Source
r/MilwaukeeTool•
PoEwouter

Looking to get my contractor buddy a new tool for Christmas, help!

Purchase Advice

Hey everyone,

My buddy helped us with a home addition we did this year, and he went the extra mile constantly. Finding deals for materials off kijiji, not charging markup on materials calling in favors stuff like that. For Christmas we wanna get him some nice tools. He used to be a Dewalt lover, but has finally seen the light and is switching to all Red.

Looking to spend around $500 to get him some more red. Currently he has a Milwaukee spike gun, drills and a few other things, can’t remember what.

He still has a Hilti circular saw and sawzal both of which are ancient (batteries are absolute garbage).

He still uses air powered tools for stapling flashing, roofing and finishing work (he doesn’t do a ton of finishing work).

What’s are some suggestion for things that would be a good addition here. I was thinking the Hackzall might be a good option.

So to the general contractors of reddit, what tools do you suggest? What’s the biggest life changer for the general contractors that do mostly lock up stage, roofing and inside renovations projects.

Posted Nov 5, 2022, 3:17 PM UTC

519
PoEwouterOP•

I should have said tool(s) as I’m looking to spend around $500 give or take $100 and am not stuck on it being only one tool. Also I’m in Canada.

2
secondhand_pie•

Give him a gift card to the Home Depot or wherever in Canada so he can decide what he needs.

Either that or take him on a surprise shopping trip.

He really should be clued in and making the decision because he’ll be using the tools. I know that’s the way I’d want it.

8
heroatthedisco•

And if you’re going to do this, do it NOW not at Christmas so that he can take advantage of the Black Friday sales this year. Retailers are sitting on a LOT of excess inventory and the sales are great.

4
7orontoRaptors•

Whens a good time to start looking for sales

1
heroatthedisco•

Depends on what you want. PM me with the details of what tools you’re looking for and I can send you some active sales, but it might not be productive as you said you are in Canada and I am in the states. The sales are active right now but there’s just a lot of different things and doubling up in tools he already has may not be the best use of the intended funds. Lmk.

1
PoEwouterOP•

Yea not a bad idea

1
CosmicDune•

there’s a Milwaukee stapler that’s great for adding vapor barrier for $129. I wanna say it comes with a 2.0 and a 4.0 battery from the M12 series. I absolutely love mine!

2
PoEwouterOP•

Yea I was thinking about this one.

Which one is for vapor barrier and which one is for things like flashing?

1
John_D_1•

$500 gift card. Let him choose. Sucks to get a tool you don’t really need or use. When you have something you really want/need.

2
themagicnookieRemodeling•

I’d second this, I’m a horrible person to buy for personally as I’ve already got in mind what I need or want and I’m very particular about certain things brand wise. HD gift card or a card to a local hardware store that sells Milwaukee that has a Milwaukee rep on staff that makes warranty exchanges a breeze.

1
Jophaaa•

Depending on what he's got, get this kit and two free tools of your choosing. Hackzall can be one of them

1
benmarvin•

I'm a finish carpenter, so maybe not applicable. But anything that I went cordless that's usually corded changed my game. Table saw, miter saw, nail guns. No more dragging hoses or cords. The cordless nail guns might not be great if you're running it all day though.

1
PoEwouterOP•

Yea, that’s why I was thinking the stapler, and a circular saw.

1
ognnosnim•

Milwaukee Framing Nailer and the Milwaukee Rear Handle 7-1/4" Circular Saw. The Milwaukee 15 ga. Finish Nailer would be nice too.

Also a Titanium hammer would be appreciated too. A Martinez M1 or Stiletto.

Now would be a great time to shop for deals so you get more value for your dollar. You could tool hack Home Depot for fantastic deals. I saw someone posted they were able to buy the Framing Nailer and 15 ga. Finish Nailer for somewhere in the $400-$500 dollar range with the tool hack at HD.

1
Bige_4411•

The track saw that is coming out very soon would be a good one if he doesn’t have one. There is no chance that he has the Milwaukee one. But a depot gift card would be a safe bet so he can get what he wants or needs.

1
RemindMeToBlink•

$500? I’d like to be your friend.

1
Interesting-Space966General Contracting•

500$ ? Get him the 10 inch m18 fuel sliding miter saw. Or the corded 12 inch fuel miter saw. they’re both on sale at Home Depot canukland if he don’t like it he can trade for something else.

Oh and the Milwaukee framing nailer is garbage. We got one at work and during our Arctic Manitoba winters it can’t shoot trough a pizza box. We just use the paslode with the fuel cartridge.always works heat or cold

1
Mayhem_Industries•

These are IMO the best deals at HD at the moment. They each come with an extra free battery and are all great tools. In total they come to around $500 And is quite the tool haul. Just some food for thought.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/M12-FUEL-12V-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-3-8-in-Ratchet-and-1-4-in-Impact-Driver-Kit-2-Tool-w-Batteries-Charger-Bag-3453-22HSR/320559403

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M12-FUEL-12V-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Oscillating-Multi-Tool-Kit-with-4-0-Ah-Battery-Charger-Accessories-and-Tool-Bag-2526-21XC/313294381

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M12-12V-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Rotary-Tool-Tool-Only-2460-20/203111683

1
Mayhem_Industries•

Or for something dramatic and half your budget. Your friend has shared a link to a Home Depot product they think you would be interested in seeing:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-PACKOUT-22-in-Rolling-Tool-Box-22-in-Large-Tool-Box-and-22-in-Medium-Tool-Box-8426-8425-8424/321033418

1