There I was, just scouting out the tool deals at Home Depot when I stumbled across the Wiha tools display.

I successfully left the store without buying it! But then I returned the next day and bought one of each.

This Wiha 32-piece bit ratchet set comes with a mini 1/4″ hex bit ratchet and selection of 30 screwdriver bits.

You get a selection of hex, Torx, Phillips, slotted, and square bits, plus a 1/4″ hex to square adapter.

The ratchet has a 72-tooth mechanism for a fine 5° swing arc, fast-action thumb lever – it looks huge! – and finger-spinning action.

All that is packaged in a very diminutive-looking Wiha GoBox case.

Price: $29.88

The Wiha GoBox 36-piece precision screwdriver set comes with a bit driver handle, extension, and selection of mini screwdriver bits in Torx, hex, Phillips, slotted, and specialty sizes.

I couldn’t judge which would be more practical for my needs. Since it’s pretty much my job to explore these things, I bought both.

This was the first time I’ve seen Wiha tools at a Home Depot store. Do you think it’s the start of something new, or are we just seeing these for the holiday deals season?

Price: $29.88

I found these tools between the Black Friday tool and gift center at my store, and the Pro department. But you can also skip the trip and order them online with free shipping.

As for the other deal shown in the image at the top of the page, that’s the excellent and compact Bosch GLM100-23 laser distance measuring tool, which is back at its promotional price of $49.97.

This is my favorite laser measuring tool. It’s priced a little higher than other models. I’m a big fan of the Bosch’s precision, user experience, and build quality, and think it’s worth it.

Dewalt’s Triangle tool boxes have an iconic shape and organizational scheme, and now you can get one for a lot less money,

Over at Lowe’s there are deep discounts on yellow and black versions of the 15.4″ vertical triangle-style tool box.

See Also: New Dewalt Steel Tool Boxes

They were $180 and up around 2 years ago. Now, they’re $117 and change for the yellow tool box, and $126 for the same triangle tool box in black.

Seems like a great deal. You also get free shipping.

Montezuma Triangle tool boxes are popular for their small footprint, high efficiency mechanics tool storage, and build quality.

Whether Triangle tool boxes are worth it or not, I’ll leave that to you.

The low prices are making these difficult to pass up. I don’t need one. I don’t need one!! If I repeat that enough times, it’ll work to dissuade me, right?

Oh, and in case it wasn’t clear, these are made from steel.

You can find them in larger sizes – Acme Tools has a Dewalt Triangle tool box for $700, and Home Depot has one for more than that. Those are of course larger sizes, in case you were wondering.

Lowe’s has launched a new Kobalt 74-in-1 precision screwdriver and tool set, just in time for holiday deal and gift shoppers.

It looks like Lowe’s went after a similar look as the all-in-one tool sets you can find on Amazon, such as the Fanttik 50pc electric screwdriver set. That’s not a knock on the Kobalt set, if it works as good as it looks.

This is mainly a precision screwdriver set, with bit driver and loads of insert bits. Lowe’s product page says there are 51 bits included.

From the images, it also has tweezers to help users position smaller parts.

There’s also a pry bar for getting into electronics housings.

The case displays everything in a 360° circle.

Lowe’s doesn’t disclose the bit sizes or styles you get, but we can see a mix of standard Phillips and slotted bits, specialty sizes for electronics, and nut drivers.

When I asked their AI for a list of the bit sizes, it says that’s not available. It also said this set comes with hex bits but “no Allen-drive bits.”

I guess they want you to buy a set and find out that way.

With 51 included screwdriver bits, it probably has a broad assortment.

The new Kobalt tool set looks like a refreshing deviation from the precision screwdriver sets typically found at home centers. At the same time, it looks generic, like many of the tools available at Amazon. But for the price, does anyone care?

Price: $20

The Kobalt set looks a lot like the Mulwark 73-in-1 precision screwdriver set at Amazon, although that set comes with a rechargeable battery-powered screwdriver. Both sets feature a spudger/pry bar and tweezers.

I tend to stay away from battery-powered tools from brands I’m not familiar with. In other words, this is a “hey, I found something very similar to the Kobalt” nod and certainly not an endorsement.

I came across these new Dewalt compact mechanics tool sets, and they seemed interesting.

Shown here is the Dewalt 50-piece 1/4″ drive mechanics tool set, DWMT45422, with a compact ratchet, spinner handle 2 extensions, and a selection of 6pt sockets and hex bits.

It comes with a molded case that looks a lot like Dewalt’s older accessory cases.

Seems like a good value for the money.

Price: $34

There’s also this Dewalt 3/8″ mechanics tool set, DWMT45423, with 50 tools and accessories.

You get a much bigger ratchet here – as you should with a 3/8″ set, but it still looks fairly compact and tidy.

Price: $57 and up

It looks like Dewalt is still selling their ToughCase-based mechanics tool sets, such as the 25pc set at Amazon. These new sets are just different, with a more mixed assortment of tools and accessories.

Dewalt’s 1/4″ set especially looks to feature a convenient assortment of tools at fair pricing.

Thoughts?

I’m a big fan of Fein Turbo wet/dry vacuums. When I had a test sample, I used it with corded power tools, thanks to its auxiliary connection and auto-activation feature, and for lots of cleanup tasks.

I found it to be compact, well, made, and it performed well. It was also quieter than the shop vacuums I had been using prior to that.

It’s a solid solution for a wide range of cleanup and dust collection needs.

Here are the vacuums and promo prices at Acme Tools:

Fein Turbo I 5.8 Gallon Vacuum – $320
Lowe’s is matching Acme’s deal price.

Fein Turbo I 5.8 Gallon Vacuum w/ Accessories – $420
Lowe’s is matching Acme’s deal price.

Fein Turbo II 8.4 Gallon Vacuum – $400
The Fein Turbo II is the same price at Amazon and also Lowe’s.

Fein Turbo II 8.4 Gallon Vacuum w/ Accessories – $500
Lowe’s is matching Acme’s deal price.

Fein Turbo II HEPA 9.2 Gallon Vacuum w/ Accessories – $800

Fein Turbo Vacuum Accessory Set – $100

If you’re on the fence about the accessory set, you can buy it later.

Do you need the metal extension wands and nozzles? When I worked with a Fein vacuum, I found them convenient and very well-made. If you plan to use the Fein Turbo vac as a dust extractor that’s attached to woodworking tools, then you might not need it.

These deal prices aren’t as good as what we saw a few years ago, but unfortunately that’s something only a time machine can help with.

Home Depot has launched a new Husky magnetic tool mat that they say was “engineered to hold up to 40 pounds.”

It features a PVC outer layer designed to “protect surfaces and repel oils and grease.”

You can use it on horizontal surfaces and tool carts, and it also mounts and conforms to steel automotive components.

Some of Home Depot’s application examples seem a bit ambitious.

Tools, gears, bike pedals? It’ll hold it all.

There are plenty of magnetic tool mats on the market. This one’s competitively spec’ed, and seems like a good value.

Dimensions: 11″ x 9″

Price: $17

If you’re on the fence, keep in mind that Husky tools that launch for Home Depot’s Black Friday tool deals and gift center sometimes sell out and never return. Home Depot looks to have plenty in stock, but it’s unclear whether you’ll still be able to buy this in a few months.

Snapmaker has dropped the price of their hugely popular tool-changer multi-color 3D printer.

Now, as part of their Black Friday 2026 deals, you can get the Snapmaker U1 3D printer for just $699.

Snapmaker is selling the U1 for $699 directly, or $749 via Amazon.

Snapmaker has also added bulk discounts to 3D printer filament.

I tried Snapmaker filament for the first time recently – PLA and also Matte PLA (steel blue as shown in this prop project). It turned out well, so I ordered a bunch more from their Black Friday sale.

But the $699 pricing on their U1 is the big news here. It was recently $849, then down to $799, $749, and now $699.

Bambu just launched their H3C multi-color 3D printer (see Bambu H3C Tool Changer 3D Printer Launched at $2499) at $2500, and there’s a smaller P3C model on the way. It’s possible this pushed Snapmaker into offering an even deeper discount on the U1.

The Snapmaker U1 has earned itself a solid reputation over the past year – more details here in my post from their preorder period.

I haven’t tested it, but I’ve seen lots of user feedback.

In an email, Snapmaker says:

SAVE MORE THAN MONEY

Your audience is not just saving $300 on the printer. They will keep saving with every multi-color print.

PAY LESS. Get the U1 for just $699, saving $300 upfront. More discounts to come on accessories and filaments.

WASTE LESS. Up to 5x less filament wasted on multi-color 3D printing.

WAIT LESS. Up to 5x faster tool-changing means more time on printing, bring value to life and business.

They also provided suggested messaging:

Pay Less. Waste Less. Wait Less.

“Snapmaker U1 just dropped from $999 to $699 for Black Friday! That is $300 OFF upfront, plus less filament waste and faster multi-color printing every time you 3D print. Save more than money — grab yours through my link!”

I think they’re in full panic mode over the pending launch of the Bambu P3C, which seems fair as it was the U1 that seemingly put Bambu in panic mode.

My sister has been looking to buy a 3D printer. “Less waste” has been a priority for her. $699? That’s awfully enticing. I’m not sure what to advise her, but $50 extra savings might knock her off the decision-making fence. That’s probably what Snapmaker is hoping for.

The U1 costs $50 less today than it was selling for last week, and $150 less than a few months ago. “$300 off” isn’t accurate – in my opinion – but it is indeed deeply discounted for Black Friday.

Wait for the Bambu P3C, or take advantage of this deal?

Of course, with months of lessons learned, Snapmaker might have a successor to the U1 waiting on deck too.

Buy, or wait? Tough call, but I’m thinking Snapmaker hopes their latest price drop makes it a little easier.

Competition is great for consumers!

Also don’t forget to check about Bambu’s Black Friday deals. I ordered a bunch of filament from there too.

Nearly 1 year ago, Nestworks launched a Kickstarter for their amazing-looking C500 benchtop CNC machine.

It looked too good to be true, with impressive specs and features.

See Also: New Nestworks C500 Desktop CNC Looks Amazing

I’ve checked for updates, and it looks like Nestworks still haven’t shipped any CNC machines to backers. The ETA was pushed from April to June. We’re now in November.

My curiosity came at a great time. Checking the Kickstarter updates page, Nestworks says that “shipment has officially begun.”

They also say:

We can’t make the ocean move faster — but we can promise to keep showing you real progress, batch by batch, milestone by milestone, until every machine is delivered.

I guess that’s optimistic.

There’s also talk of “a steady rhythm,” with shipments to the US West Coast and EU proceeding now, followed by shipments to US Central, East Coast, UK, Canada, Australia, Asia, and other regions, in that order.

The new targets are 1500 units to be shipped this month, and “all remaining Kickstarter orders” will be shipped in December.

Nestworks clarifies that “shipped” means a machine has left their warehouse and been handed over to a carrier or logistics partner. Actual delivery will take a while.

They are also “currently finalizing the release version” of their GRBL firmware, with the goal of open-sourcing it in January.

A lot of people are angry. I started off this post with a critical mindset that Nestworks made promises they couldn’t deliver on, and they previously offered no explanation other than for backers to wait patiently.

But, there was an update today, and it sounds hopeful.

They missed the shipping target by a few months. Maybe that will be easily forgivable once the machine starts arriving at backers’ homes and workshops.

Nestworks has also started accepting preorders, with an estimated shipping date “1 month after order placement.”

The preorder price is $6499, which Nestworks says is the “lowest price of the year.” Their original MSRP estimates were $4699 for the basic package and $6644 for the complete all-in-one milling machine and accessory bundle. It looks like the $6499 preorder price does not include the hand pendant controller, electric vise, or 4th axis rotary system.

While the Nestworks C500 is promising, a number of competing companies have started hyping up even more sophisticated benchtop CNCs – see The Oncoming Flood of AI-Powered Desktop CNC Machines. It will be interesting to see how this category evolves – CNC mill progress has been far too slow compared to what we’ve seen in 3D printers and even benchtop laser machines.

Home Depot kicked off new tool deals of the day for 11/5/2026, with Milwaukee the overwhelming star of the show.

The better of the deals feature Milwaukee M12 and M18 cordless power tools.

If you shop the Black Friday deals – see Home Depot has 19 FREE Tool Deals for Black Friday 2026 – you’ll see an offer where you buy a Milwaukee M18 FUEL cordless power tool combo kit with hammer drill and impact driver, and get a free tool.

With this deal, you get that same deal, but with an extra $30 left in your pocket.

Your choices are limited though, to an angle grinder, jig saw, impact wrench, Hackzall one-handed reciprocating saw, and FORGE battery. Still, if you were eyeing one of those bundle freebie deals, here’s your chance to save an extra $30.

There are also plenty of Milwaukee M12 cordless power tool deals as well.

Or, buy a Milwaukee M18 Fuel compact band saw kit, get a free impact wrench or angle grinder. Acme Tools has the same deal, for $196 more.

There are some other tool deals too, such as a Ridgid trim router and 1/4 sheet sander bundle for $90.15.

Today’s online-only flash sale at Home Depot ends at 3am ET 11/6/26 unless supplies sell out sooner.

I think there’s a real chance that Flex could replace Makita tools at Home Depot.

Home Depot’s Black Friday 2026 tool deals, or at least most of them, are out now. While Makita is included, they’re not prominently featured.

Makita Maktrak storage products are stagnant. At my local stores, all of the tool boxes have been sitting there for a while, with little movement, judging from the thick layer of dust.

There are reports that Home Depot stores have been clearancing out all Makita XGT cordless power tools. I saw clearance sales at my local stores a few months ago.

Makita has strong offerings.

But this is the question to ask: is Makita bringing shoppers to Home Depot?

Flex has been doing terribly. They have not been launching many new cordless power tools. They have not been launching new accessories. They have not been launching new StackPack tool box or storage products.

Flex was ejected from Lowe’s stores.

How many Flex cordless power tool deals can you find for the 2026 holiday season? There are slim deals buried in the listings of online retailers.

Flex needs a nationwide presence to grow.

Look at Porter Cable to see what happens to a cordless power tool brand that lacks a strong nationwide presence.

Flex is under new leadership.

TTI’s Milwaukee Tool and Ryobi became category leaders under Joseph Galli Jr’s leadership. Now, Galli is at the helm of Chervon, which owns the Flex brand.

Do you think that Flex is going back to Lowe’s? Walmart has Greenworks Pro now. Tractor Supply didn’t do much for Porter Cable. Menards doesn’t have national reach. Amazon? I don’t think so. Ace Hardware doesn’t have the draw or floor space for Flex.

That leaves Home Depot.

Do you which brands do exceptionally well at Home Depot? Milwaukee Tool and Ryobi. And these arrangements were put in place with Galli at the helm of TTI.

There’s all kinds of talk about how Galli will transform Flex into a powerhouse brand. Do you think a new “end user research and jobsite marketing team” lead will do that? A new VP of “sales, training, and recruiting?”

No – Galli is going to have to spend big bucks to get the attention of end users.

Flex is going to need a national footprint – like what they once enjoyed at Lowe’s.

Makita’s presence at Home Depot seems to have become strained.

From what I’ve seen, Makita doesn’t bring many customers to stores. Could Flex bring customers to Home Depot?

That’s what it comes down to. Home Depot wants more foot traffic. They want shoppers to choose their stores and offerings over what they could buy at Lowe’s or Amazon.

Galli is going to have rip Chevon’s pocketbook open to turn things around. That could create a situation where Flex can offer competitive offerings at aggressive offerings on a nationwide scale.

What would the 5-year plan look like? 10-year?

Maybe there’s room for Makita AND Flex at Home Depot. But 4 pro-grade cordless power tool brands? The shelves would get crowded.

Frankly, I don’t want to see this happen. I’m not happy with Makita’s selection at Home Depot, and definitely not the pricing. But I think it’s still a reasonable match.

But from a pure business standpoint, I think Flex has much more to offer the home improvement retailer.

There’s also a question as to whether Flex and Chervon can afford it. A favorable arrangement would likely require an extended commitment, and that would mean deep bankroll on Chervon’s part.

How else could Chervon grow the Flex brand in the USA? Maybe they can do this through independent dealers alone, but I doubt it.

Do you think Milwaukee Tool would be where it is today if not for their placement at Home Depot? That’s the type of movement that Flex needs, and Home Depot’s their best option.

There could of course be angles that I’m not seeing.

Take a look at Home Depot’s Black Friday tool deals. Can anyone really argue that it wouldn’t be a boon for Flex to be included there? Scroll through the list – how many Makita deals do you see there? If Makita were to be replaced with Flex, how many shoppers would really notice or care?

Home Depot placement is crucial. Makita has it, and I think Flex wants it.

Which brand has the bigger pocketbook? If Makita is faced with potentially losing (more) shelf space at Home Depot, perhaps that could drive more spending or other incentives.

Maybe Flex has other avenues for growth. Maybe Home Depot is happy with the status quo with Makita.

We’ll see what happens.

Black Friday 2026 is still weeks away. As I’m sure you’ve seen, the deals are here. Well, 90% of the deals at least. Here are 2 Dewalt deals you might not want to miss.

Home Depot and Lowe’s both have have new deals featuring the Dewalt 20V Max XR brushless oscillating multi-tool, DCS356.

There are a couple of different deal configurations depending on the retailer. I think this one, DCS356M1, is the best value.

With this kit, you get the XR tool, with variable speed trigger switch and 3-setting range select, plus a 4Ah battery, and a charger, for $99.

The typical promo deal kit with this tool features a 1.5Ah battery at the same price.

Price: $99

Lowe’s deal is pretty good this year too. They have an updated version of the DCS356D1 kit, featuring a 2Ah battery, depth guide, and some starter accessories.

Home Depot lists the same price, but doesn’t have it in stock.

Price: $99

Amazon’s got nothing right now, just the tool-only for $98.

Should you still buy the DCS356, now that an upgraded model just launched? The question is whether you want to spend $99 on a starter kit, or $299.

Do you really need 2 utility knives just because they’re on sale for Black Friday 2026?

Shown here is a Milwaukee FastBack 6-in-1 utility knife 2-pack, and it’s a popular Home Depot Black Friday deal right now, priced at $20.

The answer is yes, and you might want to hurry since it seems to be selling fast.

You can buy 1 for $23 right now at Home Depot, or 2 for $20. Tough choice, right?

Even though a new model is coming out in a few months, the current FastBack 6-in-1 is versatile and popular. It features a flip-open and button lock mechanism as with other Milwaukee Fastback utility knives, plus a screwdriver bit holder.

Keep and give the other to a buddy or family member. Or stash it in a tool box or drawer for later. Maybe you want one in every tool pouch.

It’s also eligible for Home Depot’s “buy more, save” more promo on Milwaukee hand tools, which deepens the savings.

Great knife at a great price. Or you can spend more money for just 1.

Price: $19.97 for the 2-pack

There are new Milwaukee M18 FORGE deals that save you some money on the popular high performance tabless-cell Li-ion cordless power tool batteries.

To start off, there are several offers where you buy a select tool at Home Depot and get an M18 FORGE battery for free.

Eligible items include an M18 Fuel chainsaw kit, Super Sawzall reciprocating saw, Super Hawg right angle drill, brushless track saw, SDS rotary hammer, hammer drill, impact wrench, telescoping pole cutter, the M18 FORGE 12Ah battery, angle grinder, Super Charger and battery starter kit, and some more rotary hammers, deep cutting band saw, rear handle circular saw, and an M18 Fuel cordless power tool combo kit with Packout tool box.

Basically, there are lots of premium options for pro-focused tools.

I like this deal a lot.

Here, you buy a starter kit with the 2-port Super Charger and an 8Ah FORGE battery, and you get a second FORGE battery for free.

It’s $349 for the bundle. That’s the same price as last year.

Seeing as how the Milwaukee M18 Super Charger sells for $249 by itself, I consider this an excellent deal.

The 2-port Super Charger has been my favorite so far. In addition to being a very quick simultaneous charger, it cools down the FORGE 8Ah and 12Ah batteries, which means less downtime.

The best Milwaukee Packout deal of the year is back, with huge savings across most of the line of tool boxes, tool bags, organizers, and accessories.

As usual, this is a buy more, save more deal, with savings starting at $50 off $199. You get the best discount if you spend $399 and up.

Here are the different savings tiers:

• $50 off $199+
• $90 off $299+
• $150 off $399+

The deal is valid on qualifying Milwaukee Packout products. I’ve only found a couple of exceptions so far, such as the small magnetic trays, at least in store. Interestingly, items that weren’t eligible in stores are eligible online.

It’s also valid while supplies last. The more popular items sold out in recent years, but some stores accept backorders. I placed backordered for Packout tool boxes in the past, and never had to wait long for them.

Also, you don’t need to buy multiple items. As long as you spend at least $199 on an eligible item, you save instantly at checkout.

I already started shopping the deal.

I went for a bunch of a side-mounted accessories. I didn’t quite need this many, but I was close enough to the first discount tier that I added some more. I also didn’t need any more too boxes or organizers, but am sure I’ll at some point need more of these accessories.

I have a lot of Milwaukee Packout tool box towers, mostly with drawers, some with drawers and the open-front cabinet that’s really designed for mounting onto the wall plates.

With the deal working on Milwaukee Packout tool boxes, drawers, accessories, and add-ons, with only a couple of exceptions that I’m seeing, this is a great time to expand or get started with a Packout storage system.

At least with the linked-to retailers, they’ll tell you on the product pages whether a particular Packout item is eligible or not.

Here’s a quick check of eligible Milwaukee Packout products at Home Depot:

Following is what’s eligible for the deal at Home Depot, and I’m sure I missed a few:

Packout Tool Boxes

• Small Tool Box
• Large Tool Box
• Compact Tool Box
• Compact 16 quart Cooler
• 40 quart Cooler
• Rolling Tool Box (updated model)
• 38″ Rolling Tool Chest
• Single Compartment Cabinet

Packout Organizers

• Organizer
• Low-Profile Organizer
• Deep Organizer
• Compact Organizer
• Compact Low-Profile Organizer
• Tilt Bin Organizer

Packout Drawer Tool Boxes

• 1-Drawer Rolling Tool Box
• 2-Drawer Tool Box
• 3-Drawer Tool Box
• 3-Drawer Tool Box (Multi-Depth)
• 4-Drawer Tool Box

Packout Totes and Crate

• Open Tool Crate
• Tool Tray with Adjustable Dividers
• Packout Compact Crate (new for 2026)
• Packout Low-Profile Crate (new for 2026)
• Packout XL Crate (new for 2026)

Packout Tool Bags

• 15″ Tool Backpack
• 15″ Open Tote Tool Bag
• 10″ Structured Tote Bag
• 15″ Structured Tote Bag
• 15″ Structured Tool Bag
• 20″ Open Tote Tool Bag
• Structured Backpack

Packout Accessories

• Wall and Floor Mounting Plate
• 4-Wheel Rolling Dolly
• 2-Wheel Utility Cart
• Customizable Work Top
• Small Magnetic Parts Cup
• Large Magnetic Parts Cup
• Rolling Tool Box Retrofit Low-Profile Handle

Packout Tool Box Attachments

• Tool Caddy
• Long Tool Holder
• M12 Battery Holder
• Tray Attachment
• 3-Hook Attachment
• M18 Battery Holder
• Compact Plate
• Accessory Case
• 2-Bin Accessory Case

It looks like the deal is valid thru January 2027.

MM asked how my Halloween projects turned out. First, thanks for asking! Second, I guess they went alright.

My kid was happy, so that was good. I learned a lot, and that’s good too.

Here’s what it looked like in time for the school day where kids were allowed to bring their costumes. My kid wanted duct tape to reflect some damage.

The assembly broke. The top and bottom were epoxied together, and then the sides were epoxied to the bottom. One of the sides broke off halfway through the day. But he still had most of the adjacent outfit, and the prop.

The way it broke, the epoxy ripped apart layers of filament.

Clamping everything together was a bit of a challenge – this could have contributed to it.

Ahead of the class party at night and Halloween, I used CA glue to reattach the side panel and then drilled holes to further secure it with machine screws.

If I had time for another iteration, I would narrow the shoulder straps a bit, flatten the angle, and also maybe print left and right sides that were mechanically joined.

The straps were long, but he didn’t want me to mess with them further.

He was very happy. For a first attempt, it worked. But if I had more time I could have made it more reliable.

The prop worked out well.

This was the final version of the side panel. The first version was just a flat panel. This one was modified to hold all the electronics.

I ended up not using hoses for the decoration – I ran out of time, but I left the brackets on to fill the mounting holes and empty space. Next iteration, maybe I’ll use translucent clear cast acrylic.

I updated the front cone to be a full circle, which means the prop needs to placed down facing up. I also added a white cover plate to diffuse and protect the LED element.

The LED is a 7-pixel board that I purchased a while back, with independent RGB controls.

It’s a bit difficult to see due to the messy wiring, but I designed the access panel with a battery holder, Raspberry Pi Pico 2 mounting standoffs, and 4 switches.

I used a lot of Wago Lever Lock connectors for the splices. I didn’t have time to refine the wiring with wire-to-wire connectors or terminal blocks for common voltage and ground connections.

One battery holder I had was very cheap and unreliable. I grabbed another, and had to redesign the holding bracket.

I printed test pieces to refine the model for all the small hole diameters. The flatted 16mm holes for the switches were a little too loose, but worked reasonably okay.

For the next iteration, I would mount the LED module directly to the enclosure, rather than the cone. I would also add a connector so that it (or the access panel electronics) could be removed and potentially swapped.

I would also mount the electronics inside the enclosure, probably at the bottom, to leave space on the side panels for more decorative elements. I didn’t do that here because the enclosure used a lot of filament and it was far easier to iterate just the side panel.

A lot of the details could be refined. The entire shape could be tweaked so as to be less boxy, more futuristic, or maybe more aesthetic.

I made some on-the-fly changes, such as the LED cover element. I also didn’t model the switches or other electronic components.

I barely got the soldering done in time, and so the abundance of Wago elements was acceptable to me.

Maybe I’ll work on a more refined update after the new year.

OH! The programming. I was rummaging through parts bins in the middle of the night and settled on a latching push button with white LED as the power button, and momentary red, green, and blue buttons as logic inputs.

I soldered resistors inline with the LEDs and covered them with heatshrink tubing.

Power-on state: illuminate in cyan
Red: illuminate in red
Blue: illuminate in blue
Green: illuminate in green

I tried to quickly use AI to generate code to modify the start-on condition, first with a ramp-up and down in brightness, and then with a blinking effect. It didn’t work out so well, so I shelved that for another time.

There’s room to add greater effects, such as with sensor inputs, and even sound, but that might be a completely different build.

My son also had camo pants, a headlamp some of the time, and a camo face mask. I had a couple of other “wasteland wanderer” types of props at the ready, but he either passed on them, or we didn’t have time to make them work.

He was happy, and I think this made a great argument for starting earlier next year.

Aside from the modeling, I also tried a bunch of new materials and techniques.

Now, aside from refining these pieces, I’ve started to think about what comes next.

Bambu has officially launched their H3C tool-changer 3D filament, with a price of $2500 that includes the 9-filament AMS system.

One year ago, Bambu launched their H2C 3D printer, and lauded how it can be used with so many more different color filaments than tool-changer printers. “Colors are no limited by how many toolheads you have.” They released documents discussing why they dismissed tool changer tech and went with a nozzle swapping system.

Today, “a new era of 3D printing starts here.”

The Bambu Swaptek system features 9 “printtools,” each with a dedicated filament path and nozzle heater. They say it takes 6 seconds to switch materials or colors as the H3C machine swaps between tool heads.

“Active pre-heat” heats the next nozzle you need, before you need it, speeding things up and reducing pauses and wait times.

The H3C can also work with both 1.75 mm and 2.85 mm filament sizes, with the larger providing advantages when printing with softer TPU filaments.

You can load the H3C with different colors and materials, and it also works with different nozzle sizes.

The H3C tool head can also be loaded with other tools, not just 3D printheads, such as a cutting tool, drawing tool, and debossing tool.

The matching 9-slot AMS system features an integrated 2-slot filament dryer.

Additional AMS systems can be added – up to 4 of Bambu’s traditional AMS systems – and passed through to the first tool holder. This allows for up to 16 filament colors or materials through the first tool holder, and up to 8 more for the H3C AMS’s other slots, for up to 24 filament spools per print.

Bambu says the H3C delivers “flagship performance, no compromise.”

It has a build volume of 220 x 320 x 325 mm.

Price: $2499

The H3C ships with (8) 1.75mm print tools and (1) 2.85mm print tool that’s preinstalled in the #8 slot (featuring the integrated dryer). Users will need to purchase an additional 1.75mm print tool for that slot of they don’t plan on printing with TPU.

It’s interesting how quickly Bambu went from the H2C is better than a tool changer, that type of technology is inferior to here’s our brand new H3C, the ultimate “game changer.” But that’s competition for you.

There’s no word on when the smaller P3C 3D printer will be officially announced.

Creality recently launched their new Falcon T1 laser engraver, featuring an interchangeable laser module system.

The interchangeable laser part is a big deal.

Creality describes the Falcon T1 as a 5-in-1 laser engraver, and they support it with an ecosystem of modules and accessories.

You can select your desired laser module at the time of purchase, and expand to swappable laser modules either at the same time or later on.

With most other laser engravers on the market, you have to make your choice at the time of purchase. Meaning, if you want a fiber laser, you need to buy a fiber laser. And if you want a UV laser, you need to buy a completely separate machine.

With the Falcon T1, you can simply change out the laser module.

Creality offers 5 different laser modules for the Falcon T1:

Diode 20W (Blue Laser)

• Diode 40W (Blue Laser)
• Fiber 20W (Infrared Laser)
• MOPA 60W
• UV 5W

You choose your laser based on the materials you’re working with, and the types of work you’re looking to do.

Here’s a compatibility summary taken from Creality Falcon’s product page:

Blue Laser Diode 20W, 40W: Wood, acrylic, PU leather, MDF, dark glass, ceramics, coated metals, stainless steel, bamboo

Infrared laser 20W: Stainless steel, titanium alloy, gold, silver, brass, copper, iron, aluminum, plastic, shale

MOPA 60W: Stainless steel, titanium alloy, gold, silver, brass, copper, iron, aluminum, plastic, shale

UV Laser 5W: Acrylic, plastic, glass, ceramics, crystal, PU leather, cardboard

All of the lasers can do flat engraving, deep engraving, and relief cuts. You can also do 3D curved engraving with the blue diode, IR, and MOPA lasers, and internal engraving with the UV laser.

The Falcon T1 has a working area of 175 x 175mm, and a maximum working speed of 10,000 mm/s.

Creality says that the five modules offer “endless horizons.”

How long does it take to change the laser modules? It’s a tool-free process that takes seconds:

What can it do?

Here are examples of what the Creality T1 can engrave in leather.

Wood.

Glass.

Metal.

Ceramics.

There are a number of compatible accessories, including the AP1 Mini fume extractor, rotary attachment kit, UV inner-engraving riser, knife blade bed, conveyer, and flexible fixture.

The conveyer allows for high productivity.

The rotary attachment can be used on tumblers and other such items.

Note that the conveyer and rotary attachment require the cover to be open, changing the safety designation of the machine, necessitating additional PPE such as laser safety goggles.

I think this is a clever approach, for the Falcon T1 to have a modular laser design.

You can use Falcon Design software, and the Falcon T1 is also compatible with Lightburn, which is extremely popular with laser machine users.

Additional features include a smart camera that provides instant previews and aids in “flawless positioning,” and Class 1 certification with the window guard in place,

Safety features include a USB security key, side-mounted emergency stop button, auto-stop if the lid is opened, and flame detection.

As with other lasers, you will need a fume extraction system or other ventilation solution.

Price: starts at $2,499 (includes 20W diode laser) and up

The Falcon T1 looks best suited for creators and small business owners with different needs depending on the project or client.

If the Falcon T1 is a bit too much for your needs, or you’d like to explore laser engraving at a lower price point, the Creality Falcon A1C is now available.

See Also: Creality Falcon A1C – a New Compact and Affordable Laser Engraver

This looks to be an excellent impact bit assortment for most users, whether you’re a DIYer buying your first cordless drill for home repairs and installations, or a pro looking for a replenishment set in a solid case.

The Milwaukee 35pc Shockwave impact-duty screwdriver bit set is priced at $12.97 as part of Home Depot’s season-long Black Friday tool deals.

There’s always a lot of griping about what you get with various impact screwdriver bit sets and assortments, but I don’t think that’ll happen with this one.

Let’s talk about why I think this is a good deal.

Packout-Compatible Case is Included

To start off, you get a medium-size Packout-compatible case. You can reload the bit rails with other standard-size 1/4″ hex bits in insert (1-inch) or power bit (2-inch and longer) styles. Or remove the rails and use it for other small parts and accessories.

Given other pricing examples for similar cases, I estimate that just the Packout-compatible accessory case is worth half the value of the $13 price tag.

But also, take a closer look at the bit selection. This Milwaukee Shockwave 35pc bit assortment includes lots of 2-inch bits, and very few 1-inch bits, plus a bit holder.

You Get 2″ Power Bits in Popular Sizes

It comes with a bunch of insert-length bits in hex (SAE) sizes, and that’s it for the 1-inch size. Then you get Phillips, square, slotted, and Torx screwdriver bits all in 2-inch power bit lengths. They also throw in extended length 3-1/2″ bits in T25, PH2, and SQ2 sizes.

Comparative Price Check Shows Huge Value

Let’s do some price checks. Shockwave T25 screwdriver bits in 2-inch lengths can be commonly purchased from Home Depot in a 2-pack for $5.97, or in a 5-pack for $10.47. You can buy 15-count packs of Square #2 bits or Phillips #2 bits in 2-inch power bit lengths for $17 each.

Thus, the price per 2-inch bit ranges from a little over $1.10 each to over $2 each, and even higher for smaller quantities.

Let’s just say a good bulk pack deal gets you Milwaukee Shockwave 2-inch power bits at $1 each.

Just looking at Phillips #2, Square #2, and Torx T25 sizes, which are all common for construction fasteners, that’s (9) 2-inch bits out of the 35 pieces included. Let’s add the 3-1/2″ sizes to that number too, giving us (12) power bits in very common drive sizes.

So that’s still (12) power-style screwdriver bits in PH2, SQ2, T25. Considering $1 per bit, which is lower than I can find PH#2 and SQ2 bits selling for in 15-count bulk packs, or T25 bits in a 5-pack, that would be $12 in value in bit styles and sizes you’re likely to need for construction tasks.

The set is $13 for the 35 pieces.

Don’t need all the bits? Take out the ones you don’t want, and refill the slots with your commonly-used fasteners. Even if you discard half the set at the start, dumping the slotted bits and other unused sizes in a spares bin somewhere, this still looks to be a great money-saving deal.

Price: $12.97

I couldn’t pass up this deal and ordered one just now. If you’re on the fence, there’s plenty of inventory left and thus no need to rush.

More Milwaukee Shockwave drill bit deals:

Milwaukee 15pc Impact Rated Drill Bit Set – $20
Milwaukee 23pc Impact Rated Drill Bit Set – $30

A couple of Dewalt deals:

Dewalt 30pc MaxFit Screwdriver Bit Set – $10
Dewalt 15pc Drill Bit Set – $13
Dewalt 120pc Drill and Driving Bit Set – $35

The new Makita Maktrak tool box products are up for preorder at Acme Tools, and according to the product specs they’re made in China.

When Makita first launched the Maktrak tool box system in the USA, they were prominently advertised as being made in the USA.

While it’s disappointing that Makita couldn’t continue this for the new Maktrak products, it’s still good to see that the modular storage lineup is expanding after 2 years.

This does bring up the question whether production for existing Maktrak products has also been moved to China.

See Also:

Makita Launched New MakTrak Rolling Tool Boxes
Smaller Makita MakTrak Tool Boxes are Launching in USA
New Makita Maktrak Drawer Tool Boxes are Shockingly Boring

Home Depot has kicked off their flagship “free gift” cordless power tool deals for Black Friday 2026.

This is their biggest power tool deal of the year, featuring Ryobi 18V, Milwaukee M18, Dewalt 20V Max, Makita 18V, and Ridgid 18V cordless power tool systems.

These deals are set to last several months, or while supplies last – and some do tend to sell out.

Most of these deals can be found in stores, some are online-only. At Home Depot stores, everything is locked behind cages, and so you might have a quicker time ordering online for delivery or in-store pickup.

Similar to what we saw last year, whether you buy an eligible cordless power tool starter kit or combo kit, you can only choose (1) free tool or accessory.

RYOBI FREE Tool Deals for Black Friday 2026

Buy a Ryobi 18V Starter Kit for $99, Get 1 FREE Tool

Buy a Ryobi 18V 4Ah Starter Kit for $129, Get 1 FREE Tool

Buy a Ryobi 18V Cordless Blower Kit for $159, Get 1 FREE Tool

Buy a Ryobi 18V Drill and Circular Saw Kit for $179, Get 1 FREE Tool

Buy a Ryobi 18V Cordless Vacuum for $199, Get 1 FREE Tool

Here’s the selection of free Ryobi 18V tools and accessories:

As usual, I expect for the $99 deal to be the most popular.

MILWAUKEE M18 FREE Tool Deals for Black Friday 2026

Buy a Milwaukee M18 Starter Kit for $199, get 1 FREE Tool

Buy a Milwaukee M18 Battery 2-Pack for $249, get 1 FREE Tool

Buy a Milwaukee M18 High Output Starter Kit for $299, get 1 FREE Tool

Buy a Milwaukee M18 Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit for $399, get 1 FREE Tool

Here’s the selection of free Milwaukee M18 tools and accessories:

A lot of these are great values. For example, the M18 cordless inflator sells for $199 by itself. With the starter kit deal, you get the same inflator with 2 batteries and a charger for the same $199.

The M18 FUEL SURGE quieter impact driver is also in the freebie selection. The kit with 2 batteries and a charger is regularly $349. With the $199 deal, you get everything except the tool case for $150 less.

This deal didn’t make it to the end of the holiday season last year.

DEWALT 20V Max FREE Tool Deals for Black Friday 2026

Buy a Dewalt 20V Starter Kit for $199, get 1 FREE Tool

Buy a Dewalt 20V Atomic 2-Tool Combo Kit for $299, get 1 FREE Tool

Buy a Dewalt 20V XR 3-Tool Combo Kit for $399, get 1 FREE Tool

Buy a Dewalt 20V 5-Tool Combo Kit for $499, get 1 FREE Tool

Here’s the selection of free Dewalt 20V Max tools and accessories:

That’s quite the selection this year! It includes a brushless rotary hammer, 12-inch chain saw, 4-port battery charger, and even the new 5-inch random orbital sander.

DEWALT FREE FLEXVOLT Tabless 12Ah battery Deal

Buy a Select Dewalt Tool or Combo Kit, Get a FREE FLEXVOLT 12Ah Tabless Battery

MAKITA 18V FREE Tool Deals for Black Friday 2026

Buy a Makita 18V Starter Kit for $199, get 1 FREE Tool

Buy a Makita 18V 2-Tool Combo Kit for $399, get 1 FREE Tool

Here’s the selection of free Makita 18V tools and accessories:

RIDGID 18V FREE Tool Deals for Black Friday 2026

Buy a Ridgid 18V Starter Kit for $149, get 1 FREE Tool

Buy a Ridgid 18V Brad Nailer Kit for $199, get 1 FREE Tool

Buy a Ridgid 18V NUKE 2-Tool Combo Kit for $249, get 1 FREE Tool

Buy a Ridgid 18V NUKE 4-Tool Combo Kit for $299, get 1 FREE Tool

Here’s the selection of free Ridgid 18V tools and accessories:

Yes, that is the new Ridgid 18V NUKE STEALTH FORCE quieter impact driver. It’s $169 by itself, or free with $149 starter kit purchase.