeable headlamp delivers 600-lumens of output. The flood light headlamp features an ultra-thin light head that provides an unobstructed view with 125° of flood beam coverage.

As a LOVER OF LUMENN we can tell you that t his is a fantastic headlamp for anyone in any trade or walk of life. This light is useful at work, camping, hiking or doing repairs around the house.

Milwaukee USB Rechargeable Headlamp – VIDEO

The Milwaukee headlamp has four light output modes: High, Medium, Low and Eco for 25+ hours of runtime to maximize light output or extend runtime. Rated at IP54 rated for water and dust resistance and can withstand up to 2M drops, 2,000 recharges and 3X faster charging via USB. that’s convienient!

The headlamp is designed with a battery pack in the rear for maximum maneuverability in tight spaces and a balanced design for all-day use. Hardhat claps are included to clamp not a hardhat.

OLFA MX Utility Knives Purchase Here $ 15.00

Both the MX-L and the MX-AL feature an 8mm heavy-duty die-cast aluminum knife body.  These sleek die-cast aluminum handles have an integrated rubber wraparound anti-slip grip. This metal knife is truly heavy-duty while still looking sharp and stylish. The oversized, ergonomic handle contours to the hand, making this knife your new go-to cutting tool.

As a utility knife OLFA really delivers with a blade specifically designed for industrial tasks. The OLFA blades are ultra sharp, designed for heavy duty applications, and nothing is faster than a snap to restore a sharp edge. The performance and speed of these blades are invaluable in the field.

OLFA MX Knives – VIDEO

A rugged stainless steel blade channel extends the full length of the handle to support heavy-duty cutting. My favorite knife is the auto-lock blade slider which allows for quick and easy one-touch blade extension into multiple cutting depths. You can feel and hear as the knife clicks into pre-set detents for correct blade placement. The blade locks into pre-set detents for a secure hold during pushing and pulling movements for dependable cutting.

The snap off blade knife is often viewed as a light duty, almost throw away tool. This is NOT the case with the superior quality  blades and the rugged construction of the OLFA line of snap off blade utility knives, the creator of the snap-off blade!

Milwaukee FUEL 18-Volt Compact Router  Purchase Here $ 179

Bosch Flexiclick   Purchase Link  $ 160

The Bosch FlexiClick screwdriver’s 5 in 1 design delivers outstanding versatility in a compact, high quality drill/driver.  The included key less chuck attachment provides locked in drilling for difficult materials.

A innovative and true problem-solving tool for anyone who works int he trades or workshop!

Bosch Flexi-Click – VIDEO

An LED light illuminates dark work areas effectively and afterglow function keeps the light on for 10 seconds after the tool is off. there is a right angle attachment designed for tight work spaces and works with the other three attachments – we loved that feature! Lastly, the offset angle attachment offers precise screw driving very close to edges; rotates to 16 positions without. This tool is a problem solver!

Bosch 360-Degree Green Beam 3 Plane Laser   Purchase Here $ 540.00

The Bosch GLL3-330CG Three-Plane Leveling and Alignment-Line Laser is both a complete level as well as a plumb alignment laser. It has 3 green laser lines in 360° laser planes, one horizontal and two vertical.

This is a PRO laser for a professional contractor, it’s a problem-solver and an investment, one that will pay for itself in short time.

Bosch 360 Green Laser – VIDEO

The Tool Box Buzz crew prefers the green laser because it is 4X brighter than standard red beams. The leveling laser has a working range of up to 200 Ft. diameter and the pulse mode extends the range up to 330 Ft. [using LR8 or LR6 receiver]

DEWALT 20V Air Inflator Purchase Here:  $ 99.00

This Corded/Cordless Air Inflator can run on any one of three power sources:

• 20V battery
• 12V DC
• 110V AC

It features a high-pressure rubber hose for durability. The threaded chuck and included onboard accessories make it easy to inflate items from tires to footballs. Setting desired air pressure is simple with the digital gauge, and the auto-shutoff provides accurate inflation.

This is a tool that crosses all trades an skill levels of users. From the job-site, side of the road tire change or backyard pool party – Super Useful!

DEWALT Inflator – VIDEO

The high-volume hose allows fast inflation of mattresses and other inflatables with the push of a button. Move the hose to the deflation port for quick and easy take down. An onboard LED light helps to light up your work area or a tire change on the side of the road.

The 12V DC cord length is 13.75 FT long allowing you to reach all four tires on your vehicle. At 5.5 lbs this tool is light enough to store in your vehicle. If you have any loved ones on the Dewalt 20V Max platform, this tool is a slam dunk gift and that’s why we included it in this year’s holiday tool gift guide.

SKIL PWRCore 12 Circular Saw Kit Purchase Here $110

Show off your SKIL with this great value, great tool, and great gift!!

The SKIL 12v cordless circular saw kit includes everything you need to get started on your DIY projects with a Brushless 12V 5-1/2 Circular Saw, a fast-charging PWRCore 12 Lithium Battery with PWRAssist Mobile Charging, and a PWRJump Charger.

SKIL PWRCore Circular Saw – VIDEO

The battery charger has a cool feature allowing you to perform a “quick charge.”  The charger will charge the battery from 0% to 25% in just 5 minutes, providing enough power to blast through 100 screws (based on 2.0Ah battery).

Metabo HPT KC18DBFL2T 18V Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit Purchase Here $399

The Metabo HPT KC18DBFL2T Combo kit is equipped with Brushless motor technology for maximum runtime and durability, and powered by lithium ion battery technology for fade free power and extended battery life. The DV18DBFL2T hammer drill produces up to 620 in-lbs. of torque and is equipped with a ½” ratcheting metal chuck to minimize bit slippage.

This is the kit you’ll reach for every day as you walk into a job site or project! Solid tools at a decent value.

Metabo HTP Combo Drill + Impact Driver – VIDEO

The WH18DBFL2T impact driver puts out up to 1, 522 in-lbs. of torque and up to 3, 100 RPM/3, 400 BPM, and is remarkably lightweight at only 2. 9 lbs. with Metabo HPT’s BSL1830C battery. Both tools are equipped with a brushless motor producing up to 30% more runtime per full battery charge. Paired with superior ergonomics and a lightweight design, these tools will help you produce more work with less downtime.

Holiday Tool Gift Guide is a post from Tool Box Buzz

OLFA Rolled Materials Cutter 45-C Review

I recently saw the OLFA Rolled Materials Cutter 45-C at the JLC LIVE trade show and was impressed. I now own several, and here’s why.

As a remodeler I find myself on the cutting end of many different materials such as:

• Ram Board
• Cardboard
• Schluter DITA-HEAT mats
• House wrap
• Carpet
• EDPM Rubber

None of these materials are fun to cut, and I used to use a utility knife or shears. The problem with the utility knife is you risk damaging other surfaces with an over-penetrated, exposed blade. And the shears, well, they just fatigue my already beaten-up hands.

Cuts Multiple Materials Fast

TheOLFA Rolled Materials Cutter 45-C allows me to cut easier, safer and more efficiently. I find that the cutter is easy to use, fast cutting and with practice can make a super straight, clean cut.

The cutter was designed to cut rolled materials, such as:

• Paper
• Linoleum
• Carpet
• Floor protection board
• House and landscape fabric

Sturdy Design

It has a sturdy, oversized handle allows you to safely cut away from you, while protecting the surface beneath. The OLFA cutter comes with an ultra- sharp, 45mm carbide rotary blade. The fixed blade has 12-cutting positions that are changed by removing a thumb screw and rotating the blade.

The bottom of the cutter is a smooth flat, non-marring, plastic surface. The cutter is recessed and protected.  It can be safely placed in your tool bag or pocket without the risk of an exposed blade.

OLFA 45-c Cutter Features

• Solid base prevents damage to surface under materials being cut
• Large, ergonomic handhold for a comfortable and sturdy grip
• Preloaded with super sharp, long-life carbide 45mm rotary blade
• 12 cutting positions per blade for less blade changes and increase efficiency
• No tool blade change</li

Price

The OLFA 45-C Cutter sells online for approximately $25.00.

OLFA Rolled Materials Cutter 45-C Video Review

OLFA Rolled Materials Cutter 45-C is a post from Tool Box Buzz

OLFA LA-X Utility Knife Review

Let me get this out of the way, I’ve always been a traditional utility knife user. The kind that takes a trapezoid-shaped blade that can be flipped end for end when it gets dull. Fixed blade, retractable, flip-style all use the same blade. There’s one company though that went a different direction. OLFA pioneered the snap off blade and now it’s been improved with their heavy duty line of ultra sharp blades. These blades are included on many of their utility knives including the OLFA LA-X.

What’s the OLFA LA-X Good For?

First off, let me just tell you what it’s not. This is not a box cutter. This isn’t some tiny tool that your local grocery stock person uses to open the cases and cases of mac and cheese my kids plow through in a week. This is a serious tool made for real work on the job site.

These knives are designed for cutting all manners of construction materials. Rubber, roofing materials, linoleum, carpet, drywall, caulking, Tyvec, flashing/waterproofing membranes, insulation, plastic, etc. Here we were using it on this vent hood install (about halfway through).

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf-9TvuAwBL/

On The Job Site

We’ve had this knife (and its big brother, the XH-AL) out on the job site with us in place of our traditional utility knives. Cutting drywall, vent pipe, caulking, and tapes, this knife handled everything with ease. On many occasions we even found ourselves extending the blade out to cut in places that a traditional knife would have trouble with.

New Heavy-Duty Blades

The new black blades are ultra sharp. Made from Japanese high-quality carbon tool steel, they are honed to a 59 degree edge for increased cutting ability while minimizing breaking. They claim to be 25% sharper than their normal blades. The normal blades are already sharp, these ones are ridiculous and that’s exactly what I want as a contractor, a knife that stays sharp but can be easily be refreshed. Each blade is equivalent to 4 trapezoid utility knife blades. The OLFA just needs a quick snap and I’m back in business. Much faster than taking my other knife apart to flip the blade. They even make a snap-off hook blade (scroll through the article to see photos of various other OLFA blades).

What’s That Thing On The End?

So what’s that dull tang on the end of the OLFA LA-X? It’s whatever you want it to be. It’s the prying thing we all use our utility knife for where we inevitably break off the tip of the blade. The tang is useful for tucking carpet under base, opening paint cans, removing switch and outlet covers, cleaning out control joints before caulking, pressing on painters tape, etc. It’s also really good at popping packing tape on boxes.

Where to Buy the OLFA LA-X

This knife comes in at a smidge under $10 and includes one blade. It can be found right on the shelves at The Home Depot. Replacement blades were a little harder to come by. Home Depot doesn’t list them as available (in my store anyway) but Amazon has a 50 pack of the ultra sharp LBB blades for just over $15 on prime.

OLFA LA-X Utility Knife Video Review

OLFA LA-X Utility Knife Review is a post from Tool Box Buzz

OLFA Snap Off Blade Utility Knives

OLFA Snap Off Blade Utility Knives

4.5/5

Manufacturer: OLFA
Model number: Multiple
Price: $4 to $15
Power source: Hand Tool

The snap off blade knife is often viewed as a light duty, almost throw away tool. This is NOT the case with the superior quality blades and rugged construction of the OLFA line of snap off blade utility knives, the creator of the snap-off blade!

OLFA blades and knives showcase very intentional designs, a variety of sizes, and well developed accessories to create a line of utility knives for all sorts of construction applications that just might make you rethink whether the traditional utility knife is cutting it for you on the job.

OLFA

OLFA was founded in 1956 by two brothers who were inspired to create blades with scored lines to reveal new sharp edges with each snap.

Recalling the lines on chocolate bars given to them by Allied soldiers and frustrated by how quickly the blades they used became unusable once there edges wore out, these Japanese brothers developed the scored blades that easily snap off for a fresh sharp edge in seconds!

Not only is OLFA the innovator of the snap off blades well entrenched in many industries, but when it comes to blades specifically, Japanese steel is tough to beat, so we were excited to see what OLFA has to offer the construction industry.

We’ve been using a variety of OLFA utility knives, replacement blades, specialty blades, and accessories for a variety of different tasks and we are quite impressed!

Utility Knife

As a utility knife OLFA really delivers with a blade specifically designed for industrial tasks. The OLFA BB line of blades are ultra sharp, designed for heavy duty applications, and nothing is faster than a snap to restore a sharp edge. The performance and speed of these blades are invaluable in the field.

Furthermore the longer blade hone provides a cleaner finish, which as a finish carpenter I love for scoring lines for complicated mortises on hardware installs. I also appreciate the heavy duty stainless steel blade channels on the the LA-X and XH-AL models.

Blade Lock and Handle Configurations

The products we tested from OLFA consist of what we consider two core varieties of blade locks. A ratcheting configuration with a wheel adjustment that allows you to customize the tension, up to a secure lock, on the slide of the knife to release and retract the blade. And an auto lock configuration with a smooth slide tab that features consistent positive stops.

All of the knives we reviewed featured tool less blade change and the 9mm lighter duty knives integrate a snap off tool in the handle for convenient and safe snapping.
OLFA also offers a variety of solutions for safe storage of spent blades.

Applications

First and foremost OLFA offers a wide range of blade types, blades sizes and a myriad of different knives to suit many different disciplines; from the light duty needs of painters to the heavy duty demands of roofers. In a very short amount of time our professionals found many applications where the snap off blade utility knives and accessories shined.

The heavy duty BB series of blades can be extended well past what you can expect from a traditional utility knife, and the 18mm/25mm blades are strong enough to be effectively used with the blade exposed a few inches. This extended blade is great for cutting various types of insulation, from fiberglass to roxul, avoiding making many passes to complete one cut.

The HSWB Saw Blade for the 25mm blades are effectively used as a small flush cut saw. And the Japanese steel really shines in this blade, exceptionally sharp and extremely effective, making this small blade pack a big punch. Blade change is simple enough, but in my opinion, it is best to have a dedicated handle for the saw blade. It’s small enough to keep in your belt, but effective enough that you’ll find yourself use it when a utility knife just isn’t enough.

There is an 18mm LH-20B Hook Blade that combines the efficacy of a hook blade with the convenience of a snap off replacement for cutting shingles, carpet, or rope. I’ve particularly become fond of hook blades for removing selective portions of ramboard from a finish floor. The hook is really useful preventing a scratch to the floor surface, while ensuring an accurate cut to safeguard as much floor as you can.

Overall Impression

My favorite knives we looked at from OLFA were the 25mm Extra Heavy Duty XH-AL and the 18mm Heavy Duty LA-X, both with an autolock handle configuration. My overall impression of the 25mm XH-AL was that it could easily replace my current utility knife and compared to a fresh blade, the OLFA snap off blades provide a superior cut.

The Extra Heavy Duty 25mm XH-AL has a reinforced handle, anti-slip rubber grip, with acetone resistant handle material. It comes pre-loaded with the 7-segment ultra-sharp snap-off blades. I put this knife through some rough and tumble applications and despite the sleek and light build of the knife, it definitely can handle inclement job-site conditions.

The 18mm Heavy Duty LA-X includes the same features as it’s 25mm brother, but can accept a solid blade and hook blades for additional functionality. Also the tool itself includes a staple remover at the base that can be useful for a number of different applications.

Overall what we found when taking a look at OLFA and it’s wide range of knives and blades, is that if you need a certain blade, in a certain knife, for a certain application you can most certainly expect to find what you need from OLFA. Check them out!

OLFA Snap Off Blade Utility Knives is a post from Tool Box Buzz