All of us here at Toolmonger dig Stanley’s Fubar line of demolition hammers. You can imagine my glee when browsing Target’s clearance end cap I found a model 55-119 Functional Utility Bar (or Fubar) on clearance for $15 — that’s half off its usual retail price of $30!
Stanley says this new flooring saw is perfect for cutting dovetails, miters, and tenons — the bread and butter of custom flooring installation. Having never really done any myself, I can’t speak to the saw’s functionality. But I do like the idea of the angled handle.
While 40′ probably doesn’t sound “short” to you (or me!), most framers call any self-wind tape like this one a “short tape” — distinguishing it from the soft, hand-cranked types that extend 100′ or more. In the past, short tapes have been 25′ long, or maybe 30′ for some of the newer ones. But with taller-peaked roofs becoming ever more popular in today’s McMansions, some runs now exceed 30′. That’s why Stanley’s now offering a whopping 40-footer.
Looking for an easy “starter set” gift for relatives who’re just starting to get their hands dirty? Stanley’s making it easy by combining their products into quite functional tool kits. Pictured above, for example, is their FatMax Xtreme kit, which includes a 25′ tape, a marker, a utility knife, a rip claw hammer, a box beam level, a chalk box, a FuBar, a demolition driver set, and an auto trigger clamp — all in a handy open-mouth tool bag — for $250. Other sets range lower and higher in price.
Cheap-ass Dealmongers, start your engines! Our friend Mike from ReadyMade sent in this “Bargin of the Month” promotion from True Value Hardware. If you’re willing to suffer through a mail-in rebate — and they don’t run out of stock — you can snag the following tools for free:
These promotions are available in-store only so the cost to you is your time and a stamp — and some serious patience.
Bargin of the Month [True Value]
25-Foot LeverLock Tape Measure [Stanley]
ProTouch Utility Knife [Irwin]
77-Piece Drill and Screwdriver Accessory set [Black & Decker]
Repositionable vises are great additions to any shop as you can temporarily attach them to nonconventional work surfaces such as mobile project centers and dinner tables. But while adjustable vises like the Dremel Multi-Vise are great for precision work, they’re too fragile for anything but light-duty tasks. On the other hand, cast iron vises are constructed to endure massive abuse, but are not adjustable enough for precision tasks.
With the MaxSteel Multi-Angle Vise, Stanley combines the two, offering both flexibility and durability. They claim the MaxSteel vise can handle all materials delicately, from heavy steel bars, to soft precise wooden model components.
Did you know that Stanley makes FatMax 10″ Groove Joint PushLock pliers? Despite their resemblence to Irwin’s GrooveLock pliers, these FatMax pliers incorporate a few features that may be enough reason to add a pair to your collection.
Lowe’s is currently offering Stanley’s 2-piece demolition driver set for a hair below $10. In case you don’t remember, these drivers can take a serious pounding. As part of the the set, you get a 5/16″ flat driver and a #2 Phillips driver — both massively overconstructed and ready for abuse. For reference purposes, street pricing on this set is about $15.
2-Piece Demo Driver Set [Stanley]
2-Piece Demo Driver Set [Lowe’s]
After lots of internal wrangling, Stanley recently launched a public site dedicated entirely to the FuBar — everyone’s favorite tools for straigtening studs and breaking s#!%. In fact, with the release of this site — and the FuBar III — Stanley has finally embraced the FuBar’s rightful position as King Of Breaking S#!%: the site lets you select an item, then watch four trash-talking workers break it. Really.
(And when you see “King Of Breaking S#!%” on Stanley products packaging a few years from now, remember you heard it here first.)
StanleyFubar.com [Stanley Tools]
Stanley was kind enough to join us at Maker Faire last weekend to kick off Break S#!$ Week in style — by building an 8′ x 8′ shed, then tearing it down in four minutes flat with Stanley’s not-yet-on-the-market FuBar III.
Look for a hands-on later this week, but in the meantime we can tell you this about the FuBar III: it’s bigger, meaner, and far badder-ass than the original Fubar, and it’s the tool you want in your hand if you’re trying to open a door SWAT-style, knock a wall down to get out of a burning building, or just demolish a building to make way for new stuff. The original Fubar rocks. The FuBar III rocks harder.
And don’t miss the above video in which me and Sean from Toolmonger and Jimmy Addison from Stanley break s#!$ in style.
The FuBar III [Stanley Tools]
Stanley-Bostich’s Hurriquake nail incorporates features that enhance its ability to resist both the side-to-side shearing action of earthquakes and the uplift caused by high winds during hurricanes. But designing stronger nails is easy. Bostitch’s real engineering feat is designing stronger nails that still fit in any modern nail gun.
If you’ve been looking for Stanley’s Mobile Project Center — the one we reviewed, complete with hand-truck attachment as opposed to the ones you find in the big box stores without — they’re available on Amazon right now for $110. In fact, a number of Amazon’s dealers sell them right around the same price, so take your pick.
For the uninitiated: the MPC serves as a light work or clamping table with three power outlets — perfect for small, household carpentry tasks. You can also drop down a stamped metal plate and extend its two handles to convert it into a two-wheel dolly that’ll handle just North of 200 pounds. Check out our recent hands-on review for more details.
Via Amazon
Hands-On: Stanley’s Mobile Project Center [Toolmonger]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
TM reader CoalandIce posted this great pic of yet another use for Stanley’s famous Fubar demolition tool: opening a cold one. Note that the Fubar on the left is Stanley’s new Xtreme version, which we’ve been totally negligent in reporting about. We’ll follow up with Stanley and see if we can’t gather some information for you about the exciting future of the Fubar line.
Toolmonger’s Photo Pool [Flickr]
Stanley Proto announced yesterday an update to their “master tool sets for the trades.” By the way: did you know that Proto made master tool sets for electricians, plumbers, and contractors? They do, and now they come with some of Stanley’s recently-upgraded hand tools, like the FatMax AntiVibe hammer, tripod flashlights, and their new wood chisels.
When we first laid hands on Stanley’s MaxLife Mini-TriPod, we thought that it was more show than go. Common shop wisdom (read: old stereotypical views) state that if flashlights aren’t big enough to bludgeon a live cougar to death or aren’t forged from unobtainium, they aren’t going to last very long in the shop.
The “dollar store” vibe exuded by the Mini-Tripod’s clear plastic box doesn’t help, either. But once we freed it from the packaging and actually beat the living crap out of it in the shop, we’re telling a different story altogether. Read on past the jump to find out why.
I dug up this nice $40 Stanley tool set over at Amazon that looks perfect for the car. It contains two drive ratchets, one extension, 38 sockets, two wrenches, five nut drivers, seven bits, and seven other tools — all wrapped up in a durable latching plastic case.
62-Piece Mechanic’s Tool Set #89-803 [Stanley]
Via Amazon
I’ve wanted one of these ever since reading about them in Sean’s great post on new vs. old-school tools. Yeah, they’re not as good as the new Stanley levels, but I have a new Stanley level. I don’t have a #96. But since I’m low on discretionary cash right now, I’m going to pass this find on to you.
Mr. Peabody (from somewhere in New England) currently lists the #96 picture above as:
“A 28″ long model with three laminations, never abused or altered, both vials original and functioning… Expected dings and scuffs from careful use and never retrofitted with a hang hole. A nice one.”
Bidding’s currently at a very-low $10.50, but he just listed it. There are six days left on the auction. Good luck.
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